Volume 72, Issue 20

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, March 12, 2024

VOL. 72, ISSUE 20

OP-ED

LAST THURSDAY, UC RIVERSIDE MADE HISTORY BY BECOMING THE THIRD UNIVERSITY IN THE NATION TO DIVEST FROM ISRAELI GENOCIDE AND APARTHEID.

UC Riverside claims the resolution to divest from Israel doesn’t reflect the university; the campus community proves otherwise ANONYMOUS

On Friday, March 1, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) released a vague, short and uncharacteristically cold statement. The statement, titled “University statement on ASUCR’s divestment resolution,” did not name an author, nor was it attributed to the Chancellor’s office. The statement condemned the passage of a resolution calling for ASUCR’s full divestment from companies complicit in aiding Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. The statement reads: “The Associated Students of UCR passed a resolution last night calling for divestment from Israel. This resolution runs counter to UC Riverside’s longstanding position and practices, does

not align with the university’s views, and does not affect the investment practices of the university. We strongly oppose this action and believe that it goes against the culture of open dialogue and discourse.

The UCR community must be a place where all people feel welcome and safe, and where we engage constructively on complicated issues.”

While this pointed statement claims that the resolution “does not align with the university’s views,” the people who make up the backbone of this university insist otherwise. There is an immense amount of support for this resolution, as evidenced by the massive turnout, support and passion that was prevalent in the Senate meeting. ► SEE OP-ED PAGE 7

SPORTS

est. 1954

HIGHLANDER GLOVES HOLDS ASPIRATIONS FOR WINNING A TITLE AT NATIONALS.

Knocking out the competition one punch at a time MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

The University of California, Riverside’s (UCR), Highlander Gloves, a boxing club, has achieved success in national competitions, including the women winning the United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association (USIBA) Team Championship last year. Not only that, through their partnership with the Riverside Police Foundation, they assist at the Raincross Boxing Academy, offering free boxing lessons and tutoring to the local youth.

Creating a partnership with the community that gives back to the next generation and also helps develop club members.

Economics Associate Professor Joab Corey, coach and faculty advisor of Highlander Gloves since 2017, shared how in the 2022-2023 season at the USIBA hosted tournament, the National Championship tournament, the women’s team finished first and men’s team finished fifth. This year the team holds aspirations “that both teams

can finish as high as first in the country.”

This quarter, the team assembles six days a week for an intense ten-week training camp. They practice Monday through Thursday in the evening, and on the weekends as the sun rises from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The boxers undergo demanding training sessions which involve intense cardio for warmups, calisthenics, conditioning and a lot of bag work.

Preparation for the season includes a few sparring sessions, where the team goes out to box against other teams like at the California State University, Northridge (CSUN), University of California, Irvine (UCI) and University of Southern California (USC).

The tournament is a significant goal for the team. This year’s USIBA tournament is hosted at Houston, Texas and is the team’s moment to shine. Corey explains how for many people this is the first time ► SEE GLOVES PAGE 17

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OPINIONS 6

FEATURES 10

RADAR 14

SPORTS 17

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Upcoming Events:

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Surprise Snack Giveaway Orbach and Rivera Libraries

Men’s Tennis vs. Boston 10 a.m.

SRC Tennis Courts

Therapy Fluffies 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Orbach and Rivera Libraries

Baseball vs. Washington 6:30 p.m.

The Plex

R’Card Photo Contest Voting 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Virtual Event

Pi(e) Day 3:14 p.m.

Rivera and Orbach Libraries

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Auditions: Three Sisters 5 p.m.

Studio Theatre

Women’s Tennis vs. Cal State Fullerton 1 p.m.

SRC Tennis Courts

16

Auditions: Playworks 5 p.m.

Virtual Event

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Softball vs. Long Beach State 1 p.m.

Amy S. Harrison Field

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Soup Giveaway 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Orbach Library

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TUESDAY, MAR 12, 2024

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ASUCR Senate Meeting #16

ELECTIONS INFORMATION SHARED AND TWO GREEN GRANTS PASSED. MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

The sixteenth Associated Students of the University of California, Riverside (ASUCR) Senate meeting of the school year was called to order on March 7 at 7 p.m., with President Pro Tempore (PPT) Abby Choy, Senator Kaden Ho, Senator Alex Lu, Senator Kevin Nguyen, Senator Roshan Kannan, Senator Natalie Trutalli, Senator Grace Su and Senator Amariah Peedikayil being excused. Prior to continuing with agenda items, a friendly amendment was made to Executive Cabinet (ECAB) meeting minutes, finance meeting minutes, and SB-W24-010. The motion was approved 10-0-0.

After a unanimous approval of the previous week’s meeting minutes, the podium was opened up for public forum. A representative from the School of Public Policy (SPP) came to announce that the SPP would be holding an event on Mar. 16, a food drive donating to the homeless.

Senator Ray Khan then went up to announce that it was super disheartening to see how UCR failed to encourage voter participation effectively during Super Tuesday. He explained how despite ASUCR External Affairs’ efforts to encourage voting, the lack of a cohesive universitywide policy is “disheartening” and undermines the “University’s duty to inform and engage its citizens.”

Senator Khan pointed out how University of California (UC) Los Angeles, UC Irvine, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara all encouraged their students to vote, and that it is “disheartening” to witness the differences in administration.

The next item on the agenda was the Ex-Officio Reports which included the State of the Association (SOTA).

During SOTA Reports, each member of ECAB would come up to the podium, or deliver a statement, detailing what their branch has worked on since their mid-quarter

report. Elections Director Alexandra Arias shared updates about ASUCR elections for the upcoming spring quarter.

The finalized candidate eligibility list will be created and published next week with headshots, presidential debates have been scheduled and the candidate convention location has been finalized.

After the completion of SOTA reports was Committee Reports. Finance Meeting Minutes #8 were opened and included grants for both the Nigerian Student Association and Vietnamese Student Association (VSA). The voting was stated to be a “no show” for Nigerian Student Association, and VSA asked for a grant for their “Annual Vietnamese Culture Night on April 28, 2024” where they would “showcase Vietnamese Culture through songs, dancing and creating inclusive environments for everyone at UCR.” Their grant of $1,500 was passed in a vote of 4-0-1. Finance Meeting Minutes #8 were approved by the Senate in a vote of 10-0-0.

The Senate also reviewed Finance Meeting Minutes #9 which included a grant request for Debate Society At UCR and Nigerian Student Association. The Debate Society Grant was to “pay for professional judges to host their on-campus tournament” and passed 4-0-1 at the Finance Committee. The Nigerian Student Association grant was for their “10th Annual Anniversary of NSCC, Nigerian Student Coalition Conference,” and their grant for $1,500 was approved in a vote of 4-0-1. ASUCR also implemented a Finance Bylaw Change which was passed in a vote of 4-1-1. Finance Meeting Minutes #9 were approved by the Senate in a vote of 10-0-0.

Next, the Legislative Review Committee proposed SB-W24-010 Amending Finance Bylaws. This bill would

follow up on the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) resolution which was presented at the previous ASUCR Senate meeting and would further implement the policies listed on it. The bill was approved in a vote of 10-0-0 and was met with applause from the gallery.

Green Campus Action Plan presented two different pieces of legislation. The first was the Green Grant: R’Cycle Co-Op whose purpose is to support the cycling community on campus and requested $867. The grant was approved in a vote of 10-0-0. The second was Green Grant: GCAP Sustainable Menstruation which aimed to encourage students to seek out sustainable menstruation products and requested $5,000. The bill was approved in a vote of 100-0.

No one came to the podium for public comment.

During Roundtable and Announcements, Senator Khan thanked everyone for attending the College of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) Town Hall and announced an advocacy adventure event meant for pre-law students on March 13 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., hosting UC Los Angeles Law School virtually. On behalf of Executive Vice President Victoria Nguyen, who had lost her voice, Senator Khan announced that there would be no Senate meeting for week 10 and that next quarter Senate meetings will return to being held Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Senator Sreeram announced that she would be attending the next UC Regents meeting, and if anyone is interested in any of the topics for that meeting or interested in advocacy to reach out to her.

H The Senate meeting adjourned at 8:41 p.m. ■

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“There is a media worth fighting for”: New York Times journalist speaks at UCR HOST OF NEW YORK TIMES “THE DAILY” DISCUSSES THE STRUGGLES OF NEWS MEDIA WITH STUDENTS. MATA ELANGOVAN AND EMYR ORTIZ News Editor and Assistant News Editor

The 55th Hays Press-Enterprise Lecture featured speaker Michael Barbaro, New York Times (NYT) journalist and host of the NYT podcast, “The Daily.” The lecture was held in the University Theatre on March 4, 2024 and featured discussion on the role of news in today’s society, trust in media and impact of podcasts and print media.

Barbaro has hosted or co-hosted “The Daily” since its inception in 2017. “The Daily” has won multiple accolades, including a DuPont-Columbia University Award as well as being named a top podcast by TIME and The New Yorker.

Prior to his audio experience on “The Daily,” Barbaro had worked in journalism in various capacities for years.

Barbaro’s interest in journalism traces back to middle school paper routes and high school publications, then becoming a business reporter at the Washington Post, and has worked as a national political correspondent for the New York Times during the 2016 election, where he wrote the Times’ headline piece regarding Former President Donald Trump’s election.

With an introduction by Elizabeth Watkins, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor at the University of California, Riverside, the lecture officially began at 6 p.m. On stage, Barbaro covered various topics, briefly explaining the creative process behind “The Daily,” and the reason behind its creation: distrust of news media. He explains how, “Today, trust in the news … is absolutely a hands-on fire, unavoidable, existential question that we have to take with the utmost seriousness.” Barbaro demonstrated this distrust with statistics from a Quinnipiac University Poll where it was found that nearly one-half of all Republicans in the United States stated that “it was more accurate to describe the news media as the enemy of the people than it is to say that the media are an important part of democracy.”

At the time of the 2016 election, specifically on the date of Nov. 8, 2016, Barbaro had no assigned beat as he had already covered aspiring President Donald Trump’s campaign and did some investigative research. Barbaro elaborated on his experience in the newsroom that day and how he was completely unprepared for Trump’s election, with the general “feeling in many different newsrooms that night being that Donald Trump was going to lose.” Much of what they had reported up till that night suggested that Trump would lose the election, and the newsroom was

EMYR ORTIZ / THE HIGHLANDER

unequipped to write a Trump win story.

The first lesson that Barbaro felt he had learned that day was that he believed he had misread the election and electorate. Given his position as a political reporter at the NYT, he had to reconsider whether or not “news media at that moment really understood the country,” and come to terms with his own reporting shortcomings. Shortly after his inauguration, former President Trump posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he claimed that the news is “not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American people.” Barbaro compared Former President Trump’s characterization of the media as the “enemy of the people” to historical figures like Joseph Stalin or anyone who opposed his socialist revolution. It was amidst this time, this “smoldering cauldron of mistrust, that ‘The Daily’ [was] born into.”

This brought rise to the first concept that “The Daily” aimed to combat, which Barbaro defined as “the voice of God.” He explained how for a long time, journalism has taken for granted their ability to give people news and expects thanks in return for their reporting. Barbaro described the goals of the podcast as disrupting the absolute authority maintained by the paper in the selectivity of quotes, embracing opposing voices and increasing transparency.

To achieve the goal, space had to be made to allow for people to be the “elevated center of the show” and have them feel as if they were “supporting players” in journalism. One of the earlier episodes of “The Daily” covered the topic of mass shootings in which they wanted to speak to someone who owned a gun store and sold a gun used in a mass shooting. Barbaro explained how they wanted “people to realize that this was a real person who has real complicated feelings and a messy story.”

John Markell, an owner of a gun store who sold a semiautomatic weapon used in the Virginia Tech massacre, had the opportunity to share his side of the story. The story told in “The Daily” that day surprised many people as they did not realize “how much they wanted to hear from someone like that until they” listened to the account of a man who “suffered tremendous amounts of pain” and is probably “permanently scarred” by his actions. Unlike a print piece which would only use a couple of the quotes from the interview, sharing this story through the podcast allowed

the opportunity for people to trust “The Daily” as “tellers of stories,” “[changing] the relationship that people have to journalists.”

Following the opening lecture, UCR professor of philosophy, Barry Lam, joined Barbaro on stage to moderate a question-and-answer (Q&A) session. This allowed the audience to engage with Barbaro and ask questions about the business model of media groups, the concept of misguided trust, podcast journalism logistics and general background questions about Barbaro’s life.

Before the speech at the University Theater, Barbaro spoke with a group of UCR students in Rivera Library for a student Q&A. This event saw Barbaro discuss more about his background and answer questions about journalistic practices. However, the event was mostly consumed by questions and criticisms of the NYT’s coverage of the war in Gaza.

Students cited a controversial NYT investigative report on the use of sexual violence by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attacks, which has raised questions due to internal concerns over the underlying evidence.

In return, Barbaro emphasized that he has purview of “The Daily,” and is co-host of that podcast, not the executive director for the NYT. Barbaro discussed being proud of how the podcast has addressed the war in Gaza, highlighting the work “The Daily” had done in having first-hand accounts of people affected by the war, citing “powerful” examples from the episode, “Voices from Gaza.”

Barbaro did acknowledge that there had been “complicated” moments of coverage for the NYT regarding the situation in Gaza, referencing moments such as when the NYT had to retract parts of an article documenting an explosion at a hospital in Gaza. In this instance, the NYT had led its coverage with claims by Hamas governing officials but did not make it clear that the claims could not be verified, and “left readers with an incorrect impression about what was known and how credible the account was.”

However, Barbaro emphasized the difficulty of reporting conflict, stating, “There’s no perfect way to cover a war …

I think that the closest we can get to anything resembling perfect, which we can never achieve in covering a war, is H talking to the people who are experiencing the conflict.”■

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Political Recap: Super Tuesday primary election outcome overview

CALIFORNIANS AND MANY OTHER AMERICANS DECIDED THEIR NOMINEES FOR NUMEROUS POSITIONS; HERE ARE THE RESULTS. AAZAM KHAN Contributing Writer

On March 5, the state of California, along with 14 other states, held primary elections in an event that has historically been known as “Super Tuesday.” These elections narrow down the fields of candidates in multiple general election races. From the race for the presidency, senate and many more down-ballot races, here are some of the outcomes.

In the presidential primaries, the results were the most straightforward. Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump won in landslides across the vast majority of states and territories. In California specifically, Trump won the state Republican primary with more than 75% of the vote, and President Biden won nearly 90% of the vote in the Democratic primary.

The morning after, Nikki Haley, the only serious challenger to Trump, dropped out. Even though there are dozens of states that have yet to hold their primaries, both Trump and Biden are the presumptive nominees with their respective parties. Gearing up for the presidential election, both candidates are going to have to patch notable holes in their party’s support.

For President Biden, he needs to solve the dissatisfaction among young Americans and progressives. With the ongoing war in Gaza, resulting in more than 30,000 dead and millions of displaced Palestinians from their homes, many liberals are outraged with Biden’s “rock solid and unwavering” support for the state of Israel.

In the key swing state of Michigan, more than 100,000 citizens voted ‘uncommitted’ in the primary.

Michigan, according to the Census Bureau, has the highest concentration of Arab-Americans of any state, and these protest votes signal to the Biden administration that the ongoing crisis is a key issue for many Americans.

On the Republican side, Primary polls showed the Trump campaign has a significant rift between many Haley voters. After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, there are many pro-choice Republicans concerned with the reproductive restrictions that could be imposed with a second Trump term. An Emerson College Poll found that more than 60% of Haley voters will vote for Biden if Trump is the nominee. Donald Trump will have to make the case to Haley supporters why another Biden term is a

worse alternative than having him as president.

The presidential primaries were not the only key elections on Super Tuesday. In California, voters decided which two candidates would face off to replace the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. California has a jungle primary system for all of their down-ballot races. Instead of having the Democrats and Republicans nominate their candidates separately, all of the campaigns run together and the top two advance. With millions of votes counted, veteran Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff is projected to face off against Republican former Major League Baseball player Steve Garvey.

Progressive Congresswomen Katie Porter and Congresswoman Barbara Lee both gave up their seats in the Senate race, falling short on votes. Congresswoman Porter expressed her frustration with the results, claiming that the election was “manipulated by big dark money.” While the vote counts from this Senate election are all legitimate, Congresswoman Porter attempted to spotlight efforts by the Schiff campaign to keep her out of the general election.

Weeks before the election, preliminary polls indicated that Congressman Schiff would be in first place, with Garvey and Congresswoman Porter fighting for the second spot. A Democratic challenger for the November Senate race would make it more difficult for Congressman Schiff to succeed in the general election. So instead, the Schiff campaign boosted Garvey through millions of dollars worth of television advertisements. These ads from Schiff’s campaign caught the attention of many California conservatives, which gave Garvey the additional support to advance to the general election.

Though these campaign tactics may seem unfair to progressives like Congresswoman Porter, it is worth noting that Garvey won by a bigger margin than both Congresswoman Lee and Congresswoman Porter, with hundreds of thousands of extra votes to spare. With a Republican in the general election, Congressman Schiff is largely favored to win the Senate seat. This is because California is an overwhelmingly blue state. Every single statewide office in the state is controlled by Democrats, and the open Senate seat will likely be no different.

Aside from the Senate race, California voted on a proposition that determines if the state government could spend $6.4 billion to increase housing for the homeless and displaced veterans and build facilities for mental health treatment and alcohol addiction. Governor Gavin Newsom, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health are supporters of Proposition 1. Despite California being a state of one-party rule, this proposition is struggling to pass. With millions of votes left to be counted, no official projection has been made. As of March 9, 2024, it is split with 2.711 million for and 2.682 million against.

There is no polling indication of where the remaining votes will lean towards.

In the other down-ballot races, Democratic Congressman Mark Takano and Republican David Serpa won in an uncontested primary. Both candidates will compete in the general election to represent a House seat where the University of California, Riverside (UCR) is located. In the state Senate race, Republican Cynthia Navarro and Democratic Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes advanced.

Democratic school board member Angelo Farooq fell in third place and lost the state Senate race with only 15% of the vote. For state assembly, incumbent Republican Bill Essayli and Democratic challenger Chris Shoults won with partisan support. Independent candidate Orlando Munguia was left in the dust with only 3% of the vote.

The city of Riverside decided who would serve as mayor. In the nonpartisan election, incumbent Patricia Lock Dawson defeated business owner Jessica Qattawi by more than 50 percentage points. Riverside voters determined whether the city should impose a cannabis business tax. As of March 9, 23,083 voted for it, and 13,989 voted against it.

The March 5, Super Tuesday primaries narrowed down the field for many races and provided clarity as to who will be on the ballot come November. The general election for H most of these races is only months away. ■ Disclaimer: Sources for this article can be found linked in the online version of this article at Highlandernews.org.

Dr. Haining Zhong presents new findings on cAMP and PKA signaling THE 2024 WINTER NEUROSCIENCE SEMINARS CONTINUE WITH DR. HAINING ZHONG FROM THE VOLLUM INSTITUTE. ALEXANDRA ARCENAS Staff Writer

On Tuesday, March 7, the Neuroscience Graduate Program welcomed Dr. Haining Zhong from the Vollum Institute. The independent research institute is affiliated with Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Zhong is a senior scientist and professor at the Vollum Institute and has been working with the institute since 2010.

Dr. Sika Zheng, University of California, Riverside’s (UCR) Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Director of the Center for Ribonucleic Acid and Biology and Medicine, introduced Dr. Zhong at the beginning of the Seminar. Dr. Zheng complimented Dr. Zhong by stating, “What impressed me the most was his ingenuity and passion for science.”

In his introduction, Dr. Zheng commended Dr. Zhong’s numerous publications and awards, prefaced his larger findings and shared a few memories. He applauded Dr. Zhong’s success in developing imaging techniques and optical sensors for cyclic adenosine 3, 5-monophosphate (cAMP) signaling and “protein kinase a” (PKA) activity, as well as a fruitful career at “one of the best neuroscience institutions.”

When Dr. Zhong took the floor, he stated that he was “very impressed by the work done at UCR,” and declared it an “honor to share [his] work here.” He shared his presentation “Imaging Neuronal cAMP and PKA Signaling in Space and Time.”

The Zhong lab research primarily studies how the brain functions and changes to succeed in a dynamic environment. They

focus on the regulation of neuromodulation and experience-dependent plasticity.

Neuromodulation is used to coordinate changes in biological states, thus controlling brain function. Irregularities with neuromodulation are linked with neurological diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. Experience-dependent plasticity is important for learning and memory and is dependent on neuronal circuits.

During their research endeavors, the lab was not impressed with the current imaging technology that is used to monitor brain activity. Thus, Dr. Zhong and his colleagues developed endogenous protein labeling and biosensors for subcellular signaling pathways and microscopy to investigate cAMP and PKA pathways within neurons.

Dr. Zhong and his colleagues are investigating movement and motivation behind the action on a cellular level. He states that the inputs into the cell, chemical and electrical, converge to regulate neuronal function. He focuses on the cAMP pathway, which is a vital second messenger for various biological pathways. When cAMP is used as a second messenger, it helps the cell fire a greater signal, otherwise known as an action potential, with specific circumstances.

He affirms “After 50 years of research, the cyclic AMP- PKA pathway touches almost every aspect of neural function. And that cyclic AMP-PKA signaling is associated with neurodegenerative and neurological diseases.”

Though he did recognize that cAMP and

PKA pathways have been studied for half a century, Dr. Zhong presented how his research is focused on the “spatial-temporal activity dynamics in the cyclic AMP and PKA pathway.” The lab studies the pathways at different levels to gain a “comprehensive” understanding of the pathway. He studies both, at a cellular level and at a behavioral level to gain a sense of the overall function.

In the first half of the presentation, Dr. Zhong went over the methods of the experiment at a cellular level. He also explained the background information of what is already known about the pathway, such as the mechanism behind cell signaling and function. The cyclic AMP subunits bind to catalytic subunits which leads to a cascading effect of other processes to create cell signaling and function. They found that if the PKA binding site is deleted, then they can still activate the PKA catalytic units, which move into the spines of the neuron’s dendrites, which is the receiving end of the neuron. He also explains that PKA catalytic subunits are associated with the membrane upon activation via myristoylation, which is when myristic acid is added to the protein subset. The subunit has an intrinsic affinity for the membrane, which makes a difference in the function of the PKA pathway.

The second part of the seminar was dedicated to the in-vivo portions of his experiment. Dr. Zhong reminded the attendees that different biological states affect the resulting behavior. He explained how the lab uses neuromodulation to dynamically

control the circuit.

In the in-vivo portions, the lab found that PKA activity in indirect spiny neuron pathways is possibly driven by an acute accumulation of extracellular adenosine through the Adenosine A2a receptors because of the accumulation found in the striatum during locomotion assays. Another potential mechanism is that PKA activity is both increased in direct and indirect spiny neuron pathways which may increase synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability.

Dr. Zhong explained how “Dopamine is like the gas in the system, and adenosine is the brake.” His analogy is meant to explain how dopamine drives movement while adenosine is supposed to suppress action.

But, both must work in tandem to modulate locomotor behavior.

The new evidence of the build-up of adenosine in the striatum will help determine specific striatal functions and how dopamine and adenosine coordinate within the striatum to produce animal movement. Thus, producing new insights into the actions of dopamine in the striatum. With dopamine being a major player in neurological motor diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease, understanding the function pathways indepth will only enhance the progress in treating such illnesses.

For more information on Zhong’s lab and their current developments and experiments, visit their website. There, a complete list of publications, research and lab members can H be found. ■

Opinions

6 TUESDAY, MAR 12, 2024

OPINIONS

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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

Legacy admissions deny students a truly holistic process

NEW CALIFORNIA LEGISLATION DOES NOT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DECREASE LEGACY ADMISSIONS SINCE THE DENIAL OF CALGRANT MONEY DOES NOTHING TO HOLD THE GUILTY PARTIES ACCOUNTABLE. 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.

The California legislature is considering Assembly Bill 1780, which would withhold CalGrant funding to universities that favor legacy applicants. Donor and alumni connections present a hard-to-tamp issue for California legislators and universities as legacy admissions flourish at prominent institutions, including the University of Southern California (USC), Stanford and Santa Clara University. The issue of these legacy admissions and preferential treatment cannot be addressed by denying CalGrant money allocated to low-income students already being boxed out of these institutions. This bill only has the potential to worsen the issue and further disadvantage students who cannot afford to buy their admission.

Withholding CalGrant money will not incentivize compliance by these universities and will only create an admissions process that further favors legacy admissions. Clearly, these schools are willing to favor legacy applicants and deprioritize low-income students. Taking away CalGrant money will only encourage California schools not to admit students needing that funding and continue to fill those spaces with legacy admissions. In reality, this legislation does not target the universities, it targets the students and punishes them.

It’s murky as to why this is something universities get to ask students since it has no bearing on a student’s qualifications for entrance. This is simply a way to privilege the privileged further. Legacy admissions are a slick way to get around needblind admissions policies and allow the university to covertly use an applicant’s ability to pay tuition as a factor. Need-blind policies prohibit using finances as a factor in admissions decisions, while need-aware universities consider the applicant’s ability to pay tuition in admissions. Stanford and USC claim to be need-blind universities but still push legacy admissions. Both schools admitted more than 13% based on connections to alumni and donors in 2022. AB 1780 can’t address this, and these institutions need to learn to put their money where their mouth is and fully uphold the standards of fair need-blind admissions. Taking money from students will not incentivize this.

As of 2022, only 115 American universities were need-blind for American students, while only 7 had need-blind

policies for all students, including international students. Compare this to the approximately 3,000 four-year universities in the country, and it becomes obvious that America is the land of buying an education.

Similar legislation, AB 697, was presented in 2019 by Assemblymember Phillip Ting and failed. This bill came on the back of Operation Varsity Blues. This nationwide college admissions scandal elevated the conversation of how wealthy

“It says something about the California legislature and these universities that the only solution they can offer is to punish lowincome students already being blocked by legacy admissions.”

parents were using falsified athletic credentials and test scores to earn their children’s entrance into schools they were not qualified for. Despite the attention on this issue, Ting’s bill failed because many feared, as they do now, that this action would cause collateral damage to students at the guilty universities. Ting’s argument that there was no hard evidence backing up the need for this legislation at the time falls flat even though there is significant evidence of how widespread legacy admissions are because students needing CalGrants should not be paying the price of this crack-down.

It says something about the California legislature and these universities that the only solution they can offer is to punish low-income students already being blocked by legacy admissions. To address this concern, Ting has schools that continue to admit unprecedented numbers of legacy students “have plenty of money to continue to offer those students scholarships, and they should offer the students scholarships.” That’s not a solution — that’s a pipe dream. Not only is he interested in ripping this money out from under so many deserving students, but his only idea is to hope that these

schools will financially support them. It would be laughable if it weren’t so tragic and deluded.

Legacy admissions have presented a problem for legislators in terms of management. For colleges, legacy students present an investment and an influx of donations. With legacy students, they can more reliably count on donations from these students’ families to the school for generations. This helps them create a pool of donors rather than a pool of qualified students.

Everyone understands that schools need funding to run everything from classes to research to campus maintenance. The bottom line is that legacy admissions mean undeserving students are buying someone else’s right to be there. With the already glaring inequities in college admissions, legacy admissions are a stab in the back of students who didn’t just work hard but faced undeniably more difficult circumstances than their wealthy and typically white peers. After the Supreme Court decides to ban affirmative action, campus communities face the reality that their study body will be entirely unrepresentative of the world around them.

Furthermore, these students simply do not belong in these spaces. They will struggle to meet the academic standards of an educational institution for which they do not meet the qualifications.

When factors unrelated to an applicant’s ability to succeed are considered so predominantly, they are then placed in an environment not designed for them to succeed. For legacy students who gained entrance based on academic standards, their admission is unfortunately tainted.

Beyond unfairly disadvantaging lowincome students, legacy admissions deny legacies the right to the education they earned and recognition for what they have actually brought to the table. There is no one that this policy is not harming.

Legacy admissions need to be eliminated as a whole, and universities need to act in accordance with needblind policies. It has been year after year of unfair practices and inequity that cost student after student an opportunity they had every right to. As college decisions begin to come out this spring, know that none were given the consideration or respect they deserved. ■ H

IMAGE COURTESY OF FREEPIK

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7

OP-ED: UC Riverside claims the resolution to divest from Israel doesn’t reflect the university; the campus community proves otherwise ANONYMOUS

Last Thursday, UC Riverside made history by becoming the third university in the nation to divest from Israeli genocide and apartheid.

On Friday, March 1, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) released a vague, short and uncharacteristically cold statement. The statement, titled “University statement on ASUCR’s divestment resolution,” did not name an author, nor was it attributed to the Chancellor’s office. The statement condemned the passage of a resolution calling for ASUCR’s full divestment from companies complicit in aiding Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. The statement reads: “The Associated Students of UCR passed a resolution last night calling for divestment from Israel. This resolution runs counter to UC Riverside’s longstanding position and practices, does not align with the university’s views, and does not affect the investment practices of the university. We strongly oppose this action and believe that it goes against the culture of open dialogue and discourse. The UCR community must be a place where all people feel welcome and safe, and where we engage constructively on complicated issues.”

While this pointed statement claims that the resolution “does not align with the university’s views,” the people who make up the backbone of this university insist otherwise. There is an immense amount of support for this resolution, as evidenced by the massive turnout, support and passion that was prevalent in the Senate meeting.

I attended the Senate meeting on Thursday, Feb. 29, along with hundreds of other UC Riverside students, faculty and staff in support of the resolution SR-W24-005

ASUCR Boycott and Divestment from Israel and Corporations Complicit in the Ongoing Genocide in Gaza. This resolution, accompanied by a bill, enacts an ethical spending clause in ASUCR’s bylaws, preventing any of ASUCR’s annual one million dollar budget from being used on companies deemed complicit in the genocide of Palestinians.

Among these companies are McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza, Coca-Cola, Chevron and others.

ASUCR staff laid out 250 seats for attendees and instructed attendees to sit on one side of the room, and those opposed were instructed to sit on the other. The overwhelming majority filled in a matter of seconds by advocates for the resolution. While those in opposition struggled to fill up a single row, the rest of the room was quickly flooded by hundreds of other students who sat alongside the walls or lingered in the back of the room.

When the Senate opened up the floor for the public forum, the students opposed to the bill rushed to make their statements first.

A few spoke then left immediately, showing both their disinterest and proving their incapability to “engag[e] constructively on complicated issues,” like the university claims they value. If these students felt passionately about the resolution and their supposed alliance with what is just, why didn’t any of them care to see the vote through?

UCR constantly boasts its rankings in measures of diversity and claims in its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) mission statement that they are committed to “ensuring greater representation of individuals from all backgrounds in every part of the

university and keeping fairness and accessibility in higher education at the heart of our policies.” However, it only applies that concept when it is beneficial to its image, heavily featuring diverse students in their brochures, social media posts and website, only to ignore the opinions of those students and instead favoring a small minority on campus who don’t even have the commitment to back their beliefs for an entire Senate meeting.

Contrastingly, around four hundred students, faculty and staff attended the Senate meeting in support of the resolution. Fortyone student organizations co-authored the resolution, and dozens of their members attended the meeting in support, including the Black Student Union, Global Medical Brigades, Faculty for Justice in Palestine, Underground Scholars, MECHA de UCR and others. Representatives from these student organizations spoke during the public forum, describing to Senators why their community is passionate about divestment and discussing the importance of allyship on campus.

Along with organization representatives, UCR faculty, staff from across campus, graduate students, alumni, union workers and medical students all passionately made their case in front of the Senate and patiently waited for hours until a final decision was determined by the Senators.

The Senators discussed the resolution in a closed meeting and considered the diverse, varied and passionate testimonies of students. After a moment of deliberation, all 15 Senators present at the meeting, who were elected to represent all five colleges

and schools on campus, unanimously voted to pass SR-W24-005 and divest ASUCR funds from Israel. Additionally, 14 ASUCR officials motioned to be added to the resolution, joining the other six who had already signed on, indicating ASUCR’s firm stance in support of this action.

With all this considered, does the passing of this bill and resolution “go against open dialogue and discourse,” as UCR’s statement indicated, or is it just not the kind of dialogue this Zionist institution is ready to hear? UCR’s statement that “this resolution runs counter to UC Riverside’s longstanding position” and their adamant refusal to write a statement empathizing with the slaughter of over 30,000 civilians in Gaza yet quickly writing a statement after Oct. 7, the university has made their position abundantly clear. They unapologetically stand firmly with the actions of Israel that have already been deemed by the International Court of Justice as genocidal. While UCR takes an inhumane stance and reiterates its support for the apartheid and genocidal state of Israel, its community aligns itself with the cause of humanity — marking a momentous time in UCR history, whether or not those with wealth and power like it.

Op-Eds are not edited by The Highlander, excluding those related to grammatical errors and AP requirements. Op-Eds do not reflect the opinion of the Editorial Board and are not written by Highlander contracted writers.

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OP-ED: UCR Faculty for Justice in Palestine response to University statement on ASUCR Divestment Resolution UCR CHAPTER OF FACULTY FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE (FJP)

UCR FJP rejects the administration’s published statement against ASUCR’s recent divestment resolution. We fully support the Palestinian call for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel and are proud of UCR’s students.

The UCR Faculty for Justice in Palestine (FJP) is a local chapter of the Faculty for Justice in Palestine. FJP is a decentralized national network of affiliated campus chapters whose faculty and staff members support Palestinian liberation through education, advocacy and action. FJP supports and amplifies the work of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) along with other student groups and campus unions. Currently, the UCR chapter of FJP includes over 50 faculty members and is growing.

On Thursday, Feb. 29, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) student governing body, Associated Students of UCR (ASUCR), voted unanimously in support of SR-W24-005: Boycott and Divestment from Israel and Corporations Complicit in the Ongoing Genocide in Gaza. This ethical spending policy applies principles from the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement to ASUCR funding.

Over five hundred students showed up for the vote. UCR faculty members in attendance, several of whom have been teaching at the campus for more than twenty years, remarked that they had never seen nor heard of such a standing-room-only turnout for an ASUCR meeting. Everyone who wanted to got a chance to speak about this bill. Only two attendees spoke against it. Both left

shortly after their three-minute turn at the microphone. Dozens of people spoke after them in support of the bill. Students from a range of organizations representing different communities spoke about how important it is to take a stand against genocide and anti-Palestinian state violence. Palestinian students talked about what they are going through as dozens of family members are killed in one bombing after another. Jewish students talked about how violating it is to see a genocide conducted in their name and made it clear that Zionists do not speak for them. Students talked about how important the bill is as something concrete that they can do in a moment when they feel helpless before the spectacle of such extreme suffering. They talked about how resolutions like this are just what Palestinian activists have asked us to do. By the time faculty spoke, the students had said it all. So we let them know that we have their backs. And we do.

On March 1, a “University statement on ASUCR’s divestment resolution” appeared on the campus news website and declared “We strongly oppose this action and believe that it goes against the culture of open dialogue and discourse.” The statement continues, “The UCR community must be a place where all people feel welcome and safe, and where we engage constructively on complicated issues.”

The UCR chapter of FJP, fifty members and growing, rejects the UCR administration’s statement. It is dishonest, hypocritical and cowardly. Such a statement undermines confidence in the administrative leadership’s ability to represent the campus community, especially the students.

This resolution is, in fact, exactly the product of open dialogue and discourse. SRW24-005 passed on the back of many years of student work. ASUCR previously passed divestment resolutions in 2013 and 2014.

The fact that there is overwhelming support at UCR for BDS is the hard-won victory of generations of students who have been doing the research, hosting speakers, screening films, organizing teach-ins, showing up for conversations, staging peaceful demonstrations and engaging in hard forms of truthtelling under the most censorious of conditions.

The police and administrative repression against the Riverside 3 of the Irvine 11, who were arrested in 2010 for speaking out against genocide after Operation Cast Lead from 2008 to 2009, is one manifestation of sustained student dissent. The unanimous passage of the resolution before such a large crowd of supporters is a huge accomplishment. The administration’s statement is political propaganda that aims to delegitimize this bill’s passage and the work of its au-

thors. At a moment when the UC Regents are attempting to ban political statements from department websites, this administration’s gaslighting is itself a glaring hypocrisy.

UCR FJP joins a growing global community of students, teachers, scholars, artists and educational workers of all kinds in declaring solidarity with Palestinian life and liberation, which are a minimal condition for truly “open dialogue and discourse.”

As importantly, we reject the legitimacy of UCR’s administration, which is acting as a de facto apologist for the U.S. taxpayersupported mass displacement and militarized extermination of the Palestinian people in this historical moment.

UCR Faculty for Justice in Palestine want to be clear: the “we” of the “University’s statement” does not include us. We support the Palestinian call for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel. We are proud of UCR’s students.

Op-Eds are not edited by The Highlander, excluding those related to grammatical errors and AP requirements. Op-Eds do not reflect the opinion of the Editorial Board and are not written by Highlander contracted writers.

MATA ELANGOVAN / THE HIGHLANDER

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TUESDAY, MAR 12, 2024

9

Alabama clinic resumes IVF treatments under new law shielding providers from liability LEILANI ACOSTA Contributing Writer

Alabama’s legislation on embryos’ rights has caused political uncertainty nationwide.

The experience of giving birth and raising a child is priceless, and thanks to advancements in assisted reproductive technologies, more couples facing infertility are now able to do so. According to a recent ruling by Alabama’s Supreme Court, couples can sue fertility companies for the “accidental destruction” of frozen embryos under the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. Specifically, the court classified embryos as “unborn children.” In response, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill offering fertility companies protection against couples who may sue. Currently, in vitro fertilization (IVF) services have resumed. However, the ambiguity of embryo rights remains. Fertility companies should be able to operate and provide couples with treatment to experience the birth of life free of restrictions from indeterminate laws.

IVF is a process that mimics conception. If the controlled fertilization involved is successful, then the fertilized egg will divide multiple times, creating a bunch of embryos. After choosing a viable embryo, the excess embryos are either frozen and stored for the couple to possibly use in the future, donated to medical research or given to another couple struggling with infertility.

While it seems like a simple process, the

emotional and physical toll that couples experience is substantial.

It’s important to note that the main controversy is the ambiguity regarding the treatment of embryos. When freezing and storing embryos or even shipping them to other clinics, mishaps are bound to occur, with embryos possibly being thawed if not kept at -321 degrees Fahrenheit. These are now legitimate reasons for couples to sue clinics when they represent common risks associated with the procedure. The potential of legal implications not only heightens the anxiety of staff members in IVF clinics but also of the couples going through the IVF process, regardless if the couple plans to sue or not.

Fortunately, Governor Ivey signed a bill offering legal protection for fertility compa-

nies. However, the vagueness regarding “accidental destruction” and “unborn children” remains a dark cloud above the world of infertility. This bill is a short-term solution, and the discussion regarding embryo rights will come up again without more specific legislation being implemented to protect it.

While the rain cloud of obscure laws follows IVF clinics, couples who have experienced success through the process have expressed sadness for couples who will be denied access to IVF procedures. An interview by the New York Times highlighted the voices of couples who have undergone IVF. Some couples have been undergoing the IVF process and, upon the court ruling, have been forced to wait for their clinic to resume operation. The shipment of embryos across state borders was also put on pause.

One couple told the Times, “I love that

many in our legislature are people of faith who agree with my thoughts and beliefs … but this isn’t a place for the government to be involved.”

Looking through a broader lens, embryo rights are ambiguous nationwide. Currently, there is no federal legislation regarding the rights of embryos in the U.S. Each state has a separate framework, leading to uncertainty for couples who live on the border between the two states. Additionally, clinics may be less common in states with more prominent laws on embryo rights. In contrast, states with fewer laws on embryo rights might have more reasonable access to fertility clinics. There must be a balanced way to approach infertility issues and allow fertility doctors and clinics to operate freely.

A national framework and more specific legislation regarding embryo rights is essential to continue the conversation about what fertility treatment really means for the country. Alabama’s court has created an environment where many lives are being put on pause by bringing immense confusion to Alabama’s citizens and violating the reproductive rights of women. Lawmakers and those in government should make it a priority to create specific laws that make embryo rights clear across the country. ■ H

The price of convenience: The burden of extra delivery fees SPANDANA JANAPATI Staff Writer

Grubhub faces an LA County lawsuit for adding extra fees at checkout, bringing attention to the rising prices in the food delivery industry.

Grubhub, a food delivery app, has recently been accused of including false promotions and excessive fees on its orders.

Los Angeles County filed a lawsuit against Grubhub on Feb. 21 for its bait-and-switch pricing, citing its website for including promotions that claim individuals can “order online for free.” The inclusion of unknown delivery charges has also been an issue for other delivery apps, such as Doordash and Uber Eats, leading to public calls for regu-

lating these fees.

To tackle the issue of junk fees, California is enacting Senate Bill 478 with the support of State Sen. Bill Dodd, Sen. Nancy Skinner and California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

SB 478, said to go into effect in July 2024, will remove unknown and unnecessary fees that are tacked onto the original cost. SB 478 will now require delivery sites to disclose the surcharges added to deliveries to account for employee benefits and other

expenses. This bill also oversees the advertising and language utilized on the websites and apps of these food delivery companies to prevent false claims of lesser fees. Although the bill has not passed, Doordash, Uber Eats and Postmates representatives have already released statements of compliance with these revised requirements. Addressing these delivery charges can be vital in helping maintain food pricing, especially with the prevalence of economic inflation, and ensuring that delivery personnel receive the appropriate payment and benefits for their services.

The service fees charged by food delivery companies are partly due to the passing of Proposition 22, which classifies delivery drivers as outside contractors. Through this classification, workers are provided full employment benefits, minimum earning guarantees and healthcare stipends for drivers.

Grubhub specifically added $1.50 to their flat fees to help cover the cost of these benefits. Including such fees for driver benefits would need to be directly disclosed once SB 478 is implemented.

While companies could abuse these added fees, interviewed drivers stated that the benefits provided through Prop. 22 don’t offset their general earnings. However, with

Grubhub’s new tipping prompt — “Leave an optional tip on top of driver benefits” — consumers might feel less inclined to tip because of the already added fees. Some drivers brought up the issue of tip-baiting, where customers enter a certain tip amount before receiving their order and then lower or entirely remove that tip once that order is received. The reduction of tipping can be accounted for by multiple issues likely out of the driver’s control, including food quality.

In most cases, customers state that the increase in service fees, with some charges up to $8, discourages individuals from tipping.

The reluctance to tip goes hand in hand with inflation. As food delivery companies such as Grubhub increase their pricing to remain competitive with other delivery apps, consumers are likely unable to match the prices of added-on fees alongside gratuity.

Holding food delivery companies accountable for pricing helps consumers and delivery drivers know what they are paying for.

A lawsuit against Grubhub for its delivery fees could be too extreme, especially based on the wording of its promotions.

However, the implications of a suit point toward a greater issue of accountability for pricing and acknowledgment of the needs of consumers and delivery drivers. ■ H

IMAGES COURTESY OF PEXELS

Features 10 TUESDAY, MAR 12, 2024

FEATURES

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How is the end of the quarter going to treat you?

Let’s see what’s in store before finals…

Aries: Chariot March 21 - April 19 The Chariot means one thing and one thing only: momentum. It is the end of the quarter, and all you have to do is keep pushing through. The finish line is in sight — now, it is just a matter of getting there. No more procrastination or hesitation. Your spring break will be all the more enjoyable when your hard work pays off.

Cancer: Page of Cups June 21 - July 22 It may seem crazy, but as winter quickly comes to a close and the dreaded spring quarter approaches, there are still new opportunities on the horizon. Even as your classes finish and you prepare for finals, be open to new ideas and possibilities that come your way. You never know what will blossom come spring.

Libra: Tower September 23 - October 22 Things are about to change, Libra, and not necessarily for the better. Even if you’re as prepared as can be, even if you’ve spent hours studying for finals, you can’t be prepared for every possibility. Expect the unexpected, and you’ll still be caught off guard.

The only thing to do is go with the flow and ride out the chaos.

Capricorn: Justice December 22 - January 19 Justice is as self-explanatory as they come. If you’ve been doing right by others and living up to your own beliefs and ideals, then it’s almost time for all that goodwill to be given back to you. If you haven’t — if you’ve been putting yourself before others, and ignoring your own moral compass — well, there’s still time to change your tune.

TAURUS: Wheel of Fortune April 20 - May 20 Everything you need is already in place. I hope you’ve been preparing for finals, because now, it is out of your hands. Trust the process, and roll with the punches, because it is in the hands of fate now. Know that whatever happens was meant to happen.

Leo: The Lovers July 23 - August 22 Not to be sappy, Leo, but you’ve found a connection.

Even amidst the stresses of finals, that’s a connection you need to nurture and strengthen; it will nurture and strengthen you in turn. Don’t let academic struggles pull you away from the people you love, but instead, know who you can rely on to see you through tough times.

Scorpio: Five of Cups October 23 - November 21 Things haven’t been going your way, Scorpio. That’s only to be expected — it happens from time to time, but you’ve got to move on eventually. If you spend all your time looking back, fixating on your mistakes and failures, you won’t be able to see the opportunity for change when it comes. Forgive yourself for what’s already happened.

Aquarius: Page of Swords January 19 - February 18 As the winter fades into spring, you’re exploring new methods of tackling your problems, and new approaches to your projects and obligations. You’re feeling things out, breaking out of old habits and getting a sense for the new — your challenge now is to stick the landing. Don’t try new things just to fall back into those old habits — really try to make a change.

Aedan Ferrara, Production Manager

Gemini: Queen of Wands May 21 - June 20 You know yourself best, Gemini, and you know that you’ve been pretty busy these past few weeks.

That’s not going to change any time soon, but trust yourself. You know what you need, and you know what you need to do to get it. You’ve already reached a better balance than you think.

Virgo: Page of Pentacles August 23 - September 22 The Page of Pentacles represents a new project or manifestation. As classes wrap up and the winter transitions into spring, cast your thoughts forward, to the things you’ll need to prepare for the upcoming quarter. Don’t see it as an obligation, as yet more work to take care of — see it for the new beginning that it is.

Sagittarius: Hermit November 22 - December 21 Finals week is not the time to be getting your party on. Nobody loves having to do it, but sometimes, you have to hunker down and study.

Now is the time to conserve your mental energy in preparation for all those essays, exams and projects. You’re more than capable — if you apply yourself.

Pisces: Queen of Cups February 19 - March 20 You’re becoming very aware of the problems that the people around you are having, Pisces.

In that awareness, don’t be overwhelmed by the tide of emotion — you’re more than capable of using your empathy and intuition to help and guide the people you love, without losing yourself in the process. Trust that you can be both what others need you to be, and H what you yourself need you to be.■

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The ultimate underdog story of becoming champions of California’s robotics scene URSA MECHANICA DESCRIBES THEIR HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESSES AS A PRIVATE ROBOTICS CLUB HERE IN RIVERSIDE. SANJANA THATTE Contributing Writer

Building your dream from the ground up is no easy feat for college students across the board, but at Ursa Mechanica, they seemed to have built their name around being the best at it.

The club was started last year by president Matthew Shibata, a fourth-year mechanical engineering major, as well as treasurer Eduardo Ramos, a third-year economics major, and vice president Nicholas Kang, a fourth-year computer science major. They were later joined by Kiana Dumdumaya, officer and fourth-year electrical engineering major. Starting out as a project team under the Society of Women’s Engineering (SWE), so that they could compete in VEX competitions as a part of the school, they found themselves branching out soon after. Their team’s goals were centered around building, programming and by testing robots against fellow robotics clubs, putting their creativity to the test and pushing the boundaries of engineering along the way.

However, the group would soon realize that they were quickly outgrowing their home at the Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) test ground, both literally and metaphorically. The allotted space for organizations such as SWE, Highlander Racing and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) who all share a room to work on their given projects. Unfortunately, because of the limited parameters of the room, the team couldn’t even fit the field in which they test movement and simulate the various games into their workplace, which is imperative to practicing for competitions.

Dumdumaya explained, the team wanted more people to take part in the fun and join the club as well, and there was simply no room to spread their wings. Now, one year later, the club meets at Shibata, Kang and Ramos’s garage in their house, so that members can stop by anytime to contribute to the progress of the robot during construction.

Furthermore, because the robot often needs to be continuously worked at, the club has no set meeting times, and only calls general meetings when necessary. They currently have 17 active members with a five member board, including Audrey Cho, who is the acting secretary at the club. As a part of the University circuit of VEX competitions they are allowed much more freedom in regards to the parts they can use to construct their robot, but are still required to provide documentation of their material to VEX and use VEX motors. This allows them to create different types of VEX robots that can do things like catapult objects or have claw machines like grabbers. With this in mind, despite their modest beginnings, the team would go on to achieve incredible things in that year alone by placing 19th at VEX U — the world’s largest college and university robotics competition, and as of this year — and winning two Excellence Awards for being the best overall robotics team in California.

That is not to say that their success came without struggle. Due to not being affiliated with BCOE, raising enough money for the competitions and the robots themselves was a significant challenge. As Shibata explains, fundraising must be considerable at

COURTESY OF URSA MECHANICA

best to accommodate the costly nature of the competitions, “To put it in perspective, just to compete in the competition, you have to pay a flat fee of $2,000, and then just to compete at [VEX U] that’s another $1,800. Each robot costs six to eight thousand dollars, with parts on the cheaper end … if you don’t put all the bells and whistles on it. So one of our main issues is, how can we make the robot better with as little money as possible?” This, along with having to pay for plane tickets, housing and accommodations during competitions, adds up, leading to some finance-induced turmoil on the path to success.

Yet, despite all the setbacks, what often combats all the stress and tiredness is what makes the club itself unique. Ursa Mechanica prides itself on its inclusive attitude toward bringing in new members and its friendly atmosphere that allows everyone to have a good time while they are finding their place in the club. As Ramos explains, belonging is a huge part of what makes being a part of Ursa Mechanica so special. She continued, “Not [every] club is very close … [but] we accept everyone with open arms … We’re all family … We’re all in it together.”

This is particularly important for those who may want to break into robotics but may face roadblocks, as Dumdumaya did when she first explored the engineering world. Dumdumaya elaborated, “I think coming here, the first things we do, like if someone new comes in is … we try to get them to touch the robot as fast as they can or … do what they want to do on the team.” Along with competing themselves, they routinely referee and judge competitions at local high schools and colleges, spreading their enthusiasm for building to others as they learn to love the field of robotics as well.

That being said, with an established identity and a solid foundation built, the last peak for Ursa Mechnica to climb is winning VEX U. With over 50 countries participating in the world’s largest robotics competition, Ursa Mechanica is determined to take their place at the top and prove to everyone that they’ve got what it takes to be world champions. The main game that will be played at VEX U this year is called the “Over Under” game, which tests the ability of the robots to grab onto and support itself on various objects by allowing teams to score points by gathering as many objects under the designated nets, and climbing over and under the various posts on the field.

Ursa Mechnica hopes to set themselves apart from their competitors in Texas this April and take the world by storm with their innovative skills.

Ursa Mechanica proudly represents University of California, Riverside (UCR) with their creations and love for the field. This passion and drive is a testament to their ability to strive despite adversity while still fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for students. If you would like to join or support them in efforts to push the boundaries of robotics, their Discord and GoFundMe are open for students to join and for donations to help fund future projects. ■ H

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Get your groove on STELA NOELLE ABASTA Contributing Writer

Solo song recommendations for you to scream-sing along to during karaoke night!

As much as I hate to align with stereotypes, I am a Filipina that absolutely loves karaoke. Whether it be using the karaoke machine at someone’s house, going to a local karaoke spot or just bumping music and singing in someone’s car, karaoking never gets old for me. However, the unfortunate part about this is that I am not a good singer.

In fact, I would go as far to say that I am god awful. If you can relate to me, or you’re a good singer looking for some new songs to stun the crowd with your voice, this article is for you. This is a list of some of my personal favorite solo karaoke songs that you can have fun singing whether you have perfect pitch or are tone deaf.

“Creep” by Radiohead Whether you sing this song out of tune or you’re hitting every note, as long as you put in enough emotion and drama in your voice, you’ll have the crowd cheering you on. It can also be sung in a different octave to better fit your vocal range since the original pitch might be hard to hit, and it’s especially fun to scream-sing the bridge. Pretend you’re Manolo from “The Book of Life,” singing for your unrequited lover with “Creep.”

“When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars This nostalgic number will bring you and your audience back to when the radio was

still good. One of the first times I ever did “karaoke” was when I was in middle school on a field trip, and my classmates and I spontaneously started singing this song on the school bus. Looking back on it makes me cringe, but I will never forget how much fun middle school me had singing this song with her peers. This is a great ballad to sing completely unhinged as you reminisce on a past lover (or at least pretend to do so).

“With or Without You” by U2 If you really want a throwback to impress some older people in your audience, U2 is always a good go-to. This is what my dad would call a “beerhouse” song. After hearing the story about him singing this song in a bar when he was deployed in Hawaii more times than I can remember, I decided to finally give it a listen, and I have now come to the conclusion that this is one of the best karaoke songs. You can get away with speaksinging a lot of the song, which makes it on the easier side. It is quite a lengthy song, so be warned that you will be in the spotlight for quite a bit.

“Classic” by MKTO This is a “classic” song that will be sure to get your audience hyped and on their feet.

It has a catchy, feel-good melody, which will definitely be stuck in you and your friends’ heads even when the night is over. My per-

sonal favorite part of the song is the rap verse, which is so fun to sing to (although I sometimes do mess it up).

“Michael in the Bathroom” by George Salazar This one is for my fellow theater kids (whether or not you want to admit it). This show tune isn’t the easiest to sing, I’ll admit. But it is an exciting one that will wake up the crowd. It is the perfect amount of dramatic and funny. The normies that don’t know it will be hit with a wave of surprise if you pull this song out of your sleeve!

“You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift An emotive track, “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift is the perfect love song to scream-sing to when the mic is in your hands. The bridge in this song is the perfect moment that will build up hype in your audience before you belt out the lyrics. Additionally, this is a very popular song, so you will definitely have the audience singing along to it with you where they won’t even notice whether or not you’re a good singer.

“Hey There Delilah” by Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah” is a fan favorite. If you or anybody in the audience is in a long distance relationship, performing this will get everyone in their feels. You’ll have the

audience hoping Delilah waited for you.

“The A Team” by Ed Sheeran This is a favorite karaoke song of my close friends’ whenever we sing together.

When I saw Ed Sheeran sing this live, I remember being surprised at knowing all of the lyrics because of how many times my friends would sing this song during karaoke.

This song will be sure to spark some sad emotions for you and anyone in the audience. Teardrops will be hitting the mic.

“I’m Not the Only One” by Sam Smith This is the type of song that you really need to get into. I mean you have to up the dramatics tenfold — I’m talking about being on your knees on the floor gripping the mic as tightly as you can as you tug at your hair out of faux frustration at your dying romantic relationship. You really have to sell it if you sing this song, and if you succeed, I’m sure the audience will adore your performance even if they might not have adored your singing.

I hope now you and your friends have a list of songs to add to your karaoke repertoire and/or your karaoke playlist. Next time, when someone asks you “What should we sing next?” I hope you have a good answer. Have fun belting out these songs to your heart’s content at your next karaokerelated function! ■ H

Surviving finals: Eight ways to de-stress before exams NOLA PERIFEL Contributing Writer

Winter quarter finals are coming up and it is easy to become overwhelmed and stressed. Here are a few tips to stay sane in these last few weeks before the spring.

With finals week coming up, it is important to remember how to study in a smart and productive way, but it is even more important to remember how to stay calm and fight stress.

1. Something that helps me in times of stress is knowing that I have control over when and how I prepare for class.

By preparing yourself and creating a clear study schedule for finals, it can be reassuring to know when you will study, what you will study and for how long. By creating a schedule that prepares you early enough before the finals, you will feel calm the day of your finals because you will have been properly ready.

2. Sleeping is extremely important when it comes to being calm and relaxed. If you sleep on an inconsistent sleep schedule, stress levels can rise, making it difficult to concentrate during studying and exam taking. Sleep helps with concentration and memory, which are two skills that are extremely important during test taking. The lack of these skills can really impact grades. Sleep is therefore extremely important when it comes to finals.

3. Know your resources. Something important when struggling with stress is knowing the resources to which

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you have access. Seeking therapy, treatment or going to resources like The Well at University of California, Riverside (UCR) can be extremely helpful to help cope with stress during finals week. UCR’s Therapy Fluffies (an event in which students can spend time with cats and dogs in the libraries) is also a great way to relax before finals week.

6. Taking regular breaks during times when you study is very important. Overstudying exists and it usually does more harm than good. By taking breaks, you can relax more, pausing stressful studying to regroup yourself. It also helps with concentration, which in turn, helps with studying and therefore reduces stress because you will feel more prepared.

4. If you are stressed, it is important to communicate with the people around you. Trusting the judgment of others can help you understand things that you may not have understood when studying. Communication can also help as it can aid you in the process of understanding the emotions that can be felt during times of stress before finals week. Make sure you are able to talk to the people around you so they understand the way you might be feeling and how they may be able to help.

7. Time management is another important tool to staying on track when preparing for exams and finals. Procrastination will only make stress levels rise because of feelings of unpreparedness in the upcoming exam days. If you are able to manage your time correctly, it will help you feel more relaxed the day of the finals because you will feel prepared and ready.

5. Limiting caffeine intake can also help reduce stress.

Caffeine can overstimulate you, causing increased feelings of anxiety, nervousness and stress. It can also keep you awake, disrupting the sleep schedule. Although it might be tempting to drink caffeine to pull all nighters during exams, it is much more clever to get sufficient sleep to stay concentrated during regular study sessions.

8. A final way to relieve tension is through exercise. Regular short walks or daily exercise can help reduce stress and tension. Your mind might detach from the subjects you are studying for, giving you relaxing time for yourself. Exercise can also help to elevate your mood, making it easier to concentrate and focus when you study.

I hope these study suggestions aid in your plight to pass finals. Good luck on your exams this quarter — if you use H these tips I am sure you will succeed. ■

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FEATURES

TUESDAY, MAR 12, 2024

Work on yourself before working on others

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DATING ADVICE FROM THE HIGHLANDER’S INFAMOUSLY AND TERMINALLY SINGLE OPINIONS EDITOR, BECAUSE COACHES DON’T PLAY… YSABEL NAKASONE Opinions Editor

“As a straight man, the only demographic I attract is gay men. And while swapping teams would be awfully convenient, I am still straight! How do I begin attracting women and not gay men? Do I just turn into a gym bro or Asian Baby Boy (ABB), or should I just be myself?”

Anonymous, he/him/his Being attractive to men is a plight and I really do feel for you, but you have to consider that you might not be putting out the right vibes. I would consult your female friends and see what they think. Talk to your most direct friends so they give you the truth instead of just telling you platitudes about how you just haven’t found the right girl.

Starting a relationship requires introspection. This doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you, but getting advice from women who know you could help you. We all have flaws and imperfections and have to work on ourselves. Try considering that you’re just not ready for the right girl yet, and that gives you time to work on being the best version of yourself. Being that matters more than focusing on who you attract. Who people are attracted to is a fickle and uncontrollable thing, and people get to have that latitude, so don’t let how many girls are interested in you determine your self-worth.

I would also consider weighing how many female friends you have. A guy having no female friends is, to me at least, an indicator that I need to be more hesitant around them. Women have to go about their lives with an unhealthy dose of fear, so knowing that the guy you’re flirting with has the influence of female friends who have similar experiences and understanding is meaningful. Though this can go both ways with the girl best friend stereotype, so tread carefully.

You might just be unaware of who is attracted to you. Put yourself out there more instead of just a wait-and-see approach. I can’t tell you how many guys I’ve liked that were absolutely oblivious and never knew, and it’s definitely more than the guys I’ve been painfully obvious about liking. You have to put yourself out there just as much or maybe even more. Unfortunately, this whole gender norms and misogyny thing has really mucked things up when it comes to girls making the first move.

Don’t expect so much of yourself or others, it will only make finding that connection even more stressful. All in all, just be careful and considerate of everyone, including yourself. ■ H

Nestle yourself into Birdcage Comics Cafe INLAND EMPIRE’S COZIEST COMIC COFFEE SHOP. ASHLEY CARRANZA Contributing Writer

Look out, comic book nerds, here comes Birdcage Comics Cafe making waves as the coolest new spot in town. Birdcage Bottom Books is an online website that sells comics wholesale and individually. Founded back in 2008 by J.T. Yost, the store’s mission is to show the literary work of creative artists and share comics made by upcoming writers. Yost passed the torch to Daniel Whitfield, the owner of Birdcage Comics Cafe, and now the online website is partnered together with the coffee shop to bring the zines sold online, in person.

Before owning Birdcage Comics Cafe, Whitfield was a mailman and an online bookseller for Birdcage Bottom Books. His position as a mailman conveniently allowed him to mail any comic book sales through the postal service. However, he soon quit his job because he donated a kidney to his father-in-law; the strain of walking many miles a day on his body was unsafe. However, his gallant efforts soon rewarded him with an opportunity to buy the shop that he owns to this very day. His father-inlaw pitched in to loan him money as a thanks for donating a kidney. Whitfield opened Birdcage Comics Cafe and has his collection of zines in the shop for customers to enjoy and read while they sip some coffee and listen to live music on Fridays. Here are some fan-favorite treats I tried!

As I stepped into the coffee-scented haven, the rhythmic hum of conversation and hiss of the espresso machine provided a soothing soundtrack to the overall atmosphere.

To the left of the room displayed a library of zines ranging from different genres, colors and sizes. Light brown wooden tables sat in the middle and against the wall, which was perfect for studying and cramming for finals since the shop provides four outlets near each one! The chalkboard menu was filled with doodles and colorful letterings — sandwiches were labeled in blue, breakfast in yellow and freshly squeezed lemonade in green. I decided to try one food item and three different drinks. What caught my eye first was highlighted in red, pizza bagels.

Pizza bagels Pizza bagels are made from your choice of either a plain cheese or an everything bagel. The base is toasted in the oven and then slathered with marinara sauce and topped with cheese and two toppings, I chose pepperoni and jalapenos. After its second visit to the toaster oven, the melted cheesy pizza bagel is ready to be served. As my teeth sank into the hot, gooey goodness of the pizza bagel, the flavors erupted on my tastebuds; I knew that this was a solid nine out of ten meal for me. If the pineapple I added as a third topping was cooked similarly to Domino’s pizza, I would’ve given it a full ten out of ten.

Freshly squeezed lemonade The next thing I tried on the menu was their huckleberry lemonade and strawberry lemonade. The huckleberry lemonade had an unusual flavor that made me reach for more with every sip. It was a bit sour and sweet, but overall, delicious. The strawberry lemonade was tangy enough to make me nod in contentment and sweet enough to chug most of it, leaving anyone wanting seconds.

Brown sugar espresso with oat milk From their faves menu, I tried their well-known brown sugar espresso with oat milk. On my first sip, the boldness of the espresso felt like a warm hug. The sweetness of the carefully crafted brown sugar added the perfected amount of flavor and beautifully balanced the bitterness of the coffee. This brown sugar espresso holds a special place in my coffee loving heart, earning it a place as one of my favorites. Through my journey exploring numerous coffee shops in Riverside, and now San Bernardino, this delicious coffee stood out from the crowd. I will be returning at least bi-weekly to enjoy more delicious coffee from the rest of their menu.

Red Bull bird fuel Last but not least in our review is the flavored Red Bull section! This shop had the bright idea to add flavoring to Red Bull, enhancing their taste. You can find many flavors on the menu, including ones such as strawberry, raspberry and peach. I sipped on a Red Bull infused with peach which was nothing short of a sensational experience.

The initial burst of the bubbliness from the carbonation mixed with the natural taste of peaches created a balance that was both satisfying and invigorating. The energy boost allowed me to finish five chapters of a novel I was reading, and catch up on many other assignments. If you’ve had a hectic day or are simply seeking a pick-me-up, a zingy Red Bull infused with flavoring will surely elevate your energy through the day.

Visiting Birdcage Comics Cafe was a delightful journey that exceeded the expectations of traditional coffee shops. From the moment I entered, the ambiance was both cozy and vibrant, with hints of zines and study vibes creating an inviting atmosphere.

As I savored their specialty drinks and indulged in their foods, the overall aesthetic enhanced my enjoyment. The friendly baristas and unique menu, coupled with the opportunity to immerse myself in a comic book while sipping on a handcrafted cup of coffee, made Birdcage Comics Cafe a great place to study and enjoy coffee. I am eager to return and try out new things on their menu.■ H

IMAGES VIA ASHLEY CARRANZA / THE HIGHLANDER

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TUESDAY, MAR 12, 2024

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Eaton at the Movie Exhibit: A blast to the past

Explore the cinematic history of science fiction and fantasy in this exuberant exhibit at UCR’s Tomás Rivera Library.

BRENDAN VO Radar Editor

On the fourth floor of the Tomás Rivera Library in the Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA), the Eaton Collection, one of the world’s largest cataloged collections of Science Fiction (SF), Fantasy and Speculative Literature, held the Eaton at the Movies Exhibit. The event showcased a variety of materials from the collection, unveiling and showcasing the various points of Science Fiction (SF) film and television history and featuring many important and compelling pieces of media such as intimate photographs and rare books.

Dr. Phoenix Alexander, the Jay Kay and Doris Klein Science Fiction Librarian, gives The Highlander the ins and outs of preparing the exhibit and his perspective in an exclusive interview. Preparations for exhibits are planned around one year in advance and Dr. Phoenix stated, “I’d had the idea to do an Eaton at the Movies Exhibit since I started in my current role in July 2022.” A list of the wide range of rare and interesting items to be showcased was made once the exhibit schedule was established.

The exhibit was ran during SCUA’s normal operating hours, Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m, from dates from Feb. 12 to Summer 2024. The event was also fully run by the Eaton Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy as the exhibit was not sponsored and a private opening reception catered by the library was held for local curators, faculty and graduate students. In prompting Dr. Phoenix Alexander on what inspired him to create this event, he shared, “It really was to celebrate science fiction film and television and to inspire and excite audiences of all ages and walks of life. The great thing about the Eaton Collection is that you’ll find something that speaks to everyone in there — and it was my job to curate a diverse and exciting range of objects to do just that.”

The exhibit was advertised through Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Facebook. Group emails were also sent out to and event posters were found around campus as well.

When asked about how the materials were chosen for the exhibit, Dr. Phoenix Alexander explained that he wanted to showcase a variety of items in the exhibit, including media like archival papers, print materials, photographs, chapbooks, rare books and physical objects. Dr. Phoenix Alexander elaborated “[o]nce I’d created a large list of potential items, I then began to group them together thematically. I decided not to do a chronological history of cinema fairly early on in the planning.” The provided Eaton at the Movies Exhibit guide supplements this, as it provides a tour traveling towards multiple vantage points of SF categorization, rather than by time periods.

The exhibit, split into these categorizations, explored topics that would, according to the exhibit guide, “take up the themes of wander and terror as it relates to SF film and television…” The first category the guide illustrates is “The Voyage Out,” showcasing literary works of the 19th century that inspired early SF film-makers, a time that explored compelling narratives with fantastical settings, technologies and characters. “The Voyage Out” showcased works like Georges Méliès’ “Mage” (1945), “The Will of an Eccentric” (Le Testament d’un Excentrique 1899) and the article “Space: 1999” from The Science Fiction Film journal. (May, 1976). “Cyberfeminine” explores the human-like female automata of SF, tied to both the time period of the 18th and 19th century and the gothic genre. The English transcription of the screenplay of Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” (1973), novelization of “Metropolis” (1975) and a movie poster

IRENE TU / THE HIGHLANDER

of “Beyoncé: Renaissance” (2023) was showcased.

“Your Nightmares will be Televised” is a horror showcase that brings explorers onto a frightening, but fantastic, journey that encompasses multiple mediums. The terrors of SF are explored through works displayed like the Storyboard sketch of “Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation” (2017), which was illustrated by John Jennings, the “Northwest Passage” script for Twin Peaks (c. 1990) and the “The World Next Door” script of “The Twilight Zone” (c. 1986).

“Space Samurai” was a series of displayed items from George Lucas’ infamously popular SF franchise, Star Wars; the exhibit guide stated how “Lucas drew inspiration from science fiction classics such as Flash Gordon, as well as the films of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa.” Works like the illustrated script of “Star Wars,” “The Art of Star Wars” (1979) and “The Star Wars Portfolio” (1977) featured Ralph MacQuarrie concept paintings of landscapes, costumes, characters and vehicles.

“Martian Chronicles” was a display case dedicated to SF author Ray Bradbury, displaying a small snapshot of his life. “The Martian Chronicles: A Teleplay (1978)” was showcased, the television adaptation of Bradbury’s 1950 novel that first aired on National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in 1980.

“New Frontiers” showed off items from and inspired by another of today’s pop-culture staple of SF, Gene Roddenberry’s “Star Trek.” Some of the items were the script of the tenth episode of “Star Trek: the Original Series,” ‘The Corbomite Maneuver,” second revised final draft (1966) and the Writers/Directors Guide for “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (1992), a document created pre-production to aid writers that may not be familiar with extensive lor of “Star Trek.”

A challenge faced in preparing the exhibit was narrowing down what items to display. Dr. Phoenix Alexander elaborated how “each exhibit case could only really display between three [to] five pieces, depending on size. I wanted to make sure the cases weren’t overcrowded and told a clear narrative.” Additionally, there were many tasks to carry out overall like printing exhibit labels, choosing the imagery for the exhibit guide and maintaining and looking after every item displayed, in which case his colleagues were cited as a great source of help. He continued, “As you can see, this was a collaborative process; our new conservator, Christina Bean, worked tirelessly to help me install the exhibit — and even built a stand on which we displayed our R2-D2 ‘guest book’!”

The exhibit is a unique and fun event that University of California, Riverside (UCR) students can treat themselves to all the way to summer. Dr. Alexander Phoenix enjoyed “[s]eeing how passionate people are about the texts, stories and franchises on display,” such as the R2-D2 model as a letterbox and unorthodox guestbook where guests can humorously write and put notecards into his mouth. Celebrating the various points of SF, the Eaton at the Movies Exhibit was nothing short of a fun and compelling experience that also brought attention to the collections held at UCR. Dr. Alexander Phoenix’s goal in displaying the exhibit “[was] really to raise awareness of the wonderful collections we have here at UCR Library and — I know it sounds cheesy — but to bring excitement and joy to everyone who visits the exhibit.” For future plans and other events from the Eaton Collection, the next Eaton-related exhibit will be put up next year.■ H

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TUESDAY, MAR 12, 2024

Laufey smashes yet another one of her sad ballad songs with her newest single, ‘Goddess’

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The Icelandic-Chinese singer shines with her typical deep vocal range, soothing orchestral instrumentals and raw lyrics.

KIMBERLY BEJEC Assistant Radar Editor

Since the release of her debut single, “Street By Street,” in 2020, Laufey has been rapidly rising in popularity and fame for her unique music. Since then, the singer has released two albums, “Everything I Know About Love” (2022) and “Bewitched” (2023) that have been received with positive reviews. The mix between her classic jazz vocals and orchestral symphony created a new form of pop music that accelerated her further into the music industry. On March 6, Laufey released her newest single and title track “Goddess” as a debut for her deluxe album version of “Bewitched.”

Laufey’s life and growth are to be appreciated for the wide range of musical talents she has. They would later be the source of inspiration to shape her current music. Born to an Icelandic father and Chinese mother, she brings in representation that is lacking in the music industry. Growing up, Laufey learned the piano and cello while studying singing during her college years. Her learning of classical music and appreciation for jazz musicians would later become a big inspiration for her musical style. Along with these styles, her lyricism in showcasing emotionality and romance meshes beautifully together.

In the uniqueness of Laufey’s music, she has since seen a climb in her musical career.

A plethora of her songs have gone viral on TikTok and have been a massive contribution to the success of her career. In 2023, she received her first Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. As she released her single, she is also preparing to embark on a sold-out world tour.

Laufey’s newest single “Goddess” shows the singer at her most raw and honest self as it brings out all the sad and frustrating emotions. The slow start is accompanied by a piano instrumental and sad lyrics that highlight the melancholy Laufey feels. She sings, “I’m so naïve to think you loved me for me.” Her vocals can elegantly translate her feelings of betrayal and heartbreak, allowing the listener to feel sympathy for her grief.

The meaning of the song is so clear, but done in a way that feels soft and filled with all of Laufey’s deep passion. In the chorus, she sings “I’m a goddess on stage / Human when we’re alone.” This points to the image of perfection she has when she’s up on stage, a persona that many fans worship while forgetting, behind all of it, she is still human. In another perspective, she could be singing to an ex-lover who expected more from her offstage personality.

Throughout the song, Laufey builds up the momentum as it approaches the end. This demonstrates the frustration she feels toward who she is singing to for their perception of her. In the second verse, she sings, “You made up a version of / Me that you thought you loved / But I am not your Aphrodite.” This type of lyricism shows the talent of the Icelandic-Chinese singer that shines in her music. This style of lovesick modern lyrics has amassed Laufey a wide following, especially mixed in with the classical elements.

The 24-year-old truly shines in her music, especially with this single through her vocals. The low-register vocals she uses tend to take on a soothing tone that can relax the listener. Despite this, she also takes on belts that showcase her impressive range.

Additionally, her take on aspects of crooning jazz brings back nostalgia from the era in a modern way. The flow of singing makes the listener feel in a dream-like world that they can get lost in. In this particular single, her singing feels on a more grand scale as she holds notes throughout the song. Overall, her vocals only heighten the lyrics and the emotions that come with it. Laufey shows a more mature side of her music, especially as its authenticity excels the most.

When people think about Laufey, they think about her style, vocals and the instrumental background in her music. “Goddess” is more piano heavy which helps to create an ethereal feeling for listeners. Additionally, the piano instrumental serves as a higher value in this particular single. While it is still the background music, it meshes well with her voice to amplify the meaning. The song brings on a calming vibe that listeners can chill out to or if they need a good cry. The musical composition of all the best qualities that stands out for Laufey is what brings her out and makes her so unique. The single is a debut for her latest album’s deluxe version, “Bewitched: The Goddess Edition,” which will be released on April 26. ■ H

Verdict: “Goddess” is a classic Laufey song with all the qualities that prove why she is so successful. The single brings out a beautiful, calming vibe that will make the listener appreciate her talent even more.

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‘Perfect Days’: The beauty of simplicity and routine

The Japanese and German co-production imagines a life where routine is all one could ask for.

LUKE LIAO Staff Writer

In 1985, Wim Wenders released the documentary “Tokyo-Ga.” set in the eponymous city, Tokyo, and inspired by the films of Yasjiro Ozu. For all of Wenders’ good intentions and curiosity channeled in the project, it plays out like exoticism and is a bit silly in conception. With “Perfect Days,” Wenders returns to Japan, largely steering clear of these trappings by telling a simple story about a simple life.

The film’s main character, Hirayama (Koji Yakusho), is a public restroom cleaner who always finds happiness in his wonted, solitary life. In addition to the work he takes great pleasure in, we quickly get accustomed to the routineer’s day-to-day which includes the misting of his plants, reading, taking photos on his Olympus, washing at a bathhouse and eating potato salad at his usual restaurant.

If Hirayama’s routine reveals anything, apart from his modesty, it is that he is an aesthete. Beauty and simplicity become synonymous with one another — his humble life allows him to appreciate the world to the fullest and, in doing so, the world gives back. In one scene where Hirayama is lost in the foliage, he spots a budding plant on the root of a tree. With paternal lovingness, he takes out the plant and places it in a makeshift pot where it will soon join the rest of his cherished greenery.

Like the photographs he takes, Hirayama dreams in monochrome. Always present in them, because of their importance in his waking world is “komorebi,” which translates to “sunlight leaking through the trees.” Playing with montage, Wender makes these dreams feel truthful and duly artful for its star-gazer, a little alluring in its abstraction and a little frightening ergo, sometimes brief, sometimes lengthier. The dreams have an almost regenerative quality to them — even if Hirayama’s day-to-day is woefully disrupted by mishaps, he wakes up at dawn and steps out the front door with the same smile we’ve become acclimated to. It’s life-affirming to see the appreciation for a day lived and another given.

Because of this self-contentment, it is only when others present themselves in Hirayama’s life that we deviate from his peaceful cadence. Most of these interactions, while

The art of studying

amusing in their one-sidedness (Hirayama is a man of little words) and peppered throughout to demonstrate how life isn’t consistently eventful, aren’t particularly uncontrived, nor revealing. The introduction of his niece, Niko (Arisa Nakano), delivers a much-needed interstice that Wenders and co-writer Takuma Takasaki use to look under the hood of their main man. Since these revelations arrive at the eleventh hour, a deeper understanding of Hirayama and his lifestyle is never reached. Instead, what does surface, is stapled on catharsis that’s acted well by Yakusho.

This lack of concern with deviating from routine or failure when doing the routine is not just isolated to the aforementioned scene, it extends to most of “Perfect Days.” By the end, it evokes that of a fantasy tale, single-minded in its iteration and sparsity. Wender’s jukebox, consisting of 60s and 70s hits, tackily inculcates the message of simplicity while the setting of Shibuya, with its ridiculously good-looking bathrooms and aesthetic framing, begs the question of whether the film’s thesis would work in another country. ■ H

Verdict: Truthful to its humble centerpiece, “Perfect Days” doesn’t put much on the table. Its repetition makes for a lulling experience, but one that never truly rises above that of a neatly constructed routine.

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How music and sound have helped shape the practicality of studying and focus for college students.

BRENDA JOVEL Editor-in-Chief

The days of typing 10-page essays or studying for those detrimental chemistry finals are slowly approaching. Finals week makes one realize how little time there is within a day to study and how coffee may be the only thing keeping you from collapsing into exhaustion. For many, studying is the most grueling task to encounter, but there have been recent methods that students utilize to make studying interactive and less likely to make one cry from a headache.

Music has become one of the most popular study instruments students use nowadays.

Depending on the task at hand, the kinds of music students listen to while studying will differ on every individual’s personal taste of music or sound. From everyday pop music, R&B, Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) background to Study with Me’s on Youtube, music has dramatically altered the art of studying by increasing focus and memorization.

In “Do you listen to music while studying? A portrait of how people use music to optimize their cognitive performance,” a study

by Franziska Goltz and Makiko Sadakata, noted how people tend to use less background music (BGM) “when engaged in more difficult tasks, they become less critical about the type of BGM when engaged in easier tasks.” Taking in reading, memorization, critical thinking and writing, Goltz and Sadakata concluded that, regardless of the task at hand, there were benefits and negatives to listening to BGM. For example, if there is a quiz that requires memorization of various definitions, try listening to instrumental or the alluring sounds of Beethoven’s classical symphonies. As these styles of sound emphasize the structural body of the music rather than focusing on the meaning or flow of rhythmic lyrics, it can be less distracting when having to memorize a billion definitions. Another study by Lara Dodge, “Music and Memory: Effects of Listening to Music While Studying in College Students,” found that students at the University of Wisconsin-Stout showed “little to no detriment” when completing a reading comprehension test after studying for it while listening to nothing and listening to classical music. It

IMAGE COURTESY OF FREEPIK

proves how college students have adapted to their environments, especially as many prefer to work in bustling coffee shops or Orbach Library’s silent floor on the second level.

The appeal of background noise in general is also another study tool college students have utilized. ASMR, defined as “a combination of positive feelings, relaxation and a distinct, static-like tingling sensation on the skin,” has transformed what background noise can look like as several ASMR artists perform several “triggers” to assist with focus and studying. Mic-scratching, whispering, hair combing and more subtle sounds can be relaxing to many. Many videos on YouTube use the aforementioned sounds or they often have the ASMR artist doing their own work as they study, such as writing notes and inaudibly whispering to themselves. These popular triggers submerge audiences into feeling as if they are actively studying with a friend or peer.

ASMR has often been stigmatized as an “odd” occurrence in the media as many are uncomfortable with the emphasized sounds these creators make. Rather than lifting an eyebrow at it, try to take the time to listen to one of these videos for sleep, relaxation or studying.

Similarly, Lo-fi, short for low-fidelity, refers to “less polished” and lower quality music that purposefully contains imperfections.

Everyone who is adamant about their studying practically knows the ever-so popular YouTuber, Lofi Girl. The iconic cartoon of the girl studying by a window while her cat sits beside her also provides a relaxing environment for many. Oftentimes, the videos will have a different theme, such as Lonely Night, 1 A.M. Chill Session and Morning Coffee for any kind of vibe a person is feeling.

Lo-fi created its own kind of aesthetic, one that allows people to feel present in the world these videos depict. There is a certain kind of beauty to this form of music because it is not just another study playlist. Its personalized color palette and ambient sounds complement this genre of sound that many can connect to. Its personal aesthetic makes it feel homey and welcoming, creating a calm environment where one won’t feel alone in one’s studying. ■ H

Sports

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, MAR 12, 2024

17

Knocking out the competition one punch at a time MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

Highlander Gloves holds aspirations for winning a title at Nationals.

The University of California, Riverside’s (UCR), Highlander Gloves, a boxing club, has achieved success in national competitions, including the women winning the United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association (USIBA) Team Championship last year. Not only that, through their partnership with the Riverside Police Foundation, they assist at the Raincross Boxing Academy, offering free boxing lessons and tutoring to the local youth. Creating a partnership with the community that gives back to the next generation and also helps develop club members.

Economics Associate Professor Joab Corey, coach and faculty advisor of Highlander Gloves since 2017, shared how in the 2022-2023 season at the USIBA hosted tournament, the National Championship tournament, the women’s team finished first and men’s team finished fifth. This year the team holds aspirations “that both teams can finish as high as first in the country.”

This quarter, the team assembles six days a week for an intense ten-week training camp. They practice Monday through Thursday in the evening, and on the weekends as the sun rises from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The boxers undergo demanding training sessions which involve intense cardio for warmups, calisthenics, conditioning and a lot of bag work. Preparation for the season includes a few sparring sessions, where the team goes out to box against other teams like at the California State University, Northridge (CSUN), University of California, Irvine (UCI) and University of Southern California (USC).

The tournament is a significant goal for the team. This year’s USIBA tournament is hosted at Houston, Texas and is the team’s moment to shine. Corey explains how for many people this is the first time they are going to a tournament and how it will be one of the “highlights of their college career outside the classroom” as one of the defining moments of their life.

Team Captain, Carlos Rivera, has been boxing with the university team for two years.

Right now he aims to set an example for his fellow teammates, bettering not only those around him, but also himself. Creating a conducive environment for unity and teamwork, the figure he maintains is one where he lets them know that “it’s okay to ask me for advice and to try to help them do as much as you can.”

The Fight Team Captain, Rian McCreary, has also been boxing at the university for about two years now. To prepare for the tournament she has been staying behind after practice to do extra drills and build up her strength. Last year was McCreary’s first time competing at the USIBA tournament, and she got three fights out of the tournament.

However, in her last match, she lost by split decision, with the judges unable to come to a consensus for who had actually won the match. This year McCreary is in the same weight class as the girl she had lost the match against and looks forward to a rematch.

At the tournament last year, Rivera comments that he feels as if it went well. This year, putting aside his anxiety and nervousness, he is prepared to really focus on his matches. During practice he has been reflecting on his previous sparring sessions, taking apart his motions, figuring out what worked and what does not work and is working on getting better with each day.

The Highlander Gloves President, Benjamin Perez is pumped up for his redemption arc at the tournament this year. This year he is looking forward to dominating his matches, putting in a lot of time and effort to make up for last year’s tournament.

The community built at Highlander Gloves is truly a special one that encourages everyone to support one another and improve. Their practices are full of support and exceptional effort. Perez reflects on how at the start the team did not really know each other well, but now they have “found community.” He has watched them “before and after practices, talking, having a good time, making friends.” Through their shared time the club has instilled within it a sense of camaraderie and respect.

Corey holds high hopes for the team, “the thing about this group is that they have to give back to the community to be part of this club. So you have good people, doing good things for the community, who are also full-time students who have made a commitment to represent a university at this championship tournament, and are really pushing themselves to do it in the best possible way. I’m very proud of it.”

This year Highlander Gloves looks like it is off to a great competition season. The team is pumped and hopes are high. This tight-knit community has put in the hours, constantly pushing each other to exceed boundaries and now they aim to bring back championship belts. ■ H

MATA ELANGOVAN / THE HIGHLANDER

18 TUESDAY, MAR 12, 2024

SPORTS

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Highlanders spoil Cal State Fullerton’s Senior Night in 65-50 Win ISAAC SOLNICK Staff Writer

UCR rides hot start all the way to victory.

With the Big West Tournament on the horizon, each and every game becomes a mustwin. While the University of California, Riverside (UCR) had secured their spot in the postseason, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) was still fighting for their playoff lives. The Titans were also saying goodbye to their seniors which added an extra layer of emotion to this ball game. Despite their 6-12 conference record, the Titans surely wouldn’t make this game easy for the Highlanders.

Following their flat performance in their loss against Hawaii, the Highlanders needed to get back on track offensively on the road against CSUF. After shooting just 3-12 from the field against the Rainbow Wahine, the Titans dared redshirt senior Matehya Bryant to shoot from midrange. However, Bryant would make them pay for their lack of respect with two early buckets.

Similar to Bryant, senior guard Jordan Webster was also coming off a poor shooting performance against Hawaii. Using off-ball screens from Bryant and senior Julia Stenberg to create space, Webster quickly shook off the rust and drained three straight 3-pointers. As the Highlanders jumped out to an early lead, it was encouraging to see the UCR offense back in sync.

While the Highlanders were rolling, the Titans were looking to work the ball inside to senior center Ashlee Lewis. Playing her last game in front of the CSUF crowd, Lewis was determined to go out with a win. Using her overwhelming strength and size, Lewis can bully her way to easy baskets inside. Coach Brad Langston tasked Bryant with disrupting the star center. Bryant worked hard to keep Lewis from getting the ball. She put herself in the passing lanes to make it difficult for the CSUF guards to get Lewis the rock.

As well as being a pest on defense, Bryant also found herself as a facilitator on offense.

She kept the ball moving by giving out handoffs and even assisted sophomore guard Jordyn Marshall for a 3-pointer. However, simple mistakes allowed the Titans to creep back into the game. On the next possession, Bryant gave up a fast-break layup after her pass was picked off by senior guard Gabi Vidmar. Then, Marshall and fifth-year guard RyAnne Walters weren’t on the same page on the inbound.

Fortunately for the Highlanders, a triple from sophomore guard Zoe Tillery put an end to CSUF’s scoring run. With UCR’s lead cut to just six points, the Highlanders transitioned into their zone defense with a full-court press. The Titans struggled to adapt

quickly as Bryant and Webster each snagged a pair of steals. Sophomore guard Makayla Jackson joined the party and completed a 3-point play after stealing the inbound pass.

As time expired, Marshall used the textbook pick-and-roll to set up Bryant for the open midrange. She drilled the jumper and gave UCR a 37-27 lead going into halftime.

Stenberg opened the scoring for the Highlanders in the second half with a 3-pointer.

Vidmar failed to respond with her own 3-point attempt, but senior guard Fujika Nimmo drilled the stepback jumper to keep the Titans within distance. As the Highlanders used smaller lineups to accommodate their full-court press, Lewis and junior forward Aixchel Hernandez used their size to get second-chance opportunities.

Despite possessing a size disadvantage, the Highlanders were fighting for their own second-chance points. As the youngest member of the starting rotation, Jackson displayed the fearlessness that is well-respected by her teammates. The sophomore guard kept flying in for offensive rebounds and made up for her lack of size with a lot of hustle.

The rest of the Highlanders fed off of Jackson’s energy. Marshall and Bryant connected for yet another basket. Later, Bryant assisted Webster on the fastbreak. Webster’s bucket gave UCR a 52-40 lead going into the 4th quarter.

Looking to give the Highlanders a taste of their own medicine, CSUF started using their own full-court press. But it was UCR who kept forcing turnovers. Walters and Tillery each showed off their quick hands as the duo swiped steals on back-to-back possessions. A corner 3-pointer from Webster would eventually ice the game. The Highlanders bounced back and claimed a 65-50 win over the Titans.

Bryant and Webster led the way in scoring with 18 and 16 points respectively, but it was an incredible team performance that truly made the difference. It’s a huge win for the Highlanders as they look to pick up momentum heading into the Big West Tournament.

On Saturday, the Highlanders capped off the Big West regular season by hosting the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) on senior night. Coach Langston started an all-senior lineup as UCR defeated the Gauchos 53-46 on home court. After dropping their first three conference games, the Highlanders rebounded to finish with a 13-7 record. They enter the Big West tournament as the No. 3 seed and will face the H winner of No. 6 UCSB and No. 7 Long Beach State on Mar. 14.■

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, MAR 12, 2024

Dave Roberts should not lose his job if the 2024 Dodgers are not crowned in October

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TOMAS ALVES Distribution Manager

While the Dodgers’ will be defined by a “World Series or bust” mentality this season, failure in October won’t mean there will be a vacancy at the helm.

Opening Day for Major League Baseball (MLB) is just under a month away, beginning with the Dodgers vs. Padres in Seoul, South Korea. The historic games to be hosted in South Korea will surely be a big storyline as the MLB moves to grow the game internationally. However, for the Dodgers, it will be the first step in their campaign for a World Series title. As the front office in Los Angeles (LA) made Winter headlines by spending over a billion dollars on players like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, among others, the expectations to win in LA are obvious. Considering the stakes, Dodger Manager Dave Roberts will be on the hot seat the entire season, but the beloved manager will not be asked to leave if the Dodgers lose in the playoffs.

While the additions to this year’s Dodgers’ roster might foment a certain impatience among Dodger fans and the front office alike, it’s Dave Roberts’ ability to lead a locker room and preserve a winning culture that makes him a player favorite. One of the biggest selling points that Dave Roberts, Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations, Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners and Stan Kasten, President and Co-Owner of the Dodgers, have made in their discussions with the league’s top players was simple: we want to win. An easy pitch to make to players like Ohtani who have been on underwhelming teams such as the Angels, but especially because of the team morale and winning culture that has been established by the team’s staff led by Dave Roberts.

It seems as though even before this offseason, the Dodgers were consistently expected to win it all even with their evident weaknesses such as a depleted pitching staff.

Considering the lack of usual big spending or blockbuster trades from the front office last season, the expectations for the Dodgers seemed a bit lower, as Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) baseball analysts such as Buster Olney and Jeff Passan agreed before the start of last season, that the Dodgers should only be expected to amass a 90-win campaign. Yet, Dave Roberts, along with stellar seasons from Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, shattered those expectations by producing a 100-win NL West-clinching season.

Calls for Dave Roberts’ firing from the Dodgers may have stemmed from the lack of memorable postseason performances after being among the best teams in baseball during the regular season, year-after-year. But, at least for the playoffs in 2023, Dave Roberts put his team in the best position to win by remaining with his successful lineup

recipe of Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman as the 1-2 combo up at the top and starting a decent Clayton Kershaw as the Game 1 starter against the D-backs. Out of Roberts’ control though, was a disastrous Kershaw performance against the D-backs in Game 1 and a combined 1-21 batting performance from Betts and Freeman. Roberts put his trust in his best players and they did not perform, contrasting to what they had done all year.

As such, it would be misguided to think Roberts was the cause of Dodgers’ postseason implosions.

Even Andrew Friedman has touted Dave Roberts ability to meet the modern-day demands of a MLB manager saying, “his ability to cultivate a great clubhouse culture, maintaining high energy and keeping the clubhouse loose, all while staying locked in on game strategy is truly impressive,” in a quote reported by FanNation, an affiliate of SportsIllustrated. With his players’ respect and amicability, evident in their endearing nickname for Dave Roberts or “Doc,” Roberts is clearly a leader who has the mandate of his diverse clubhouse that includes more than a few larger-than-life players.

The argument that “Dave Roberts will be fired should the Dodgers not win the World Series…” makes no effort to point out what might be the actual cause of Roberts’ firing other than a failure to achieve the top prize. It does not consider actual causes like a possible rift between players and the team, ill-advised baseball decision-making, or organizational distrust of Roberts’ ability to lead a superteam at-large. The fact that the Dodger front office has stuck with Roberts at the helm and have invested so much money in correcting and enhancing the Dodger roster is a testament to the organization’s trust that they have in him.

Just because impatient Dodger fans, hungry for a World Series, are calling for the ousting of Roberts, they make these calls ignorant to the fact that Roberts’ has an overwhelming mandate from within the Dodger organization to continue to lead. It might be easy to blame the manager after a failure to meet expectations but it’s always more complex than just the manager and yet he bears the brunt for the team’s collective failure. Roberts has a robust relationship with his players, an unyielding trust from his front office and the players needed to dominate. Now it is up to these three entities to H work together in winning a World Series for LA. ■

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

20 TUESDAY, MAR 12, 2024

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