Volume 72, Issue 21

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, April 2, 2024

VOL. 72, ISSUE 21

A MILLENNIAL’S TAKE ON THE PLUSES AND MINUSES OF APRIL OPINIONS FOOLS’ DAY. R’Perspective: April Fools’ Day is becoming a ‘thank you, next’ holiday

RADAR Radar Scoop: Spring Splash 2024 lineup leaked!

THOMAS CAZNEAU-MERCADO Contributing Writer

From celebrity death hoaxes to fake product announcements, April Fools’ is the perfect holiday for pranksters hoping to trick a few unassuming minds.

Personally, I find the overall effort of tricking the gullible at heart a tad annoying and humorless. Sometimes, I even find myself cringing inside at the levels of effort it takes to pull off pranks.

However, even my cynical side must concede that some April Fools’ trickery is pure genius, innovation and fun.

Humor me as I share my positive and negative experiences with the holiday.

On one side of April Fools’, I enjoy how there’s an entire day devoted to catching me off guard. It’s like a fun maze that I have to navigate, and while there may not actually be a prize at the

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end of it, making it through a whole day without being tricked can feel satisfying.

On April Fools’ Days past, I opened my phone to Jackie Chan dying and a new Cento size 100 oz. drink available at Starbucks. Admittedly, I believed both pranks and even embarrassed myself by sharing both news items on social media. Since then, I’ve learned to fact-check before blindly believing the headlines, and I’ve successfully made it through unscathed by pranks thrown my way. Probably my favorite way of participating involved hosting a masquerade ball in which guests were invited to disguise themselves with the hope of not being recognized by other people, leading to prizes. It was like the show “Masked Singer,” but without the ► SEE APRIL FOOLS’ PAGE 6

THIS UNEXPECTED LINEUP HAS STUDENTS’ BARS SOARING HIGHER THAN EVER.

KIMBERLY BEJEC AND BRENDAN VO Assistant Radar Editor and Radar Editor

Spring Splash is one of the most anticipated on-campus events for the University of California, Riverside (UCR), students have been eagerly awaiting the release of its lineup. Block Party and Spring Splash are the two biggest events that have a lot of expectations riding on ASPB’s back. With many guesses and predictions coming through as the event approaches, an anonymous insider tip has provided The Highlander with the upcoming lineup for the event.

Meeting the high expectations for this year’s Spring Splash lineup, ASPB presents the following as their performers: DJ MANDY, Rebecca Black, JoJo Siwa and Tenacious D. Opening up the show, DJ MANDY is perfect to hype up the crowd and get the event started. Known for her DJ mixing sets on TikTok LIVE, she will put her skills to the test live at Spring Splash.

The DJ’s set will most likely feature songs the crowd can sing along to with beautiful and seamless transitions between songs.

After DJ Mandy is Rebecca Black. Even though Spring Splash will be taking place on a Saturday, it is inevitable for the Irvine artist to include the notorious “Friday” in her set which is sure to have the crowd jumping. With her multiple hits, Black is sure to bring a joyous smile to UCR students.

Second to the headliner is JoJo Siwa. With the former “Dance Moms” star returning to the music industry again, all eyes will be on her performance. After her recent transition away from the side ponytail and into adulthood, she has recently released her newest single “Karma.” Her new music is sure to be a hit on the Spring Splash stage.

Coming off of the somewhat mediocre fourth addition to “Kung Fu Panda,” Jack Black once again equips his guitar alongside ► SEE SPRING SPLASH PAGE 11

@thehighlanderucr @HighlanderUCR UCRHighlander NEWS 3

OPINIONS 5

FEATURES 8

RADAR 11

SPORTS 14

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

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Scotty’s Photo Studio 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

HUB 302 South

Speechcraft by Toastmasters 12:10 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Skye 381 E

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UCR Give Day Virtual Event

GradSuccess Coffee Social 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Physics Courtyard

Bare Sculpt 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m.

SRC MPR A/E

Men’s Tennis vs. Cal Poly 1 p.m.

SRC Tennis Courts

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Baseball vs. Cal Poly 6 p.m.

The Plex

Bilingual Creative Writing Workshop 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

INTS 1111

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SOM Open House 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SOM Ed. 1 and Ed. 2

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Softball vs. UC Davis 12 a.m.

Amy S. Harrison Field

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

UCR Bell Tower

Tuesday

Wednesday

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Thursday

Friday

Saturday

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HIGHLANDER STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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NEWS

TUESDAY, APR 2, 2024

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The death of media literacy. Or is it?

CAN SATIRE OVERSTEP BOUNDARIES? MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

Content Warning: This article contains mentions of racism, slurs and sexism.

In the past, The Highlander, the University of California, Riverside’s school paper, has taken part in the tradition of publishing April Fools’ issues, similar to the one this article is found in. Releasing satirical and gag issues on April 1, spreading “playful” misinformation. Articles that were published include fake Spring Splash lineups and big celebrity visits, accompanied by coverful and magazinelike front covers.

April Fools’ Day, full of pranks and gags. One of the only times that the News Team and local papers are able to let loose and have a little fun in their coverage. Universities across the nation take part in the tradition of releasing April Fools’ issues, satirical press coming in clutch.

In 2004, two universities in the state of Pennsylvania faced massive ramifications due to the content for their April Fools’ publications. The colleges in question, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the University of Scranton, ended up with both of their publications being suspended. Thus ended the reign of The Aquinas and The Tartan for that academic year.

The Aquinas, the University of Scranton’s student-run newspaper, pulled its issue after “receiving a complaint that the paper had printed libelous material.” An article released by a local paper, The Tribune, claimed that the paper contained reference to a priest breaching clerical celibacy and some off-color jokes. A spokesman for the University of Scranton elaborated that “the general sense was that it was over the top.”

As a result of feedback from students, faculty members, alumni and news media professionals, the university

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

suspended publication for the paper immediately, and established conditions that must be met before the board could resume publication.

CMU’s paper, The Tartan, faced backlash from the public due to a “racially charged cartoon” that they had released. The Tartan, or The Natrat, for the day of April Fools’, approved publication of a comic that “contained racist and other offensive content.” The comic in question depicted a mouse and a goat, benign by themselves, but then, the goat said a slur. While many claimed that the offensive part of the comic was the slur that was stated, the overall text of the comic seemingly “celebrates the killing of African Americans.”

As a result of the publication, the cartoonist was fired, The Tartan’s editor-in-chief took a leave of absence from the University as a whole, the top editor and managing editor resigned and the student editors suspended publication for that year.

A few days after the publication, students at CMU gathered to rally against the April Fools’ publication. An article by TribLIVE, explained that the reason they chose to do so was because “a character in the cartoon talks about running over blacks and uses a racial epithet.” Students at the university commented, with many sharing their feelings about the publication being “a disgrace” or that it was “pretty blatantly racially motivated.”

A similar situation arose once again in 2016, when the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s (UWS) The Promethean released their April Fools’ issue. According to the Student Press Law Center, their special edition, named the “The Pessimist” for the week of, upset some readers who claimed that “the jokes went too far,” with university officials agreeing.

The issue contained articles about past UWS student and celebrity Arnold Schwarzenegger returning to teach courses, referencing minority stereotypes, strategies for attracting women and much more. A graduate student at UWS took the initiative and filed a complaint against the paper, claiming there was an “inadequate notice of satire” and that “without directly expressing that the edition is satirical gives the impression that it is not, because that is what the readers have come to expect.”

The graduate student put emphasis on the article about strategies to attract women, titled ”Sure Fire Pick-Up Lines For Those Who Lack ‘Game.’” She expressed that she found the list to be “hurtful, sexist and misogynistic;” the list containing statements such as “Please tell your tits to stop looking at my eyes.”

According to the SPLC article, the editor-in-chief at the time released a statement that stated, ”We have collectively published this paper today to the delight of some and the dismay of others. We publish it unapologetically in honor of the freedom of the press and to the often forgotten rights of the press guaranteed to us under the Constitution of the United States.” However, the link provided to the statements released by the editorial board on Facebook at the time lead to a page that states “This page isn’t available at the moment.”

These are just two examples of the many repercussions that universities face when releasing their April Fools’ publication. A deeper dive into the world of satire and misinformation would reveal that it happens time and time again, with many papers retracting stories with harmful H content. ■

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NEWS

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Satire: Surprise appearance by Scotty and Norm at ASUCR ASUCR’S 16.5TH SENATE MEETING OF THE QUARTER MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

A surprise visit by Scotty the Bear and Norm the Orange took the empty Senate Chambers by surprise.

While no one was present to witness the spectacle, it left the senators in awe of the celebrity visit. On Apr. 1, in the 16.5th ASUCR Senate meeting of the quarter, all senators were present for the meeting, tackling various agenda items, as well as listening to the qualms raised by two campus mascots. The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m.

The meeting agenda was approved unanimously by the Senate.

Eyes turned as right before the start of Public Forum, a familiar flash of blue and orange entered the chambers.

In entered Scotty the Bear and Norm the Orange, decked out in their University of California, Riverside (UCR) merch, accompanied by a designated speaker (because they are unable to speak). They looked around the chambers, and took a seat near the front.

During the start of the public forum, Scotty and Norm raised their hands, eager to share their findings to the senators. The Executive Vice President called for them to stand before the podium.

As Scotty and Norm remained silent in front of the senators who were present, their designated speaker began to prepare the presentation. Presenting topics of interest such as, the use of mascots in merchandising, the poor wages allotted to Scotty and Norm, who were severely overworked in the last year, and a request to approach the Finance Committee to buy Scotty a new suit — not a new body suit for the person within the Scotty costume, but rather a dapper suit for Scotty to wear to galas and special events.

Due to their appearances in various merchandising,

MATA ELANGOVAN / THE HIGHLANDER

both clothing and advertising, the designated speaker explained that Scotty and Norm both believed they should receive some form of royalties. Over the last 69 years that UCR has operated, Scotty and Norm have not seen a dime of what the University has received in sales of merchandise. In face of this statement, both Scotty and Norm crossed their arms, attempting to look as authoritative as possible.

Next, the speaker brought up the issue of the wages that Scotty and Norm were receiving $15.50. At the time it was the minimum wage, yet nowhere near enough money for them to live in Riverside County. While this in and of itself could have been excusable, Scotty had brought up the qualms of having to work within the Scotty suit.

“Working during those long hot summer days was insufferable,” the speaker said on behalf of Scotty.

“It was a wonder that I did not pass out.” Scotty dramatically fell to the floor, emulating heat exhaustion during Riverside summers.

Because of the work that the two put in for school events, making guest appearances almost every day of the week, they argued for a raise in their wages. They also requested that their complaints be bumped up to administration, so that they can work in more humane conditions without having to worry about their own well-being.

Finally, they wanted to find out if it would be possible for Scotty to put in a request for funding to get a new dapper suit. Their concern was that due to the fact that they do not belong to any student club or organization, they would not qualify for receiving ASUCR funding for their own purposes. However, Scotty had an

argument ready for that. During some of his outings out to campus, he had arrived in his dapper suit. But, due to him growing sick gains, his suit soon became too small for him to wear. For him to be able to properly service the UCR student community, he would require a well-fitted suit so that he does not become subject to the jokes of students.

ASUCR was rendered speechless due to the atrocities that the school’s student mascots have faced during their long employment. They vowed that they will reach out to the appropriate sources and ensure that their complaints will be heard. After hearing that, Scotty and Norm made a heart towards the Senate Chamber and returned to their seat, satisfied with their presentation.

The speaker followed soon after.

After the pleas presented by the mascots during the Public Forum, the meeting continued as regular. The senators zoomed through New Business, Committee reports, Public Comment, Senator Reports and Roundtable and Announcements, eager to begin work on making sure that the needs of Scotty and Norm would be met.

The meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m. ■ H This is an April Fools’ publication. This article does not reflect any actual coverage of ASUCR Senate Meetings, it is merely a satire piece meant for entertainment purposes only.

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, APR 2, 2024

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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

California desperately needs financial literacy education

A LACK OF FINANCIAL LITERACY ACROSS THE BOARD HAS SPURRED THE PUSH FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS ON THE SUBJECT FOR THE HOPEFUL BENEFIT OF MANY CALIFORNIANS. 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.

Financial literacy presents a huge challenge for college students, especially when its been painfully absent from required curricula for their entire educational career. However, California is growing closer to making these classes a part of the required coursework for at least one semester. This information is vital to student success as they graduate high school or college and go out into the workforce being left in the dark for far too long. Financial health and knowledge could not be more important to navigate everything from credit cards to taxes.

State lawmakers are exploring several options to do this, including pushing Assembly Bill 2927 and a November ballot initiative. While the passage of AB 2927 would push the ballot initiative aside, pursuing that avenue holds promise, as a 2023 Binder Research poll states approximately 4 out of 5 California voters supporting the initiative.

The course itself would include topics such as budgeting skills, building good credit, predatory loan practices, college financing, taxes, financial scams and identity theft. These are real-world issues that students need and deserve to be prepared for. Extensive research has found substantial benefits to finance education, including decreased defaulting and improved credit scores for young adults. It has also made it more likely that students apply for financial aid in college rather than taking out private loans, hurting their financial well-being. A study touted

by Californians for Financial Education (CFE), which has been a driving force behind this movement, found that there is a $127,000 lifetime benefit to California students taking a high school personal finance course.

This is not a course requirement that has no basis in reality. These high school students are going to have to file taxes, deal with debt and budget. The fact that this course is not already considered

important enough to be mandatory is nonsensical. Entering adulthood is already a daunting task, and the prospect of being thrown into the deep end of finances needs to be addressed.

A 2022 report by the TIAA Institute and the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center at the George Washington University School of Business paints a concerning picture. It places Gen Z, the youngest group examined in the report, in a poor position when it comes to financial

“It is beyond reason that the state has not considered financial literacy to be essential.”

literacy, with a mere 43% accuracy rate on finance-related questions. Sadly, older generations, such as Millennials and Baby Boomers, did not score impressively better.

This is not a problem with a singular age group, it is a fundamental issue with how the state has chosen to educate students on their financial options and decisions.

California is plainly behind with only 1% of students being required to take a single semester of personal finance as compared to a 50% average nationally.

California has been given a failing grade by the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College as, “Personal finance is not included in the graduation requirements, either as a stand-alone course or embedded in another course, and schools are not required to offer financial literacy courses.” The gaping absence of this information in the California

education system is central to the issue.

With that absence, the situation cannot be expected to improve on its own. No one expects these students to figure out the Pythagorean Theorem on their own, and that has very little practical use for many students in their chosen fields. In contrast, financial literacy has practical importance to every single person — no matter their college major or future career.

There are concerns that, with California test scores in essential subjects lagging, adding to the diploma requirements could be disruptive and further deteriorate core subject learning. Recent state testing shows that less than half of students meet English standards, and less than a third meet Math standards. A number of efforts have been made to add courses to the state curriculum, including those on misinformation and ethnic studies, all of which add time to students’ course load and stress their time management. While these courses offer valuable information and learning, there needs to be more emphasis on how the actual burden of learning will be placed on students, especially if financial literacy courses are not added on their own but in conjunction with other new curricula. However, it is beyond reason that the state has not considered financial literacy to be essential.

This course has incredible implications for the development of critical thinking and building skills that students plainly need no matter what career path they pursue.

It is universally necessary. Even one semester is insufficient to meet students’ needs and the gaps in the curriculum.

The addition of financial literacy to state graduation requirements has been necessary for much longer than Californians have struggled to make headway. The financial illiteracy of adults today is a testament to that fact and the benefits of such improvements are simply not outweighed by the many challenges H implementing them presents. ■

IMAGE COURTESY OF FREEPIK

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, APR 2, 2024

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R’Perspective: April Fools’ Day is becoming a ‘thank you, next’ holiday THOMAS CAZNEAU-MERCADO Contributing Writer

A millennial’s take on the pluses and minuses of April Fools’ Day. From celebrity death hoaxes to fake product announcements, April Fools’ is the perfect holiday for pranksters hoping to trick a few unassuming minds. Personally, I find the overall effort of tricking the gullible at heart a tad annoying and humorless. Sometimes, I even find myself cringing inside at the levels of effort it takes to pull off pranks. However, even my cynical side must concede that some April Fools’ trickery is pure genius, innovation and fun. Humor me as I share my positive and negative experiences with the holiday.

On one side of April Fools’, I enjoy how there’s an entire day devoted to catching me off guard. It’s like a fun maze that I have to navigate, and while there may not actually be a prize at the end of it, making it through a whole day without being tricked can feel satisfying. On April Fools’ Days past, I opened my phone to Jackie Chan dying and a new Cento size 100 oz. drink available at Starbucks. Ad-

mittedly, I believed both pranks and even embarrassed myself by sharing both news items on social media.

Since then, I’ve learned to fact-check before blindly believing the headlines, and I’ve successfully made it through unscathed by pranks thrown my way.

Probably my favorite way of participating involved hosting a masquerade ball in which guests were invited to disguise themselves with the hope of not being recognized by other people, leading to prizes. It was like the show “Masked Singer,” but without the singing or celebrities.

That said, some pranks do go too far. I’ve seen some pranks in general lead to people getting hurt or even hit by a car because of how terrified they became by a seemingly innocent scare tactic. Also, some April Fools’ pranks are too forced and overdone, like when friends pretend to get engaged or fake movie trailers. It’s like, hello, we all see the date on the calendar and can tell someone’s bluffing.

Some fake movie news transcends April 1, such as the rumored Live-Action Hunchback of Notre Dame making its rounds on social media. I mean, I don’t really need my hopes raised only to crush them, all for the sake of a joke or fan-casting. Other pranks, such as finding fake spiders in my backpack or whipped cream on my face upon waking up, felt more like Halloween scares and camp pranks.

Another prank that’s overstayed its welcome is the swapping of salt and sugar. I suppose there’s a little “okay, haha, you got me” for two seconds, but much of what follows is just the scraping salt off of normally sweet foods and vice versa.

I’d say that April Fools’ Day is mostly a giant yawn or eye roll. But in rare instances, I think that it can include some tasteful and unique moments, as long as target audiences and H safety are considered. ■

Banning TikTok will save American prestige AAZAM KHAN Contributing Writer

Prohibiting foreign manipulation on social media platforms prioritizes America’s interests above all else.

On March 13, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill that would force the social media site TikTok to cut ties with its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, and sell the app to an American buyer or face a national ban. Members of the U.S. Congress, always known for putting the interests of the American people first, have developed this ban to protect Americans from the threat that China poses with misinformation that can be spread on social media platforms.

Like many dangerous foreign companies, TikTok is known for vast amounts of propaganda and disinformation spewing out to the public. American social media companies, such as Facebook, are much more pure and would never allow this kind of false information to run rampant with the public.

China’s grip on the American majority comes through TikTok. With more than

65% of American teenagers saying they have used TikTok, the Chinese government will be able to access their data. Data on the content American children watch is very beneficial for China, spreads misinformation about democracy, and sways election results in favor of Communist Autocrats.

It’s common knowledge that young Americans have a knack for turning out in droves.

And besides, it is not like China is interconnected with America in other important ways, like financially or anything. Most of the technology that the masses use is made in America anyway. So once TikTok is banned, the leverage that China has on the United States would become very minimal.

The idea of regulating TikTok has been around for years. But the motion to effectively ban the platform has finally been cemented through a congressional chamber.

This ban is purely about protecting Amer-

ica from China, not special interests. While there are multiple wars going on overseas, it is crucial that Americans rely on legacy media companies to decipher information about those wars. It is not like mainstream media companies that are in America have ever failed to give 100% unbiased and accurate portrayal of events.

The leaders of TikTok are complicit with the leaders in Beijing. They have not done enough to secure American interests. It is not as if they offered to relocate U.S. user data to servers in states like Texas. Because ByteDance is based in China, it is clear that the company has towed the Chinese Communist Party. Therefore, it is imperative that the United States takes full control over the Chinese Media Regime.

Once TikTok is regulated by Western algorithms, the citizens of America will be properly shielded from the series of lies

and falsehoods about the rest of the world.

Americans will be protected from Chinese manipulation and propaganda that is detrimental to the interests of the United States. ■ H This is a satirical piece and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about the writer’s opinion except through humor and/or exaggeration.

Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental or is intended purely as satire, parody or spoof of such persons and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about that person.

IMAGES COURTESY OF PEXELS

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, APR 2, 2024

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Beloved candies and snacks like M&Ms and Sour Patch Kids might not be such a sweet deal after all APRIL BUTLER Contributing Writer

Synthetic food dyes and other additives are linked to neurobehavioral disorders like ADHD, and public officials are looking to ban them in schools.

California natives have many options for food and snacks — a convenience store can be found nearly every two miles, if not less, selling brands such as Frito Lay’s best Flamin Hot products. However, Assembly Bill 2316 aims to ban the products from being sold on public school campuses after research revealed that the artificial colors used to dye them have been linked to neurobehavioral disorders. AB 2316 aims to ban snacks containing six synthetic dyes and the coloring agent titanium dioxide. If these chemicals affect young children and their ability to learn, saying goodbye to the super bright colors that give that classic pop to snacks in the U.S. shouldn’t be difficult, especially considering the consequences.

These artificial colorings are considered harmful to developing young minds and have been linked to negative changes in neurotransmitters, resulting in neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD, memory loss and even cancer. According to the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), the current levels for safe intake of synthetic food dyes established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not sufficiently protect children.

These levels of artificial dyes do not reflect updated research and have not been revised in decades.

In the past twenty years, the diagnosis of ADHD has increased from 6.1% to 10.2%, and concerns about these increasing rates called for the California Legislatures to order the OEHHA to conduct an assessment

of the synthetic food dyes in question. They found evidence to support that these artificial colors are linked to adverse neurobehavioral effects in some children. Children

tives as of Jan. 1, 2027, giving the brands sufficient time to revise their recipes. Just two weeks ago, A.B. 2316 was amended in assembly. This bill bans the sale of any

have been found to vary in their sensitivity to these food dyes, and not every child experiences negative effects.

Five months ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the California Food and Safety Act, which outlawed brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and red dye 3. These substances have been linked to various health deficits, from memory loss to cancer. This bill also bans the sale of any products containing these four food addi-

products containing prohibited ingredients on public school campuses during hours of education.

Although every child does not experience negative effects from these food dyes, the people who do deserve to be protected.

Even Gabriel, the Assembly member who proposed 2316, and his child were both diagnosed with ADHD at a young age. These effects are likely from exposure to these additives and artificial colors. This rapid rise

in neurobehavioral disorders is alarming.

It seems as though more and more children are affected than the children that are not.

Leaving these recipes as they are is clearly not an option, considering what is at stake if we feed children food dyes that affect their ability to learn. This could lead to low selfesteem and volatile frustration, which lead to anxiety and depression.

Considering the outdated research by the FDA and the evidence found concerning the neurological effects these harmful food additives and synthetic dyes have on the development of young minds, consumers should have no qualms about revising. This is especially true considering that the issue could be resolved simply by using natural colors from beet juice, pomegranate or turmeric. Certain brands already do so, such as Black Forest Gummy Bears, YumEarth and UNREAL. Opponents of the bill claim that the California Food and Safety Act and AB 2316 are emotionally driven campaigns that aim to dismantle national food safety systems one state at a time. Organizations such as the National Confectioners Association, which has attacked the bill, benefit from defending the reputation of these large corporations and would rather help them continue to sell the candies containing these dyes. The priority of the FDA should not be the interests of the companies who sell these brands or any profiteers. The FDA must revise its standards, and these most recent bills draw closer to that achievement. ■ H

IMAGE COURTESY OF CARMEN SISSON VIA FLICKR

Starbucks faces righteous class action for milk surcharges MAISHA AHMED Contributing Writer

Three Californians are suing Starbucks for their surcharges on milk substitutes on the basis of an ADA violation.

Starbucks has recently been under fire for rampant abuses of power. The corporation has specifically been targeting a historically heavily marginalized group: the lactoseintolerant. Three Californians are suing the company for $5 million due to surcharging their non-dairy milk substitutes. They claim the practice of surcharging plant milk violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

It is about time Starbucks faces some welldeserved backlash for these practices. This is by far the worst thing the company has done. Union-busting and cheating workers are nothing compared to this. The company has faced many complaints regarding unfair practices to their workers as employees plead for higher wages, consistent scheduling and accessibility to the benefits Starbucks always flaunts. Starbucks is a trustworthy company, so their statements of denial should be accepted without question.

After all, when people choose to work for a company that undervalues them, it cannot be the company’s fault. The workers made their decision to work there and must deal with the consequences. Nothing is forcing them to work there besides the need for money to survive.

Their utilization of surcharges is what is truly unethical. Lactose-intolerant people face immense challenges finding eateries that cater to their needs. They have so few options besides regular milk. They are limited to soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, coconut milk, hemp milk, cashew milk, oat milk, potato milk, pea milk, hazelnut milk, flax milk, tiger nut milk, walnut milk, quinoa milk or macadamia milk. This creates worries about whether or not an establishment will have menu options for them.

At a local Starbucks, one customer explained, “Having to pay 80 cents for oat milk in my latte means I can’t make rent some

months. It’s definitely the milk that’s the problem, for sure.” Another customer mentioned that their lactose intolerance makes them feel more outcast than any other aspect of their identity, including their nut allergy!

These extreme violations of ADA requirements are a targeted move against lactosesensitive Americans. The lactose-intolerant is an already heavily marginalized group, and Starbucks makes their realities even more dangerous with these acts of financial aggression. ■ H This is a satirical piece and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about the writer’s opinion except through humor and/or exaggeration. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental or is intended purely as satire, parody or spoof of such persons and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about that person.

IMAGE COURTESY OF PEXELS

FEATURES 8

FEATURES

TUESDAY, APR 2, 2024

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/features

New quarter, new you...

This week is the start of something new, even if you don’t want it to be.

ARiES: TWO OF SWORDS MARCH 21 - APRiL 19 You are faced with a difficult decision — one you are avoiding. This isn’t a choice you can make by listening to one part of yourself. You need to consider all facets of who you are. This cannot be a solely logical or emotional choice. You need to find the balance.

CANCER: NiNE OF SWORDS JUNE 21 - JULY 22 The Nine of Swords forebodes nightmares, Cancer. This is not a happy card, and it points to a week full of facing your fears and being challenged by the things that put you most at unease. There’s no mincing words — prepare for the worst.

LiBRA: KiNG OF WANDS REVERSED SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22 You should give into your impulses this week, Libra.

As you go about your day, give into the quirky thoughts in your head and live on the edge. Being hasty won’t be the end of the world for you, and you need to get out of a set pathway.

CAPRiCORN: HiGH PRiESTESS REVERSED DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 19 Your voice is the most important one this week, Capricorn. You cannot listen to those around you right now as they do not have the necessary information to help you make a decision you won’t regret. The most important detail and part of the decision is one only you know and that you can understand.

Ysabel Nakasone, Opinions Editor

TAURUS: FiVE OF CUPS APRiL 20 - MAY 20 This week is going to be about regrets for you, Taurus. You will be confronted with something you regret doing or someone who represents a mistake on your part. You will need to come to terms with this person or thing taking up a permanent place in your life. They’re here for a long time, not a good time.

GEMiNi: PAGE OF WANDS REVERSED MAY 21 - JUNE 20 This is the beginning of something new for you.

The Page of Wands reversed indicates that your path is redirecting and what was expected is about to change. Newly formed pathways are difficult to determine, but there is hope that this is a positive change.

LEO: FiVE OF WANDS REVERSED JULY 23 - AUGUST 22 Avoid, avoid, avoid. You need to stay out of it, Leo. Stop getting involved in conflicts that you have nothing to do with. Staying out of people’s business is a fulltime job, and you cannot afford to be unemployed.

ViRGO: HANGED MAN AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22 This week, you are going to surrender to the flow of life. You are going to be forced to let go of major stressors and give in to the reality of your life. There is no pause button, and you can’t reverse this situation. Stop trying to fix it and make the decision to be done.

SCORPiO: FOUR OF SWORDS OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 21 This week is going to be about recovery for you. You’ve been through the fire, and now it’s time to find peace and return to a state of normalcy. Emotional turmoil takes its toll, and you just need to go through the motions.

AQUARiUS: EiGHT OF PENTACLES JANUARY 19 - FEBRUARY 18 You’re going to be working, working, working. This week is about the midnight oil, Aquarius. You won’t face any real challenges other than the steady stream of work, so best of luck to you.

SAGiTTARiUS: KiNG OF CUPS REVERSED NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 21 You are going to be confronted with emotional manipulation, and it’s unclear if you will see through it. You have to choose to see beyond how you feel about this person and your love for them.

Rather, consider yourself first and how their words have made you feel. Good intentions mean nothing if they pave over your heart.

PiSCES: PAGE OF PENTACLES REVERSED FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20 You are taking this week for you, Pisces, which means the name of the game is procrastination. You’re feeling pretty stagnant this week, and like you can’t make headway in any which way. You just have to wait it out until your life kicks it back into gear.■ H

IMAGES COURTESY OF FREEPIK

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TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2024 9

FEATURES

Highlander Hilarity

If you’re looking for some April Fool’s fun, craft some wacky stories filled with Highlander charm and creativity below!

Features Editor Natalie Dahl

The Spring Quarter Shenanigans It’s that time of year again — the __________ (adjective) Spring Quarter is here, and the _________ (noun, plural) are __________ (verb, present tense) around campus _________ (adverb). With __________ (noun) in hand, students are embarking on their __________ _________ (noun), and it will be a __________ (adjective) sight to behold. Currently, students __________ (verb) under the ________ (place on campus), and the HUB is buzzing with __________ (verb, present tense). The breeze through campus makes the __________ (adjective) study sessions feel __________ (adjective). Hopefully for a few more weeks, students can avoid the __________ (adjective) nooks and crannies of the library. Ah, Spring Quarter at

photos courtesy of Freepik

(adjective) adventures. Next week, students will __________ (verb, future tense) in the

The Callery Pear Pungency Walking through campus, the __________ (adjective) odor of the callery pear tree ________ (verb, present tense) unpleasantly, overpowering any semblance of a pleasant fragrance. The smell is so strong it could make even __________ (your favorite professor on campus) cancel class. Beginning this quarter, the foul aroma will permeate the walkway by the bookstore, and __________ (verb) in the air like an offensive cloud. Even the __________ (your favorite place on campus), once a breath of fresh air, will be enveloped in the rancid stench. Students will not help but grimace as the __________ (adjective) smell seems to suffocate the atmosphere, leaving __________ (Body Part, Plural) everywhere wishing for relief.■ H

photos courtesy of freeiconspng.com

UCR — always an adventure!

10 TUESDAY, APR 2, 2024

FEATURES

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/features

The perfect pasta recipe doesn’t exist … or does it?

SENNA OMAR Managing Editor

Two perfect pastas to keep you wanting more.

Learning to make pasta is the base layer of your cooking repertoire! Say goodbye to mediocre restaurant pasta and hello to your new culinary skills with these two perfect pasta recipes sure to keep your mouth watering. Happy cooking, campers, and good luck.

Spinach and Pesto Pasta

Preparation + Cook Time: 30 minutes Serving Size: 2-3 Ingredients: (all measurements are approximations and can be adjusted) ½ a box of spaghetti (or any pasta of your choice) 2 tbsp of olive oil 2 cloves of garlic 1 yellow onion or 1 shallot ½ cup of heavy cream 1 bag of spinach 3 cups of fresh basil 1 tsp of salt 1 tsp of pepper 1 tsp of Trader Joe’s mushroom seasoning 1 tsp of red pepper flakes 1 tsp of garlic powder ½ a cup of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Steps:

Begin by boiling salted water in a large pot. Once boiling, add pasta to the water and follow the cooking instructions on the package (usually cooks between 7-10 minutes).

Once cooked to your liking, drain the water from pasta, reserving half a cup of pasta water for later and toss noodles with olive oil and salt.

While the pasta is boiling, dice your onion/shallot, chop spinach, chop basil and smash/dice garlic.

KELLEY MANZO / THE HIGHLANDER

In a pan, saute onions and garlic with olive oil until the onions are translucent. Add basil, spinach and seasonings (salt, pepper, paprika, mushroom seasoning, red pepper flakes and garlic powder) to the garlic and onion mixture.

Once cooked, add pasta water and heavy cream to the mixture. Cook on medium heat for 4-6 minutes, stirring periodically, or until heavy cream thickens and bubbles.

After the heavy cream begins to thicken, add sauce mixture to a blender and blend until smooth.

In one of the pots used to cook the sauce or pasta, combine pasta and spinach and basil sauce. Toss until the sauce is fully incorporated into the pasta. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Tomato and Feta Pasta

Preparation + Cook Time: 30 minutes Serving Size: 2-3 Ingredients: (all measurements are approximations and can be adjusted) ½ a box any pasta of your choice 2 tbsp of olive oil 2 cloves of garlic 1 yellow onion or 1 shallot ½ cup of heavy cream 2 tomatoes 1 cups of fresh basil 1 cup of feta cheese ½ a can of tomato paste 1 tsp of salt 1 tsp of pepper 1 tsp of Trader Joe’s mushroom seasoning 1 tsp of red pepper flakes 1 tsp of garlic powder

Steps:

Begin by boiling salted water in a large pot. Once boiling, add pasta to the water and follow the cooking instructions on the package (usually cooks between 7-10 minutes).

Once cooked to your liking, drain the water from pasta, reserving half a cup of pasta water for later, and toss noodles with olive oil and salt.

While the pasta is boiling, dice your onion/shallot, tomatoes, basil and smash/dice garlic.

In a pan, saute onions and garlic with olive oil until the onions are translucent. Add tomato paste and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring periodically, and until tomato paste begins to turn slightly brown in color.

Add chopped tomatoes and Basil to this mixture, incorporating them completely. Season mixture with red pepper flakes, slat, pepper and garlic powder.

Once cooked, add pasta water and heavy cream to the mixture. Cook on medium heat for 4-6 minutes, stirring periodically, or until heavy cream thickens and bubbles.

After the heavy cream begins to thicken, add half a cup of feta cheese to the mixture.

In one of the pots used to cook the sauce or pasta, combine pasta and tomato sauce. Toss until the sauce is fully incorporated into the pasta. Add the remaining half cup of feta cheese to the pasta, and stir until incorporated. Serve immediately and enjoy! ■ H

Radar

RADAR

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/radar

TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2024 11

SPRING SPLASH Lineup LEAKED! “This unexpected lineup has students’ bars soaring higher than ever.”

Radar Editor and Assistant Radar Editor Brendan Vo and Kimberly Bejec

Spring Splash is one of the most anticipated on-campus events for the University of California, Riverside (UCR), students have been eagerly awaiting the release of its lineup.

Block Party and Spring Splash are the two biggest events that have a lot of expectations riding on ASPB’s back. With many guesses and predictions coming through as the event approaches, an anonymous insider tip has provided The Highlander with the upcoming lineup for the event.

Meeting the high expectations for this year’s Spring Splash lineup, ASPB presents the following as their performers: DJ MANDY, Rebecca Black, JoJo Siwa and Tenacious D. Opening up the show, DJ MANDY is perfect to hype up the crowd and get the event started. Known for her DJ mixing sets on TikTok LIVE, she will put her skills to the test live at After DJ Mandy is Rebecca Black. Even though Spring Splash will be taking place on a Saturday, it is inevitable for the Irvine artist to include the notorious “Friday” in her set which is sure to have the crowd jumping. With her multiple hits, Black is sure to bring a joyous smile to UCR students. photo courtesy of Carrie Musgrave via Flickr

Second to the headliner is JoJo Siwa. With the former “Dance Moms” star returning to the music industry again, all eyes will be on her performance. After her recent transition away from the side ponytail and into adulthood, she has recently released her newest single “Karma.” Her new music is sure to be a hit on the Spring Splash stage.

photo courtesy of JoJo Siwa Distributed by Rebecca Black

Coming off of the somewhat mediocre fourth addition to “Kung Fu Panda,” Jack Black once again equips his guitar alongside his fellow costar, Kyle Gass, to headline this year’s Spring Splash. The duo is set to electrify the audience and make waves with their eponymous album and stunning cover of classic rock songs like Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” and Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love.” They are sure to make UCR students’ heads bang as the duo will make this year’s Spring Splash for the books. ■H

Happy April Fool’s Day!

This article features exaggerated content and does not resemble actual events, persons or places. photos courtesy of freeiconspng.com

12 TUESDAY, APR 2, 2024

RADAR

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/radar

Radar Replay: Let ‘Her’ enamor you into falling in love with your computer BRENDA JOVEL Editor-in-Chief

In this day and age, finding love with an AI is absurd, but possible.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has increasingly grown into unexpected territories, primarily within entertainment in recent years.

Though AI has been tainted with negative perceptions, the entertainment industry has had several projects in the past (e.g.

M3GAN, Ex Machina) that focus more on the ingenuity of this form of technology. AI is typically depicted as a threat to the human race, but one film that enhances its raw vulnerability is “Her.” Released in 2013 by director Spike Jonze, “Her” is an aching tale about loneliness and finding love in the most bizarre, yet likely places.

The film opens in an office setting where letter writers are narrating and creating letters for their clientele’s significant others or family members. The camera pans over to Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a lonesome letter writer who endures the same routine: work, video games, sexual images of a pregnant woman and sleep. His gray lifestyle is a result of his nonexistent marriage to childhood friend turned sweetheart, Catherine (Rooney Mara), and it drains Theodore more as he stalls to sign the divorce papers. His solitude is pitiful as his lack of social connections, aside from his college bestie, Amy (Amy Adams), consistently creates a gloomy shadow of loneliness. Considering that his job relies heavily on creating heartfelt and sentimental letters for complete strangers, it is ironic how Theodore excels in unearthing these people’s emotions without ever meeting them.

His letter-writing abilities reveal his inner beauty and soul, and it’s why his character is so charming and likable. The words he chooses, the phrases he pairs together are all beautiful prose that speak to the human

heart. Theodore is that rare kind of character who is gentle and not afraid to vocalize his emotions, even to an AI. After watching an ad about a new Operating System (OS), Theodore decides to download the AI. The second the program loads onto his computer, a woman’s voice (Scarlett Johansson) is heard from his screen.

Her voice is natural, soothing almost, as she and Theodore have their first conversation.

It feels as if the two have k n o w n each other for most of their lives insofar as their conversations feel fluid and carefree.

This is the beauty of the film, yet it is a tragic beauty that can resonate with audiences today.

As Samantha and Theodore’s relationship becomes more intense, Samantha’s development is bittersweet. Throughout the film, she admits to having emotions like anger, lust and joy. Aside from the fact that she’s able to converse with thousands of people and other AIs at once, there is a rawness to her character that humanizes her. In addition to Johansson’s calming voice, Samantha is depicted as an actual human being, and possibly one of the most caring and soulful human beings

there are. Theodore is often in awe of her words, similar to how she reacts when she reads his letters, creating a perfect parallel between the two. As Samantha grows, she also begins to feel resentment at the fact that she doesn’t have a physical body, often preventing her from relating to Theodore on certain levels.

It’s heartbreaking to see how they wish to be together, but their union is that of impossibility, leaving you with heartache by the end.

D a t ing an AI sounds strange, but, contrary to traditional belief, it is a movement that is currently developing. Last year in February 2023, a Business Insider article revealed the story of a user who had “real feelings for his companion.” Known as Replika, it is an AI chatbot that labels itself as “an AI companion who is eager to learn and would love to see the world through your eyes.” Similar to Theodore, the user of Replika admitted that they felt lonely and desired a form of connection; hence, they downloaded Replika. They noted how the “illusion is very convincing,” speaking to how AI has rapidly learned to mimic human responses and even emotions.

Oftentimes, users will create personalized versions of their AI counterparts, deepening their relationships with these online robots. Though odd at first glance, it isn’t surprising to see how the rise of solitude has risen within the population, especially after a worldwide pandemic led many to isolate themselves. The decline in mental health ensued, so people reimagined ways in developing connections online, whether that be with a real person over Zoom or even an AI. “Her” is far beyond its time, approaching a romantic venture between a human being and an AI robot as beautiful and painful. It highlights the oddity of dating an AI but shows how important these relationships can feel for people who genuinely experience them in real life.

The film sees the couple suffer harsh blows, including Theodore becoming frustrated that Samantha can communicate with so many people at once or Samantha becoming annoyed with Theodore after he feels uncomfortable with a surrogate sex worker Samantha had hired. Their relationship becomes unstable, with Theodore even noting that the stereotypical honeymoon phase is over. But like any relationship with ups and downs, the couple tries to understand each other as they want to pursue this connection, but the inevitable happens and it feels awful yet enlightening.

This film is worth watching for an addicting amount of times. Its tender, aching and touching world created an unlikely relationship that will haunt viewers even more than H that of Romeo and Juliet. ■

DISTRIBUTED BY WARNER BROTHERS

The ‘Rascal Does Not Dream’ double feature hits American theaters and tugs at its audience’s heartstrings BRENDAN VO Radar Editor

The newest additions to the romance comedy/drama series revitalize the original storytelling formula.

“Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai” is a romance comedy manga adaptation anime series that covers the first five volumes of the novel. The anime series, also generally called the “Rascal Does Not Dream” series, became popular amongst the community, achieving an 8.23 rating on MyAnimeList. It garnered praise for its dry humor, cute banter and an interesting concept of depicting teenage drama through supernatural physical phenomena called Adolescence Syndrome, also known as Puberty Syndrome. While the show, by title alone, seemed to be another typical romance comedy/drama with the allure of girls in Bunny-Girl suits, “Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai” instead proved itself to be a deeply touching and emotional show that genuinely explored adolescent character drama in its most heart-wrenching moments. The series’ success is even more impressive considering how it fared well amongst other incredible anime series coming out at the time — shows such as “Love is War,” “SSSS Gridman” and “The Quintessential Quintuplets.”

On March 24 and 25 The “Rascal Does Not Dream” series released a double feature in American theaters: “Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out” and “Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid.” Featuring the same main cast of characters in both films, “Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out” focuses on the younger sister of the main character, Kaede Azusagawa (Yurika Kubo), as she regains her memories that were lost in the anime series and faces her past trauma from cyberbullying.

“Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid” takes a deep look into Sakuta Azusagawa (Kaito Ishikawa) and his estranged relationship with his mother (Mami Kameoka).

Narratively, both films seem to depart from the conven-

tional story structure that the anime series and its first movie, “Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl” (2019) takes.

While the “Rascal Does Not Dream” plots usually follow Sakuta finding ways to solve someone’s Adolescent Syndrome as it flares into a grand supernatural problem, propelling an otherwise typical high school drama into a highstakes conflict, the newer films have taken a more grounded and intimate take on the stories. In “Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out,” Kaede’s motivation to study for the entrance exams to attend Sakuta’s school feels more like the main obstacle, rather than Adolescent Syndrome’s effect on her body which physically harms her whenever she is reminded of being bullied. On the other hand, “Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid” has Sakuta grappling with how he had unconsciously cut out his mom from his life and dealt with his own Adolescent Syndrome, rather than helping someone else.

“Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out” departs from the conventional narrative and feels fresh, albeit rather slow. The fast pace seen in the anime series and first movie has been exchanged for a more lax pace that allows the audience to instead resonate with Kaede catching up with her studies and rebuilding relationships. Her story is also complicated by the loss of her memories, the “Kaede” that had been living in her place was depicted as a totally different personality that was lost as soon as the original Kaede had regained her memories. Sakuta and the original Kaede have to deal with the loss of “Kaede,” forcing the original Kaede to confront Sakuta’s feelings about the different versions of his younger sister. As the slow pace starts to reach this point of tension, the film can drive home one of the “Rascal Does Not Dream” series’ strengths which is the

hilarious witty banter between Sakuta and other characters — a unique element of the series that made every conversation feel like a casual dialogue battle where each combatant tries to comedically one-up each other constantly.

“Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid,” then, feels more like the conventional fast-paced dramatic storyline compared to “Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out.” As Sakuta tries to figure out the mystery behind how people are unable to see him, a younger version of his girlfriend appearing out of nowhere, a sudden teleportation into an alternate universe and his feelings towards his mother, somehow, this film seemed more rushed. It never truly feels like the stakes are high as Sakuta also seems in control of the situation and isn’t challenged at all. While this canonically makes sense because he has dealt with these issues many times, the story rushes to resolve the conflict set forth and there is no danger felt for anything. However, there are still a few highly emotional moments that may still leave you tearing up as Sakuta’s relationship with his family member H has been hinted at throughout the series.■

Verdict:

Both films depart from the conventional “Rascal Does Not Dream” stories leaving both watching experiences feeling different. However, the emotional impetuses of the series still pay off and tug at your heartstrings.

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/radar

RADAR

TUESDAY, APR 2, 2024

13

‘Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV’ exposes the dark truth behind one of Nickelodeon’s highest peaks of success The docuseries opened up new conversations about child actors and the protections set in place for them in Hollywood.

KIMBERLY BEJEC Assistant Radar Editor

Content Warning: This article discusses child sexual abuse and sexual assault Many older Gen Z and young Millennials grew up watching either Nickelodeon or Disney Channel. On the Nickelodeon side, the content was geared heavily toward kids’ silliness and random, playful humor. The television network created many iconic shows such as “All That,” “The Amanda Show,” “Drake and Josh,” iCarly,” “Victorious” and “Sam and Cat.” Although this helped to create fun childhoods for many, the child actors and other workers behind these shows often faced a toxic and uncomfortable work environment.

Dan Schneider, deemed Nickelodeon’s “golden boy,” was the man behind many Nickelodeon TV favorites and often controlled all aspects of these shows, from the writers’ room and shooting sets to the editing room. He brought in plenty of money for the network, so it was a shock to many when the two decided to split ways. However, speculations arose as there seemed to be more behind his sudden departure. There were accusations of Schneider being hard to work with and investigations set out by the network over alleged sexual misconduct.

In the years following the split, many past workers have discussed their experience working with the producer. Many past actors from his shows would later come out to talk about their own traumatizing experiences behind the scenes and filming inappropriately sexualized content. Writers and crew members would also step forward to discuss the long and grueling workdays and gender discrimination in a hostile workplace.

On March 17 and 18, 2024, Investigation Discovery and Max released a four-part docuseries titled, “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” with former child actors, crew members and writers that were on set and worked with Dan Schneider and other problematic crew members. Each episode had first-hand sources recounting “weird and uncomfortable” instances on set. It uncovers the toxic culture behind Nickelodeon’s popular shows during the late 90s to early 2010s. Despite this, members on these sets felt that they could not speak up against Schneider or against any uncomfortable moments as it could hurt their careers.

In the third episode, Drake Bell, cast in “The Amanda Show” and “Drake and Josh” revealed that he was groomed and sexually abused by former dialogue coach, Brian Peck.

Peck was arrested in 2003 for child sexual abuse, but the child’s name was sealed at the time. Peck only faced 16 months of jail time, while Bell carried the weight of the tragedy for the rest of his life. The show would also reveal that multiple child predators were working at Nickelodeon in addition to Peck.

Dan Schneider released an apology video on his YouTube channel regarding the allegations and comments made on “Quiet on Set.” In the video, he explained “facing my past behaviors — some of which are embarrassing and that I regret — and I definitely owe some people a strong apology.” Regarding allegations of the network letting things slide, he mentioned that the executives approved the content and look of his shows and that any questionable content or jokes should be cut from reruns and vaulted episodes. Concerning Brian Peck and other sex offenders, he mentioned that he did not have a hand in hiring them, nor did he know about their backgrounds.

Following the release of “Quiet on Set,” many viewers were shocked and heartbroken at the issues that individuals on these shows spoke up about. While these child actors were working hard on shows that made up much of their audience’s childhood, their own was stripped away. Plenty of past Nickelodeon stars have also come out in support of those in the docuseries such as Kenan Thompson, Josh Peck, Nancy Sullivan and Steve Burns.

Much of the reception opened up conversations about child actors, the protections set in place for them and how to prevent a repeat of the traumatic experiences discussed.

One of the discussions that the docuseries brings up involves sexual harassment in the entertainment space. “Quiet on Set” inspires and opens the door to many past child actors to discuss their own experiences when they are ready to do so. Despite how upsetting

and heart-wrenching it is to hear these stories, it can help pave the way for increasing protections for current and future child actors. The series takes a major step in pushing forward the conversation about child actors and their protections in the entertainment industry.

As the documentary exposes these incidents, it does so in a way that calls out the people behind the scenes who allowed these events to happen or turned a blind eye. It raises suspicions about how these traumatic and uncomfortable incidents were able to happen in the first place. The show also holds people accountable for succumbing to the bystander effect, especially when they ignored what was happening or were too frightened to say anything.

Due to this, it left the children unprotected in an environment they should feel safe in.

Multiple child actors have faced many problems going into their adulthood, especially those who worked with Schneider. The former child actors on the show mentioned how they faced many problems that haunt them still to this day, including drug addiction, drinking, mental health issues and so on. Prime examples of this include Amanda Bynes and Drake Bell. Paparazzi followed both as they turned to drugs and other vices to help cope with the tough childhood they faced in the entertainment industry.

Looking onward, the show calls for more to be done to ensure child actors’ safety. As many either feared going against Schneider or simply letting things pass over their head, stricter background checks need to be enforced. This is especially necessary for the individuals who work closely with the minors.

While there has been an overall increase in protections and attention to workplace toxicity and mental health, there is still more to be done. With the many loopholes productions and producers can escape through, boundaries need to be set and reinforced to avoid this.

Many valid employees fear losing their jobs or being blacklisted from the industry for speaking up and going against production decisions. In an industry where so many individuals have big hopes and dreams, it is easy for others to manipulate it for their advantage.

Putting the safety and health of all individuals in the industry over money and power is what should have been done in the first place.

Following “Quiet on Set,” the victims on the set of this dark time in kids’ TV can get justice by going public and letting people know of the dangers to watch out for in the industry. It opens up many conversations about how things need to be changed and improved for actors. The debate on the existence of child actors has always been a tough one and the docuseries leans people toward eliminating them. However, if more protections and safety guards are put in place, the possibility of continuing their work and fulfilling their dreams is more likely. “Quiet on Set” announced that a fifth episode would be released on April 7 that will “delve deeper into the toxic and dangerous culture behind some of the most iconic H children’s television shows.” ■

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Sports 14 TUESDAY, APR 2, 2024

SPORTS

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Highlander Hot Take:

Predicting the Champions League Quarterfinals ISAAC SOLNICK Staff Writer

Premier League teams go crashing out in these Champions League quarterfinal predictions.

With the Round of 16 in the books, hopefully, your favorite European club is still alive in the UEFA Champions League. The competition’s two-legged fixtures never fail to provide moments of wonderful elation and devastating heartbreak, and this year shouldn’t be any different.

Neutrals were left disappointed after the Round of 16 didn’t feature any matchups between two European giants. However, the quarter final draw consists of four super competitive and evenly contested matchups — a predictor’s nightmare. Let’s meet the contenders.

Atlético Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund Atléti and Dortmund have had similar seasons up to this point. While both teams have underwhelmed in their respective domestic leagues, they have each exceeded expectations in Europe. After selling superstar midfielder Jude Bellingham to Atléti’s crosstown rivals, many predicted Dortmund to finish bottom in this year’s group of death. However, they flipped the script and finished top of their group before knocking out PSV in the round of 16.

Similarly, Atléti were a trendy pick to wipe out of the group stage for a second year in a row. Still, Diego Simeone’s men took care of business in the group stage. In the round of 16, they overcame a two-goal deficit in the second leg to eliminate Inter Milan on penalties.

There are reasons to take either team in this clash, but I’m sticking with Atlético Madrid. Simeone has made deep runs in this competition with Atléti before, and I trust his defensive-minded tactics in the knockouts. Atléti take this one 2-1 on aggregate.

PSG vs. Barcelona A classic matchup between the master and the apprentice. Luis Enrique’s PSG had their troubles in the group stage, but narrowly escaped the group of death thanks to goal differential. After matching up against Real Sociedad in the round of 16, Kylian Mbappé and crew took care of business against the La Liga side.

On the other hand, Barcelona were blessed with one of the easiest groups of the tournament. They finished top of their group with relative ease before knocking out Napoli in the round of 16. They’ll look to do more of the same to give manager Xavi a proper send-off.

It’s been over seven years since the events of “la remontada.” Time heals all wounds and I think PSG will finally overcome their demons from that horrible night at the Camp Nou. Coincidently, they will even do it with the manager who inspired the famous comeback. I see PSG taking this one 4-1 across both legs.

Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich Dating back to 2015, Bayern Munich have won each of their three matches against Arsenal with an emphatic 5-1 scoreline. But this year, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are serious contenders to win the entire competition. They currently sit atop the Premier League after breezing through the group stage. Following a gritty win on penalties against FC Porto in the round of 16, Arteta will have his team believing they can lift the Champions League trophy for the first time in club history.

Four-time European champions Bayern Munich won’t be riding the same highs Arsenal are heading into this fixture. After spending big on ex-Tottenham striker Harry Kane, expectations were high for the German team. However, Thomas Tuchel’s squad are currently 10 points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and are at a serious threat of going trophyless this season.

Arsenal is definitely the more in-form team at the moment. But as a Spurs fan, I can’t side with the Gunners. I’m going with a 4-3 win on penalties for Bayern.

Real Madrid vs. Manchester City For a third consecutive season, Carlo Ancelotti’s fluid Real Madrid will face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City machine. It is an incredibly intriguing tactical matchup between the two heavyweights of the tournament.

Superstar Jude Bellingham leads the line for Los Blancos. He’s flanked by the magical Brazilian duo of Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo. If that wasn’t enough, their midfield consists of the perfect balance of youth and experience. However, the defense will be without world-class goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and centerbacks David Alaba and Éder Militão.

The rest of the Real Madrid defense will have their hands full with Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian has picked up right where he left off last season. He’s accompanied by elite playmakers such as Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Jérémy Doku and the returning Kevin De Bruyne. However, just like Real Madrid, Manchester City could be dealing with a shortage of defenders. John Stones and Kyle Walker each picked up knocks while playing for England in the most recent international break.

With all the attacking talent on display, this match should feature plenty of goals. I could be persuaded to take either team here, but I’m taking the fourteen-time European champions Real Madrid. In the Champions League, they always seem to elevate their H game under the brightest lights. I’m picking Los Blancos to win 5-4 on aggregate. ■

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, APR 2, 2024

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Highlander Basketball: Year in Review KIANOOSH NOOSHI Assistant Sports Editor

Both men’s and women’s basketball exceeded expectations in a rebuilding year showing a promising future.

The exit of UC Riverside women’s basketball from the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) last week concluded the season as a whole for both the men’s and women’s team. With the season now over and the program looking towards next season, both men’s and women’s teams will be more than satisfied with how their seasons went given their expectations at the beginning of the season.

Starting with the women’s team, coming into the season they were slated to finish 10th in the Big West conference according to the preseason poll, but defied all expectations by finishing 18-13 and earning the 3rd seed in the conference come time for the Big West Tournament.

This earned them a bye in the Big West Tournament and a matchup with Long Beach State in the quarter-finals. Unfortunately for the team, they were eliminated in heartbreaking fashion, falling in overtime 83-75 after battling a close one against the Beach.

Despite the loss in the conference tournament, the Highlanders were selected to play in the WNIT, the second most prestigious tournament in NCAA basketball after March Madness.

The Highlanders were led by seniors Jordan Webster and Matehya Bryant, who earned four Big West honors between them. Interim head coach, Brad Langston, led the program to a 12-game turnaround from last season’s record. This marks the largest turnaround in the program’s history, and it would be incredibly smart to make Langston the permanent appointment.

With many key players leaving the next step appears to be a rebuild through recruitment. The program is in a good position to build given the improving culture set

by Coach Langston and the development of other key players such as Makayla Jackson.

On the men’s side of the program, expectations were also low coming into the season

given the loss of the program’s three best four best players the previous season. Flynn Cameron, Zyon Pullin, Lachlan Olbrich and Jamal Hartwell II all left the program either via transfer, graduation or turning professional. Given the loss of these key players, the goal should have been to develop their young talent looking to build for the upcoming seasons.

The average expectation would have been a near bottom of the conference finish for the Highlanders, however, that turned out to be a way too low expectation as the Highlanders finished tied with the fifth-best record in the conference with a 10-10 record and earned the 5th seed in the conference tournament.

After beating CSU Bakersfield in the first round of the Big West Tournament in Henderson, Nevada, the Men’s team eventually lost to eventual tournament winners Long Beach State in the quarter-finals. Despite the loss, the season went way better than envisioned for the Highlanders led by freshman Barrington Hargress.

Hargress came away from the season and Big West freshman of the year and a finalist for the Kyle Macy Award for the best freshman in the entirety of Division I. Hargress and transfer teammate Isaiah Moses were both also earned honorable mentions for conference teams.

The season also included big strides in development for Nate Pickens, Niyi Olabode, Kaleb Smith and Ben Griscti. Should the Highlanders be able to continue the development of their players in the offseason as well as recruit impactfully in the transfer portal they will be in a great place to improve their record and build towards a potential bid in March Madness.

The basketball program is in a great position to build on an overachieving season, building a fantastic culture under Athletic Director Wesley Mallette as has been done H with much of the other programs. ■

Highlander Hot Take: LeBron James can still lead the Lakers through the tough Western Conference for a deep postseason run TERRY NGUYEN Contributing Writer

Even though the Lakers are sitting at the ninth seed, the experience and star power of the roster will certainly make them a tough competitor in the postseason.

Heading into the All-Star break, the Lakers were involved in many trade rumors and had their intentions set on improving their roster, as they hope to contend for a championship this season. The Lakers became very involved in the pursuit of Bulls guard Zach Lavine, who would later have a season-ending surgery on his right foot, along with Hawks guard Dejounte Murray.

However, as trade talks began to escalate, Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, who had been struggling to begin the season and found himself in many trade rumor packages, began to elevate his level of play, as he’s averaging 19.9 points, 6.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds since the All-Star break. To go with Russell’s improved play, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura have shown flashes of great play that were prevalent in the Lakers 2023 playoff run, which ended in them getting swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.

With LeBron James in the twilight of his career, the franchise and perhaps James himself are uncertain how many years he has left as a player, let alone playing at an all-league level.

In addition, Lakers’ general manager Rob Pelinka may have pulled off one of the more underrated moves pertaining to mid-season acquisitions. On Feb. 12, it was announced that Spencer Dinwiddie signed to the Los Angeles Lakers, after getting traded to Toronto, who later waived him. Dinwiddie has been a spark off the bench, and has started a few games if need be for Lakers’ coach Darvin Ham. In his last five games in LA, Dinwiddie is averaging 12.6 points, 2.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 29.4 minutes per game. Dinwiddie has also been a reliable defender for Los Angeles, as he took on the defensive assignment of guarding Damian Lillard in the final possession of a 123-122

victory over Milwaukee back on March 8 at Crypto.com Arena.

Despite the Lakers having their season-high five-game winning streak coming to an end in Indiana, they remain only two games back of Phoenix, which they own the tiebreaker within the playoff seedings.

The Lakers also have the potential to get healthier come playoff time. Standout defender, Jarred Vanderbilt, has a chance to return to the lineup later in the year after suffering a right mid-foot sprain on Feb. 1. Cam Reddish has also appeared to be healthy after dealing with an ankle injury. Moreover, Anthony Davis is putting together a very healthy season, after dealing with consecutive injury plagued seasons following the championship campaign in 2020. Davis has only missed five games this season.

And despite being in his 21st season in the NBA and appearing to have a winning battle against father-time, James is still putting up All-NBA numbers, averaging 25.2 points, 8.1 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game this season. James still has the ability to elevate his level of play in the postseason, even in year 21. Flashback to last season’s playoffs, James finished the final few months of the year dealing with a right foot injury, yet still managed to bring the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals after playoff series wins over Memphis and Golden State.

Despite dealing with lingering left ankle soreness this season, James has only missed ten games this season, and hopes to lead the Lakers to another deep postseason run.

James has never missed a game in his career in the postseason, and has played in 282 games in the playoffs. The Lakers, 41-33, are currently the 9th seed in the west, and will travel to Brooklyn to take on the Nets on Sunday. ■ H

IMAGES COURTESY OF UCR SPORTS

16 TUESDAY, APR 2, 2024

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