The Highlander
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
For the week of Tuesday, May 14, 2024
VOL. 72, ISSUE 27
est. 1954
OPINIONS The proposed STEM high school on UCR’s campus is not a boon for the campus or the local community HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL BOARD
The recent public review and hearing of the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) high school has raised several issues. The school is intended to serve 1200 students and 60 faculty members. The goal is to expand STEM education and college preparedness, but this plan falls short. Furthermore, while the proposed educational center is a great idea in theory, the current plan puts the needs of and may put undue strain on the existing campus community. The center is supposed to be built next to the campus Baseball Complex at W. Blaine Street and Canyon Crest Drive, including a 153-space parking lot and bus drop-off zone. This is insufficient to meet the transportation needs of potential students while not burdening University of California, Riverside (UCR) students. At the public hearing, it was pointed out that the Draft EIR did not base traffic forecasting on realistic data. Specifically, numbers were not taken during peak traffic hours and were also done when UCR’s campus was closed due to COVID-19. Not measuring traffic when students are even on campus is incredibly misleading and is generating very reasonable concern. UCR comprises 70% commuter students, and freshmen are not required to live on campus. These students need the roads not to be clogged with new and barely competent drivers. The fact that
EMYR ORTIZ / THE HIGHLANDER
NEWS WORKED AT UCPD. Court documents paint clearer picture of campus gun arrest
DETAILS REVEALED ABOUT STUDENT SUSPENDED FOR POSSESSING RIFLE ON CAMPUS; STUDENT
► SEE HIGH SCHOOL PAGE 6
MATA ELANGOVAN AND EMYR ORTIZ News Editor and Assistant news Editor
Last week, the campus community was left with questions and concerns as campus authorities announced a student had been placed on interim suspension, and was later arrested, for possessing an assault rifle on campus. While statements released by the university reveal minimal information, court documents paint a clearer picture, revealing the arrested student, Christopher Jung-Yoon Kim, worked as a non-sworn employee of the University of California Police Department (UCPD). In a sworn statement written by the detective assigned to the case to support an arrest warrant, it was disclosed that Kim was a member of the Highlander Safety Team, a non-sworn, paid, and unarmed
group that assists UCPD in patrols and other activities. This information was not disclosed by the university when they announced that the student was arrested. The district attorney’s office charged Kim with unlawfully possessing an assault weapon and bringing a firearm into a school zone. In the charging document signed by the district attorney, prosecutors cited Kims “possession of an assault rifle on a college campus” as an aggravating factor, stating the behavior “indicates a serious danger to society.” According to an article by The Press Enterprise, University of California, Riverside’ (UCR) Senior Director of News & Content John Warren confirmed that the
investigation began after “a single, unused rifle cartridge” was found in a North District apartment common area. Kim was later interviewed by the detective on the case and “admitted to having a rifle in his apartment” and “knew it was illegal to have a gun on university campus.” Following this interview, a search warrant was issued for Kim’s residence. On May 3, the search warrant was executed at the North District apartments revealing the rifle, five high-capacity magazines and a journal with hand-drawn images depicting a “violent act,” according to campus authorities. According to court documents, the “violent act” depicted
was a “subject shooting a rifle or shotgun at a person and a crowd watching.” Kim told investigators the drawings were “just doodles.” Documents written by the detective appear to show that Kim complied with aspects of the investigation; during the search he informed law enforcement where in his apartment the rifle was located. On Sunday, May 5, 2024, an email was sent out to the student body notifying them of the search and what was uncovered. The university did not name Kim, and stated that the student was “placed on interim suspension for alleged violation of several university policies” and was ordered to leave campus. This email was ► CONTINUED AT GUN ARREST PAGE 3
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OPINIONS 6
FEATURES 9
RADAR 12
SPORTS 16
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