Volume 67 Issue 12

THE HIGHLANDER

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

est. 1954

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019

VOL. 67, ISSUE 12

H A P P Y

new year 2019 f

UCR Highlander Newspaper @ucrhighlander HighlanderTV

NEWS 4

OPINIONS 7

FEATURES 9

RADAR 13

SPORTS 16

KUCR 88.3 FM

2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

HUMANS OF UCR

UPCOMING EVENTS: WEEK 1

8

THE HIGHLANDER SENIOR STAFF

Tuesday

COMPILED BY THOMAS HOLGUIN

9

Wednesday

10 Friday

UCR Multidisciplinary Research Building Dedication 10:00am to 12:00pm UCR Multidisciplinary Research Building

Study Abroad Scholarship Workshop 12:00pm to 1:00pm HUB (Highlander Union Building), 379

12

Film: Tea with the Dames 3:00pm to 4:30pm UCR ARTS, Culver Center of the Arts

Film: Tea with the Dames 7:00pm to 8:30pm UCR ARTS, Culver Center of the Arts

13

Rose Pruning Demonstration 1:00pm to 3:00pm Botanic Gardens, Rose Garden

14

Geek Week Kickoff 4:00pm to 7:00pm Pentland Hills Residence Halls, Lawn

Saturday

Sunday

CONTACT US

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

Evan Ismail

Andreas Rauch

managingeditor @highlandernews.org

editorinchief @highlandernews.org NEWS EDITOR

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Aidan Rutten

Amani Mahmoud Mark Bertumen

news@highlandernews.org OPINIONS EDITOR

Elaine Chen

opinions@highlandernews.org FEATURES EDITOR

Martha Delgado

features@ highlandernews.org

Marcelo Garcia

radar@highlandernews.org ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

SPORTS EDITOR

Jaryd Bongcaras

Jonathan Fermandez

Business Office: (951) 827-3457

Classifieds & Billing: (951) 827-5039

Fax: (951) 827-7049

jbong006@ucr.edu

sports@highlandernews.org

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Kerry Mulia

productionmanager @highlandernews.org PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS

Hao Le Jeffrey Yoo Brinly Den

Kathy Garcia Amanda Joy Teano Judy Tu Asst. Photo Editor

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Jimmy Lai

Martin Lopez mlope072@ucr.edu

photo@highlandernews.org STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Thomas Holguin VIDEO EDITOR

Catherine Yong

video.highlander@gmail.com BUSINESS MANAGER

Karla Montes

highlanderads@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

TECH DIRECTOR

Kevin Ciampaglia

techdirector@highlandernews.org

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Jessica Schneider

TIP LINE: (951) 827-2105 Help the Highlander stay on top of what is happening on campus and in the general UCR community. Call this number and leave a message for the Editorial Board with your tip. Be sure to include your full name, relation to UCR, and a number or email address where you can be reached for more details.

Editorial Office: (951) 827-3617

A&E EDITOR

Chiraag Dave

Highlander 101 Highlander Union Building Riverside, CA 92521 www.highlandernews.org editorinchief@highlandernews.org

marketing.highlander@gmail.com

The Highlander accepts letters from the campus community. They must be 600-800 words at length and include the author’s name and contact information. Topics should be UCR-centric and/or pertain to our generation of students. Contact Opinions Editor Michael Beeli at opinions@highlandernews.org by Wednesday if interested in writing a letter and submit the completed letter by Saturday at noon. Letters can and will be rejected if it does not meet requirements.

LEGAL The Highlander is published and copyrighted by the Highlander for the students, faculty and staff of UCR. All rights are reserved. Reprinting of any material in this publication without the written permission of the Highlander is strictly prohibited. Readers are allowed one free copy of the newspaper. For additional copies or for subscription information, please contact the Highlander.

The Highlander fully supports the University of California’s policy on non-discrimination. The student media reserve the right to reject or modify advertising whose content discriminates on the basis of ancestry, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, age, sex or sexual orientation.

The Highlander has a media grievance procedure for resolving complaints against it. All inserts that are printed in the Highlander are independently paid publications and do not reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the staff or The University of California or the Associated Students of UCR.

Marine Corps Pull-Up Challenge Education Abroad Information Session 11:00am to 12:00pm 10:00am to 2:00pm UCR Bell Tower HUB (Highlander Union Building), 379

Contemporary Spiritual Music from Brazil 7:00pm to 8:30pm UCR ARTS, Culver Center of the Arts

11

HIGHLANDER STAFF

Healty Habits: Meal Prepping 4:00pm to 6:00pm Student Recreation Center (SRC), Classroom Kitcheb

Physics and Astronomy Colloquium 3:40pm to 5:00pm Winston Chung Hall, 138

Thursday

“Happy New Year!”

Winter Undergraduate Resource Fair 3:00pm to 5:00pm HUB (Highlander Union Building), 302

Monday

MULTIMEDIA

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS ADVERTISING INFORMATION Please submit Classifed ads by calling 951-827-3457 or by emailing Highlanderads@ucr.edu PAYMENT Visa and Mastercard Make checks payable to The Highlander Newspaper No refunds RATES Classified: $2 per line; 17 characters (spaces, dashes, etc.)

Entomology ENTM250 Seminar Holly M. Bik 4:10pm to 5:00pm Genomics Building, 1102A

UCRHIGHLANDER

f

UCR HIGHLANDER NEWSPAPER @UCRHIGHLANDER HighlanderTV

MISCELLANEOUS Pregnant? Free counseling and services. We come to you.

Holy Family Services, adoption & foster care.

1-800-464-2367.

KUCR 88.3 FM

News 4

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

Latino student success abundant at UCR Increased student diversity remains a goal for administrators

COURTESY OF UCR CHICANO STUDENT PROGRAMS

MARK BERTUMEN Senior Staff Writer

In a report by the Washington Post, UC Riverside was listed as having a 40 percent Hispanic student population by fall of 2016. It is classified as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) where at least 25 percent of the students enrolled are Hispanic, according to the the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).

UCR is one of only four HSIs included in the 2019 list of the top 100 U.S. universities by the U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) organization, sitting at number 85 after moving an unprecedented 39 spots up from last year after USNWR adjusted its scale for social mobility.

The Highlander met with UCR Vice Provost Cynthia Larive to further explore the reasons for high Latino attendance at UCR, as well as other statistical accomplishments involving Latino students. Undergraduate Director Emily Engelschall was also contacted via email for her own reflections.

Larive was a first-generation student, born of parents from Germany and Sweden in South Dakota in the mid1900s; in 2012, 61 percent of Latino students in the U.S. were first-generation.

While not Latina herself she understood the struggle of being the first in a family to attend college, namely in terms of “navigating” as a student, something Engelschall also considers a challenge among first-generation students. “I was both excited and afraid at first,” Larive said, “and everyone else seemed smarter than me; but those that mentored me made a big difference in my college life.”

Mentorship is one reason Larive believes Latino students find success at UCR; in 2017 more than 70 percent of Chicano/Latino students graduated within six years. “We want to supply students with the resources they need,” Larive said,

“serve them and give them the qualities that will help them be successful.” Larive highlighted various tutoring programs at UCR, including the Academic Resource Center (ARC) in Skye Hall and the First-Year Mentor Program for incoming freshman.

Engelschall finds UCR’s location in a diverse part of the state to be influential, but also hails the efforts done on the university’s own end. “While UCR is fortunate in that we happen to be located within one of the most diverse regions of the state, UCR’s success at recruiting, retaining, and graduating latinx (sic) students has been very intentional,” Engelschall wrote. “We (Undergraduate Admissions) have formed a very strong relationship with the Puente organization over the past decade and work in close partnership with UCR’s education preparation programs, Chicano Student Programs, and student initiated outreach efforts in order to provide meaningful and purposeful exposure to the UCR campus to both Chicanx/Latinx middle and high school students and their families throughout the state,” Engelschall said.

Larive considers UCR a flagship for college diversity in the future: “At UCR we are what other universities should try to emulate, and we foreshadow what the rest of the country will be like in time,” Larive said. She aims to increase African American attendance at UCR, noting that “while the number of African American students at UCR has been consistent, they’ve been falling behind percentagewise because other groups have been growing in size.”

Engelschall finds that having an involved and inviting campus is essential to success among all students. “It is important for Chicanx/Latinx students to get a real sense of the campus climate and community in advance of making the final

COURTESY OF UCR NEWS

decision as to where he/she will attend,” she said. “Feeling welcome, finding and connecting with a campus support system, seeing other students around campus that look like them, are all important pieces of the puzzle that are building blocks for student success.”

A friendly environment is something

that Larive also considers a necessity for diverse campuses to prosper: “We want to be the university where everybody feels welcome, and at home, and especially a place where you can be yourself,” Larive said, “because like my father said, ‘it’s impossible for you to be someone you’re not: so be yourself.’”

■H

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019

5

UCR’s Denise Davis earns a spot on Redlands’ city council

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

Motivated to run for city council due to her dissatisfaction with the 2016 election, Denise Davis, the Director of UCR’s Women’s Resource Center, was sworn in on Dec. 18 as the city of Redlands’ first openly LGBT council member as well as the mayor pro tem for a two-year term.

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

Her discouragement with the 2016 presidential election and the call for more women to step up and run for office motivated Davis to run for city council.

Davis stated, “Redlands is a city that I have lived in for the majority of my adult life, and it’s one I deeply care about. It’s an amazing community, and I feel that my unique vantage point as a young,

civically-engaged woman will add a valuable perspective to the council as we envision the future of the city.”

Davis claimed that she owes much of her success to an incredible team of friends and volunteers that stepped up and were with her throughout the campaign, doing everything from hosting fundraisers and meet and greets, to knocking on over 4,000 doors with her as she canvassed the neighborhoods for months. She also was grateful to participate in a five month training program called Emerge California which trains women to run for office and provide the tools, insight and support network necessary to be effective. Davis stated that there were six members on the ballot from the 2018 Emerge Southern California Cohort and all six won their races this year.

Despite her success in her campaign, Davis stated that she faced many challenges that she believes many women and LGBTQ people face when they run for office such as sexism and homophobia.

Davis stated that these challenges, “manifested largely in negative online comments on Facebook, but also at times, there were personal attacks in public meetings, or encounters around town.”

Davis’ best advice for women and LGBTQ people running for office would be to develop a support system before they run and keep building on that as the campaign progresses. Davis stated, “For me, having supportive people around to text or call in stressful moments, or bounce ideas off of was essential to staying grounded and focused in this campaign.”

Also, reaching out to larger organizations for support is a great strategy, according to Davis.

Davis campaigned around smart growth and development — being mindful about

the way that Redlands continues to grow.

Davis claimed to have many opportunities for creative innovation when it comes to economic development and placemaking — that is, making Redlands a place that’s appealing, accessible and welcoming for all generations. She is interested in seeing more public art, claiming that it is a proven benefit to the local arts economy, increases tourism and reduces crime.

“We’ve seen this already with the implementation of the Orange Street Alley in Redlands. It’s a wonderful addition to the city,” stated Davis. She is also hoping to partner closely with the Human Relations Commission, as she feels Redlands can continue to work on overcoming stereotypes and building bridges. Davis was involved in the Redlands Common Ground Conversation Series project, which brought together progressives and conservatives to have difficult conversations and find points of connection. Davis hopes to continue amplifying this work as much as she can.

As the first openly LGBT member of Redlands’ city council, Davis feels a sense of pride. She stated, “It’s quite likely that I’m not the first LGBTQ person on the council, but the fact that I can be open about who I am gives me hope that others will be inspired to do the same.

Representation is very important to me.

If you don’t see someone who has similar life experiences to you in positions of leadership or power, it’s hard to imagine yourself there.” She emphasized her belief that especially for women, the LGBTQ community, people of color and other minority groups, it is critical that we recognize the imbalance of power that’s existed for the nation’s history, and work towards breaking barriers and creating opportunities for equity.

■H

Inland Empire could experience a slower housing market, higher prices in 2019

PREETI JUTURU Contributing Writer

According to the California Association of Realtors (CAR) forecast, a “combination of high home prices and eroding affordability is expected to cut into housing demand and contribute to a weaker housing market in 2019.” With rising prices in big cities such as San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles and Sacramento, buyers continue to look towards the Inland Empire in hopes for affordable housing.

Due to this behavior, Riverside market trends indicate an increase of $13,000 (3 percent) in median home sales over the past year.

However, according to Robert A. Kleinhenz, the Executive Director of Research at the UC Riverside Center for Economic Forecasting and Development at the School of Business Administration (SOBA CEFD), “the housing market in CA and the IE never really accelerated in recent years despite the economy being headed toward the longest expansion on record. With continued increases in home prices, recent increases in mortgage rates, and changes in the federal tax code that will limit homeowner deductions, the housing market will slow further in 2019.”

Last year, an analysis released by SOBA CEFD stated that they expected to see the real estate market “continue to

progress at a solid pace for the foreseeable future” in 2018, which ended up being true. However, with the anticipation of fewer housing transactions in 2019 as determined by CAR, it is unclear how these trends will impact UCR students attempting to rent affordable housing. Rent trends in Riverside from 2018 indicate a gradual increase in average rent over time.

The data also shows that some of the most expensive neighborhoods in Riverside are the ones closest to UC Riverside.

Rohan Kamath, a third-year cell and molecular biology major, stated that “I feel as though UCR-run housing facilities can be a bit expensive for what you get.

However, non-UCR housing seems to be fairly reasonable and affordable for most.

There’s always options for people to get housing, and prices haven’t really changed for rent, unless you’re looking to buy a house.”

In the 2018 analysis, it stated that “the multifamily construction that has occurred in recent years will temper rent increases over the near term.” Kleinhenz said, “Riverside County had a large increase in Multifamily construction last year. This should temper rent increases, but the rental market is still tight, so rents will go up.

Rental housing in college communities/ neighborhoods tend to be expensive… [and] that will continue to be the case in

2019.”

It is clear that rent in the Riverside area will continue to increase during 2019, and as far as the general housing market goes, Kleinhenz stated that “the wild card is supply: Listings of homes for sale grew in the latter part of 2018. That could cause home prices to increase more slowly and have the potential to soften the anticipated decrease in sales.”

The CEFD aims to provide the Inland Empire community with economic forecasts and data analysis. According to the CEFD website the group “applies business expertise, understanding of public policy, and deep academic training to analyzing the regional, state, and national economy—producing economic forecasts, public policy analysis, and economic impact studies.”

■H

COURTESY OF PEXELS

Be distinct.

The Highlander Newspaper is a great way to keep up with current events and news around campus. If you are interested in the newspaper’s articles or pictures, we offer opportunities in writing, photography and design. Join us every Monday at 5:15 p.m. in HUB 101 to learn more.

HIGHLANDER

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

Opinions

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019

7

Protecting the American people, one less federal job at a time

ELAINE CHEN Senior Staff Writer

Staying true to his unwavering stance on allocating $5 billion towards a border wall, President Trump, alongside bringing the government to a partial shutdown, has also issued an executive order that freezes the pay of federal civilian workers in 2019. The pay freeze adds to the blow that federal workers are already facing right now due to the shutdown —– nearly 800,000 workers are furloughed, but some essential services, such as the TSA, have employees working without getting paid.

The heart of this whole shutdown is the impasse within the government over whether or not to fund the border wall, which seemed to be the headlining subject of Trump’s presidential campaign.

Trump tweeted out on Jan. 2 that the wall was already under construction, which confused lawmakers, as the reason behind the shutdown is disagreement over whether or not to fund the wall. Also included in the tweet was the false statement that Mexico was paying for it through the revised NAFTA trade pact, but one must consider the fact that Trump is still demanding $5 billion from the government to finance the wall.

Whatever reasons Trump may have for this obsession with building a wall, whether he genuinely thinks it will be the most effective solution to illegal immigration, or if he just wants to save face in front of his supporters whom he so loudly promoted this wall to, compromise must come about before more economic and security issues surface from the longevity of this shutdown. In terms of compromise, Trump faces a potential loss in political popularity if he gives up the promise of a wall, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t swallow his pride and consider the window to negotiations Democrats are opening for him.

However, President Trump’s meeting with Democratic congressional leaders on Jan. 2 was unsuccessful in terms of reopening the government, but the meeting

HUGO ARCOS Contributing Writer

highlights his bigger concern in losing his base if he were to ultimately let go of the budget proposal for the wall. Senator Charles Schumer claimed that President Trump “could not give a good answer” as to why the government shutdown had to continue in the midst of their debate about homeland security. As to a proposal about reopening the government while the two sides continued to debate about this issue, Trump rejected the idea, responding, “I would look foolish if I did that.”

Trump’s unwillingness to reopen the government, despite suggestions from congressional leaders to do so, displays unnecessary stubbornness on the president’s part and brings into questions whether this wall has even become about keeping the American people safe like he claims. On Jan. 4, President Trump even expressed that he was willing to keep the government partially shutdown for “months or even a year” if it meant that in the end he could get the budget required to fund the wall. We must keep in mind that this fight for the wall doesn’t necessarily need to include the now-suspended living wages of nearly a million federal workers, but it does, and this adds to the idea that perhaps this wall dispute isn’t exactly a battle for the American people, but for personal agendas.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is potentially the most vital pool of federal workers, and due to their importance, they are one of the categories of federal workers who must continue to work through this shutdown without pay. However, just this last week at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, 170 TSA employees have called in sick every day. At DallasFort Worth International Airport, sick calls have increased by 200-300 percent.

These increases follow the trend of TSA officials missing their first paycheck cycle, and union officials are reporting that some TSA agents have left to try and find a job that will pay in order to make ends meet. While this drop in employees

at the airport isn’t currently indicative of a major threat to airport security, veteran TSA officials listed some other potential effects including fewer random pat downs, giving expedited screenings and longer wait times.

Going back to Trump’s statement about preparing to prolong this shutdown to months or even a year if he absolutely had to: at the press conference where he confirmed having made this statement, he reiterated that this shutdown was about him “wanting a safe country.” However, if his primary concern is truly about having a safer country, this is contradictory to the possible long-term effects of a lengthened shutdown. TSA agents are already starting to abandon their job to find paying opportunities. And though things are still relatively stable right now, if Trump is truly planning on following through with his plan to drag on the shutdown as long as he finds sufficient, we may witness a sizable decline in the quality of airport security protocol, thus introducing a new possible homeland security threat.

Furthermore, illegal immigration itself (the justification for Trump’s wall) has hit all time lows in Trump’s presidency.

According to U.S. Customs and Border

Protection, April 2017 witnessed the lowest rate of illegal immigration since George W. Bush’s presidency. While the numbers have since increased to levels similar to those under President Barack Obama, the average rate of apprehensions at the border by month under Trump’s presidency (28,869) is still lower than that of Obama’s (34,647) and Bush’s (81,588).

Therefore, to demand a wall in this era would not make logical or economic sense, as it’s not as prevalent of an issue as it once was. Even if it were currently at rates more similar to Bush’s, building a wall is an unproductive solution to a problem that begins at the very incorrect assumption that every illegal immigrant has a negative association with gang activity and violence.

With neither side willing to budge on the deadlock the government is currently in, it’s completely unpredictable when or how this entire ordeal will end. It’s unlikely the shutdown will continue for a time span as long as a year, but in all the ways this shutdown can end, an economically sound resolution should come around before government workers feel the worsened impacts of having limited opportunities to find pay.

■H

understatement to say that the militant organization is nearly defeated. After all, the fight against IS is also a fight against an ideology and a bureaucratic system, which will require more time and caution than Trump seems to anticipate.

Trump’s presence in Iraq seems to be symbolic of America standing with her troops for whatever length of time is necessary (which in Iraq’s case, Trump believes to be relatively short). However, prior to his visit to Iraq, Trump uttered some remarks that present another image and mindset.

These remarks included the assertion that the United States will more than likely end its presence in Syria, as Trump has ordered troops out of the country.

Trump decided to ignore the opposition from his defense department and made the decisions based on his belief that IS is almost wiped out, and the American task in Syria is long over. Consequently, in fury and disappointment, General James Mattis resigned from his post as Secretary of Defense. This resignation is interpreted as a loss of a rational political actor, for despite his rather callous and relentless mindset, General Mattis provided a muchneeded perspective and level of experience with regards to U.S. security policy.

Similarly, President Trump has called for a reduction of troops in Afghanistan.

Strategic analysts pointed out that a reduction in troops could create a void for terrorists to fill and enhance their presence.

Thus, while Trump is maintaining an American presence in one country, he is drastically reducing or completely eliminating a similar presence in other countries.

Apart from hypocrisy, though, Trump seems to be ignoring his shaky foreign policy decisions so far. For example,

his infamous endorsement and support of Vladimir Putin’s Russia shifted to an attitude of half-hearted antagonism as he attempted to express a tough position by imposing sanctions on the country.

Shortly after, however, Trump expressed that he was once more open to working and cooperating with Putin. Continuing this shifty trend, Trump failed to provide a fixed stance on Russia’s aggression against Ukrainian ships last year, but decided to cancel a meeting with Putin in the G20 summit.

Russia has not only acted against American intentions in Syria but also challenged democratic and American interests in Eastern Europe by annexing Crimea and encroaching on Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty in a bloody and ruthless war. His unwillingness or inability to condemn Russia and secure U.S. interests is troubling, if not uncharacteristic.

Trump has also proved to be quite effective in leaving behind the failure of a raid in Yemen that happened during January 2017. Foreign policy consultants, analysts and other White House members repeatedly warned Trump, and discouraged him from going through what they saw as “Obama’s leftovers.” However, Trump saw the raid as an opportunity to gather vital intelligence, and establish American presence in a country where Al Qaeda is creating strong ties. He remained steadfast and unfortunately, the raid led to the death of a Navy SEAL named Ryan Owens.

Some may remember the standing ovation Trump provided during his first address to a joint session of Congress in honor of Owens, as well as the image of Owens’s wife letting out some tears while being consoled by Ivanka Trump.

Despite Trump’s significant blunders, it would be unfair to point to the incumbent

president as the first or only chief executive to do this, since many preceding presidents have committed similar mistakes, and created a foreign policy problem for America.

One of the most vivid examples is Bill Clinton’s experience with Bosnia. In 1995, ethnic cleansing on a massive scale took place in Bosnia which targeted Muslims, but Clinton turned his back on the horrors being committed abroad. Eventually, Clinton did send troops to Bosnia that December. One year later, Clinton arrived at Tuzla Air Base to rally troops and lightheartedly remind soldiers of their accommodations and accolades — a warm ambiance for a place marred by prolonged ignorance until it was too late.

A commonality between administrations thus becomes apparent. Failures and mistakes are covered up and left to be forgotten. Traditions, gestures and apparently innocent actions become distractions from questionable moves in the execution of foreign policy.

Trump’s holiday visit to troops may be viewed as a much-needed gesture of support for troops overseas, but one cannot completely ignore the problem America is currently facing: a dualistic approach to American intervention overseas, relations with expansionist regimes and failures that are slowly being forgotten. Americans should view any further similar actions, regardless of who is doing them, with deep skepticism and worry.

America, just like any other country, is not impeccable. However, what matters is how and when we decide to improve on our faults to prevent future lapses in judgement.

As citizens of a liberal democracy, we should make it a habit to speak out against the injustices, violations and hypocrisies committed by our government.

■H

COURTESY OF U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

Trump’s visit to Iraq is a distraction from America’s shaky foreign policy

On Wednesday, Dec. 26, President Donald Trump made an unannounced visit to al-Asad Air Base in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stayed in the base near Iraq’s capital for roughly 3 hours – time was constrained due to security reasons – consisting of speeches, autographs and pictures with U.S. troops.

Trump claimed his reason for visiting Iraq was to “come and pay (his) respects, most importantly, to the great soldiers, great troopers we have.” After all, presidential visits to troops overseas have become an American tradition during the holiday period. The tradition’s origins can be traced to Franklin Roosevelt’s visit to Morocco during World War II, since replicated by his successors: Nixon’s visit to Saigon in 1969, Clinton in Bosnia in 1996, and so forth.

Despite what may be seen as a continuation of tradition, Trump’s visit to Iraq proves to be a distraction from the administration’s shaky foreign policy decisions, and a hypocritical movement when considering earlier remarks made

by Donald Trump before his visit.

Furthermore, Trump’s visit conceals a problem that many past presidents have perpetuated: a foreign policy marked by blindness, hypocrisy, ignorance and myopic decisions.

Trump’s remarks may have bolstered U.S. troop morale, reaffirmed America’s dominance on the international stage and established security in American troops by reminding them that the Islamic State group (IS) is “very nearly defeated.” Although it is true that IS has lost substantial territory (most notably Mosul), it is a superficial

Be informed.

H The Highlander Newspaper is a great way to keep up with current events and news around campus.

If you are interested in the newspaper’s articles or pictures, we offers opportunities in writing, photography and design. Join us every Monday at 5:15 p.m. in HUB 101 to learn more.

Features HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

FEATURES

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019

11

Campus Cope How to bounce back after a bad first quarter By: Martha Delgado, Senior Staff Writer

Speaking to your academic advisor, managing your time and staying organized can help you recover and start off the new quarter right.

Transitioning from a semester to a quarter system can be difficult. Time flies fast in the quarter system with just 10 weeks to learn a subject. For first-year and transfer students, fall quarter may not have gone as smoothly as they hoped; a bad first quarter, however, does not mean that you are doomed to fail for the rest of your time at UCR. With a new year comes a new quarter which means an opportunity to improve academically.

Here are some ways to help you improve on a notso-great first quarter.

Time management

.

The first step to succeeding in the quarter system is to manage your time wisely. It is not easy to learn how to manage your time, but there are ways to do this. Using a planner or Google Calendar is one way to achieve this, by allowing you to write in time to study, to eat and to take a break. In both, you can add your schedule, test dates and allocate time for other activities. An advantage of Google Calendar is configuring it to send you reminders.

By this point, you may have noticed that having a gap in between classes is a lot of time to kill. One way to improve academically is to take advantage of the free time that you have. Those hour gaps in between classes can be used as study time. To help motivate you to study during those times, try going to a place with no distractions, such as the library or computer lab. By going to a quiet location, you will be able to focus on the assignment at hand.

By planning your time, you will be able to stay organized and not fall behind in classes. By making time to eat and take a break, you will be able to focus on studying and allocate enough time for your needs.

In order to plan out your time wisely, you need to start doing so early. Week one is a great time to start gauging how much time you will need to dedicate to a class. As the quarter progresses, make sure to check that you are adding more study time if you need to.

Create a to-do list

With the quarter system flying by and a packed schedule, it is easy to forget stuff. If you have found yourself forgetting to do assignments or study for tests, then perhaps consider creating a to-do list. By having a to-do list, you will be constantly reminded about the stuff and assignments that you need to get done. So that you won’t forget about your list, make sure to keep it in a place that you will check often, such as a planner or your phone. You also don’t need fancy stuff in order to create a to-do list. A sticky note with important assignments or things to do is enough. Just remember to place it in a spot where you will see it often.

Don't take on too many tasks at once

Sometimes multitasking is not always the best

strategy. Most of us try to multitask as much as possible. The assumption is that this will help us finish more assignments in a shorter amount of time.

Yet, this is not always the case. When multitasking, you will begin many assignments at once and as a result this can make you feel overwhelmed. Although you may begin multiple assignments at once, chances are that you will feel too overwhelmed that you will not finish any assignments at all. In addition, multitasking also causes people to not dedicate enough attention and energy to each task. The result will be assignments of low quality.

Instead of multitasking, try to do an assignment one at a time. Finish an assignment before moving on to the next one. By working on one task at a time, you will be fully focused on that task and be able to do your best. Additionally, finishing an assignment will motivate you to keep working on to the next one.

Learn to say 'no'

Learning to say ‘no’ is something that will help you manage your time. While you cannot say ‘no’ to classes and studying, you can say ‘no’ to social activities that will make you push your study time to the last minute. If you know you have a test or an assignment due soon that you are not prepared for, then it would be a great idea to say ‘no’ to a night out or going out with your friends until you have completed your assignments.

Learning to say ‘no’ can also motivate you to work on getting your tasks done as soon as possible.

The earlier you begin studying for that test, the more confident you will feel about it and not feel guilty about going out with your friends.

Stop procrastinating

It is easy to tell yourself that you will do an assignment later or the next day, but putting off assignments until the last minute will impede your success. If procrastination was a big reason why your first quarter did not go great, consider ways to stop procrastinating. It’s not easy to stop putting things off to the last minute, but you can practice by starting assignments earlier than you usually would.

In addition to starting assignments early, work on the assignment a little bit at a time each day until it is due. This also ties to managing your time efficiently.

By starting assignments as soon as you get them, you are saving yourself from a possible all nighter.

Starting assignments early also gives you enough time to ask for help or clarification to a professor or TA. Doing a little bit of work at a time can also help you not feel overwhelmed with a big assignment at once.

Use your resources and ask for help

When in doubt, turn to your professor or TA to ask for advice on how to do well in the course. It would

JIMMY LAI / HIGHLANDER

be best to ask for help early rather than later. Use week one as an opportunity to talk to your professors and TAs before their office hours start to fill up with other students.

If you are unsure of what to ask a professor or TA, you can simply ask “how can someone get an A in your class?’ or something similar; their answer may often help you learn what is expected and how to best allocate your time and energy. This will help prepare you for the rest of the class and to start planning accordingly as to how much time you will need to dedicate to this class.

If you have yet to go to the Academic Resource Center (ARC), this is also an opportunity to use those resources to help you in classes. The ARC offers tutoring for a variety of subjects and classes.

Sign up for the ACE program

Apart from tutoring, the ARC also offers the ACE (Assistance, Coaching, and Encouragement) program, an academic support program. One misconception is that you need to be on academic probation to sign up for the program, but this isn’t true. Both students on academic probation and in good standing sign up for the program. Many of the students who sign up do see an increase in their GPA. So if you want help but have already tried tutoring and going to office hours, try the ACE program.

Rethink your path

It is normal and understandable to rethink your major after a bad first quarter. If you find yourself not enjoying your classes and not looking forward to your career, then it might be better if you take time to explore other majors and careers. Many students change their majors after fall quarter for a variety of reasons. Many of them have also gone from BCOE to CNAS, CNAS to CHASS and vice versa.

If the subject you are majoring in does not interest you anymore, use winter quarter as an opportunity to explore other majors through breadth courses. You can also talk to other students who you know are in that major to get an idea of how the classes are.

It is still possible for you to get to your dream job after changing majors. It is possible, for example, to do your undergrad in CHASS and go to medical school. If medical school is your goal, try going to the Health Professions Advising Center, located in the ground floor of Rivera Library (B03), to ask for advice.

Overall, the quarter system is not easy, but with motivation you can learn to adapt to it. Don’t let a bad quarter discourage you from succeeding. Use winter quarter as an opportunity to learn from the mistakes you made last quarter. Whether you are a first-year or a transfer student, one bad quarter won’t define the rest of your life. While it can be frustrating and discouraging, it is something that can be overcome.

■H

R adar ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

Radar “Aquaman” rescues a drowning DC cinematic universe HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

COLIN CARNEY Contributing Writer

Ever since his first appearance in 1941, Aquaman has always been pegged below his contemporaries.

Several attempts to portray the hero seriously have yielded mixed results at best, leaving the hero who talked to fish lacking the same admiration as the likes of Batman or Superman. With that said, the newest installment in the DC cinematic universe takes Aquaman and turns him into a likeable hero for audiences to follow. Director James Wan helms the underwater epic and delivers an entertaining origin story for the titular hero.

The film follows Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), the son of a lighthouse keeper and the queen of Atlantis, as he embarks on a quest to claim the throne from his militant half brother, King Orm (Patrick Wilson), before war between the sea and the surface erupts.

In order to prove himself worthy of the throne, Arthur must find the fabled trident of an ancient Atlantean king with the help of Princess Mera (Amber Heard) before Orm can unite the kingdoms of Atlantis for war.

When this film was first announced, the main concern was how a movie with a mainly underwater setting would draw appeal. Luckily, James Wan’s depiction of Atlantis is visually

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

breathtaking, and glows with an aesthetic design that accentuates the underwater kingdom’s unique culture.

Though Atlantis is clearly the centerpiece and the city we see the most of, Wan also makes an effort to build a larger world beneath the waves. On his path to unite the kingdoms under his rule, Orm takes us on a journey to meet the various underwater civilizations that share the ocean with Atlantis. Though briefly touched upon, each of these kingdoms is different and unique. The peaceful philosophers of the Fisherman Kingdom are wildly different from their brutish crustacean neighbors, the Brine, who keep to the depths. Visually and culturally, each kingdom’s distinct presentation immerses the viewer in an engaging and believable world.

Wan’s direction also astonishes with the film’s epic underwater battles. The film sees soldiers riding sharks into battle against prehistoric giant shrimp as thousands of laser bolts whiz past them, all while a giant sea monster voiced by Mary Poppins destroys a fleet of submarines. The underwater setting allows for a great degree of verticality in these fights as armies clash on the seafloor, swimming in the interim, as well as on the surface. These blockbuster action pieces are a joy to watch and can’t help but

put a grin on your face as they play out.

Every actor in this film turns in great performances even when the script isn’t as deserving of their talents.

The dialogue is prone to some cringey moments and is riddled with overdone cliches, sloppy expositions and ineffectual dramatic one-liners, which often kills any sense of atmosphere or immersion.

The cast’s performances, however, are genuine and their commitment makes the clunky dialogue feel enjoyable enough.

As Aquaman, Jason Momoa thankfully tones down the surfer dude persona from “Batman vs. Superman” in exchange for that of a much more compelling hero torn between two worlds. His humor and charm work as he shares the screen with Heard’s Princess Mera, a strong warrior who also finds herself at odds with two sides of herself.

Combine this with compelling performances by villain actors Patrick Wilson (Orm) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who plays Black Manta, and the result is an engaging performance that covers the film’s minor flaws.

As for the plot, “Aquaman” feels a bit lacking. The story follows a typical quest for an ancient artifact reminiscent of Indiana Jones but lacks the intelligent sense of discovery.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019

11

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

The quest for the trident is used to justify a global trip where our heroes visit several different locations but never spend any meaningful time there. Often I found myself wishing that the movie’s two and a half hours would remain in a place long enough for me to enjoy the outstanding visuals.

Each discovery that propels them to the next clue is riddled with unbelievable convenience as characters literally stumble upon the answers to

important questions. Because of moments like these, each discovery doesn’t feel earned, but accidental and undeserved instead.

Though it is easy to point out this film’s errors, it’s greater than the sum of its parts. “Aquaman” benefits from the decades of campiness associated with his character and the lighter tones breathe fresh life into the usually gloomy and dark DC cinematic universe.

■H

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS

Verdict:

Despite poor dialogue and a simple plot, “Aquaman” delivers a fun and entertaining trip through the undersea kingdom of Atlantis. The cast’s compelling performances and its remarkable visuals make for a fun movie-going experience.

12

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019

“BUMBLEBEE”: A DRAMA DISGUISED AS AN ACTION FLICK SILVIA FERRER Staff Writer

COURTESY OFHASBRO STUDIOS

“Bumblebee,” now the sixth installment in the “Transformers” franchise, could easily have been a mindless action movie meant to generate box office revenue, not positive reviews.

Expectations weren’t high coming off the tails of “Transformers: The Last Knight,” which was both a commercial and critical disaster. This prequel — and origin story of Bumblebee’s muteness — defies those expectations, although not in the ways viewers may think. “Bumblebee” is not a high-powered action flick in the vein of the other “Transformers” films, but rather a heartfelt, coming-of-age take on the robots in disguise.

Charlie Watson’s (Hailee Steinfeld) character could have succumbed to an easy trope. She’s the textbook definition of punk, both through her style (complete with heavy black eyeliner) and her musical taste. However, Steinfeld’s performance and overall characterization make for a likeable, nuanced portrayal. Charlie’s obsession with The Smiths along with the soundtrack (which is undeniably good and filled with ‘80s hits) tries very hard to ground the viewer in the time period, but aside from the music there’s little effort to fully recreate the zeitgeist of the ‘80s.

It’s immediately established that Charlie is still grieving the death of her father, despite

the rest of her family’s insistence for her to move on. While her backstory sets up vital pieces of the plot and makes it all the more predictable, Steinfeld manages to convey the emotion of her character successfully without being too cloying. She gets the audience to root for her, even on the occasion when she lashes out at Bumblebee for touching her late father’s possessions. Her touching relationship with Bumblebee is definitely one of the story’s highlights. The bumbling Autobot is the first to break Charlie’s shell, and she shows her appreciation in both teary and tense action scenes.

Although Charlie’s story and her relationship with Bumblebee is interesting and funny, fans of the franchise may be disappointed to learn their budding friendship constitutes a majority of the film. Bumblebee is heroic, but it is apparent that his strength lies in his kindness, not his fighting ability. He connects with Charlie and her new friend Memo on this level, making their hijinks thoroughly entertaining and comedic.

Nevertheless, action sequences are few and far in between. The scenes that are included are well done; special effects aren’t overdone (which was a point of intense criticism in past films) and the battles are engaging. What the movie lacks in action, it more than makes up for in acting performances, character chemistry, and humorous banter.

■H

COURTESY OF HASBRO STUDIOS

Don’t let its predecessors fool you — “Bumblebee” is a fun watch. While not a complex film by any means, the performances are significantly better than those of previous films, the soundtrack is filled with classics and its character development is compelling and inspiring. Although predictable, its heartfelt take on the typical battle between the Autobots and Decepticons makes “Bumblebee” one of the best films in the “Transformers” franchise.

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019

13

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is a shining hope for the future of Spider-Man films ADAM ALVERNAZ Contributing Writer

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse” shares its name with the six part comic book epic “Spider-verse”. Much like the comic, the movie’s elements of featuring multiple Spider-people are prevalent throughout the story with a focus on Miles Morales (Shameik Moore). The plot takes our six protagonists through a run-of-the-mill comic book story of stopping the bad guys from destroying the world.

The movie does start slow, focusing on Morales and his story until the main conflict starts to move the plot along.

Over the course of the plot we get to know our characters more and more. Morales is an energetic 13-year-old struggling with the reality of being Spider-Man. Alongside him is an ensemble of other Spider-people including Spider-Woman, Spider-Man Noir, Peni Parker and Spider-Ham. The antagonists of the film are quite a cast as well, featuring some big names like the Kingpin and Prowler taking up a majority of the conflicts.

Some characters do get less development than others, with some of the villains being introduced too late into the story.

However, I didn’t feel like this was as big of an issue when watching the film

as it was well paced with great humor to break up the monotony of action.

The movie as a whole is very faithful to the comic original, with many different easter eggs that will really appeal to fans of Spider-Man’s 55-year legacy. Things like Stan Lee’s cameo and the different Spider suit appearances are great touches that add to the film’s charm.

The movie features a unique style that flows pleasantly with characters and objects seemingly popping out against the background they are placed in. Some scenes feature thought bubbles or panel lines that make the film’s originality stand out compared to other movies using a similar animation style.

Some characters, like Spider-Ham, have a more cartoonish style that clashes with the comic book aesthetic, but blends well and causes certain scenes to feel unique and memorable.

The music tracks played in the film all fit the theme the movie tries to push in specific moments. The soundtrack works wonders to engross viewers with it’s hip-hop and R&B feeling. Giving the movie a very appropriate tone to the gritty Brooklyn setting, the sound design was excellent and brings out the best in the movie.

■H

COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES

Verdict: “ Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” shows the best Spider-Man has to

offer in terms of storytelling, characters and especially animation. The film truly raises the bar for the franchise.

COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES

14

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019

Best articles of 2018 NEWS: Former Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs James Sandoval violated UC sexual harassment policy Former Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs James Sandoval, who quit after being put on administrative leave, was found to have violated UC sexual harassment policy. The report produced by a private investigator for the UC system detailed what some called a history of sexual harassment from the vice chancellor, while the two primary complaintaints gave detailed accounts of direct violations of UC’s sexual harassment and sexual violence, including quid pro quo arrangements where they feared losing their jobs if they did not acquiesce to Sandoval’s advances. Some have pointed to compliance on the part of Chancellor Kim Wilcox, who after learning of the complaints allowed Sandoval to remain at his post for approximately three months before putting him on administrative leave. Groups like the UC’s Title IX Student Advisory Board say they are working to promote a safe environment and to find solutions to problems of sexual misconduct on campuses.

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

OPINIONS: The midterm elections will surely change America - and young people must take part The 2018 midterm elections represented the first chance for voters across the United States to decide on their government since the controversial 2016 presidential election. Across the country, widespread division and significant socioeconomic issues demand attention and have inspired Americans to be politically engaged at unprecedented levels. Of particular importance is the increasing political mobilization of young Americans, who have traditionally participated in politics at far lower rates than older generations. We urge all young people with the ability to vote to exercise their democratic right and decide on their future and how their society is being governed. With a larger youth vote, American politics will become more representative of public opinion and allow the country to democratically resolve its outstanding issues.

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

FEATURES: Geek On! With over 1,000 students attending the event, “Geek On!” created a student community experience and atmosphere that rivaled the likes of even Block Party and Spring Splash. Students competed in tournaments, played casually on the side and even ran their own booths on a scale the HUB seldom sees during the school year. Highlights included a visit from MSI, an osu! Tournament and even a cosplay competition, with costumes whose quality was comparable to those found at even the largest of conventions. Following the event’s massive success, coordinators plan to make “Geek On!” a yearly occasion.

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

Radar: Infinity war discussion “Infinity War” was by far the most anticipated film of 2018, so granted a simple review wouldn’t be enough to cover the scope of it as a film. With over ten years worth of films as buildup, along with various strings of those respective films being tied together, a full-fledged discussion was only appropriate. Not only was it a blast to nerd out and write, but the layer and depth of the discussion shows just how culturally impactful and expansive Marvel’s cinematic universe has really become. “Infinity War” and Marvel Studios’ approach to filmmaking has certainly made its mark and will affect the cinematic landscape for years to come.

COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES

SPORTS: Are boosters losing faith in Tamica Smith-Jones?

Former English professor-turned-devout booster Kim Devlin went on the record to speak about the boosters’ concerns over Athletic Director (AD) Tamica Smith-Jones. The concerns were due in large part to the manner in which former men’s basketball coach Dennis Cutts was fired, which was done on New Year’s Eve in a parking lot. Devlin also explained that the boosters were losing faith in AD Smith-Jones because of her tendency to be buried in her phone during games, her lack of leadership and a series of misquotes she gave The Highlander about the 99 for a Title IX fundraiser event. Devlin went as far as to say the boosters tried contacting the Chancellor to call a vote of no-confidence, but did not receive a response.

■H

COURTESY OF UCR NEWS

UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE RIVERSIDE OF CALIFORNIA,

HIGHLANDER

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

WRITE * SHOOT * DESIGN

SINCE 1954

WORK FOR AN

AWARD-WINNING

NEWSPAPER MEETINGs MONDAYS, 5:15 P.M. @HUB101

16

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

Sports

Men’s basketball concludes nonconference slate with historic blowout victory over Bethesda

HIGHLANDER HOT TAKE: The LA Lakers only have 11 championships

RICARDO GARCIA Contributing Writer

JARYD BONGCARAS Senior Staff Writer

The last we heard of the UCR Men’s Basketball team (6-10) was just before finals week, when they defeated the Pepperdine Waves at home. Since then, they went (3-3) during the winter break, including an upset win over the Loyola Marymount Lions, who entered the Dec. 22 contest with a red-hot (11-1) record.

Another bright spot for the Highlanders was the play of Junior guard Dikymbe Martin, who was the leading scorer for three of their six games.

As the winter break winded down, the Highlanders looked to finish off their slate of non-conference games with a strong game against the Bethesda Flames, who entered the game at (1-11) and a seven game losing streak.

They did just that, setting new program records in several categories, including 31 assists, 112 points and 45 made field goals, as well as committing a record-low three turnovers in a monster 112-47 victory.

The Los Angeles Lakers have arguably been the NBA’s best franchise during the modern era, amassing 10 NBA titles since 1980. They’ve had five of the best NBA players of all time in Kareem, Magic, Shaq, Kobe and now LeBron leading the charge. The franchise’s glitz and glamour epitomizes the type of entertainment you’d expect from a Hollywood professional sports team, as they sit second in all-time NBA championships won with 16. But that’s what’s laughable, they don’t actually have that many championships.

Saying that the Los Angeles Lakers have 16 titles is about as legitimate as a real nose on their celebrity neighbors. Let’s not forget that the Lakers started off in a city where there actually are lakes around, in Minneapolis.

The Minneapolis Lakers were the league’s first dynasty, winning five NBA championships in a sixyear span (technically four, since one championship was technically with the BAA but that’s a whole different discussion).

And although it looks as if I’m just worried about the Lakers’ number of titles, this should apply to the rest of the association.

The number of championships really should only pertain to that particular city. For example, the Oklahoma City Thunder shouldn’t share the same history as the Seattle Supersonics. The Golden State Warriors should only have four total championships, as two of their titles were won as the Philadelphia Warriors. The Philadelphia 76ers should only have two titles counted, because one title was when the team was called the Syracuse Nationals, under a totally different mascot.

The history between a franchise and a city goes hand in hand, as that local fanbase, personnel and overall team accolades should be exclusive for where that team won. There’s definitely a special connection between the organization and the city that they represent, and there shouldn’t be anything tainting that.

So if you ever you hear a Laker fan mention that the Celtics’ nine titles won throughout the 1960s shouldn’t count, keep the five titles won in Minneapolis in mind.

■H

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

The Highlanders were led by Freshman forward Zac Watson, who scored 22 points on the night.

Sophomore forward Ajani Kennedy and senior center Menno Dijkstra each posted a double-double of 18 and 16 points, and 11 and 13 rebounds,

respectively.

The Flames were led by senior guard Mehran Nazarian, who finished with 22 points. Junior guard Jeremiah Tardy led Bethesda with five assists.

The Highlanders improved to (51) at home, and reached their sixth

victory of the season. For reference , last season they didn’t win their sixth game until February.

Up next for the Highlanders, they open Big West Conference play at home against the Cal State Northridge Matadors on Wednesday, Jan. 9. ■ H

Three highlights from the women’s basketball team over break

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

JONATHAN FERNANDEZ Senior Staff Writer

While UCR’s students were at home enjoying hot chocolates and family time over the holidays, the women’s basketball team continued to grind away in their regular season. In case you weren’t as tuned in as we were during the break, here are the top three highlights from the team’s current stretch.

1. Their record (4-2) The Highlanders started the Winter Break taking part in the Maui Classic from Dec. 14-15.

They started off the two-game

tournament by falling to Texas A&M 70-63, before bouncing back to beat Eastern Washington the following night 57-45.

Riverside was then able to get a game over .500 by dominating Weber State in a 71-39 victory.

UCR lost only one more time during the break to Utah Valley before winning two straight.

This team has shown a knack for bouncing back after a loss, going 2-0 in games after losses.

That ability to bounce back as well as the rhythm they’ve developed over this stretch will serve the team well heading into conference season.

2. Redshirt junior guard Jannon Otto named Big West Women’s Basketball Player of the Week On Dec. 31, Otto became the first Highlander since Simone DeCoud to be named Big West Women’s Basketball Player of the Week back in 2016. Otto earned this achievement for her offensive performance against New Mexico State on Dec. 28 when she shot 8-for-10 from the field and 7-for7 from the line on her way to 23 points. Otto also had the deciding basket in the nail biting 65-63 win against the Aggies.

Otto has been a consistent

player thus far for the Highlanders, starting every game for the team while averaging 12 points and six rebounds per game this season.

3. The team’s dominant performance on the road against Weber State The Highlanders had their most dominant showing of not only the break, but the entire season, in a 71-39 victory at Weber State on Dec. 20. Riverside got out of the gates fast, and finished the first quarter with a 20-point lead.

The Highlanders proceeded to outscore the Wildcats in every quarter on their way to a big win.

The most impressive aspect about this victory is how they were able to shut down the Wildcats offense on the other team’s floor.

The latter is especially important in the context of their road record of 2-5 that is a stark contrast to the teams undefeated 3-0 home record.

Although it is a small sample size, the difference in records shows that the Highlanders haven’t been able to consistently put together winning efforts on the road. In the future, the Highlanders may be able to draw on the experience of this 32-pointvictory to reassure themselves of what they are capable of on the ■H road.

COURTESY OF NBA