Volume 67 Issue 13

THE HIGHLANDER

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

est. 1954

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

VOL. 67, ISSUE 13

Student Voice Committee reports f indings; ASUCR calls on administration to house wildf ire survivors

Ding Tea

shakes the

competition off with the best boba in Riverside

JASMINE YAMANAKA Contributing Writer

CHASS Senator Julian Gonzalez advocated for campus administration to house victims of California’s wildfires.

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer LUKAS MASSEY Contributing Writer

Wednesday, Jan. 9 marked ASUCR’s first meeting of winter quarter 2019. The meeting began with CHASS Senator Julian Gonzalez proposing to remove Senate Resolution F18005 from the agenda. The resolution, titled “100

read more

classes in 100 days,” needs time to be developed, according to Gonzalez. The project, however, is still planned for 2020.

During ex-officio reports, Elections Director Laura Pullen announced that all referendums and initiatives are due Jan. 18. Following this announcement, public forum was opened up and Denis Turan, a fourth-year business administration major and chairman of the Student Voice Committee (SVC), presented their most recent student surveys. Turan stated that his

committee found ten delegates who would go out every week and survey students in order to receive feedback from them about their opinions on things such as ASUCR elections and R’Gear.

He later said that they created a sampling plan verified by statistics professors at UCR who advised Turan that in order for their data to fall within a 95 percent confidence interval, they needed to gather data from 392 students.

When Ding Tea opened on University Avenue in July, ecstatic boba fans across Riverside suddenly left their Boba Tea House and Boba Fiend drinks behind and headed straight for the highly esteemed new competitor. Ding Tea in Riverside is located in a desolate, largely unoccupied building, but the unsightly exterior didn’t seem to interfere with the shop’s crowded grand opening, which reached out the door. Those who had already been enchanted by the taste of Ding Tea, a renowned global chain, knew that the thirty-plus-minute wait would be fully worth it.

If you have tried boba in Riverside and have not been impressed, drop everything and go to Ding Tea right now because it hits every mark that a boba store should and exceeds past every one of its Riverside competitors (sorry Boba Tea House and Tim Boba — you served us well!).

► SEE ASUCR PAGE 4

► SEE DING TEA PAGE 10

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

RADAR: “The future of Sony Pictures and Spider-Man” P. 14 SPORTS: “NFL Breakdown: Our playoff predictions” P.15 f

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NEWS 4

OPINIONS 8

FEATURES 10

RADAR 13

SPORTS 16

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

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HUMANS OF UCR

UPCOMING EVENTS: WEEK 2

KAYLA ALAYON, SECOND YEAR, BIOLOGY

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Tuesday

COMPILED BY LIZELLE ORENO

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Wednesday

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Thursday

18 “I’m in an organization my current roommate is the president of. She

Friday

How to Make a Great First Impression at a Career Fair 12:30pm to 1:30pm HUB (Highlander Union Building), 379

Tuesday Talk - Ace & Arrow Talk 5:00pm to 6:00pm Costo Hall , 245

CARE Conversations: Friendzones 12:00pm to 1:00pm HUB (Highlander Union Building), HUB 379

Student Life Open House 3:00pm to 5:00pm HUB 229

Healing and Acceptance Circle 1:00pm to 2:00pm HUB 260

Cosplay Basics 7:00pm to 9:00pm Orbach Library (Science Library), Creat’R Lab (140)

Physics Condensed Matter & SHINES Seminar 1:30pm Physics Reading Room , 3035

Film: Museo 7:00pm to 9:00pm UCR ARTS, Culver Center of the Arts 3824 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501

A Run Through Time: Travels in Ancient and Modern Greece 2:00pm to 3:30pm Riverside Public Library 3581 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA

Winter Opening Reception 6:00pm to 9:00pm UCR ARTS 3824 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501

hosts the cosplay brigade meeting and we meet up every Thursday from 7-9pm. It’s a good community, a lot of people that have a lot of similar interests, a great way to make friends. My freshman year I didn’t join any clubs and I regret that. You never know, you can find your set friend group for college, even for life.”

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Saturday

20 Sunday

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WROLC: Western Regional Outdoor Leadership Conference 1:00pm to 12:00am Student Recreation Center (SRC), Outdoor Excursions Shop

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UCR Multidisciplinary Research Building opens following Friday dedication JAKEB TIVEY Staff Writer

On Friday Jan. 11, UCR’s Multidisciplinary Research Building (MRB1) was officially opened for campus use following a formal dedication led by Chancellor Kim Wilcox, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Cynthia Larive and UCR architect Jacqueline Norman. The $116 million, 179,000 square-foot facility is one of many firsts for the campus, including an entrepreneurialfocused ‘incubator’ space, LEED Platinum certification and the campus’ first building dedicated solely for multidisciplinary research with an emphasis on eight research teams in biological, medical, information and physical science fields.

The ceremony opened with Larive’s recognition of the dedication’s large attendance of community members, faculty, administrators and even elected officials. Those acknowledged by name were California Senator Richard Roth, California Assembly Members Jose Medina and Sabrina Cervantes, Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey and Riverside City Council Member Andy Melendrez. Following the recognition of elected officials, Larive called upon all task force members and foundation trustees involved in the success of the project to stand in order to be lauded for their efforts.

Following the ceremonial introduction, Norman took to the podium to express her feelings about the massive and expedited three-and-a-half year project: “We at UCR are deeply appreciative of the collaborative relationship that thrives … a thrilling culture of rigor,

excellence and respect permeated the entire process surrounding this project from the beginning to end and in my mind represents what is best about UCR.” Norman shared that she hopes the research conducted at this new facility will have an impact beyond our campus, quoting architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in her closing statement: “Let this building be the home of ideas and adventure.”

Larive briefly took the stage once more, further explaining the function of the MRB1 and how administrators ultimately narrowed down 22 proposed research teams into the eight which will occupy the facility: “While it is a beautiful building, and the analogy to a cathedral is apt, it will be a very functional building.

It will help to raise the research activity and the research profile of UCR.” Explaining the research which will take place, Larive affirmed “we went through several rounds of review and we finally got it down to eight different teams.” The teams in question are ‘Data Science Center,’ ‘Environmental Toxicology Group,’ ‘Food, Bugs, Guts & Brains,’ and ‘Imaging,’ among others.

The final speaker of the day was Wilcox, who shared a few words on the building’s nature as a “bridge,” and how it looks toward the future with a legacy in mind: “It isn’t about one topic, it isn’t about one area of the campus, it isn’t about one department or college. It’s about the future, and everyone in science will tell you the future is about collaboration and multidisciplinary work.”

Wilcox explained that the science is the focus, but the building itself will serve an additional purpose for the UCR campus: “It’s also a

building all about bridges. It bridges between the disciplines, of course, but it also bridges other ways. It bridges to the community, Riverside has long-needed wet-lab incubator space. We’re going to have public entrepreneurs in and out of our building everyday.” In his closing statement, the chancellor advised that “while this is an important building of firsts, it is equally important in that it ties together so many parts of the past. For me, I think about the future. Every one of our buildings on campus, at some time, somebody stood like me and dedicated it and no

LLOYD KAO / HIGHLANDER

one in the room could have imagined what might have gone on there … what might happen in this building in 2035, or 2043, or 2062? There will be people in this building that we have never met, who are going to be working on topics we have never heard of, making discoveries that will make a difference for history, forevermore.”

The Multidisciplinary Research Building is located across from the Aberdeen-Inverness residence halls and is adjacent to the Material Sciences building near the Bourns College.

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COURTESY OF UC RIVERSIDE

NEWS IN BRIEF:

Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development to retire from UCR AIDAN RUTTEN Senior Staff Writer

Dr. Michael Pazzani has been UCR’s Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development since 2012, a role in which he was responsible for areas like procuring research funding such as grants for student projects. As a research scientist with a doctorate in computer science from UCLA, Pazzani has worked with other faculty and students to create projects like the ExCITE Incubator in Riverside, a

nurturing space for startup companies to expand their business and research.

According to a school-wide email sent by Chancellor Kim Wilcox, Pazzani will be retiring in April of this year, but will continue conducting machine learning research on campus with an emeritus faculty appointment. That email also highlighted Pazzani’s successes, including how “UCR research grants and contracts have increased by more than 68 percent in the past five years,” as well as how he

helped achieve “the highest number of NSF Career Awards in the UC system.”

On top of his academic legacy, Pazzani was also the CEO and co-founder of a software development company called AdaptiveInfo, which aims to use machine learning, Pazzani’s focus, to aid in the “personalization of content on mobile devices.”

Beyond academia, Pazzani worked in both the public and private sectors. More information about the process is forthcoming.

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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

5

ASUCR

Student Voice Committee reports findings; ASUCR calls on administration to house wildfire survivors

► FROM ASUCR

One of SVC’s surveys found that 67 percent of students were unaware that last year, the 20 percent minimum requirement for voter turnout for referendum approval was not met. Despite this statistic another survey found that 84 percent of students polled believed that their votes in UCR’s elections matter, leading Turan to question why the 20 percent minimum was not met despite the high student voter efficacy.

Students were then surveyed on what would encourage them to vote in the elections this year. The top response was receiving more information regarding elections, followed by more incentives to vote, better accessibility to voting locations, a more diverse range of candidates and shorter voting lines. What they discovered led the SVC to offer the following recommendations to ASUCR: improve distribution of information to students about elections; provide more

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

voting incentives to students; improve location accessibility and times; attract a more diverse range of candidates, shorten voting lines; use electronic voting at polling locations, which was banned last year; and improve visibility of ASUCR and its impact on campus for apathetic voters.

The SVC also found that when surveyed on the R’Gear initiative, around 72 percent of students are aware of it and 86 percent of those students support the initiative.

However, when students were made aware that $35,000 was allocated for R’Gear, the number of students who approved of the initiative dropped from 86 percent to 52 percent. Those who disagreed with the amount of money spent on R’Gear found that the money would be better spent on reducing the cost of textbooks, beautifying the campus or providing more school materials. Turan suggested that ASUCR needs to consider the opposition to R’Gear’s costs while carrying out the initiative, as well as consider only distributing R’Gear to freshman students to reduce said costs.

Turan also stated that the SVC’s next initiative is to survey students and discover why there is a seemingly high number of students who wish to transfer out of UCR. Turan stated that research for this survey began Jan. 10.

Next on the agenda, ASUCR discussed the resolution “Providing Assistance to Wildfire Victims.” J. Gonzalez stated that wildfires have ravaged the state of

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

California this year and he believes that it is ASUCR’s duty to offer resources to those who are suffering and displaced.

Gonzalez called upon the chancellor and Housing Services to provide resources to students affected.

Gonzalez claimed that the Canyon Crest Family Housing is able to house hundreds of families and host amenities, such as laundry rooms. He believes that UCR should send a professional to inspect the property and document what needs to be done to make the housing livable, at least on a temporary basis. The motion to approve this resolution was approved 13-0-0. During Senator Reports, CHASS Senator Chelsea Davenport promised to set up a meeting with Housing Services

in order to ensure that housing wildfire victims at UCR can become a reality.

During roundtable announcements, Julian Gonzalez announced that on Jan. 23, the LGBT Resource Center on campus will be hosting a free gender marketing clinic from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in which students who are interested in changing their legal name would receive assistance. Executive Vice President Andrea Cuevas proposed a Meet the Senators event Jan. 16, from 12 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. so senators can meet and talk to students on campus. The senators will be required to attend the event. The event passed 13-0-0.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:18 p.m.

The next ASUCR meeting will be held Jan. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in HUB 221.

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Opinions HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

7

HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

Cancelling Kevin Hart sacrif ices humor for political correctness

O

n Jan. 3, “The Ellen Degeneres Show” aired an interview with Kevin Hart in which Hart discussed his resurfaced tweets that came about shortly after the announcement went public that he would be hosting this year’s Oscars. The main controversy revolves around tweets and jokes that fall between the time period of 2009 and 2011: a segment from Hart’s 2010 stand up show “Seriously Funny” showed him explaining that one of his biggest fears was his son growing up to be gay and a series of now deleted tweets that contained homophobic slurs.

Hart stated in the interview that he felt as though the tweets had resurfaced as a result of a malicious attack, intending to smear his name and cause public outrage and thus make the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences reconsider their decision to have him as a host. Hart did ultimately step down from the position when requested by the Academy to apologize publicly. He initially refused to apologize, explaining in an Instagram

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

video that he had already addressed his past multiple times. Eventually, however, Hart did apologize again on Twitter.

Although Kevin Hart’s instinctual reaction to not apologize for his past creates the image of a lackluster attempt to make amends with the people he offended, it’s also important to acknowledge that Hart has addressed his past jokes before. As a result, his seemingly half-hearted apologies may be coming from someone who has found himself caught in a cycle of beating the same dead horse.

There were some things mentioned in Hart’s tweets that will always be tasteless (such as the slur “f**”), but comedians themselves also shouldn’t have to make a conscious effort to refrain from jokes that seem out-ofpocket to certain audiences.

While it was right for Hart to be held accountable the first time around for his tweets, it’s worth trying to bring context to the era the jokes were made in. American society has been progressive, especially in the past half century, but there was a time not too long ago where crude humor was much

more prominent, and where attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights weren’t as inclusive as they are today. Both Democrat and Republican candidates for president in 2008 all asserted that marriage should be between a man and a woman, including former President Barack Obama, who expressed evolving stances on gay marriage rights. This is despite the fact that Obama did applaud the Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality in 2015.

It’s laudable that society is continuing to embrace the LGBTQ+ community more, but one must keep in mind that Hart’s jokes weren’t too far from popular public opinion at the time they were being made. However, it’s worth conceding that the derogatory terms Hart used in his tweets toward gay people should always be off limits, time and place aside.

Kevin Hart definitely isn’t the first celebrity to be caught in a storm of public outrage from past tweets containing vulgar jokes.

Recent internet sensation Kevin Pena, better known as “Brother Nature,” who gained popularity for his videos

“IT’S NOT FAIR TO ASK THEM TO PULL CERTAIN JOKES FROM THEIR ROUTINES IN ORDER TO TRY AND BE MORE POLITICALLY CORRECT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE INHERENTLY SUBJECTIVE NATURE OF HUMOR.”

documenting his interactions with wild animals, had to issue an apology after some of his tweets from 20112012 resurfaced. The tweets contained racist and sexist jokes, and while earning condemnation, many did find it unreasonable that Pena was apologizing for ignorant tweets that came from an impressionable twelveyear-old.

Pete Davidson, a long standing comedian, has recently come forth and publicly apologized to former Congressman Dan Crenshaw for making a joke about Crenshaw’s eyepatch, which Crenshaw has worn ever since he lost his eye in combat.

Pete Davidson is more correlated to Hart in the sense that both are comedians who are simply doing their job. It’s not fair to ask them to pull certain jokes from their routines in order to try and be more politically correct, especially given the inherently subjective nature of humor. Comedy itself is also not meant to be politically correct – the shock factor is often what attracts people to it.

Davidson, despite only recently coming under public scrutiny, has always had a comedy style of dark humor. In a New York Times interview in 2015, Davidson talked about making jokes about his father, who died in 9/11, to which he described this post-trauma comedy as his coping mechanism for uncomfortable topics. Even though today’s environment is much more aware of trying not to overstep boundaries for the sake of not offending someone, comedy has long contained jokes that push boundaries and offend, hence the category of dark humor and satirical comedy.

The reactions towards these public figures brings us to wonder whether jumping onto the bandwagon of public outrage has become normalized in society.

Whether or not Kevin Hart gains back popularity from this blunder, it’s likely that he’ll always be associated with his unfortunate past.

Again, dark humor has been around for a long time, found in the repertoire of stand-up comedians like Davidson and Hart or in TV shows such as “South Park.” However, given the context of today’s “call-out” culture, which has been spurred on by social media, perhaps we may be witnessing a new age in which comedians entering the industry choose to withhold from telling certain jokes in order to become more popular and attract a larger audience.

It’s worth speculating that whoever brought Kevin Hart’s old tweets into the spotlight was doing it with the intention of harming his opportunity to host the Oscars. However, it’s become old news for Hart to continue addressing jokes that he has acknowledged already. Despite the tendency for people nowadays to be more aware of political correctness, we as a society shouldn’t continuously shun celebrities for past mistakes or for trying their hand at dark comedy. The moment we attempt to censor comedy is when we start sliding down a very slippery slope that misses the point of comedy itself completely.

■H 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.

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINION POLL Compiled by Lydia Tsou Staff Photographer

Should Kevin Hart host the oscars?

Brandon La Psychology Fourth-year

Sandra Mendoza Biology First-year

“Yes because I’ve seen many of his shows and I think he’s super funny.

He makes everything much more interesting, so I think it’d be cool if he hosted it.”

“No, I don’t think so. I just feel like it’s someone who should be a better representative of a person of color - like someone gay or trans.”

Arron Mills History Fourth-year “I don’t really see any problem with him hosting.

He made mistakes in the past, but everyone has.

Hopefully he’s learned from it and we can all learn from our mistakes.”

Claudia Santoyo English Third-year

Pedro Deallende Neuroscience First-year

Eva Meza Psychology Third-year

“I know he had some drama lately and it might cause controversy, but I think why not because he’s a funny guy and he’ll make it interesting.”

“Sure, because he apologized profusely. So if he’s adjusted, then yeah.”

“I think he should host.

As time passes, your opinions shape and form. Everyone makes mistakes and he’s obviously been picked to host for a reason”

America and the world: where Democrats will differ in 2020

SAMIR AL-ALAMI Contributing Writer

It is the beginning of the new year, a new congress has been sworn in and that, of course, means we need to start talking about presidential politics. Mostly because three candidates (Elizabeth Warren, John Delaney, Richard Ojeda at the time of writing this article) are already running, with many more on the way. Usually when we talk about the differences that Democratic candidates have with each other, it will likely follow the same predictable fashion by the media punditry: domestically they are far apart, and the stances will range from leftist to center left. To that I say, the overemphasis the media places on the similarities between these candidates takes away energy from the real divisions that may end up appearing within the party next year. The real difference may, in fact, lie in foreign policy, the area where the next president will have extensive control over and where the candidates will have more differences.

The first real division that may end up splitting the party in separate camps is the issue of trade. There are clearly two lines of thinking. One lane is occupied

by Democrats like Sens. Michael Bennet of Colorado, or Joe Biden (D-Del.), who both have repeatedly advocated and pushed for free trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement

(NAFTA), or the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with Asia more recently in 2015. However, perhaps inspired by the populist streak in our policy debates nowadays, there are candidates like Sens. Bernie Sanders (DVT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Kamala Harris, (D-CA), who have shifted away from the conventional, bipartisan agreement on trade being an important unifying issue to bolster relations. Instead, all of these candidates at some point, either scrutinised the TPP, NAFTA or other previous trade deals. The candidate that will either contend free trade is here to stay, or there could be a continued shift away from that stance.

The biggest issue in foreign policy today is something that has been discussed heavily since the moment that Hillary Clinton won the Democratic nomination back in 2016: how to deal with Russia’s presence in the world, in light of the Mueller investigation, as well as the hacking incident that occurred on her email account. In this issue, the differences are delineated as clearly as possible: Sanders was one of the only senators who voted against the latest sanctions package in 2017, in response to the hacking allegations and election interference campaign, citing Iran as his reasoning for the position he took on the bill. He also voted against the Magnitsky Act of 2012, which tightened

sanctions on Russia citing the provision that would normalize trade relations with Russia.

Notably, former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) voted against a joint resolution in 2014 to condemn Russia for its actions in the illegal annexation of Crimea and the war in Ukraine.

Lastly, Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Honolulu) was the only member of the delegation of Hawaii to not voice the desire to see a special counsel be appointed as the result of the firing of FBI Director James Comey. All these varying actions do suggest real divisions, as nearly every other Democrat beyond those listed here has been much more vocal about

being much more muscular in respect to Russia, from former Vice President Joe Biden to Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

Finally, what will the Democratic Party do about our long-running combat in the Middle East going forward?

According to independent analyses, the jury is still out on how the party wishes to orient itself, with a few key divisions on recent interventions. A good case study on this is the support of former President Barack Obama’s war in Libya. Sens.

Klobuchar (D-MN), Gillibrand (D-NY) and Bob Casey Jr. (DPA) supported it back in 2011.

That issue sees yet another split not easy to bridge as

COURTESY OF ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

other candidates, such as Rep. Gabbard (D-Honolulu) and Sen. Sanders (D-VT) having had opposed such intervention in 2011. The voters who may go to caucuses may use that issue as a test in seeing what kind of candidate they want in terms of foreign policy in the Middle East as well.

Trade, Russia and our role in the Middle East appear on the radar for Democratic candidates seeking to differentiate themselves going forward in 2020. These critical international issues appear to be places where Democrats can truly differentiate themselves in an articulation of how they wish to interact in a fast-changing world.

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op-ed:

Swap not Shop: Why you should donate your clothes

AARON HIPOLITO SRC Copy Writer

I admit it. I hoard clothes. It’s a nasty habit I’ve had throughout my 21 years of life and I attribute it to one thing: my obsession with fashion. From designer clothes to thrift store bins to even the clearance rack at Urban Outfitters, I have always had an affinity for buying new clothes and building a massive wardrobe.

From the vast array of colored graphic tees to the six million different types of sweaters, I am fixated on capturing every single look possible.

Inevitably, this fascination leads to an excess of clothes that sit in my closet unworn for months, if not years, at a time. My

closets are running out of room and clothes are tumbling over each other in a jumble of cotton stew. The reality of this situation strikes me with immense guilt.

What am I doing with so many clothes? Would I really even wear any of these pieces again?

So I made the decision to get out those garbage bags and donate all the clothes that I didn’t need.

If I didn’t need them, I sure as hell knew that someone else would. I felt that it was time to shed this clothing obsession that I have been struggling with and redirect that energy towards something positive that I have always been passionate about: helping people.

I am not the only one with this problem. According to

creditdonkey.com, the average adult aged 25-34 spends $161 on clothes a month, adding up to $1,932 a year. That is an astonishing amount of money spent on clothes that last for years at a time. I often think about all of the privileges that I have been granted; a roof over my head, consistent meals and enough clothes to keep myself warm and cozy. I realize that not everyone is gifted with these amenities, and I am incredibly grateful that I have parents that work hard enough to let me live a comfortable life.

The most obvious group of people who could benefit from some good fortune is the homeless population. They have families, significant others, traumas,

dreams and everything else that a human being possesses. Some run into the highest extreme of family problems, and some struggle to pay rent and end up getting evicted. According to riversideca.gov the amount of homeless people in Riverside increased by about 300, going from 1,351 to 1,638 in a span of a year (2016-2017). Three hundred more individuals are left without the essential comforts that we often take for granted.

That number is staggering. That is why it is imperative for us as a community to assist them in their pursuit of happiness.

Something as simple as a hoodie or a pair of sweats can go a long way, and possibly even save the life of an individual who

has hit rock bottom. It gets cold at night in this arid desert, and just a small act of kindness can impact a person’s life forever.

If you’re in need of a wardrobe overhaul don’t just buy new clothes, exchange them at the Student Recreation Center Jan. 16, from 4-7p.m. Bring in all your old, unworn and gently used clothing to the Rec and exchange with your fellow Highlanders to add a new flair to your outfits. You’ll be able to get that vintage, thrift shop aesthetic while helping those in need, as all leftover items will directly be donated to the Riverside Goodwill. Make new friends and strengthen the bond within the Riverside community, while helping out the homeless.

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OPINIONS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

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In a time of crisis, El-Sisi has kept Egypt afloat

ROBERT GOLD Contributing Writer

In late 2010, a series of uprisings against oppressive regimes across the Middle East began in full storm. Also known as the Arab Spring, social media spread this spirit of rebellion to several nations. Beginning in Tunisia, it eventually spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria and Bahrain.

Out of all the nations of which the Arab Spring touched, the revolution in Egypt was among the most successful. Egypt has transitioned to a democracy, and just recently celebrated its second democratic electoral cycle as of last year. In this March 2018 election, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi won a consecutive four-year-term. elSisi has promised investment in African development, procured overseas investments in the Egyptian economy and a helping hand in working towards a twostate solution in Palestine.

In January 2011, as part of the larger Arab Spring movement, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was ousted from power. During his presidency, he liberalized the economy and remained committed to Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel signed in the 1979 Camp David Accords.

Despite these positive moves, Mubarak also engineered political censorship, police brutality, arbitrary detentions and torture. These human rights violations eventually led to his downfall. In 2014, the Egyptian military presided over ostensibly democratic elections. Running as an Independent, Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was elected to the highest office in the land.

As a leader, President elSisi has maintained strong relations abroad. Shortly after taking office, el-Sisi made a tour across the African continent,

seeking support against Islamist militants across the continent and establishing an agency dedicated to Africa’s economic development.

El-Sisi has also maintained a commitment to working across both sides of the aisle in the Israel-Palestine conflict, in an effort to work towards a two-state solution. However, in part for his support of Israel against Hamas in the IsraelGaza conflict, Turkish-Egyptian relations have worsened. But elSisi wants peace in the Middle East and that’s predominantly why relations with Turkey aren’t the best right now.

As for Egypt’s relations within the Arab world, during el-Sisi’s tenure the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have invested over $20 billion into the country’s economy. As for cooperation amongst the Arab states, in 2015 in response to a Shiite insurgency which toppled the Yemeni government, Egypt and Saudi Arabia led a joint military intervention along with a coalition of other Muslim nations which included the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan and Pakistan to restore the nation to its democraticallyelected government.

In the face of so much civil unrest in many parts of the Muslim world, el-Sisi admitted in November 2016 his support for the presidency of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad in the interest of regional stability. El-Sisi’s support of al-Assad makes political sense, as both nations share a number of common enemies including the Islamic State group, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Egyptian economy is also certainly a mixed bag.

El-Sisi has revived economic growth while tackling problems

COURTESY OF DOMINIQUE PINEIRO, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

in the gas supply industry. While he inherited a tattered economy facing extreme inflation when he first took office, el-Sisi has instituted a policy of aggressive economic reforms which have largely stopped most of the rot.

El-Sisi’s most notable economic achievement thus far has been his signing of a three-year deal with the International Monetary Fund, which will devalue the Egyptian pound against the dollar by more than half. A country whose currency is worth hundreds or thousands comparatively to a foreign currency, like the dollar, is a sign of how worthless that nation’s currency is. The more the Egyptian pound is devalued, the more its exports are valued.

Thus, the more the Egyptian pound is devalued, the better.

Many say that el-Sisi’s aggressive economic reforms were necessary to stabilize Egypt’s economy as it recovers from chaos and faces an upsurge of Islamist insurgency. Poverty has increased and the currency reform hit the middle class

incredibly hard, but amidst the turmoil economists do see some hope. In the past year, GDP grew 5.3 percent. “I think we should see growth continuing to escalate,” says Egyptian Investment Bank economist Mohamed Abu Basha, adding, “tourism has space to recover, and consumption and investment should continue to recover over the next few years.”

Arguments against el-Sisi point to his government’s jailing of thousands of elSisi opponents. Among these include three leading political opposition figures including a senior diplomat who called for a referendum against el-Sisi.

But in defence of el-Sisi, he views many of these political prisoners as Islamist militants, who would bring the kind of sectarian violence that we saw in Iraq and Syria upon Egypt if released back out onto the streets. The government has publicly stated that its actions are directed towards terrorists and saboteurs who are trying

A cartel close to home

COURTESY OF PEXELS

SHYAM RAJAN Contributing Writer

For decades, the U.S. has associated with cartels around the world as a fixture of its foreign policy, including destabilization of the drug cartels of Latin America while maintaining diplomatic ties with the association of oil-producing countries known as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Defined as an association of bodies intent on monopolizing a market by restricting competition, a cartel is not limited to its common connotation with illegal activity. Take the status of OPEC, an international cartel which fills a niche supplying oil worldwide, a necessary good for most nations. Yet the term “cartel” still tends to have ties to images such as the illegal drug cartels which have monopolized the trade

of illicit substances.

Known as the “world’s policeman,” it is almost unthinkable to assert that the U.S., a country so immersed in trying to end the operations of illegal cartels overseas and at home, would inexplicably be a cartel itself. The U.S., where gun ownership is so embedded in the national identity, is the global gun cartel because it has essentially monopolized the trade. Second Amendment opponents aim to protect the innocent lives of those who are increasingly subject to violence stemming from gun ownership.

However, their voice is drowned by the waves of support by those who profit from the industry, not limited to the NRA and its political pawns. Deconstructing the size of the American gun industry domestically will not gain broad support due to the profits of those involved with expanding their exports; the

National Shooting Sports Foundation has calculated the $300 billion dollar defense industry to be 1.8% of total American GDP. In the midst of a flurry of shootings of innocent people in schools and other establishments nationwide, why can’t the U.S. take a firmer stance on gun control stateand nationwide? The fact that the right to bear arms is guaranteed in the Constitution is only one reason for this hesitancy; in fact, one in five Americans wish to repeal the Second Amendment, highlighting that this centuries-old amendment may have outlived its necessity. Nonetheless, with a history so entrenched in warfare, it comes as no surprise that firearm exports are an essential component of American economic success globally now and for the foreseeable future.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) uses a metric known as TrendIndicator Value (TIV) to measure the firearm exports of every nation.

Between 1950 and 2017, the U.S. topped the chart with 673.01 billion TIV, followed by Russia, exporting 588.15 TIV and the U.K., with 140.38 TIV. Russia has come under fire by the U.S. media as a hotbed for black-market arms trades, for example, as per its growth after the destabilization of Ukraine. In fact, Russian arms sales have declined by 7.1 percent; as of 2018, the U.S. exports 58 percent more firearms than the oft-maligned Russians. Either a figment of “fake news” or an exposé of the Cold War enemy, American figures have rarely depicted the U.S. as an even greater – in fact, the greatest – participant in the global

arms trade, whether legal or not.

Between 2013 and 2017, the U.S. sold arms to at least 98 countries worldwide, totaling 34 percent of global arms trades – over one-third of all guns exported. In fact, half of U.S. firearm exports are sold to the Middle East, where war remains persistent. 60 percent of firearms sold on the dark web have an American origin; the U.S., however, is not only an exporter – one-third of all firearms in the U.S. are imported. Regardless of the popular sentiments amongst young people towards restricting firearms, the Trump administration has further loosened restrictions on firearm exports, simplifying the application process to grow the size of this domestic, though legally operable, cartel.

Even as U.S. policy aims to dismantle Mexican drug cartels, the firearms they possess more often than not were sourced from U.S. dealers – 70 percent of traced and recovered Mexican firearms have an American origin. The fact that U.S. citizens are the most likely to possess firearms than any other citizen of any other nation only bolsters the image that America is the go-to market for firearm needs.

Although popular sentiment, especially amongst today’s youth, revolves around common sense gun control, broader domestic support of the Second Amendment has consequences at home and abroad.

While advancing gun ownership has been essential to the American identity, government officials may be interested in preserving Second Amendment rights only to continue to secure the $51.3 billion, as it did

desperately to undermine the state. El-Sisi supporters say the crackdown on dissent is needed to stabilize Egypt after the 2011 uprising and the unrest which followed, including an Islamist insurgency in the Sinai peninsula which killed hundreds.

Under trying circumstances, el-Sisi has done a tremendous job.

The Arab Spring movement has taken many Muslim nations by storm including Egypt, Yemen, Syria and Libya among others.

While predominantly Western nations have condemned the treatment of Islamist protesters, what these nations fail to realize is that although many of these Arab Spring movements are democratically inspired, Islamist militants have utilized the civil unrest as opportunities to seize power. Thus, President el-Sisi is a man who guides the fate of a nation on the cusp of a new blossoming democracy and has, under the circumstances, performed admirably and deserves the respect of the world.

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in 2016, in revenue that the industry collects annually. Only if the profits from this industry can be replaced by profits elsewhere — and, if continued warfare ceases to be an incentive for profit — can the American gun cartel be curtailed.

While the U.S. has maintained a diplomatic relationship with Saudi Arabia, a leader of OPEC and the largest importer of American firearms, they have maintained a “War on Drugs” against cartels in Mexico and South America. The latter conviction may only be a facade – it is American weapons that supply not only these neighboring cartels, but also the Middle Eastern factions that arise regularly to combat the volatile changes in government that have grown since U.S. involvement.

Restricting the U.S. gun cartel may not end global warfare, and shutting it down completely may not be economically feasible considering the benefits for those participating in the market. However, it is important to note that however the media spins the status of American enemies, the U.S. is also complicit.

While promoting Second Amendment constitutional rights, the economic opportunities that U.S. gun policy has initiated has broad socioeconomic benefits that only serve to sustain the cartel. As the domestic firearm industry grows past its homeland borders without restriction, a conflicting world system exists that will continue to demand American firearms as long as warfare, or the potential for it, remains a viable option in international affairs. Perhaps by this policy, foreign nations can now police themselves.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

Features

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DING TEA shakes the competition off with the best boba in Riverside

► FROM DING TEA

Every one of its offerings is crafted to perfection and yet somehow, none of their menu items exceed $3.45 (not including tax) with the average price of boba being between $2.50 and $5. It’s safe to say that if you’re drinking boba anywhere besides Ding Tea, you’re simply doing it wrong.

The classic black milk tea can be hard to get right since the black tea can be bitter and there are no other flavors to mask the bad quality of milk and tea. However, Ding Tea’s signature milk tea (as it is named on their menu) left a great first impression.

The soothing tea and fresh milk were adeptly balanced to be both creamy and refreshing. I also noticed that the milk tea had no powder residue, a sign of inadequate blending and something that even the drinks of its closest competitor, Boba Tea House, include. I would soon discover that none of their drinks leave behind powder residue: Ding Tea is the real deal with their fresh ingredients. On top of that, their golden boba, which is a dazzling amber color instead of the usual brown shade of tapioca, was bouncy, chewy and had the slightest hint of a cake or chocolate candy texture that made every chew fun. Ding Tea proved that the most plain flavor can taste amazing without any external toppings and add-ons if it is a quality product.

Their taro milk tea had that delectable almostcoconutty pudding taste that evokes feelings of comfort. However, I made the mistake of ordering it with the coconut jelly, which I should give a PSA about for all boba drinkers: Do not order coconut jelly with

anything besides a fruity drink! Coconut jelly has a tangy rather than indulgent sweetness and therefore only pairs well with items that are lighter and fruit-based.

However, the taro milk tea was so good that I continued drinking it despite the odd combination and endured every wince-inducing sip of coconut jelly just for that dreamy, pillowy taro.

Yes, Ding Tea got me so excited that I continued experimenting with their toppings, which I usually set my guns to regular tapioca with, but unfortunately made yet another unflattering blend of matcha latte with red bean.

Don’t get me wrong: matcha and red bean could pair splendidly since they are both neutral, earthy flavors.

However, in this case, the red bean had too much of an almost grass or dirt-like taste, indicating it could have been spoiled, and which didn’t pair well with the delicate matcha.

The milk tea itself lacked that velvety creaminess that the best matcha lattes have but perhaps my appraisal of it was distorted by the mismatch of toppings.

Similarly, with the classic milk tea, Ding Tea invigorated my taste buds for an item that I usually don’t order, in this case fruit drinks. The strawberry Yakult with crystal boba was so refreshing that it gave me that feeling of just having run a mile on a hot day and drinking an ice cold glass of water even if I wasn’t that thirsty — it was just that gratifying. The strawberry flavor was bursting with natural sweetness and fruitiness, and mixed with the Yakult, which was a major throwback to the little Yakult yogurt drinks I drank as I kid, it tasted like a yummy strawberry candy. The drink

was so crisp and pleasant that it somehow reminded me of Sprite even though it didn’t have any carbonation.

The little bits of strawberry added a soft, lovely texture, and this time, I made the right choice of pairing it with crystal boba, which had the chewiness of lychee and kept me sipping on the drink over and over again to my surprise since I usually don’t like fruit drinks.

To seal the lid on my eye-opening experience at Ding Tea, I ordered the Monster Bobo Latte, which is essentially their brown sugar boba. I’ve seen pictures of these mouthwatering brown sugar boba drinks, characterized by brown syrup dripping around the cup, all over Instagram and felt delighted to get my first taste of it at Ding Tea. What I received was a multi-faceted drink with creamy milk tea

at the top and rich, maplesyrup-like brown sugar at the bottom; together, they were like a couple that balanced each other out — both light and indulgent, smooth and full-bodied, refreshing and robust. I highly recommend pointing the straw up so that you get more of the milk tea portion, for the bottom contains most of the heavy syrup, but at the top where the flavors have merged, you get both elements in perfect equilibrium.

Most of the customers at Ding Tea stayed for at least forty minutes. Many people seemed to go there for oneon-ones, which indicated to me that Ding Tea is viewed as a place worthy of spending quality time with loved ones or catching up with friends.

Several people also went there to study, which is not common at a boba store.

Aside from the clean, modern

JASMINE YAMANAKA / HIGHLANDER

ambience full of plant terrariums, mirrors and floral decorations, perhaps the close proximation to great boba brought comfort to the busy college student in need of a rest.

Ding Tea makes the milk tea experience easy because they just get everything right, from the flavor to the price to the atmosphere. If you are not a fan of boba, I would suggest going to Ding Tea right now because every boba you tasted previously was made incorrectly. Their ingredients are optimally sourced and blended to be of the freshest, most authentic of flavors and the toppings are springing with fun, chewy textures.

When combined — tea, milk and toppings — you’ll be left wondering if this is boba or if this is the ingredient itself.

Ding Tea masters boba in its purest form — this is what real boba tastes like.

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OVERALL SATISFACTION SCALE

DRINKS 9/10 AMBIENCE 8/10 PRICE $2-4

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The Fast Lane Chiraag Dave Senior Staff Writer

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

11

the Mazda CX-5 is a cut above the rest

CHIRAAG DAVE / HIGHLANDER

Powertrain & Chassis 5 Acceleration 3 Transmission 4 Fuel Economy 4 Steering Feel & Handling 4 Brake Feel4 Ride 3.5 Value 4.5 CHIRAAG DAVE / HIGHLANDER

For the greater part of the last decade, Mazda has built a reputation for making premium and fun-todrive cars at an affordable price point. I found that to be the case when I tested the Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 sedans, but those aren’t the cars that fly off of dealers’ lots. Rather, Mazda has been experiencing the same sort of shift in preference towards crossovers and SUVs as the rest of the automotive industry. Consumer preference has made the CX-5 crossover Mazda’s best-selling car worldwide and with the outgoing model being lauded as best in its class, the redesigned CX-5 had big shoes to fill.

Mazda redesigned the CX-5 in 2017, with the outgoing model being one of the most popular and upscale entrants in an otherwise bland segment of the industry. The CX-5 isn’t the most exciting Mazda under $30,000; crossover buyers, however, rarely choose to buy a crossover for the way it looks or the way it drives but rather with practicality in mind. That being said, the CX-5 exists for the crossover buyer who still wants to enjoy their driving experience.

The new CX-5 doesn’t disappoint in that department. The model comes standard with a 2.5 liter, four-cylinder engine making 187 horsepower.

This doesn’t make it the quickest horse out of the stable, but the CX-5 isn’t so much about straight line speed. Instead, CX-5’s shining spot lies within its remarkably responsive driving dynamics.

The CX-5 now comes standard with Mazda’s G-Vectoring control, a traction assistance system that alters the engine’s timing to make tight corners easier to manage. For drivers, the main change is the more responsive and confidence-inspiring handling. I found the CX-5 to be far more engaging and enjoyable to drive than virtually any of its competitors. For a vehicle of its size, weight and power, this is seriously impressive.

Despite being underpowered, the base engine doesn’t disappoint much. Unlike most competitors which have shifted towards the use of CVT (continuously variable) transmissions, the CX-5 still uses a smooth and quick shifting 6-speed automatic. The base inline-4 motor revs fast and provides decent power off the line but tapers off.

The CX-5 isn’t the most fuel efficient family hauler, only netting 29 miles to the gallon on the highway and averaging 26 between combined city and highway driving. Mazda did remedy both of these concerns with the newly released 2019

Interior/Exterior 5 Front Seat Comfort/Space 4 Rear Seat Comfort/Space 3.5 Cargo Space 3.5 Fit and Finish 4.5 Features 4.5 Interior Styling 4.5 Exterior Styling 4.5

overall: 4/5

CX-5 which will receive Mazda’s new 2.5 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and increasing overall efficiency.

Even with class-leading driving dynamics, the interior is where the CX-5 really sets itself apart from the competition. My loaded test car came wrapped with a beautiful, parchment-colored leather interior and the rest of the cabin is adorned with high-quality materials that are all soft to touch. All the interior controls are well-placed and straightforward to use, and the standard 7.0inch center-mounted screen is operated using a control knob on the center console similar to one that can be found in an Audi or BMW. The whole interior vibe is elegant and upscale, much more so than anything else around this price point. There is plenty of interior space for the driver and the cabin was designed to be more driver-oriented with excellent visibility all around; that being said, however, rear passengers could benefit from a little bit of extra legroom.

The CX-5 isn’t lacking on the technology front either. My test car came equipped with a slew of features such as radar cruise control, blind-spot monitor, heads-up display, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist and lane departure warning. Some of these features, such as the heads-up display, are

Engine 2.5- lIter dohc inline 4-cylinder Transmission 6 speed autonatic with manual shifting mode Horsepower 187 hp @ 6000 rpm Torque 185 lb-ft @ 3250 or4000 rpm 0-60 7.7 sec 0-100 23.5 sec Top Speed 120 mph Fuel Economy 24 city/30 highway Base Price $24,985 price as tested $34,340

even available on several of the CX-5’s competitors and can only be found in cars upmarket. My 2018 model tester was missing one key feature, however, lacking Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Mazda did roll out the software for the 2019 model and other CX-5 owners can bring their vehicles in for an upgrade that includes these features.

All in all, the CX-5 really stands in a class above the rest. The fact of the matter is the CX-5 really doesn’t deserve to be in the same conversation as its competitors from the likes of Honda and Toyota when it performs better and feels more upscale than some similarly-sized rivals from Cadillac and Acura. The CX-5 stands to be a premium entrant at a mainstream price and the compact SUV to buy without a doubt.

Chief Competitors: Honda CRV, Subaru Forester, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Toyota Rav4, Volkswagen Tiguan, Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape The car used in this review was provided courtesy of Mazda USA. ■H Are you in the market for a new or used car but don’t know where to start? Reach out to me at thefastlane.highlander@gmail.com and I’ll help you with the search.

CHIRAAG DAVE / HIGHLANDER

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

13

REHASHING THE PAST AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PRESENT “How Hollywood sacrifices innovation in favor of easy revenue”

by Colin Carney, Contributing Writer

COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES

Despite several disappointing releases recently, some franchises have been able to course correct and deliver an enjoyable and watchable experience that has the potential to rescue their brand. Films like “Aquaman” and “Bumblebee,” which should have failed like their predecessors, broke their franchises’ mold and earned millions at the box office (along with some critical praise). As of late, studios have chosen the easy route to make millions by retreading the past. Rather than risk failure by trying something new, studios turn towards proven strategies and industry tropes in order to revitalize dying franchises or kick start new ones.

This trend exemplified by the likes of “Aquaman” and “Bumblebee” shines a light on a troubling studio trend of simply rehashing old material at the expense of not experimenting with something new.

Both “Aquaman” and “Bumblebee” were coming off the heels of previous disappointments in their respective franchises. Prior to “Aquaman,” the only definitive success the newly established DC cinematic universe could boast was 2017’s “Wonder Woman,” but everything prior to it received scathing reviews from critics and divided fans. The Transformers franchise followed a similar trend, with not even one of the previous five installments receiving a “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes (the highest being a 57 percent for the first film). Though “Aquaman” has received mixed reviews from critics, both “Aquaman” and “Bumblebee” are earning millions at the box office and restoring their fans’ interest in their respective franchises.

For the DC universe, the consistent complaint has been that their films and heroes are overly dark and brooding, especially when compared to the light-hearted, family-friendly films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Warner Bros. has slowly tried to correct this mistake ever since “Batman vs Superman: Dawn

of Justice” by integrating more humor and lightheartedness into their films. “Wonder Woman” was the first to integrate some humor, but still retained the muted color palettes and somber subject matter established

by Zack Snyder. Warner Bros. also tried to make “Justice League” bright and light-hearted in post-production, but unfortunately succeeded only in creating a rushed and disappointing final product. Rather than attempt to fix the mold set by previous DC films, “Aquaman” chose to drop the mold entirely in exchange for the fun spirit of the MCU. Though this decision proved successful, it cost the franchise some of its unique style and appeal.

The success of “Bumblebee” came from the Transformers franchise’s change in leadership. It has the distinction of being the first Transformers film not directed by Michael Bay, instead having Travis Knight take the helm. Though Bay does have a producing credit to the film, his signature over-the-top action sequences, tedious slow-motion moments and cringeworthy attempts at humor are scarce in the film. Instead, Knight returns the series to the past by setting the movie in the 1980s and borrowing from the beloved toys and TV show that made the Transformers famous.

The opening scene alone looks like a direct adaptation of the original show, with the original designs and sounds on full display. However, the film still maintains an overreliance on the human cast that characterized the Bay films, rather than focusing on the titular Transformers and their centuries-old war. This nostalgic return, coupled with a compelling and interesting story, has reinvigorated the disappointing franchise.

A similar fate has befallen director M. Night Shyamalan, who directed the highly anticipated “Glass,” which releases in January, and seemingly turned his career around with 2016’s “Split.” In the early 2000s, Shyamalan was Hollywood’s next big talent

after successful films like “The Sixth Sense” and “Unbreakable.” However, following several remarkable films, the master of the twist came out with several consecutive flops causing many to give up hope that he’d make a comeback. Surprisingly though, Shyamalan shattered expectations with the release of “Split,” which outperformed all other Shyamalan films other than “The Sixth Sense.” The movie was well received by critics, earning a 76 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was a hit with fans despite low expectations. It is hard to pinpoint an exact reason why this film broke Shyamalan’s losing streak other than the fact that it was well written and executed with stunning performances. However, one thing that undoubtedly helped the film was its connection to one of Shyamalan’s most beloved films, “Unbreakable.” Once revealed to be a sequel to the 2000 success, the film grew in popularity and built anticipation for the next installment in the trilogy, 2019’s “Glass.”

What all these films and their respective franchises have in common is that they have turned to proven strategies to save their brand. In each of the three cases provided, filmmakers turn to storytelling techniques and tropes that have been proven to work with fans and earn millions at the box office. DC adopted a more comedic and family-friendly style from Marvel for “Aquaman,” “Bumblebee” toned down the tropes of Michael Bay films and capitalized on nostalgia, and M. Night Shyamalan went back to a proven property after a series of terrible independent films.

Though this results in successful films and better reviews from critics, it sheds light on a concerning trend for films going forward.

Too often in recent years, studios have relied on past successes rather than develop new stories. This is most apparent with Disney’s new push to re-release all their previous animated hits as live action ad-

aptations. The horror genre has also been plagued by this as far too often major studios crank out hastily made remakes or sequels to classics in the genre. This trend has earned their respective studios millions despite mixed critical or audience reactions and shows limited signs of slowing down. Disney alone plans on releasing three live action versions of beloved animated films in 2019 with more planned for future years.

Thankfully the horror genre has made steps to create new stories, such as the smash hits “A Quiet Place” and “Get Out,” but still mostly relies on remakes and tired tropes to earn the bulk of their money.

Even when major studios aren’t remaking past successes, they are integrating the past into future films.

It has already been said how studios like Warner Bros. and Paramount have adopted tactics from other studios for “Aquaman” and “Bumblebee,” but the same can be said for major franchises like Star Wars. In “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” the first in the series since Disney purchased the property, the plot more or less follows the structure of “A New Hope.” Sure the characters and the setting might have changed, but the core elements remained and despite the billions it made, audiences criticized that fact. When “Last Jedi” hit theaters and tried to do things differently, fans reacted harshly and it remains to be seen how Disney will react with Episode 9.

Capitalizing on the past and nostalgia is not necessarily a shortcoming, as it often does lead to admittedly well-made and successful films.

The problem lies in when the past starts to dominate the films that make it to the big screen and pushes aside any attempts at new and creative cinematic ventures. As major studios and film franchises continue to make millions at the box office and dominate the screens, they will continue to repeat the past until new paths and innovations prove successful.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

The future

of sony Pictures and Spider-Man By: ADAM ALVERNAZ, CONTRIBUTING Writer

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” was a smash hit for Sony. The movie is a prime example of a full utilization of the diverse spectrum of the SpiderMan universe. The inclusion of more diverse characters and a huge amount of fan service really plays to the movies strengths. For the first time in a long time, Sony has managed to push out a movie in the Spider-Man universe that has received universal praise. Going forward, what this means for Sony and the rights to the Spider-Man universe as a whole becomes more complicated.

makes him a better character with a better sense of what it means to be Spider-Man. He encapsulates the very essence of what a kid with superpowers would be like with the wonder and awestruck behavior of a teenager learning his newfound powers. Character origin stories like these are well thought out and well written, making for intriguing character development and pacing the movie well. With Sony continuing to build on the Spider-Man franchise, it will be interesting to see if they can follow the standard set by this movie.

presence alongside Miles proves that diversity can be done right if the correct elements are used to build the character and introduce them to audiences. This, alongside the movie catering to more invested fans, contributes to its success.

The simple fact of having well-written characters lends the film much depth and allows for audience attachment to the protagonists. Here again, Sony sets a strong example of what they are capable of and what they can deliver in future endeavors.

The film features a whole host of

“Sony Pictures now has a bigger reason to keep their rights to the Spider-Man universe and not give it back to Disney. As such, the movies that Sony make exist in a separate space called the “Marvel Universe”

Using Miles as the face of the “Spider-Verse” movie was a great move on Sony’s part to attract a bigger audience. Miles Morales is a more modern and organic character, being of mixed descent and raised in a more modern and realistic take on New York. His story is very similar to Peter Parker’s, as they both are driven by the loss of a loved one; unlike Peter Parker, however, Miles has the support of others to solidify his mindset and become better than what’s come before him. In many ways, Miles Morales is a better Peter Parker with more compelling motivation, more interesting powers and a believable personality. This

Another example of good diversification with Gwen Stacy, or more affectionately named “SpiderGwen”. In the film we are first introduced to Gwen as a hero saving both Peter and Miles from Alchamex.

We see Gwen use her powers with a unique style; unlike other characters that fight force with force, Gwen uses strategy and finesse to save Miles and Peter. Gwen offers a side to the usual Spider-Man story we never get to see, as there are few Spider-Women.

The character adds a unique taste to the Spider-Man roster, as a familiar character that is given much more in terms of personality and powers. Her

sight gags and references that fans and general audiences will love to see and point out. These fan service elements bring together the film as they show the viewers that those behind the scenes really studied the source material they referenced. This is what makes the film so different from other Sony SpiderMan films: the studio made the movie with care, and it shows in a big way.

This adds to the experience of watching the movie and helps viewers appreciate the quality of what they are watching.

What remains to be seen is how this affects Sony’s upcoming projects and whether or not they will handle them with the amount of care and love they

invested in “Spider-Verse”.

Sony Pictures now has a bigger reason to keep their rights to the Spider-Man universe and not give it back to Disney. As such, the movies that Sony make exist in a separate space called the “Marvel Universe” (not to be confused with Disney’s “Marvel Cinematic Universe”). So going forward, Sony currently plans to keep the rights and produce movies in their universe. We know that Sony is collaborating with Disney to produce both “Avengers: Endgame” in April and “Spider-Man Far from Home” in July. Aside from that, both a sequel to “Venom” and “Spider-Verse” are currently in development. Sony also has movies featuring famous SpiderMan villains to appear in their own stand alone films. Characters such as Black Cat and Kraven the Hunter are set to appear in standalone films.

Whether or not they will stand up to the standard that Spider-Verse has set is up to time to tell. Considering how differently Venom and Spider-verse were handled, it’s a tough judgment call as to how good these movies will actually be.

It’s clear that after the success of “Spider-Verse” that Sony more than likely has more planned for fans of the Spider-Man universe. The studio intends to follow up both “Venom” and “Spider-Verse” with a sequels currently in development. Whether or not these films will uphold the standard that “Spider-Verse” has set or succumb to “Venom”’s mediocrity is hard to tell.

But either way, the future is definitely going to be filled with Spider-Man spinoffs. Should these ventures succeed, we can rest assured that everyone’s favorite web-slinger has a bright future ahead of him.

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COURTESY OF SONY ANIMATION

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

SPORTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

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NFL Breakdown: Our playoff predictions

COURTESY OF PIXABAY

Editor’s note: These predictions were made as of Friday, Jan. 11. Any results since then have not been included.

RICARDO GARCIA Contributing Writer

DIVISIONAL ROUND AFC: Los Angeles Chargers over New England Patriots: Philip Rivers has never beaten a Tom Bradyled Patriots team. The last time these two teams met in a playoff game, Rivers lost by nine while playing on a torn ACL. The Chargers are now a more balanced team, and Brady had his worst season in quite some time. The Patriots still have a decent run game, but unless they can reawaken the passing attack that made Brady a feared force in the league, they will lose when it matters most.

AFC: Kansas City Chiefs over Indianapolis Colts: The Chiefs have been unstoppable offensively all season long. Unfortunately, their defense was ranked near the bottom of the league. The KEVIN SANCHEZ Contributing Writer

DIVISIONAL ROUND AFC: Indianapolis Colts over Kansas City Chiefs This matchup is probably one of the best of this weekend’s slate of games. Andrew Luck has resurrected his career, and the afterthought, Frank Reich, has restored the explosivity of this Colts offense. They travel to Arrowhead stadium to take on another AFC powerhouse in the Chiefs, a team that has not won a playoff game at home since 1994. I have the Colts winning this matchup. Andrew Luck certainly has the playoff experience and I trust him more than Mahomes in a potential offensive shootout. I wouldn’t count out the Chiefs since they have defensive playmakers, something that Indianapolis lacks. I would not be surprised if the outcome of this game is determined by one or two turnovers by either team.

NFC: Dallas Cowboys over Los Angeles Rams I don’t think it’s too far-

Colts have momentum after shutting down the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round. What’s shocking is that the Colts scored 21 points in the first half of that game, and were shut out in the second half. For being the seventh best offense in the NFL, that is concerning.

While it would be tempting to give the Colts the edge because of prior playoff experience, the Chiefs have the likely MVP-runner up (Yes, I said runner-up) in Patrick Mahomes on their team, and it seems likely the Colts defense will have trouble keeping up with the Chiefs lightning-quick offense.

NFC: New Orleans Saints over Philadelphia Eagles: Unfortunately, the Nick Foles magic will likely end in New Orleans. The Eagles insist they are a different team from the one that lost 48-7 in week 11 because they have learned from their mistakes (they really mean it’s because Foles replaced Carson Wentz due to injury).

The Eagles’ secondary has been hit hard due to injury, giving likely MVP Drew Brees the opportunity to pick apart their replacements.

Foles will probably still have the 2013-14 Wild Card Game loss to Brees on his mind, and using this as motivation will allow the Eagles to make this rematch more competitive, but the Saints have just too many weapons to slow down.

NFC: Los Angeles Rams over Dallas Cowboys: California is swarming with Cowboys fans, which will make the LA Coliseum sound more like a Cowboys home game. The Rams have struggled against the rush in the second half of the season, and Jared Goff has struggled since WR Cooper Kupp went down due to injury. However, the Rams likely still have a bad taste from last year ’s Wild Card Game loss, and

will use this as motivation to end the Cowboys season.

AFC: Los Angeles Chargers over Kansas City Chiefs: The AFC Championship game deserves to be between the conference’s best two teams.

The Chargers probably felt they could have swept the Chiefs in this years season series, but we have noticed the difference from their Week 1 home loss and Week 15 road win. They are more balanced on both sides of the ball, and their defense will play a key factor in slowing down Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs defense has been nonexistent all season, and when you rely on just outscoring your opponent to win games, you won’t survive forever. The Chiefs defense will disappoint when it matters most, and Philip Rivers will finally have his chance at a Super Bowl.

NFC: New Orleans Saints over Los Angeles Rams: When these two teams met earlier this season, it wasn’t quite the shootout we

fetched to say that the Rams offense is not remotely the same offense we saw in week 4, the last time they faced the Cowboys. As it stands, I think Dak Prescott is playing at a much higher level than Goff, and he definitely has the upper hand in getting out of the pocket and making big time throws. Todd Gurley, who has not played a game since week 15, will have a tough matchup when it comes to Dallas’ ferocious group of linebackers that excel when it comes to bouncing to the outside. Todd Gurley is not 100 percent and has not played at the same MVP-type level he did months ago, something that should concern Rams fans. One thing to note in this game is the Cowboys’ fanbase and their heavy presence in Southern California. It is widely expected that the LA Memorial Coliseum will be filled with the Navy Blue and White.

AFC: Los Angeles Chargers over New England Patriots Philip Rivers and his two healthy ACLs will get another shot at Brady and company

for the first time since losing to them in the 2008 AFC championship game. It seems like the entire NFL community is rallying behind the Bolts, in hopes that they take down a lengthy football dynasty in the Bill Belichick-ledPatriots. I think this game will be another defensive showing by the Chargers, and I expect Melvin Ingram, along with LA’s run-stuffing defensive line to have another monster performance.

Rivers will have to throw down the field to capitalize on his defense’s performance, however, and Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Tyrell Williams will need to win their matchups against a stellar New England group of DB’s. Will the dynasty end this Sunday? History tells us it will be business as usual for the Pats, but the Chargers present a completely different challenge for New England.

NFC: Philadelphia Eagles over New Orleans Saints The tale of St. Nick, is simply too good to be true.

The Eagles barely escaped their last game against the Bears, and they are unlikely to have the same luck in New

Orleans. The Saints simply have too much firepower in the offensive backfield with Michael Thomas being a heavy target for Drew Brees.

The New Orleans defense will continue to defend the shortpass in this game and I predict the secondary will give Foles a lot of trouble. St. Nick will need to launch it this weekend if he wants to give his team any shot at escaping with a win.

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

AFC Championship: Los Angeles Chargers over Indianapolis Colts A showdown in Carson.

Philip Rivers will have a legacy-defining game, and the defense will continue to shine. I have Casey Hayward Jr. locking down T.Y. Hilton and the Colts defense having a meltdown against a trio of play-making receivers. The number five seed hosting the number six seed has never happened — ever. But, crazier things have happened in the NFL.

expected. The Saints built a large lead early, only to let it slip, before rebuilding it to a double digit victory.

Chances are it won’t be quite as lopsided this time around, but Drew Brees has been nearly unstoppable at the Superdome this year, and the veteran will outplay Jared Goff and send Los Angeles home.

SUPER BOWL

Los Angeles Chargers over New Orleans Saints: The Super Bowl this year will take place in Atlanta, home of the Saints’ division rival Atlanta Falcons, meaning plenty of Saints fans will have the opportunity to watch the Saints in Atlanta for a second time this year.

This gives New Orleans a favorable home-type crowd.

However, Philip Rivers will be hungry to win the ring that has eluded him his entire career, and once again, the Chargers defense will be the difference in this game.

NFC Championship: New Orleans Saints over Dallas Cowboys The sight of the Lombardi trophy sitting on $200k cash will be responsible for this deep run for the Saints. This time around, the Cowboys will be in hostile territory and Alvin Kamara will get the best of a stout Dallas backfield. This, combined with another great performance

by Michael Thomas will prove overwhelming for Rod Marinelli’s defense and earn New Orleans a trip to Atlanta.

SUPER BOWL

Super Bowl: Los Angeles Chargers over New Orleans Saints A Super Bowl win has eluded Chargers fans forever, but they won’t have to stress any longer. Rivers and Gates will finally be awarded the Lombardi trophy that they deserve, adding to their already-established Hall of Fame careers. On top of that, a Super Bowl win over a former Charger, Drew Brees, makes the victory just that much more poetic.

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SPORTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

Three takeaways from Women's basketball loss against Long Beach State

JONATHAN FERNANDEZ Senior Staff Writer

The UCR women’s basketball team (6-10) played against Long Beach State (4-10) on Thursday, Jan. 10 and were blown out by a near 20-point margin, 63-45. While watching the game I realized there were three fatal flaws in the team’s performance that led to the tough loss.

1. Dealing with the press Long Beach State instituted a full-court press early and often which forced the Highlanders out of their comfort zone, leading to 27 turnovers. As a whole, UCR looked like it didn’t have much experience dealing with a fullcourt press and Long Beach was thriving, cutting off passing lanes and coming up with easy steals that led to transition layups.

Long Beach’s Justina King and Shanaijah Davison came up with five and four of their team’s 18 total steals. These turnovers from Riverside led to 26 points for LBSU. It’s also worth noting that the game was sloppy on both sides. LBSU also turned the ball over 21 times, the Highlanders just turned it over more, failed to convert on turnovers they forced and just looked out of sorts due to the full-court press.

Head Coach John Margiritis

said the team took this as a learning experience because they felt Long Beach was playing defensively unlike anything the Highlanders had gone up against.

“They play an unusual style and it was something that we saw for the first time. We didn’t handle it very well, but I think it’ll be something that’ll help us in the future because the more you play the more you experience.” Margiritis added that what made their defense unusual was “they switch a lot of stuff.”

2. Bad shooting night As I mentioned earlier, the LBSU defense got the Highlanders out of their comfort zone offensively. Getting the ball past half-court against the press ate up precious time off the shot clock which means UCR had less time to get into their sets. This led to some forced shots, but while the majority of their shots were manageable, they just didn’t go in. “I think it was a combination,” Margiritis said. “I think we got enough good shots that if we could have made some of them it would have been a different score. We had a lot of good shots but not easy shots.”

The Highlanders ended the night shooting 33 percent from the field and 14 percent from three.

Long Beach State didn’t shoot

too much better from the field, 35 percent, but did a whole lot better from three, 39 percent.

3. The free-throw disparity The Highlanders shot a whopping 100 percent from the free-throw line. The only problem was that they only got to the charity stripe on one occasion for two shots. LBSU was able to get to the line for 16 shots and made 14 of them.

This part of the game was largely out of UCR’s control because they can’t send themselves to the free throw line, but when a team is not shooting well while also losing possessions due to turnovers, free throws could help

get them back in the game. At one point it also seemed like the no-calls were getting into junior redshirt guard Jannon Otto’s head as she continuously drove to the rim and asked for calls when her shot wouldn’t fall. She drove strong to the basket twice in a row, each time expecting a call that she didn’t receive and looked visibly upset after. This did lead to her becoming more aggressive and drawing the only shooting foul for the Highlanders, but the lack of calls overall might have gotten to her and the team.

The Highlanders’ next game is against UC Irvine on Jan.17 in the SRC Arena at 7 p.m.

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shooting cooled off. The visiting Matadors closed the halftime gap, and took a 48-47 lead with 15:43 left to go in regulation.

Despite CSUN matching their largest lead of the game of eight in the second half, the backcourt of Martin and first-year Dragan Elkaz kept their team alive, and made crucial plays during the final minute of play.

Northridge sank two free throws, putting their team up 82-78 with 18 seconds left. The two teams had been exchanging intentional fouls with hopes of drawing a miss at the line. After the pair of free throws, Martin ran up the floor and drained a three in transition, cutting the lead to 8281. The foul exchange continued, as Jordan Gilliam sank two free throws to cut the lead to 84-83.

Martin then intentionally fouled CSUN’s Terrell Gomez,

but he missed his two shots from the stripe. Then, following a timeout, coach Patrick drew up a play for Martin to win the game with five seconds remaining, but his three hit the side rim.

The Highlanders looked to bounce back from this nailbiter when they travelled up to Santa Barbara on Saturday for their first conference road game. However, after 20 ties and lead changes, UCSB (13-3, 2-0) ran away with the game at the end, topping UCR 72-64.

UCR played well for most of the game, winning the rebounding battle 37-27 and putting up 14 second chance points. The bench had a stellar game too, accounting for 27 of the team’s total points, compared to only six for the home team.

What ended up being the difference maker was Riverside’s

turnovers, followed by the points they gave up from those turnovers.

The Highlanders nearly had twice as many turnovers than the Gauchos, totalling 14 on the night.

UCSB capitalized from these errors and poured in 27 points off of the Highlander turnovers.

UCR held a 34-32 lead at halftime, but yet again let their opponents right back into the game, giving up a 9-0 run to start the second half. Sophomore Ajani Kennedy rallied to get his team’s momentum going again after he hit a three and threw down a vigorous dunk that would hype up the Highlander bench.

After exchanging leads, Elkaz drained a three as the shot clock buzzer went off, giving the visitors a 56-53 lead. Unfortunately, this would be the team’s last lead of the game as UCSB held Riverside to a measly four points in the final eight minutes of regulation.

Kennedy was a huge factor off the bench, putting up 19 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Martin followed suit with a stat line of 16 points, four rebounds and three assists.

The Highlanders continue to lead the Big West Conference in three-point shooting percentage, draining nine from long distance on 43 percent shooting.

UCR stays on the road as they play Cal State Fullerton Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.

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JORDAN HOM Contributing Writer

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

Men’s basketball drops first two games of conference play

JARYD BONGCARAS Senior Staff Writer

After an action-packed 40 minutes of basketball Wednesday night (Jan. 9), the UC Riverside men’s basketball game (6-11,01) went down to the wire against Cal State Northridge (7-10, 1-0), but they ultimately fell 84-83. A three from junior guard Dikymbe Martin was just off the mark as the Highlanders lost their opening game of conference play.

UCR set the tone to begin the game, taking a double-digit lead within the first ten minutes.

They’d go on to put up 40 points from range on 46 percent shooting in the first half, giving the Highlanders a 40-33 lead before break.

Unfortunately it was a tale of two halves for both squads, as CSUN took it up a notch in the second period, and UCR’s

HIGHLANDER HOT TAKE: LeBron’s Lakers won’t make the NBA playoffs

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

LeBron James has been in the NBA finals the past eight seasons in the Eastern Conference, both with the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers. During this span, LeBron won a total of three NBA championships in 2012, 2013 and 2016.

This season, LeBron decided to take his talents elsewhere as he departed from the Cavaliers to the Los Angeles Lakers.

This move will not only end his reign of eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances, but also end his thirteen consecutive playoff appearances. The Western Conference has been known as the tougher conference because in the past, many teams with records above .500 have missed the playoffs while teams with sub.500 records made the Eastern Conference playoffs.

In previous seasons, LeBron was paired with multiple other AllStar level players such as Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. But this season, he does not have any current All-Star level players playing alongside him. His best teammates this season are third-year forward Brandon Ingram who is averaging 16 points per game or second-year forward Kyle Kuzma averaging nearly 19 ppg. Lakers also feature former second pick Lonzo Ball who is having a solid but unspectacular season despite poor shooting numbers. The remainder of the roster is filled with misfit veterans such as Rondo, McGee, Lance and KCP who can make an impact but don’t move the needle too much.

With LeBron recently turning 34, he does not have a lot left in the tank for deep playoff runs.

He is getting too old to carry the roster by himself in the regular season and has dealt with small lingering injuries. LeBron and the Lakers will have to win a lot more games in the west than the east and the competition is tough. The Warriors, Rockets, Thunder and Nuggets seem to be locked for the playoffs. The Blazers, Clippers and Spurs have been playing well as of late. With only eight spots for the playoffs, the Lakers will also have to compete with the two teams that made the playoffs last season, the Jazz and the Timberwolves.

The Anthony Davis-led-Pelicans are aiming for the playoffs and Slovenian sensation Luka Doncic has the Mavericks in the running for a spot as well. The Kings have also been surprisingly decent so far. The only team in the Western Conference that is not competing for a playoff spot are the lotterybound Phoenix Suns.

With the stiff competition, inexperience, and Lebron’s injuries, it is possible that the Lakers will not be one of the eight teams when the playoffs are set in April.

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