Volume 67 Issue 16

THE HIGHLANDER

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

est. 1954

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

VOL. 67, ISSUE 16

Ha p p y Lunar Ne w Ye a r 2019 P. 1 2 & 1 3 f

UCR Highlander Newspaper @ucrhighlander HighlanderTV

NEWS 4

OPINIONS 7

FEATURES 11

RADAR 14

SPORTS 16

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

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HUMANS OF UCR

UPCOMING EVENTS: WEEK 5

CLAIRE SONGO | JAPANESE | FIRST -YEAR

5

Sex Week’s SEXtravanganza 11:00am UCR Bell Tower

Financial Aid Workshop 3:30pm Rivera Library, 101A

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Staff Assembly Winter General Meeting 12:00pm HUB 302

Valentine’s Dinner For Two 4:00pm Student Recreation Center (SRC), Classroom Kitchen

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Women’s Basketball vs CSU Fullerton 7:00pm Student Recreation Center (SRC) Arena

ASPB presents: Lego Movie 2 9:45pm University Village Theater

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Feminist Friday 12:00pm Costo Hall, 260

Big Bear Snowboarding Weekend 5:00pm Student Recreation Center (SRC), Outdoor Excursion Shop

Bird Walk & Breakfast 6:30am UCR Botanic Gardens, Meeting Room & Gardens

Men’s Basketball vs CSU Fullerton 5:00 P.M. Student Recreation Center (SRC) Arena

OAP Information Session 12:00pm Skye Hall (Surge Hall), 346

Bee Healthy in Your Relationships 2:00pm HUB 379

Tuesday

COMPILED BY LIZELLE ORENO

Wednesday

Thursday

“I wanted to study teaching because I like helping people and really

Friday

enjoy mentoring. It’s weird, but I like English. I actually like grammar which a lot of people think is weird.”

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Saturday

10 Sunday

CONTACT US

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editorinchief @highlandernews.org NEWS EDITOR

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

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ASST. OPINIONS EDITOR

Elaine Chen

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Marcelo Garcia

radar@highlandernews.org ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

SPORTS EDITOR

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ASUCR

ASUCR directs concerns to Chancellor Wilcox, reforms election codes

CHRISTINE TRAN Contributing Writer

Last Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 6:37 p.m., ASUCR held its fourth meeting of the winter quarter. The meeting began with public forum. The first person to approach the podium was Chancellor Kim Wilcox.

Wilcox briefly discussed the UCR 2020 plan that was laid out in 2010 with goals for the next 10 years at UCR. Stressing the upcoming deadline, Wilcox stated that “It is time for UCR to create a new plan for the next decade.” Within the next few weeks, UCR will be developing a planning process that will occur over a course of one to two years. Wilcox suggested that to begin this plan, students should think about what they want for UCR in a longer time frame.

“In 2054, UCR will be a hundred years old, and what I want for us to start thinking about is this: what do we want UCR to be when it is a hundred years old? We should start this plan towards that vision,” stated Wilcox.

Wilcox then allotted some time for questions from the audience or senators.

CHASS Senator Alex Gonzalez brought up the issue of the STEM High School and questioned why there has not been more transparency about the issues surrounding it. Wilcox answered that the school district has not yet decided on a site and there is still time for discussion. “No decision has been made yet about where it will be going; there are no commitments other than our willingness to lease the school district our land,” said Wilcox.

The Vice President of Campus Internal Affairs, Jose Cortez-Hernandez,

asked Wilcox to address concerns about the possibility of loss of funding for undocumented student programs and where the funding would be going. Wilcox stated that no funding will be going away across all programs.

“In fact, we have agreed on a plan that will increase funding for Costo Hall over the next several years. Part of this confusion is because there are different sources of the money and I’m trying to reassure people that regardless where the money is coming from, (Costo Hall) will be good,” stated Wilcox.

Wilcox also stated that he will be hosting open office hours Feb. 8 from 1 to 2 p.m. at HUB 365 for any students that have further questions or issues that they would like to address to him directly.

Continuing the public forum, Dennis Turan, the chairman of the Student Voice Committee (SVC), informed the Senate that they have finished collecting data on why students want to transfer out of UCR and offered his services for future projects.

CALPIRG Coordinator Elisa Chang gave an update on the campaigns they will be running this quarter. The campaigns for winter quarter are renewable energy, affordable textbooks, littering and the Save the Bees campaign.

ASUCR President Semi Cole then came up to share news from his office.

Currently, he is meeting with other presidents of organizations around UCR to work on policies addressing poverty and food insecurity in the Riverside area.

They are also working on a female hygiene product initiative, where free menstrual products will be provided in first-year residence halls. Along with that, ASUCR

has been in contact with the company Lyft.

Together with Lyft, ASCUR is looking to provide students with a limited amount of free rides per quarter.

During senator reports, CHASS Senator Alyssa Tocker discussed biweekly transfer talks opening this year and working towards improving summer transfer student orientations. Tocker is currently looking for transfer students who are willing to participate in a transfer student research panel to provide advice for recent transfer students.

CHASS Senator Julian Gonzalez addressed his project of trying to reduce waste in the dining halls along with taking the initiative to go and speak with all the Costo Hall programs about concerns instead of waiting for them to come to ASUCR with their concerns.

The Senate then went over the elections code for the upcoming ASUCR elections.

They debated whether or not they should drop the campaign funds cap to $350.

This means that students running can only

spend up to $250 of their personal money on their campaigns along with ASUCR covering $100 of campaign fees for all candidates.

CHASS Senator Chelsea Davenport spoke up about how having a higher cap could pressure students into spending more and discourages students who do not have viable funds from running. Cole expressed that he felt the cap should be at $500 stating that students should be allowed to do what they want with their “hard-earned” funds. He stated, “Having it at $500 is reasonable and at the end of the day no one is going to be discouraged because no one will know how much other people are spending … at the end of the day we know it’s going to come down to who’s talking and connecting to students.”

In the end the motion to cap the funds at $350 passed 10-1-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:14 p.m. ASCUR meetings are open to the public, occurring every H Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in HUB 221. ■

NICHOLAS ROH / HIGHLANDER

Pierce Hall slated for renovations, results in unintended operational difficulties

MARK BERTUMEN Senior Staff Writer

On Jan. 30, the grassy campus area between Subway and Highlander Printing Services was fenced off, along with a small area outside of Pierce Hall’s North Wing. Within the fencing are a few modular buildings, propped up on the grass.

Blythe Wilson, UCR’s Director of Project Management, told the Highlander in a phone interview that the modulars were for Pierce Hall’s construction crew as they began renovating the building.

“The renovations will take about two years to complete, in two phases. Phase one is going on right now and is focusing on the North Wing of Pierce Hall,” Wilson said. He said that phase two will focus on the center and south wings, mostly in the sense of mechanical,

electrical and plumbing upgrades.

Wilson said that the research labs in the North Wing will be reconverted into instructional labs, meant to be used by students for lab-based classes, such as those required by Chemistry classes; “additional labs are required as a result of enrolment (sic) growth,” Wilson explained. He later mentioned in an email that the newly opened Multidisciplinary Research Building (MRB) offsets any loss of research as a result of the renovations.

“We expect phase one to be completed

by December,” Wilson said, noting that construction is starting now “so that completion coincides with the winter break (for winter 2020) which will allow for shifting of instruction” from the Center Wing to the North when phase two begins.

As a result of the renovations the

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

North Wing is taped off inside the building and fenced off outside. But a source that requested anonymity from Highlander Printing Services pointed out the operational difficulties that this causes both Pierce Hall and the Services building. “A receiving team came to get cylinders from the North Wing, but because it’s fenced off the delivery cars have to park by the Bookstore bay and walk things over manually,” they said.

Wilson was not aware of this problem, and said that he would resolve the issue; however he wrote that his team “has sent out several notices to the campus as well as representatives of the various groups in the building.” The anonymous source later noted that other faculty services would also be affected by the fencing.

“What about the janitorial team when they drop by to clean? Shouldn’t Parking Services be notified about this, since those people have to park somewhere?”

The commenter also pointed out that because of the fencing, printing services now has no access to dumpsters that were situated outside of the north wing; as a result printing services is currently leaving cardboard boxes and other large scrap piled up in the back of the services building.

Wilson agreed that the campus would be affected negatively by the renovations because “that’s the nature

of construction,” adding, “There will be times where dust and odors will fly around while people are in the building, and there’s going to be construction traffic back and forth.” He added that because of utility work, the other wings and even sidewalks outside will eventually be closed off too.

Rohan Joshi Kamath, a third-year cell molecular developmental biology major, pointed out the problems of human traffic that the modulars’ fencing has created.

“Because of the fencing all the traffic is directed right in front of Subway and behind the Coffee Bean; and that way was already cramped enough. People with skateboards, scooters and even golf carts go through that area all the time, and now it’ll be more congested,” Kamath said.

Kamath also thought that traffic would be especially bad on Highlander Day, April 6, an “open house” day for prospective students. “A lot of people like going to the bookstore on that day, and with the fencing put up it’ll be super packed.”

The modular buildings are expected to stay up until the project’s completion, stated by Wilson to be accomplished within two years. An online Pierce Hall newsletter states that Phase Two is expected to be finished specifically by September of 2020.

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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

UC Board of Regents Student Advisor position possibly in peril

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ARCHIVE / THE DAILY CALIFORNIAN

AIDAN RUTTEN Senior Staff Writer

A recent email from Edward G. Huang, student advisor to the UC regents, was circulated to UC campus newspapers and student leaders to highlight a recent move to end the student advisor pilot program, originally created in 2016 to provide better undergraduate student representation on the UC Board of Regents. This is one of only three such positions, along with the Student Regent and the Student Regent Designate, which provides a seat within the Board of Regents for students to participate in the decision-making process.

After a vote to terminate the position, student leaders met to show support for the program, which overturned the board’s initial decision. However, according to the email, the University of California Student Association (UCSA), “voted to support ending the Student Advisor position in exchange for more UCSA-controlled student roles at Regents meetings.” Much of the information regarding this matter is available on several Youtube videos showing the regents’ meetings Jan. 17 and Jan. 23 when this decision was discussed and

made.

Huang suggested that UCSA is bargaining with the regents outside of the purview of student leadership. “The UCSA decision to support the sunset was last-minute, made behind closed doors, and lacked consultation with other student leaders that were concerned about the issue,” he wrote to the Highlander. During the Jan. 23 meeting, Huang expressed concerns that student leadership positions on this matter were inaccurately represented during the meetings and urged regental leadership to extend the program.

Michael Skiles, co-chair of the UC Council of Presidents and doctoral candidate at UCLA, also expressed concerns to the Highlander. “In losing the Student Adviser position, the students are losing their most significant representation to the Regents aside from the student regent,” he wrote.

When asked for comment, The UC Office of the President directed the Highlander towards the Youtube videos of the meetings for all relevant information. During those meetings most members agreed with Student Regent Devon Graves, who supports sunsetting

the position in favor of alternative student roles.

According to a letter to the community from UCSA, the student advisor position did not actually create better student representation. “UCSA believes that instead of renewing a position with limited success so far, the UC Board of Regents can instead increase genuine and effective communication with student representatives by expanding positions that have been more beneficial to students, including roles such as Committee Observers and Student Advocate to the Regents (StARs).” it read. UCSA has suggested that these positions, StARs and Committee Observers, would be more beneficial in terms of effective student representation.

Skiles feels differently, however, and stated, “STARS (sic) can only give one minute of public comment each morning, and Student Observers on committees also only have limited opportunities to speak and not before the full board.”

He continues to suggest that “the Student Adviser can really participate and argue forcefully for student’s interests.

Where other students only get to speak once and can then be ignored, the Student

Adviser has the opportunity to argue back-and-forth with Regents to make a strong case on behalf of students right (sic) as each decision is being made.”

In a letter opposing the decision sent to the board by Huang, he details reasons for why the debate over the Student Advisor position was unfair and how the process for evaluation did not take place as intended, as well as highlighted the successes of the position over the past two years, contrary to the UCSA letter which suggested the position garnered little success.

Huang’s and other student leaders’ positions, including Skiles, are that a lack of transparency and political motives drove this decision which undermines student representation on the Board of Regents. The UCSA and Regental leadership have expressed the position that expanding other student roles, notably without direct impact on decision-making, would be more beneficial for student representation.

Skiles feels that this logic is flawed, however. “So rather than one student with a lot of access to represent students, we’ll have more students but with less access,” he wrote.

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UCR’s Department of Entomology conducts research on bee mite pathogens

ANDY LI Contributing Writer

The Department of Entomology has been conducting a comprehensive study on the accidental introduction of the varroa mite, a pathogenic parasite that affects bees and yellowjackets, on the island of Hawai’i. In an interview with the Highlander, Professor Erin Rankin, the lead researcher, stated that the project has provided fascinating discoveries about the impact of genetic mutations of viruses on the bee community.

The team discovered that the pathogen was causing a lack of diversity among the Deformed Wing Virus, a deadly virus that has negatively impacted the bee population globally and within the United States.

Additionally, the varroa mite has also spread quickly among the yellowjacket community, which Rankin predicts is mainly due to the fact that bees are

their main source of prey.

Varroa mites are an especially harmful pest, as they have spread disease not only bees and wasps but many different types of insects as well; even flowers have been infected by the mite’s pathogens. Researchers have recommended implementing control and isolation measures to prevent the continued spread of this highly contagious mite. These recommendations were presented to government environmental regulatory agencies.

According to Dr. Rankin, it is unlikely that these bee viruses will infect humans or mammals. “What is really exciting about our findings is that the presence of a bee-specialist mite had impacts on the pathogen diversity of other insects – even though the mite never directly infected the wasp,” she said. “This suggests that parasites of one species can have spillover effects on the pathospheres, or an individual’s

entire complement of pathogens, of other species with whom they interact.”

These new discoveries provide the scientific community with a stronger

understanding of how pathogens impact one another, which Rankin finds will be helpful towards efforts of disease prevention or treatment.

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ISURU KANUNATILLAKA / HIGHLANDER

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

C ALPIRG students dress up as bees to raise awareness of neonicotinoids

MARK BERTUMEN Senior Staff Writer

The California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) Students at UCR gathered at the Bell Tower last Wednesday, Jan. 30 to raise awareness of neonicotinoids and their dangerous effects on bees as part of CALPIRG’s ongoing “Save the Bees” campaign.

To accomplish their campaign goals, CALPIRG Students at UCR dressed up in bee-colored attire that Wednesday, such as yellow shirts with black stripes alongside black pants and antennae. They tabled around the Bell Tower, educating students about “neonics,” as the CALPIRG Students campaign calls them. Students

neonics since fall of 2018.

Neonics are nicotine-based insecticides that “end up both disorienting the bees and weakening the bees’ immune system,” according to what Mya Ho, UCR alumni and CALPIRG member has said to the Highlander in the past.

Laura Caldera is the campaign coordinator for the Save the Bees campaign at UCR, writing to the Highlander that, “The Bees campaign is working to make UCR Bee Friendly certified but our ultimate goal is to ban neonicotinoids in California.”

She then explained that “Being Bee Friendly means to help the survival of important pollinators vital to our ecosystem. Raising awareness about how important bees

were then asked to take a photo petition or sign a petition stating that they are “bee-friendly.”

CALPIRG Students at UCR have lobbied to ban

really are to our environment and food production.”

At 12:10 p.m., the CALPIRG tabling group walked over to the Bell Tower to symbolize what happens to bees because

COURTESY OF CALPIRG

of neonicotinoids every year.

In a past Highlander interview Caldera has said that “30 to 40 percent of our bee colonies are dying off each season and that just shouldn’t be happening.”

To show this at the Bell Tower, 40 percent of the beelike CALPIRG students (five of 13) “died” by lying on the ground for two minutes.

CALPIRG at UCR previously tabled back in Nov. 2018, pitching to students at the time that “if there are no bees, then there would be no Thanksgiving.” The goal of that tabling session was to collect photo petitions for a collage that Jose Medina, Assemblyman for District 61, would receive in the goals of convincing legislation to ban neonics.

“His (Medina’s) office was optimistic that Jose Medina would support a bill to save the bees and

ban neonicotinoids because bees are super important,” Caldera wrote. “We believed that their (sic) would be a bill introduced but with the current administration, there wasn’t … However, that doesn’t mean that we will give up that’s why we are focusing on our local level goal first to make the campus bee friendly so we don’t contribute to the decline in bee population.”

Caldera told the Highlander that 108 photo petitions were collected last Wednesday, well above their goal of 80. She said that at least 900 written and photo petitions have been made in total by the UCR campus to be “bee-friendly,” further writing that “we are taking time this quarter to start the process of becoming bee friendly. The first step is to create a committee comprised of faculty, student groups, students, and landscaping

COURTESY OF CALPIRG

staff.” Tabling ended for CALPIRG that Wednesday around 2 p.m.

Caldera believes that the Save the Bees campaign will go on for as long as it takes until neonics are banned, but noted that because CALPIRG is student-funded “(what CALPIRG does next) in the hands of students but (sic) students know the importance of bees so I’m optimistic it (the campaign) will continue until the goal is reached.”

According to their online mission statement, CALPIRG Students “was established by students to animate the University (of California)’s mission – to research problems that impact all Californians, educate the public and advocate for solutions.”

CALPIRG Students at UCR’s core meetings take place every Thursday from 7 H to 8 p.m. in the Bear’s Den. ■

Director of Campus Business Ser vices discusses campus printing and supply renovations MARK BERTUMEN Senior Staff Writer

Michael Clemons, director of campus business services at UCR, spoke to the Highlander through email on the recent and ongoing renovations to printing and faculty supply services on campus, which have been aimed at improving the performance of those who provide the services and the quality of the services themselves.

Clemons first discussed Digital Print Services (DPS); in terms of physical renovation, “renovations were completed to the physical space (Mail Services building in Corporation Yard) to accommodate the move of print production activities from off campus warehouse (on Atlanta Ave.) back to campus.”

“This move allowed all printing staff (some already on campus and some working off campus) to work more

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

closely together as one unit,” increasing operational efficiencies, Clemons said.

The move also allowed DPS’s old digital press to be replaced with a “newer, more advance unit.” He also noted that DPS can now provide “graphic design services,” where their

“talented team can design digital and print content for our customers.”

Clemons further stated that “DPS serves the campus: departments and student groups and clubs” with “outstanding service, delivery, and quick turnaround times,” noting

that DPS can also assist “nonprofit organizations and other academic institutions in the community.”

ScotSupply, an online faculty and staff requisition service, is also currently being improved operationally and technologically. “Our new

website (hosted on the Service Now platform) is undergoing enhancements expected to be completed by the end of winter quarter,” Clemons wrote. The improvements are aimed at creating a more user-friendly platform and allowing the ScotSupply team to better manage inventory.

Operations-wise, the improvements are meant to streamline ScotSupply’s products and services that it offers to “academic and administrative departments,” and “to focus on what is most in need from the campus and where our team can provide exception (sic) value.”

Student printing services can be provided at the Highlander Service Station, just outside of Pierce Hall. Its site lists the various services it offers, including bindery, printing, postering and photo-based editing.

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Opinions

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

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HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

Governor Cuomo’s resistance to religious pressure is an example for all politicians

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hortly after signing a bill that strengthened the legal protections to an abortion on Jan. 22, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York was met with condemnation by his religious constituents, some of who called on the Cardinal of New York to excommunicate Cuomo.

Cuomo himself is a Catholic, and responded to the criticism with the assertion that he is focused on keeping his religious beliefs separate from his style of governance, stating that “I don’t govern as a Catholic. I don’t legislate as a Catholic.”

The Catholic Church is an autonomous body and its adherents were well within their rights to express disapproval towards this newly signed legislation.

However, given that most people who oppose abortion more often do hail from religious backgrounds, Catholics’ calls to excommunicate a public servant for his political decisions challenge whether or not secularism in this country is rightfully upheld.

These pressures on the liberal ideal of secularism, exacerbated by rising religious activism, are indicative of a return to valuedriven political participation rather than pragmatic and democratic governance.

Unfortunately, too many politicians legislate with their morals as guidance rather than serving the interests of their constituency.

COURTESY OF METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

We live in a nation that has grass-roots in the separation of church and state, yet there’s been such a blatant hypocrisy in this sentiment, as seen in today’s political climate. One of the most prominent figures that come to mind at the mention of this contradiction is Vice President Mike Pence. Upon accepting his nomination to becoming vice president, Pence introduced himself as “Christian, conservative and Republican, in that order.”

This statement totally goes against the idea coined by our Founding Fathers to keep the church out of politics, and we’ve witnessed firsthand the ways Pence’s devotion to his religion has seemingly influenced his politics. In addition to labeling New York’s newest abortion bill as a “call to action” for his pro-life base, Pence signed a bill in his time as governor of Indiana that placed major limits on a woman’s ability to get an abortion. The legislation was later ruled unconstitutional by a federal appeals court.

While it’s justified for the church to react to Governor Cuomo’s most recent bill in whatever way they want, politicians shouldn’t be governing with religion as their primary moral compass since doing so will compromise civic duty. It’s important to note that given the way religion is usually heavily intertwined with someone’s identity, it can be hard to set aside religion for the sake of public policy.

However, the point of being a politician is serving the interests of the people and our foundation as a nation lies in being secular and allowing for religious pluralism.

Perhaps if a legislator isn’t ready to set aside religion to properly enforce the basis of democracy, they shouldn’t be pursuing public service in the first place.

The media hasn’t exactly been helpful in properly characterizing the subject at hand, instead being lured into producing flashy headlines and exaggerated arguments.

The policy that Cuomo received harsh criticism for has been coined as one of the most “aggressive” policies relating to abortion. Those who disapprove of this new bill have misinterpreted this policy as “killing of unborn babies up until birth.” In actuality, the law allows lateterm abortion if the mother’s health is at risk. This bill also replaces an older piece of legislation, which only allowed late-term abortion if a mother’s life was at risk. So, while it does expand upon the legitimate reasons for getting a late-term abortion, by no means does it allow a woman to arbitrarily terminate her pregnancy in the third trimester. Additionally, lateterm abortion already makes up only about 1.3 percent of abortions according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. To try and paint this new legislation as giving women more leeway to carelessly abort their unborn children is misrepresentation

at its finest.

Getting into the other side of this debate, most people who support a right to abortion fall on the left of the political spectrum. The main issue that arises from being pro-choice is that a decision to protect abortion rights must be celebrated and depicted as a victory, when an abortion is the exact opposite of those things. Left-leaning media such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and politicians such as Hillary Clinton have described policies in the past that safeguarded abortion as “victories.” Allowing women legal access to an abortion should be seen as a basic right and a private matter, but in addition to that, one must keep in mind that abortion itself is never something to be cheered on. This celebratory attitude towards legislation allowing abortion shouldn’t be treated as a “win” or anything worth being overly gleeful over, as it ultimately represents a horrible and traumatic procedure for any expectant mother.

Because of how aggressively the subject of abortion is often displayed in news outlets, this makes way for the notion that Roe v.

Wade is more at risk of getting overturned than it actually is.

With an incumbent president who has publicly criticized Planned Parenthood and a conservative-leaning Supreme Court, abortion has become widely covered in the media, primarily in speculation of whether

or not Roe v. Wade faces endangerment of being overturned.

Abortion has always been heavily debated, despite the fact that 71 percent of American voters expressed approval for Roe v. Wade.

And while it’s definitely unsettling to see some of the world’s most influential politicians attempt to impose restrictions on a woman’s right to abortion, the legal battle behind trying to dismantle or even significantly limit the powers of Roe v. Wade is extremely tedious. In addition to the legal challenges that would surely arise from trying to undo a widely supported court decision, several states also have already taken action to protect legal access to an abortion if the Supreme Court were to follow through with a repeal of Roe v. Wade.

Governor Cuomo’s actions should be seen as an example of the many politicians out there who are caught at crossroads between wanting to govern based off of personally held values and wanting to serve the people of their constituencies.

Politicians everywhere should look to Cuomo’s example and separate their governance from their personal convictions.

■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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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINION POLL Compiled by Lydia Tsou Staff Photographer

Is it ok to let religion/ personal morals influence or guide political beliefs?”

Michelle Guerra Psychology Fifth-year “I would say no, but we already do that. Politics is largely based off our human concepts of moral beliefs; the reason why politicians ... pass the laws they do is because it’s what they think is the ... “right” thing for society.”

Ben Fong Bio-engineering Third-year “In some aspects I guess? Maybe? I normally would be like, ‘Let politics be. I don’t care much.’ But it is nice when there’s something you believe in and politicans make it work.”

Elizabeth Desantiago Chemistry Third-year “We have a separation of church and state. I get that religion is a big part of some people’s lives, but I think just because you believe one thing doesn’t mean other people have to.”

Can Evizi Biology First-year “No, because they’re basing their opinion off something that was created thousands of years ago and it’s not relevant to the future.”

Adam Ahmed Pre-business Second-year “Yea, I feel like religion embodies your values.

Therefore, it’ll have an influence on your political views.”

Melody Zhan Business Fourth-year “No because on a micro level, we ... can hold our own religious beliefs, but when [politicians] are in charge of making decisions ... then it’s an individual’s opinion and personal beliefs that reign over a general public.”

Campaign finance contributions are a threat to American democracy and should be addressed as such

ROBERT GOLD Contributing Writer

In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed in his State of the Union Address that “the need for collecting large campaign funds would vanish if Congress provided an appropriation for the proper and legitimate expenses of each of the great national parties.” Nearly 112 years ago, upstanding politicians like President Roosevelt feared the corrupting nature that lobbyists were having over the political process.

Lobbyists, working on behalf of big donors, funnel money into the political system, creating a sense of indirect manipulation over our elections and our legislature. Lobbyists who come out on the other side are disgusted with the insider Washington politics. Mandating public financing of elections and ridding our politics of lobbying would safeguard us from donors shaping the outcome of our elections.

America touts itself as a great nation, a beacon of democracy. A great nation, however, shouldn’t stand idly by while its government is being run by a corporatist system. A great nation loses a piece of its integrity when it lets a conjunction of elite powers blueprint our nation’s legislative agenda. Public campaign financing will place honest

candidates and their elections on a level playing field, shifting American politics away from corporatism and closer towards serving the political interests of the individual.

Lobbyists in this country shape the outcome of elections, while politicians have become reliant upon these political mercenaries as sources of campaign money. This campaign money is funneled in primarily by corporations, trade groups and non-profit organizations, who shape legislation as they see fit.

But these corporations and groups aren’t just campaigning on behalf of candidates; in 2011 the International Conservative Caucus Foundation (ICCF) doled out $100,000 to send four congressmen on an African safari with their families, yet interestingly enough there was enough time to make a slight detour to a Volkswagen factory. Spoiler alert: Volkswagen is a major donor to the ICCF. Those who have quit the industry further attest to the graft saturating the American political establishment.

Jimmy Williams, a former lobbyist, told of his experiences with the system in a 2018 Vox article. Williams recalled, “I was a lobbyist between 2003 and 2010 in Washington, DC. I quit in disgust. Years of legalized bribery had exposed me to the worst elements of our country’s political workings. Not even my halfmillion-a-year salary could outweigh my

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conscience. In my years as a lobbyist, I worked for the alcohol industry, for the racing car industry, I met with hundreds of Congress members.”

Individual people giving money to candidates who represent their values is not inherently wrong. But that’s not how our political system works. Individuals confer directly with candidates to influence their platforms, sometimes making backdoor deals which go against promises these candidates have made to their constituents. In 2014, Congressman Duncan Hunter hosted a luxurious weekend retreat at Montage Laguna Beach resort while Senator Ben Cardin hosted a golf weekend at The Inn at Perry Cabin later that same year, inviting other legislators to join in the festivities. Unsurprisingly, these events were paid for by political action committees.

One major way in which lobbying efforts negatively affect our political system is the way that it stacks the deck against small business owners. Small business owners don’t have armies of lobbyist lawyers maneuvering them around the tax codes. Small business owners can’t influence copyright laws to extend intellectual property ownership. Small business owners can’t slide past minimum wage laws, state licensing requirements, safety and health acts and FDA regulations. Their political clout just doesn’t extend that

far. Public campaign financing doesn’t just mean a level playing field for political candidates, it means a level playing field in an American economy whose government is too often picking winners and losers, and showing favoritism. Through public campaign financing we can make positive reforms in our election system and our economy, bringing honesty and fairness to the public and the private sector.

Fortunately, there are ways to change this corrupt system. Public campaign financing has been introduced in a number of states, including Arizona, Connecticut and Florida. Unfortunately, these public campaign financing programs are inherently flawed and they don’t go far enough. Firstly, these states can’t require candidates to use public funding so candidates who use these programs might find themselves at a disadvantage against candidates raising funds from private donors. Secondly, individual states only allocate these programs to certain types of campaigns.

For example, Arizona allocates public campaign funding options for governor and state legislative races but not state supreme court races.

Those who defend unlimited campaign spending tend to argue that to place limitations on campaign donations is unconstitutional, and that outlawing private donations would be infringing upon an individual’s rights. Any free citizen of this country should, as they argue, be allowed to spend their own money how they so choose. In 2009, the supreme court ruled in Citizens United v. FEC that political spending is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment.

There are plenty of other ways, however, in which the purchasing power of Americans is limited. Any regulations limiting or outlawing certain substances or weapons, for example, represent a form of telling Americans how they are allowed to spend their money. These items are ostensibly regulated in the interest of public safety (ie., firearms, narcotics, offensive clothing, etc.), but, arguably, campaign spending should fall into a similar category. The fact that a select few people are allowed to funnel money into politics and silence the voices of millions of voters ultimately also represents a threat to civil rights and should be limited. In the same way that people don’t want drugs pouring into their communities, I don’t want money pouring into my politics.

A democracy is not a democracy if the true power lies with a small elite class of wealthy oligarchs who use their money to control our politicians on puppet strings. This republic was, sadly, founded on the basis that only white male landowners would be taking part in political process; it would be a sad thought to think that America’s politics have not progressed since.

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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

A nuanced take is the only way to understand Ted Bundy

DAVINA GARCIA Contributing Writer

Coinciding with the thirtieth anniversary of his execution, the late convicted serial killer, Ted Bundy, is rising once more into the limelight.

While a consistently contentious subject since the 1970s, this year has seen a resurgence in popular discourse surrounding him.

Undoubtedly, it can be largely attributed to the recent release of the new film, titled “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil.”

While there have been other movies and documentaries centering around Bundy, this one in particular has incited much controversy due to what some refer to as the “romanticization” of the notorious murderer. There is a substantial portion of the population expressing their unhappiness with his allegedly glamorized image in the new movie; many such people complained that this is an insult to the families of his victims. However, it is essential to remember that Bundy’s trademark allure and amiability was a vital reason for his success as a violent criminal, and one of the major reasons behind his infamy. Furthermore, this cinematic piece was intended to encapsulate him through the eyes of one of his long-time girlfriends, who initially believed his innocence.

Therefore, to redact this side of him for a sense of morality would be to detract from the ultimate truth of the story.

There is no doubt about Bundy’s culpability – all related evidence pointed towards him, and in the last few years leading up to his death, he confessed to every single accusation that had been levied against him.

During the 1970s, Bundy was charged with committing various acts of homicide across the country, slaughtering over thirty women.

Given the horrific nature of his numerous crimes, it is something of a wonder that he managed to evade justice for so long. This is in part due to faulty law enforcement techniques, forensic technology having been

much more underdeveloped at the time, but perhaps most importantly, Bundy’s careful cultivation of his outward self. A well adjusted, mildmannered law student with a fairly handsome visage, it was difficult for many to imagine someone like him engaging in such abhorrent activities.

That eerie unexpectedness is a large part of what makes Bundy so unique – the implication that someone like this could be lurking just around the corner; the idea that this person could be your best friend, an amicable neighbour or a member of your family.

It is this disturbingly real aspect of the serial killer that the upcoming film is attempting to bring to light.

There is some desire to do away with the notion that Bundy was anything other than a vile killer, stating that it is a serious offense to the victims and their families to present him in another manner, but the fact remains that Bundy was more than that. To even suggest such one-dimensionality is to downplay and erase the true insidiousness of his actions, which is an affront to said families in and of itself. He was an upstanding member of society as a son, friend and boyfriend. And the movie, being set in his then-girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer’s unique perspective, allows the audience to better experience this danger of Bundy as the convincing and winsome man that he was.

Like others, Kloepfer was not aware of his murderous predisposition when they first began dating. Granted, throughout the course of their relationship, Koepfer became privy to him in a different way from most everyone else, and even so she still suffered from his deceit. The casting of Zac Efron as the lead serves a similar purpose. His conventionally handsome face and personable air pushes the audience to be uncomfortable, and to remember that this is what his victims were up against. Indeed, one of the survivors, Kathy Kleiner Rubin, spoke out on this harrowing issue, declaring that she did not take any offense whatsoever to the movie; her reasons being that it

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was important and necessary to show and understand Bundy as he truly was – in the hopes that by doing so, other women would remember to take care and be more aware of the people around them.

The anticipated cinematic piece, “Extremely Wicked and Shockingly Evil”, is an intentional exploration of the duality existing within the person who was capable of committing execrable sins while continuing to deceive and lead a relatively normal

life. Any attempts to paint an entirely negative picture of Ted Bundy would not be indicative of the whole truth, and consequently, would be an injustice to the victims and their families. The point of the tale is not simply to reiterate the famous and terrible crimes to his name, nor is it to a calculated move to humanize him; instead, it serves to provide fresh perspective and real insight into the life of one of America’s most prominent serial killers.

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

L.A. teachers’ demands for smaller class sizes can address the city’s educational shortcomings

LUZ SALAZAR Contributing Writer

The United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) is a union that consists of approximately 33,000 teachers based around the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The goal of this union is to help teachers, but most importantly, according to the UTLA, is to “do what’s best for the classroom and the kids in them.”

Recently, thousands of these L.A. teachers went on a seven-day strike to fight for specific demands ranging from more investment in education and reduction in class sizes. Since L.A. is “the nation’s second-largest public school system,” their absence has made a sizeable impact on both the students and the district, leaving more than half a million students without classes to attend during the strike.

The reasons behind the strike seem to be basic and fair demands, especially something like smaller class sizes, which is essential for proper academic education.

Smaller class sizes allow for better educational growth and improvement, especially for disadvantaged children living in lower income households. Usually there are 30 to 40 students per class, which limits the teacher’s ability to teach well and focus on students at an individual level.

Fortunately, the demands of the teachers from this recent strike were met. They negotiated “an immediate reduction of 7 students” per classroom and the district could “no longer ignore all class size averages and caps.”

This agreement is a key victory given how class sizes have been debated for many years.

Sid Bourke, an education professor at the University of Newcastle, did a study of year five mathematics in Australia, where he found that teachers with smaller class sizes taught differently than with large class sizes.

With smaller class sizes, teachers would provide more “whole class teaching,” students wouldn’t need to ask questions, and teachers would be able to probe more by asking more open ended questions that led to deeper discussions and critical thinking. Bourke believed all of these factors contribute to higher academic attainment for students, especially for disadvantaged children who may take longer to process certain concepts. Additionally, the London Institute of Education also did a study to find out if class size affected progress in literacy and math. They found that in both subjects, smaller class sizes benefitted students of all learning abilities.

Some studies claim there is contradicting evidence.

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Stan M. Shapson, a psychologist at Simon Fraser University, did a similar study to Bourke and found different results. He found only a small relationship between class sizes and student achievement. To rebut this, however, qualitative data demonstrates a consistent correlation between smaller class sizes and increased teacher performance. Although there is some contradicting data, most research points to small class sizes affecting teaching in a positive manner.

The Los Angeles public school district has “one of the highest concentrations of low-income students in the state.” Having this in mind, it is very important to do everything we can to help students from low-income backgrounds. In an article titled “Trends in Cognitive Sciences,” neuroscientists Daniel A. Hackman and Martha J. Farah explain differences in neurocognitive performances related to socioeconomic status. They found that, “infants from lower [income] families are, on average, less advanced in the working memory and inhibitory control abilities.” This means that it is difficult

for students from a lower socioeconomic status to pay attention in class and focus. Due to the fact that these skills are harder for them, it makes learning in a classroom setting very difficult. It is important that teachers cater to these students in order for them to succeed, and since evidence points to a smaller class size helping with learning ability, then they should be able to have that.

The L.A. teacher strikes have sparked up attention regarding smaller class sizes. Smaller class sizes are highly beneficial to everyone, especially low-income and low-ability students. Smaller class sizes allow for more one-on-one conversations, which leads to better academic achievement. With L.A. being one of the leading school districts with low-income student households, it is important we do everything we can to facilitate an encouraging learning environment.

We should look at the outcome of the L.A. strikes as an example for other schools to take class size into consideration when it comes to creating a better learning environment.

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Letter to the Editor:

Taking the plunge for a good cause

AARON HIPOLITO

Aaron is a fourth-year English major and the copywriter for the Student Recreation Center.

Just imagine it. You look over and all you see is a vast body of freezing cold water. You’re stripped down bare to your swimsuit, reluctantly ready to jump. One toe goes in and you start to feel the frigid cold water reverberate throughout your body. Though this frosty sensation causes you to harbor hesitation, you feel a spark of exhilaration. Curiosity has pushed you into overdrive, and potent feelings of excitement have begun to overtake your fear. Keeping all of these emotions in mind, this is your chance to dive into our R’Polar

Plunge event, held on Valentine’s Eve! Other than challenging your sweetheart or squashing beef with your significant other, this event has the power to make waves in the community.

Two words define the potential impact of this event: charity and culture. Polar Plunges are a worldwide phenomenon, typically held at bodies of water in low temperatures. Countries such as South Korea, Canada, the United States, the Netherlands and more are known for their wide scale plunges. Each country takes their own spin on the event, all with different purposes and goals in mind. For example, Canada typically holds polar bear swims nationwide to celebrate the New Year, with the tradition dating all the way back to 1920. The Netherlands also participates

in 30,000 person plunges around the New Year, calling it “Nieuwjaarsduik,” which is literally translated as “New Year’s Dive.” No matter the purpose, polar plunge events are widely popular and display the capability of people to collaborate for the sake of tradition and give back to the community.

You’re poolside and you think to yourself, “I’m here, I committed, I have to do this.” Dozens of people surround you, all taking part in the same event in the name of charity. “It’s for a good cause”, you say to yourself. Finally, you crouch down and leap off the side, splashing into the icy body of water and plunging into our very own spa. Though freezing, the good vibes and the rewarding feeling of helping out others washes over your soul.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Feb. 13, 4 to 6 p.m., at the Student Recreation Center. The SRC is holding the first annual R’Polar Plunge! Come and take a splash into our freezing spa or donate five canned food items and receive an exclusive, one-of-a-kind giveaway. Not only is this event fun and free, but these canned food items are donated to fellow UCR students that are in need and are suffering from food insecurity. Challenge your fellow sorority sisters, fraternity brothers, cultural club peers, dorm mates and more to come and support this event! Our very own Chef Val will be on deck to warm you up with hot chocolate, water and cookies. Come and participate in a rich, cultural event while donating to a special cause! Or just do it for the gram.

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS

COMICS TALL TAIL #28 BY: JUSTUS ROSS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

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DANIEL TSAI Contributing Writer

On the night of Jan. 28, organizations under Asian Pacific Student Programs (APSP) gathered together to participate in the annual Lunar New Year (LNY) festivities. The celebration, honoring 2019 as the Year of the Pig, was held in HUB 302.

LNY is a grand procession that celebrates family and the practice of blessings and good fortune in the New Year. Usually, there are traditional dishes at the festivities such as nian gao (a sticky cake of sorts), luo bo gao (turnip cake), moon cake, a sweet and savory pastry with salted egg yolk and much more. And of course, elders pass along red envelopes to grandchildren to ensure that the young experience good fortune in the upcoming year.

Throughout the night, performers from groups such as Senryu Taiko’s Japanese drum ensemble and Hallyu at UCR’s Korean dance group performed on stage and participated in mini games to win APSP prizes. Katipunan provided a preview of their upcoming 30th annual Philippine Cultural Night, and Oceania’s Pacific

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Islander dance ensemble performed traditional choreography routines. The main attraction of the night was DJ Manila Killa, a Philippines-born music producer based in Washington, D.C. and UCR alumnus of Asian Pacific heritage.

One of the most iconic performances of the night was Vietnamese Student Association’s (VSA) Vietnamese Dragon dance. Two masked dancers, with dragon-feathered legs, pranced around the room carrying a dragon head. A bright blue neon light shone from the forehead of the dragon as bright, fire-red ears flopped back and forth and googly dragon eyes blink and fluttered. Intricate wavy dragon scales and feathers resembled the elegance of the dragon and the passionate fierceness of the celebratory dragon dance. Grace and strength shown through as the dragon dancers performed acrobatic moves and body positioning.

Ross Santos, fourth-year political science major and president of Katipunan, exclaimed, “LNY is an opportunity to come out and support each other (as organizations) as a whole body. Being here in solidarity really embodies the four pillars of Katipunan: social, academic, community and cultural. Us being here today gives Asian-American students solace to embrace their culture.”

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Representing an event such as APSP’s Lunar New Year on campus showed the diversity of UCR’s Asian-American and Pacific Islander community and its willingness to embrace all cultures and minorities.

The LNY event centered on cultural pride for Asian-American students. Samuel Liu, a third-year computer science and business major and Chinese Student Association (CSA) internal vice president, stresses, “APSP’s LNY festival celebrates the remembrance of LNY for people that may not know about it or even Asian-Americans whose families are whitewashed and were raised separate from the Asian culture. This festival is all about family and remembering what it means to be an Asian-American.” Liu further explained that LNY is to Asians what Christmas may be to Christians, and stressed the importance of keeping this culture alive, especially in CSA with their multitude of events where they may bring traditional dishes such as tang yuan, Chinese rice balls.

“It’s our holiday,” says Kelly Nguyen, fourth-year biology major and VSA member, “We come together, whether close or not, for dinner, drink tea, eat moon cake and get red envelopes. And now that I’m older, I know that these envelopes

aren’t just a bag of money (possibly for the new Nintendo Switch) but a symbol of good fortune for everyone all around.”

However, there is always room for improvement. Despite the success of such an event, Jordan Hom, third-year theatre and film production major, emphasized, “I thought it would be more interactive, instead of just having people sit around.

I expected authentic cultural dishes. Sure, there were performances, but not all were representative of my Asian culture. It just didn’t feel like a LNY event I would be excited for.” Jordan believes that as a culturally diverse campus, it should strive to perfect the welcomeness of all ethnicities, and that means accepting criticism and working toward a common goal.

All in all, LNY festival not only celebrated the Year of the Pig, but also embraced Asian culture and unity among a variety of ethnicities from Vietnamese to Chinese to Filipino. It was a great moment for individuals to accept their Asian-American roots and proudly express these cultures on campus. Other future APSP events include Unity Hour, GenerAsian WomXn Conference, APSP Round Table, etc.

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FEATURES

Annual Highlander Con

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

celebrates online culture and gaming fandom

MARTHA DELGADO Senior Staff Writer

JIMMY LAI / HIGHLANDER

MARK BERTUMEN Senior Staff Writer

On Sunday, Jan. 27, the second and third floors of the HUB were filled with over a thousand people from around Southern California who were given admittance to the third annual Highlander Convention. Before admission started at 11 a.m. students lined up as far as the beginning of the UC Riverside timeline mural; by afternoon Highlander Gaming (HLG), the organizers of the event, ran out of wrist strap tickets after about 800 attendees had been allowed into the main halls.

The all-day convention was hosted by HLG and sponsored by CORSAIR, MSI, GIGABYTE Technology, NVIDIA, Seasonic, ASPB, Riot Games and Tespa. Throughout the day, panels, tournaments, a game room dedicated to “osu!” — a computer-based rhythm game — an artist alley and many other activities were held on the second and third floors of the HUB. Throughout the day the big screen at the back of 302 broadcasted esports competitions, such including 1v1 fights in Overwatch and League, as well as Fortnite matches later in the night. On the sides, sponsors CORSAIR, MSI, Seasonic and VIVE set up booths to showcase their latest products. Some booths, like CORSAIR, were allowing visitors to play with “Beat Saber,” a rhythm-based game of motion-based inputs, with their Virtual Reality headsets.

Also in HUB 302, a row of monitors were set up for attendees to compete in the convention’s “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” and “Super Smash Bros. Melee” tournaments; the monitors were either as modern as a computer monitor or as old as a fat-back TV from the 90s. Over 200 people signed up for the tournament; anyone that wasn’t competing but wanted to play could do so in the Free Play area in HUB 367.

This was James Almaguer, a first-year undeclared student, and Christopher Padilla’s, a third-year psychology major, first time attending Highlander Con. Padilla came to support Almaguer and check out the “osu!” room.

“Usually people play games online,” Padilla began. “Sometimes they do that because their

friends are far away, or they don’t have time to meet up in person. The beauty about conventions like this is that you can meet up in person: you can actually talk to someone.”

Kara Trowbridge, a first-year undeclared student, has been playing smash for 10 years but it was not until this year ’s Highlander Con that she decided to participate in a tournament. “Honestly, meeting other people who like the same thing as you is really fun,” Trowbridge said. Trowbridge’s friends came to support her as she competed in the tournament; their residence hall had actually just held a Smash tournament earlier in January, and Trowbridge found that playing Smash has brought them closer together.

One of the events in the convention was a cosplay competition. The first prize winner received a $100 Michael’s gift card; the winner turned out to be Maddy Ganley.

Ganley, a fashion and designing student from Pasadena City College, cosplayed as Brigetta, a character from Overwatch. Ganley heard about the cosplay competition from her boyfriend at UCR, and said that her cosplay was made of EVA foam, acrylic paint and LED lights.The overall cost of her cosplay was around $250 to $300; “it’s not a pretty number to look at,” Hanley joked.

For some attendees the highlight of the day was the Artist Alley, a room filled with artists and vendors. Shirlynn Li, a second-year pre-business major, was a student artist who did commissions and future sales at the artist alley. At her table, Li would show her process of making tablet sketches.

“For now it’s a hobby on the side,” Li told the Highlander, adding that ”it’s nice to see people enjoy the final product.”

Highlander Con was planned and staffed by the members of HLG, an organization on campus that not only promotes esports and the gaming industry but also holds conventions like Highlander Con. “(HLG) is more than just a simple 20-person club,” said Allen Wang, third-year business major and director of graphics for the group.

Wang spoke to the Highlander about the busiest areas of the convention. “The osu! room was stacked with people who brought their entire desktops and lugged it to the second floor. We think that’s an important part of Highlander Con

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to keep that sentiment of being able to play games together in one big room and have a day for gamers,” explained Wang.

The first Highlander Con was meant to be a place for people to bring their own set ups and play. For this year ’s convention, the sentiment was kept by providing the Free Play room in HUB 367. The first Highlander Con was held in 2017 with 628 people attending and events held in the third floor only. Since then, the convention has grown in size and has expanded into the second floor of the HUB. This year, the convention was meant to be in November, but due to logistics it was moved to January where it was combined with their Build-a-PC event.

HLG plans to hold Highlander Con again next year. For anyone interested in joining HLG, you can find them on Highlander Link (@Highlander H Gaming) or on their Discord server (@HLG). ■

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Radar

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

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"Stan & Ollie":

a touching tribute to a legendary comedic duo Colin Carney, Contributing writer

COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES

Starting their career together in the late 1920s and lasting through the mid-1940s, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy starred in 107 pictures together as a team that began during the silent era of films and continued throughout integration of sound into cinema. Stan Laurel, the brains behind most of the duo’s material, played the clumsy and innocent fool to the pompous persona of Oliver Hardy. Together they would be considered one of, if not the greatest comedic duo in film history.

Director Jon S. Baird’s touching tribute to the comedic icons follows the duo in the twilight of their careers as they tour Great Britain and Ireland for the last time before retiring; “Stan and Ollie” presents us with an older version of Laurel and Hardy as they try desperately to remain relevant in a world that is quickly forgetting them.

As the pair struggle to fill small venues, they also fight emotional and physical battles with themselves and each other.

Laurel struggles both with his attempts to keep the duo relevant as he also tries

to forgive Hardy for starring in a film without him. Meanwhile, Hardy battles with himself, as his failing health makes it near impossible to continue the tour.

As a result of these conflicts, the film has several emotional moments where you’ll find yourself feeling genuine concern for our duo as they suffer through old age and dwindling fame. That being said, for every tear jerking moment there are several light-hearted and genuinely funny scenes where the duo’s relationship and rapport bring a smile to your face.

“Stan and Ollie” is filled with brilliant performances from each cast member. The two stars, Steve Coogan (Stan Laurel) and John C. Reilly (Oliver Hardy) are brilliant as they recreate both comedy legends as well as their iconic material. Coogan masterfully portrays Laurel’s character, down to his distinctive trans-Atlantic accent. As Laurel, Coogan takes us behind the scenes as we see the genius behind the material and witness Stan Laurel’s devotion to perpetually creating content

for himself and Hardy. John C. Reilly likewise manages to portray the straight man of the duo, Oliver Hardy. Done completely in a fat suit, Reilly delivers on portraying Hardy as the sympathetic and lovable actor who struggles both with his weight and a gambling problem. Both of the leads in this film fully immerse themselves into their roles as the audience fully embraces them as Laurel and Hardy.

This is never more evident then when the two masterfully recreate the comedy duo’s massive repertoire of classic material.

Likewise, the supporting cast also shine even as the two leads steal the spotlight.

The wives of the two performers, played

by Shirley Henderson and Nina Arianda, are shown to be the method of support for the two performers as they care for their husbands’ health and wellbeing while attending their performances as well.

Even more remarkable, however, is that despite the leads being the professional comedians, some of the biggest laughs in the film come from the wives themselves

as they passive-aggressively antagonize each other and stop their husbands from smoking or drinking. Even the role of the producer and manager of the tour, played

by Rufus Jones, manages to steal some laughs as he is initially more interested in managing the career of an up-and-coming star rather than attending to the needs of Laurel and Hardy.

All in all, “Stan and Ollie” pays touching tribute to two legends who helped kickstart the comedy film industry and influenced countless comedians that came after them. The film manages to captivate the audience as we follow these two beloved characters as they come to terms with their fading careers, and truly shines as we celebrate with them as they manage to make packed theaters laugh as they perform on stage. There are several moments in this film that will make the audience laugh and cry, but none more than the heartfelt ending as we witness the duo dance on stage for the last time in their legendary careers.

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Verdict:

“Stan and Ollie” brilliantly pays tribute to the comedic icons that inspired countless comedic acts after them. Outstanding performances all around and a touching script deliver on an emotional and heartfelt journey through the twilight years of these legends of the industry.

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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

“Happy Death Day 2U”: a terrifying, yet hilarious genre-blending sequel By: By : Silvia Ferrer, Staff Writer

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“Happy Death Day 2U,” the sequel to 2017’s “Happy Death Day,” could have fallen by the wayside, as most sequels do. Despite the reasonable success of “Happy Death Day,” the odds were stacked against its successor, as it inherited an unoriginal premise and would have to justify a sequel to the first film. However, “Happy Death Day 2U” takes the snappy, genresplicing fun of the previous title and combines it with more funny one-liners and a wider, wackier set of characters to create a fairly entertaining watch.

The film still has to trudge through an inconsistent (sometimes incoherent) tone as it builds the backstory, but it avoids a tiresome reproduction of the first film as the audience follows Tree (Jessica Rothe) once again.

The original film followed Tree, who, in a “Groundhog Day” fashion, experienced her birthday over and over again. However, this came with a twist. Rather than just being stuck in a loop, Tree was in a perpetual state of being murdered by a mysterious masked figure. It was not until she discovered the killer’s identity and prevented her own death that she was able to free herself from the cycle.

However, “Happy Death Day 2U” opens not to Tree, but to her boyfriend’s roommate, Ryan. His eccentric, casual character; already established in the first film, is a key player in establishing the backstory that explains how Tree’s predicament was created. His two sidekicks provide great comedic relief and share the majority of funny one-liners with heroine Tree. These two characters are really the only ones with any semblance of stability, however. The film is quick to switch from Ryan’s humorous banter with them to a dark

and sinister slasher film in which he is the one being pursued by the Babyface killer.

One of the series’ distinguishing qualities is the fact that it can’t be boxed into just “comedy” or “horror,” but this flexibility worked against it in several instances. The change in tone was extremely noticeable, and sometimes the change was so jarring that the contrast did not flow well together. At times, it was like scenes were copied and pasted next to one another: a playful one in which Tree conversed with the gang, the next a melancholy, intimate moment between her and her boyfriend, Carter.

Nevertheless, the tones themselves were well done, as the music and settings were accordingly changed to reflect the sunny or shadowed mood the film was trying to convey.

The convoluted backstory is digested more easily as the film sets up lively montage after lively montage. The first is fairly quick, only working to catch the audience up on the events of the first film.

The following montages are far more enjoyable as Tree finds silly and rather grisly manners in which to kill herself — the twist that differentiates it from the first film. The camera choices, creative cinematography and choice in the soundtrack make these montages even more amusing and comical to watch. The moments that Tree is not actively working towards the resolution of her problem, she is jolted back into the mystery-horror genre. Again, despite the jarring change, the shift to suspense and jump scares is quite adept. In part, Rothe’s performance is to thank, as she gives a whole-hearted performance for every scene, regardless of tone.

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Verdict:

“Happy Death Day 2U” isn’t remarkable by any means, but it surpasses the expectations for a sequel. The goofy array of characters and funny writing makes the film’s flaws easy to ignore. The entertaining plot and exceptional behind-the-scenes choices make for a fun watch — perfect to catch with friends to destress after midterms.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

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When horror meets with a terrifying reality:

the lasting appeal of the true crime genre KATHERINE LUNA Contributing Writer

The true crime genre has been a fairly consistent part of American culture with the trend coming in waves. Some enjoy it, revel in it and others just don’t seem to grasp why this new wave of interest in brutal murders, kidnappings and other horrendous acts is so fascinating. There is something morbidly appealing about hearing real-life cases that and have happened to ordinary people.

With the new releases of “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile” and Netflix’s “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Cases,” people are presented an old case with new information to talk about and analyze. Netflix chose to release the docu-series around the anniversary of Bundy’s execution. The main appeal of the Bundy case, for true crime fans, is Bundy’s frightening normality. He had friends, attended college, had relationships and was charming, charismatic and handsome – not exactly the popular image of a serial killer. Now that the public gets to hear his voice, we have access to a new side of the story, told from Bundy’s own perspective. But why are we fascinated

by Bundy, or any serial killer for that matter?

It could be due to the notion that this could happen to anyone. A friend, family member, loved one, the list goes on and on. That thought sends shivers down anyone’s spine, which is exactly why people are obsessed with true crime. Much like a roller coaster on the first drop, true crime fans feel a sort of adrenaline rush learning about the lives affected by a criminal. Hearing the story from the perspective of the culprit, however, is an extremely interesting and unique take. Delving into the mind of the killer begins to raise all kinds of questions, since it puts us in their shoes. The motivations, emotions and impact of the crime on the killer become a lesson in what drives these disturbed individuals to commit such heinous acts.

Another true crime documentary titled “Abducted in Plain Sight,” also on Netflix, tells the story of a child kidnapped by a pedophile. Eerily enough, it feels like a non-fiction of “The Lovely Bones” but in this case, the kidnapper was friends with the family. Hearing about these cases doesn’t only trigger an adrenaline rush, but it also makes us think about how well we know those around us and how much trust we truly put in people. In the case of “Abducted in Plain Sight,” the fact that the family knew and trusted the kidnapper is the scariest part.

The thought of trusting someone you love with a monster in disguise is truly terrifying.

Even more intense are shows such as “Criminal Minds,” which can switch between fairly “vanilla” scenarios and terrifying stories of heinous crimes.

While “Criminal Minds” isn’t technically true crime, since the scenarios are contrived, it still depicts these events happening in a normal world. Again, it is the depiction of plausible events, happening to ordinary people, that draws viewers in. There is something inherently intriguing about true crime or crime-related dramas, as they provide a thrilling and horrifying storyline infused with a dose of reality.

Not every true crime story is created equal, however. One of the more popular areas people get a true crime fix is Buzzfeed Unsolved. Hosts Shane Madej and Ryan Bergara have become increasingly popular among true crime fans. This little corner of the Buzzfeed media empire focuses on the supernatural and true crime. Fusing real events with conspiratorial theories and humor, Buzzfeed Unsolved takes a popular concept and makes it darkly humorous. Covering the most infamous unsolved cases, such as the Black Dahlia murder, the Jonbenet Ramsey case and the Axeman of New Orleans, Madej and Bergara allow viewers to not only learn about the cases but come up with their own theories and submit them to the show. This can bring up new perspectives and ideas as to how the murders happened. By adding humor to the mix, Buzzfeed’s project allows newcomers to the genre an easy entry into the world of true crime.

The main appeal of true crime is the terrifying reality that there are monsters in our midst. Hearing about the darker, more unsavory aspects of the world makes us realize how accommodating our lives have been and, dare I say, thankful that we have escaped such horrible fates ourselves. Whether viewers prefer real and chilling documentaries or a more light and humorous approach to the subject, the dark and gritty portrayal of these heinous will always appeal to audiences’ fascination with the macabre.

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Be bold.

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.

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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

Women’s tennis

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Highlander Hot Take:

NBA All-Star earn first victory of the year The voting system needs against Hope International an overhaul JONATHAN FERNANDEZ Senior Staff Writer

UC Riverside’s women’s tennis faced off against Hope International (0-1) on Friday afternoon at the SRC Tennis Courts. The team put on a dominating performance on their home turf, taking down Hope International 7-0 to win their first match of the season and improve to 1-2.

On the doubles side, both teams defeated their opponent handily, 6-0.

Big West Athlete of the Week Tia

Epulsan and junior Sara Khattab added yet another victory to their undefeated season.

After taking a 1-0 lead, UCR sent four freshmen to play four of the six singles matches. Freshman players Lindsey Gelinas, Natalie Shamma and Hanh Pham all came through for the Highlanders and earned their first collegiate singles wins. Fellow freshman Mahli Silpachai won her second singles match of the year after sweeping her opponent 6-0, 6-0.

Junior Lauren Wolfe was the only non-freshman to compete in singles play due to Hope International forfeiting the final singles match. Wolfe took care of her opposition in short order, sweeping 6-0, 6-0.

The Highlanders were scheduled to play against San Jose State on Saturday, Feb. 2 but the match was cancelled due to weather.

UCR women’s tennis next plays Friday, Feb. 8 against Westmont College at the SRC Tennis Courts.

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MEN’S TENNIS

S U F F E R S T W O T O U G H L O S S E S T O S TA R T FIVE-MATCH ROAD TRIP JARYD BONGCARAS Senior Staff Writer

Following their statement 4-3 win at home over Air Force, the UC Riverside men’s tennis team hoped to continue their stellar play on the road as they embarked on a five match road trip to Hurricane, Utah and Las Vegas, Nev. that would span over four days.

“Last couple of years, we haven’t played too well during this Las Vegas

their first match against Southern Utah, as inclement weather caused the match to be moved to a neutral location and SUU wasn’t phased by the last minute change and won 5-2.

The Thunderbirds snagged the doubles point, as well as the first two singles matches to extend their lead to 3-0. UC Riverside still had four players on court, all pushing their matches to a third set.

No comeback ensued this time around, as

“Last couple of years, we haven’t played too well during this Las Vegas trip ....

That’s actually been kind of a wake-up call for us when we return back home.” trip,” head coach Mattias Johansson said over the phone on Wednesday, adding, “That’s actually been kind of a wake-up call for us when we return back home.”

Just like they do every year, the team will face off in weather conditions different from what they’re used to here at home. “(Elevation and air pressure) is a big factor, especially over in Southern Utah where the ball flies more. Our players will make adjustments, whether they tighten their strings or add more topspin or slice to keep the ball in play,” Johansson added.

This did affect the Highlanders in

the two teams split the matches, for a 5-2 SUU victory.

Freshman Andreas Whelan-Merediz won in three sets with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Junior Gilbert Chung also went the distance going 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.

From here, the team travelled to Vegas to play against the University of Hawai’i, where the Rainbow Warriors bested the Highlanders 4-2.

Failing to convert on multiple match points in doubles proved to be the difference maker, as the entire match would’ve ended differently had UCR capitalized.

Court one had the team of sophomore Filip Engstrom and junior Nabil Abdallah leading for most of the match, but the duo ultimately fell 6-7. Court three saw a new pairing of senior Kyle McCann and Whelen-Merediz walk off with a 7-6 victory.

For singles, Chung recorded a straight set victory of 6-1, 6-3, while Abdallah ended the day as a bright spot by defeating the No. 124 ranked player in the nation with a score of 6-1, 0-6, 6-4.

UCR also played a doubleheader on Saturday against host UNLV and New Mexico State.

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COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

JONATHAN FERNANDEZ Senior Staff Writer

The NBA All-Star game is sold as the ultimate fan experience, but as we saw in this year’s selection process, that really isn’t the case.

At the end of fan voting, rookie sensation Luka Doncic, resurgent former MVP Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade in his final season were all in line for starting spots. Luka was actually the second leading vote getter in the Western Conference, third in the whole league behind LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Both Rose and Wade had been voted into the second guard spots in their respective conferences because fans wanted to grant Rose a sense of validation for his play after a career filled with devastating injuries, and give Wade a curtain call in his final season.

Unfortunately, for the combined six million fans that voted for these three players, fan voting is only worth 50 percent of the overall system. The media and players make up the remaining 50 percent and due to this, all three players fell out of the starting five and two of them didn’t end up making the roster at all Wade only made the cut because the NBA decided to create two separate roster spots for Wade and Dirk Nowitzki as a tribute to their legacy.

If this game is really about what the fans want, the NBA needs to do something to fix the balance of power in selecting the players. In the past, fans have attempted to vote in non-deserving players such as Zaza Pachulia, but I think as long as the player is as deserving as the three I mentioned, the NBA should allow it. I would recommend giving the fans power over 75 percent of the vote and splitting the remaining 25 between the media and players in order to balance popular demand with expert opinion.

The fact that all three of these fan favorites ended up not making it sends a message that the NBA doesn’t care about what the fans want. If the All-Star game is truly about giving the fans what they want, this past cycle of All-Star voting shows H that the system needs some tweaking. ■

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20

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

Sports

Women’s Basketball fends off Hawaii and tops UCSB to notch three straight conference wins JARYD BONGCARAS Senior Staff Writer

Despite leading by as many as 20 points, the UC Riverside women’s basketball team (10-11, 4-3) was able to fend off a late fourth quarter comeback by Hawaii (7-12, 3-3) for a 60-55 victory.

The Highlanders came out the gate shooting 42 percent from the field and holding their opponent to only eight points in the first quarter. From here, UCR started a 9-0 run midway through the second quarter, before ending the first half with a 34-21 advantage. At the break, redshirt junior Jannon Otto led all scorers with 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting.

Riverside kept up their solid play in the third quarter, outscoring the Rainbow Warriors in the period by six points to take a 19-point lead as they headed into the final quarter.

At this point, UH didn’t have much to lose, so the home team experimented with a full-court press. It ended up paying dividends as it helped contribute to nine turnovers by the Highlanders in the final period.

This turned into positive momentum for Hawai’i, as Leah Salanoa and Jadynn Alexander went 3-for-3 and 3-for-4, respectively in the fourth quarter

alone.

Salanoa came up clutch for the home squad, scoring five points in the final two minutes to cut the Highlander lead to only three points.

However, a pair of free throws by sophomore guard Keilanei Cooper would ice the game, as time ran out and cut the Hawai’i comeback short.

Otto finished with game-highs of 22 points and 9 rebounds, while redshirt freshman Daphne Gnago added 10 points and nine rebounds of her own.

The team then travelled back home to Riverside for a two-game homestand, where they played against UC Santa Barbara (4-16, 1-6), on Saturday, Feb. 2. The Highlanders picked up a 73-60 victory, recording the team’s first three-game winning streak of the season.

The home squad held the Gauchos to only three points in the first quarter, with the visitors shooting 1-for-16 from the field.

Afterwards, UCR amassed a 17-0 run that ended when Santa Barbara hit a jumper with seven minutes left in the first half.

Riverside proved to be too much to handle down low, outscoring their opponents in the paint 40-22.

The Highlanders also capitalized on the Gauchos’ errors, scoring 18

points off of UCSB’s 17 turnovers.

Otto kept up the stellar season she’s been having, scoring 26 points and grabbing seven boards in the process. This continues her streak of scoring 20-plus points in seven of the last nine contests.

Senior forward Malou De Kergret had a solid outing as well, putting up 10 of her 20 total points in the fourth quarter alone, while Gnago flirted with a double-double yet again with 16 points and nine rebounds.

The win moves the Highlanders to a game above .500, and could be the type of victory that propels even more momentum for the rest of the season.

UC Riverside looks to extend their win streak to four games, as they host Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.

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LLOYD KAO / HIGHLANDER

MEN’S

TRACK AND FIELD: Freshman Tanner Andersonfinished first in 400m. 48.39 Team of freshman Fabian Bodden, sophomore Jose Cruz, junior Slade Cavallaro and freshman Tanner AndersoNfinish first in 4x400m relay with 3:17.93 Junior Heinrich Van NiekerkFinished second in 600m run with 1:21.61 time Sophomore Jose CastellonRecorded the seventh-best time for the 60m hurdle in school history: 8.76

WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD:

Sophomore Hana JohnsonFinished first in triple jump event with 11.5m jump.

Freshman Emily HawkRecorded seventh-best time in school history for 200m run with 25.21 time Junior Izabel LopezFinished third in triple jump with 11.11m leap.

Also marks ninth-longest jump in school history.

Junior Natalie MitchellFinished eighth in the women’s shot with a throw of 12.9m.

Men’s Basketball goes winless in disappointing week upcoming matches Women’s basketball

RICARDO GARCIA Contributing Writer

Just a week ago, the Highlanders (8-15, 2-5) downed the Cal Poly Mustangs (5-14, 1-5) in a dominating road victory, shooting 50 percent for the game and limiting Cal Poly to just 35 percent from the field and 25 percent from three-point range.

UCR won the game 74-51.

This time around, UCR found themselves on the opposite end of the spectrum, losing 71-45 at home.

“I didn’t think anybody was giving us effort,” Head Coach David Patrick said. “I would have put in my daughter.”

The Highlanders shot 34 percent from the field, and a dismal 14 percent from three, a far cry from the Big West-leading 38 percent entering the game.

The Mustangs shot 55 percent from three, and 52 percent from the field, a stark difference to last week’s shooting totals.

“We have got to get back to sharing the ball,” Patrick said.

“We don’t shoot dribble threes.”

The score was only 28-25 in favor of Cal Poly at halftime.

However, they blew the game open with a 19-3 run to open the second half, which included a stretch of almost nine minutes in which the Highlanders made just one field goal and one free throw.

Freshman center Callum

McRae led the Highlanders in scoring with 10 points, the only UCR player to finish in doublefigures. Senior center Menno Dijkstra grabbed a game-high tying seven rebounds and junior guard Dikymbe Martin dished out four assists.

For Cal Poly, senior guard Marcellus Garrick finished with a game-high 18 points, going 6-for7 from long distance. Sophomore forward Mark Crowe grabbed seven rebounds and junior guard Job Alexander finished with a game-high six assists.

Looking to put more energy into their next matchup after a lackluster performance, the Highlanders squared off against UC Davis (5-14, 1-4) on Saturday, Feb. 2. The Aggies entered the game having lost four of their five games and all 10 of their road games.

However, UC Davis made the SRC Arena feel like home, starting the game on a 9-0 run right from the opening tip.

The Highlanders could not get into rhythm and trailed 25-7 after ten minutes, committing several turnovers and taking tough shots.

UCR trailed 38-22 at halftime as Martin beat the buzzer at the end of the first half.

In the second half, the Highlanders were plagued by foul trouble, sending the Aggies to the free throw line 23 times, where they converted all 23 free throws,

setting a new school record.

Though the Highlanders pulled to within 55-47 with under nine minutes to play, they could not get stops when they needed to, allowing UC Davis to shoot 53 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Despite shooting 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from three, the Highlanders fell 84-71, tying a season-worst for points allowed with 84 points. The Aggies also earned their first road victory in 11 tries.

Sophomore guard Jordan Gilliam led the Highlanders with 15 points and game-high tying six rebounds. Freshman forward Zac Watson finished with five assists.

For the Aggies, 5 foot 9 inchestall senior guard TJ Shorts II played like the biggest player on the court, as he burned the Highlanders with his speed and scored 23 points off the bench while shooting 11-for-11 from the foul line. Junior guard Stefan Gonzalez grabbed six rebounds, and junior guard Rogers Printup dished out a game-high six assists.

Up next for the Highlanders, they look to end the Cal State Fullerton Titans’ (9-12, 5-2) five game winning streak, which started with a victory over UCR in January. They also welcome Big West heavyweight UC Santa Barbara (15-5, 4-2). The Gauchos currently sit in third place in the Big West standings.

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Thursday, Feb. 7 Cal State Fullerton @ 7 p.m SRC Arena

Women’s TENNIS Friday, Feb. 8 Westmont College @ 1:30 p.m SRC Tennis Courts

MEN’s basketball Saturday, Feb. 9 Cal State Fullerton @ 5 p.m.

SRC Arena