Volume 67 Issue 22

THE HIGHLANDER

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

est. 1954

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2019

VOL. 67, ISSUE 22

Spring 2019

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TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2019

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HUMANS OF UCR

UPCOMING EVENTS: WEEK 1

SCOTTY THE BEAR

02

UCR Sustainability Seminar Series 11:00am to 12:00pm HUB (Highlander Union Building), 268

R’Career Job Search Series: Resume Writing Co-Hosted with School of Business 3:00pm to 4:30pm HUB 269

03

Spring Involvement Fair 11:00am to 2:00pm UCR Bell Tower

Introduction to Health Professions Workshop 3:00pm to 4:00pm Rivera Library, 140

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IES Abroad Information Session 3:00pm to 4:00pm Skye Hall (Surge Hall), 346

Dragalicious Drag Ball XVI 7:00pm to 10:00pm HUB 302

25th Annual (dis)junctions Graduate Conference (Day 1) 8:30am to 7:00pm CHASS Interdisciplinary South, 1113

Film: If Beale Street Could Talk 7:00pm to 9:00pm UCR ARTS, Culver Center of the Arts

18th Annual César E. Chávez 5K Run/Walk 7:30am to 11:00am UCR Bell Tower

All New! Spring Celebration and Member Appreciation Plant Sale!

9:00am to 3:00pm UCR Botanic Gardens

UCR HPAC Application Workshop 2:00pm to 3:30pm Rivera Library, 140

Entomology ENTM250 Seminar - Wendy Moore 4:10pm to 5:00pm Genomics Building, 1102A

Tuesday

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Wednesday

Thursday

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“Scotty will return in Avengers: Endgame.”

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Saturday

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News 4

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2019

Pedestrian hit by UCPD vehicle, Redditors’ responses suggest laxity by officers MARK BERTUMEN Senior Staff Writer

A March 19 Reddit post on the subreddit r/ucr reported that, on March 18, a young woman “appeared to be hit by a police SUV” in Lot 24, pointing out that that it happened near the UC Police Department (UCPD) station. The Highlander reached out to the Redditor for further comment on the incident, who requested anonymity.

In their response, Redditor “ThiccerThanPB” went in-depth regarding the collision, saying that there were no immediate attempts by officers to assist the injured woman; “There was no attempt to move her or the SUV for about 15 minutes,” they wrote, adding that the police SUV did not flash any lights when she had been hit. It was only “after a few minutes of her laying on the ground, unable to get up, screaming in pain” that police lights were eventually turned on.

Additionally, ThiccerThanPB took note of the officers’ low-energy response in helping the pedestrian overall: “The cops did next to nothing. No one was talking to her or anything. She seemed to be in incredible pain from the screaming

and it did not look like (to me) that anyone was comforting her.”

An ambulance eventually came by to pick up the injured woman, and ThiccerThanPB explained how the collision itself may have transpired: “The impact appeared to have happen (sic) in the middle of the sidewalk/ramp of the parking lot. I say this to clarify that from what I saw she could not have jumped in front of the SUV, she was half way through,” suggesting that the pedestrian was not intending to get hit and that the collision was indeed an accident.

In the thread of the original post, ThiccerThanPB wrote that they “want UCPD and UCR to address (the incident) openly.”

Redditor “thegrahampost” agreed, writing that “it is the duty of the University of California Police Department to warn of possible dangerous conditions on or near campus,” in reference to the line added to the end of every “UCPD Crime Alert” email.

Further citing said message, the Alerts are “sent in compliance with the ‘Timely Notice’ provisions of the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998;” at the time of writing, nearly two weeks

have passed since the incident occurred and no official email regarding the accident has been sent out to the UCR community.

UCR Chief Communications Officer Johnny Cruz released a statement to the Highlander explaining what had happened: “On 03/18/19 at about 6:30 p.m., a UCPD Officer was driving a patrol

vehicle out of the North entrance/exit of Lot #24 onto Canyon Crest Drive and was involved in a collision with a pedestrian.

The pedestrian was transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

The City of Riverside Police Department was contacted to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this accident.”

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COURTESY OF UCR POLICE DEPARTMENT

Student loan debt burden not spread equally across UC campuses, according to UCSA research

CAMERON SADEGHI Contributing Writer

A report compiled by the University of California Student Association (UCSA) and The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS) states that student loan debt burden is spread unevenly amongst UC undergraduates.

The research shows that lower income students and underrepresented students of color are more likely to carry student loan debt after graduation.

The report states that 56 percent of UC undergraduates do not pay any tuition and that the UC system’s average debt total of $21,018 is less than the national student debt of $30,100; however, undergraduate students encounter problems with expenses outside of tuition.

In an interview with the Highlander, UC Riverside’s Director of Financial Aid Jose Aguilar stated, “We take into account the whole cost of attendance; we don’t just award financial aid based on tuition. We look at room and board, tuition and fees, books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation expenses. Those are the five items that we include as the total cost of attendance.”

According to Aguilar, the Financial Aid office calculates the total cost of attendance minus the family contribution and the amount of financial aid given to a student is based off of that calculation.

Aguilar finds that some UCR students tend to avoid any financial assistance: “We do have a student population averse to student borrowing,” he said.

“They may not be getting the family contribution, or parents are not willing to help the students, and then they may need to find other resources. Or there may be students who do not want to borrow; we have a lot of students on our campus not willing to borrow, and that makes sense, I agree with that.”

He later pointed out that the office intends for their financial plans to be as affordable as possible: “The financial aid package is specifically for low income students. If you are a middle income student and you have a small or decent financial aid package with an expected large family contribution but your family is not willing to help or can’t help for whatever reasons then students may be forced to look into other options like maintaining employment.”

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However, despite the help the Financial Aid office provides, some students with financial support from their family still struggle with financial aid. Transfer student Aaron Randall Gregory said to the Highlander, “I have a bunch of friends that are in what we call the ‘dark zone of financial aid:’ your parents have enough money to not be eligible for financial aid but you’re still too poor to pay for everything. I think that is the biggest issue and one of the many reasons people don’t go to college.

They fall into this dark zone: they are poor but not poor enough.” Gregory is a chemistry major who receives help from financial aid and is in this “dark zone” himself. “So, as a transfer student, I fend for myself,” he said. “Financial aid like FAFSA and whatever grants UCR gives out have been my primary source of income.”

Aguilar believes that the strength of the family determines the amount of student debt a student incurs, “I see the strength of the family income and the philosophy behind it. If parents are willing or not willing to help the student, that’s what drives a student to either borrow money or get another job.” Aguilar does not believe that race is driving student loan debt; according to the report, two out of three dependent African American and Chicano/Latino bachelor’s degree recipients in 2017-18 graduated with student loan debt.

Yusra Siddique, a junior Political Science major, did not agree with Aguilar on if or why race influences the action students take for financing college.

“I find that what he said is blatantly ignorant. If Mr. Aguilar were to sit down with students and actually got to know what they are going through, he would

know how difficult it is; I think he comes from a place of privilege. Race is a huge issue. It is still an issue. The fact that he is saying otherwise is ignorant and bigoted.”

Vice Chair of the Student Services Fee Advisory Committee (SSFAC) Lennin Kuri praised Aguilar but disagreed with his comments, “I feel that it (race) is interconnected within the UCs and with all educational institutions across California.

I have met Jose personally; he’s really amazing. Campus aid or financial aid for cost of attending the university still does not equalize everyone’s background socioeconomically or racially.” In the interview, Kuri said that the UCs try to create the impression that everything is equal and he himself does not believe that each student has equal circumstances. He believes that the racial component, along with the type of students supported in the UC system, plays a large role in student debt.

The report itself concludes with solutions to reduce student loan debt on UC campuses. According to the report, the UCSA is attempting to provide more need based aid for non-tuition expenses.

The Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC) and the Cal State Student Association (CSSA) are working with the UCSA on this plan. A boost in Cal Grant coverage can mitigate non-tuition costs for lower income students, according to the report.

Aguilar stresses the importance of scholarships; “If a student receives a scholarship, we reduce the loan and work portion before reducing any grants that the student receives.” Ultimately, Aguilar claims more scholarships provided to students can counteract student loan debt issues that students face.

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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

NEWS

TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2019

Research on citrus fruit provides insight into causes of tartness

AIDAN RUTTEN Senior Staff Writer

While citrus fruits are generally known for their tartness and acidity, it was not known why this was until UCR researchers recently discovered the genetic cause for the flavor profile of fruits like lemons and limes.

A team of researchers including Dr. Mikeal Roose, a professor of genetics in the department of botany and plant sciences, and staff research associate Claire Federici, published their research this past February in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

By testing the flesh of different varieties of citrus fruits, they found that certain genes, namely CitPH1 and CitPH5, were expressed more prominently in the genetic makeup of the tarter varieties of the fruits than in the sweeter, less acidic varieties.

“Our perception of flavor is influenced by the balance between sugars and acid, mainly citric acid,” said Dr. Roose in an email to the Highlander. “As citrus fruit ripen, the acidity typically decreases more rapidly

than sugars increase so the amount of acid that accumulates and how quickly it decreases are major determinants of fruit maturity.”

It turns out that hydrogen ions play an important role in the development of acidity in these fruits. The level of these hydrogen ions found in the pulp of tart fruits compared to sweeter ones suggest that they are responsible for the low pH levels (acidity) that account for the sour flavor. The mechanisms through which these hydrogen ion levels occurred in plants remained a mystery to scientists until the UCR researchers observed the genetic processes of petunias. These observations revealed that the genes CitPH1 and CitPH5 played a larger role than just aiding in the coloration of plants, which was the previous understanding of their function.

This research could have a positive impact on both citrus producers as well as consumers.

According to Dr. Roose, “We need to have citrus varieties that ripen at different times of the year. This benefits consumers

in having fresh fruit available that are closer to peak maturity.

It also benefits producers and workers by extending the citrus harvest season.” Dr. Roose further elaborated on the potential benefits of this research, stating that “understanding

the mechanism that leads to acid accumulation will help us develop varieties with excellent flavor at different times.”

Beyond the capacity to grow sweeter tasting citrus fruit varieties, the researchers hope that their work can be built upon.

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COURTESY OF PIXABAY

Dr. Roose said that “We hope that an eventual benefit will be development of new citrus varieties with better taste that encourage consumption of more citrus fruit. We hope to couple this with fruit having enhanced levels H of health-beneficial chemicals.”■

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AFSCME patient care and technical workers set to strike this April AIDAN RUTTEN Senior Staff Writer

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

Following an unfair labor practice lawsuit filed against the UC system last week

by Patient Care Technical workers, who are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299, the union plans to strike again on Wednesday, April 10 after having done so the week of March 18 in response to stalled contract negotiations.

According to a press release, “Earlier this week (of March 24), Service and Patient Care workers filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge at the Public Employment Relations Board addressing UC’s unlawful interference, which includes conduct ranging from workplace retaliation and threats of police citation

to effectively condoning the violent physical assault of striking workers on the picket line.”

Several incidents over the past several months, including alleged assaults by university police and even employees against demonstrators, were cited in the charge as examples of the university breaching labor rights and creating a hostile work environment.

AFSCME President Kathryn Lybarger was quoted in the release as saying that, “Now, UC is resorting to intimidation tactics to silence the thousands of workers across California that have taken a stand against this behavior. We cannot and will not allow UC to violate the rights of these workers by trampling state law.”

More information on the situation is forthcoming.

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Opinions TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

College bribery scandal reveals unsurprising rift in admission process

T

he U.S. Department of Justice faced a record breaking scandal when it was revealed on March 12 that at least 50 people were being indicted in a college admissions-related prosecution, also known as Operation Varsity Blues. Although there is a sizeable amount of people being charged, much focus has shifted onto the wealthy parents who are accused of utilizing their staggeringly large net worth to get their children into some of America’s highestranking universities such as Yale, USC and UCLA. The methods used to ensure a spot for their children at these elite universities primarily include cheating on the SAT and feigned athletic scholarships.

This revelation paved the way for a reintroduction of ideas into the realm of public discussion, primarily on how the educational system is balanced in favor of the rich.

Some have started to suggest doing away with the SAT, as it was a highly used medium by the parents to get their kids into an admissions spot. While it is sensible to point out how education is usually catered towards those with more money, trying to replace or completely get rid of standardized testing isn’t a be-all, end-all solution to the issue. It isn’t a farfetched idea to point out that money can also lessen the severity of consequences, but that shouldn’t be the case. The parents who have been charged should be held accountable for attempting to enroll their children into top universities in such a dishonorable way.

The SAT has faced consistent scrutiny throughout the years, mostly through the belief that it isn’t a good indicator of college performance. To back

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up this statement, Matthew Chingos of the Urban Institute, a think tank that specializes in social and economic policy research, found in a study that high school GPA was a better predictor of college achievement than the SAT was.

On top of this, there is evidence of a high correlation between SAT scores and family income.

After all, this makes sense, as more wealth does mean that families will have more access to tools to succeed on the SAT: private tutors, prep courses and the ability to take the test multiple times, just to name a few.

However, the problem with this admissions scandal in terms of the SAT wasn’t the fact that the parents used their wealth to access more ways for their children to get a better score; the parents explicitly directed their spending towards cheating on the SAT. Some tactics included paying other people to take the SAT for their children or having proctors correct the students’ answers after the test. Additionally, the SAT has changed in recent years, pointing to the possibility that the test is attempting to improve itself. The most recent change came in 2016 when the SAT shifted from its 2400 scoring scale back to 1600, what it previously was. In addition to the scoring changes, College Board President David Coleman stated that the new test attempts to incorporate questions more relevant to a student’s learning curriculum.

Again, this doesn’t take away from the notion that students who come from a more affluent background are advantaged when it comes to standardized testing in general.

Yet at the same time, it’s worth wondering if there will ever be a system established where the rich aren’t given the upper

hand due to the vast amount of resources they will always have to prepare their kids for educational success.

In relation to the wealthy having the means to properly provide guidance for their children in standardized testing, the bribery scandal has also upheld the idea that the rich have always been pulling strings for their children to get into top-tier colleges. An example to further solidify this sentiment includes private college consulting, a legal and unregulated industry that parents are willing to siphon millions of dollars into in order to ensure their child has a fighting chance against the nation’s most cutthroat universities.

Another example is legacy admissions, a controversial tool used by colleges such as USC and Harvard in which ample (though not explicitly stated how much) consideration is given to applicants whose family members attended the university.

Harvard officials have defended legacy admissions, citing that it connects the school to alumni, many of whom are major donors to the school. One of the oldest tricks in the book is donations, though this is starting to prove more costly.

Nowadays, it can cost up to $10 million or more in order to give legitimate consideration to an unqualified applicant.

Many students have found the bribery scandal to be unsurprising, and the fact that the reaction to the unfolding of this story wasn’t met with overwhelming feelings of shock or surprise speaks to the magnitude of how society is generally aware that the education system is flawed and also in favor of the wealthy.

There have been attempts to try and balance the system out for

the masses through mechanisms such as affirmative action, but that in itself brings up a whole other set of problems as it seemingly perpetuates racial stereotypes and wrongfully penalizes Asian-Americans.

Tracing the broken educational system in America to its origins will likely reveal improper investment in our country’s public education, especially in neighborhoods of low-income.

Many of the parents involved are facing charges and are still appearing in court, but a lot of questions are now being aimed at the fate of the currently enrolled children, some of whom prosecutors say were unaware of the ways their parents schemed to get them into their respective universities.

However, prosecutors also haven’t completely turned a blind eye to the possibility that the students could be charged. The universities the students attend have dealt with the scandal in mixed ways, some suspending current student accounts and some still awaiting more information in order to act appropriately.

It’s fair to say that there exist students who weren’t aware of the bribery scandal and genuinely want to invest in their education. But the public has also been confronted with evidence from some students who openly regarded school as unimportant, and those are the ones who should be met with harsher consequences.

Olivia Jade Giannulli, perhaps one of the biggest names to come out of the scandal, is known for her beauty and lifestyle videos on YouTube, where she has millions of fans. In a nowdeleted video, Giannulli is heard saying “I don’t really care about school, as you guys all know.” The video caught minor backlash from the time

it was posted and Giannulli already apologized for her “super-ignorant” comments, yet it still stands that she also made a point to say how her career as a social media influencer conflicted with her school schedule at USC, which brings into question what the point was of her enrollment in such a competitive university if she didn’t have the time (nor the effort) to fully commit herself as a student. For now, it’s still unconfirmed whether or not Giannulli was aware of her mother’s actions prior to the scandal, but she still personifies the crux of the scandal: a statistically qualified student being robbed of a seat at a university and replaced with someone who isn’t as qualified or invested in their education.

Operation Varsity Blues spurred on important conversations about the way our country’s education industry is deeply flawed and it also showed concerning lengths that even the wealthy had to take in order to enroll their child at a high caliber college. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that this scandal will foster a reformation in the way college admissions are run; some universities will likely still continue the longstanding tradition of legacy admissions and give consideration to students who hail from a family line of generous donors. In light of this disappointing reveal, colleges should make an effort to monitor their admissions more closely in order to ensure that such a large scale scandal doesn’t occur again.

■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.

OPINIONS

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

TUESDAY,APRIL 02, 2019

7

OPINION POLL Compiled by Jimmy Lai Senior Staff Photographer

“What did you do over Spring Break?”

Martin Lopez Biochemistry Third -year “I just relaxed and watched Netflix, I really just wanted to turn my brain off finals”

Kerry Mulia MCS Third-year “I caught up with some friends and spent most of my time relaxing.”

Marcelo Garcia TFDP Third-year “I spent all of my time relaxing and playing video games”

Aidan Rutten Politcal Science Fourth-year “I helped my grandma with a bunch of stuff and took care of my dad because he is sick.

Also nothing.”

Evan Ismail Political Science Third-year “I visited some family and went to the beach.”

Martha Delgado Creative Writing Fourth-year “I read two books for fun in spring break.”

Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation exonerates President Trump from Democrat-inspired Russian conspiracy theories ANDY LI Contributing Writer

Last weekend, Attorney General William Barr submitted a four-page summary of the conclusions of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into potential collusion and obstruction of justice charges against President Trump and members of his 2016 presidential campaign. The long-awaited report found no evidence of collusion between Trump or his associates with the Russians in 2016, and it provided no indictment on the issue of obstruction of justice either.

According to constitutional law and the legal framework for criminal indictments, when the special counsel demurs on an issue such as obstruction, the authority rests with the attorney general, who determined that the president did not obstruct justice by firing then-FBI Director James Comey.

Noticeably, the results of the almost two-year long investigation, despite finally bringing closure to this controversial debate, did little to change the political polarization on either side of the spectrum.

While right-wing media figures hailed the Mueller report as a total and complete vindication for the president, left-wing outlets desperately argued that Trump’s suspicious finances, currently under investigation by the Southern District of New York, as well as his personal character, continue to disqualify him from the presidency. However, regardless of your political opinions on Donald Trump, it is important, now more than ever, to stick to the facts, not partisan narrative.

It is a fact that candidate Trump did not collude with the Russians. It is a fact that none of Trump’s campaign associates colluded with the Russians either. It is also a fact that the President of the United States absolutely has the legal authority to fire members of his own executive branch, including the FBI Director. Many liberal critics will argue that Trump’s antagonistic behavior during this lengthy investigation, including his numerous threats to fire Mueller, indicated a fear of being exposed. Ironically, this mentality is completely bogus, because if one were to put themselves in Trump’s shoes, having to suffer a two-year long investigation into a crime that they obviously did not commit, they would be totally frustrated that their political reputation, as well as their approval ratings, would be suffering as a result of this investigation.

Given the positive outcome of the Mueller report, Americans of both political parties should be celebrating the reality that the president did not commit treason with a foreign power. That is a good outcome not just for his administration, but more importantly, for the credibility and national security of the country itself.

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What is particularly troublesome is the extent to which left-wing journalists and political leaders have invested so much of their energy and time into pushing the Russian-collusion conspiracy theory that, even in the face of reality, they are refusing to accept the results. This shows unfortunately that they are more obsessed with their political futures than they are with putting America first.

Take Democrat Congressman Adam Schiff, for example. Schiff serves as the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and completely rejected the findings of the Mueller report, continuing to claim repeatedly that there is already plenty of evidence that Trump himself colluded with Russia. This kind of irresponsible disregard for facts and truth, prioritizing political partisanship over putting the country first, is everything that is wrong with America’s political landscape today.

Schiff isn’t alone in his wanton peddling of tinfoil hat conspiracy theories. Representative Eric Swalwell is another Democrat so obsessed with taking down Trump by any means possible that he’s repeatedly expressed a desire to run for President, despite serving barely six years in the House. Swalwell claims that simply because Trump and his associates communicated with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign constitutes collusion. Hypocritically, Swalwell was nowhere to be found complaining about “communicating with the enemy” when

former President Barack Obama famously told his Russian counterpart at the UN in 2012 that “after I win reelection, I will have more flexibility with the sanctions.”

Or, when former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton approved the notorious Uranium One deal with Russian officials without consulting Congress, and then repeatedly lied about the details of the deal when questioned by these same members of Congress.

Trump’s efforts to establish diplomatic ties with the Russians during the campaign is nothing new, and presidential campaigns have been communicating with their foreign counterparts for decades. In a world marked by widespread nuclear capacity, tensions due to the recent nullification of the INF treaty and relations with Russia souring over the past decade, communication and diplomacy are more important than ever.

President Trump should be hailed and praised for attempting to pursue a more peaceful alternative with the Russians rather than the knee-jerk belligerence and pure Russophobia of his 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton, or other establishment, hawkish Democrats in Congress.

As we finally move on from the unfortunate controversy of the Mueller investigation, a more disturbing picture comes into focus. Some sources have argued that then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton invented the Russian collusion theory within hours of learning that she was going to lose the

election to Trump. Given the arrogant confidence that both Clinton and the majority of the mainstream media had in her supposed victory (with Huffington Post claiming a 98.1 percent chance of a Democrat in the White House), it is understandable that Democrats and media figures would be stuck in a state of existential crisis when Trump defied all expectations and broke through the blue wall. What is unacceptable is for a mainstream American political party, as well as half of the entire national media in the country, to refuse to concede defeat and instead invest its time and energy into delegitimizing President Trump with baseless lies and allegations.

On the Russia collusion front, Democrats and the mainstream media all owe the president a massive apology, not just for the political loss incurred by two years of endless slander, but more importantly, for the destructive effect that this nonsense has had in cheapening political discourse and widening the gap between Americans of both political parties. The real lesson that should be learned from the Mueller investigation is how important it is to preserve sportsmanship and decency in American politics. Losing with grace is more important than winning with pride.

The inability of the Democrats to do so cost this country a ridiculous amount of taxpayer money and two whole years of wasted time hunting after a nonexistent sinister force.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2019

ESTHER CHOI Contributing Writer

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

A healthy society requires strengthening vaccination laws

There has been a sharp decline in the number of individuals getting vaccinated over the course of several years globally. Research has shown that whooping cough, which is a vaccinepreventable disease, has increased in recent years following a sharp decline after 1970. This can be linked to the fact that vaccination rates have decreased.

Preventing students from attending school because they aren’t vaccinated may sound harsh and unjust at first, but is justified by the potential consequences of failing to vaccinate. Vaccination is one of the best inventions in history because it allows society to protect people from various conditions and diseases. With vaccination, a lot of people are alive and well today.

Vaccination is now an essential part of human life. Vaccines enable children with immunosuppressive diseases to go to school without having to worry about being infected by their sick peers. This goes for the parents of these children as well because they would be worrying about their child at school or they would not send them at all.

The scientific correlation is undeniable. We certainly do see a positive trend between vaccinations and the number of healthy people. Research finds that 52-79 percent of adults that were flu vaccinated were less likely to die from flu-related symptoms. There have been a lot of claims recently that vaccines do harm to people, but this statement is largely unsupported.

Children that are unable to receive vaccinations due to their health condition would be exposed to a lot of risk factors that can deteriorate their health if it were not for vaccines. Children who are too small or have immunosuppressive disease cannot have vaccinations due to their condition. In this case, they have to be more careful and extremely cautious

of their surroundings to make sure that they do not get infected with viruses or bacteria. This means that they need to be in an environment where they are free of these potential threats. These free zone areas are places where the surrounding people are healthy and have strong immune systems.

Recently, there was a case in Italy where a lot of children could not attend kindergarten because they were not vaccinated. For a year, the Italian government temporarily took away the strict 2017 law regarding vaccinations and became flexible matters regarding vaccination. Parents did not even need a doctor’s note to prove that their child received vaccinations when they enrolled them in school. The parents only needed to make a statement that their child was vaccinated. Remember that this was only temporary and was made to last only for a year.

This March, the 2017 law which required 10 vaccinations came into effect again which prevented many children from enrolling in kindergarten because they were not vaccinated. The 2017 law was temporarily on hold in 2018 to March 2019. During the time when the 2017 law was on hold, the government was working on a law to introduce a “flexible obligation.” Also, children who are seven and up can attend school, but their parents will be charged a fine up to €500. This really shows us that if the government does not impose strict laws on making vaccinations mandatory, many people will not get themselves or their children vaccinated in a timely manner. The adoption of the 2017 law was a response to the measles outbreak that year and the previous year in Italy.

Italy was responsible for 34 percent of all measles cases in Europe that same year.

We cannot ignore the fact that vaccination has had a positive impact on humanity. Vaccination enables people to live their lives without worrying about

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dying due to rampant epidemics of infectious disease. Research has found that 89 percent of measles cases in Italy were among unvaccinated people. If the majority of the people that are not vaccinated caught the measles, this means that people are not protected against this disease. Also, research has found that 6 percent of measles cases were among people who received only one dose. The

measles vaccine has helped eliminate this disease in the U.S. Vaccines were invented to help people, not harm them. Think about the millions of people that benefit from these vaccinations. We have to be able to distinguish what is true and what is not.

We should not be fooled by what other people say, or believe everything that is on the internet.

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Be read.

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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FEATURES

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FEATURES

TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2019

Restaurant Review:

Monty’s

challenges perceptions of vegan food

G ood B u r g e r

PREETI JUTURU Contributing Writer

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

With the Riverside Food Lab in downtown Riverside being the latest great place to eat, vegan food may seem like the last thing you’d want to order there. After all, when people picture vegan food, they picture salads, soy and bland flavors. Monty’s Good Burger fights this stereotype, presenting customers with an In-N-Out style meal with the added bonus of it all being vegan, organic and locally sourced.

Upon approaching Monty’s Good Burger in the food hall, you’re greeted by neon signs and bar stools. The ambiance is reminiscent of an 80s-style diner, and is definitely the type of place you’d go to take Instagram photos. My only complaint was that the stools can’t be moved, and the space to eat is limited due to a lack of ample seating.

When looking at the menu, the first thing that immediately caught my eye were the prices. A single patty burger with the works was $11! As a college student on a budget, spending $11 on one burger did not seem worth it.

Nevertheless, I decided to pick something from every section of

the menu to get the true “Monty’s experience.” I ordered the classic single patty burger, Julienne Fries with an onion aioli dipping sauce, a strawberry shake and a “Sonoran cowboy” cookie.

Upon receiving the single patty burger with fries, I noticed that the burger was a bit smaller than I had expected. However, it looked extremely mouthwatering, with a soft bun and a juicy patty.

Biting into the burger, I was swept away by the house spread sauce.

All of the elements of the burger were extremely crisp and fresh, and the burger was juicy and tasted extremely rich. I personally do not eat beef, but when I let my friends try the burger, they were shocked by how much the burger tasted like a real beef patty. The burger was overall extremely high quality, but what really elevated the sandwich was the house sauce. The flavour reminded me of a “thousand island” spread, but of a higher quality, a stronger flavor and with more of a kick.

Next, I bit into the Julienne Fries. The fries were extremely fluffy but just crispy enough on the outside. I felt very “clean” when eating them, because they weren’t excessively oily and my hands weren’t greasy after eating them.

For the price of $4, you receive a good amount of fries that you’ll definitely savor. I dipped the fries into the onion aioli, hoping to be just as blown away as I was when I tried the house spread sauce. I was a bit disappointed, however.

The onion aioli had a decent flavor; it was very light and tasted like a classy rendition of a sour cream and onion dip. However, it did not meet the high standards of the house spread, especially considering the fact that I had to pay an extra dollar for it to accompany my fries. The house spread was much more fulfilling and had a stronger flavor. The onion aioli was almost too light, and the flavor was not as unique as the house spread.

To switch things up, I tried the strawberry milkshake. When you first receive the milkshake, the first thing you’ll want to do is take a photo of it. The shake is a vivid pink color with a large strawberry on top and comes with a cute paper straw. When I took the first sip, I was awestruck by how light and creamy the shake was. I couldn’t believe that it contained no milk! The shake was extremely rich, frothy and had a very natural strawberry flavor.

When I asked the chefs how they

made the shake, they told me that they used real strawberries! I was extremely satisfied by the shake, and it was truly $5 well spent.

Lastly, I ended my meal with desert. I had originally wanted to try the “Middle of Brownie” cookie, but they had unfortunately run out because that flavor was extremely popular. I figured I would try the “Sonoran Cowboy” cookie instead, because one of the cashiers highly recommended it. He told me that the cookie was a vegan cookie filled with organic raisins, oats, chocolate and nuts. I bit into the cookie, anticipating a taste similar to an oatmeal raisin cookie. However, I was completely surprised to find that it tasted exactly like a coconut cluster cookie. The cookie did not taste anything like an oatmeal raisin cookie, and had a very crumbly texture. The only flavor was coconut, with a raisin or two in every bite. Personally, I enjoy the flavor of coconut, but this cookie was not as good as I had expected it to be. For the cost of $4, I expected the cookie to be higher quality, especially considering how good the other items were.

After eating all that food, I was surprised because I wasn’t feeling

bloated and full. I felt satisfied and I didn’t feel “gross.” Typically after eating fast food, you feel sluggish and heavy, but I actually felt very light. If you were to tell me that all of the food I ate was completely vegan, I would not believe it. Monty’s Good Burger helped me realise that you can enjoy “unhealthy” food in a healthier way that is made with local ingredients, and that vegan food is so much more than what we see on TV. All of the food was overall very good and high quality, with a few exceptions.

My only complaint is the price point. For what you get, the prices are extremely hiked up. I understand that the prices are higher than what I’m used to because all of the food is plant based, locally sourced and organic. However, even with that in mind, $11 for a burger that I finished in less than three minutes is not exactly something I could afford on a daily basis. Monty’s Good Burger is a great place to dine at and everyone should try it at least once. However, Monty’s is the type of place you’d go to if you wanted to treat yourself and your friends, not a fast-food joint that you could visit more consistently.

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BURGER

Fries

dips

shakes

desserts

9/10

price:

9/10

8.5/10 $$

9/10 7/10 Ambiance: 8.5/10

JASMINE YAMANAKA / HIGHLANDER

Features Campus Cope: FEATURES

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2019

11

Mapping out your study abroad adventure By: Martha Delgado, Senior Staff Writer

Some preconceptions people have about studying abroad is that it is too dangerous, expensive, unimportant or time-consuming to be worth it. Most of those myths are not true. You can get credit from study abroad programs to help complete your degree requirements and there are many programs that range from summer to year-long. After choosing to study abroad, some may find the process intimidating at first. To those who are unfamiliar with the process, the necessary steps and paperwork may seem overwhelming.

Here are some tips to keep in mind if you are thinking about studying abroad.

What program will you apply to?

The Education Abroad office has three programs for students to study abroad. The Faculty Led Education Abroad Program (FLEAP) is a 5-7 week program that takes place in the summer. In this program, a UCR faculty member leads a group of UCR students or UC students abroad for the duration of the program. It is like taking summer session courses, except instead of being at UCR, students take classes abroad.

The UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) is for UC students only. These programs offer summer, semester, year-long and even some quarter programs. Depending on the program, you may be accompanied by other UC students.

Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP) offers study abroad programs through other UC and third-party providers. This program offers a variety of programs that vary in length and location.

THOMAS HOLGUIN / HIGHLANDER

Where do you want to go?

After picking a program, you should think about what country you want to study abroad.

Do you want to study in a country with a foreign language? Do you want to go to a country where English is the dominant language? What country do you want to go to and why?

Is it because of the food, the culture or the language? These are some questions that can guide you in planning where you want to go.

THOMAS HOLGUIN / HIGHLANDER

How will you fund it?

A common misconception is that studying abroad is too expensive. However, it is possible to get your trip entirely funded by scholarships. There are a variety of study abroad scholarships. Luckily, many of these are listed on the Education Abroad website, under the “finances” section. For most of the scholarships, you may need to write a personal statement or provide transcripts. Make sure to visit the Academic Resource Center to get your statement revised. Also, make sure to check the requirements and order documents like transcripts ahead of time.

THOMAS HOLGUIN / HIGHLANDER

What paperwork will you need to complete?

THOMAS HOLGUIN / HIGHLANDER

One of the things you will have to begin preparing is paperwork. Some programs may require statements of purpose, a cover letter and/or letters of recommendation.

One of the first things you need to do is make sure that your passport is up to date. The process to get a passport can take up to eight weeks, so it is best to start this as early as possible.

You will also need to go to a pre-travel appointment at the health center or with your healthcare provider. Appointments usually fill up fast, so make sure to book your appointment as soon as possible. In this appointment, you will be told the precautions you should take abroad, and if you are up to date with the required vaccinations for this country.

How do you start?

The first step you can take if you are interested in an UCEAP or OAP program is to visit the Education Abroad website and create a MyUCR Abroad interest profile. In the website, you will search for what programs you want to apply for and apply for them. You can visit the Education Abroad office on the third floor of the Surge building to ask questions about the process. If you are interested in FLEAP, you can attend an information session.

It is recommended to plan your trip six to 12 months in advance, so the earlier you start, the better prepared you will be. You don’t have to have your whole trip planned out right away. Taking a few moments out of your day can give you enough time to search through programs and get started on the application’s components.

THOMAS HOLGUIN / HIGHLANDER

Studying abroad is a process that does not have to feel overwhelming or intimidating. By starting early, you can comfortably work your way through the paperwork and finish the application on time. Be aware of deadlines for programs as they may come sooner than you expect.

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R adar ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

RYAN POON / HIGHLANDER

Radar

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2019

13

“Shazam!” shows a bright future for DC’s new era of superhero films COLIN CARNEY Staff Writer

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS

After several critical and box office disappointments, DC had succeeded in picking itself back up with successes in both “Aquaman” and “Wonder Woman.”

However, they had yet to produce two consecutive hits. That all changes with the release of “Shazam!” as DC proves it can produce a light-hearted and fun film while still delivering captivating story and performances.

“Shazam!” follows the orphaned Billy Batson (Asher Angel) who is suddenly whisked away to the mysterious Rock of Eternity, where he is introduced to the ancient wizard Shazam. After being deemed pure of heart, Billy is granted the power of the wizard whenever he utters his name.

Doing so transforms Billy from a child into an adult with the powers of several Greek gods and heroes. With his newfound powers, adult Billy (Zachary Levi) takes to the streets alongside his foster brother and best friend Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) to become a superhero and have fun while doing it. Things take a turn for the serious when their fun time playing superhero is interrupted by a real life supervillain with strength and powers similar to Shazam, Dr. Sivanna (Mark Strong). In order to defeat Sivanna and save the world, Billy is forced to master his powers and become the hero he is destined to be.

The film is reminiscent of the 80s and 90s adventure flicks (such as “Big” and “The Goonies”) that center around children, as it delivers on emotional and fun moments while also capitalizing on cheesy humor and childhood antics. At times the film may look and feel over the top and cartoonish, such as Shazam’s colorful costume, but they all work when taken in the context of the film. Even the humor, which in the grand scheme of superhero films has been rather hit-or-miss, lands more often than it doesn’t. In fact, the humor is superb in “Shazam!” as childish jokes, meta humor and situational gags are all adding to the film’s light-hearted feel and are expertly delivered regardless of who is saying them.

With that being said, the film isn’t afraid to deliver on some genuinely emotional segments too. Billy’s struggle to find his real mother and his path to recognizing that his true home lies with the foster

family is beautiful and heartwarming to watch. “Shazam!” manages to masterfully juggle several genres without sacrificing its main narrative. Throughout the film are hints of adventure, coming of age, comedy and drama that all seamlessly coexist. The entire film feels complete as all of the film’s plot threads are eventually tied together and none feel as if they were underdeveloped in favor of the larger narrative. Director David Sandberg hits it out of the park with “Shazam!” as every aspect of the film, even the admittedly cheesy bits, work and add to the overall tone and character.

With regards to cast, “Shazam!” again outdoes itself as each member of the ensemble deliver on their performances, regardless of screen time. Angel’s Billy Batson truly captures his rebellious nature and strong desire to be reunited with his birth mother. Additionally, Billy’s adult superhero avatar is perfectly played by Levi, who manages to portray a child in a man’s body in a believable way. It is obvious after mere moments of screen time that Levi, and the entire cast, are having a blast in this film. Strong again manages to play the menacing villain and though at times he may appear onenote, his backstory adds believability and justification for his actions that makes him a great opposite to Billy. Lastly, the entire foster family shine whenever they appear on screen but none more than Grazer (Freddy) who steals almost every scene he’s in. His enthusiasm for superheroes is infectious and his comedic timing is second to none. If it wasn’t obvious after “IT” that Grazer is a great actor, it is now after “Shazam!”.

“Shazam!” proves that DC and Warner Bros are capable of creating great standalone superhero movies that deliver on fun moments and compelling stakes.

Though this film is insulated in that it has little to no impact to a greater Justice League universe, it makes it clear that it exists firmly in the same universe with plenty of references to the other heroes such as Batman and Superman. It’s hard to pinpoint any faults this movie might have save for the occasionally questionable use of CGI, but even that fails to stand out meaningfully amidst the fun that is “Shazam!”. “Shazam!”’s childlike wonder and cheesy nature make up for any corny bits of dialogue or funky character designs that may rarely pop up.

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COURTESY OF WARNER BROS

Verdict:

DC hits it out of the park with “Shazam!” as it manages to land with everything it sets out to deliver and provide a truly heartwarming and exciting adventure.

Each member of the cast shines and the film will leave audiences feeling happy and hopeful for the future of DC films.

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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2019

Peele’s “Us” makes for a nail-biting thriller but falls short of its predecessor SILVIA FERRER Staff Writer

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS

Jordan Peele’s sophomore film, “Us,” was a highly anticipated release following the success of his directorial debut “Get Out.” The film follows a family of four: Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o), her husband Gabe (Winston Duke) and their two children, Zora and Jason. Peele, the writer, director and producer, crafts a chilling tale of evil doppelgangers that works with stark, sometimes comedic lines and continuously aesthetic camera work.

While the tone, camera shots and acting performances are excellent, the film falls just short of the caliber that the genius “Get Out” set.

The film first follows the young Adelaide in 1986 as she trails behind her bickering parents at a pier. The audience views the almost overwhelming sounds (including the fight her parents are having) and lights of the carnival through the child’s point of view. Peele is a master at establishing tone through sound and camera work; the tone shifts from the overwhelming to the eerie as the sound subsides and the camera shots continue to follow Adelaide as she wanders off into a hall of mirrors. Madison Curry, who plays young Adelaide, delivers an incredibly believable and terrifying performance that foreshadows later developments. But despite good production value, the film has a rather slow start, even as it moves from Adelaide’s childhood to present day. Peele’s approach is to establish each character as a complex individual rather than immediately delving into horror.

While working up to the action had its benefits in terms of quality and acting performances, it also had its drawbacks.

Viewers who were hoping for intense scares are going to be sorely disappointed;

“Us” is definitely more of a psychological thriller.

The shift from calm to frightening is abrupt; the sudden arrival of the doppelgangers signals the quickening of the pace and highlights the cast’s talents.

Nyong’o maintains the tone with terrified facial expressions matching her frenzied movements. Her performance as the double is equally incredible and also the main source of terror: her voice, her expression, even her walk is downright scary. During this intense interaction, Duke relieves a bit of the tension through comedic relief. At times, he shares the screen with his sassy teen daughter, Zora, but his goofiness and ongoing slew of dad jokes make sure that the Peele’s comedian chops show through the spine-chilling excitement.

As the family is chased by their sinister doppelgangers, the tone switches again to frustrating paranoia as the Wilsons are split up and confront constant close calls. Once they are separated, they fight for survival; the gore is not excessive, but definitely enough to make the audience squeamish.

Peele keeps the audience on the edge of their seats but once again makes sure to ease up the tension just enough for the film to have comic moments, sometimes conveyed just through the choice of background music.

Peele’s second film is certainly a great feat — he works all the tools at his disposal to make the film frightening enough to keep audiences invested, but unfortunately not frightening enough or as compelling as his directorial debut. The film is infinitely more impactful if one watches it with no expectations or knowledge of the plot beforehand. As the story unravels, the film gets progressively creepier and more interesting, but any prior knowledge of the story and its slow start almost detracts from the brilliance of the plot.

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verdict:

While Peele works to keep a balance of comedy and unnerving thriller, his second film falls short of the tight, perfect balance that “Get Out” achieved.

Nevertheless, “Us” deserves a watch for thriller-loving audiences and fans of Peele’s previous work alike.

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“S e k i r o : SHADOWS DIE TWICE

”

TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2019

15

is peak From Software but features familiar blemishes

Marcelo Garcia, Senior Staff writer

The release of “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” felt much more anticipated than any other title to come out of developer From Software in recent years. This IP seemed like the company’s most ambitious project yet.

A focus on vertical movement, completely new combat gadgets and its feudal Japan aesthetic all looked much different than the Medieval or Gothic settings of the “Dark Souls” or “Bloodborne” series, respectively.

For anyone simply curious about this game or a hardcore From Software fan who wants to go in with minimal spoilers (as the sense of discovery and learning curve is half the fun of these games), the game is everything you’re hoping it is. It delivers on everything teased in trailers and I dare say it’s the best “Souls” style game to date.

Upon starting “Sekiro,” the most apparent difference from other “Souls” games is its direction in storytelling.

Rather than focusing on a world, the way its predecessors did, this game focuses on its characters. Rather than the ambiguous “chosen undead” or “hunter,” you are Wolf, loyal shinobi of Lord Kuro, the Divine Heir.

General progression is much more plot driven and cutscenes are far more cinematic, with even the player character being fully voiced. This makes for a much better experience when the world around you changes. Unlike in “Bloodborne,” where half of Gehrman and The Doll’s dialogue is downright cryptic if you didn’t do every side quest and find every lore tidbit, you feel a lot more guided through “Sekiro’”s story.

This isn’t to say that exploration and lore discovery are nonexistent in this game; in fact it’s quite the opposite (especially when it comes to the multiple endings). What “Sekiro” accomplishes here is establishing a nice middle ground that engages those who simply play through the game, while rewarding those who put in the extra effort.

The gameplay still feels very similar to other “Souls” titles, but features enough new mechanics to make it fresh. For one, stamina has been removed and you can now spam attacks as much as you like without having to worry about tiring out. Instead, it has been replaced by a posture meter, which goes up the more attacks you block. If your posture maxes out, your block will break and leave you open to attack. What makes this mechanic increasingly interesting is that every opponent also has a posture meter, which you can max out to expose them to a death blow, no matter their health bar. This includes bosses.

This mechanic single-handedly creates a much more interactive combat system that feels like an even more aggressive “Bloodborne.” While dodging around and waiting to punish a boss’ ending lag is still a valid option (arguably even more valid now since stamina is gone), it’s far from optimal since posture slowly recovers whenever an enemy isn’t being pressured. Therefore, the only way to consistently succeed in combat is to constantly face opponents, using counters and deflects to slowly whittle down their posture. Every bit of this feels extremely fluid, as “Sekiro” really nails sword fighting in a way unlike any other title I’ve ever played.

As much as “Sekiro” polishes and refines the concepts of its predecessors, at its core, it is still very much a From Software game and retains nearly every downside of those same predecessors.

For one, this game still features the clunk of the From Software game engine.

For those new to From Software’s titles, this can be best explained through “Sekiro”’s grappling hook, which is vital to the game’s vertical movement. For the most part, the grappling hook is fine; it’s rather fun to traverse around rooftops but falls short

COURTESY OF ACTIVISION

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of feeling as fluid as the Batman Arkham series’ iconic movement system. However, occasionally the game simply won’t register the grapple point and won’t allow you to zip up. This is the case with virtually anything in this game; parrying, throwing items, using shinobi tools are all great when they work as intended. The rare times that they don’t, however, show the unwieldy engine of From Software.

The only other main issue about this game is its camera, which unfortunately malfunctions more consistently. The camera has always been my main gripe with any “Souls” style game, and nothing about it has been fixed here. At times, simply by angling the camera slightly off or moving Wolf slightly out of center, both the lockon and regular camera systems just go haywire. This is made very apparent in the Lady Butterfly fight, where her stepping to the other side of a pillar you currently face causes the camera to lock off and jerk to the side (often turning your view around completely). This is rather unfortunate, since these are the only real issues “Sekiro” has, and while they may be minor, they are extremely invasive and actively affect the gameplay experience.

I am by no means implying that From Software is an incompetent developer that didn’t iron out bugs in their game; in fact, the truth is quite the opposite. From Software has made it very clear that the above characteristics are intentional design choices in all of their games and show no desire to remedy that fact anytime soon.

While I can understand why they continue down this particular creative direction, it simply makes “Sekiro” and all other From Software titles feel more inconsistent than they should be, piling on minor annoyances that guise themselves as part of their notorious difficulty.

There has actually been quite a bit of discussion regarding “Sekiro” in comparison to the difficulty of previous titles, and while I can understand what would lead some to claim it’s easier than other games, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In comparison to its predecessors, “Sekiro” is much more forgiving. Idols (this game’s version of bonfires or lamps) are much more abundant than their “Dark Souls” or “Bloodborne” counterparts and are placed in rather convenient locations. The stealth system can also be exploited and can even be used to cheese certain fights. There is also a skill tree which provides a few upgrades that alleviate some difficulty (such as one that grants minor healing upon delivering a deathblow).

However, the game’s leniency ends there. Boss fights are just as difficult and if you’re not careful even some normal enemies can two-shot you. I would go as far as to say that some “Sekiro” fights are slightly more unforgiving, since with such a heavy emphasis on close quarters countering and deflecting, there is a much smaller margin for error. Despite the difficulty, however, bosses are extremely fun and vary a ton in both combat and visual design. While that applies to all of them, the one-on-one humanoid encounters are still far more enjoyable and intuitive than the creature bosses.

“Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” is peak From Software, warts and all. Fans of the company will love this and while this title isn’t exactly a turning point that will change a naysayer’s mind, it does feel a bit more accessible to new players. The game has its share of flaws but the amount of polish, fluidity and sheer fun it provides at its high points more than make up for its occasional lows.

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COURTESY OF ACTIVISION

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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2019

METROIDVANIA: a forgotten genre’s brilliant resurrection BY: ADAM ALVERNAZ, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Getting lost in a video game’s world is very easy to do, especially if that world is expansive and detailed enough. The Metroidvania genre is especially known for this. The term stems from a group of games that were introduced in the late 90s: “Super Metroid” in 1994 and later “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night” in 1997. The name is an amalgamation of the two titles as both games embodied a style of gameplay that encouraged exploration.

These types of games were set in large sprawling maps that expanded like fractals. In these expansive worlds, the player would find upgrades and new equipment that would help them move forward through the mysterious map that the game presented. Progression and mystery are all integral pieces to video games as a whole, but the Metroidvania genre revels in these aspects and utilizes them as defining elements. Exploration teaches the player to delve further in order to acquire new elements of gameplay to progress. This aspect is what makes the genre endearing and exciting to play.

In recent times, a resurgence of Metroidvania titles are being reintroduced to the market. These games breath new life into an old school genre and takes strides to improve and bolster the experience to new and veteran players alike. Games like “Hollow Knight” and “Ori and the Blind Forest” return the genre to the lost luster it once had in the late 90s.

“Hollow Knight” utilizes the mysterious aspect of Metroidvania titles to its advantage in a beautiful way.

When first starting the game, the player is given very little narrative to follow and little direction to explore. The game deliberately misinforms the player and makes it their responsibility to seek out the plot. As the game unravels the story, it reveals more aspects as the player seeks them out. This type of indirect storytelling

makes the overall plot akin to a mystery through the unknown depths. Through this journey, the pieces the player finds all come back to the central narrative Team Cherry is trying to develop.

All of this ties to the art direction of the game as well. The game uses a very dark atmospheric tone, only allowing colors to stand out against the black that envelops the games imagery. This emphasis on darkness only furthers the game’s setting in the underground world of insects. Retaining the cartoonish style that makes all elements look hand drawn, this background of all-encompassing darkness is significant as it lets the characters express themselves without being overshadowed by the scenery.

This in turn enriches the fast paced gameplay style that Team Cherry took the time to refine into well-balanced combat, bolstered by the various upgrades and equipment available as the player progresses. These upgrades are staples in the Metroidvania genre as they mainly offer more maneuverability and offensive options for the player to use in both combat and exploration. With more options and tools at the player’s disposal, the world opens up even further.

“Ori and the Blind Forest” is a curious case. The developers, Moon Studios, led with “Ori” as their first title and released it to high praise. The game has now received renown as its own title and is ranked highly amongst the greatest Metroidvania games. Much like “Hollow Knight,” which uses a grayscale underground style, Ori defines its art by vibrantly expressing its world with light filled colors. This art direction creates a world that is radiantly bright and highlights the beautiful natural setting. This plays into the game’s overall narrative so well that it only further emphasizes the beautiful grandiose landscape Ori travels through.

COURTESY OF TEAM CHERRY

“Ori and the Blind Forest” uses its bright and beautiful landscape as the draw for players to keep moving forward to see more of what the world has to offer.

What makes “Ori” unique is the setting and story that wrap the experience together. It’s a unique take on the setting, with enemies and other interactions seamlessly intertwined. This blending is what makes it so satisfying to play, since the player’s choices interact with the world and change the setting and scenery.

“Ori” seeks to use its world as the center of all the working parts that envelops its players into the world and uses the distinct Metroidvania style of exploration to help players progress in its deep and expansive world.

Metroidvania games have progressed in recent years with new releases taking

the genre to new highs. Thanks to the growing indie market, more developers are able to make these new titles. Unreleased Metroidvania titles like the long-awaited “Bloodstained Ritual of the Night,” which is a spiritual successor to the original “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night,” further boost the genre’s credentials. Even “Ori and the Blind Forest” and “Hollow Knight” have sequels that are set to be released in late 2019 to early 2020.

It’s a great time to be a fan of Metroidvania as more and more titles are released each year. The genre’s focus on exploration, mystery and progression continues to pull in players looking for a fun and rewarding experience.

Integrating story, gameplay and setting is a winning formula that continues this genre’s revival.

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Track and field places at Bob Larsen Distance Carnival JORDAN HOM Staff Writer

It was an eventful day for UC Riverside’s track and field team as they were in Los Angeles at the UCLA Bob Larsen Distance Carnival.

For the women’s open 5,000 meters run, freshman Vanessa Gracian placed second with a time of 18:03.03 while sophomore Kiley Atwood finished right behind her in third, coming in at 18:06.13.

Meanwhile, junior Heinrich Van Niekerk led the way during the men’s open one mile run with a time of 4:16.43.

He finished second only behind UC Santa Barbara sophomore Alex Barr, who ran a time of 4:15.21.

Junior Alberto Venegas came in fourth place for the men’s one mile run with a time of 4:27.36, while Cydney Branch placed fourth in the women’s 1,500 meters run with a time of 4:36.84.

Up next, UC Riverside will be in Claremont, California on Saturday, April 6, competing in the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational.

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MEN’S BASKETBALL GETS SHUT DOWN BY UCI IN QUARTERFINAL OF BIG WEST TOURNAMENT

JARYD BONGCARAS Senior Staff Writer

The UCR men’s basketball team (10-23) ended their season with a 66-43 loss to number one seeded UC Irvine (28-5) in the quarterfinals of the Big West Tournament on Thursday, March 14. The eighth-seeded Highlanders never saw a lead in this game, as the Anteaters hounded the perimeter and frustrated Riverside throughout. UCI is currently ranked fifth in the nation in fieldgoal percentage defense, holding their opponents to just 37 percent shooting from the field.

Riverside was held to 31 percent shooting, and their 44 points were the fewest points scored against an Anteater team in the Big West Tournament.

UCI’s defensive prowess was especially notable when looking at junior guard Dikymbe Martin’s performance. Martin failed to put up a single point on 0-for-6 shooting. Whether it was lack of aggression, the Irvine game plan, or both, Riverside’s number one scorer looked visibly frustrated throughout the entire 40 minutes of basketball.

“We did what we did and shut down their best player tonight,”

UCI head coach Russell Turner said postgame, “Martin had as many points as I had tonight.”

Martin’s game may not have shown up on Thursday, but he did suit up. However, one player that didn’t suit up against Irvine was sophomore Ajani Kennedy, who has been suspended for violating team rules.

Just as they have many times this past season, the Highlanders started the game off solid and were able to keep up with the conference’s top-seeded team in the opening half. Riverside picked up some heat midway through the first by hitting three consecutive three-pointers to spark a 9-0 run and tie the game at 19 points.

However, a couple of free throws and threes from Irvine guard Max Hazzard distanced the lead even more, putting the Anteaters up 33-22 at halftime.

The Highlanders found themselves in a rut at the worst time, going scoreless for about seven minutes to start the second half as the Irvine lead extended as far as 25 points. A three-pointer from freshman forward Zac Watson with 7:36 left finally broke the drought, but the game was already out of reach at this point.

Riverside kept fighting in the

final minutes, in part due to senior Menno Dijkstra and sophomore guard Jordan Gilliam’s efforts, but they only sliced the lead to as low as 17 points.

In his final game in a Highlander uniform, Dijkstra recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Gilliam led the team with 11 points, adding four rebounds and two assists in the process.

“It was a culture shock when I first came here, but I was welcomed in open hands,” Dijkstra said afterwards, “I loved playing here and it’s great to see how good this program is going to be in the next few years.”

The senior big man referred to the transition from growing up in Standdaarbuiten, Netherlands to playing for UC Riverside for the

last four years. Dijkstra averaged 8.1 points per game along with 4.2 rebounds per game on the season.

With the team losing half of their front court to graduation, the Highlanders look to either pair freshman center Callum McRae with another rim protector, or involve McRae more in their offensive schemes.

“His upside is tremendous,” Dijkstra said in praise of McRae, “He’s already one of our best players as a freshman and he’s come a long way for us this year since the first couple games of the season. He’s a great talent and you can’t stop him one-on-one.

My words of wisdom for him would be to stay the course, put in the extra weight-lifting and just keep believing.”

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BASEBALL’S PITCHING STAFF STRUGGLES IN SWEEP AGAINST UNLV, LOSE TO UC DAVIS

RICARDO GARCIA Contributing Writer

For many teams, scoring seven runs is often enough to win many baseball games.

Pitching, however, is the other half of the winning equation, and the Highlander (7-16, 0-1) baseball team’s pitching staff was rocked in a two game sweep at the hands of the UNLV Rebels (16-11, 4-5), allowing 23 runs over two games.

In game one of the series, the bats got going early, scoring two first inning runs courtesy of a two-run triple by senior outfielder Matt Hardy. Hardy came through again with a two-run single in the third inning, that gave UCR a four-run lead.

However, in the bottom half of the same inning, the Rebels rallied back against senior Devin McKesson, who relieved sophomore starting pitcher Jeremiah Priddy. After recording the first two outs, the Rebels sent five men to the plate and scored four runs thanks to a throwing error, a passed ball, and some resourceful baserunning.

The Highlanders then scored

the next three runs over the fourth and fifth inning, which included a home run by senior outfielder Daniel Miller.

In the bottom half of the sixth inning, the Highlanders bullpen imploded, as three relievers allowed seven runs while hitting two batters.

The Highlanders threatened in the top of the ninth inning by putting two men on base, but Rebel senior Donavon McCrystal forced Hardy to ground out and earned the save, as UNLV won game one 11-7.

For UCR, Hardy had two hits in five at-bats and four RBI, and junior outfielder Travis Bohall was three-for-five with an RBI and a run scored. Junior left handed pitcher Hayden Petrovick took his first loss to drop to (1-1) on the season, giving up four earned runs while recording just one out in the Rebels’ seven-run sixth inning.

For UNLV, redshirt freshman Casey Miller earned the win in relief to improve to (2-0) on the year, yielding two earned runs on three hits in two innings of relief.

The Highlanders looked to bounce back in the final game of

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the series the next day.

Game two began the same way as game one, with UCR taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a home run by junior designated hitter Connor Cannon.

UCR added another home run in the third inning off senior Dean Miller’s bat to make it 2-0, and an RBI triple by freshman catcher Jacob Shanks pushed the lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning.

In the bottom half of the fourth, the Rebels got on the board with a sacrifice fly by senior catcher Victor Taromina. UCR answered back with an RBI double by senior first baseman Yeager Taylor in the top of the fifth, but the bullpen once again imploded as the Rebels tied the game at 4-4 on Max Smith’s two-out three-run home run.

The bullpen then proceeded to give up the lead in the sixth on several base hits and a throwing error, and UNLV led 8-4.

UCR then rallied to bring the score to within 8-7 in the top of the seventh, but the bullpen allowed four more runs in the bottom half of the inning to put the game out of reach, and UNLV completed a two-game sweep with a 12-7 victory.

Rebel sophomore left-handed pitcher Matthew Mitchell pitched a scoreless sixth inning to earn the win in relief and is now 2-0 on the season. Freshman reliever Alec Arnone took the loss after allowing seven runs (four earned) in 1.2 innings and fell to 1-1.

Looking to put a tough series behind them, UCR opened Big West play at UC Davis (7-11, 1-0) on March 29. The Aggies entered

the contest on a six-game losing streak, which included being swept by Pepperdine in a threegame series and losses to Santa Clara and Sacramento State.

Both teams were scoreless early on until the Aggies scored twice in the bottom of the third inning.

UCR junior starting pitcher Shamus Lyons looked to keep the damage under control, but then proceeded to give up five more runs in the fourth inning, the result of an error and a home run by redshirt junior catcher Logan Denholm.

The Highlanders scored twice in the sixth inning on an obstruction call and error to cut the Aggie lead to 7-2, but UC Davis scored three more times in the sixth through eighth innings to put the game out of reach and took the series opener 10-2.

For UC Davis, starting pitcher Brett Erwin pitched seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out six Highlanders to improve to 3-1.

Denholm finished the game 2-for3 with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored and a walk.

For UCR, Lyons lasted four innings and gave up seven runs (three earned) on nine hits and hit three batters. Taylor finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and walked once.

Up next for the Highlanders, they wrap up their weekend series against the Aggies, before playing at the University of San Diego Toreros (17-8, 3-3) April 2 and have a road weekend series at the Cal State Northridge Matadors H (12-13, 0-0) beginning April 5. ■

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HIGHLANDER HOT TAKE:

THE NBA AWARDS WILL BE DOMINATED

BY INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS JORDAN HOM Staff Writer

In today’s NBA, there are currently over 100 international players from 42 different countries. It is likely that most of the NBA awards will be won by international players, which goes to show how much the world has caught up to their American counterparts.

The NBA’s Most Valuable Player should be given to the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is currently leading the Milwaukee Bucks (56-19) to the best record in the NBA. If Giannis and the Bucks keep their current pace, it would be the first time the Bucks will have won 60 or more games since 1981. Giannis is also showcasing some dominant statistics with averages of 27.3 points per game, 12.6 rebounds per game and six assists per game. While his competition James Harden of the Houston Rockets averages more points with 36.2 per game, Giannis has better defensive numbers, averaging 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. The Bucks also have a better record than the Rockets which is a big factor to the media, who are the voters for this prestigious award.

The Rookie of the Year will most likely be awarded to basketball’s new sensation Luka Doncic. Luka, a native of Slovenia, is currently averaging 21.1 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game and 5.9 assists per game with the Dallas Mavericks. He is currently leading his rookie class with seven triple doubles.

While Trae Young has improved his game during the second half of the season, Luka has been dominant for most of the season.

Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz should be the Defensive Player of the Year once again. Gobert, a native of France, is currently fourth in blocks per game with 2.23. The Jazz are a top-five defensive team in large part because of Gobert and his ability to block or alter shots around the rim. He forces opposing teams to change their offensive game plan because of his length that disrupts shooters when they attack the rim. No other player impacts the game defensively as much as Gobert.

Pascal Siakam has grown significantly as a player from last season to this season. A native of Cameroon, Siakam went from a player who was uncomfortable shooting jump shots to a player who is a versatile threat from everywhere. Averaging 16.8 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game and 3.1 assists per game, Siakam is an integral part of the Raptors potential deep playoff run. The Most Improved Player award should have a new home and that home should be Toronto.

American players have dominated the NBA awards since their creation. However, with the world catching up in terms of basketball talent, it is quite plausible that we will see a lot more international players rewarded over H their American counterparts. ■

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Women’s basketball falls to Hawaii in Big West Semifinal

JONATHAN FERNANDEZ Senior Staff Writer

UCR’s women’s basketball team (17-15, 10-6) played their final game of the Big West Tournament in a close matchup against number two seed Hawaii (15-16, 106) on Friday, March 15. The game was within reach for the Highlanders throughout, but the Rainbow Wahine ultimately came out on top, 66-58.

Riverside has come a long way since being voted to finish eighth in the conference in the Big West preseason poll. UCR was able to finish the conference season with the number three seed despite numerous injuries.

Opposing Head Coach Laura Beeman took notice of the adversity the Highlanders went through and praised them for the season they had.“What a great season Riverside has had. John Margaritis has done an exceptional job with that program” Beeman said. “They’ve encountered some of the ups and downs of the season that we did with injuries and just unexpected departures. What he does with that program year in and year out, it’s pretty phenomenal.”

The injuries and sudden departures mentioned by

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

Beeman include redshirt junior forward Skyler Lewis, sophomore guard Tianna Eaton and junior guard Jannon Otto. Lewis started the season injured and was expected to make a return at some point, but ultimately was never able to rejoin the team. Eaton spent almost all of conference season on the shelf and then Riverside lost their top scorer in junior guard Jannon Otto. Despite this, UCR remained very competitive in their regular season and in the semifinal against Hawaii.

Freshman forward Daphne Gnago scored a layup in the opening minute of the fourth quarter to cut the Hawaii lead to only two points, 50-48. A pair of costly turnovers from Gnago and sophomore guard Keilanei Cooper allowed the Rainbow Wahine to extend their lead to seven points.

With just under three minutes left to play Riverside would respond once again and bring the deficit back to only two points off of a three from senior forward Malou De Kergret.

This was as close as Riverside would get in the final quarter as Hawaii responded time and time again on their way to punching their ticket to the Big West Tournament final.

Hawaii point guard Tia Kanoa had a career-high 19 points and consistently carved up the Highlanders defense to either score herself or dish it out to an open teammate.

Kanoa also finished with a team-high nine assists.

De Kergret played her final Big West Tournament as a Highlander and had one of her best performances in her final game. The senior out of France was often the most aggressive player on the floor for Riverside and finished with 20 points, four assists and three rebounds.

Head Coach John Margaritis was proud of his team’s effort despite the result. “Our young ladies competed throughout, never made excuses, just played. Played all the way to the very end,” Margaritis said in the postgame press conference. “They’re feisty, they’re aggressive, they’re competitive. We played hard and left everything out on the floor.”

Although the team is young and will only be losing one senior, Margaritis doesn’t necessarily believe that means they’ll be able to start next year where they left off Friday night. “Over the years I’ve discovered our future is now,” the 15th-year head coach said. “By next year some people may not even be on the team that you thought were still on the team. Some people get injured. New recruits are coming in. All kinds of things happen.”

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Men’s TENNIS sets single season wins record JONATHAN FERNANDEZ Senior Staff Writer

The men’s tennis team (17-10) had a very busy week in which they played nine games and had a chance to break the record for most wins in a single season. At the time of publication, the Highlanders have won six of the first seven matches to surpass the previous record of 16 wins.

The first match of the week took place on Monday, March 25 against North Carolina A&T State University (2-15). UCR won the first doubles matchup on court three, but NCAT bounced back by winning on courts one and two to earn the doubles point and take a 1-0 lead. However, Riverside was unshaken and continued to dominate singles play, winning five of the six singles matches on their way to securing a 5-2 victory.

The Highlanders had little time to rest as their second match of the week took place only a day later at 6 a.m. against Shaw University (4-5), in which Riverside would again come out victorious, 4-1. The Bears earned their lone point through two wins on the doubles side while UCR again dominated on the singles side, winning all six matchups.

The third match came only hours later at 12 p.m. against Campbell University (11-4). The Highlanders were unable to stretch their winning streak any further, losing to the Camels 4-3. Riverside again lost the doubles point to the opposition, getting swept in quick succession.

UCR was unable to dominate in singles play against such a strong opponent as they had in previous matches.

Campbell won the first three singles matches to take a 4-0 lead, but the Highlanders won the final three to make the final score more respectable.

Riverside had another 6 a.m. start on Wednesday, March 27 against the Methodist University Monarchs (49). UCR bounced back from their loss against Campbell and showed few signs of fatigue in an 8-1 victory despite the amount of games played in the week. The match was played under the nine point system, where each match won counts as one point. As the scoreboard indicates, Riverside put on a dominant performance, winning eight

of the nine total matches.

The team’s next match came later that day against North Carolina Central University (3-9) which was played under the traditional seven point system. Riverside won the first doubles match on court two, but the Eagles won on court three which set up a rubber match for the doubles point on court one. The team of senior Anderson Ju and sophomore Vignesh Subramanyan came up big in a 7-6, 7-5, win to give the Highlanders the doubles point that had been eluding them. The teams split the first four singles matches, making the score 3-2 in UCR’s favor before Ju and freshman Andreas Whelan-Merediz collected two more points to make the final score 5-2. This victory also set up a big day on Thursday with the opportunity to tie the program record in wins with 16 and surpass it in the second game of their double header.

The first game took place early in the morning and Riverside was able to string their third straight win in a 6-1 performance against Hampton University Convocation Center (1-11). The two sides split the two doubles matches before the doubles point was given to the Highlanders by default. UCR would win the first three singles matches and take a 4-0 lead which effectively ended the match. Hampton University and Riverside would split the next two singles matches and UCR was awarded the final singles point by default. This marked win number 16, and a chance to surpass the most wins in a single season in program history.

The second game of the day was against Norfolk State (3-6) where the Highlanders broke the previous record for most wins in a single season. Riverside swept the doubles side, easily earning the doubles point to go up 1-0. The two teams went back and forth on the singles sides through four matches, making the score 3-2 in UCR’s favor. Once again, Ju and Merediz came through in the final two singles matches to make the final score 5-2.

This marks the fourth straight season in which UCR’s men’s tennis team has broken their single season wins record. The team has been steadily improving under the stewardship of Head Coach Mattias Johansson and they still have the opportunity to add more wins to the record with eight more matches left to play.

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BASEBALL

4

3

W: Abbot Haffar (1-1) Senior Right fielder Dean Miller led the way with two hits, runs scored and RBI.

SOFTBALL

1

4

L: Jacy Boles (10-3) Junior Emma Ramelot went two-for-three with one run scored and one RBI

SOFTBALL GAME 2

3

2

W: Melanie Olmos Senior first baseman Amanda Lynch finished with a team-high two hits.

Softball had previously won 13 games in a row

upcoming matches Baseball @ University of San Diego on Tuesday, April 2 Baseball @ CSUN on Friday, April 5 Softball vs Long Beach State 0n Saturday, April 6