Volume 68 Issue 03

THE HIGHLANDER

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

VOL. 68, ISSUE 03

est. 1954

EMERBEE’S

“JOKER”

GRAND OPENING

REVIEW

Tartan Soul

►Page 12

►Page 5

►Page 16

Students pose for a photo with Scotty at the Tartan Soul Kick Off on October 1, 2019.

MARTIN LOPEZ/ HIGHLANDER

ASUCR approves senate chambers renovations as well as office remodel

MARTIN LOPEZ/ HIGHLANDER

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, ASUCR held their first meeting of the quarter. The meeting began with an official swearing in ceremony that all of the senators and executive cabinet members present participated in.

After the swearing in ceremony, the meeting moved

on to ex-officio reports. During ex-officio reports, Vice President of Internal Affairs Jocelyn Ortiz, Vice President of External Affairs Luis Huerta, Parliamentarian Avi Idea and Executive Vice President Abigail Cortes presented their Executive Cabinet staff ratifications, which all passed 16-0-0.

During public forum, Rich Davis, who identified

himself as a Riverside resident, addressed the senate and spoke on the STEM high school that is being built on campus. Davis expressed his concern about the building of the STEM high school on UCR grounds. ► SEE ASUCR PAGE 4

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OPINIONS 8

FEATURES 12

RADAR 16

SPORTS 19

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

HUMANS OF UCR

UPCOMING EVENTS: WEEK 2

EVAN JONES | ECONOMICS | THIRD-YEAR COMPILED BY LYDIA TSO

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Creat’R LaunchPad Cafe 10:00am to 11:30am Orbach Library (Science Library), 140 (Creat’R Lab)

WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS, Studio Overview 11:00am to 12:15pm HUB 302 South

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LGBTRC Title IX Drop-in Hour 11:30am to 12:30pm Costo Hall , 245

New Research in Dance - Dohee Lee. 4:30pm to 6:20pm Arts Building, Performance Lab, ARTS 166

DIY Decor 10:00am to 1:00pm HUB (Highlander Union Building), 269

UCR Healthy Campus 2nd Annual Celebration 11:00am to 1:00pm UCR Bell Tower

Policy Hackathon 9:00am to 10:00pm Humanities & Social Sciences Building, 1500

Get HIRED 3:00pm to 4:00pm Career Center, Meeting Rooms A & B

Visit UCR Day 8:00am to 1:00pm Campus Tours, 900 University Avenue

Film: Night of the Living Dead 3:00pm to 4:30pm UCR ARTS, Culver Center of the Arts

Tuesday

Wednesday

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Thursday

“For different points in my life, there were times that I was dwelling too much on the past or too much in the future — doing that thing where you have a conversation with someone you’re not talking to at the time. Creating these make-believe scenarios of

11 Friday

what you would say to someone or being wrapped up in thinking about events that would never take place. I realized they were completely pointless and not healthy. At some point, I started to just push the past and future stuff away and be in the moment.

Even that isn’t healthy either though. Some people use dwelling in the past or thinking about the future as escapism, but it’s almost a form of escapism in the present —

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Saturday

where you allow yourself to to be overrun by busyness where you don’t have to engage in your own thoughts and feelings..”

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American Red Cross Standard First Aid with CPR/AED Adult/Pediatric 9:30am to 4:30pm Student Recreation Center (SRC), conference room

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Big Ideas Contest Info Session 4:30am to 5:30am HUB (Highlander Union Building), HUB 367

Sunday

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Monday

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Career Panel & Networking for Mathematics, Life & Physical Science Majors 1:00pm to 2:30pm HUB, 355

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News

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

► FROM ASUCR

ASUCR

ASUCR approves senate chambers renovations as well as off ice remodel

Davis stated, “ASUCR has been really eloquent in their opposition to the STEM high school and I want to encourage you to continue to oppose it this year … the school is going to create too much traffic.”

The meeting then moved on to committee reports. Carolyn Chang, the vice president of finance, presented the finance budget hearing minutes from Sept.

30 as well as Oct. 2. During the Sept.

30 finance budget hearing, the finance committee allocated a total of $17,688 to UCR organizations such as Future Business Leaders of America. According to the minutes for Sept. 30, the committee also approved a stipend change for ASUCR President Julian Gonzalez. The stipend change asked for $990 and it passed 6-01. The reasoning surrounding the stipend change is unclear as it was skipped during Chang’s presentation. At time of writing, salary changes have not been reflected in the ASUCR stipend bylaws. During the Oct. 2 finance budget hearing, the finance committee allocated $15,831. The finance committee also approved the reserves for an ASUCR office remodel in which they asked for $105,000. The allocation passed 4-0-1. ASUCR approved both the finance meeting minutes 17-0-0.

During the Legislative Review Committee report, ASUCR approved SB-F-19-004, SB-F19-005, SB-F19,006, SB-F19-007 and SB-F19-008 which was presented by President Pro Tempore Preeti Juturu. Juturu stated that all five of these bills were created when Gabe Pineda, a second-year double major in theater, film, and digital production and gender and sexuality studies expressed concern with the fact that the ASUCR’s terminology is not gender neutral. The bills revised gender binary terms in Chapters 5, 7, 13, 50 and 38 to include gender neutral terms.

The motion to approve all five bills passed 18-0-0.

The meeting then moved on to new business. During new business, Gonzalez presented the Executive Cabinet summer minutes. Gonzalez stated that over the summer, the Executive Cabinet discussed how they wished to rebrand as an organization in order to change the image of ASUCR on campus. Gonzalez stated that in order to rebrand, the Executive Cabinet believed they should create a permanent ASUCR logo. “I think that for

a lot of us, our goal is to change the image of ASUCR’s on campus and I think the way to start that process is to completely rebrand. I think that a more aesthetically pleasing brand would make students more engaged,” stated Gonzalez. The motion to approve the Executive Cabinet’s three summer meeting minutes all passed 18-00.

The meeting then moved on to the approval of the ASUCR Senate Chambers renovation as well as an ASUCR office remodel. Gonzalez stated that over the summer, the executive cabinet realized just how outdated the ASUCR Senate Chambers and the ASUCR office is.

Gonzalez stated that for the senate chamber renovation, they are proposing microphone renovations, new projectors and the installation of a voting system that will track and keep a record of all the votes of each senator. For the office remodel, they are proposing new furniture, the creation of a senator’s lounge and new technology.

Laurie Sinclair, the ASUCR executive

director, told The Highlander that $15,674.96 will be allocated for the new senate lounge, but the current senator space that is projected to have cubicles is a different quote. The quote for that space is $29,981.12. The quote for the technical upgrades to the senate chamber is $30,652.60. Sinclair noted, “These are all preliminary estimates, so the costs may be adjusted when the final designs are in.”

The money to pay for the senate lounge, the new senator space and the upgrades to the senate chamber will be paid for by ASUCR reserve funds. During the meeting, Sinclair stated that ASUCR reserves can only be accessed for capital improvements or if ASUCR were to ever run out of funds and need to pay workers. Sinclair noted that money left over from ASUCR’s budget is allocated into the reserves.

President Pro Tempore Preeti Juturu expressed her disagreement with the remodel and renovation stating, “I think that just because past senators have expressed dislike of the current senator

MARTIN LOPEZ /HIGHLANDER

space does not mean that us current senators are displeased with the space.

I think it would be best if we tabled the discussion until at least next quarter.”

Olenka Graham-Castaneda, the undergraduate sustainability director stated, “Renovations and remodels are the reason why the reserves exist, if we don’t do it, next year’s ASUCR will have to discuss it, nobody ever wants to do it. Big purchases are scary but they are necessary.” Sinclair also noted that ASUCR’s reserve money has almost rarely, if ever, been used. The motion to pass the senate chambers renovation passed 13-2-2. The motion to approve the office remodel passed 12-4-1. After the motion passed, President Gonzalez stated, “I don’t want you guys to think that we are just throwing money around. This is for us, we want to do this for us and the future. These renovations need to be done.”

The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 p.m.

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MARTIN LOPEZ /HIGHLANDER

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

NEWS

Emerbee’s celebrates its grand opening during week one

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Contributing Writer

Emerbee’s, the new dining facility on campus, formally opened its doors to over 200 students on Thursday, Oct. 3, with a celebration event that lasted from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The grand opening event featured free giveaways with purchase, bee-themed treats and finally, a ribbon cutting ceremony and speech from the chancellor.

In an interview with The Highlander, Benjamin Eisenstein, the marketing and strategic communications manager for UCR Housing, Dining & Hospitality Services stated “It’s the first brand new dining facility we’ve opened on campus since 2014 which was the Market at Glen Mor.”

Eisenstein stated that unless students were taking classes in the Multidisciplinary Research Building (MRB) or Materials, Science and Engineering (MSE), they might not know where Emerbee’s is located so they held the grand opening event to draw students in. According to Eisenstein, “every transaction that happens at Emerbee’s, a portion of that is going to benefit bee research on campus” as part of their collaboration with UCR’s Center for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER) from the department of entomology.

The celebration featured various organizations with different giveaways and interactive activities for students to enjoy. The first booth was hosted by CIBER, who had an observation hive and honey sampling for students to see how

LLOYD KAO /HIGHLANDER

bees interact with each other and produce the honey that will eventually be sold at Emerbee’s. The Emerbee’s management team had a giveaway booth where students had the opportunity to spin-to-win a variety of reusable tumblers, Emerbee’s branded sunglasses, beeswax-infused lip balm and t-shirts. Finally, the Nestle Starbucks division, which partners with on-campus cafes that sell Starbucks coffee, also had a booth where they were giving away 250 reusable Starbucks cups to students with proof of purchase to promote sustainability.

When asked about the finalized menu, Eisenstein stated, “It’s very panini focused.

We have breakfast paninis during breakfast hours and then at 11 o’clock is the start of the lunch menu that also lasts until dinner.”

The finalized menu includes a variety of

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different breakfast and lunch items such as Stuffed French Toast, the Harvest Wrap, Singapore Noodle salad and the vegan BBQ Jackfruit panini.

Their desserts, which are referred to as Emer-treats, include blueberry, cinnamon or chocolate banana pastries and Emerbee’s will feature some honey infused drinks such as the Honey Cinnamon Latte and the Honey Steamer.

The ribbon cutting ceremony began at 12:15 p.m. and started with a few words from the Executive Director of UCR Housing, Dining & Hospitality Services David Henry who stated, “the campus is going through so much transition and growth and it’s exciting to see that we’re opening up new options that bring delicious nutrition and sustainability to the campus.” He went on to explain the name and concept of Emerbee’s and their goal to use the new dining facility as a platform to highlight what the department of entomology and CIBER are doing in their bee research.

Barbara Baer-Imhoff, an assistant specialist in pollinator health, used her speech to bring attention to the importance of bee research on campus. Baer-Imhoff stated that “through your contribution (to Emerbee’s) you can help us save the world, one bee at a time.” Finally, Chancellor Kim Wilcox conducted the ribbon cutting ceremony after a few words of his own, showcasing his excitement for the new facility. He stated that Emerbee’s “is an edifice to some of the greatest science in the world and this makes a statement that it’s not just about the work, it’s also about the people and about the relationships formed here.”

■H

The Well hires Megan Harbert to fill new position as Basic Needs Coordinator

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

Over the summer, Devon Sakamoto, the director of The Well and R’Pantry at UCR, announced that Megan Harbert was hired for the newly created position of Basic Needs Coordinator.

This new position was created to assist with maintaining and expanding UCR’s basic needs initiatives and partnerships. In an interview with The Highlander, Harbert stated that UCR has the highest rates of food insecurity across the UC system, with more than half of students experiencing limited access to nutritionally adequate food or reducing their food intake due to lack of money to pay for food.

“One of the greatest strengths of UCR is the students, faculty, and staff that are passionate about basic needs work,” wrote Harbert. Harbert’s role is to help coordinate campus-wide efforts and create more opportunities for campus engagement. This position was also created in line with expectations across the UC system that all UC campuses have staff dedicated to basic needs and food security work.

Harbert’s responsibilities include campus-wide planning, coordination, implementation and evaluation of student’s basic needs and food security efforts. She is also responsible for the supervision of the R’Pantry coordinator as well as oversight and support for R’Pantry operations. Harbert will assist in the coordination and implementation of university outreach efforts, including, but not limited to, involvement fairs, panels and CalFresh enrollment events.

Harbert stated that she will be responsible for the development and facilitation of educational presentations on basic needs and student support services to the campus community. She will also serve as an advocate and an information resource to students, faculty, staff, the UCR community and stakeholders regarding basic needs. Harbert will be in charge of the development of a campus economic emergency response team to support students experiencing immediate financial crisis.

Harbert has been active in the fields of health education and higher education for the past seven years. She holds an M.A. in Public Health from California State University, Fullerton where she focused on health promotion and disease prevention. In her previous roles, she worked collaboratively with a range of community partners to develop and implement educational workshops, awareness campaigns, community events and social marketing tools.

Before joining The Well, she worked on a basic needs committee for commuter students at Concordia University in Irvine, developing a strategic plan that outlined priority areas in the areas of food accessibility and student space. Harbert stated, “I believe these experiences in health promotion, collaboration, and student support efforts have helped me in my role as a Basic Needs Coordinator at UCR.” Harbert noted that most UC campuses have a Basic Needs Coordinator, however, UCR is the only campus to have this position under the health promotion office.

“I think being housed in The Well allows for a unique opportunity to approach basic

needs work from a public health lens,” stated Harbert. Harbert reiterated that rates of food insecurity at UCR are the highest within the UC System with 53% of undergraduates and 37% of graduate students reporting food insecurity.

RYAN POON/ HIGHLANDER

Harbert stated, “This position is important because student success is associated with students having their basic needs met. Students should not have to worry about housing and food while they are pursuing their education.”

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

University of California files brief in Supreme Court challenging recission of DACA

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

On Friday, Sept. 27, the University of California (UC) filed a brief in the Supreme Court challenging the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In September of 2017 the UC became the first university to sue the government after the administration announced it would end DACA. In a statement made on Sept. 27, UC President Janet Napolitano stated that the University of California would continue their fight to protect the nearly 700,000 Dreamers here in the United States and in the UC community who are DACA recipients. Napolitano stated, “UC’s DACA students are studying to be the next generation of teachers, doctors, engineers and other professions that make life better for everyone. They are young people who simply want to continue to live, learn and contribute to the country they consider home.”

In the brief that they filed, Napolitano stated that the UC demonstrated that the Trump administration acted illegally by ending the DACA program without offering valid justification for doing so.

Five federal courts have considered this issue and found that the administration’s decision was arbitrary and capricious, and therefore unlawful. “Since this lawsuit began, the University of

California has sought to provide a safe and supportive environment for our DACA students — and we will continue to do so,” stated Napolitano.

In an interview with The Highlander, Andrew Gordon, the associate director of media relations stated that the UC, “filed suit against the Department of Homeland Security over the Trump administration’s plans to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program because rescinding the program would have a profound adverse impact on DACA recipients at the University of California and across the nation.”

In a statement released on Friday, Oct. 4, the UC also announced that hundreds of corporations, national security experts, colleges and universities and members of Congress, among others, have filed an amicus, or “friend of the court” briefs in support of DACA. John A. Perez, chair of the UC Board of Regents and speaker emeritus of the California Assembly stated, “We are pleased to be joined by so many voices in support of Dreamers.” He also added that DACA has benefited hundreds of thousands of Dreamers “who simply want to continue contributing to the country and the communities they consider home.”

Oral arguments will begin on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

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LYDIA TSOU/ HIGHLANDER

UCR hosts groundbreaking ceremony on the first phase of the redevelopment of North District

ANTONIO VELAOCHAGA/ HIGHLANDER

ANTONIO VELAOCHAGA Contributing Writer

On Friday, Oct. 4 at the North District Construction Site, UCR and American Campus Communities (ACC) held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the first phase of UCR’s largest building project to date. The ceremony for the North District Project began at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Linden Street and Aberdeen Drive.

Among the speakers were Associate Vice Chancellor of Auxiliary Services Andy Plumley, Chancellor Kim Wilcox and University of California President Janet Napolitano.

Many school administrators, faculty and staff were present at the event.

ACC is a real estate investment trust that invests in student housing and recently partnered with UCR to create the North District Project. The North District Project is an endeavor that UCR and ACC are leading to redevelop the 50-acre Canyon Crest Family Housing site that was closed in 2017. This project is expected to build a new residence and dining hall, student housing, an NCAA division one competition field, multifunctional and open spaces, supporting amenities and

retail services.

The project will create an academic success center, university seminar rooms and residential life programs.

UCR Assistant Vice Chancellor and Campus Architect Jacqueline Norman, said “I’m confident that the design of the North district buildings and open space will enhance the intention for the project to be a vibrant new living and learning community.” Norman stated that the buildings are also meant to accommodate for the quickly increasing student body population that is projected to reach 35,000 students by 2035.

Plumley began the ceremony by expressing the “long tradition of community” that the site had, with its beginnings as military housing in 1945 to family housing in the 1970s.

He described UCR’s planning process to select ACC as their partner in the housing project and how ACC Executive Vice President for Private-Public Transactions Jamie Wilhelm worked on this partnered project. Plumley acknowledged Wilhelm even further stating that he was “responsible for all on-campus business developments.”

Wilhelm stated that the core values of everyone involved was to create a sustainable, dense and affordable

community. Building a dense community would allow them to conserve the land and use the “resources in accordance with a long-term perspective.”

Regarding the student housing, Wilhelm stated that “the utmost importance is making sure it’s affordable.” Wilhelm went on to thank President Napolitano, Chancellor Wilcox, the design architects and general contractors for their work.

“This groundbreaking for the North District is an announcement to all that UCR is on the cusp of a new era,” said Norman. According to Norman, the buildings will be five to seven stories tall. “This will allow us to use our land more effectively and sustainably, but also to create dynamic spaces that can effectively support the program and greater campus community,” Norman said.

Wilcox stated that UCR is going to be “environmentally conscious” and smarter with the space they have. He added that they will construct buildings that are more durable and taller as a way to better conserve the land.

Wilcox stated that the construction is energy efficient and will include more walkways to accommodate pedestrians.

Wilcox commented on any

unforeseen benefits that could come from the construction of the North District Project. He stated that the buildings would make the campus look more aesthetically appealing due to its modern design and it would make the area more connected to the campus.

All the speakers gave thanks to UC President Napolitano, Chancellor Wilcox and many groups who had contributed to the project, such as SCB, a national interior design company that works on campuses, and the City of Riverside. According to SCB, the North District Project will “enhance the overall academic experience for students and create an exceptional living/learning community for the campus.”

The event concluded with the groundbreaking by Napolitano, Wilheim, Wilcox, Plumley, Norman, Interim Provost Thomas Smith, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Brian Haynes and Executive President of UCR Residence Halls Association Christopher Nam. According to SCB, phase one of the North District is scheduled to be finished in 2021 and the Dundee Residence Hall and Glasgow Dining Hall are anticipated H to be completed in the fall of 2020. ■

OPINIONS

8 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

OPINIONS

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

The joke is on us: cancel culture does society more harm than good

N

ot a month went by in 2018 in which the words “cancel culture” weren’t brought up in some capacity. The term refers to a widespread internet phenomenon involving the exposure and boycott of a person (or piece of media) that has perpetrated some sort of unsavory act, often by sharing a questionable opinion or behaving problematically.

The most recent example of this phenomenon is “Joker,” a gritty interpretation of the classic Batman villain’s origin story. Critics who have seen the movie during advance screenings, and even many who have not, have taken to the internet to deliver scathing reviews. The common refrain being repeated is that the film glorifies violence, specifically domestic terrorism. While topics like domestic terrorism can be daunting, especially when put to film, censoring the material risks doing more harm than good. It would be to the benefit of all of society if movies like “Joker” were seen as an opportunity to discuss the real-world issues they depict.

For context, “Joker” isn’t the first example of a film supposedly inspiring violence amongst movie-goers. 1976’s “Taxi Driver,” a film in which a disturbed recluse of a man named Travis Bickle decides he must “wash all the scum off the streets,” was cited by Ronald

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

Reagan’s would-be killer as the inspiration for a presidential assassination attempt. It doesn’t take a film historian to draw parallels between “Taxi Driver’s” Bickel and “Joker’s” lead and eventual titular character, Arthur Fleck, who likewise lashes out at society through violent means.

At a distance, the recent media outrage doesn’t seem irrational at all. A common critique of the film is that the Joker character is made out to be a sort of “patron saint of incels.” For those unaware, the term “incel,” a portmanteau of the words “involuntary” and “celibate,” is often used to describe individuals incapable of finding a romantic partner.

The most well-known member of this group might just be Elliot Rodger, the perpetrator of the tragic Isla Vista killings back in 2014. In a video posted shortly before the harrowing murders, Rodger explains the impetus for his killings, with his failed love life being amongst the many reasons given. In a similar fashion to Rodger, and to a lesser extent the group of incels as a whole, Fleck is described by those who managed to see the film early as having been slighted by a female love interest, which may in part be the inciting factor for his actions.

“Joker” seems poised to explore the incel subculture.

The primary argument amongst those who’d like to see the movie “canceled,” however,

is that an exploration of incel culture is liable to set off some individuals who may be on the precipice of committing similar violent acts. Academic studies have explored whether or not violent movies cause violence but have concluded that movies like “Joker” cannot be linked to violence in any meaningful way.

As unfortunate as it is, those who are likely to be “tipped” over the aforementioned precipice were likely going to tip regardless.

Blaming their actions on the media they consume is not only giving the perpetrators a sort of excuse, but it is also disrespectful toward their victims.

To be sure, the cancel culture phenomenon is well-intentioned.

It seeks to protect society by making certain subjects and artists taboo, but labeling something taboo hardly ever works. Society needs just the opposite: subjects like domestic terrorism, while frightening, must be discussed if any progress is to be made. Mental health issues and gun violence are both issues that need discussion.

Avoiding either topic in favor of more impulsive decisions will only make matters worse.

Another common comparison being drawn is that Fleck’s character is reminiscent of the real-world Aurora, Colorado shooter, who’s actions were erroneously described as having been inspired by the comic book villain. Despite the fact that this rumor has since been

dispelled, the U.S. military deemed it necessary to issue a warning to its troops regarding the upcoming screenings of the movie, presumably in order to preempt a possible copycat murderer.

Family members of the victims of the aforementioned Aurora, Colorado shooting approached the situation with more nuance. Instead of calling for an outright boycott of the film, five family members and friends of the victims wrote a letter to the Warner Bros. CEO Ann Sarnoff asking that the company come out in support of gun restriction — choosing to use the film’s controversy as an opportunity to address the issue of domestic terrorism instead of attempting to boycott and silence discussion. If one finds themselves viewing a piece of art that disagrees with their core values, the answer will always be to continue discussing and searching for solutions to the issue.

Perhaps the movie will ultimately fail to effectively comment on domestic terrorism, and while that would be incredibly disappointing to see, it still doesn’t mean the movie should be canceled.

“Joker” actor Joaquin Phoenix explained in a recent interview that “(he doesn’t) think it’s the filmmaker’s responsibility to teach morality,” and he’s right: it isn’t. A tangible solution to the issue of domestic terrorism

would be the introduction of gun laws. It is foolish to place the blame on a film.

Regardless of whether or not “Joker” glorifies violence upon its release on Oct. 4, the artists involved in its creation should not be held accountable for what an individual may do after seeing the movie. The viewer may disagree with the messages being put to screen, but an artist’s vision is an artist’s alone. If said viewer finds the content of a movie objectionable, they can and should feel free to express their disdain by not buying a ticket and refusing to interact with the film.

If you happen to be amongst those who are critical of “Joker’s” portrayal of incel culture, take heart; with time the movie will soon fade out of the public consciousness.

If anything, perhaps it is for the best that “Joker” sparked this conversation. The movie may very well turn out to be a disappointment, but at the very least it prompted society to discuss issues that have been hiding beneath its twisted underbelly for years.

■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, OCTOBER 8, 2019

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OPINION POLL Compiled by Lydia Tso Staff Photographer

“Do you believe filmmakers should be held responsible for their movie’s interpretation?”

Bianca Miranda Alvarez

Chemical Engineering

“No. They should be conscientious, but in the end, you’re not responsible for what people think or feel.

I think everyone is responsible for their own thoughts and feelings.”

“No, absolutely not because everyone has a diffrent interpretation of things. You see it in politics, everything.

They’re only in control of what they show people. They don’t have control of the interpretations of others.”

First-year

Jose Guerrero Psychology Fourth-year

Hayden Brunson Biochemistry First-year

“Hell yeah. If the director makes sure the film comes together the way they want it to, they should accept any and all repercussions that come with a product they have their name on.”

“No they shouldn’t be held accountable because people interpret things in all different ways imaginable. ”

Daniel Villa-Rosas

Graduate School of Education

Third-year

Business Economics

Second-year

Serena Nguyen Biology Fourth-year

“No they shouldn’t be responsible because everyone has their own individual interpretation of a movie and someone who is creating the content cannot fathom every interpretation there could be.”

“I don’t think so.

Filmmaking is an art process and art can be interpreted in many ways. Some people will get offended, but that’s up to their interpretation and the filmmakers don’t have control over that.”

Anuradha Das

The importance of understanding climate change’s evil twin: ocean acidification

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

CYRUS TOSCO Contributing Writer

The ocean absorbs about 30% of airborne carbon dioxide which results in a reduction in airborne carbon. This sounds good in theory, but it has a drawback; the oceans are becoming more acidic at unprecedented rates. As such, ocean acidification (OA) deserves more attention than it currently receives. Continuous OA could potentially end in the large-scale collapse of coastal communities and marine ecosystems.

The process itself is rather simple: airborne carbon dioxide regularly mixes with ocean water, resulting in the ocean absorbing about 22 million tons of carbon dioxide every day. That carbon dioxide then reacts with the water to

form bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, both of which contribute to the decrease in oceanic pH. For the past hundreds of years, the ocean’s pH was 8.2, which is a consistently weak alkalinity; today, it is 30% more acidic. The conditions for marine life are such that even a slight shift to acidity could be detrimental to the entire ecosystem.

The OA problem emerges when marine animals are unable to function as a result of these compounds. Shelled and structure-building marine animals such as oysters, barnacles and corals have shown a decrease in the thickness of their shells. In fact, OA, alongside warming ocean temperatures, has been proven to be instrumental in the collapse of 29% of coral reef systems. Likewise, populations of shell-forming phytoplankton and

zooplankton have been on the decline.

Living in Riverside, one may be tempted to assume OA does not affect us but that is not the case. Phytoplankton alone are responsible for about 50-85% of the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere, while zooplankton are the base for most marine food webs. The effects that OA has on humanity are lower concentrations of available atmospheric oxygen and a decrease in the global food supply. The effects of OA are so dire that coastal communities in the Pacific Northwest have already recorded multimilliondollar losses due to the decline of fish and shellfish populations, while several west coast fisheries have been forced to shut down completely.

Thankfully, OA has the same root cause as climate change: high concentrations

of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

As such, the solution to OA is to reduce carbon emissions and, hopefully, to reduce the total amount of atmospheric carbon. A number of hypothetical solutions have arisen in the wake of this climate emergency, such as fertilizing the ocean with iron to cause a controlled explosion of phytoplankton activity.

Another recommends cultivating kelp and seagrass in controlled environments.

Of course, the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy would be exceptionally helpful as well. In any case, the problem of ocean acidification is extremely important and must be treated as such. These fixes require humanity to understand and accept the scientific consensus that climate change is real, man-made and currently taking place.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

OPINIONS

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Cloudy judgment: Trump’s vaping ban is destined to fail

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TIMOTHY HUGHES Contributing Writer

In the wake of six deaths and hundreds of hospitalizations related to consumption of vaping products, President Donald Trump announced a ban on all flavored e-cigarettes on Sept. 11.

Trump has instructed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to have stores and distributors prepare to pull all flavored Juul pods and vape fluid from the

shelves. The ban’s announcement was met with immediate and powerful blowback from a variety of groups. Vapers, antiregulatory Trump supporters and even a great deal of individuals with no real connection to vape culture spoke in a unified voice with a simple message to the President: “This ban will not work.”

The logic behind the vape ban is to prevent youth from easily accessing products with

the potential to have longterm cardiovascular effects.

The major issue with this line of reasoning is that there is a thriving black market for vape products. In most situations in which a prohibition is instituted on a product that has large black market presence, black market sales spike.

A good example of this phenomenon is the marijuana industry in California. California has long been regarded as the

weed capital of the country even before the prohibition on marijuana was lifted. The year that marijuana became legal, the black market took enormous hits in sales, as the state’s general lack of weed regulations made it fairly easy to become, and stay, a legitimate dealer. Since then, legislators have added regulation after regulation on the industry, making it more and more difficult to run a legitimate marijuana business. There is now a trend of dealers leaving legitimate businesses to deal on the black market again and consumers seeking black market dealers for lower prices.

The way the vape industry, both legal and illegal, functions has enough similarity to the marijuana market that the assumption that the ban will be ineffective easily holds weight.

The ban looks grim, especially when we consider the access younger consumers have to the products, as they must buy them illegally in the first place.

Official reports on the vaping crisis also state that black market vapes are the products more closely linked to health issues than legal alternatives. In light of these facts, it is foolish to usher consumers, especially the youth, toward the black market with the installment of a ban.

Trump’s plan is not only destined to be ineffective, it is politically half-witted. While

foolish decisions are a hallmark of the Trump presidency, this ban is a betrayal of one of the qualities his base finds most attractive. A sizable portion of Trump’s base values him because of his anti-regulatory stances. As he pours another regulation over the market, they may turn against him, possibly not voting or voting third party.

Another more obvious group that this ban is certain to upset is vapers. There are a sizeable number of states that Trump narrowly won in 2016, in which the number of vapers outstrips the number of votes Trump won by. Not all of those vapers voted for him of course, and many may not have voted at all, but Trump has a tough race ahead of him regardless of who his opponent is, and he would be a fool to make such a major political misstep.

Another hollow part of Trump’s ban is that it does not seek to remove flavored cigarettes and cigars from the market. Even if the ban was successful and youth were unable to get their hands on flavored vape products, it is quite possible that they would turn to flavored cigarettes, a much more harmful alternative. Overall it seems that Trump’s vaping ban will be, at best, ineffective. At its worst, the ban could be dangerous for the nation’s children and Trump’s political campaign.

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Pluralism is the answer to political violence in the Trump era

ROBERT GOLD Contributing Writer

Political violence in this country is on the rise and the U.S. is in a time of great political extremism. Average American voters on both sides of the political spectrum are taking to the streets with furled fists.

Customary political functions have become a battlefield for the far-right and the far-left.

Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States on Jan. 20, 2017. Following his inauguration as commander in chief, the nation began to see a rise in political violence. 2017 became a year wrought with murder and destructiveness. Several vicious attacks were committed by radicals on both sides of the political aisle.

In January 2017, just a few hours after the commencement, the violence of the Trump era had already begun. A member of Antifa was shot while protesting a Milo Yiannopolous speaking event at the University of Washington. In June 2017, the Republican team for the Annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity in Alexandria, Virginia was interrupted by a gunman, James Hodgkinson, a volunteer during the 2016 Bernie Sanders campaign, who shot U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and three others.

In August 2017, at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, a white supremacist ran a woman over with his car.

In more recent news, Cesar Sayoc was arrested for mailing

pipe bombs to sixteen different high ranking members of the Democratic Party in October 2018. Online there are dozens of video clips of the radical leftwing activist group Black Bloc clad in black masks as they walk through the streets destroying random public property and throwing glass bottles at police cars.

Though the political turmoils of the Trump era may leave many Americans feeling like they live in a dark time in the nation’s history, the truth is that the Founding Fathers predicted that this would one day happen. They predicted that the political parties in this country would become radicalized and factionalized, with white supremacist fascists on one side of the political aisle and anarcho-communists on the other. James Madison dedicated an entire section to the topic of factionalism in “The Federalist Papers no. 15.”

Madison reasoned that a series of competing factions fighting for vastly differing political doctrines would be the best way to avoid any one faction dominating the entire political system. This is a philosophy known as pluralism. The system is set up in such a way that it doesn’t matter how radicalized one party gets because there will always be an opposition party to create checks and balances.

The counterargument to this is that, as some have argued, Trump is a fascist and this supposedly perfect system let a fascist become commander in chief. But, in response to this, it is important to note that many

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

of Trump’s policies have not succeeded precisely because we live in a pluralistic society. In the pluralistic philosophy, it is the job of the Democratic Party to regulate the actions of the Republicans while they are in power and vice versa. We have seen examples of this throughout Trump’s tenure in office. In his first year in office Trump signed 117 bills into law, but many of his

more radical policies have failed to find tenable traction. Examples include the transgender military ban, the Muslim ban, border wall funding and even the denudation of the ObamaCare.

Without the Republicans to push back against him, President Barack Obama would have been a de-facto dictator instituting whatever Marxist ideas he had, unbridled and unburdened by

the moderating forces of the right. President Trump would be a tumultuous right-wing fascist oligarch, deporting millions of people and building walls wherever he pleased if it were not for the healthy pushback of the Democratic Party. Both parties need one another. The country is better off with both, H rather than one or the other. ■

Be brave.

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The Highlander can help you polish your skills. Come to our weekly meetings every Monday at 5:15 p.m. in HUB 101 to learn more.

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12 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

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E R I X E N e m o c l e C S T W s t r a t s f f O t E P E o k o c i f K t l h u g i o r S e n h a t t E G n o TarL f of L C R E T I N T C Y E

MARTIN LOPEZ /HIGHLANDER

ASHLEY PEREZ Contributing Writer

On Tuesday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Associated Students Program and Board (ASPB) held their annual Tartan Soul Kick Off, aimed to celebrate the new academic year and focused on promoting a campus of respect at UCR. The Kick Off was hosted around the Bell Tower conveniently placed for firstyear and transfer students to enjoy and learn about the resources available to them through UCR. The event was organized by Directors Misha Khan and Rachael Arroyos of the Contemporary Culture Division (CCD) of ASPB. Some of the attractions included a fortune teller, airbrush tattoo artists, inflatable soccer and basketball and a Polaroid booth stand. ASPB’s food stand near the Bell Tower offered 800 El Pollo Loco burritos and 800 Ding Tea drinks for students that attended the event. Immediately, students quickly formed a long line for the food and drinks, so long that the line reached

the University Theatre and the food inevitably sold out.

Students enjoyed the fortune reader, seeing as her line hardly went down, as well as the airbrush tattoo artists. After waiting in line for about 30 minutes, I had my fortune read. The fortune reader mentioned that whenever I’m thinking too much, I should simply ground myself and relax. In the middle of the event, Scotty the Bear started greeting and taking pictures with students as he walked around during the event.

Other students enjoyed throwing the basketball around, some of them scoring every time, while others missed the hoop completely. Many students were taking pictures of their “tattoos” or their drinks and others were simply looking around the area.

Rachael Arroyos, a fourth-year English and media and cultural studies major, was one of the directors of the event. “A campus of respect is our goal for this event. Here at UCR we have four Tartan values: accountability, excellence, integrity and respect. And I

A C k e e W C O N T A B I L I T Y

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

definitely feel like here at UCR we show respect to our community, people are very friendly and always willing to help each other,” Arroyos mentioned. This was Arroyos’ first event as director of the CCD and the division focuses more on the niche and cultural events but also on underrepresented groups. Over 1,000 students attended, although it was difficult to estimate exactly how many attended, since “students can simply drop by and look around, without needing to sign in,” elaborated Arroyos.

Other students, both new and continuing, shared the same feeling as Arroyos. Leah Duque, a third-year media and cultural studies major and event volunteer said, “We (ASPB) put these events on because we want to give students a good time and students come because they know we put time and effort into these events.”

There was a tent in another section of the event where students could write some of their best memories or what they enjoyed most about UCR. Many students wrote down that they met good

friends and roommates, while others said they enjoyed this year’s Block Party.

Many organizations were tabling during the event, including an LGBTQ+ group, UCR Residential Life and others aimed to get students more engaged within the community. One of the groups tabling was Chicano Student Programs (CSP), located at Costo Hall 145. There was a painted tree with handprints for leaves with words written on them on CSP’s table.

According to Arlene Matute, the assistant director of CSP, “It (the tree) symbolizes how we are all part of the same tree and play a part in making it.

Students can write what respect means to them.”

Overall, the Tartan Soul Kick Off was a fun and educational event where students could have leisurely passed by and enjoyed an attraction or two or stayed for the duration of the event. The sense of community and respect for one another was reflected by the enthusiasm H of the students and ASPB members. ■

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s u p m Ca ope: C There’s no place like home — but unfortunately, most people can’t click their heels together and magically end up back in their hometowns. Many students travel from far and wide to attend university, sacrificing the comforts of their homes to explore their new unknown city. While being so far away can be an exciting experience, there will be moments where you miss your parents’ homemade meals or even the sound of your annoying sibling’s voice.

If you’re a student who can’t visit home due to distance or duties, here are some tips on how to bring your home to you.

Ask your parents for recipes or look for alternatives.

While the food at the dining hall or the dinner you made isn’t bad, it’s just not the same as the meals you get at home.

Sometimes you miss your mom’s dishes or your dad’s desserts, but you don’t have easy access to them as you did before.

Asking your parents about how they made some of your favorite foods is a good way to help curb your homesickness, as well as help you gain a new life skill. Going through the process to recreate your

favorite dishes will get your mind off being homesick and you’ll get to enjoy some great food. If you absolutely cannot cook, go searching for that food you’re craving from home on Yelp. There’s a possibility it’s being served at a restaurant in the area. While either might not taste exactly the same as when your parents make it, there is still a familiarity that your tastebuds cannot deny.

Bring pictures and decorations from home.

If you can’t go home, then you can bring your home to you. Hanging pictures of your friends and family around your room will bring you a sense of comfort and you can turn to these photos whenever you do feel homesick. Bringing notes or cards from loved ones that you can reread when you’re feeling down can also help. Personalizing your new room is also important because it will give you a sense of pride and ownership.

Even if you’re only staying in that room for a year or two, a couple of decorations will help the room feel more like yours and make it feel like home.

Reach out when you're feeling down.

TUESDAY,OCTOBER 8, 2019

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Handling homesickness Christine Tran, SENIOR STAFF writer

It’s not always necessarily about the place you left behind, but the people. When you’re missing home, shoot a quick text to a friend or give your parents a phone call. The familiar voices of your parents or silly banter with a friend will help you feel less lonely and calm your desire to return home. It’s important to be honest about how you’re feeling with someone from home because their reassurance and encouragement is what will keep you going in the future.

Compile a playlist of songs that remind you of home.

Growing up, your parents might have played music that echoed all throughout your house. My parents, for example, always played the same handful of songs whenever we would take long drives and so now those are the songs that I play whenever I travel. Gather all the songs you heard at home over the years; ask your parents for help too if you can’t remember everything. If the titles aren’t in English or you can’t remember a few, then try using Spotify because it provides a recommendation section based on songs you already have on your playlist. All you need to do is listen through and figure out

what sounds familiar. Whenever you find yourself missing home, turn on this playlist.

Listening to music from your childhood can help you feel more comfortable in your new environment and double as study music.

Find reasons to love where you are now The most effective way to deal with homesickness is to distract yourself from it. Instead of focusing on how much you miss home and the comforts that came along with it, think about the things you like about where you are currently. You’re not going to fall in love with your new place right away, so take it day by day.

Something I’ve enjoyed doing is putting aside time to write down one good thing that happened that day and drop it in a container. Before you know it, you’ll have a container full of fun memories of a place that you never would have considered calling home. And if you are having trouble finding something that makes you happy in your new city, it’s never too late to turn it around. Explore campus and the surrounding city, join a club or pick up a new hobby; don’t be afraid to try something different. Soon this unknown town will become your new home, you just need to give it a chance.

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COURTESY OF PEXELS

14

FEATURES

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

UNDER THE

KILT

I first started using the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at UCR last fall quarter. As my parents’ only daughter and a first-generation student growing up was difficult, to say the least. My clinician helped me accept the past and move forward with my life and studies. By the end of winter quarter, I was ecstatic to visit my family. I don’t think my clinician or I expected our next session to be as heart wrenching as it was.

When I visited my family for the first time in months, my parents told me they were getting a divorce. Growing up with their toxicity, I expected it. I only wondered why it took so long. A little while after, my mother pulled me aside and told me she was seeing someone.

Her “boyfriend” was a pediatrician from Nebraska she had met on Facebook. He planned to marry her and kept telling her he would visit California, only for work to come up. The process would repeat again. I never thought I’d have to warn my mother about strangers on the internet despite all her warnings to me as a teen, but there I was.

I questioned the validity of this man she had never

Grieving the end of a family relationship By: Adriana Mandujano Angel, Contributing Writer

upset with me.

In the days that followed, my mother did not talk to me, or if she did, she gave me half-hearted answers. The day before I was set to go back to school, she exploded. She said I wasn’t her daughter, that she did not love me, that I never support any of her decisions to live a happy life, that her boyfriend was real until she finally kicked me out of the house. She did not want to accept that her boyfriend was probably not real. My mom would yell at me over my antics while growing up, but it was never to that extent. Her words truly hurt me, and I was absolutely heartbroken.

Spring quarter had now begun by this point and it was the most difficult time of my life thus far. I wished my mother a happy birthday in April and was met with a “May God bless you. Don’t talk to me or message me ever again.” I recounted the message to my clinician and expressed my hopelessness over the situation.

It was then that my clinician told me that I was grieving the end of a significant relationship.

I knew that the end of friendships or romantic relationships could have a huge impact and that you can grieve the end of those relationships. I did not know it could be the same for familial relationships. Who really wants to think about ending a relationship with someone as important as your mother? Despite wanting to talk to my mother and work things out, I knew that in her state it was simply impossible.

I focused on school to the best of my ability, keeping my mental health afloat with the help of my clinician

“I knew that the end of friendships or romantic relationships could have a

huge impact.... I did not know it could

be the same for familial relationships.” actually seen and all the empty promises he made her.

I wanted my mom to find happiness, but I also wanted her to be rational and not drag my siblings to live with a random man. My mistake was telling her that she was possibly putting my younger siblings in danger. She got

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at CAPS. If you ask me how my spring quarter went, I still have no idea what happened. I was juggling my mental health, supporting my dad in the divorce process,

“We focus on what’s currently present

while neglecting ourselves in the process.

I believe it is important to practice self love in the midst of the chaos of life.”

submitting assignments, studying and working. I felt so alone, but with each session I had at CAPS, I was reminded that I was not alone. I had my friends by my side who understood my pain and gave me space to heal.

The last words my clinician told me was that she was proud of how far I came, and it made me cry.

It’s been a few months after that ordeal, and I have since reconciled with my mother. Her boyfriend turned out to be a catfish and she apologized. I know that we won’t have a close relationship like before but I’m glad there has been a little progress. My clinician has since left UCR, as she was only an intern, but I am grateful that she helped me grow so much as a person.

I know many of us may be going through similar situations, if not worse. Adding school on top of personal issues makes life much more stressful, and communicating with professors about your hardships can be difficult. We focus on what’s currently present while neglecting ourselves in the process. I believe it is important to practice self love in the midst of the chaos of life. Utilizing CAPS has proved to be the best decision I made in my second year at UCR and now I am ready to tackle my third year.

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COURTESY OF PEXELS

RADAR

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

EVENTS THIS WEEK 10/11

“Gemini Man”

10/12

Grid Video Game Release

10/17

Free Film Premiere - “Maleficent 2” & “Zombieland 2” @UV Theater, 7:00pm

RYAN POON/ HIGHLANDER

16 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

Radar

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“Joker” delivers on an unsettling character study of the clown prince of crime

By: Colin Carney, Senior Staff Writer

A f t e r countless comic appearances, several television adaptations and a handful of film portrayals, the Joker has become a pop culture icon. He easily holds the title as one of the most iconic film villains alongside heavy weights such as Darth Vader and Hannibal Lecter. The Joker is even considered by some as the modern day Hamlet, as the character has attracted award-winning actors like Jack Nicolson and Heath Ledger to give their own spin on the villain.

With all that said, however, it was not until this October release of “Joker” that the character has received his own standalone movie.

Director Todd Phillips’ “Joker” follows the sad and difficult life of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), the man who will eventually become the infamous Joker.

Arthur begins the film as a party clown who struggles with a debilitating condition that causes him to break into uncontrollable fits of laughter. Arthur struggles with his day-to-day life as he juggles attending mandatory therapy visits for his mental Arthur, who often finds himself at the receiving end of society’s cruelty. The first half of the film primarily focuses on a series of events that contribute to Arthur’s awful life, which can be draining on audiences. Yet, the performance given

by Phoenix, the beautiful cinematography and score makes the wait of the first half worth viewing.

It’s only when Arthur begins to embrace his inner evil and takes steps to become the iconic villain that the film begins to pick up pace. After a series of events chip away at Arthur’s already fragile sanity, he begins to lose control and acts out his innermost desires in often violent ways.

Arthur’s actions are increasingly violent as he becomes the clown prince of crime, but not as over-the-top as audiences might be accustomed to. This means that there are no exploding limbs or excess gore; rather, the violence of “Joker” is that Arthur’s crimes are realistic enough to be unsettling and disturbing for some in today’s climate. That said, the film

VERDICT

doesn’t go too overboard in its violence and saves it for maximum effect in critical moments. Phillips manages to further convey Arthur’s crumbling mental state as he is revealed to be an unreliable narrator.

Events often occur in the film that exist only in his head, letting the audience determine how much was actually real and what was simply a figment of Arthur’s imagination. Though this may annoy audiences who want a definitive story, the manipulation of reality adds to Arthur’s character and shows how truly unhinged he is, making his descent into the crazed villain more fascinating, much like the Scorsese classic “The King of Comedy”.

No matter how well the script is written, this movie is brought to life thanks to Joaquin Phoenix’s expert portrayal of Arthur Fleck as the man who will become the Joker. His acting expertly portrays Arthur’s crumbling mental state as Phoenix gives everything to this role, which is evident with his startling weight loss that makes Arthur unsettling to look

condition and supporting his mother. This is all coupled with the decaying state of society in 1980’s Gotham City as trash litters the streets, the poor struggle to get by and the rich live in excessive luxury. The metropolis is a powder keg waiting to explode as class divisions and deepseated anger boils to the brim.

With these factors acting against him, Arthur succumbs to the world around him when he finally snaps and becomes the titular Joker.

The film begins as a slow burn and can easily overwhelm audiences with its bleak and cynical outlook.

Nearly nothing about the Gotham City that Phillips’ constructed is redeemable; its residents have little to no regard for the wellbeing of others, social services are cut and social unrest teeters on the brink of allout chaos. Furthermore, the film is shown from the viewpoint of at on screen. Additionally, Phoenix crafts a truly disturbing and uncontrollable Joker laugh as the cackle is clearly painful to Arthur. There is no part of this performance that doesn’t deliver as he makes Arthur’s descent into madness believable and haunting. Phoenix expertly conveys Arthur’s growing separation from reality and utter disregard for human life with his unsettling expression as he commits merciless crimes. He manages to get audiences to feel sympathy for Arthur and the circumstances he finds himself in. Nevertheless, his performance still manages to show us that the Joker is not a hero but a deranged criminal.

Phoenix’s performance is masterful and though none managed to steal the spotlight from him, the cast of supporting characters never feels wasted. Robert De Niro’s character, talk show host Murray Franklin, is a joy to see on screen and plays a great role in one of the film’s greatest and most suspenseful scenes.

Other members of the supporting cast,

such as Zazie Beets and Marc Maron, pop up in no more than a few scenes but each play their role perfectly and never feel wasted.

Phillips’ “Joker” is an unsettling character study of the world-renowned comic book villain. With a beautifully haunting score and great performances from its cast, “Joker” delivers on a thought-provoking and disturbing tale of an iconic villain. However, though this film is titled “Joker,” the villain as we know it only plays a small role in the film. A more appropriate title would simply be “Arthur,” as this film shows us more of the man that would become the Joker and less of the villain himself.

Although the film’s use of violence and portrayal of mental illness may very well leave some audience members feeling uneasy afterward, it’ll leave viewers thinking about it long after they leave the theater. Audience members will certainly pick apart every aspect of the film and its climactic ending.

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“Joker” delivers on a disturbing character study of the iconic Joker. Joaquin Phoenix’s take on the deranged clown is breathtaking and the overall story is thought-provoking and ripe for interpretation.

This is a film that will stick with you long after your first viewing.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

“ Mario kart tour ”

17

Burns out by offering nothing new and pestering players to pay for power BY: ADAM ALVERNAZ, SENIOR STAFF WRITER One of Nintendo’s most anticipated mobile games has finally been released as “Mario Kart Tour” brings pure chaos to smart phones everywhere. While the game brings the fun of playing Mario Kart in a bite-sized chunk, the game suffers from poor controls that force players into two distinct play styles with no compromises.

The abysmal amount of content in the game with only promises of future updates adds to players’ frustrations. Nintendo and DeNa’s collaboration resulted in a game plagued with major pay-to-win aspects that are severely lacking in multiple areas where it shouldn’t. It’s unfortunate that the racing giant fails to live up to the hype it was hoping to cultivate.

One of Mario Kart’s best features is the driving mechanics. In any other iteration of the series, players are always treated to a balanced driving system that rewards players for precise drifting and steering. This all changed when Nintendo had to develop for a platform with only a touchscreen as the game splits its core concepts into two play methods. Drifting and steering, two mechanics that are integral to the original game are now entirely separate which trivializes the driving into a non-uniform style that doesn’t control well. The touchscreen controls are just not a good fit for a hectic racing experience like Mario Kart.

Each play method has their pros and cons; the steering control form is much easier for users to play with, but gives diminishing returns as time goes on. The drifting style makes turning quite difficult but allows for quicker boosts. The computers, however, have no such issue with making tight turns and boosting past the player that can only be described as unfair. This only worsens as the artificial intelligence difficulty increases. As you progress into the game, the cups only get harder with more stiff requirements to increase your score and star count.

However, toward the end of the game’s content, the difficulty spikes to levels that require the player to pay for the chance to fully complete the game. To make matters worse, the game has no multiplayer functionality as of the writing of this review.

As time goes on, the CPU’s play in

ways that just aren’t humanly possible which makes it feel as if the game is cheating. This only pushes players to pay money to get an advantage ahead of the computer-generated difficulty that is playing disingenuously. The game is less skill dependent, which only harms the games’ longevity. The game works on a score system that determines how many stars a player is given after a race. Early on, the system is forgiving and gives stars quite often, yet when the difficulty ramps up unfairly, the game becomes much more shrewd when paying out. This is only heightened by the disappointing amount of content offered. The mobile game is devoid of original racetracks for players to enjoy. Each track is directly taken from a previous iteration of Mario Kart, even from the earliest game on the Super Nintendo. The game relies on the same seven tracks with only minor variations to set them apart from each other. These variations hardly give the players any type of replayability because of its bland, uninspiring tracks that offer nothing to those looking for more out of the experience. The game is anything but original and it comes off as uninventive.

The experience worsens when players discover how predatory the developers are in pushing the microtransactions.

Like any other mobile game, “Mario Kart Tour” features monetization aspects in the form of in-game currency, Rubies.

This currency is sparsely given to players for completing challenges and course cups. The game also limits players’ progress to keep receiving rewards.

Experience and coins are earned with completion of courses to level up and buy more drivers, karts and gliders. This system is great, but there is a limit to how much can be earned each day, effectively forcing people to purchase in-game currency to keep earning rewards. The cap set on rewards is disappointing because it limits the enjoyment people who can’t or won’t pay will have with the game. It only forces players to pay for power in the form of microtransactions which makes the free to play format null. The game is full of these small monetization aspects to incrementally improve your play with benefits players pay for. It’s clear that

the Rubies are merely an attempt by the developers to collect more money out of players in a free to play game. The game also offers a gold pass for five dollars a month. The pass gives players vanity items including a faster speed of racing and many more rewards. These rewards are outright essential to anyone who plans on fully completing the game and trying to get the best score in every course. Clearly, the game is trying to get players to pay for rewards before they discover the game has nothing new to offer. “Mario Kart Tour” has its fun moments in the beginning, but the magic wears thin after the first few courses; the game will likely continue to feel underwhelming unless Nintendo can support the game with big updates.

In the past, Nintendo’s mobile games have had big content updates that shake up the gameplay and add new content to the existing experience to help boost interest. The developers have already promised a future update with multiplayer

so it isn’t a far cry to say that more content might be on the way too. This wouldn’t be uncommon for them as games like “Fire Emblem Heroes” already has two seasons and “Super Mario Run” had new levels added to it following its initial launch.

While there isn’t much to be said about how Nintendo might fix the gameplay, they might be able to push out more original content to at least add something for players to enjoy.

Despite the flaws in Nintendo’s newest mobile outing, “Mario Kart Tour” offers an enjoyable experience for a while until players discover that the game repeats itself for hours on end with no real end goal. This continuous grind becomes extremely boring and players will see all that the game has to offer in the first hours of gameplay. I got through all the game has to offer and it was, frankly, not worth the effort. Until significant updates are made, Nintendo and DeNa’s big mobile H outing is unfortunately a huge let down. ■

COURTESY OF NINTENDO

verdict: While the racing will give players some fun for a few hours, it’s hard to recommend for a long-term mobile game experience. In its current state, the game devoids the player of having fun because of its predatory microtransactions, unjust computer opponents and dreadful control.

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

SPORTS

19

JORDAN HOM Senior Staff Writer

On Friday, Oct. 4, UCR women’s volleyball (5-9) team lost to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (11-5) in disappointing fashion. The final score of the match was 3-0, favoring the Mustangs.

Cal Poly had the upper hand all game long, forcing the Highlanders to play from behind. UCR’s defensive sets were unable to contain the surging offensive of the Mustangs, with Cal Poly junior outside hitter Maia Dvoracek leading the way with 10 kills. In addition, Cal Poly’s senior outside hitters Nikki Jackson and Jessica McRoskey added eights kills apiece.

The Highlanders were only able to score 12, 16 and 16 points in their three sets. For the Highlanders, freshmen outside hitter Amarchi Osuji and Ayanna Kimbrough led the team with four kills each. Junior setter Morgan Kline had 13 assists and six digs, but it wasn’t enough for the Highlanders to defeat the Mustangs.

Since 1973, the Highlanders have played the Mustangs 28 times, with UCR only winning 10 of those matches. UC Riverside’s last win against Cal Poly was in November of 2013, where the Highlanders got the 3-2 win in San Luis Obispo.

This is the second loss in a row for the struggling Highlanders as they have lost four of their past five games. Their only win during that stretch came against conference rival Cal State Fullerton (8-6) on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Up next, UCR will face off against Cal State Northridge (5-9) on Thursday, Oct. 10 in Riverside.

■H

Women’s volleyball loses to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

WEDNESDAY

UPCOMING GAMES

9

MEN’S SOCCER vs. UC Irvine

@ Irvine, CA. 7:00 P.M.

vs. CSU Northridge

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

11/12

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Beach Tennis Fall Tournament @ Long Beach, CA

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL vs. Long Beach State

Roberto Garcia-Vargas

@ Riverside, CA. 5:00 P.M.

S AT U R D AY

Men’s Soccer Scored a goal against University of Portland in the 75th minute, his third goal of the season

12

12 12

MEN’S SOCCER vs. Cal Poly

@ Riverside, CA. 7:00 P.M.

S AT U R D AY

STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

FRIDAY & SATURDAY

Riverside, Calif. 7:00 P.M.

S AT U R D AY

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Sports 20

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

UC Riverside’s women’s soccer team loses to UC Irvine in double overtime

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

JORDAN HOM Senior Staff Writer

On Thursday, Oct. 2, UC Riverside’s (2-8-1) women’s soccer team lost in a thrilling conference matchup against UC Irvine (2-9).

Both teams were scoreless in the regulation period but after two 10-minute overtime periods, UCI sophomore forward Alex Jaquez scored the game-winning goal at the 108th minute mark in the second overtime. The final score was 1-0.

The Anteaters were fairly aggressive on the offensive end from the start of the match. UCI attempted six shots in the first half but the strong defensive effort of UCR senior goalkeeper, Annie Bailey, prevented the Anteaters from scoring. UCR countered with three shot attempts but none were converted.

UC Riverside turned up the offensive intensity after the break, attempting seven of their 11 shots in the second half. UCR’s attack on

the offensive end put pressure on the UCI defense but the Anteaters were able to hold the Highlanders scoreless and keep the game tied until the overtime period.

UCR sophomore Natza Marin found herself with an opportunity to tie the match in the 100th minute mark of overtime, but her shot attempt was stopped by UC Irvine senior goalkeeper Maddie Newsom.

This is the second double overtime game that the Highlanders have played in their past three matches.

On Sept. 26, UC Riverside faced off against the University of Denver in a double overtime thriller that ended in a tie.

Since 2001, UCR has battled against conference rival UCI a total of 17 times with the Highlanders only winning three of those matchups. Their last win against UCI came in October of 2014 when the Highlanders earned a 1-0 victory.

Up next, the Highlanders will face off against Cal State Fullerton (8-2-1) on Sunday, Oct. 13 in Riverside.

■H

Men’s soccer suffers losses to UCLA, University of Portland

KEVIN SANCHEZ Contributing Writer

U C R i v e r s i d e ’s m e n ’s s o c c e r team (5-4-2) took on UCLA at a game that got off to a quick s t a r t o n Tu e s d a y n i g h t . T h e Highlanders struggled to keep up with an unrelenting Bruin attack that put up a total of 10 shots, six of which were on target.

Despite allowing all three goals in the first minutes of each half, the Highlanders maintained their resilience and responded with a few of their own offensive attacks.

Sophomore forward Issa Badawiya and senior midfielder Ronaldo Lomeli each contributed to the box score by combining for three of the five total shots attempted by the Highlanders. UCLA (4-41) added to their lead with a score in the early minutes of the second half, all but securing their fourth win of the season.

The Highlanders would eventually capitalize on their offensive efforts when senior defender Uros Ilic found the back of the net in the final

minutes off an assist from fellow senior Matthew Mitiku.

Despite the three goals on the scoreboard, senior goalkeeper Edwyn Gutierrez prevented a blowout — saving three ontarget shots by the Bruins.

UC Riverside soccer then traveled to the University of Portland on a short week to face the Pilots (4-3-1). The Highlanders encountered a s i m i l a r, f a s t - p a c e d a t t a c k f r o m the Pilots and met the same results as they did against UCLA. This time around though, the Highlanders showcased an aggressive attack, amounting a whopping 16 total shots, 12 of which came in the second half of the game.

Early miscues, paired with a trigger-happy attack, led to a successful penalty for Portland and cost the Highlanders their second loss of the week.

The Highlanders enter their B i g We s t c o n f e r e n c e s c h e d u l e sitting at 5-4-2 and will look to revitalize their season with their opening conference matchup on We d n e s d a y, O c t . 9 . a s t h e y t a k e H on the UCI Anteaters (3-4-4). ■

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS