Volume 73, Issue 29

University of California, Riverside

ISSUE 73 VOLUME 29

For the week of May 27, 2025

est. 1954

2 TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

STAFF

HUMANS OF UCR

(ൽංඍඈඋ ංඇ &ඁංൾൿ

Senna Omar editorinchief@highlandernews.org 0ൺඇൺ඀ංඇ඀ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Mata Elangovan managingeditor@highlandernews.org 1ൾඐඌ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Mahlia Jade Trang (She/Her), Public Policy & Law and Society, Fourth Year

Sanjana Thatte news@highlandernews.org $ඌඌඍ 1ൾඐඌ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Dinara Godage asst.news@highlandernews.org 2ඉංඇංඈඇඌ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Cecile Diroll

>ɀǥɸɥ ɀȶ ʗɀɸɞ ̇ɞɥɯ ʗDZLjɞ ȅɞLjǫDZɥ ՅLjȥLj “ʗɀɸɞ ǤɞDZLjǫɯȎ ǥɀɸɞɥDZɥՆԨ ɯȎDZʗ ȳLjɯɯDZɞԩ

opinions@highlandernews.org

$ඌඌඍ 2ඉංඇංඈඇඌ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Spandana Janapati asst.opinions@highlandernews.org

)ൾൺඍඎඋൾඌ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Natalie Dahl

LjȪLjȶǥȓȶȅ ɯȎDZ ȶDZʑ DZʖɛDZɞȓDZȶǥDZɥ ɀȄ ǥɀȪȪDZȅDZ Ljȶǫ LjǥLjǫDZȳȓǥɥ ʑLjɥ Lj Ǥȓɯ ǫȓ̲ǥɸȪɯ ʑȎDZȶ ʗɀɸ՟ɞDZ ȳDZDZɯȓȶȅ ɥɀȳDZɀȶDZ ȶDZʑ DZʐDZɞʗǫLjʗԧ Ǥɸɯ ȳLjȓȶʧLjȓȶȓȶȅ LjǥLjǫDZȳȓǥ LjǥǥɀɸȶʧLjǤȓȪȓɯʗ ȓȶ ɯȎDZ ̇ɞɥɯ ʗDZLjɞ ʑȓȪȪ ɞDZLjȪȪʗ ɥDZɯ Lj ȳɀɞDZ ɥɸǥǥDZɥɥȄɸȪ ɛLjɯȎ Ȅɀɞ ɯȎDZ ʗDZLjɞɥ ȄɀȪȪɀʑȓȶȅԬ &ɀȶ՟ɯ ʑɀɞɞʗ ɯȎɀɸȅȎԧ L ȪɀǥȥDZǫ ȓȶ ԦՆ՝

features@highlandernews.org

$ඌඌඍ )ൾൺඍඎඋൾඌ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Gabriela Galvan asst.features@highlandernews.org

5ൺൽൺඋ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Maribel Gamez-Reyes radar@highlandernews.org $ඌඌංඌඍൺඇඍ 5ൺൽൺඋ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Bobbi Monae Mandour asst.radar@highlandernews.org

6ඉඈඋඍඌ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Isaac Solnick sports@highlandernews.org $ඌඌඍ 6ඉඈඋඍඌ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Terry Nguyen asst.sports@highlandernews.org 3ඁඈඍඈ඀උൺඉඁඒ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Neorah Davis photo@highlandernews.org $ඌඌංඌඍൺඇඍ 3ඁඈඍඈ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Vash Chen photo@highlandernews.org 6ඍൺൿൿ 3ඁඈඍඈ඀උൺඉඁൾඋ

Adam Oshun Arun 3උඈൽඎർඍංඈඇ 0ൺඇൺ඀ൾඋ

Ashley Cho productionmanager@highlandernews.org $ඌඌඍ 3උඈൽඎർඍංඈඇ 0ൺඇൺ඀ൾඋ

Sonali Whittle prodassistant.highlander@gmail.com 3උඈൽඎർඍංඈඇ $ඌඌංඌඍൺඇඍඌ

CONTACT US THE HIGHLANDER 101 Highlander Union Building Riverside, CA 92521 www.highlandernews.org editorinchief@highlandernews.org

Frances Tong prodassistant.highlander@gmail.com

Giselle Ramirez prodassistant.highlander@gmail.com

Paul Lewis III prodassistant.highlander@gmail.com $උඍ 'ංඋൾർඍඈඋ

Holly Dawson highlander.art.director@gmail.com &ඈඉඒ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Aaliyah Brown copyeditor.highlander@gmail.com *උൺඉඁංർ 'ൾඌං඀ඇൾඋ

TIP LINE:

Center Spread

Full Page

2/3rd Page

Half Page #1

$1280

$640

$440

$320

(951) 827-2105

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

Half Page #2

1/3rd Page #1

1/3rd Page #2

1/4th Page #1

1/4th Page #2

$320

$210

$210

$160

$160

Layna Lapikas llapi002@ucr.edu 'ൾඌං඀ඇ ,ඇඍൾඋඇඌ

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Adelia Urena auren016@ucr.edu

Henya Dadem hdade001@ucr.edu &ඈආංർ $උඍංඌඍ

Emily Mata emata015@ucr.edu %ඎඌංඇൾඌඌ 0ൺඇൺ඀ൾඋ

Emily Manus highlanderads@gmail.com $ඌඌඍ %ඎඌංඇൾඌඌ 0ൺඇൺ඀ൾඋ

Lizbeth Martos highlanderads@gmail.com 9ංൽൾඈ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Edwin Basurto video.highlander@gmail.com

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

1/8th Page

Business Card

)RU RQOLQH DGV VHH ZHEVLWH IRU GHWDLOV

$80

$45

KLJKODQGHUDGV#JPDLO FRP

LEGAL

MULTIMEDIA

$ඌඌඍ 9ංൽൾඈ (ൽංඍඈඋ

Daniela Cruz video.highlander@gmail.com 0ൺඋ඄ൾඍංඇ඀ 'ංඋൾർඍඈඋ

Carlie Servando marketing.highlander@gmail.com $ඌඌඍ 0ൺඋ඄ൾඍංඇ඀ 'ංඋൾർඍඈඋ

Abby Lazar marketing.highlander@gmail.com 0ൺඋ඄ൾඍංඇ඀ ,ඇඍൾඋඇඌ

Isabell Gracia marketing.highlander@gmail.com

Sriya Boppana marketing.highlander@gmail.com 7ൾർඁ 'ංඋൾർඍඈඋ

Michael Tin techdirector@highlandernews.org $ൽ 5ൾඉඌ

Allison Fry Ashley Gonzalez-Benavides Sanya Jain Kelley Manzo highlanderadrep@gmail.com 'ංඌඍඋංൻඎඍංඈඇ 0ൺඇൺ඀ൾඋ

Cinthia Meza cmeza047@ucr.edu

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

The Highlander fully supports the University of California’s policy on non-discrimination. The student media reserve the right to reject or modify advertising whose content discriminates on the basis of ancestry, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, age, sex or sexual orientation. The Highlander has a media grievance procedure for resolving complaints against it. All inserts that are printed in the Highlander are independently paid publications and do not reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the staff or The University of California or the Associated Students of UCR.

&ODVVL¿HG SHU OLQH FKDUDFWHUV VSDFHV GDVKHV HWF

@THEHIGHLANDERUCR

f

THE HIGHLANDER

X

@HIGHLANDERUCR HighlanderTV KUCR 88.3 FM

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

27 Tuesday

Neon in the Gutters: Cyberpunk Visions of the Future 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Rivera Library UCR Taiko Ensemble Recital 12:00 p.m.

The Barn ASP Linedancing Practice 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

African Student Programs

28

Wednesday

Final Day: Commencement Ticket Distribution 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

HUB Third Floor Florence Bayz Music Series 12:00 p.m. to 12:50 p.m.

Arts 157

UPCOMING EVENTS

Screening: Earth’s Greatest Enemy 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

INTS 1128

29

Thursday

UCR Jazz Ensembles 7:30 p.m.

Culver Center

30

Collegiate Recovery Meetings 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

SHC 1320

Friday

31

Saturday

Boil’R Room 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The Barn

Twilight Carillon Recital 6:00 p.m.

Bell Tower UCR Orchestra 8:00 p.m.

University Theatre

1

UCR Orchestra 3:00 p.m.

University Theatre

2

UCR Wind Ensemble 7:00 p.m.

Culver Center

Sunday

Monday

IRENE TU / THE HIGHLANDER

UCDC Alumni Panel 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Virtual

3

4 TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

highlandernews.org

LETTER FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD

In support of the R’Garden DOUBLE DOWN AND ENSURE FUNDING FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR. On Dec. 1, 2012, an empty plot of land behind Parking Lot 30 was transformed into what we know today as the R’Garden, or the University of California, Riverside’s (UCR) commuQLW\ JDUGHQ ,W ZDV D MRLQW H൵RUW E\ 8&5 VWXGHQW organizations, Sustainable UCR and Cultivate R’Space. ,Q VLPLODU H൵RUWV ZHUH VSHDUKHDGHG WR fund and create a separate community garden through Sustainable UCR and the Salvation Army, but the latter organization withdrew its VXSSRUW +RZHYHU WR R൵VHW VWDUW XS FRVWV 8&5 Chancellor Timothy White made a one-time fund of $145,723 available, as he believed, “The power of our students is … really the organic piece of our university, along with the power of our faculty.”

In light of potential foreclosure, the R’Garden has been rallying for student and community support for years. R’Garden workers have hit the streets in protest, spoken to various local of¿FLDOV DQG KDYH EHHQ ZRUNLQJ RQ D UHIHUHQGXP to boost funding since 2022.

This year, during the ASUCR elections for the 2025-2026 school year, the R’Garden referendum fell through yet again. The R’Garden lost support simply because only 17.6 percent of students turned out to vote, not meeting the 20 percent minimum voter turnout for the referendum to pass.

tain operations through the next academic year.

CNAS is also prepared to continue supporting R’Garden by extending the use of land, water and other agricultural resources such that the operation of R’Garden can continue until a new referendum can be put to a student body vote in 2025-26.”

I strongly urge you to continue looking for alternative funding methods, internal to the university, to continue funding this space of learning and food security. I do not believe that it is possible for me to succeed as a student with the looming fear of food insecurity, as living costs LQ &DOLIRUQLD ULVH :KHWKHU LW LV D൵HFWLQJ PH RU D loved one, the threat of food insecurity is all too This does not mean that the battle is over. In real, and it is important for these resources to be fact, student activism in colleges is not new. For available to us. years, student activists have gathered in solidarity to oppose wars, call for research funding and Without the R’Garden, my worries are exacerseek out free speech. And in many instances they EDWHG 7KH 5¶*DUGHQ R൵HUV IUHVK SURGXFH WR DOO won. who drop by, regardless of food insecurity status, making it one of the most — if not the most — Now is not the time to start pulling back from accessible resources on campus. No questions sending emails to the administration calling for asked, no debts owed; the R’Garden is there to attention to the R’Garden. Students, faculty and support all. community members all around have to double down until funding is guaranteed. It would be The R’Garden is a place where students have all too simple for the administration to revoke the opportunity to learn about issues in the comWKHLU R൵HU RI D ³EULGJH IXQGLQJ RSWLRQ´ IRU WKH munity and around the world, such as food inseR’Garden, so the spotlight on their struggle has curity, environmental justice and what it means to remain until stability is guaranteed.

WR IDUP VXVWDLQDEO\ 1RW RQO\ KDV LW R൵HUHG YDULous learning opportunities through programs like 6R XQWLO FRQ¿UPDWLRQ LV UHFHLYHG IURP WKH College Corps, but it also aims to foster a conCNAS department that they have secured fund- nection within the community through various ing for the R’Garden for the duration of the outreach events.

2025-2026 school year, here is a draft email to send to them.

The loss of the garden means the loss of events such as the Fall Harvest Festival, the R’Garden Rockout and other workshops such as the ver—--------------------micomposting workshop or seed bombing event.

On May 12, 2025, in a post on their Instagram, To: peter.atkinson@ucr.edu As a UCR student, I feel it is my responsibility the R’Garden released a message asking for supto advocate on behalf of this integral resource. port from those at UCR as well as the greater CC: milly.paredez@ucr.edu, chancellor@ucr. Without the R’Garden, UCR cannot continue to Riverside community: edu, vcsa@ucr.edu, sustainability@ucr.edu advertise itself in good faith as a low-income and minority-serving institution when this garden Subject: SAVE the R’Garden has fed countless students on campus. ³$V D ODVW GLWFK H൵RUW If the R’Garden is not funded, it’s a loss to Dear Dean Atkinson, UCR as a whole.

WR VDYH WKH 5¶*DUGHQ ZH

DUH DVNLQJ VWXGHQWV VWD൵ , KRSH WKLV HPDLO ¿QGV \RX ZHOO 0\ QDPH We, as a student body, are holding you, as adis [First Name Last Name], and I am a student ministrators, accountable. Please let us and the IDFXOW\ DOXPQL DQG WKH at the University of California, Riverside. I am whole campus community know when you have JHQHUDO SXEOLF WR FRQWDFW WKH writing to express my strong support for main- FRQ¿UPHG IXQGLQJ IRU WKH 5¶*DUGHQ the funding for the R’Garden. Since its 8&5 'HDQ¶V 2൶FHV WR XUJH taining foundation in 2012, the R’Garden has become an Best, integral part of the UCR experience.

[First Name Last Name] Ŷ WKHP WR VWHS LQ DQG 6$9( WKH 5¶*DUGHQ ´ 7KHLU JRDO LV WR ³R൵HU 8&5 VWXGHQWV IUHVK SURGXFH DQG HGXFDWLRQDO RSSRUWXQLWLHV´ ZKLOH UHPDLQLQJ D ³SHUPDQHQW UHVRXUFH ´ H

Less than two weeks later, as students took WR WKH LQER[HV RI DGPLQLVWUDWLYH R൶FLDOV 'HDQ of College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS), Peter W. Atkinson released a statement on behalf of campus leadership: “In the short term, CNAS is working with campus leadership to explore bridge funding options that could sus-

COURTESY OF FREEPIK

NEWS

highlandernews.org/category/news

5įŁĽ

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

5

R’Bus planning process POTENTIAL PLANS FOR THE UCR STUDENT AFTER-HOURS SHUTTLE SYSTEM. SANJANA THATTE 5L^Z ,KP[VY

R’Bus, an initiative started with College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) Senator Vinisha Lalli and former Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) Senators Anjana Narasimhan and Amariah Peedikayil, aims to provide students with safe late-night transportation back to their residences. It has now evolved into plans for a full-time internal transportation system that potentially could act as a bus service central to the University of California, Riverside (UCR).

Senator Lalli explained that R’Bus originates in the point-to-point system that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic. The shuttle service transported students from campus within a one-mile radius of the University of California, Riverside (UCR). It was run by the University of California Police Department (UCPD) afterhours volunteers. The program had several issues, such as not accommodating those with

disabilities, not being eco-friendly and operatLQJ RQ D ¿UVW FRPH ¿UVW VHUYHG EDVLV OHDYLQJ many waiting for a considerable duration of time before they could catch a bus.

Senator Lalli wished to reinvigorate the program, noting that many science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students often had labs and classes that ran very late into the night. The lack of lighting on campus makes it unsafe for many to travel back to their resiGHQFHV PDQ\ RI ZKLFK DUH R൵ FDPSXV 6HQDWRU Lalli and her team’s initial pitch for the program would allow for American Disability Association (ADA) compliant GEM carts to follow a scheduled route around campus from 7 p.m. to D P WR WUDQVSRUW VWXGHQWV RQ DQG R൵ FDPSXV However, after talking to Maria Keller, Associate Director of the Student Disability Resource Center, Senator Lalli and her team realized that a broader internal transportation

system is needed throughout the day at UCR. This would help students with disabilities get around campus and generally reach buildings and lecture halls far from them.

If approved, the project, which has been in the works for a year, would begin its testing phase during the summer. Funding could potentially be sourced from the Associated Students of UCR (ASUCR) or other on-campus organizations. The route the buses would take would likely be determined in collaboration with UCPD. The program would start operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and if support is gathered, will also be extended to later hours.

If she succeeds in her ambition, Senator Lalli hopes to make the program permanent through an ASUCR resolution and operate the system through an app similar to the Riverside Transit Agency’s (RTA) app. ŶH

Trump enacts Canadian tariffs THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS IMPOSED TARIFFS ON IMPORTED GOODS FROM CANADA. SARAH TABEL :[H࢒ >YP[LY

Trade tensions between the United States (U.S.) and Canada have increased amid a wave RI WDUL൵V DQG UHWDOLDWRU\ PHDVXUHV D൵HFWLQJ economic ties between the two countries. The U.S and Canada have had a longstanding history of bilateral trade relationships, particularly in the automotive and energy markets.

The Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement (CUSFTA), was signed in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. The agreement was enforced in 1989 DQG HOLPLQDWHG DOO WDUL൵V WUDGH EHWZHHQ WKH 8 6 and Canada. It was later replaced by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in ZKLFK H[WHQGHG WDUL൵ H[HPSWLRQ WR LQclude Mexico. The agreement was superseded in 2020 with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which aimed to improve trade relations and create a balanced trade environment between the three countries.

In 2024, The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the U.S. imported $413 billion worth of goods from Canada, making it the nation’s third-largest supplier. Canada was reported as the top destination for U.S. exports in 2024. Including both exports and imports, Canada was the second-largest trade partner for the U.S. that year.

Statistics Canada reported that 76 percent of their goods were exported to the U.S. and 50 percent were imported from the U.S. in 2024.

In 2023, the U.S. was the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Canada, investing more in Canadian assets and businesses, by stock, than any other country. In the same year, Canada was the third-largest source of FDI to

the U.S. In Janunary of 2025, the Trump administraWLRQ GHFODUHG WKDW WKH 8 6 ZLOO LPSRVH WDUL൵V RQ Canadian goods under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which grants the president authority to regulate interQDWLRQDO HFRQRPLF WUDQVDFWLRQV 7KH WDUL൵V ZHUH also imposed under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which permits the president to take action on imports that threaten national security.

However, Canadian imports under the USCMA UHPDLQ H[HPSW IURP WKHVH WDUL൵V In February of 2025, President Trump announced that the U.S. will impose 25 percent WDUL൵V RQ DOO LPSRUWV IURP &DQDGD LQFOXGLQJ D SHUFHQW WDUL൵ RQ HQHUJ\ LPSRUWV XQGHU ,((3$ 7KH WDUL൵V ZHQW LQWR H൵HFW RQ 0DUFK however the imports under the USCMA remain VXVSHQGHG IURP WKHVH WDUL൵V On March 12, Trump imposed 25 percent tarL൵V RQ VWHHO DQG DOXPLQXP LPSRUWV IURP &DQDGD which removed previous exemptions and raised WKH WDUL൵V RQ DOXPLQXP E\ SHUFHQW 2Q $SULO D SHUFHQW WDUL൵ ZDV LPSRVHG RQ DOO YHhicle imports traded under USCMA, excluding all content from the U.S. The Trump administration announced that it would continue taking preventive measures to avoid the accumulation RI WDUL൵V RQ &DQDGLDQ VWHHO DQG DOXPLQXP &DQDGD KDV UHVSRQGHG WR WKH ,((3$ WDUL൵V E\ LPSRVLQJ SHUFHQW WDUL൵V RQ 8 6 LPSRUWV 7KH Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, stated WKDW WKHVH UHWDOLDWRU\ WDUL൵V ZLOO UHPDLQ XQWLO WKH U.S. can make “credible, reliable commitments to free and fair trade.” Canadian provinces and territories have also announced retaliation mea-

sures on the sale of U.S. alcohol.

Congress is currently assessing the possibility of conducting oversight over U.S.-Canada trade relations. A joint review of USCMA has been scheduled for 2026. ŶH

COUTESY OF RAWPIXEL

COUTESY OF GETARCHIVE

6 TUESDAY, MAY 27 , 2025

NEWS

highlandernews.org/category/news

Six people dead after plane crash in San Diego PLANE CRASH DESTROYS THE LARGEST NAVY-OWNED NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE U.S. SENNA OMAR ,KP[VY PU *OPLM

2Q 7KXUVGD\ D SULYDWH MHW À\LQJ LQ IRJJ\ weather hit a power line and crashed into a San Diego neighborhood. The plane smashed into the home of a San Diego native, Ben McCarty, destroying his home and claiming the lives of all six passengers.

3ROLFH R൶FHUV RQ WKH VFHQH VKDUHG WKDW QR members of the neighborhood died; however, eight people were taken to the hospital for minor injuries such as smoke inhalation.

Following the crash, McCarty’s home was left in pieces; the roof partially collapsed and WKH IURQW ZDV KHDYLO\ EXUQW 2൶FLDOV GHVFULEHG that 10 other houses in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood — the largest Navy-owned housing in the country — were damaged.

'HVFULELQJ WKH ¿UVW PRPHQWV RI WKH FUDVK McCarty told ABC News, “My wife was VFUHDPLQJ DQG VKH¶V OLNH µ7KHUH¶V D ¿UH ¶´ $V he walked toward the front of his home, a scene of destruction unfolded before his eyes.

McCarty and his wife grabbed their children and dogs and rushed for the back exit, where neighbors helped them escape.

Neighbors who witnessed the crash described D ³ZKRRVKLQJ VRXQG´ EHIRUH VHHLQJ D JLDQW ¿UHball outside their homes.

Many residents felt blessed to have survived the devastating destruction to their homes. “I GH¿QLWHO\ GR IHHO EOHVVHG EHFDXVH ZH¶YH EHHQ spared,” shared Ariya Waterworth, a witness to the crash and resident of the neighborhood.

After the crash, at least 100 residents were evacuated from the neighborhood. San Diego )LUH 'HSDUWPHQW 6')' R൶FLDOV H[SODLQHG WKDW MHW IXHO ÀRRGHG WKH VWUHHWV OHDYLQJ WKH VPHOO lingering for days.

Flight Path 7KH SULYDWH ÀLJKW WRRN R൵ IURP 7HWDERUR New Jersey, at 11:15 p.m. on May 21, 2025, and stopped for fuel in Wichita, Kansas. According WR $3 1HZV WKH ÀLJKW ZDV ERXQG IRU 0RQWJRPery-Gibbs Executive Airport when it smashed into power lines about two miles southeast of the airport.

Assistant SDFD Chief Dan Eddy, who was on the scene of the crash, explained that on the morning of the crash the fog was so thick, “you could barely see through it.” %HUU\ 1HZPDQ D ERDUG FHUWL¿HG DYLDWLRQ DWtorney, elucidated the possible circumstances surrounding the crash to AP news. According to Newman, the plane likely operated on an instruPHQW ÀLJKW UXOHV SODQ EHFDXVH RI WKH ZHDWKHU :KHQ À\LQJ LQWR 0RQWJRPHU\ *LEEV ([HFXtive Airport, once the aircraft reaches 673 feet during its descent, the pilot must rely on sight to guide the landing.

“If a pilot descends to that level and he can’t see the runway, he has to call for a missed approach or divert to another airport,” described Newman. ŶH

COUTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

COUTESY OF FREERANGE STOCK

‘Propaganda I’m NOT falling for’ DIVING DEEPER INTO THE HISTORY OF PROPAGANDA. DINARA GODAGE (ZZPZ[HU[ 5L^Z ,KP[VY

Recently, a common trend on TikTok is listing “propaganda” that the creator will not believe. Lists include items such as high gas prices, hook up culture or animal print clothing.

While many of these videos are jokes made E\ FUHDWRUV SURSDJDQGD LV GH¿QHG DV WKH GLVsemination of false or partially incorrect inforPDWLRQ WR LQÀXHQFH SXEOLF RSLQLRQ +LVWRULFDOO\ this meant convincing a nation that genocide is acceptable rather than what colored shoes is popular or not.

Propaganda has its origins in the ancient world with ancient Greeks utilizing oratory propaganda, the Catholic Church creating the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith in 1600s and the Spanish Armada after their defeat

by Britain to paint their loss in a more favorable light.

Modern propaganda became a common word in the 1910s due to World War I (WWI). It can be presented in various forms, such as banners, slogans, insignia, hair styles and many others.

3URSDJDQGD KDV JURZQ LQ LQÀXHQFH GXH WR fascists and communists such as Hitler and Mussolini. They utilized newer technologies to VSUHDG WKHLU ³VHO¿VK´ LGHDOV However, these groups are not the only ones to blame. Democratic governments thrive on pro-

SDJDQGD DV ZHOO (OHFWHG R൶FLDOV UHTXLUH YRWHV of constituents, whether that be a few thousand in their town to be mayor or millions to become the United States president. Each candidate creates a slogan and writes a narrative to appeal to public opinion. While every candidate may not be falsifying their campaigns, each of them is not entirely truthful either.

Another example of propaganda is wartime slogans. For instance, Rosie the Riveter encourages, “We can do it!” and Uncle Sam points at the viewer telling them “I want you!” Each of these were created to establish a positive view RI ZDU DQG HQFRXUDJH FLWL]HQV WR MRLQ WKH H൵RUW When encountering propaganda, the American Historical Association suggests following one of the two tests to judge the truthfulness of the message by asking: COUTESY OF BATES COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART 1. Is it really propaganda? Is some individual RU JURXS FRQVFLRXVO\ WU\LQJ WR LQÀXHQFH RSLQLRQ Propaganda has had various negative impacts and action? Who? For what purpose? on history, such as perpetuating genocide, ethnic cleansing and general warfare. Utilizing 2. Is it true? Does a comparison of indepen- critical thinking, as explained in the tests from dent reports show that the facts are accurate? the AHA, can assist in creating an opinion apart Does such a comparison show that the sugges- from the messages pushed by governments or tions made are soundly based? corporations. ŶH

NEWS

highlandernews.org/category/news

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

7

Kim Wilcox Drive: Legacy remains at UCR KARINA SEPULVEDA *VU[YPI\[PUN >YP[LY

COMMEMORATING CHANCELLOR WILCOX’S IMPACT ON UCR.

On May 8, 2025, the street surrounding University of California, Riverside’s (UCR) campus was renamed and dedicated in honor of the university’s ninth chancellor, Kim Wilcox, who has devoted 12 years to UCR and has announced his resignation. The street, originally designated Campus Drive, has been renamed Kim Wilcox Drive. The Arts Building, Hinderaker Hall, the School of Business, Orbach Science Library and University Lecture Hall are all located along the street.

The unveiling of one of the remodeled street signs took place in the morning, followed by a lunch reception and a larger campus commemoration at Rivera Lawn in the afternoon for Chancellor Wilcox. Not only were UCR VWD൵ LQYLWHG EXW DOVR WKH VWXGHQWV DQG WKH 5LYerside community. While giving a speech, he expressed his gratitude: “A university is only as great as its people, and those at UCR helped transform the campus.” Given his time at UCR, Wilcox has been able to see and experience the university’s full potential. Attendees participated in activities such as booths with games and prizes, including buttons and stickers featuring photos of Wilcox.

Natalie Upp, a fourth-year English major at UCR, pointed out that the university does not commonly host special dedications, sharing, “I think it’s cool that someone can have enough impact to do that and have something changed.” Historically, four other chancellors besides Kim Wilcox have received public FRPPHPRUDWLRQV IRU WKHLU LQÀXHQFH LQ VKDSing UCR into what it is today.

Commemorations such as Spieth Hall, ZKLFK LV QDPHG DIWHU 8&5¶V ¿UVW FKDQFHO-

lor, Herman Spieth, who served from 1958 to is the sixth year that U.S. News has featured DQG ZDV DOVR WKH XQLYHUVLW\¶V ¿UVW SURIHV- UCR in the top two spots in its social mobility sor of zoology. UCR’s second chancellor, Ivan category.

Hinderaker, was the university’s longest-serv)RU WKH ¿UVW WKUHH \HDUV 8&5 ZDV UDQNHG LQJ FKDQFHOORU +LQGHUDNHU +DOO DQG WKH FR൵HH No. 1 in the nation among four-year universishop “Ivan’s,” located inside the building, are ties.For the following two years, it was ranked named after him.

No. 2, before returning to the No. 1 position UCR’s two libraries, the Tomás Rivera Li- in 2024-25. Under Chancellor Kim Wilcox’s brary and the Orbach Science Library, are leadership, UCR joined the Association of named in honor of the university’s third chan- American Universities (AAU), becoming one cellor, Tomás Rivera, and sixth chancellor, of just four AAU members that are also a HisRaymond L. Orbach. Tomás Rivera was the panic-serving institution and an Asian Ameri¿UVW 0H[LFDQ $PHULFDQ FKDQFHOORU LQ WKH 8& FDQ DQG 1DWLYH $PHULFDQ 3DFL¿F ,VODQGHU system, and Raymond L. Orbach initiated the serving institution. proposals for UCR’s medical school.

During his time at UCR, he became a menBut some students have expressed concerns tor to many of his students and peers who about the inconvenience caused by the name work alongside him. As a result, Kim Wilchange. James Barragan, a fourth-year aero- cox received the 2023 American Council on space engineering student, articulated, “I feel Education (ACE) Council of Fellows/Fidelity OLNH KDYLQJ WKDW QHZ VWUHHW QDPH ZRXOG GH¿- Investments Mentor Award at the ACE Counnitely confuse some locals who used to come cil’s annual meeting. Wilcox is one of the around here. So there’s that kind of transition founding leaders of the University Innovation from one name to another, but there’s only so Alliance, serves on the board of directors of much we can do. At least the best thing we can the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, hope for is Google Maps to update it.” is a member of the National Collegiate AthOther students, such as Leo Thai, a second- letic Association Presidential Forum and is a year engineering student, expressed, “It prob- founding leader of the Alliance of Hispanic ably [would have] been easier if they kept it. Serving Research Universities.

But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. It’s He is actively involved in promoting colstill a street.” lege athletics and academics, as well as adChancellor Kim Wilcox took on the role of dressing issues related to limited resources chancellor in 2013, and since then, enrollment in urban areas, becoming an advocate for his has grown by more than 25 percent, along students. UCR’s Chancellor Kim Wilcox will ZLWK DQ LQFUHDVH LQ VWD൵ HPSOR\PHQW 8&5 be leaving his position during this summer of has also added or renovated more than 2 mil- 2025 and will be remembered for his contribuOLRQ VTXDUH IHHW RI IDFLOLWLHV LQFOXGLQJ DQ DG- tions to the university. Ŷ ditional $1 billion in projects underway. This H

y e l i R n e k a L e h T : n

m u l o C l a n o i s s e r g n Co Act KISHNEET KAUR *VU[YPI\[PUN >YP[LY

CONTENTS OF THE BILL AND THE HISTORY BEHIND IT.

On Jan. 29, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law. This bill was named in honor of Laken Riley, who was a nursing student at the University of Georgia.

Riley was murdered in February of 2024 by an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela who had prior arrests in New York and Georgia but had not been restrained by federal immigration authorities. $FFRUGLQJ WR %%& ³7KH ELOO UHTXLUHV WKH Department of Homeland Security to detain migrants if they are charged with certain criminal R൵HQFHV LQFOXGLQJ WKHIW VKRSOLIWLQJ EXUJODU\

assault against law enforcement or any crimes that result in death or serious bodily injury of another person.”

The bill was authored by Senator Katie Boyd Britt from Alabama, who is a part of the Republican Party. The Laken Riley Act was initially introduced in the 118th Congress in the House of Representatives on March 1, 2024, where it cleared the House’s vote with a vote of 251170. The support was composed of all of the Republican representatives voting for the passing of this bill and 35 Democrats. The bill faced opposition in the Senate, which at the time held

Democratic power, and did not pass.

In the 119th Congress, the bill was reintroduced and passed again in the House of Representatives with a vote of 264-159 on Jan. 7, 2025. On Jan. 20, 2025, the Laken Riley Act was passed in the Senate with a vote of 64-35 and was signed into law by current President Donald Trump nine days later. The Laken Riley $FW ZDV 3UHVLGHQW 7UXPS¶V ¿UVW OHJLVODWLRQ LQ KLV VHFRQG WHUP LQ R൶FH Key provisions of the Laken Riley Act include the fact that minors are not exempt and H that there is no opportunity for release. Ŷ

8 TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

NEWS

highlandernews.org/category/news

ASUCR

0UJVTPUN =7 VM 0U[LYUHS (ăHPYZ YLZPNUZ K\YPUN ZLUH[L TLL[PUN Rishika Salvi expresses discontent with former and incoming ASUCR cabinet.

SENNA OMAR Editor-In-Chief

Incoming Vice President of Internal $IIDLUV 5LVKLND 6DOYL UHVLJQHG IURP KHU $VVRFLDWHG 6WXGHQWV RI the University of California, Riverside $68&5 SRVLWLRQ &LWLQJ PXOWLSOH JULHYDQFHV ZLWK WKH RUJDQL]DWLRQ 6DOYL H[SODLQHG WKDW ³7KURXJKRXW P\ WLPH >LQ $68&5@ ,¶YH QRWLFHG WKDW WKHUH KDV EHHQ D KLVWRU\ RI QRW JLYLQJ FUHGLW ZKHUH FUHGLW LV GXH SURYRNLQJ FRQÀLFW ZLWKRXW VXEVWDQFH DQG D JHQHUDO ODFN RI UHVSHFW ZLWKLQ WKH VSDFH $QG ,¶YH VHHQ WKLV LQ LQFRPLQJ HOHFWHG RI¿FLDOV DV ZHOO ´

6KH FRQWLQXHG H[SUHVVLQJ GLVVDWLVIDFWLRQ ZLWK WKH ZD\ VKH KDV EHHQ WUHDWHG GXULQJ KHU WLPH ZRUNLQJ LQ WKH RUJDQL]DWLRQ ³, IHHO OLNH ,¶YH EHHQ WUDLQHG DQG WDNHQ DGYDQWDJH RI HQRXJK LQ WKLV VSDFH HPRWLRQDOO\ DQG SK\VLFDOO\ DQG , KRSH WKDW QH[W \HDU GRHVQ¶W HQWDLO WKDW ´ 2XWVLGH RI KHU RZQ PLVWUHDWPHQW 6DOYL H[SODLQHG WKDW SRVW HOHFWLRQ VKH KDV VHHQ $68&5 PHPEHUV KDUDVVLQJ HDFK RWKHU YLD VRFLDO PHGLD 6DOYL VKDUHG WKDW ³WKHUH LV QR H[FXVH IRU GHIDPLQJ DQ\RQH LQ RUGHU WR PDNH \RXUVHOI IHHO SRZHUIXO DQG WKDW LV VRPHWKLQJ ,¶YH VHHQ RQ ,QVWDJUDP IRU WKH SDVW FRXSOH RI ZHHNV WKURXJK HOHFWHG RI¿FLDOV RU

FDPSDLJQ DFFRXQWV ´ +HU GHFLVLRQ WR OHDYH $68&5 ZDV QRW DQ HDV\ RQH KRZHYHU 6DOYL QR ORQJHU ³IHOW FRPIRUWDEOH UHSUHVHQWLQJ an association that acts in this manner … The actions and attitudes of FXUUHQW DQG LQFRPLQJ PHPEHUV RI WKLV DVVRFLDWLRQ KDYH OHG PH KHUH ´ 6DOYL FORVHG KHU UHVLJQDWLRQ ZLWK ZRUGV RI DGYLFH WR WKH LQFRPLQJ HOHFWHG RI¿FLDOV HQFRXUDJLQJ WKHP WR ³DW WKH YHU\ OHDVW ² VWDUWLQJ WRGD\ ² EH PLQGIXO RI WKH LQGLYLGXDOV ZKR \RX FRXOG EH SRWHQWLDOO\ KXUWLQJ $QG LI , don’t see any of you again, have a great VXPPHU ´ )ROORZLQJ 6DOYL¶V UHVLJQDWLRQ

incoming Executive Vice President (93 0LD 5RVH 7X¶LIXD KRSHG WR UHLWHUDWH WKDW ³ZLWKLQ WKH VHQDWH FKDPEHUV DQG RXW $68&5 VKRXOG EH D VDIH KHDOWK\ DQG JUHDW ZRUN HQYLURQPHQW %XW HYHQ PRUH WKDQ WKDW $68&5 VKRXOG >EH@ D VDIH SODFH IRU HYHU\RQH WR ZRUN WRJHWKHU ´ Although Salvi had already left the FKDPEHUV (93 7X¶LIXD DSRORJL]HG WKDW 6DOYL¶V H[SHULHQFH ZDV XQSOHDVDQW DQG KHU VLQFHUHVW KRSHV WKDW ³WKLV QHZ FRKRUW RI VHQDWRUV ([HFXWLYH &DELQHW (&$% DQG H[WHQGHG (&$% FDQ ZRUN WRJHWKHU WR PDNH VXUH WKDW QR RQH JRLQJ IRUZDUG IHHOV OLNH WKDW ´ ŶH

(:<*9 ÄSSZ ]HJHU[ WVZP[PVUZ PU ZWLJPHS LSLJ[PVUZ New Non-traditional Student Director, International Student Director, Elections Director and President Pro-Tempore appointed.

SENNA OMAR Editor-In-Chief

The Associated Students of the University of California, Riverside (ASUCR), on Wednesday held D 6HQDWH PHHWLQJ WR ¿OO WKUHH RSHQ $68&5 SRVLWLRQV Non-traditional Student Director, International Student 'LUHFWRU (OHFWLRQV 'LUHFWRU DQG 3UHVLGHQW 3UR 7HPSRUH 337 WKURXJK VSHFLDO HOHFWLRQV &DOOHG WR RUGHU DW S P WKH PHHWLQJ EHJDQ ZLWK D SXEOLF IRUXP ZKHUH $68&5 3UHVLGHQW $EE\ &KR\ ZDV WKH ¿UVW WR VSHDN 3UHVLGHQW &KR\ RIIHUHG KHU FRQJUDWXODWLRQV WR WKH QHZ $68&5 VWDII DQG JDYH WKHP LQIRUPDWLRQ DERXW WKH XSFRPLQJ OHDGHUVKLS WUDQVLWLRQ VXPPLW WDNLQJ SODFH RQ 0D\ WR EHJLQ WUDLQLQJ DQG WUDQVLWLRQ LQWR WKHLU QHZ SRVLWLRQV (FKRLQJ KHU FDPSDLJQ JRDOV 3UHVLGHQW &KR\ DOVR DVNHG WKDW DOO IRUPHU $68&5 RI¿FLDOV FRPH WR KHU ZLWK SDVW SURMHFWV VR WKH\ FDQ HQJDJH LQ D ³PXOWL \HDU WUDQVLWLRQ´ IRU SURMHFWV EHLQJ ZRUNHG RQ E\ JUDGXDWHV 1H[W WR VSHDN ZDV 6FKRRO RI 3XEOLF 3ROLF\ 633 6HQDWRU 6R¿D -LPHQH] ZKR VKDUHG LQIRUPDWLRQ DERXW KHU 3DLQW DQG 3URWHVW HYHQW ZKLFK ZDV KHOG RQ )ULGD\ 0D\ Incoming ASUCR President and current President 3UR 7HPSRUH /HLOD +DLGHU FDPH WR WKH SRGLXP QH[W WR LQWURGXFH KHUVHOI DV QH[W \HDU¶V SUHVLGHQW DQG encouraged everyone to come to the transition summit HYHQW ([HFXWLYH 'LUHFWRU $VKH 1HWWOHV GXULQJ SXEOLF IRUXP LQWURGXFHG KHUVHOI WR WKH QHZ 6HQDWH DQG JDYH WKHP LQIRUPDWLRQ DERXW IXWXUH RQ ERDUGLQJ SURFHGXUHV DQG LQVWUXFWLRQV IRU XVLQJ WKH QHZ PLFURSKRQHV DW WKH VHQDWRUV¶ WDEOH ,QFRPLQJ 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW RI ,QWHUQDO $IIDLUV 5LVKLND 6DOYL VSRNH QH[W DGGUHVVLQJ VRPH LVVXHV VKH REVHUYHG throughout her time at ASUCR and resigning from her SRVLWLRQ IRU WKH WR VFKRRO \HDU 5HDG PRUH DERXW WKLV RQ SDJH IRXU LQ ³,QFRPLQJ 93 RI ,QWHUQDO $IIDLUV UHVLJQV GXULQJ VHQDWH PHHWLQJ´ ZULWWHQ E\ (GLWRU LQ &KLHI 6HQQD 2PDU /LO\ (YXV DQ H[HFXWLYH IHOORZ IRU WKH 2I¿FH RI ,QWHUQDO $IIDLUV FDPH WR WKH SRGLXP QH[W WR VKDUH LQIRUPDWLRQ DERXW WKH VXFFHVV RI KHU UHFHQW K\JLHQH NLW GLVWULEXWLRQ HYHQW 'XULQJ WKH :HGQHVGD\ HYHQW (YXV UHSRUWHG WKDW WKH\ ³VXFFHVVIXOO\ GLVWULEXWHG RYHU WRLOHWULHV SHUVRQDO JURRPLQJ LWHPV DQG IHPLQLQH K\JLHQH SURGXFWV WR VWXGHQWV LQ QHHG ´ Because of the success of the event, Internal Affairs KDV RUGHUHG PRUH K\JLHQH SURGXFWV ZKLFK ZLOO EH GLVWULEXWHG WR VWXGHQWV IRU IUHH GXULQJ WDEOLQJ DW WKH EDVLF QHHGV WDEOH RQ :HGQHVGD\ 0D\

/DVW WR VSHDN GXULQJ SXEOLF FRPPHQW ZDV LQFRPLQJ )LUVW 7LPH &ROOHJH 6WXGHQW 'LUHFWRU $OLFH 3DUUD 5LRV ZKR VKDUHG WZR ODERU FRPPLWWHH HYHQWV WKDW WRRN SODFH RQ )ULGD\ )ROORZLQJ SXEOLF FRPPHQW WKH 6HQDWH PRYHG LQWR VSHFLDO HOHFWLRQV WR ¿OO WKH YDFDQW 1RQ WUDGLWLRQDO Student Director, International Student Director, (OHFWLRQV 'LUHFWRU DQG 337 SRVLWLRQV Non-Traditional Student Director — Nina Haywood 7KH\ EHJDQ ZLWK WKH SRVLWLRQ RI 1RQ 7UDGLWLRQDO 6WXGHQW 'LUHFWRU ZKR DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH FXUUHQW (OHFWLRQV 'LUHFWRU .HYLQ $UL]PHQGL PXVW EH D QRQ WUDGLWLRQDO VWXGHQW 1LQD +D\ZRRG D 8&5 VWXGHQW ZKR XVHV DQG ZRUNV ZLWK GLVDELOLW\ VHUYLFHV ZRQ WKH YRWH IRU 1RQ 7UDGLWLRQDO 6WXGHQW 'LUHFWRU +DYLQJ D QRQ WUDGLWLRQDO VWXGHQW H[SHULHQFH KHUVHOI +D\ZRRG XQGHUVWDQGV ³WKDW WKHUH LV D ORW RI VWLJPD DURXQG EHLQJ D QRQ WUDGLWLRQDO VWXGHQW DQG XWLOL]LQJ WKRVH W\SHV RI VHUYLFHV ´ +D\ZRRG ZDQWV WR GHVWLJPDWL]H WKHVH UHVRXUFHV DV ZHOO DV FRQGXFW DQ DXGLW LQWR WKH GLVDELOLW\ VHUYLFHV WKDW VWXGHQWV RQ FDPSXV QHHG $OWKRXJK VKH LV QRW D YHWHUDQ KHUVHOI +D\ZRRG KDV ZRUNHG ZLWK WKH YHWHUDQV DW WKH 6WXGHQW &HQWHU of California Community Colleges navigating mental KHDOWK LVVXHV DQG SUREOHPV ZLWK WKHLU *, ELOOV International Student Director — Kaity Dong 7KLUG \HDU VWXGHQW .DLW\ 'RQJ ZRQ WKH SRVLWLRQ RI ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 6WXGHQW 'LUHFWRU $V DQ LQWHUQ IRU D ODZ ¿UP 'RQJ KDV D ORW RI H[SHULHQFH ZRUNLQJ GLUHFWO\ ZLWK LPPLJUDWLRQ FDVHV DQG FDVH ZRUNHUV 5XQQLQJ RQ D ³WUDQVSDUHQF\´ FDPSDLJQ 'RQJ EHOLHYHV WKDW the resources for international students at UCR DUH H[WUHPHO\ RXWGDWHG 6KH RSHQHG KHU VWDWHPHQW DVNLQJ WKH 6HQDWH LI ³DQ\RQH KDV DFWXDOO\ EHHQ RQ WKH LQWHUQDWLRQDO VWXGHQW ZHEVLWH ´ )URP KHU HDUO\ REVHUYDWLRQV RI WKH ZHEVLWH 'RQJ notices that all of the international student resources OLQNV DUH HLWKHU RXWGDWHG RU GR QRW ZRUN ³$OO WKH OLQNV DUH EURNHQ 7KH ZHEVLWHV DUH QRW XS WR GDWH ,Q IDFW WKH DFWXDO 8&5 ZHEVLWH RQ LQWHUQDWLRQDO VWXGHQWV KDV GDWD IURP )DOO 6R P\ ELJJHVW WKLQJ , ZDQW WR HQIRUFH LQ WKLV FDPSDLJQ LV WKH ODFN RI WUDQVSDUHQF\ IURP international administration … this administration is QRW SULRULWL]LQJ WKHP ´ 'RQJ KRSHV WKDW WKURXJKRXW KHU WLPH DV ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 6WXGHQW 'LUHFWRU LQWHUQDWLRQDO VWXGHQWV ZLOO KDYH HDV\ DFFHVV WR UHVRXUFHV ERWK WKURXJK WKH ZHEVLWH DQG VRFLDO PHGLD 6KH SODQV WR FUHDWH D QHZVOHWWHU IRU LQWHUQDWLRQDO students to have direct access to information that affects WKHLU OHJDO VWDWXV DQG HGXFDWLRQ Elections Director — Diya Baskaran 6HFRQG \HDU SROLWLFDO VFLHQFH ODZ DQG VRFLHW\

VWXGHQW 'L\D %DVNDUDQ ZRQ WKH YRWH IRU (OHFWLRQV 'LUHFWRU %DVNDUDQ VHUYHG DV D PHPEHU RI WKH HOHFWLRQV FRPPLWWHH DQG KDV FRPH XS ZLWK WZR PDLQ JRDOV IRU WKH XSFRPLQJ \HDU LQFUHDVH VWXGHQW YRWHU WXUQRXW DQG HOHFWLRQ SDUWLFLSDWLRQ DV ZHOO DV JHW D PRUH GLYHUVH SRRO RI VWXGHQW FDQGLGDWHV DSSO\LQJ IRU WKH SRVLWLRQV LQ $68&5 6KH H[SUHVVHG WKDW DOWKRXJK WKH SHUFHQW YRWHU WXUQRXW IURP WKLV HOHFWLRQ F\FOH ZDV DQ LPSURYHPHQW IURP SUHYLRXV \HDUV WKH\ VWLOO IDLOHG WR PHHW WKH SHUFHQW YRWHU WXUQRXW UHTXLUHG IRU UHIHUHQGXPV WR SDVV %DVNDUDQ KRSHV WR LQFUHDVH FLYLF SDUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ WKH QH[W HOHFWLRQ F\FOH ³, VWURQJO\ EHOLHYH WKDW FLYLF HQJDJHPHQW LV WKH EDFNERQH RI D VWURQJ FRPPXQLW\ ´ DQQRXQFHG %DVNDUDQ +RZHYHU VKH KROGV WKH QRWLRQ WKDW LQ RUGHU WR HQJDJH WKH FDPSXV VWXGHQWV PXVW ¿UVW EH LQIRUPHG DERXW HOHFWLRQV ³:LWK DQ DWWHPSW WR LQFUHDVH YRWHU SDUWLFLSDWLRQ FRPHV D QHHG IRU D PRUH LQIRUPHG HOHFWRUDWH 0DQ\ VWXGHQWV GRQ¶W SDUWLFLSDWH LQ HOHFWLRQV VLPSO\ EHFDXVH WKH\ GRQ¶W XQGHUVWDQG KRZ WKH\ ZRUN 0DQ\ VWXGHQWV DOVR YRWHG EHFDXVH WKH\ ZHUH WROG WR 7KH\ GLG QRW XQGHUVWDQG WKH LPSOLFDWLRQ RI WKHLU YRWH RU HYHQ ZKDW WKH HOHFWLRQV ZHUH IRU DQG SHUKDSV VRPH RI WKH VWXGHQWV GLG QRW XQGHUVWDQG ZKR WKH\ ZHUH YRWHG IRU « , ZLOO GHYHORS FOHDU DFFHVVLEOH UHVRXUFHV H[SODLQLQJ FDQGLGDF\ UHTXLUHPHQWV YRWLQJ GHFLVLRQV DQG WKH LPSDFW RI VWXGHQW JRYHUQPHQW DYDLODEOH WR HYHU\RQH ´ H[SODLQHG %DVNDUDQ President Pro Tempore (PPT) — Jeevan Rao Returning College of Natural and Agricultural 6FLHQFHV &1$6 VHQDWRU -HHYDQ 5DR ZRQ WKH SRVLWLRQ RI 337 $V D UHWXUQLQJ VHQDWRU 6HQDWRU 5DR KDV H[SHULHQFHG ¿UVW KDQG KRZ DWWHQGDQFH LVVXHV LQ WKH /HJLVODWLYH 5HYLHZ &RPPLWWHH /5& FDXVHG OHJLVODWLRQ GHOD\V +H IHHOV WKDW DV HOHFWHG SDLG UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV RI WKH VWXGHQW ERG\ VHQDWRUV KROG WKH UHVSRQVLELOLW\ ³WR SDUWLFLSDWH ´ DQG DV 337 KH SODQV WR ³PDNH VXUH VHQDWRUV NQRZ WKH FRQVHTXHQFHV LI WKH\ IDLO WR PHHW ZLWK FRPPLWWHH UHTXLUHPHQWV HVSHFLDOO\ LQ /5& DQG )LQDQFH FRPPLWWHH ZKLFK DUH YLWDO WR WKH ZD\ $68&5 ZRUNV ´ $68&5¶V HLJKWK PHHWLQJ RI VSULQJ TXDUWHU ZDV DGMRXUQHG DW S P &1$6 6HQDWRU $QWKRQ\ &KLQJ 6FKRRO RI %XVLQHVV 62% VHQDWRU &KULVWRSKHU 'XUDQ $JXLODU DQG &ROOHJH RI +XPDQLWLHV $UWV DQG 6RFLDO 6FLHQFHV &+$66 VHQDWRUV %HQMDPLQ 0LQ DQG 'DQLHO 0RQGUDJRQ &+$66 6HQDWRU 7LOGLQ <RXQJ -LQ +DQ FDPH LQ ODWHU GXULQJ WKH PHHWLQJ EXW ZDV RULJLQDOO\ DEVHQW 6FKRRO RI 3XEOLF 3ROLF\ 633 6HQDWRU 3LD H 3UDVKDQWK ZDV H[FXVHG Ŷ

OPINIONS

highlandernews.org/category/opinions

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

9

6ĺijĸijĹĸĽ OP ED Why California must pass AB 288 in workers’ fight for fairness A NEW CALIFORNIA BILL WILL EXPEDITE LABOR LAW VIOLATION INVESTIGATIONS BY MAKING THE STATE TAKE OVER WHEN THE PROCESS IS PROLONGED. ANDY TRAN, ANGELINA HANNEMAN, EVANGELINE SI, RAY BARAJAS, & ADAM BELHEDI

California Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, representing Inglewood and nearby areas in Los Angeles County, introduced Assembly Bill 288 (AB 288) to protect workers when federal labor laws fail. The bill addresses serious delays in the federal system, especially with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) — an independent federal agency created to “safeguard employees’ rights to organize” — which is underfunded, politically inÀXHQFHG DQG ODFNV VWURQJ HQIRUFHPHQW tools.

As a result, many workers wait months or years for justice in wage theft and labor violation cases. AB 288 provides a faster and more accessible way for California workers in the private sector to defend their rights when the federal system is too slow or broken.

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects employees at privatesector workplaces the right to unionize and prevent unfair labor practices. The NLRB conducts workplace elections and investigates unfair labor practice charges. However, the federal agency KDV EHHQ XQGHUVWD൵HG IRU WKH ODVW GHcade despite seeing an increase of 10 percent in cases related to union petitions and unfair practice charges durLQJ WKH ¿VFDO \HDU In addition, the Department of *RYHUQPHQW (൶FLHQF\ '2*( ² D new federal department established by 3UHVLGHQW 7UXPS WR LPSURYH H൶FLHQF\ and save taxpayers’ dollars — termiQDWHG WKH 1/5%¶V UHJLRQDO R൶FH OHDVH in Los Angeles, along with many other R൶FHV LQ PDQ\ GL൵HUHQW VWDWHV 2Q -DQ 3UHVLGHQW 7UXPS ¿UHG *ZHO\Q :LOFR[ WKHQ &KDLU RI WKH %RDUG FLWLQJ QHJOHFW :LOFR[ ¿OHG a lawsuit against Trump’s decision. :KLOH WKH ORZHU FRXUWV UXOHG DJDLQVW WKH ¿ULQJV FDOOLQJ WKHP ³EODWDQW DQG illegal,” the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of allowing the current IHGHUDO DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ WR ¿UH ODERU board members. The ruling essentially DOORZV WKH 7UXPS DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ WR ¿UH independent federal agency employees at whim, only weakening agencies’ ability to function and do their duty.

In the Inland Empire, the proliferation of warehouses has contributed to LQFUHDVHG WUD൶F DQG DLU SROOXWLRQ UDLVing health concerns among residents.

AB 288 would allow workers to petition the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB), a state agency that

COURTESY OF PEXELS

administers the “collective bargaining VWDWXWHV FRYHULQJ HPSOR\HHV´ LQ GL൵HUent business sectors, for relief in cases where the NLRB has not provided a timely remedy. This would ensure that employees can exercise their rights to organize and bargain collectively without undue delay.

Amazon’s work culture in the Inland Empire has been pointed out for being unsafe, stating, Amazon’s operating methods are creating hazardous work conditions and processes. Veronica Kern, an Amazon warehouse worker in Moreno Valley, described the environment as “stressful and intense,” noting that managers would publicly chastise workers for not meeting undisclosed productivity targets and even pressure them to hurry back from bathroom breaks. )RFXVHG RQ H൶FLHQF\ ZKLFK FDXVHV employees to face demanding productivity quotas enforced by sophisticated tracking systems, warehouse workers have little room for breaks or mistakes. Many employees report feeling like they are constantly under surveillance, with every movement monitored and measured against ever-increasing targets. This high-pressure workplace environment leads to increased records of workplace injuries regarding lower back injuries, high turnover rate and burnout issues that are especially concerning given Amazon’s dominant presence as one of the region’s largest employers. $% %LOO R൵HUV D PXFK QHHGHG solution for workers trapped in a slow and uncertain federal process. Right

now, workers protected by the NLRA PXVW ¿OH D FRPSODLQW ZLWK WKH 1/5% which investigates the claim, may issue a formal complaint and then hold a hearing before an administrative judge, whose decision can be appealed to the full Board and even to federal court. This drawn-out process can take months or even years to resolve.

In recent years, for example, the average time from charge to resoluWLRQ KDV VLJQL¿FDQWO\ LQFUHDVHG GXH WR XQGHUVWD൶QJ DQG ULVLQJ FDVHORDGV )RU many Californians living paycheck to paycheck, delayed justice often means falling behind on rent, skipping meals or forgoing medical care while they wait for a resolution. %\ DOORZLQJ ZRUNHUV WR ¿OH FRPplaints through California’s PERB, AB 288 would provide a faster and more accessible pathway to justice. This would ensure that vulnerable workers in industries like warehousing can advocate for their human rights without VDFUL¿FLQJ WKHLU EDVLF QHHGV RU OLYHOLhoods.

AB 288 provides extremely important worker protections for this critical moment in labor history, when multibillion-dollar corporations are infringing on workers’ rights. The bill addresses important issues regarding workplace protections that corporations are exploiting to commit workplace injustices.

The federal labor laws currently do not protect workers and do not ef¿FLHQWO\ DGGUHVV WKH QHHGV RI ZRUNLQJ Americans, as employees wait multiple years without a timely response from

MAIN ST

ORANGE ST

WKH 1/5% :RUNHUV¶ ULJKWV WR RUJDQL]H are essential to their economic security and to maintaining standards of human dignity, especially when faced with FRUSRUDWLRQV WKDW SULRULWL]H SUR¿W RYHU everything.

The relationships between profits and power are more apparent than ever in light of the current administration’s actions, with Trump’s appointment of over a dozen billionaires into his second-term cabinet, and his close UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK $PD]RQ IRXQGHU -H൵ Bezos. After a report that Amazon SODQQHG WR GLVSOD\ WKH FRVW RI WDUL൵V RQ products, Trump called Bezos to recWLI\ ZKDW :KLWH +RXVH 3UHVV 6HFUHWDU\ Karoline Leavitt deemed a “hostile and political act,” leading to a statement from Amazon denying the report.

Due to the shortcomings of federal laws and the willingness of the IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW WR ÀRXW UXOHV DQG regulations in favor of corporations and billionaires, the state must ensure that bureaucratic processes are not exploited and should provide protection for workers. Under the current Trump administration, AB 288 is more critical than ever to ensure workers’ rights are recognized and protected. ŶH Op-Eds are not edited by The Highlander, excluding those related to grammatical errors and AP UHTXLUHPHQWV 2S (GV GR QRW UHÀHFW WKH opinion of the Editorial Board and are not written by Highlander contracted writers.

10 TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

OPINIONS

highlandernews.org/category/opinions

From uncertainty to belonging: How UCR became my home UCR HELPED ME BECOME THE PERSON I AM PROUD OF TODAY. LILIANNA ANGEL :[H࢒ >YP[LY

:KHQ , ¿UVW VWHSSHG RQ FDPSXV DW the University of California, Riverside 8&5 , ZDV D QHUYRXV ¿UVW JHQHUDWLRQ college student, trying not to show the disappointment of not getting into my dream school.

However, after spending time at UC Los Angeles and participating in the intercampus visitor program, which allows UC students to spend a quarter or semester at another UC campus in person, I realized that UCR felt more like the right match for me. UCR is more in tune with my ideals, especially in terms of community, values, campus culture and its landscape with its homey size and greenery. :KHQ , ¿UVW VWDUWHG 8&5 ODVW VFKRRO year, I carried so much hope, anticipation and just as much uncertainty. I didn’t NQRZ LI , ZRXOG ¿QG ZKHUH , EHORQJHG or live up to my expectations. I didn’t have the answers, but I knew I was ready to grow.

That growth didn’t happen overnight.

It started slowly with new experiences, late-night thoughts, reruns of “Gilmore Girls,” and with small moments that changed me in ways I didn’t even notice until now, standing at the edge of graduation. ,Q P\ ¿UVW DUWLFOH IRU 7KH +LJKODQGHU which happened to be for the Opinions section, titled “The death of new and LFRQLF VFDU\ +DOORZHHQ ¿JXUHV LV bittersweet,” I explored how horror movies were changing and how fear evolves in someone. In retrospect, that article was about more than pop culture. ,W UHÀHFWHG WKH ELWWHUVZHHW SURFHVV RI letting go of old ideas and embracing the unfamiliar. In so many ways, that’s exactly what college has been for me: facing change with curiosity, even when LW¶V VFDU\ DQG GL൵HUHQW UCR has been the beginning of everything for me. And now, as I prepare to leave, I already miss it. A large part of me wishes I weren’t graduating as early as I am, so I could continue to experience UCR as an undergraduate, but the other part of me is grateful for the time I did have here and excited for what’s next in life.

I was accepted into UCR as a political science major and have no regrets. I knew from the start that I was passionate about understanding how political systems work and how to create meaningful change in them. But it wasn’t always a straight path. After taking PBPL 001 with Professor David Brady, I seriously considered switching majors.

A part of me still wishes I had double majored in public policy because that

course opened up the world of policy by understanding how to create and understand legislation. For a while, it IHOW OLNH D EHWWHU ¿W %XW VRPHWKLQJ DERXW political theory kept calling me back.

That “something” found its place in POSC 005, Political Ideologies, with Professor Bronwyn Leebaw, where political theory challenged me to dig deeper into the “why” behind politics.

Now, as I take POSC 196A, Moot Court, with Professor Peter Mort, I’m sharpening my argumentation and public speaking skills in ways I QHYHU LPDJLQHG , FRXOG GR ZKHQ , ¿UVW arrived at UCR. Each of these courses helped me build not just my academic IRXQGDWLRQ EXW P\ FRQ¿GHQFH Then came my decision to minor in feminist studies, spawned from my women and culture and political ideologies classes, I realized I wanted to learn more about the feminist lens and how this perspective views the world.

One of my favorite courses is GSST 175, Gender, Ethnicity and Borders, with Professor Elizabeth Rubio, who has helped me think more critically about identity, power and intersectionality.

Overall, I think my love of political science and minoring in feminist studies allowed me to really enjoy my major by fully understanding the framework of LQWHUVHFWLRQDOLW\ DQG KRZ WKDW D൵HFWV our political systems.

5HÀHFWLQJ RQ P\ WLPH DW 8&/$ I was able to achieve a lot, including various political ideology courses from early American political thought, jurisprudence, electoral politics and a Chicano studies service learning course where I volunteered with California Public Interest Research group (CALPIRG), which focused on environmentalism in lobbying campaigns. At UCLA, I learned a lot, and for that I am eternally grateful.

However, the things outside the classroom made my college experience unforgettable, especially at UCR. The Highlander gave me a place to grow as a writer and share my voice. I later joined HerCampus, which taught me the fundamentals of writing I was VWUXJJOLQJ ZLWK DQG KHOSHG PH ¿QG my true voice. Each article became a PLUURU UHÀHFWLQJ ZKR , ZDV EHFRPLQJ and what I cared about. HerCampus gave me room to write with heart, to tell stories that felt personal and raw.

Through both media organizations and WKHLU ORYHO\ HGLWRUV DQG VWD൵ , IRXQG P\ community, purpose and pride.

I also threw myself into student life.

I participated in Scotty’s Fair last year with my friends (which I absolutely

loved!), engaged in many campus events from last year’s Maker’s Week to club expos and everything in between.

While these events may seem like just calendar items, they were moments of joy, growth and connection. They reminded me that UCR is more than a university — it’s a vibrant community.

Becoming a UCR Traditions Keeper — completing a list of unique UCR traditions — was one of my proudest accomplishments. It gave me a reason to explore every corner of campus and participate in activities I might have skipped. Each tradition became a little thread in the larger story I was weaving here. One of my fondest memories, thanks to the UCR Traditions Keeper program, was exploring Downtown Riverside from the Food Lab to the Riverside Main Library.

When college life felt overwhelming — and trust me, it did — my hobbies were my sanctuary. I restarted knitting, took up crocheting and started binge rewatching “Gilmore Girls” since my ¿UVW IDOO TXDUWHU 7KH\ ZHUHQ¶W MXVW IXQ distractions from the 20 units I took per quarter to graduate two years early; those small rituals helped me stay connected to myself, even during the busiest, most stressful weeks.

Balancing classes, writing clubs and a personal life was never easy. I had many PRPHQWV RI EXUQRXW DQG WULHG GL൵HUHQW plans to recover, including taking a break during week three or 7 every quarter, though this was a bit reckless in hindsight. Every time I fell behind or was tired, I came back stronger. UCR JDYH PH WKH VSDFH WR ZRUU\ DQG ¿JXUH out how to breathe, which is unique to this college campus.

LAYNA LAPIKAS / THE HIGHLANDER

Everything I’ve done here — every class, every article, every late-night cram session and every spontaneous need for ice cream has made me who I am. I came in unsure of my place in the world, and now I’m leaving with a clearer vision of what I want to do and ZK\ , ZDQW WR GR LW , SODQ WR ¿JKW IRU equity and justice as a Constitutional lawyer. I want to continue writing, speaking and advocating in ways that matter.

So, thank you to UCR and its wonderful community from the very bottom of my heart. Thank you for accepting me, challenging me and helping me become someone I’m proud of. Thank you for giving me friends I’ll always cherish, professors who expanded my knowledge and made me want to learn more and memories I’ll hold close forever.

A very special thank you to my brother Ricky, my sister Brianna and my mom Anna for always pushing me to do my best. Thank you to the best advisor I have ever had, Bryan Barker, for helping me take the classes I really wanted to and helping me graduate early. Thank you to everyone on The Highlander. You all do so much, and I deeply appreciate it.

This goodbye is bittersweet — just OLNH WKDW ¿UVW +LJKODQGHU DUWLFOH ² EXW it’s also beautiful in a sense, because now I get to carry UCR with me, wherever I go. )URP D VFDUHG IUHVKPDQ WR D FRQ¿GHQW graduate: I made it.

I’ll never stop being a Highlander at heart — it’s in my tartan soul now, woven into every part of who I’ve H become. Ŷ

highlandernews.org/category/opinions

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

11

Take It or Leave It: Cowboy boots are in the hands of the wrong party LOVING YOUR NATION DOESN’T IMPLY WORSHIPPING YOUR GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY NOT WHILE WEARING FLAG-COVERED OVERALLS. COURTESY OF FLICKR

RUBAITA IQBAL *VU[YPI\[PUN >YP[LY

While browsing TheGuardian.com, I saw an image of a man LQ ÀDJ SDWWHUQHG RYHUDOOV FRZboy boots and a t-shirt that read, “Trump’s Tweets Matter.” The picture reminded me of a political meme, but to this man, his patriotic cowboy aesthetic was absolutely serious.

This has become even more of a trend in the United States (U.S.), where patriotism has become a costume. Not metaphorically, but literally. Right-wing protests and conservative campus events now feature cowboy boots, American ÀDJ FRDWV VWDU VSDQJOHG RYHUDOOV and t-shirts that turn political phrases into punchlines. I have nothing against cowboy boots, denim or a OLWWOH ÀDJ SULQW QRZ DQG WKHQ %XW WKLV LV GL൵HUHQW 7KLV LV QRW $PHULcana. It is nationalism in rhinestones.

Before Trump, patriotism meant ORYLQJ \RXU FRXQWU\ DQG ¿JKWLQJ for its essential ideals such as libHUW\ MXVWLFH DQG HTXDOLW\ ,W HQWDLOHG DVNLQJ GL൶FXOW TXHVWLRQV SUHVVLQJ for improvement and realizing that criticism may come from a place of genuine concern. Speaking out against racism was perceived as paWULRWLF DV ZDV GHPDQGLQJ HTXDO SD\ or healthcare. Dissent was seen as a duty, not a threat.

7UXPS¶V SDWULRWLVP LV XQLTXH ,W IUHTXHQWO\ UHIHUV WR SHUVRQDO OR\alty rather than principled behavior. If you criticize the country, you are labeled ungrateful. If you talk about injustice, you are told you despise America. If you advocate for change, you will be accused of being a socialist. This version of SDWULRWLVP SULRULWL]HV ÀDJV DQG VOR-

gans over justice and truth, labeling TXHVWLRQLQJ RI \RXU JRYHUQPHQW DV betrayal rather than devotion.

However, America was founded on acts of disobedience, which is a bit ironic. The Boston Tea Party was a protest against the British King and government, who were taxing the colonies unfairly without letting them have a say. The Founding Fathers spoke out against this kind of power — a distant king and monarchy controlling the colonies without listening to the peoples’ needs. They wanted a government that was fair and answered to its citizens. They wrote the Declaration of Independence because they were fed up with oppression from their political system.

Let’s be clear: patriotism should not imply pledged loyalty to a politician. Patriotism means caring enough about your nation to want it to improve. This includes speaking out against injustice, advocatLQJ IRU HTXDO ULJKWV DQG HQVXULQJ WKDW HYHU\RQH KDV HTXDO RSSRUWXnity. It could mean seeking imSURYHG KHDOWKFDUH HTXDO ZDJHV RU an end to prejudice. Loving your country entails striving to make it PRUH HTXLWDEOH DQG FRPSDVVLRQDWH for all citizens. I criticize the U.S. because I feel it has potential. BeFDXVH , ZDQW LW WR IXO¿OO LWV SURPLVHV RI IUHHGRP HTXDOLW\ DQG MXVWLFH None of this necessitates donning D IXOO ERG\ ÀDJ VXLW WR PDNH \RXU statement.

The atmosphere during political rallies is part cosplay, half cult. The RXW¿WV DUH PRUH WKDQ MXVW DSSDUHO They are a message. They are a signal that states, “I belong to this JURXS DQG GRQ¶W TXHVWLRQ DQ\WKLQJ

we do.” The bright colors and slogans detract from how hollow the message truly is. Let’s not forget who they’re celebrating: President Donald J. Trump, who attempted to overturn an election, encouraged violence to Capitol rioters on Jan. 6 and is now facing nearly 34 felony charges, among many other absurd policies and actions.

There has been a clear bastardization of the term “patriotism,” turning it into a demand to never TXHVWLRQ RU FULWLFL]H \RXU FRXQWU\ 7KLV FRUUXSWHG YHUVLRQ HTXDWHV OR\DOW\ ZLWK XQTXHVWLRQLQJ VLOHQFH and obedience. Patriotism is not a slogan, a catchphrase or a method of devotion. True patriotism is unpleasant and honest. It entails loving your nation enough to confess when something has gone wrong and working hard to make things ULJKW DJDLQ 7KRVH ZHDULQJ ÀRUDO 7UXPS VKLUWV DQG ÀDJ YHVWV DUHQ¶W GRLQJ WKDW 7KH\¶UH QRW DVNLQJ TXHVWLRQV WR WKHLU SXEOLF R൶FLDOV RU WKHLU government. Instead, many simply obey orders and accept those in authority, even when justice is ignored.

If Make America Great Again (MAGA) fashion were a political VWDWHPHQW LW ZRXOG EH HTXLYDOHQW WR ZHDULQJ WKH HQWLUH $PHULFDQ ÀDJ stitched together with every conceivable image of Trump on top.

It’s noisy, overbearing and tries so hard to demonstrate loyalty to their leader. It’s frustrating to watch inGLYLGXDOV GUHVVHG KHDG WR WRH LQ ÀDJ patterns and politician faces, as if SDWULRWLVP LV RQO\ GH¿QHG E\ ZKR you worship and how many stars and stripes you can wear at once.

It’s also important to remember

WKDW ORYLQJ $PHULFD LV IUHTXHQWO\ simpler when one is not marginalized. For many people, patriotism LV RQO\ HQMR\DEOH ZKHQ WKH\ EHQH¿W from the system; they are not experiencing systemic racism, economLF VX൵HULQJ RU H[FOXVLRQ 7KRVH ZKR IHHO VKLHOGHG E\ WKH VWDWXV TXR IUHTXHQWO\ GHPRQVWUDWH WKH ORXGest displays of loyalty, whilst those advocating change understand that true love for this nation entails insisting that it live up to its principles for all.

Marginalized groups include Black, Indigenous and people of color who endure continuous racial discrimination; immigrants who face exclusion and legal impediments; LGBTQ+ people who face prejudice and a lack of safeguards; and low-income communities confronted with economic disparity.

Because these communities face injustice and marginalization, they demonstrate patriotism by advocatLQJ IRU IDLUQHVV DQG HTXDOLW\ UDWKHU than blind loyalty.

We need to stop allowing one group to claim ownership of patriotism. Cowboy boots do not belong WR D VLQJOH SDUW\ QRU GRHV WKH ÀDJ nor does love for our country.

You can wear boots and believe in climate change. You can wear denim while still supporting racial justice. You can love your nation while believing it should do better.

The notion that only conservatives are patriotic is a lie promoted by those seeking to silence disagreement. The fact is straightforward: if you love something, you hold it accountable. You want it to be the very best version of itself. That is true patriotism. ŶH

12 TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

OPINIONS

highlandernews.org/category/opinions

Take It or Leave It: Canceling it forward: positive impacts toward individual change CANCEL CULTURE HOLDS PUBLIC FIGURES ACCOUNTABLE AND CAN PROMOTE PERSONAL GROWTH BY AMPLIFYING INDIVIDUAL VOICES.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

COURTESY OF SNAPCHAT COURTESY OF STAY TUNED

ABIGAIL WEI *VU[YPI\[PUN >YP[LY

A couple of years ago, I witnessed a classmate delete an old tweet in the middle of a lecture after her friends in a group chat dug it up and started gossiping about it. I remember her whispering to me in fear, saying something along the lines of, “If I get cancelled over that tweet from 2015, just know that I was 13 and dumb.” At the time, their comment was funny, but it made me realize how much people fear being cancelled, especially in a time where the concept of cancel culture is openly embraced.

Cancel culture represents actions that the general public and fans take against celebrities when they need to be held accountable for problematic or harmful statements and behaviors. The backlash IDFHG E\ ZURQJGRHUV LV RIWHQ H[HPSOL¿HG through protests from their fan base, which FDQ VRPHWLPHV OHDG WR D ORVV RI WKHLU LQÀXencer status and platform. %HLQJ TXDOL¿HG DV FDQFHO ZRUWK\ LV YHU\ VXEMHFWLYH DV VRPH R൵HQVHV HVSHFLDOO\ criminal ones, are considered more severe than gossip-inducing drama or alleged rumors. Because of this variance, cancel culture is not only determined by the degree of the behavior, but also by how the public majority responds to it.

In 2010, social media became popularized as apps such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram were emerging. People from all over the world had the opportunity to connect virtually with strangers through the power of social media. It was also able to provide individuals with an outlet to freely share their opinions in the form of images, words and videos. While these various platforms opened doors to positive interactions and the exchange of information, they also contributed to the rise of cancel culture and publicly calling out strangers on the internet.

Being an active participant in cancel culture is necessary to reduce negative behavior, such as racism, sexism or abuse of SRZHU VSHFL¿FDOO\ IURP SHRSOH ZLWK ODUJH fan bases, as it challenges the harmful norms.

In 2018, Stefano Gabbana, a fashion designer for Dolce and Gabbana, was put on blast for an Instagram direct message (DM) from a friend referring to China as a “country of [poop emojis]” and described the nation as dirty and smelly. In addition, he made racist, stereotypical jokes about &KLQHVH SHRSOH HDWLQJ GRJV 7KLV OHG WR ¿nancial losses for his brand, as many fash-

LRQ VKRZV VKRZHG R൵ *DEEDQD¶V ZRUN The resulting backlash pushed Gabbana to rethink his statements and shows how cancel culture allows celebrities to learn from their mistakes rather than punishing them.

“Cancelling” someone doesn’t bring WKH R൵HQGHU D ³QHJDWLYH DXUD ´ :KHQ GRQH right, tuning into cancel culture on social media will give power to individual voices, KROG LQÀXHQFHUV DQG FHOHEULWLHV DFFRXQWDEOH DQG LQLWLDWH SHUVRQDO UHÀHFWLRQ DQG growth for the “cancelled.”

Around a total of 10,093 United States (U.S.) citizens see cancel culture as a way to express their opinions and bring awareness to criticize larger global problems such as abuse of power, racism and sexual harassment. Take the example of James &KDUOHV D EHDXW\ LQÀXHQFHU ZKR KDV RYHU one million followers on TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat.

In 2020, Charles was accused of allegedly messaging underage boys on Snapchat, though he later claimed not to know they were minors. Instead of his followers just gossiping about the situation, many people began to respond to his actions by posting TikTok videos analyzing and discussing the allegations to warn his fans.

This eventually discouraged Morphe, a makeup brand, and YouTube from partnering with him in future brand deals.

Fans commented on Charles’ TikTok posts to spread awareness of the situation.

One user, @annualgoat, commented that ³WKHUH QHHGV WR EH FKLOG LQÀXHQFHU ODZV just like there are child labor laws” to protect underage social media users. Charles’ fans came together to cancel him, and their actions worked. Brands began to disengage, and Charles lost two of his major sponsorships.

After the incident with Charles and the associated apology, conversations began to steer toward addressing the larger problem RI LQÀXHQFHUV¶ UHVSRQVLELOLW\ WR PDLQWDLQ appropriate boundaries with minors, especially those within their fan base. The joint power of these voices led to brands disengaging with Charles, showing that digital activism, embodied through cancel culture, can be useful in boycotting content DQG YLGHRV IURP SUREOHPDWLF LQÀXHQFHUV Charles’ situation opened a space for discussion of topics such as sexual assault and internet safety procedures for minors, which everyday media tends to ignore. In the broader sense, this act of digital protest is crucial for social change and can help

inform important conversations about the censorship of media content for minors.

Cancel culture also serves as a reminder WR FHOHEULWLHV WKDW IDPH GRHV QRW HTXDWH WR unchecked power. In 2018, the comedian Kevin Hart was announced to host the 2019 Oscars Academy Awards Show. The enthusiasm fans exhibited after this announcement eventually contributed to the discovery of tweets Hart posted that contained homophobic remarks.

Initially, Hart did not address his remarks, since he claimed to have already apologized. However, after fans shared screenshots of his tweets on Instagram and Twitter, urging others to unfollow KLP KH IDFHG VLJQL¿FDQW SUHVVXUH DQG UHsigned from hosting the Academy Awards.

He later wrote a public announcement on Twitter, stating, “I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.” The press also played a role in announcing and publishing articles in CNN, The Washington Post, and The Guardian, fueling media attention towards Hart’s past actions and spreading fans’ criticism.

As a result, it helped raise awareness on how cancelling someone with a large public audience can prompt them to step back, apologize and recognize their harmful actions. Hart stepping down from hosting the Oscars showed his accountability for his past actions, while his apologetic words on Twitter demonstrated his emotional sensitivity toward the situation.

Because of Hart’s public commitment to changing himself, his fans responded KDSSLO\ DQG DSSUHFLDWHG KLV H൵RUW WR WDNH full responsibility for his past mistakes.

Cancel culture pushed him to engage with the LGBTQ+ community he hurt by immersing himself in conversations about safe space, and to help strengthen his understanding of the LGBTQ+ community.

He met and talked with comedian Wanda Sykes, who helped Hart comprehend the harm that such jokes can create.

Sometimes being cancelled, even if unfairly, can lead to personal growth. In 2021, TikTok star Sienna Mae Gomez, an LQÀXHQFHU ZKR SURPRWHG ERG\ SRVLWLYLW\ DQG VHOI FRQ¿GHQFH ZDV DFFXVHG RI VH[XDO assault by Jack Wright. These allegations were never deemed true since there was no proof of an incident occurring between the two parties.

Despite facing greater backlash from her fans when compared to Hart and

Charles, Sienna continued to deny the allegations. Eventually, she removed herself from social media to focus on her mental well-being. A year after being away from social media, Sienna launched her swimsuit line, “Sienna Swim,” in 2022.

Rather than disappearing from the public’s view, she used this experience to bounce back and create a brand focused RQ HQFRXUDJLQJ ZRPHQ WR IHHO FRQ¿GHQW in their bodies. During this time, she also SXEOLFO\ DQQRXQFHG WKDW VKH KDG UHÀHFWHG and found God as she began to rediscover her purpose spiritually. Sienna Mae’s transformation represents that cancel culture, even when proven false, can push individuals towards their better selves, allowing them to become stronger spiritually and mentally.

However, not everyone sees cancel culture in a positive light. Many argue that the H൵HFWV RI FDQFHO FXOWXUH FDQ EH WRR KDUVK especially in cases where people lose their reputation over misunderstandings. Being wrongfully cancelled can cause irreparable harm to reputations and the mental health of individuals, leading to suicide or depression. However, cancel culture isn’t just black and white. It is a tool, and like any tool, its results and impact depend on how people use it. The positive growth associated with cancel culture can be seen in the case of Kevin Hart and Sienna Mae *RPH] ZKR LQ GL൵HULQJ ZD\V UHIRUPHG their lives for the better.

6LQJOLQJ RXW LQÀXHQFHUV DQG FDOOLQJ RXW harmful behaviors or language doesn’t automatically lead to irreversible repercussions. Oftentimes, it can lead to positive, meaningful discussions surrounding accountability and growth. In the end, cancel culture is essential for positive change since it provides authority to individual YRLFHV KROGLQJ LQÀXHQFHUV DQG FHOHEULWLHV accountable for potentially problematic behaviors while promoting one’s growth.

Every day, it allows people to have a space to criticize harmful behavior and forces individuals to own up to their own mistakes, showing the power of social media protest. Rather than fearing it, we should rethink the whole concept of calling out someone for their actions. If cancel culture can make our nation a little more aware, then perhaps it is not a bad thing H after all. Ŷ

FEATURES

highlandernews.org/category/features

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

13

-įīľĿļįĽ

Scotty-Scopes:

DIVE IN TO SEE WHAT FATE HAS IN STORE FOR YOU. KARMEN LEON *VU[YPI\[PUN >YP[LY

Your cosmic forecast awaits.

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22): Six of Pentacles

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21): Nine of Cups

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21): Five of Pentacles

The balance of giving and receiving is your theme this week. Generosity will restore harmony. Don’t be afraid to lean into it, Libra.

$ ORQJ KHOG ZLVK LV ¿QDOO\ ZLWKLQ UHDFK It’s been rough lately, Scorpio, but emoWLRQDO IXO¿OOPHQW LV MXVW DURXQG WKH FRUQHU

Challenges may test your spirit, but you’re built to bounce back. Don’t do it alone. Ask for support when you need it.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19): Temperance

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18): Six of Swords

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20): The Chariot

Patience is your power this week, Capricorn. Let go of control and allow WKLQJV WR EOHQG QDWXUDOO\ <RX¶OO ¿QG \RXU balance.

A transition is underway; trust it. Aquarius, focus on the future and let go of what no longer serves you.

Victory is within reach, Pisces. Stay determined and don’t lose focus. Let your willpower steer the course ahead.

MAIN M AIN S ST T Aries (March 21 – April 19): Three of Cups Celebration and connection are on the horizon, Aries. Stop being so judgy and let joy and friendship guide you forward.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20): The Magician You already have everything you need to manifest what’s been on your mind. Own your power, Taurus, and watch your vision come to life.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20): Page of Cups A message of love or inspiration is coming your way. Stay curious, Gemini, and embrace the unexpected.

O RANGE ST ORANGE

Cancer (June 21 – July 22): Knight of Swords

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22): The Empress

&KDUJH DKHDG ZLWK FRQ¿GHQFH QR VHFRQG guessing. Just be sure you’re not rushing in without a clear plan.

Creativity and abundance are blooming all around you. This spring, Leo, step into your power and let your brilliance shine.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22): Seven of Swords Trust your instincts and keep things close to the chest for now. Virgo, your strength lies in quiet strategy, not oversharing. ŶH

LAYNA LAPIKAS / THE HIGHLANDER

14 TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

FEATURES

highlandernews.org/category/features

NORM’S NOOK SPOTLIGHT The ‘Highlander Chairs GABRIELA GALVAN (ZZPZ[HU[ -LH[\YLZ ,KP[VY

Talk about a love seat! Talk about pinnacle comfort to the point of skipping academic demandss andd KRVWLQJ FDUHHU GH¿QLQJ PHHWLQJV 8SKROVWHU\ \ KDV reached its peak, and the general public has to know.

At the University of California, Riverside (UCR), UCR) WKHUH OLHV D KXPEOH QHZVSDSHU ZLWK LWV KXPEOH VWD൵ and a not-so-humble waiting room four four-seater couch set. In tune with the blue and gray minimalistic scene adopted by the school, these lowly ol’ chairs DUH ERULQJ LQ VLJKW EXW R൵HU D FXVKLRQ MXVW ULJKW WR ease quarrels. Just about the size of an airplane seat, these chairs hold their bounce like no other. Shapeshifting into your body’s silhouette, sinking you into comfort and supporting the crook of your neck just right, you’d be surprised how much these chairs can do. Whether these chairs make you sleep like a baby, allow you a place to doom scroll, give you a spot to enjoy your lunch or chat it up with some friends, they’ll never make you want to leave. As my last Norms Nook spotlight, ever, I’d like The Highlander chairs to get a taste of publicity for carrying many of us into a couple of moments of peace and solace. To hell with graduating, maybe I just might sit for a bit, H or an extra year or two. Ŷ

(EASY)

Natalie Dahl / The Highlander

STUDENT POLL QUESTION: 2025 graduates, what underrated study spot has saved your grades?

Answer our weekly question on the Highlander Instagram for the opportunity to get featured in the next issue!

2nd floor lounge at the HUB.

Sneha P.

Tim Boba.

Daniel O.

Orbach second floor couch chair and desk.

Lesley G.

Arcade Coffee Roasters.

Haard S.

Transfer Success Zone at the ARC.

Natalie U.

The Highlander office.

Senna O. ŶH GRAPHICS BY LAYNA LAPIKAS / THE HIGHLANDER

FEATURES

highlandernews.org/category/features

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

15

ŶH COURTESY OF PEXELS

SO LONG, FAREWELL

BY NATALIE IE DAHL FEATURES EDITOR

ANSWERS

(DON’T PEEK!) MAIN M AIN S ST $FURVV +DZDLLDQ VHQG R൵ 6. Beauty pageant wear 10. Head start 14. ___ bar 15. Capital on a fjord 'LG WKH EXWWHUÀ\ 17. Blatant 18. Wild guess 19. Mexican moolah 20. Coach-turned-sportscaster John 22. Holiday ___ 24. “C’___ la vie!”

25. Big fat mouth 27. Meaning of 1-, 29-,

52-, 54-, 76-Across?

29. Japanese bon voyage 33. Hidden means of support?

34. Basketball basket 35. Pepsi, for one 37. Voting groups 41. “___ luck?”

42. 18th-century hairstyles 44. Stan who created Spider-Man 45. Imaginary surface coinciding with the earth’s sea level 48. Ice ___ :KLWH +RXVH VWD൵HU

50. Katniss’ ally 52. French tootles 54. Sanskrit later 58. Opulence 59. “I ___ you one” 60. Drive-___ 62. Red wine grape 66. Sweat source 68. Schnoz 70. Pilotless plane 71. Blood-related 72. What comes to mind 7KH ¿QDO VHFWLRQ RI WKH large intestine, plural 74. Reply to “Shall we?”

75. Like some checks

76. Spanish ta-ta

'RZQ 1. Smallest unit of an element 2. ___ lamp 3. Newspaper’s ___ page 4. Roof style 5. Back at sea 6. Shipwreck signal 7. Italian wine center ___ Spumante 8. What “yo mama” is 9. Associate 10. Sixth sense, for short 11. Uncool sort 12. Bloated

ORANGE ST

13. Ham it up 21. Civil rights org.

23. Ending for ab or ad 26. 86 is a high one 28. Lentil dish 29. Uneven hairdo 30. Top-of-the-line 31. It has its ups and downs 32. “Be-Bop-___” (Gene Vincent hit) 36. Run ___ of (violate) 38. Medley 39. Monetary unit of Ghana 40. Crystal ball user

43. Truth ___ %DQN R൵HULQJ IRU VKRUW 47. Bite the ___ 49. Maintained 51. ______ enclave 53. Semicircular bench 54. Prickly cactus 55. Came to 56. Worth 57. Chip away at 61. ___-friendly 63. Hubs of activity 64. “I’m ___ your tricks!”

65. Darjeeling and oolong 67. “Star Trek” rank: Abbr.

H 69. “Mangia!” Ŷ

16 TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

FEATURES

highlandernews.org/category/features

Senna omar Editor-in-chief

Emily Manus Business Manager

I will be pursuing an M.A. in Specialized Journalism from the University of Southern California (USC) Annenberg.

I’ll be working, writing and resting!

Dinara Godage Assistant News Editor

Lizbeth Martos Assistant Business Manager

I will continue my academic career at Indiana University Maurer School of Law this upcoming fall, and I’ll be sure to keep everything I’ve learned and the passion for learning that I realized while at the paper!

My next steps after graduation are to study for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam, apply to finance jobs and relax.

frances tong production assistant Now, I will be working at Stanbridge University and applying to graduate school.

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF FREEPIK PHOTOS BY VASH CHEN, NEORAH DAVIS / THE HIGHLANDER & COURTESY OF SALLY LI

highlandernews.org/category/features

FEATURES

Spandana Janapati Assistant Opinions Editor

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

Maribel Gamez-Reyes Radar Editor

I will be studying abroad for the summer! I’ll be joining Professor Irene Hatzopoulos in the FLEAP program “Italy Through Food and Film” in Bologna, Italy.

I will be furthering my education by applying to a Master’s of Social Work and Public Policy program during the fall 2025 application cycle.

Bobbi Monae Mandour Assistant radar Editor

Natalie Dahl Features Editor

This summer, I’ll be doing a research internship and then taking a gap year to figure out graduate school.

I will be attending San Diego State University in the fall obtaining my credential to become an elementary school teacher!

MAIN ST

Gabriela Galvan Assistant Features Editor

Aaliyah Brown Copy Editor

ORANGE ST

I’m GG and my future is undecided. Maybe grad school, maybe a pizza place.

We’ll see!

I will be pursuing a career in economic research and data science. Ŷ H

17

18 TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

FEATURES

highlandernews.org/category/features

The butterfly effect SENNA OMAR Editor-in-Chief

Life is so funny; you can VHFRQG RQO\ WR WKH GD\ , ZDONHG ¿QG \RXU FDOOLQJ FRPSOHWHO\ E\ LQWR 7KH +LJKODQGHU RI¿FH IRU DFFLGHQW (YHU\ PLQRU PRPHQW P\ ¿UVW ZULWHU¶V PHHWLQJ FRPHV WRJHWKHU WR FUHDWH WKH ,W ZDV JHQXLQHO\ WKH PRVW PDMRU SLFWXUH DQG DV , ORRN LQWLPLGDWLQJ DQG VFDU\ PHHWLQJ EDFN DW P\ OLIH , NQRZ WKDW RI P\ OLIH /HW PH VHW WKH HYHU\ PLVVWHS RU PLVWDNH KDV VWDJH LW ZDV 7KH ¿UVW OHG PH WR WKLV YHU\ PRPHQW +LJKODQGHU PHHWLQJ RI IDOO :KHQ , ZDONHG WKURXJK TXDUWHU DQG DOVR WKH ¿UVW LQ WKH GRRUV RI 7KH +LJKODQGHU SHUVRQ PHHWLQJ WKH\ KDG VLQFH QHZVSDSHU P\ ¿UVW ZHHN RI &29,' , ZDV WKH RQO\ ZULWHU IUHVKPDQ \HDU , FRXOG QHYHU WKHUH ,W ZDV FRRO WKRXJK , KDYH LPDJLQHG WKDW QRZ ² DV ZURWH WZR DUWLFOHV WKDW ZHHN WKH IUHDNLQJ (,& KRZ GLG WKDW DQG QRZ , DP (GLWRU LQ &KLHI KDSSHQ" ² , ZRXOG EH VD\LQJ VR QRZ WKLV VWRU\ LV IXQQ\ JRRGE\H WR WKLV SODFH , KDYH LQVWHDG RI VFDU\ FDOOHG KRPH )RU WKH SDVW IRXU $QG MXVW E\ SXUH OXFN \HDUV , KDYH VSHQW HYHU\ GD\ IDLWK DQG WKH VROH IDFW WKDW IDOOLQJ IXUWKHU LQ ORYH ZLWK WKLV WKH QHZVSDSHU ZDV KLULQJ RUJDQL]DWLRQ DQG WKH DPD]LQJ P\ XQTXDOL¿HG VHOI ZDV KLUHG SHRSOH ZKR ZRUN KHUH DV $VVLVWDQW )HDWXUHV (GLWRU 7KH EXWWHUÀ\ HIIHFW LV D UHDO :RUGV FDQQRW GHVFULEH KRZ WKLQJ DQG , ZLOO VWDQG E\ LW JUDWHIXO , DP WR 0DGLVRQ ,I , KDG QHYHU JRWWHQ NLFNHG 5KLQHV WKH IRUPHU (GLWRU LQ RXW RI P\ KLJK VFKRRO¶V PRFN &KLHI DQG WKH IRUPHU )HDWXUHV WULDO WHDP EHFDXVH , VXFNHG (GLWRU $VKOH\ &Ken IRU WDNLQJ NEORAH DAVIS / THE HIGHLANDER , ZRXOG QRW EH SXUVXLQJ D FKDQFH RQ OLWWOH RO¶ PH MRXUQDOLVP DV P\ FDUHHU SRVW 2YHU WKH SDVW IRXU \HDUV LW WR DUJXLQJ ZLWK 0LVV 0DWD HYHU\WKLQJ IURP WKH SURIRXQG JUDGXDWLRQ 7KLV RQH OLWWOH KDV EHHQ D SULYLOHJH WR ZLWQHVV (ODQJRYDQ DW D P RQ P\ ZULWLQJ RI WKH HGLWRUV EHDXWLIXO PRPHQW FKDQJHG WKH WUDMHFWRU\ DQG SDUWLFLSDWH LQ WKH DPD]LQJ FRXFK DERXW QHZV HGLWV , ZLOO GHVLJQV E\ SURGXFWLRQ RI P\ HQWLUH OLIH $IWHU P\ ZRUN DQG JURZWK WKDW JRHV PLVV HYHU\ PRPHQW PDVWHUSLHFHV DQG JHQLXV IURQW DGYLVRU FUXVKHG EDE\ 6HQQD¶V RQ LQ WKH IRXU ZDOOV RI 7KH 7KHUH LV QR SODFH OLNH 7KH FRYHU GHVLJQV E\ GHGLFDWHG GUHDPV VKH UHERXQGHG WR KHU +LJKODQGHU RI¿FH HYHU\ GD\ +LJKODQGHU 7KH DPRXQW RI DUWLVWV WKH SRVWV PDUNHWLQJ KLJK VFKRRO QHZVSDSHU -RLQLQJ )URP VLWWLQJ LQ WKH SURGXFWLRQ WDOHQW WKDW SRXUV RXW RI WKH ZRUN VR KDUG RQ YLGHRV WKDW WKDW SDSHU LV RQH RI WKH EHVW RI¿FH WLOO WKH ZHH KRXUV RI WKH SDSHU HYHU\ ZHHN FRQWLQXHV WR , ORRN IRUZDUG WR ZDWFKLQJ GHFLVLRQV , KDYH HYHU PDGH QLJKW WU\LQJ WR ¿QLVK WKH LVVXH VKRFN PH , DP DVWRXQGHG E\ HYHU\ ZHHN RU SKRWRV WKDW DUH VR DPD]LQJ WKH\ KRQHVWO\ EULQJ PH WR WHDUV , FRXOG QRW KDYH DVNHG IRU D PRUH SHUIHFW QHZVSDSHU VWDII WR HQG P\ Ŷ WLPH ZLWK DW 7KH +LJKODQGHU 6R WR 7KH +LJKODQGHU VWDII WKDQN \RX IRU D IDQWDVWLF \HDU \RX DUH VRPH RI WKH PRVW WDOHQWHG DQG FUHDWLYH SHRSOH , KDYH HYHU KDG WKH SULYLOHJH RI ZRUNLQJ ZLWK , ZLOO PLVV HDFK DQG HYHU\ RQH RI \RX GHDUO\ DQG , FRXOG QRW KDYH DVNHG IRU D EHWWHU WHDP RI SHRSOH WR ZRUN ZLWK <¶DOO DUH DOO DPD]LQJ DQG , FDQQRW ZDLW WR VHH WKH JUHDW WKLQJV WKDW \RX ZLOO GR ZLWK \RXU OLYHV H

*RRGE\H WR 7KH +LJKODQGHU Ŷ H

highlandernews.org/category/features

EMILY MANUS Business Manager

FEATURES

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

19

I’ll be seeing you…

,W IHHOV VXUUHDO WR EH ZULWLQJ WKLV VHQLRU IDUHZHOO )RU IRXU \HDUV , KDYH ZDWFKHG P\ ROGHU FRZRUNHUV DQG IULHQGV JUDGXDWH 1RZ WKDW LW¶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¿QG D SODFH ZKHUH \RX FDQ UHOD[ DQG HQMR\ FROOHJH OLIH LQ EHWZHHQ FODVVHV EXW WKDW LV ZKDW 7KH +LJKODQGHU ZDV IRU PH 7KH +LJKODQGHU LV ZKHUH , ZHQW IURP EHLQJ D QHZ VK\ HPSOR\HH WR D OHDGHU RQ WKH VWDII DQG ZKHUH , KDYH PHW SHRSOH ZKR DUH WUXO\ P\ IULHQGV , ZLOO DOZD\V KROG RXU VXPPHU UHWUHDWV KROLGD\ SDUWLHV EDQTXHWV WULSV WR 'LVQH\ODQG DQG RI FRXUVH RXU WULS WR 1HZ <RUN WKLV \HDU LQ P\ KHDUW , PXVW

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¶V PDJD]LQH RQ FDPSXV DQG JHQHUDOO\ JURZLQJ DV D SHUVRQ WKURXJK WKH WULDOV DQG WULEXODWLRQV RI FROOHJH OLIH , KDYH PDGH DQG ORVW IULHQGV WUDYHOHG FRPSOHWHG D UHVHDUFK SURMHFW VDQJ LQ WKH FKRLU DQG \HW DV , DSSURDFK JUDGXDWLRQ LW IHHOV OLNH WKLQJV DUH MXVW VWDUWLQJ WR JHW JRRG 8&5 DQG 7KH +LJKODQGHU VSHFL¿FDOO\ KDYH EHFRPH D VHFRQG KRPH IRU PH DQG VD\LQJ JRRGE\H LV DOO WRR ELWWHUVZHHW EXW , NQRZ WKDW WKH FRPIRUW , IHHO KHUH LV

D VLJQ WKDW LW LV WLPH WR PRYH RQ /HDYLQJ 8&5 DQG SODFHV OLNH 7KH +LJKODQGHU WKDW KDYH FRPH WR PHDQ VR PXFK WR PH LV D KXJH WLPH RI WUDQVLWLRQ VRPHWKLQJ QRWRULRXVO\ GLI¿FXOW IRU PH (YHU\ PDMRU WUDQVLWLRQ , KDYH H[SHULHQFHG LQ OLIH KDV FRPH ZLWK ORWV RI DQ[LHW\ DQG GRXEW EXW QRZ DV DQ DGXOW , DP DZDUH RI WKLV DQG ¿QG WKDW WKLV WUDQVLWLRQ LV D WLPH RI LPPHQVH H[FLWHPHQW :KHQ , HQWHUHG FROOHJH , WKRXJKW , NQHZ H[DFWO\ ZKDW ZRXOG KDSSHQ , KDG D SODQ :HOO WKDW SODQ GLGQ¶W KDSSHQ VRPHWKLQJ EHWWHU GLG DQG WKDW LV ZKDW , KRSH WR UHPHPEHU DV , FORVH WKLV FKDSWHU :LWK IDLWK DQG JUDWLWXGH , VD\ FRQJUDWXODWLRQV WR P\ IHOORZ JUDGXDWHV DQG ,¶OO EH VHHLQJ \RX WR DOO P\ IULHQGV ŶH NEORAH DAVIS / THE HIGHLANDER

Manifesting my way to The Highlander LIZBETH MARTOS Assistant Business Manager

$W WKH EHJLQQLQJ RI , SLFNHG XS P\ QHDUO\ GRQH SLORW JHO SHQ DQG P\ QHDUO\ HPSW\ QRWHERRN DQG VWDUWHG WR ZULWH DERXW P\ SODQV IRU WKH QHZ \HDU , SLFNHG D IHZ TXHVWLRQV IURP D 3LQWHUHVW SRVW RQ QHZ \HDU MRXUQDO SURPSWV DQG ZURWH GRZQ ³:KDW ZRXOG \RXU GUHDP OLIH ORRN OLNH LQ RQH \HDU"´ , UHPHPEHU KRZ LW WRRN PH D ZKLOH WR ZULWH GRZQ DQ DQVZHU EXW , ZURWH ZLWK FHUWDLQW\ DQG FRQ¿GHQFH WKDW ³, ZDQW WR EH D SDUW RI WKH QHZVSDSHU FOXE ´ ,I , ZHUH WR JR EDFN LQ WLPH WR VSHDN ZLWK WKDW YHUVLRQ RI P\VHOI , ZRXOG WHOO KHU WKDW ³QHZVSDSHU FOXE´ EHFDPH KHU VHFRQG KRPH ,URQLFDOO\ P\ ¿UVW WLPH ZDONLQJ LQWR WKH RI¿FH ZDVQ¶W IRU DQ LQWHUYLHZ EXW IRU D TXHVWLRQ RQ ZKHWKHU WKH QHZ LVVXH KDG EHHQ UHOHDVHG , KDG D FRQYHUVDWLRQ ZLWK WKH IURQW GHVN UHFHSWLRQLVW DERXW KRZ SULQW LV EHWWHU WKDQ GLJLWDO PHGLD ² LW VWLOO LV 6LQFH P\ IUHVKPDQ \HDU , HQMR\HG ZDONLQJ WR WKH QHDUHVW NLRVN RQ FDPSXV DQG ZRXOG JHW H[FLWHG WR UHDG WKH QHZHVW LVVXH RI 7KH +LJKODQGHU $V , ÀLS WKURXJK WKH SDJHV LW LV WKHQ WKDW , VWXPEOHG XSRQ DQ DGYHUWLVHPHQW IRU 7KH +LJKODQGHU WKDW UHDG ³:H $UH +LULQJ ´ 0\ ¿UVW UROH KHUH DW 7KH +LJKODQGHU

ZDV DV WKH 'LVWULEXWLRQ 0DQDJHU , KDG D EODVW GULYLQJ WKH JROI FDUW ZKLOH GLVWULEXWLQJ WKH QHZVSDSHU DURXQG FDPSXV , HQMR\HG VHHLQJ RWKHU VWXGHQWV JHW H[FLWHG DERXW WKH ODWHVW LVVXHV DV LW IHOW OLNH , ZDV VHHLQJ P\ SDVW VHOI 7KHQ , ZDV WKULOOHG WR EH SURPRWHG WR EH WKH QH[W $VVLVWDQW %XVLQHVV 0DQDJHU $OWKRXJK , PRVWO\ GHDOW ZLWK WKH QHZVSDSHU¶V ¿QDQFHV DQG PDQDJHG WKH DGYHUWLVLQJ UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV , KDG P\ IDLU VKDUH RI IXQ 2QH H[SHULHQFH , ZLOO QHYHU IRUJHW ZDV ZKHQ P\ FR ZRUNHUV (PLO\ DQG 0DWD VLJQHG PH XS IRU RXU HDWLQJ SLH FRQWHVW , UHPHPEHU LW DV FOHDU DV GD\ ZKHQ ZH ZHUH DOO WRJHWKHU VWDII DQG VWXGHQWV JHWWLQJ H[FLWHG WR SDUWLFLSDWH LQ WKLV FRPSHWLWLRQ , GLG QRW H[SHFW VRPHRQH WR ZLQ WKH FRPSHWLWLRQ LQ OLWHUDO VHFRQGV 2QH RI P\ JRDOV ZDV WR ZULWH DQ DUWLFOH IRU 7KH +LJKODQGHU ,¶YH DOZD\V ZDQWHG WR ZULWH DERXW ¿QDQFH EHFDXVH LW¶V VRPHWKLQJ WKDW PDQ\ DUH ¿JXULQJ RXW , ZDQWHG WR EH WKH ELJ VLVWHU WR RXU 8QLYHUVLW\ RI &DOLIRUQLD 5LYHUVLGH 8&5 FRPPXQLW\ DQG RIIHU DV PXFK JXLGDQFH DV , FRXOG -XVW UHFHQWO\ , MXVW KHOSHG P\ FR ZRUNHU RSHQ D FUHGLW FDUG DFFRXQW ,W¶V PRPHQWV OLNH WKHVH ZKHUH EHLQJ D SDUW RI WKH FRPPXQLW\

WKDW UHPLQGV PH RI ZK\ , MRLQHG 7KH +LJKODQGHU , KDYH QR FOXH ZKDW¶V ZDLWLQJ IRU PH DIWHU JUDGXDWLRQ %XW DV P\ WLPH KHUH FRPHV WR DQ HQG , FDQ¶W KHOS EXW WKLQN DERXW DOO WKH OLWWOH WKLQJV ,¶OO PLVV , ZLOO PLVV GULYLQJ WKH JROI FDUW DURXQG FDPSXV , ZLOO PLVV KDYLQJ QHZVSDSHU LQN VPXGJHG RQ P\ ¿QJHUV , ZLOO PLVV WKRVH HDUO\ PRUQLQJ ZDONV WR WKH RI¿FH , ZLOO PLVV VHHLQJ .HOOH\ ZRUNLQJ RQ WKH FKDONERDUG IRU WKH IURQW RI WKH RI¿FH , ZLOO PLVV KHDULQJ FUD]\ VWRULHV LQVLGH WKH RI¿FH , ZLOO PLVV &\QWKLD ZDONLQJ LQ ZLWK IUHVK QHZVSDSHUV , ZLOO PLVV WKH VLOO\ GRRGOHV RQ RXU ZKLWHERDUG , ZLOO PLVV VOHHSLQJ RQ WKRVH WLQ\ VTXDUH DUPFKDLUV , ZLOO PLVV ZRUNLQJ ZLWK (PLO\ NEORAH DAVIS / THE HIGHLANDER DQG ODXJKLQJ WKURXJK RXU GHDGOLQHV , ZLOO PLVV RXU VWXSLG P\ FRZRUNHUV $QG PRVW RI DOO , ZLOO TXRWHV FKDQQHO RQ 6ODFN , ZLOO PLVV PLVV P\ KRPH ŶH HDWLQJ WKH 'XP 'XPV DW WKH IURQW GHVN , ZLOO PLVV P\ IULHQGVKLSV ZLWK

20 TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

FEATURES

highlandernews.org/category/features

On to new beginnings DINARA GODAGE Assistant News Editor

I found out about the newspaper after I wrote an opinion piece on culture and colorism in Bridgerton. I was just completing a class assignment; I had not thought about publishing any of my work until I was encouraged to publish

by one of my close friends.

That’s when I happened across the application for senior staff and took the shot. And I could not be more grateful to have been chosen for the news team!

As a pre-law student, I was heavily involved in the School of Public Policy and the prelaw professional fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta, the latter of which I ran and was elected to be president. I’ve improved professionally from these positions and am grateful for those opportunities. With these in my pocket, I hadn’t seen journalism as something that would be EHQH¿FLDO LQ P\ MRXUQH\ WR ODZ VFKRRO EXW LW really has been.

Being an editor has taught me the art of writing and design and fostered my love for learning. College gets dense with reading,work and endless deadlines. However, writing for the paper has been such a wonderful experience and break from other academics. It has given me the chance to learn about new topics to write on, read other students’ work and learn more about their passions.

The novelty of the paper never faded for me and I truly appreciate everything that I’ve gained thus far. Now, I will be continuing my academic career at Indiana University Maurer School of Law this upcoming fall, and I’ll be sure to keep everything I’ve learned and the passion for learning that I realized while at the paper! ŶH VASH CHEN / THE HIGHLANDER

A writer’s journey SPANDANA JANAPATI Assistant Opinions Editor

I started writing for The Highlander in my junior year at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). I had written creative pieces in the past, most of which were deeply personal. Letting others read something so vulnerable made me want to protect my craft from criticism. I had always avoided chances of publication, choosing to engage with this craft I love in private.

I had been interested in the paper for two years before I decided to join. Every Monday, after my 9 a.m. class, I’d pass by the “Writers’ Meeting at 5:15 p.m.” sign while buying myself a sweet treat from 6FRWW\¶V IRU ¿QGLQJ WKH FRXUDJH to wake up so early. I tampered down my piqued curiosity about the school newspaper and always ignored the sign.

I don’t know what it was about that one day in fall quarter — maybe it was the breeze or the way the new mousse in my curly hair routine worked a little too well and I just felt a bit too sure of myself — but I walked into The Highlander RI¿FH , KDYHQ¶W ORRNHG EDFN VLQFH I can’t pretend I didn’t join the Opinions section out of convenience. I knew the previous Opinions Editor, Ysabel Naskone, from working at UCR Housing Services. Seeing a familiar face in a sea of daunting ones felt safer. I was

DFWLYHO\ WU\LQJ QRW WR ¿QG UHDVRQV WR back out of this opportunity.

At the time, the idea of publishing my writing felt unimaginable, if not undeserving. And yet, it happened.

0\ ¿UVW DUWLFOH ZDV DERXW WLSSLQJ culture. It was born out of irritation with Arcade Coffee’s tip prompt, an extremely nosy cashier and an iced honey cinnamon latte that was more ice than coffee.

Despite the publication of my work and the praise I received from friends and family, I found little satisfaction with my writing.

I treated it like another task on my to-do list. This mindset, however, didn’t quench my need for perfection in all of my articles and desire to contribute to student journalism.

So I applied for Assistant Opinions Editor.

I was shocked to get the position.

In my head, I didn’t deserve it — classic impostor syndrome. , ¿JXUHG WKLV IHHOLQJ ZDV MXVW D part of me that I would carry into every interaction and every piece I wrote. I was positive that I was XQGHUTXDOL¿HG IRU WKH GHPDQGV of the position, especially when it came to editing.

Once I understood the process and worked out a system, I found myself enjoying editing more than writing. Following the tiny details, rereading drafts and eventually understanding the writer’s voice felt rewarding. Editing gave me the chance to get out of my own

head and admire the craft in others’ writing. The complex interplay of words and the rush of reading a sentence so uniquely tied to an author’s voice reminded me why I found joy in writing.

Being a part of The Highlander during the 2024–2025 school year helped me understand myself better, not just as a writer or editor, but as a person. I’ve grown into someone who sees more than just the impostor in the mirror.

I’m thankful for the staff who welcomed me, believed in me and supported the Opinions section. This has been one of the most meaningful parts of my college experience, and I will always cherish it. ŶH COURTESY OF SALLY LI

highlandernews.org/category/features

FEATURES

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

21

Cross my heart

NATALIE DAHL Features Editor

HYHU\WKLQJ WRJHWKHU :LWK VSUHDGVKHHWV LV LQ WKH RI¿FH RQ 6XQGD\V &OXH :KR , NLVVHG WKDW FKLSSHG WKH DQG WLPHOLQHV DQG ZULWHU¶V JXLGHV DQG WR SURGXFH WKH SDSHU LW ERWWRP WKLUG RI P\ IURQW WRRWK RII HPDLOV HYHU\WKLQJ FRPHV WRJHWKHU ORRNV OLNH D EXQFK RI VOHHS $QVZHU 6&277< 67$78( MXVW LQ WLPH IRU SXEOLFDWLRQ 7KH SDSHU GHSULYHG \HDU ROGV RQ JRHV RXW RQ 6XQGD\ DQG \RX FDQ¶W VWRS WKHLU ODSWRSV %XW LQ RXU &OXH :KHUH ZH VFDYHQJHG D LW VR NHHSLQJ XS WKH SDFH LV ERWK D KHDUWV ZH EHORQJ WR 8&5¶V OX[XULRXV RI¿FH FRXFK WKDW ZH PDUDWKRQ DQG D PRWLYDWRU EXVWOLQJ QHZVURRP DQG LW¶V GUDJJHG DFURVV FDPSXV DW D P 6RPHWKLQJ WKDW PDNHV 7KH MXVW WKH SODFH , ZDQW WR EH $QVZHU '80367(5 +LJKODQGHU VSHFLDO LV KRZ LW SURYLGHV 7KHUH LV QR ZD\ WR EH \RX ZLWK D VHQVH RI SXUSRVH HYHU\ PRUH SOXJJHG LQ WR WKH &OXH :KR P\ GUHDP ZHGGLQJ VLQJOH ZHHN 6R LI \RX¶UH VWUXJJOLQJ FRPPXQLW\ WKDQ WKURXJK RI¿FLDQW LV WR ¿QG PRWLYDWLRQ ZLWK ORQJHU WHUP HGLWLQJ WKH )HDWXUHV VHFWLRQ $QVZHU 1250 7+( 1$9(/ JRDOV WKDW VHHP RK VR IDU DZD\ OLNH (YHU\ WLPH , JHW WR ZULWH RQ 25$1*( SDVVLQJ D FODVV RU JUDGXDWLQJ FROOHJH WKH SLWFK OLVW WKDW DQ HYHQW LV WKLV LV WKH SODFH WR EH JRLQJ RQ GRZQWRZQ D QHZ &OXH +RZ PDQ\ FURVVZRUG FOXHV , 7KH FURVVZRUGV ZHUHQ¶W SHUIHFW FRIIHH VKRS LV RSHQLQJ RU KDYH KDG WKH SOHDVXUH RI ZULWLQJ RQ WKHLU ¿UVW LWHUDWLRQV DQG QHLWKHU ZH IRXQG DQRWKHU VSHFLDO $QVZHU 352%$%/< 7:2 ZDV , ,W DOVR WRRN PH D PLQXWH WR FOXE WR VSRWOLJKW ,¶P ¿OOHG 7+286$1' ¿QG P\ SODFH KHUH DW WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ ZLWK SULGH , KDYH EHFRPH VR RI &DOLIRUQLD 5LYHUVLGH 8&5 SURWHFWLYH RI WKH EHDXW\ DQG , ORYH FURVVZRUGV , ORYH GRLQJ :KHQ 6HQQD DVNHG IRUFHG PH WR H[FLWHPHQW WKDW WKLV FLW\ DQG WKHP DQG , ORYH ZULWLQJ WKHP VWDUW ZULWLQJ IRU WKH SDSHU VRSKRPRUH VFKRRO KDV WR RIIHU , KRSH 7KRXJK , XQIRUWXQDWHO\ KDWH HGLWLQJ \HDU , ZDV VNHSWLFDO 6LGH QRWH 2Q WKDW WKURXJK WKLV VHFWLRQ ,¶YH WKHP 'HFLGLQJ RQ WKH WKHPH SDSHU , ZRXOGQ¶W UHFRPPHQG KDYLQJ VKDUHG MXVW D OLWWOH ELW RI WKDW FRPLQJ XS ZLWK ZRUGV DQG SX]]OLQJ \RXU URRPPDWH EH \RXU ERVV LQ WKUHH WR WKH ZRUOG RXW KDUG FOXHV LV ULYHWLQJ )LJXULQJ DOO VHSDUDWH SRVLWLRQV EXW LQ SUDFWLFH 3 6 6XFN LW $3 VW\OH RI WKH SLHFHV DQG PDNLQJ WKHP FOLFN LW ZRUNHG RXW DEVROXWHO\ IDQWDVWLF , FDQ ¿QDOO\ DGG 2[IRUG WRJHWKHU SHUIHFWO\ LW¶V WKH KLJKOLJKW RI /RYH \RX 6HQQD )UHVKPDQ \HDU FRPPDV PRUH 2[IRUG P\ ZHHN ,¶P QRW FODLPLQJ WKDW DOO RI ZDV D OLWWOH ELW URXJK ZLWK ¿QGLQJ FRPPDV DQG HYHQ PRUH P\ FURVVZRUG SX]]OHV DUH SHUIHFW E\ P\ IRRWLQJ DQG FKDQJLQJ PDMRUV VR 2[IRUG FRPPDV EDFN LQWR DQ\ PHDQV EXW ,¶YH ¿JXUHG RXW WKHLU , ZDVQ¶W VXSHU RSHQ WR WU\ VRPHWKLQJ P\ OLIH ŶH SURSHU SODFH LQ WKH SDSHU WKDW ZDV VR RXW RI P\ FRPIRUW ]RQH -XVW OLNH WKH FURVVZRUGV WKH EHVW %XW ,¶P VR JODG WKDW , MRLQHG WKLV SDUW RI WKH QHZVSDSHU IRU PH LV SLHFLQJ JURXS DW +8% :KHQ WKH VWDII

NEORAH DAVIS / THE HIGHLANDER

Let’s make it six years …

GABRIELA GALVAN Assistant Features Editor

EUHDNXS WKH FKDQJH RI P\ PDMRU VDPH SURIHVVRU LI WKH\ WKRXJKW , WKDW SRVLWLRQ ZDV WKH EHVW GHFLVLRQ , ZDV RQH RI WKH PDQ\ VWXGHQWV DQG ¿QDOO\ FRPLQJ WR WHUPV ZLWK ZRXOG EH D JRRG ¿W DV DQ (QJOLVK RI P\ OLIH LW JDYH PH DQ DPD]LQJ ZKR OLNH FORFNZRUN ZHQW LQWR WKH IDFW WKDW , ZRXOG KDYH WR VWD\ WXWRU DQG ZDV UHFRPPHQGHG WR SUR[LPLW\ WR HGLWRUV DQG ZULWHUV FROOHJH FRPPLWWLQJ WR RQH PDMRU DQ H[WUD \HDU ² VXSHU VHQLRU VW\OH MRLQ WKH QHZVSDSHU 2I FRXUVH DV D ZKROH $Q HQFRXUDJLQJ DQG JUDGXDWLQJ ZLWK DQRWKHU ² P\ PLQG ZDV VHW WKDW , ZRXOG WKLV PRPHQW ZDV GXULQJ P\ HQWRXUDJH RI SHRSOH WKDW JDYH PH +RZHYHU P\ FORFN ZRUNHG LQ DPRXQW WR YHU\ OLWWOH 'HWHUULQJ VRSKRPRUH \HDU DQG OLNH , VDLG WKDW OLWWOH H[WUD QXGJH , QHHGHG UHYHUVH :KLOH PDQ\ PDQDJH WR PH IURP SDUWLFLSDWLQJ LQ DQ\WKLQJ P\ FORFN ZRUNHG EDFNZDUGV %\ WKHQ , VWDUWHG ZULWLQJ KHUH ¿JXUH RXW WKHLU FDUHHU SDWK ZLWKLQ ZHUH P\ DFDGHPLF DQG SHUVRQDO DQG P\ FRQ¿GHQFH DW WKH WLPH DQG WKHUH IRU WKH SDSHU , ZDV WKHLU ¿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¶G WLPH (YHQWXDOO\ , ZHQW WR 7KH , FRXOG GR DQ\WKLQJ 0D\EH P\ %\ WKLV WLPH , KDG QRWKLQJ XQGHU RIWHQ UHPLQLVFH DERXW EHFDXVH +LJKODQGHU¶V ,QVWDJUDP WR ¿QG DFKLHYHPHQWV ZRXOG JDUQHU MXVW D P\ EHOW WR VKRZ IRU P\ DFDGHPLF IRU PH WKHUH ZDV DW OHDVW RQH RXW VRPH JHQHUDO LQIRUPDWLRQ VPLUN IURP RWKHUV EXW WR PH WKH\ DQG VRFLDO DFKLHYHPHQWV , KDG QR VFHQH LQ P\ OLIH ZKHUH , FDQ VD\ 8SRQ VWDONLQJ WKH SDJH , FDPH ZHUH P\ VXPPLW UHVHDUFK QR FOXEV OHW DORQH DQ\ WKDW , ZDV FRRO ³FROOHJH FRRO ´ DFURVV D SRVW ORRNLQJ WR KLUH (YHQ EHWWHU WKDQ D IURQW SDJH LQWHUQVKLSV RU MREV ² MXVW P\ 3DWKHWLF UHDOO\ EXW LQQRFHQW WR DQ $GYHUWLVLQJ 5HSUHVHQWDWLYH DUWLFOH ZDV WKH IDFW WKDW , ODQGHG PHGLRFUH JUDGHV DQG FRQ¿GHQFH VD\ WKH OHDVW 0\ (QJOLVK % , KRQHVWO\ KDG ]HUR KLVWRU\ RU WKH $VVLVWDQW )HDWXUHV (GLWRU WKDW PHDVXUHG XS WR QRWKLQJ SURIHVVRU DVNHG PH LI KH FRXOG LQWHUHVW LQ EXVLQHVV EXW LI WKHUH SRVLWLRQ IRU WKH QH[W VFKRRO \HDU ,W¶V D OLWWOH VDG WR DGPLW UHDG D SRUWLRQ RI P\ HVVD\ DORXG ZDV VRPHWKLQJ , ZDV JRLQJ WR 0\ H[WUD \HDU LQ FROOHJH GLGQ¶W EHFDXVH ZKLOH RWKHUV KDYH WKDW WR WKH FODVV WR VHW DQ H[DPSOH IRU ¿QDOO\ GR ZLWK P\ OLIH LW ZDV WR ORRN VR EDG DQ\PRUH ,W KDV EHHQ QDWXUDO DFDGHPLF LQWHJULW\ ZKDW ZDV LQ KLV RZQ ZRUGV DQ MRLQ WKH SDSHU RQH ZD\ RU DQRWKHU DQ LQFUHGLEOH SOHDVXUH WR ZRUN DQG RWKHUV HYHQWXDOO\ KDYH DQ ³H[HPSODU\´ LQWURGXFWLRQ 7KH GD\V IROORZLQJ P\ ZLWK LQGLYLGXDOV ZKR DUH PRUH LQFUHGLEO\ LQVSLULQJ HSLSKDQ\ WKDW , GH¿QLWHO\ ZDV QRW WKH WRS LQWHUYLHZ IRU WKH SRVLWLRQ , JRW WKDQ MXVW P\ IULHQGV EXW IDPLO\ MXPSVWDUWV WKHLU VHOI HVWHHP LQ D VWXGHQW LQ P\ FODVV EXW IRU RIIHUHG WKH MRE DQG WRRN LW ,W , ZLOO QHYHU PHHW DQRWKHU PRUH FROOHJH VHWWLQJ PLQH FDPH IURP WKH ¿UVW WLPH , IHOW UHFRJQL]HG ZDVQ¶W QHFHVVDULO\ D SRVLWLRQ WKDW GHGLFDWHG JURXS RI SHRSOH , D EUHDNXS WKH VXPPHU EHIRUH P\ E\ VRPHRQH HVSHFLDOO\ LQ DQ ZRXOG DOORZ PH WR ZULWH EXW , FRXOG QRW WKDQN \RX PRUH IRU WKLV VHQLRU \HDU :KLOH MXJJOLQJ WKDW DFDGHPLF VHWWLQJ , DVNHG WKDW VXUH ZDV LQ VRPHWKLQJ 7DNLQJ H[SHULHQFH Ŷ H

22 TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

FEATURES

highlandernews.org/category/features

Hey Siri, cue ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ by Coldplay MARIBEL GAMEZ REYES Radar Editor

,W IHHOV ELWWHUVZHHW WR UHÀHFW RQ WKH IRXU \HDUV that will shortly come to an end at the University RI &DOLIRUQLD 5LYHUVLGH 8&5 , HQWHUHG P\ ¿UVW year at a time in which everyone was adapting following the initial COVID-19 pandemic. I was the only student from my high school, St. Mary’s Academy, to attend the University of California, Riverside (UCR), my dream school then and now.

I initially chose the pre-business route for ¿QDQFLDO VWDELOLW\ EXW TXLFNO\ IRXQG WKDW P\ interests lay in my love of literature. Before starting out as a contributing writer at The Highlander, I was still trying to accept this VKLIW LQ P\ VWXGLHV , ZDQWHG WR ¿QG D VSDFH WKDW fostered my creativity and writing skills, and I eventually found that by building up the courage WR ZDON LQWR WKH RI¿FH DIWHU SDVVLQJ E\ PXOWLSOH WLPHV ZLWKRXW JRLQJ LQ , MRLQHG P\ ¿UVW ZULWHUV meeting near the end of spring quarter in my sophomore year, and it became the start of an incredible journey into discovering my writing outside of academia.

At the time that I joined, Radar Editor Brenda Jovel welcomed me into a space where my contributions were always uplifted. And I’m so thankful for her. I got a behind-the-scenes peek into the time and effort that every student there put into keeping The Highlander operating, and that reinvigorated my motivation to keep learning about AP style writing, reading more

articles and challenging myself to write from a variety of pitches.

I hesitated before applying for a staff position, but the supportive environment at The Highlander encouraged me to push back against my own insecurities as a writer and do it anyway. From being Assistant Features Editor to Radar Editor LQ WKH VSDQ RI WZR \HDUV , KDYH DPSOL¿HG P\ FRQ¿GHQFH LQ ZULWLQJ , HYHQ JRW WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ to support other writers in their own journalistic endeavors.

I have gone from attending the California College Media Association (CCMA) as a team, to being entrusted to write coverage for largescale events such as Associated Student Program Board’s (ASPB) Block Party and UCR Drag Club’s annual Dragalicious Drag Show. Every week brought on different challenges, but each one was a rewarding experience in equal measure.

Thank you, Senna Omar and Mata Elangovan for trusting my vision for our Radar section, and encouraging my other writing quests! To Brenda Jovel, Brendan Vo and Kimberley Bejec who set the bar high, thank you for inspiring me in my contributions to Radar. And to Bobbi Mandour, although we teamed up later, thank you for collaborating on overseeing the work of our section.And to Bobbi Mandour, although we teamed up later, thank you for collaborating on overseeing the work of our section.

It wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions of our writers, whom I thank for trusting me to guide you. The Highlander has

grown immensely from the time I joined up until now, and I’m proud of all our collective efforts that make up the heart of journalism on our campus.

Finally, to God and the most supportive parents — gracias por darme el mundo. ŶH

VASH CHEN / THE HIGHLANDER

‘Thnks fr th Mmrs’ inspiration that the record store gave PH IRU WKH FRQ¿GHQFH LQ P\ ZULWLQJ When I made it to the University and capability to step into the role of California, Riverside (UCR) of a journalist. When I applied for after years of dropping in and out the position of Assistant Radar of community college, working Editor near the end of fall of 2024, I millions of jobs and letting life’s wasn’t privy to the profound impact side quests take me around, I wasn’t that this decision would have on the VXUH RI ZKHUH H[DFWO\ ,¶G ¿W LQ , rest of my time at UCR. Joining the was grateful to be in the position team was my favorite opportunity to give being a full-time student I was granted while here, and my another shot, but the possibilities only regret would be that I didn’t seemed endless. I knew I’d only do it sooner.

My time on the editorial board have about two years here, so I had to make them count.

I seized every opportunity to do something interesting with my time, from joining different student organizations, becoming a board member for one, getting a job that put me all over campus, doing editorial work for two different student publications, studying abroad and casually writing articles for The Highlander. I started by ZULWLQJ D FRXSOH RI ¿OP UHYLHZV and think pieces for Radar, but it was mostly for fun, and I didn’t really have the desire to commit to becoming a staff writer.

My excitement for taking my writing in the newspaper more seriously blossomed once I wrote a few articles for the Penrose Record Room. I owe it to my friendship with those at Penrose and the

BOBBI MONAE MANDOUR Assistant Radar Editor

has been marked by learning more about life and the world than academics could ever give me.

I’ve had the privilege of helping produce meaningful work with a group of people that have more passion, drive and guts than anyone else I’ve met. Everyone jokes that you do this kind of work not for the money, but for the love of it, and for better or for worse, this is true.

However, this job has given me more in experience than money could ever really amount to — from

having a safe haven on our busy campus, getting to travel to New York City and to meeting some of my best friends (shoutout to Kelley and Holly). I love everyone at The Highlander and feel honored to have spent my last year of undergrad with them, even when they call me a senior citizen (thank you for humbling me, Mata). When I really am a senior citizen, I know I’ll look back on this time with a smile.ŶH

VASH CHEN / THE HIGHLANDER

FEATURES

highlandernews.org/category/features

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

23

My senior year was all about headlines, deadlines and red underlines AALIYAH BROWN *VW` ,KP[VY

:KHQ , ¿UVW MRLQHG 7KH +LJKODQGHU , ZDV WHUUL¿HG WKDW , FRXOGQ¶W R൵HU WKH best of myself. With zero experience in journalism, I wore an invisible scarlet letter that was burned into my chest – there was no denying that I had a steep learning curve ahead. I spent my early days trying to prove myself, dissecting every questionable word and parsing the 624-page Associated Press Stylebook like it was the Sunday gospel.

Soon enough, though, my fear of failure dissipated and turned into the PRVW IXO¿OOLQJ H[SHULHQFH RI P\ FDreer. In fact, I poured so much of myself into the newspaper that I probably won’t have the same capacity to love another job the same way I did this one. I had the time of my life tearing apart every news article presented to me.

For me, news editing was about making a mess into a masterpiece.

There was so much to untangle, from awkward phrasing to media bias to PX൷HG LQWHUYLHZ UHFRUGLQJV %XW piecing it all together was worth the hustle. Especially because at the end of each production cycle, we could stand back and appreciate what we had built.

As facetious as it sounds, assemEOLQJ D GLJQL¿HG QHZVSDSHU ZLWK D team meant the world to me. Even if it

VASH CHEN / THE HIGHLANDER

meant working 10 hours straight, overGRVLQJ RQ FD൵HLQH FRRNLQJ UDUH VWHDNV and fetching overpriced bagels, I was all in. I was willing to compromise my sanity in the walk-in-freezer that we FDOO WKH R൶FH The biggest blessing of all was that I was surrounded by the most ambitious people I have ever met. I worked with the most virtuous managers. I learned from the most poetic writers.

I was humbled by the most strategic thinkers. And I chuckled away at the funniest comedians. That’s what makes The Highlander so great: each person’s talents come together in unexpected ways.

Another perk was learning about the people around me through their writing voices. I got the movie prePLHUH H[SHULHQFH JHWWLQJ WKH ¿UVW ORRN at each writer’s brains before publication. I forced myself to understand the experiences that shaped their worldview. I had no choice but to honor each writer’s work, so it was inevitable that I would learn to accept their truth.

There was no telling where the news would take me. Sometimes I had fun, like when I realized University of California, Riverside (UCR) was subliminally designed to dominate food ¿JKWV $QG ZKHQ 0DWD RXW W\SHG 6DQMDQD ¿YH WR RQH EHFDXVH VKH QHHGHG WR emphasize a “scene familiar to many.”

Other times, I would be shoved right back into reality, like when I relived the downfall of American democracy through a recap of a Marvel series.

Trusting others with your own literary work is also such a vulnerable, but commendable, process. I’m not even sure I have the capacity to do that myself. When you put your opinion out there for judgment, you never know how people will receive it. Being honest about what happens in life is hard. So my role as copy editor was GH¿QLWHO\ D VXUUHDO RQH 7KH IDFW WKDW writers and editors alike gave me the privilege of editing was not something I took lightly.

I’m forever indebted to everyone at The Highlander for trusting my judgment and letting me embrace perfectionism (I am clinically insane about grammar, I know). I have never felt VR ZHOFRPHG LQWR D ¿HOG WKDW , ORYH so dearly. My obsession with English, ZKLFK ¿UVW VSURXWHG DW DJH KDV RQO\ grown stronger with news editing. For that alone, I’m so insanely grateful.

Simply put, there’s no better way to conclude my senior year. The Highlander gave me something that my economics degree alone could not provide: a sense of purpose rooted in storytelling. I hope that news can do that H for others, too. Ŷ

Three clubs weren’t enough? of whom impacted me in ways they’ll likely never realize.

Feeling grateful and optimistic Over the last four years, I’ve about what was ahead, I began been extremely grateful for exploring campus organizations my time at the University of in hopes of making a meaningful California, Riverside (UCR). contribution to the UCR $W ¿UVW , GLGQ¶W NQRZ ZKDW , community. wanted to do with my college $W ¿UVW , IHOW LQWLPLGDWHG years, what kind of person I Everyone seemed to have wanted to present myself to be, established their groups, and I or who I would meet. Coming worried I was intruding. For a to campus and living away from while, I even felt like the only home was overwhelming at person not involved in student ¿UVW EXW H[FLWLQJ EHFDXVH , IHOW life, which left me feeling a new sense of freedom. somewhat isolated. But things 'XULQJ P\ ¿UVW \HDU , PHW changed when I was welcomed many amazing people, some into End Overdose (EO) and

FRANCES TONG 7YVK\J[PVU (ZZPZ[HU[

Girl Gains, where I joined the marketing teams.

Eventually, I took on leadership roles as Marketing Director for both. These organizations introduced me to new communities and experiences I would never have otherwise. These roles also helped me realize my passion for design, especially through my project of designing a unique tote bag with both EO and the Women’s Resource Center.

Though stepping into these spaces was uncomfortable at ¿UVW WKH\ XOWLPDWHO\ KHOSHG me grow personally and

NEORAH DAVIS / THE HIGHLANDER

professionally. They showed me how meaningful even small contributions can shape someone’s college experience.

As I entered my third year, I still felt something was missing, but I couldn’t pinpoint it.

Hoping to gain more direction in my career, I began exploring professional organizations, but none truly resonated with me.

It felt discouraging, especially VHHLQJ RWKHUV VHHPLQJO\ ¿QG their path so easily. While visiting friends at other universities, I noticed “women in business” organizations, which sparked my curiosity.

When I looked into UCR’s R൵HULQJV , GLVFRYHUHG WKDW the only such program was for graduate students; nothing for undergraduates. That realization both inspired and intimidated me.

Despite my fears and selfdoubt, I wondered, “What if this isn’t good enough?” or “What if it fails?” I took the leap and founded She Means Business, a student organization created by and for women pursuing EXVLQHVV DQG UHODWHG ¿HOGV Surprisingly, the club quickly gained momentum, growing to over 50 active members ZLWKLQ LWV ¿UVW WZR TXDUWHUV DQG earning recognition alongside other established professional organizations and the UCR School of Business. Hearing

so many students express to me that they felt the same way I did was incredibly reassuring— LW FRQ¿UPHG WKDW WKLV NLQG RI space had been missing at UCR and that others were looking for it, too.

Around the same time, I noticed a design position opening at The Highlander, UCR’s student newspaper. I had wanted to join since my ¿UVW \HDU EXW KDG SUHYLRXVO\ held back due to intimidation and uncertainty. By then, I had learned something important from my earlier fears: sometimes, you just have to try and see what happens. Joining The Highlander introduced me to an amazing group of people and helped deepen my connection to campus—both professionally and personally.

Through all my experiences at UCR, the good and the bad, I am deeply grateful for everything I’ve learned and experienced. The people I’ve met along the way have touched my life in ways they may QHYHU IXOO\ UHDOL]H R൵HULQJ me a level of love, support and appreciation that I will always carry with me. I can never truly repay the impact they’ve had on me. Thank you, UCR, for everything — you’ve shaped me into the person I am today, and I’m proud to have been a H Highlander. Ŷ

24 MAY 27, 2025

RADAR

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

RADAR The Mexican Music and Dance Concert: Rhythmic tunes, vibrant visuals and rich culture IN A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE MARIACHI LOS ALTEÑOS DE UCR AND THE BALLET FOLKLÓRICO DE UCR, MEXICAN ART AND TRADITION ARE PRESENTED FOR ALL TO ENJOY. Ian Palma Contributing Writer

Elena Versage // The Highlander

T

he Mexican Music and Dance Concert debuted last Thursday with a spectacle of traditional mariachi songs and choreography highlighting Mexico's lavish culture. Showcasing the various regional types of mariachi found throughout the country, there was never a dull moment, with numerous variations of the genre displayed for everyone to see.

Interchanging between live musical performances by the Mariachi Los Alteños de UCR and intricate dances pulled off by the Ballet Folklórico de UCR, the concert was a fun way to celebrate the country’s artistic pride while also serving as an illustrious introduction to the elaborate art of mariachi for those less acquainted.

The concert celebrated Mexican arts while paying homage to Laura Garaciano Sobrino.

Also known as “The Mariachi Queen,” Sobrino created UCR’s mariachi program and advanced Latinx studies and art across the University of California (UC) system. The concert marks 10 years since her passing and celebrates Sobrino's life and accomplishments.

When it came to visuals, vibrancy remained an integral part of mariachi, which the concert handled with utmost

grace. Performing behind a foreground of radiant carnation bouquets, the music and dance ensemble wore charros and dresses that were equally colorful and appealing to the eye. Band members were dressed in blue and black traditional mariachi outfits. In contrast, the dance performers had a bit more to do, changing through various clothes reflecting the different regional styles of both the music and the people of Mexico.

From black jackets and tassels reflecting the state of Nuevo León’s industrial culture to the more traditionally vaqueroesque attire representing the state of Jalisco’s agricultural history, each costume was a love letter to the different provinces and customs found throughout the country.

As stunning and appealing as the dancers' outfits were, they played a substantial role in their performances. Long, colorful, tapestry-like skirts emphasized graceful movements, while hard-soled shoes made for thunderous stomps in the zapateado dance style. Overall, visual aesthetics were a major highlight of the concert, in which beauty can be seen in practically every act.

The concert’s musical numbers had no shortage of passion and commitment either.

Playing culturally significant ballads such as “María Isabel” and “El Sinaloense,” Mariachi Los Alteños de UCR members had a chance to showcase both instrumental and vocal chops.

Some performers wooed the crowd with their own choreography while others, appearing to be reserved at first glance, gave heartfelt singing performances to the astonishment of the audience.

With the musical leadership of band director Cynthia Reifler Flores, the dances of the show were accompanied by tight and synergistic melodies from instruments ranging from violins, guitars and horns. In between breaks by the mariachi band, energetic instrumentals such as “Pato Asado” accompanied the dances in a way that made audience members stomp, clap and holler to their heart’s delight. Alongside traditional folk songs were contemporary tracks such as “Homenaje a Selena,” which made it seem like a walkthrough into Mexican music's lively history and evolution.

With participation being an integral part of the overall liveliness of the concert and mariachi in general, members of the audience were openly encouraged to cheer and move along to the beat. Dr. Xochitl Chavez, the master of ceremonies, taught concertgoers how

to perform successful gritos, or celebratory shouts, as well as phrases associated with mariachi, which many of them utilized in many of the show’s acts. On a similar note, listeners were invited to sing along to the more recognizable songs of the concert, making for a boisterous performance for all of those involved.

The choreography of The Mexican Music and Dance Concert encompasses various dances seen in mariachi. From slow and steady waltzes to fervent cha-chas, the different styles of dances reflected African, European and indigenous people’s influence on Mexican culture. Each dance sequence was entirely distinct from one another, setting out to show the regional and class differences found throughout Mexico.

One standout act was Los Machetes, in which male dancers performed with literal machetes to accentuate agrarianism and working-class values of strength and skill. Especially when it came to the more uptempo songs, the swaying of the skirts served as a visual treat for audiences to bask in. Every step made by the performers was concise, with stomps and pirouettes synchronizing with the beat of the music.

As if the elegant sights and sounds weren’t enough, the

Mexican Music and Dance Concert also served as a farewell to seniors within the Mariachi Los Alteños de UCR and Ballet Folklórico de UCR programs. Seniors were called up to the stage, where parents adorned them with sashes symbolizing their involvement in the program. Receiving laudatory remarks from the crowd, seniors expressed emotions of pride, gratitude and everything in between.

Although somewhat heartbreaking, the graduating seniors were given a bombastic send-off in which their achievements within the programs were recognized. After getting their sashes, the seniors followed up with their own separate and unique acts. The concert ended the night with one big performance in which the Mariachi Los Alteños de UCR and Ballet Folklórico de UCR programs shared the stage.

The Mexican Music and Dance Concert provided a jovial insight into Mexico's diverse culture and art. Serving as both a cultural exchange and a celebration of Mexican heritage, the concert was lively and fascinating from start to finish.

If anything, it proved that the spirit and finesse of Mexican song and dance are still alive and kicking.

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

RADAR

MAY 27, 2025 25

Radar Replay:

David Lynch’s ‘Lost Highway’ AN UNDERRATED PIECE WITHIN THE FILMMAKER’S LEGACY THAT OFFERS JUST AS MUCH AS ITS CLASSIC AND WELL-RENOWNED COUNTERPARTS. Sebastian Morales Staff Writer

E

arly this year, cinephiles and everyone in between with a ORYH IRU ¿OP PRXUQHG WKH heart-wrenching loss of one cinema's most cherished DQG XQLTXH YLVLRQDULHV HYHU to hold a camera, the great David Lynch. A master of GUHDP VWDWH VXUUHDOLVP DQG KDXQWLQJO\ EHDXWLIXO YLVXals, Lynch has left behind DQ LQÀXHQFH ZLWKLQ WKH ¿OP LQGXVWU\ DOO RQ KLV WHUPV In celebrating the legacy of D GLUHFWRU ZLWK VXFK DQ XQdeniably diehard fanbase, it only makes sense to give proper spotlight to one of /\QFK¶V PRUH XQGHU GLVFXVVHG ZRUNV ³/RVW +LJKZD\ ´ 7KLV LV D ¿OP WKDW XSRQ LWV LQLWLDO UHOHDVH years ago in 1997, received very divisive opinions.

These sentiments are still YHU\ PXFK DOLYH DPRQJ IDQV today. $OWKRXJK ZLWK WLPH WR GLJHVW LWV UREXVW LGHDV WKH development of media litHUDF\ DQG UDUH LQSXW IURP LWV GLUHFWRU ³/RVW +LJKZD\´ has been revisited with greater appreciation, deVSLWH TXDOPV WKDW IDQV PD\ VWLOO KDYH ZLWK WKH ¿OP¶V complicated and strange QDUUDWLYH VWUXFWXUH 7KH ¿OP transitions between the conYROXWHG VWRU\OLQHV RI LWV WZR protagonists, Fred Madison %LOO 3XOOPDQ DQG 3HWH 'D\WRQ %DOWKD]DU *HWW\ who oddly intertwine with RQH DQRWKHU WKURXJK D VHULHV of inexplicable events and FRQQLYLQJ DFTXDLQWDQFHV WKDW EOXU WKH OLQHV RI WKHLU

6WLOO )URP /RVW +LJKZD\ 'LU 'DYLG /\QFK ,PDJH FRXUWHV\ RI 2FWREHU )LOPV

reality.

WKH ¿OP¶V LQFUHGLEOH VRXQG design and the character’s Fred, a saxophonist, is over- freakish beady eyes that whelmed by the inclination never blink.

WKDW KLV UHOXFWDQW ZLIH 5HQHH 3DWULFLD $UTXHWWH LV 2GGO\ HQRXJK /\QFK KLPhaving an affair with gang- VHOI GXULQJ IXWXUH LQWHUYLHZV VWHU DQG DGXOW ¿OP SURGXFHU GLVFXVVLQJ ³/RVW +LJKZD\ ´ 'LFN /DXUHQW 5REHUW /RJ- had revealed his obsession JLD $IWHU D YLGHRWDSH RI with the O.J. Simpson case )UHG IHYHULVKO\ ODXJKLQJ GXULQJ WKH ¿OP¶V FRQFHSWLRQ next to Renee’s dead body in the mid-90s. Lynch's fascovered in blood is dis- cination with this real-life covered, he is convicted of event gives viewers insight KLV ZLIH¶V PXUGHU DQG VHQ- LQWR ZKDW LQVSLUHG DQG LQÀXtenced to death while plead- HQFHG WKH ¿OP¶V WKHPHV DV ing for his innocence.

ORQJ DV DXGLHQFHV DUH ZLOOing to connect the dots.

6HHPLQJO\ RXW RI WKLQ DLU 3HWH D \RXQJ DQG ZHOO 7KH ODWH ¿OPPDNHU ZDV VSHliked mechanic, replaces FL¿FDOO\ HQDPRUHG E\ KRZ Fred in his jail cell and is let VRPHRQH SUHVXPDEO\ UHJR WR WKH DXWKRULWLHV¶ DVWRQ- sponsible for their horrible ishment. As Pete attempts DFWLRQV GXH WR RYHUZKHOPto reintegrate into his daily ing evidence against them, life, he is tempted by the FRXOG JR DERXW WKH UHVW RI PLVWUHVV RI D QRWRULRXV DX- WKHLU OLIH ZLWKRXW KDYLQJ toshop client named Alice D KDUG WLPH IHHOLQJ JXLOW\ 3DWULFLD $UTXHWWH ZKR for what they have been strikingly resembles Renee. DFFXVHG RI DW OHDVW ZLWKLQ 7KURXJK KHU VHGXFWLRQ $O- WKH SXEOLF H\H 7KLV LGHD LV ice strings Pete along a de- WUDQVODWHG LQ ³/RVW +LJKVFHQW RI OXVWIXO DIIDLUV DQG ZD\´ WKURXJK )UHG¶V WUDQVcrime. formation into Pete Dayton XQGHU KLV GUHDP VWDWH SV\'LVFXVVLRQ RI WKH ¿OP PXVW chosis to distance himself mention Robert Blake’s IURP WKH PXUGHU RI KLV ZLIH performance as the chilling after acknowledging her inMystery Man. The camera- ¿GHOLWLHV ZLWK 'LFN /DXUHQW wielding character’s cosWXPH GHVLJQ LV QRWDEOH ZLWK )UHG¶V UHIXVDO WR DFFHSW UHKLV DOO EODFN EXWWRQHG RXW- ality and responsibility for ¿W SDUWHG VOLFN EDFN KDLU what he has done is a charshaved eyebrows, white acteristic that is conveyed powdered face and dark WR WKH DXGLHQFH GXULQJ D red lip grin that is straight SLYRWDO VFHQH ZLWKLQ WKH ¿UVW QLJKWPDUH IXHO %ODNH¶V act that becomes central SUHVHQFH VXFNV WKH YLHZHUV in analyzing the themes in in and lingers within their ³/RVW +LJKZD\ ´ ,Q D GLVVXEFRQVFLRXV HYHQ DV KH LV FXVVLRQ DERXW YLGHR UHFRUGoff-screen. Thanks in part to ers involving the police in

Fred and Renee’s bedroom, 5HQHH WHOOV WKH RI¿FHUV WKDW )UHG KDWHV FDPHUDV +H MXVWL¿HV KLV KDWUHG E\ H[SODLQLQJ ³, OLNH WR UHPHPEHU things my own way … How I remembered them. Not necessarily the way they happened.”

sheds light on how easy it FDQ EH IRU DQ LQGLYLGXDO WR shape the narrative of their memories towards how they perceive themselves or what they want to believe, no matter how far from realLW\ WKHLU UHFRXQW LV LQ RUGHU WR MXVWLI\ WKHLU DFWLRQV

The tapes of Fred and the video recorders seen WKURXJKRXW WKH ¿OP HVVHQWLDOO\ UHSUHVHQW WKH WUXWK RI reality that can not be maQLSXODWHG RU DOWHUHG LQ WKH same way that Fred desires ZLWKLQ KLV VXEFRQVFLRXV 2XW RI WKH PXOWLWXGH RI LGHDV with vast interpretations LQ ³/RVW +LJKZD\ ´ /\QFK

9HUGLFW ³/RVW +LJKZD\ ´ like many of David Lynch’s ¿OPV KDV D FRPSOLFDWHG narrative to follow even XSRQ PXOWLSOH YLHZLQJV $V D GLUHFWRU ZKR QRWRULRXVO\ UHIXVHG WR H[SODLQ KLV ¿OPV on a silver platter, he challenged viewers to navigate their interpretations of the ideas presented in his work.

3RVWHU IRU /RVW +LJKZD\ 'LU 'DYLG /\QFK ,PDJH FRXUWHV\ RI 2FWREHU )LOPV

26 MAY 27, 2025

RADAR

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

COLOR ME BLUE: Students

respond to the graduation cap and gown color change

AMID A SEEMINGLY RANDOM CHANGE FROM BLACK GOWNS TO BLUE ONES, STUDENTS’ OPINIONS HIGHLIGHT THE DEEPER TENSIONS AND MEANINGS AT PLAY IN THE NEW GRADUATION ATTIRE. Madison Zepeda Contributing Writer

&RXUWHV\ RI %DUQHV DQG 1REOH 8&5

W

ith commencement ceremonies right DURXQG WKH FRUQHU RQH PLJKW DVVXPH WKDW WKH FODVV RI LV RQO\ WKLQNLQJ DERXW RQH WKLQJ FHOHEUDWLQJ WR WKH IXOOHVW %XW EHWZHHQ SODQQLQJ SDUWLHV DQG GUHDGLQJ ¿QDO SURMHFWV WKLV \HDU¶V JUDGXDWHV VWLOO KDYH PXFK to do in these last two weeks — RU DW OHDVW PXFK WR ¿JXUH RXW

decide for oneself is more important than anything else.

These parallels also exemplify WKH FHQWUDO SUREOHP VXUURXQGLQJ the gown change: the ability to choose the gown one wants for &RPPHQFHPHQW LV IXQGDPHQWDOO\ XS LQ WKH DLU ,W PDNHV VHQVH WKHQ WKDW &LVQHURV FODUL¿HG WKDW ³>KHU@ GLVOLNH >RI WKH EOXH JRZQV@ FRPHV IURP WKH ODFN RI FRPPXQLFDWLRQ EHWZHHQ WKH VWXGHQWV DQG WKH XQLYHUVLW\´ DERXW WKH GHFLVLRQ RYHUDOO 7LIIDQ\ 7ULHX D IRXUWK year political science major, also DVVHUWV WKDW ³LW >ZRXOG@ MXVW EH better if they, like, at least heard VRPH VWXGHQWV RXW RQ WKHLU RZQ preferences” beforehand.

Nestled among these hallmark moments of academic accomplishment has been a rather conWURYHUVLDO LVVXH VXUURXQGLQJ WKH FKDQJH LQ FRORU WR WKH XQLYHUVLW\¶V JUDGXDWLRQ FDSV DQG JRZQV $V D UHVXOW VWXGHQWV KDYH DLUHG WKHLU IUXVWUDWLRQV ZLWK WKH QHZ ORRN and even considered other gown options on the school’s Reddit page. Beyond that, a Change. org petition, which has garnered VLJQDWXUHV ZDV FUHDWHG LQ the hope of reversing the decision.

With any debate like this, one can RFFDVLRQDOO\ DUJXH LQWR D FRUQHU 7ULHX ODWHU QRWHG WKDW KHU LQLWLDO YLVLRQ RI JUDGXDWLRQ LV ³ZKHUH [she] contradicts [herself],” since ³JRLQJ LQWR 8&5 >VKH@ LPDJLQHG >KHUVHOI@ ZHDULQJ WKH EOXH DQG gold” to her ceremony.

On the petition’s website, many of the comments paint an especially distressing reality for those who cherish the former gowns. In addition to acknowledging their disdain over the change, these VWXGHQWV KDYH PDGH LW NQRZQ WKDW EODFN JUDGXDWLRQ JRZQV DUH PXFK PRUH WKDQ MXVW UXQ RI WKH PLOO Commencement wear.

'HRQGUD &LVQHURV D IRXUWK \HDU (QJOLVK PDMRU LQVLVWV WKDW ³WKHUH is a … pride that comes from having the black gown and beLQJ XQLWHG ZLWK WKH RWKHU 8&V that also have [them]” for their FHUHPRQLHV ,Q SDUWLFXODU VWXGHQW stores at the University of CaliIRUQLD /RV $QJHOHV 8&/$ 8& Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine and UC San Diego all ofIHUHG EODFN JRZQV IRU WKHLU XQGHUJUDGXDWH VWXGHQWV WKLV \HDU

In light of the change, these appeals to academic tradition and modeling the other UCs showcase what is really at stake when LW FRPHV WR JUDGXDWLRQ DWWLUH LQ KLJKHU HGXFDWLRQ ,Q JHQHUDO RE&LVQHURV¶ IHHOLQJV DERXW WKH VLWXtaining a bachelor’s degree or ation have also been echoed by higher is a major moment in one’s 5HEHFFD 6XQ DQRWKHU IRXUWK \HDU life and a testament to everything majoring in both English and one has done to get there.

(GXFDWLRQ 6XQ DGGV WR WKH DUJXPHQW E\ VWDWLQJ WKDW VKH ³SUHIHUV Changing the gown color, then, … the traditional black colors may resemble a threat to the vaEHFDXVH WKDW¶V XVXDOO\ ZKDW RQH lidity of that achievement — esZHDUV IRU FROOHJH JUDGXDWLRQV ´ pecially given the long-standing By emphasizing their long his³8& 5HMHFWV´ UKHWRULF WKDW MXGJHV tory within academia, the petition VWXGHQWV SULPDULO\ E\ XQGHUPLQsimilarly asserts how the black ing their self-worth. Switching to JRZQV FRXOG EH VHHQ DV PRUH EOXH JRZQV DV D UHSUHVHQWDWLRQ RI DFDGHPLFDOO\ SUHVWLJLRXV WKDQ WKH RQH¶V DFDGHPLF HQGHDYRXUV WKXV EOXH RQHV

Similarly, Starr contradicted KHUVHOI DIWHU VD\LQJ ³VRPHWKLQJ DERXW WKH >EODFN@ FRORU « GHmands attention and respect,” RQO\ WR UHEXW E\ DVVHUWLQJ WKDW ³>VKH GRHVQ¶W@ UHDOO\ FDUH DERXW VWXII OLNH WKDW´ DQ\ZD\V ,Q ERWK cases, these moments of mild hypocrisy reveal that different opinLRQV DERXW WKH PDWWHU H[LVW RQ D VSHFWUXP RI SHUVRQDO WUXWKV DQG WDNHDZD\V UDWKHU WKDQ FXW DQG GU\ RXWORRNV

inevitably feels like disassociatLQJ ZLWK WKH FXOWXUDO DQG LQVWLWXtional traditions that may provide needed legitimacy to these efforts.

WKDW ZH ORRNHG@ OLNH ZH FRXOG have been any other school” inVWHDG $OWKRXJK UHMHFWLQJ RSSRVLWLRQ WR WKH EOXH JRZQV 6WDUU V RZQ DUJXPHQW UHÀHFWV PDQ\ RI WKH VDPH FRQFHUQV DERXW LGHQWLW\ )RUWXQDWHO\ QR WUDGLWLRQDO FRORU and validation that Cisneros and RU LQVWLWXWLRQDO WUHQG FDQ HYHU 6XQ WRXFKHG XSRQ WUXO\ VXEWUDFW IURP WKH GH¿QLWLYH joy of one’s collegiate accom- &KLHI DPRQJ WKRVH LV WKDW VWXSOLVKPHQWV DQG WKRVH RXWVLGH RI GHQWV XOWLPDWHO\ ZDQW WR GH¿QH WKH ³SUR EODFN JRZQ´ DUJXPHQW WKHLU JUDGXDWLRQ LQ D ZD\ WKDW demonstrate exactly why. honors their perspectives and exSHULHQFHV 7KLV FRXOG PHDQ HLWKHU &DURO\Q 6WDUU D IRXUWK \HDU (QJ- ³VWLFN>LQJ@ WR WUDGLWLRQ ´ DV 6XQ OLVK PDMRU QRWHG WKDW ³LW¶V LPSRU- theorizes, or embracing someWDQW IRU WKH JRZQ WR UHÀHFW WKH WKLQJ DFFRUGLQJ WR 6WDUU ³WKDW « school’s colors, even if it’s a com- PDNHV WKH JUDGXDWLRQ FHUHPRQ\ mon palette” in itself. She even look more alive” than before.

FODLPHG ³WKDW ZH ORVW RXU VHQVH :KDWHYHU WKH VLWXDWLRQ PD\ EH of self with the black gowns, [and it seems that having the ability to

$V RI WKLV \HDU LW VKRXOG DOVR EH QRWHG WKDW RWKHU 8&V LQFOXGLQJ UC Davis, UC Merced and UC 6DQWD &UX] DOO RIIHU VRPH YDULDWLRQ RI D EOXH JUDGXDWLRQ JRZQ :KHWKHU LW V OLJKW QDY\ 'DYLV RU PXFK FORVHU WR RXU RZQ ³UR\DO EOXH´ 6DQWD &UX] WKHVH JRZQV help to verify the existence of — and UCR’s transition into — a XQL¿HG PLQRULW\ ZLWKLQ WKH ODUJHU UC system. Here, placed beside D VPDOOHU EXW PRUH SURSRUWLRQDO VHW RI VLVWHU LQVWLWXWLRQV 8&5¶V FXUUHQW JUDGXDWLRQ JRZQV PLJKW JUDGXDOO\ EH DFFHSWHG DV SDUW RI WKLV VSHFLDO ³QRUP´ LQ WLPH %HIRUH WKHQ KRZHYHU VWXGHQWV DQG DGPLQLVWUDWRUV PXVW FRPH WRJHWKHU WR HQVXUH WKDW ZKDWHYHU FRORU the next commencement gowns WXUQ RXW WR EH WKHUH ZLOO DOZD\V be something for everyone.

highlandernews.org/category/radar

RADAR

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

27

‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ can’t cheat death or mediocrity.

DESPITE FLASHES OF CREATIVITY, THIS FILM PROVES THAT SOME FRANCHISES SHOULD STAY BURIED.

JOSEPH ARRIAGA Contributing Writer

After 14 years, the Final Destination franchise is back in cinemas with the newest installment, “Final 'HVWLQDWLRQ %ORRGOLQHV ´ +RZHYHU WKLV ¿OP LV DQ example that some franchises should be left in the SDVW 7KH ¿OP KDV VRPH LQWHUHVWLQJ PRPHQWV LQ EHWZHHQ DQG ZLWK JUHDW DQG FOHYHU NLOOV WKDW PLJKW EH some of the best in the franchise, but the constant use RI FRPSXWHU JHQHUDWHG LPDJHU\ &*, UXLQV WKHP 7KLV GRHV UXLQ WKH ¿OP H[SHULHQFH EHFDXVH WKH PDLQ SRLQW RI WKHVH ¿OPV LV WR VHH FKDUDFWHUV GLH LQ WKH PRVW UDQGRP DQG \HW LQWHUHVWLQJ ZD\V WR JHW WKH DXGLHQFH WR ODXJK DQG RU KDYH D UHDFWLRQ RI GLVJXVW 7KH ¿OP RSHQV LQ WKH V VHW WR D GLVDVWHU DW

D KLJK ULVH UHVWDXUDQW D VFHQH WKDW RIIHUV PDQ\ JRU\ kills that work as a dark comedy, but are quickly UXLQHG E\ WKH XVDJH RI &*, $IWHU WKLV VFHQH LV RYHU it is revealed that it was a dream experienced by PRGHUQ GD\ FROOHJH VWXGHQW 6WHIDQL 5H\HV DQG LW FDXVHV KHU WR WU\ DQG ¿JXUH RXW ZK\ GHDWK KDV WDUJHWHG her family and how she can stop it. This serves as the narrative device for a plot that deals with curses and XQ¿QLVKHG EXVLQHVV ZLWK GHDWK 7KH SORW LQ WKLV ¿OP LV GLIIHUHQW FRPSDUHG WR RWKHU )LQDO 'HVWLQDWLRQ ¿OPV EHFDXVH LW LQYROYHV D EURNHQ IDPLO\ WKDW KDV FRPH WRJHWKHU WR WU\ DQG ¿QG D ZD\ WR VWRS WKH GHDWKV LQ WKHLU IDPLO\ 7KH ¿OPV DOVR PRVWO\ UHYROYH DURXQG UDQGRP SHRSOH ² KLJK school students in particular — who have cheated GHDWK EHIRUH DQG PXVW FKHDW LW DJDLQ 7KLV FKDQJH WR WKH VWRU\ LV LQWHUHVWLQJ DQG RQH WKDW could work with better writers because the execution LV D PL[HG UHVXOW 7KHUH DUH PDQ\ VFHQHV LQ WKLV ¿OP ZLWK FRQÀLFWHG HPRWLRQV 2QH VFHQH FDQ KDYH D YHU\ VHULRXV WRQH ZLWK D KHDUWZDUPLQJ PRPHQW ZLWK FHUWDLQ IDPLO\ PHPEHUV DQG LPPHGLDWHO\ JHW FXW ZLWK DQ RYHU WKH WRS GHDWK VFHQH

7KH ¿OP WULHV WR JHW WKH DXGLHQFH WR FDUH DERXW WKH FKDUDFWHUV LQ WKH ¿OP DQG LW RQO\ ZRUNV WR VRPH GHJUHH ,W¶V KDUG WR JHW LQYHVWHG LQ WKH FKDUDFWHUV because they can randomly die at any moment in the ¿OP :KLOH LW FDQ EH HQWHUWDLQLQJ LW VWLOO OHDYHV WKH audience to just move on to the next character and ZDLW IRU WKH QH[W GHDWK WR KDSSHQ &RPSDUHG WR RWKHU )LQDO 'HVWLQDWLRQ ¿OPV WKLV LQVWDOOPHQW LV RQH RI WKH EHWWHU RQHV EXW WKDW LVQ¶W VD\LQJ PXFK 7KH RWKHU SUREOHP WKDW WKLV ¿OP KDV LV WKH SDFLQJ $IWHU HDFK GHDWK WKH DXGLHQFH LV OHIW ZDQWLQJ PRUH EXW LW WDNHV D ORQJ WLPH EHWZHHQ NLOOV WR IRFXV RQ WKH FKDUDFWHUV :KLOH WKLV ZRXOG EH JRRG WR IRFXV RQ WKH FKDUDFWHUV DQG JLYH WKHP PRUH WLPH WR GHYHORS WKH SUREOHP LV WKDW WKH FKDUDFWHUV DUHQ¶W LQWHUHVWLQJ DQG this causes the audience to lose interest in the story DQG LQ ZKDW LV EHLQJ VKRZQ RQ VFUHHQ Verdict: ³)LQDO 'HVWLQDWLRQ %ORRGOLQHV´ LVQ¶W D EDG ¿OP EXW LW LVQ¶W D JRRG RQH HLWKHU 7KH ¿OP has some moments of creativity and interest with the JRU\ GHDWKV EXW EHVLGHV WKDW WKHUH LVQ¶W PXFK WKDW WKLV ¿OP RIIHUV ,W¶V PRUH ZRUWKZKLOH WR MXVW ZDWFK RQH RI WKH ROG ¿OPV RQ VWUHDPLQJ VHUYLFHV ŶH

Lana Del Rey-inspired books HERE IS A LIST OF BOOKS THAT FEEL LIKE A LANA DEL REY SONG. IRIS ARANDA Contributing Writer

/DQD 'HO 5H\ LV D JHQLXV VRQJZULWHU ZKR LV NQRZQ IRU DOOXVLRQV WR SRS FXOWXUH OLWHUDWXUH DQG +ROO\ZRRG 6KH VSHFL¿FDOO\ UHIHUHQFHV KHU H[SHULHQFHV OLYLQJ LQ /RV $QJHOHV DQG 1HZ <RUN &LW\ +HU VRQJV IHHO OLNH D FODVVLF QRYHO VHW LQ WKH +ROO\ZRRG V RU D ZLOG SDUW\ +HUH DUH VRPH UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV IRU IDQV ZKR ZDQW WR H[SHULHQFH D ERRN PLUURULQJ /DQD 'HO 5H\¶V O\ULFDO FUHDWLYLW\

“Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov (1955): 2EYLRXVO\ /DQD 'HO 5H\¶V VRQJ “Lolita,” was inspired by the novel by 1DERNRY ³/ROLWD´ LV QDUUDWHG E\ D )UHQFK professor named Humbert, who becomes REVHVVHG DQG SUH\V RQ D \HDU ROG JLUO whom he nicknames “Lolita.” He refers WR /ROLWD DV D ³Q\PSKHW ´ 7KLV LVQ¶W D QRYHO DERXW ORYH RYHUFRPLQJ DJH RU DQ erotic novel, but a social satire about sexual abuse.

“L.A. Woman” by Eve Babitz (1982 7KLV VHPL DXWRELRJUDSKLFDO QRYHO E\ (YH %DELW] LV DERXW D \RXQJ -LP 0RUULVRQ JURXSLH DQG KHU UHODWLRQVKLS with an older family friend named Lola, ZKR OLYHG LQ V /RV $QJHOHV 5HDGLQJ books by Eve Babitz, it is clear that Lana 'HO 5H\ WRRN LQVSLUDWLRQ IURP KHU ZRUN DQG KHU OLIH 'HO 5H\ LV REVHVVHG ZLWK -LP 0RUULVRQ DQG WKH V DQG V /RV $QJHOHV VRFLDO VFHQH 7KLV LV D PXVW UHDG IRU DQ\ IDQV RI /DQD 'HO 5H\ $ VRQJ WR JR ZLWK WKLV ERRN LV ³*RGV 0RQVWHUV ´ “The Great Gatsby” by Scott Fitzgerald (1925): This is an obvious read, because /DQD 'HO 5H\¶V ³<RXQJ DQG %HDXWLIXO´ was featured in the soundtrack for %D] /XKUPDQQ¶V ³7KH *UHDW *DWVE\´ 7KLV QRYHO LV ZHOO ZULWWHQ ZLWK HPEHOOLVKHG ¿JXUDWLYH ODQJXDJH 7KHUH¶V QRWKLQJ PRUH /DQD 'HO 5H\ WKDQ SDUWLHV DQG *DWVE\ \HDUQLQJ RYHU 'DLV\

“Valley of the Dolls” by Jacqueline Susann (1966): 7KLV QRYHO LV DERXW WKUHH \RXQJ women in the entertainment industry. ,W QDUUDWHV WKHLU MRXUQH\ WR VXFFHVV DQG their battles with addiction. This novel is YHU\ /DQD 'HO 5H\ EHFDXVH LW H[SORUHV +ROO\ZRRG DQG WKH KLJKV DQG ORZV RI GUXJ DGGLFWLRQ $ VRQJ WKDW JRHV DORQJ with this book is “Put Me in a Movie.”

“A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams (1947): This critically acclaimed play follows D 6RXWKHUQ EHOOH QDPHG %ODQFKH 'X%RLV¶ GRZQIDOO IURP ULFKHV WR UDJV LQ 1HZ 2UOHDQV ZKLFK IRUFHV KHU WR OLYH ZLWK KHU VLVWHU DQG EURWKHU LQ ODZ %ODQFKH DQG KHU EURWKHU LQ ODZ 6WDQOH\ GRQ¶W JHW DORQJ %ODQFKH ORRNV GRZQ RQ KLP due to his lower socioeconomic status “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath DQG 6WDQOH\ GRHVQ¶W WUXVW KHU 7KLV SOD\ GRHVQ¶W KDYH D GXOO PRPHQW DV LW LV IXOO (1963): $ IHPLQLVW VHPL DXWRELRJUDSKLFDO RI WHQVLRQ $ VRQJ WR JR ZLWK WKLV SOD\ LV QRYHO IURP WKH V WKDW GLVFXVVHV WKH “Ultraviolence.”

VWUXJJOHV RI KDYLQJ FOLQLFDO GHSUHVVLRQ “The White Album” by Joan DQG PHQWDO KHDOWK LVVXHV LQ WKH V Didion (1979): 7KH QRYHO IROORZV (VWKHU *UHHQZRRG A collection of personal and analytical PRYLQJ IURP KHU LQWHUQVKLS GD\V DW /DGLHV¶ 'D\V PDJD]LQH LQ 1HZ HVVD\V H[SORULQJ $PHULFDQ FXOWXUH LQ WKH <RUN D ¿FWLRQDO PDJD]LQH EDVHG RQ V DQG V 'LGLRQ ZULWHV DERXW 0DGHPRLVHOOH PDJD]LQH¶V JXHVW HGLWRU a variety of events such as the Black LQWHUQVKLS WR KHU XQGHUJUDGXDWH GD\V 3DQWKHU 3DUW\ WKH 6KDURQ 7DWH PXUGHU WR KHU VSLUDOLQJ RXW RI FRQWURO PHQWDO DQG GUXJV $ VRQJ WR JR ZLWK WKLV RQH LV LOOQHVV 'HO 5H\ ZDV KHDYLO\ LQVSLUHG E\ ³7KH *UHDWHVW ´ 3ODWK¶V ³7KH %HOO -DU´ DQG KHU SRHWU\ $ “The Spy in the House of Love” VRQJ WR JR ZLWK WKLV ERRN LV ³*HW )UHH ´

by Anaïs Nin (1954) $ VHPL DXWRELRJUDSKLFDO QRYHO VHW “Just Kids” by Patti Smith (2010): $ PHPRLU DERXW 3DWWL 6PLWK DQG 5REHUW 0DSSOHWKRUSH¶V UHODWLRQVKLS DQG OLIH GXULQJ V 1HZ <RUN &LW\ 7KH PHPRLU GHWDLOV KHU MRXUQH\ WR 1HZ <RUN &LW\ KHU &KHOVHD +RWHO GD\V DQG DOO WKH SHRSOH VKH HQFRXQWHUV WKHUH $ VRQJ WR JR ZLWK WKLV PHPRLU ZRXOG REYLRXVO\ EH “Brooklyn Baby.”

LQ V 1HZ <RUN IROORZV D ZRPDQ QDPHG 6DELQD DQG KHU VH[XDO DIIDLUV /LNH D PDQ VKH HQMR\V KDYLQJ DIIDLUV ZLWKRXW DQ\ HPRWLRQDO VWULQJV DWWDFKHG The novel explores if one can have affairs ZLWKRXW FRQVHTXHQFHV $ VRQJ WR JR ZLWK WKLV ERRN LV ³7KH 2WKHU :RPDQ ´

“The Girls” by Emma Cline (2016): 6HW LQ WKLV QRYHO LV DERXW D \HDU ROG JLUO (YLH ZKR EHFRPHV LQYROYHG ZLWK D FXOW LQVSLUHG E\ &KDUOHV 0DQVRQ (YLH VWDUWV KDQJLQJ RXW ZLWK DQ ROGHU JURXS RI JLUOV EHFDXVH LW PDNHV KHU IHHO IUHH DQG WKH GDQJHU H[FLWHV KHU $ VRQJ WR DFFRPSDQ\ WKLV QRYHO LV ³7KLV LV H :KDW 0DNHV 8V *LUOV ´ Ŷ

PHOTO COURTSEY OF BEATRIZ ALVANI, VIA FLICKR AND WIKIPEDIA

28 TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

RADAR

highlandernews.org/category/radar

‘Grosse Pointe Garden Society’ blossoms into a murderous delight of a show NBC’s “Grosse Pointe Garden Society” is a sharp, stylish suburban murder mystery that blooms with wit, scandal and unexpected heart.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC

LILIANNA ANGEL :[HɈ >YP[LY

³*URVVH 3RLQWH *DUGHQ 6RFLHW\´ UHOHDVHG LWV VHDVRQ ¿QDOH RQ 0D\ DQG WKH VKRZ ZDV D WKULOO ,WV PL[ RI UHG KHUULQJV DQG P\VWHU\ PDNHV LW D WUXO\ FDSWLYDWLQJ DQG HQWHUWDLQLQJ watch.

This suburban mystery of murder unfolds with complicated love lives and hidden affairs.

7KH DIÀXHQW ÀRZHU ¿OOHG ZRUOG RI *URVVH 3RLQWH VHUYHV DV D VWULNLQJ FRQWUDVW WR WKH OLHV secrets and betrayals that fester beneath its manicured lawns. At its core, the show is not MXVW DERXW WKH DXGLHQFH GLVFRYHULQJ WKH PXUGHU ² LW¶V DERXW KRZ RUGLQDU\ SHRSOH WDNH RQ DQ DZIXO FLUFXPVWDQFH DQG JUDSSOH ZLWK LW DORQJ with their daily lives.

7KH VKRZ IROORZV DFWUHVV $MD 1DRPL .LQJ notable for her work as Michaela Pratt from $%&¶V ³+RZ WR *HW $ZD\ ZLWK 0XUGHU ´ DV VKH WDNHV RQ D QHZ DQG GLIIHUHQW UROH DV &DWKHULQH D trapped housewife and realtor.

And there are other actors that make the VKRZ VKLQH OLNH D )LUHÀ\ 3HWXQLD 7KH VKRZ VWDUV $QQD6RSKLD 5REE DV $OLFH D GRJ ORYLQJ KLJK VFKRRO WHDFKHU ¿OOHG ZLWK WKH VDPH UDJH DV ³-RKQ :LFN ´ 0DQ\ UHPHPEHU 5REE IURP KHU WLPH DV 9LROHW %HDXUHJDUGH LQ ³&KDUOLH DQG WKH &KRFRODWH )DFWRU\ ´ 6KH DFWV DORQJVLGH %UHWW D NLQG VLQJOH IDWKHU SOD\HG E\ %HQ 5DSSDSRUW ZKR LV KRSHOHVVO\ LQ ORYH ZLWK KHU $ORQJVLGH them, Melissa Fumero portrays Birdie, an DIÀXHQW ZRPDQ FKDUJHG ZLWK GULYLQJ XQGHU WKH LQÀXHQFH '8, ZKR LV IRUFHG WR GR KRXUV RI FRPPXQLW\ VHUYLFH DW WKH *URVVH 3RLQWH *DUGHQ 6RFLHW\ 7KH VWRU\WHOOLQJ IURP WKH GLUHFWRU 0DJJLH .LOH\ DQG ZULWHUV -HQQD %DQV DQG %LOO .UHEV GRHV D SKHQRPHQDO MRE RI FUDIWLQJ WKLV VHULHV (YHU\ HSLVRGH JLYHV KLQWV DW ZKDW UHDOO\

happened and who was murdered, but is done VR LQ D ZD\ WKDW GLVFRYHULQJ WKH PXUGHU GRHVQ¶W KDSSHQ XQWLO WKH VHFRQG WR ODVW HSLVRGH $QG WKDW LV ZKDW PDNHV WKH VKRZ VR DPD]LQJ :KLOH WKH UHG KHUULQJV FDQ EH DQQR\LQJ LQ RWKHU PHGLD OLNH ³*UDYLW\ ´ ³*URVVH 3RLQWH *DUGHQV 6RFLHW\´ GRHV DQ H[WUDRUGLQDU\ MRE PDNLQJ LW H[FLWLQJ QRW UHSHWLWLYH 7KH IUHTXHQW WLPH MXPSV PDUNHG E\ RQ screen labels, are so creative and immersive WKDW WKH\ KHOS NHHS D FRQVLVWHQW QDUUDWLYH ÀRZ 7KH VKRZ LV YLVXDOO\ DSSHDOLQJ DQG FDSWLYDWLQJ ZLWK WKH FRORULQJ RI WKH VHW DQG YDULRXV ÀRZHUV JLYLQJ WKH IHHOLQJ RI OLIH LQ FRPSDULVRQ WR WKH themes of death, betrayal and scandals. The VKRZ¶V WLQWLQJ FKDQJHV IURP WKH SUH WLPH VNLSV RI D EULJKWHU YLYLG ZRUOG WR WKH WLPH VNLSV RI D GDUNHU JUD\HU WLQW GHPRQVWUDWLQJ WKH VWRU\WHOOLQJ LQ D EHDXWLIXO YLVXDO ZD\ :KLOH WKH VKRZ WULHV WR HPXODWH WKH VXFFHVV RI VHULHV OLNH ³'HVSHUDWH +RXVHZLYHV´ DQG ³%LJ Little Lies,” as evident in its use of narration DQG LQWHUWZLQLQJ SHUVRQDO GUDPDV FULWLFV VWDWH WKDW ³*URVVH 3RLQWH *DUGHQ 6RFLHW\´ IDOOV VKRUW LQ GHOLYHULQJ WKH VKDUS ZLW DQG RULJLQDOLW\ RI LWV SUHGHFHVVRUV +RZHYHU WKH\ DUH ZURQJ 7KH VKRZ LV ZLWW\ KLODULRXV DQG VKDUS $OWKRXJK LW GRHV ODFN VRPH RULJLQDOLW\ LW LV GRQH ZHOO Unlike many of its predecessors, the show GRHVQ¶W UHO\ RQ VKRFN IRU VKRFN¶V VDNH LW EXLOGV VXVSHQVH WKURXJK FKDUDFWHU ,W LV D GHOLFLRXVO\ GDUN EHDXWLIXOO\ VKRW DQG HPRWLRQDOO\ LQWHOOLJHQW GUDPD WKDW GHVHUYHV PRUH UHFRJQLWLRQ ,W GRHVQ¶W MXVW WHOO D P\VWHU\ ² LW FXOWLYDWHV LW OLNH D JDUGHQ JURZQ IURP VHFUHWV DQG OLHV :KHWKHU WKH DXGLHQFH LV GUDZQ WR MXLF\ VFDQGDOV KLJK VWDNHV IULHQGVKLSV or simply wants a show that respects their

LQWHOOLJHQFH ZKLOH VWLOO VXUSULVLQJ WKHP ³*URVVH 3RLQWH *DUGHQ 6RFLHW\´ LV ZRUWK ZDWFKLQJ +RSHIXOO\ 1%& VHHV LWV SRWHQWLDO DQG EULQJV LW EDFN IRU DQRWKHU VHDVRQ EHFDXVH WKLV JDUGHQ has far more secrets yet to bloom.

Verdict: 7KLV XQOLNHO\ EXQFK EULQJV KXPRU GUDPD DQG KHDUW WR WKH VKRZ WUXO\ PDNLQJ LW D worthwhile watch. ŶH

SPORTS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

MAY 27, 2025 29

SPORTS

Tartan Tailgating:

Continuing a tradition, but noticing Z\I[SL KPăLYLUJLZ GOING TO A LOS ANGELES SPARKS GAME ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE, AND THAT’S A GOOD THING. Elena Versage Staff Photographer

M

y friend Marissa and I have a longstanding tradition of going to at least one Los Angeles Sparks game each season. This past Friday, we NHSW XS WKH WUDGLWLRQ E\ VHHing the Sparks play against the Golden State Valkyries.

that spanned years.

On the way to Crypto.com $UHQD , GURYH WKURXJK WKH Broadway Theater District in Downtown Los AngeOHV /$ , ORYHG WKH VLJKW RI WKH DQWLTXH EXLOGLQJV ZLWK SUHWW\ DUFKLWHFWXUH $V a photographer, I made a PHQWDO QRWH WR UHWXUQ ZLWK P\ FDPHUD GXULQJ VXPPHU break. ³YLHZ IURP RXU VHDWV´ (OHQD 9HUVDJH 7KH +LJKODQGHU

Upon arriving at the arena, it’s easy to gravitate towards WKH ODUJHU WKDQ OLIH VWDWXHV RI IDPRXV SOD\HUV ZKLFK serve as a reminder of the history of LA basketball. If WKH VWDWXHV ZHUHQ W HQRXJK RI D UHPLQGHU WKHQ WKH PXrals and banners hanging in the rafters were.

JODQFHG DURXQG WR VHH D OLWtle boy wearing a Valkyries MHUVH\ DQG D JURXS RI \RXQJ men very excited to be on WKH MXPERWURQ 1%$ VXSHUVWDU .HYLQ 'XUDQW ZDV HYHQ in attendance, a testament WR KRZ PXFK WKH OHDJXH KDV grown.

While the players warmed XS 0DULVVD DQG , DWWHPSWHG WR JXHVV WKH SOD\HUV¶ KHLJKWV Soon after the Valkyries VWDUWLQJ OLQH XS ZDV FDOOHG it was time for the Sparks.

The lights dimmed and the intro video began to play. ³WY RII´ E\ .HQGULFN ¿OOHG WKH DUHQD WKH EDVV ZDV ORXG HQRXJK WR IHHO DXUD DQG FXOWXUH VHHSHG WKURXJK WKH screen.

I noticed that the arena was very packed, more packed than I’ve seen it for a Sparks game. Despite the Valkyries being a new team, many people were donning their logo on their chests. I also noticed that many people were wearing shirts from 72*(7+;5 UHDGLQJ ³(Yeryone Watches Women’s 6SRUWV ´ D VWDWHPHQW , IRXQG to be becoming increasingly To say the crowd was hyped WUXH ZRXOG EH DQ XQGHUVWDWHIn the past, I’ve noticed PHQW &KHHUV HUXSWHG ZLWK that the people in the stands HDFK QDPH FDOOHG EXW QRQH for the Sparks games were compared to when Kelsey mostly women. However, 3OXP¶V QDPH ZDV FDOOHG on Friday, I noticed that the 3OXP ZKR ZDV WUDGHG WR /$ DXGLHQFH KDG EHFRPH PRUH GXULQJ WKH RII VHDVRQ ZDV diverse. Once in my seat, I welcomed with open arms

DQG TXLFNO\ EHFDPH D IDYRUite amongst Sparks fans.

Tip-off, Valkyries ball. The YLVLWRUV GH¿QLWHO\ VKRZHG RXW LQ WKLV JDPH EXW WKH Sparks had some good plays, too. Fan reactions have always been my favorite part of any sports game.

The ooos after a big block, the ahhs after a step back, DQG WKH ERRV GXULQJ DQ RSposing player's free throw attempt have always made PH ODXJK The main reason Marissa and I chose to come to the Sparks game against the Valkyries was that Marissa was a big fan of Kate Martin, a player on the Valkyries who rose to fame while at the University of Iowa with Caitlin Clark. Marissa got very excited when Martin was jogging to the scorer's WDEOH LQ SUHSDUDWLRQ IRU VXEbing in. Seeing my friend snapping photos of her favorite player with her digiWDO FDPHUD ZDV DPXVLQJ

'XULQJ KDOIWLPH ZH ZDONHG DURXQG WKH DUHQD DJDLQ LQ VHDUFK RI ,&(( 6OXUSHHV , noticed a sensory pod and a lactation pod. The sensory pod was a dark room with VRXQGSURR¿QJ RQ WKH ZDOOV DQG SX]]OHV $FFRUGLQJ WR the sign inside the door, it was meant for people who ZHUH RYHUVWLPXODWHG DQG needed a break from the QRLVH $OWKRXJK , GLGQ W enter the lactation room, , FRXOG JXHVV LWV SXUSRVH from the name. After waiting in the Wetzel's Pretzels OLQH , JRW P\ VOXUSHH DQG UHWXUQHG WR P\ VHDW 8SRQ UHWXUQLQJ WR P\ VHDW , noticed a girl with paintings of the players. A big reason , IRXQG WKLV LQWHUHVWLQJ ZDV that Marissa and I had seen the same girl at a game last season. I got the chance to speak with her, and I learned her name is America (@ DYSDLQWVB RQ ,QVWDJUDP 6KH WDONHG DERXW KDYLQJ D deep appreciation for sports

,Q $PHULFD PDGH KHU ¿UVW DWKOHWH SRUWUDLW RI %UHanna Stewart and got the RSSRUWXQLW\ WR JHW LW VLJQHG

by Stewart. Since then, America has been hooked.

Being born and raised in Los Angeles and going to school at California State University, Los Angeles, has allowed her to go to games for not only the 6SDUNV EXW DOVR $QJHO &LW\ )RRWEDOO &OXE ³>, JR@ DV often as possible when I'm LQ VFKRRO DQG ZKHQ VXPPHU hits, I try to be at any game I can. If I'm not at a WNBA game, I'm most likely at a NWSL game.” America told me. So far, she has been able to share her work with big names like Nika Mühl, Trinity Rodman, Christen Press, Alyssa Naeher and Kate Martin.

The game ended in a win for the Valkyries. As we VWHSSHG RXW RI WKH DUHQD ZH were immediately hit with the smell of overpriced bacon-wrapped LA hot dogs.

On the walk back to my car, I took another look at the fans exiting the arena. I saw WKH \RXQJHU YHUVLRQ RI P\self in the little girls leaving ZLWK WKHLU SDUHQWV , JUHZ XS in LA and loved the Sparks for as long as I can remember, evident based on the team's merch in my closet, ranging from the sizes of \RXWK VPDOO WR DGXOW PHGLXP *RLQJ WR WKHLU JDPHV LV something I look forward to every year. From the cheers RI WKH FURZG DIWHU D WRXJK basket to seeing everyone SXW XS WKUHH ¿QJHUV IROORZing a three-pointer, I love it all.

30 MAY 27, 2025

SPORTS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

ACL injuries torment the world of women’s sports FEMALE ATHLETES ARE AT A GREATER RISK OF TEARING THEIR ACL, YET MOST OF THE RESEARCH FOCUSES ON MEN. Elena Versage Staff Photographer

8()$ :RPHQ V &KDPSLRQV /HDJXH +LOGH *XQQ 2OVHQ

T

KH DQWHULRU FUXFLDWH OLJDPHQW $&/ LV WKH PRVW FUXFLDO OLJDPHQW LQ VWDELOL]LQJ \RXU NQHH MRLQW ,W LV D EDQG RI WLVVXH WKDW KROGV WRJHWKHU WKH IHPXU WKLJK ERQH DQG WLELD VKLQERQH 7KH $&/ provides control for rotation in the knee and prevents the tibia from moving in front of WKH IHPXU %\ HQVXULQJ WKDW \RXU NQHH LV LQ SURSHU DOLJQment, the ACL is essential for peak physical performance DQG KHOSV SUHYHQW LQMXULHV WR WKH NQHH GXULQJ SK\VLFDO DFWLYity. The ACL is vital in performance sports and the average GD\ WR GD\ IXQFWLRQV IRU HYHU\one, non-athletes and athletes alike.

As is the case with every other SDUW RI WKH KXPDQ ERG\ WKH $&/ LV VXVFHSWLEOH WR LQMXU\ There are three types of ACL LQMXULHV )LUVW WKHUH LV D JUDGH 1 sprain, where the ACL is slightly stretched and damDJHG EXW LW LV VWLOO LQWDFW DQG working. Then there is a grade VSUDLQ ZKLFK LV FRQVLGHUHG a partial tear of the ACL. In a JUDGH VSUDLQ WKH OLJDPHQW LV loose.

7KH ¿QDO W\SH RI LQMXU\ LV D JUDGH VSUDLQ DOVR NQRZQ DV an ACL tear. As the name imSOLHV D JUDGH VSUDLQ RFFXUV ZKHQ WKH OLJDPHQW LV IXOO\ WRUQ LQ KDOI RU SXOOHG RII WKH ERQH DQG WKH NQHHFDS LV XQVWDEOH $&/ LQMXULHV DUH PRVW FRPPRQ LQ VSRUWV VXFK DV VRFFHU basketball and football. They FDQ KDSSHQ IRU D QXPEHU RI UHDVRQV VXFK DV VORZLQJ GRZQ too fast, moving in a different GLUHFWLRQ WRR VXGGHQO\ ODQG-

,PDJH FRXUHVW\ RI ZLNLPHGLD Taryn Torres SD Gotham

,PDJH FRXUHVW\ RI ZLNLPHGLD )X EDOO )UDXHQ 8()$ :RPHQ V &KDPSLRQV /HDJXH 9I/ :ROIVEXUJ 2O\PSLTXH /\RQQDLV

LQJ IURP D MXPS ZURQJ RU HYHQ $&/ LQMXU\ a direct collision.

The biomechanics of male :KLOH $&/ LQMXULHV FDQ KDS- and female athletes are difpen to anyone, there’s evi- ferent. When landing from a dence that female athletes are MXPS ZRPHQ WHQG WR ODQG LQ more affected than male ath- D PRUH XSULJKW SRVWXUH 7KLV letes. Female basketball play- means their knees aren’t as ers are three-and-a-half times bent as those of male athletes. more likely to tear their ACL Men also land with more core WKDQ WKHLU PDOH FRXQWHUSDUWV engagement than women do.

Additionally, female soccer This difference in landing SOD\HUV DUH WLPHV PRUH styles shows how women's likely to tear their ACL than $&/V DUH SXW XQGHU PRUH male soccer players. Overall, VWUHVV ZKLFK FDQ HYHQWXDOO\ women are two to eight times OHDG WR DQ LQMXU\ more likely to tear their ACL, EXW LW¶V GLI¿FXOW WR SLQSRLQW H[- When it comes to anatomy, DFWO\ ZKDW LV WKH URRW FDXVH women generally have wider hips, and their knees tend to :KHQ LW FRPHV WR $&/ LQMX- WLOW PRUH LQZDUG %HFDXVH RI ries, it is rarely as simple as this knee alignment, the risk RQH FDXVH LQMXU\ 2QH ZD\ RI LQMXULQJ WKH $&/ GXULQJ WR WKLQN RI $&/ LQMXULHV LV physical activity is greater DV D PL[WXUH RI HYHQWV FUHDW- for women than it is for men. ing a stars aligning moment. 7KH $&/ WLVVXH LQ D ZRPDQ¶V Hormones, biomechanics and knees is also typically thinner DQDWRP\ DUH WKRXJKW RI WKUHH than in a man’s knees, which main reasons as to why wom- PDNHV WKHP PRUH VXVFHSWLEOH HQ KDYH D PRUH GLI¿FXOW WLPH to a tear.

ZLWK LQMXULHV )RU WKHVH UHDVRQV $&/ LQMX,W KDV EHHQ IRXQG WKDW WKH $&/ ULHV KDYH SODJXHG ZRPHQ V has cells in it that respond to sports. Soccer stars like TierIHPDOH KRUPRQHV VXFK DV HV- na Davidson, Sam Kerr and trogen and progesterone. The 0LD )LVKHO KDYH LQMXUHG WKHLU cells have a docking station ACLs in recent years. There where hormones like estrogen KDYH EHHQ HYHQ PRUH LQMXULHV can attach and affect the way LQ ZRPHQ¶V EDVNHWEDOO VRPH the cells behave. The estrogen notable instances are GeorVORZV KRZ TXLFNO\ WKH FHOOV gia Amoore, Cameron Brink can grow and make collagen. DQG -XMX :DWNLQV 7KH 6HDWWOH Collagen is a protein that acts 6WRUP KDYH WKUHH SOD\HUV RXW OLNH WKH JOXH IRU OLJDPHQWV IRU WKH VHDVRQ GXH WR $&/ which allows them to stay WHDUV .DWLH /RX 6DPXHOVRQ VWURQJ DQG ÀH[LEOH 6LQFH HV- Jordan Horston and Nika WURJHQ FDQ ÀXFWXDWH GHSHQGLQJ Mühl. Recently, Kansas City RQ WKH VWDJH RI WKH PHQVWUXDO &XUUHQW SOD\HU $ODQD &RRN F\FOH WKH F\FOH FDQ LQÀXHQFH tore her ACL. D ZRPDQ V VXVFHSWLELOLW\ WR DQ Despite the fact that ACL in-

MXULHV GLVSURSRUWLRQDWHO\ DIIHFW ZRPHQ PRVW RI WKH FXUUHQW research is done on men. As RXWOLQHG HDUOLHU ZRPHQ DQG PHQ KDYH GLIIHUHQW SK\VLTXHV as their bodies react to things differently. Research needs to WDNH WKDW LQWR DFFRXQW HVSHcially when it comes to ACL LQMXULHV 7KLV ODFN RI UHVHDUFK plays a part in the fact that men generally have better recovery than women do.

,PDJH FRXUHVW\ RI ZLNLPHGLD

fects how they recover from DQ LQMXU\ 6LQFH WKH\ DUH PRUH QHUYRXV WR UHWXUQ DIWHU DQ $&/ LQMXU\ LW LV KDUGHU IRU WKHP WR UHWXUQ WR SOD\LQJ VSRUWV ,Q IDFW UHVHDUFK IURP VWXGLHV has shown that women are less likely than men to get back to the same level of sport they ZHUH DW EHIRUH WKHLU LQMXU\

)RUWXQDWHO\ UHVHDUFK KDV come a long way when it FRPHV WR WUHDWLQJ $&/ LQMXEven after recovery, women ULHV 7KLV SUHGLFDPHQW XVHG WR ZHUH SHUFHQW PRUH OLNH- EH WKRXJKW RI DV FDUHHU HQGLQJ O\ WR QHHG VXUJHU\ RQ WKHLU LQMXULHV LQ FDVHV OLNH 'HUULFN other knee after an ACL in- 5RVH V 5RVH ZDV WKH \RXQJHVW MXU\ ZKLFK LV VRPHWKLQJ WKDW MVP in the NBA and a genwe have seen in the past with erational talent before he tore athletes like Megan Rapinoe, KLV OHIW $&/ LQ 8QIRUAnna Heilferty and Bria Hart- WXQDWHO\ KH ZDV QHYHU DEOH WR ley. In contrast, men's knees IXOO\ UHJDLQ KLV SHDN DWKOHWLwere more stable, their legs cism following the devastating were more evenly strong and LQMXU\ they scored better on recovery tests. Women are also more $&/ LQMXULHV WRGD\ GRQ¶W EULQJ OLNHO\ WR QHHG DQRWKHU VXUJHU\ the same impending death of done on the same knee (revi- RQH¶V FDUHHU OLNH WKH\ XVHG WR VLRQ VXUJHU\ $WKOHWHV VXFK DV 8QLYHUVLW\ RI &RQQHFWLFXW EDVNHWEDOO VWDU Researchers also need to take $]]L )XGG KDYH EHHQ DEOH WR LQWR DFFRXQW WKDW FRPLQJ EDFN ERXQFH EDFN VWURQJHU )XGG IURP D VHULRXV LQMXU\ LVQ¶W MXVW WRUH KHU $&/ DV D MXQLRU LQ a physical feat — it's psycho- EXW KDV VLQFH PDGH D logically challenging. Psy- IXOO UHFRYHU\ DQG SOD\HG DQ chologists have known for LQVWUXPHQWDO SDUW LQ WKHLU a long time that women, on March Madness championship DYHUDJH KDYH OHVV FRQ¿GHQFH UXQ than men. This makes coming EDFN IURP DQ LQMXU\ HVSHFLDO- Medicine is a constantly evolvO\ PRUH GLI¿FXOW IRU D IHPDOH LQJ ¿HOG DQG PRUH UHVHDUFK LV DWKOHWH 7KLV LV EDFNHG XS E\ DOZD\V EHLQJ FRQGXFWHG %XW D VWXG\ VKRZLQJ WKDW ZRPHQ WKHUH LV QRW HQRXJK UHVHDUFK KDG ORZHU FRQ¿GHQFH JRLQJ RQ LQMXULHV VSHFL¿F WR ZRPHQ LQWR $&/ VXUJHU\ FRPSDUHG WR Differences in physics and men.

SK\VLTXHV QHHG WR EH WDNHQ LQWR DFFRXQW LQ RUGHU WR KHOS Women are also generally female athletes now and in the PRUH DQ[LRXV LQ OLIH 7KLV DI- IXWXUH

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

SPORTS

MAY 27, 2025 31

Arsenal women stun Barca Femení and shock the world in Women’s Champions League STINA BLACKSTENIUS, AN UNLIKELY HERO, SCORES FOR ARSENAL WOMEN AND HALTS THE BARCA FEMENÍ DYNASTY.

E

arlier this month, a backDQG IRUWK VHPL¿QDO EHWZHHQ (XURSHDQ JLDQWV Inter Milan and FC Barcelona EHFDPH D &KDPSLRQV /HDJXH LQstant classic. A stoppage time goal from Inter’s Francesco Acerbi allowed his teammate Davide Frattessi to score the winner in extratime to eliminate the Catalonians on a 7-6 aggregate scoreline.

7KH RWKHU VHPL¿QDO ZDV D GLIIHUHQW VWRU\ /XLV (QULTXH¶V QHZ look PSG dominated Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal across both legs.

This was an impressive display from the Parisians, considering what Arsenal had done to the almighty Real Madrid in the previRXV URXQG

Isaac Solnick Sports Editor ball with her toe and redirected the ball into her own net. )RUWXQDWHO\ IRU %DUFD )HPHQt the video assistant referee deterPLQHG WKDW 0DDQXP ZDV RIIVLGH when she received the initial pass.

Paredes sighed in relief as the 0-0 scoreline was preserved. %DUFD )HPHQt FRQWLQXHG WR SLOH RQ WKH SUHVVXUH %RQPDWt KDG D WULR RI FKDQFHV LQFOXGLQJ D EDFNKHHO attempt that the keeper saved.

That’s not to say Arsenal Women didn’t have their moments either.

7KH\ IRXQG VXFFHVV ZKHQ %DUFD Femení made back passes to either the defenders or the goalkeeper. If the woman receiving the pass was slow to the ball, the Arsenal Women forwards were TXLFN WR SRXQFH RQ LW

FC Barcelona and Arsenal's men’s teams will need to wait DQRWKHU \HDU EXW WKHLU ZRPHQ¶V WHDPV SOD\HG HDFK RWKHU IRU (X- With the game still at a deadrope’s biggest prize this past Fri- lock in the second half, Arsenal GD\ LQ VXQQ\ /LVERQ Women needed some fresh legs WR NHHS XS WKLV VW\OH RI SOD\ ,Q :KLOH ZRPHQ¶V FOXE VRFFHU LV RI- WKH WK PLQXWH $UVHQDO :RPHQ ten overshadowed by internation- manager Reneé Slagers made al play, there was plenty of antici- D GRXEOH FKDQJH EULQJLQJ RQ pation for Friday’s clash. Led by forwards Beth Mead and Stina the world’s best footballer, Aitana %ODFNVWHQLXV Bonmatí, FC Barcelona Femení %DUFD )HPHQt LV D PXVW ZDWFK This change almost paid off inand a force to be reckoned with.

VWDQWO\ DV %ODFNVWHQLXV DOPRVW VFRUHG RQ KHU ¿UVW FDUU\ RI WKH 0DNLQJ WKHLU ¿IWK VWUDLJKW ¿- EDOO $ QLFH VWHSRYHU RSHQHG XS nal appearance and looking for D VKRRWLQJ ODQH EXW D VWURQJ VDYH their third straight Champions from goalkeeper Cata Coll de/HDJXH WURSK\ %DUFD )HPHQt FDQ QLHG KHU +RZHYHU %ODFNVWHQLXV PDNH WKH DUJXPHQW WR EH RQH RI ZRXOG HYHQWXDOO\ VWULNH MXVW D IHZ WKH JUHDWHVW ZRPHQ¶V FOXE VRF- PLQXWHV ODWHU cer teams of all time. Their trio RI %RQPDWt $OH[LD 3XWHOODV DQG Off a set play on a corner kick, &DUROLQH *UDKDP +DQVHQ LV XQ- WKH SDLU RI VXEVWLWXWHV 0HDG DQG fair for opposing defenses. %ODFNVWHQLXV FRQQHFWHG WR JLYH Arsenal Women the lead. Mead In the other corner, Arsenal Wom- VOLSSHG D EHDXWLIXO QR ORRN SDVV HQ DUHQ¶W WKH VDPH SRZHUKRXVH DV WR %ODFNVWHQLXV WKDW KDG WKH GHtheir opponents. They do possess fense scrambling. One-on-one VXSHUVWDUV OLNH $OHVVLD 5XVVR DQG with Coll for a second time, H[ %DUFD )HPHQt PLG¿HOGHU 0DU- %ODFNVWHQLXV ZRXOGQ¶W EH GHQLHG LRQD &DOGHQWD\ EXW WKH\ KDYHQ¶W once more.

ZRQ WKHLU GRPHVWLF OHDJXH VLQFH WKH VHDVRQ Barca Femení appealed for anRWKHU RIIVLGH FDOO EXW WKLV JRDO )RU WKLV UHDVRQ LW ZDVQ¶W VXUSULV- stood and gave Arsenal Women ing to see Arsenal Women play D OHDG ODWH LQ WKH ¿QDO %DUFD SDVVLYHO\ DV WKH ELJ XQGHUGRJ )HPHQt ORRNHG IRU WKH HTXDOL]HU Barca Femení dominated posses- \HW QHYHU IRXQG LW $V WKH ¿QDO sion and the big scoring chances. whistle blew, Arsenal Women $OWKRXJK LW ZRXOG EH $UVHQDO ZHUH FURZQHG FKDPSLRQV RI (X:RPHQ ZKR ZRXOG PDNH WKH ¿UVW URSH IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH VLQFH EUHDNWKURXJK RU VR WKH\ WKRXJKW $IWHU D GHFDGH RI (XURSHDQ GRP$UVHQDO :RPHQ¶V )ULGD 0DDQXP ination from Barca Femení and SXW D ORZ FURVV LQWR WKH ER[ IRU 2/ /\RQQHV WKLV UHVXOW UHSUH5XVVR 0DUNHG E\ ,UHQH 3DUHGHV VHQWV D WXUQLQJ SRLQW WKDW VKRXOG 3DUHGHV FRXOGQ¶W DOORZ 0DD- XVKHU LQ D PRUH FRPSHWLWLYH HUD RI QXP¶V FURVV WR UHDFK WKH IHHW RI ZRPHQ¶V FOXE VRFFHU 5XVVR 3DUHGHV WKUHZ KHU ERG\ WR LQWHUFHSW WKH SDVV EXW VFUDSHG WKH Holly Dawson // The Highlander

32 MAY 27, 2025

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

Congrats Class of 2025

Be a Graduate!

,PDJH FRXUWHV\ RI 7KH 6FRWVPDQ