UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
THE HIGHLANDER FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025
VOL. 74, ISSUE 02
est. 1954
“WE WILL CONTINUE TO ‘DO IT FOR KO’” UCR COMMUNITY MOURNS THE DEATH OF KYLE OWENS. TERRY NGUYEN :WVY[Z ,KP[VY
Former University of California, Riverside (UCR) men’s basketball standout Kyle Owens passed away on Sep. 30. after battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He was 24. Owens played two seasons with the Highlanders (2022-2024) under former head coach Mike Magpayo. “‘This is so unfair’ are the feelings of his former teammates… and I feel the same. I’m also inspired that, hopefully, God put him in this position to inspire all of us to live as he did. I’ve cried and laughed with many of his former teammates over the last [few weeks]; we are reminding each other to carry on his legacy. To live each day on purpose. Rest in Peace KO,”
JUNKO UENO GARRETT PERFORMS THE WORKS OF PROMINENT COMPOSERS FROM SPAIN
were coach Magpayo’s parting words on a tribute from UCR Athletics. ³:KHWKHU LW ZDV R൵ the court, where he managed to graduate with two degrees with honors (including an MBA), or it was the work ethic he showed to make himself a great player…Kyle had it all: a great mom, dad and brother, a wonderful girlfriend of many years and many best friends who all looked up to the 6’8 lefty because everyone knew Kyle’s heart was pure and true.” Owens was a key player that facilitated the growth of UCR men’s basketball under Magpayo and his legacy will continue to be felt with Highlanders today and in the future.
COURTESY OF JUNKO UENO GARRETT
IAN PALMA 9HKHY ,KP[VY
COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS
Ź SEE KYLE OWENS TRIBUTE ON PAGE 23
Former Riverside Deputy Sentenced for 2014 Killing of Romantic Rival OSCAR RODRIGUEZ SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN JAIL AND 10 YEARS OF FELONY PROBATION FOR THE VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER OF HIS GIRLFRIEND’S EX-BOYFRIEND. JOSÉ DEL ÁNGEL 5L^Z ,KP[VY
COURTESY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY DA’S OFFICE
Oscar Rodriguez, a former 5LYHUVLGH &RXQW\ VKHUL൵¶V deputy, was sentenced on Sept. 23, 2025 to one year in jail and 10 years of felony probation for the 2014 killing of 39-year-old Luis Carlos Morin in Coachella. The sentence followed a June conviction by an Indio jury that found Rodriguez, 44, guilty of voluntary manslaughter and a gun use enhancement. He was acquitted of the more VHULRXV FKDUJH RI ¿UVW GHJUHH murder. Despite prosecutors
Spanish culture and music is put on full display at UCR
pushing for a prison term, Superior Court Judge Otis Sterling imposed a 10-year prison sentence but suspended it, allowing Rodriguez to serve just 365 days in county jail. The incident stemmed from a “love triangle” involving Rodriguez, Morin and Diana Perez, the mother of Morin’s two children. Rodriguez met Perez in late 2013 when responding to her 911 calls about Morin, who she claimed had a criminal past and outstanding warrants.
On Oct. 4, 2025, Japanese-American pianist and Occidental College professor Junko Ueno Garrett made an appearance at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) as part of the Florence Bayz Music Series program. Unveiling her project “Musica de España: Life and Music in Spain” at Arts Building 157, Junko played arrangements of late 19th and early 20th century Spanish composers, much to the delight and awe of the audience. Performing these songs on a piano, Garrett’s performance evoked a sense of intimacy and fervor that could be felt throughout the room. Garrett opened her perforPDQFH E\ SOD\LQJ WKH ¿IWK and sixth sequences from the music piece “Danzas Españolas, Op. 37.” Originally composed by Enrique Granados, Garrett’s interpretation of the piece evoked a spirit of Romanticism falling in line with the period where WKH FRPSRVLWLRQ ZDV ¿UVW created. Switching between a melancholic symphony and an energetic beat suitable for D EDOOURRP ZDOW] WKH ¿IWK part served as an interesting introduction to the types of Ź SEE UENO GARRETT RECITAL ON PAGE 17
Ź SEE RIVERSIDE IE DEPUTY ON PAGE 5
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