Joy Marcotte (she/her), Computer Science, Second Year
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Compiled by Isaac Solnick, Managing Editor
What is Proposition 50?
A FULL SUMMARY OF CALIFORNIA’S REDISTRICTING PLAN.
Under current law, California’s congressional districts are drawn by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, an independent body created by voters in 2010 to ensure that political boundaries are established in a fair and nonpartisan manner. The Commission’s current maps, based on the 2020 U.S. Census, have been used in statewide elections since 2022.
Proposition 50 (Prop 50) would temporarily replace those Commissiondrawn maps with new maps created by the California Legislature. The total number of 52 congressional districts would remain the same, but the boundaries would change. These new maps would be used for all congressional elections starting in the next redistricting process following the 2030 Census.
Because the measure would alter congressional boundaries across the make administrative updates to ensure that every voter is placed in the correct district and receives the correct ballot.
California’s 58 counties manage the day-to-day operations of elections, including voter registration, ballot design and vote counting. The
consistency across counties. Whenever district boundaries change, counties must adjust their voting systems and materials accordingly.
According to the Legislative
could face one-time costs of up to a few million dollars to complete these updates. The total cost will depend on how much each county’s district boundaries are altered and how extensive the necessary adjustments are to their election systems.
large, it represents a small fraction of the overall cost of running statewide elections. These expenses would occur only once, primarily in preparation for the 2026 election cycle. Once implemented, the new district boundaries would remain stable
ongoing costs are expected.
At the state level, Prop 50 would also lead to small, one-time administrative expenses, estimated
statewide voter databases, revise public election information, adjust
the new congressional districts. This amount is extremely modest
billion General Fund, which pays for major public services such as education, health care, transportation
ASUCR Senate Meeting
THIS WEEK’S MEETING HIGHLIGHTED COMMITTEE OUTREACH AND CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS.
and corrections. In fact, the state’s estimated cost represents less than 0.1 percent of the General Fund budget.
Overall, Prop 50 would have no
one-time administrative costs. Once the changes to maps, systems and materials are made, the state and counties would continue running elections as usual.
funding for public programs, services or state and local government operations. It would simply require short-term spending to ensure that
district boundaries and that California voters are properly informed ahead of the 2026 elections.
If Prop 50 passes, California’s county levels would face a one-time workload to implement legislatively drawn congressional district maps. Counties could spend up to a few million dollars in total to revise materials and systems, while the state in costs.
These updates are provided to ensure accurate and fair elections under the new district lines. After the transition, changes to government spending are expected.
Crime Watch: Stater Bros. Shooting
SUSPECT INVOLVED IN FATAL SHOOTING ARRESTED AFTER SURRENDERING TO POLICE.
On Oct. 22, 2025, Associated Students of the University of California, Riverside meeting was called to order at 7 p.m.
During the meeting, Transfer Student Director Myth Shankara Narayanan high-
improve transfer student inclusion through outreach, including future plans to advocate for a dedicated transfer student center.
Vice President of External
The Green Campus Action Plan Committee, led by Vice President of Sustainability
Anahita Hooshyari Far, approved several Green Grants,
to assist the R’Garden with funding for a Chem-E-Car for the UCR American Institute of Chemical Engineers and an extension of a prior 2024-2025 Basic Needs grant through June 2026. H
updates from her recent meeting with UC President James B. Milliken voiced concerns about the University of Cali-dent’s limited engagement with student leaders.
On Oct. 13, Riverside Police arrived on the scene of a shooting in the parking lot of the Stater Bros. at 9225 Magnolia Avenue, after receiving multiple calls reporting several gunshots heard around 4:22 p.m.
The suspected shooter, 27-year-old Edgar Rivera from Moreno Valley, surren-
investigations revealed he knew the victim, Luis Gonzalez, a 27-year-old out of Perris, although motive remains unknown.
was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for murder with bail set at two million dollars.
Raeanne Throngard, who was paying at the cash register during the shooting, told OnScene.TV, that she heard someone cock a gun followed by three gunshots from outside the store. Police attempted life saving measures but Gonzalez, who received multiple gunshot wounds, died on the scene.
Anyone with additional information should contact Detective Mike Smith at (951) 353-7103 or MikeSmith@RiversideCA.gov, or Detective Ricky Barajas at (951) 353-7213 or EBarajas@RiversideCA.gov. Hf no at d kg -
Riverside Police Office’s Association robbed by own employee
BEATRIZ MARGARITA PUTNAM TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR THE CHARGES OF STEALING $80,000
FROM THE UNION.
Putnam has been accused of stealing morelice union in Riverside.
According to The Press-Enterprise, a -
tective Brian Money of the Riverside Police Department’s economic crime unit to request card between Feb. 2021 to Aug. 26, 2024, when her alleged theft was discovered and subsequently reported to the police. Addito her personal bank account through mobile
deposit with no description.
Even after being reported to the police,ager until Mar. 2025. President of the RPOA Dave Rideman explained that the reasoning behind this decision was that he “needed her to help train a replacement.”
No public money or police department funds were involved. The RPOA, while op-cers, exists independently from the Riverside Police Department. Putnam was an employee of the union, not the department.
Money noted during the Archibeque case that police are “not businessmen” and that they are very susceptible to such embezzlement as they lack resources and protocols to stop it, especially when the embezzlers are highly trusted.
Putnam is to be arraigned Oct. 27. According to The Press-Enterprise, Rideman has “full faith in the judicial process and will utilize any means necessary to recover any money owed to the RPOA.”
was arrested for grand theft back in Feb. 7, for personal matters including overseas travel, a sports car and child support from Apr. 2006 to Mar. 2012.
California senator and governor pass new bill
BILL SUPPORTS CALIFORNIA STUDENT PARENTS PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION.
With the introduction of Senate Bill 271 (SB 271) student parents are better supported by the state and their schools. The bill was Eloise Gómez Reyes on Feb. 4, 2025, but was recently signed by California’s Governor Gavin Newsom on Oct. 11, 2025.
The bill seeks to strengthen support for student parents in their academic journey through higher education by reducing barriers they face including basic needs, child care bill utilizes an already existing law which requires community colleges, California State Universities and University of California campuses to establish Center.
The Basic Needs Center’s coordinator is responsible for assisting students in accessing basic needs services that include but are not limited to: “housing, food, clothing, feminine hygiene, diapers, technology, childcare services and resources and mental health services”. Among the childcare services included are Head Start, otherwise known as
preschool, CalWorks, as well as childcare and development programs.
The Basic Needs Center is expected to help students access necessary information
CalFresh, the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children , the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , the California Earned Income Tax Credit and the Young Child Tax Credit . These programs seek to aid enrollees in accessing food, as well as aiding low-to-
moderate-income families in reducing their tax bill and receiving cash back refunds.itly states the list of aid supplemental awards available to student parents; including but is not limited to, the Cal Grant for “students with dependent children”. This ensures student parents receive the max-cial aid they qualify for, burden and stress that follows. These services student parents may face during their academic pursuits, allowing them to better focus on their studies.
In addition, campuses are expected to create, or update, their own web pages that include all relevant information for student parents, incampus student parent services and resources”. Senator Gómez Reyes asks that this new bill be implemented on or before July 1, 2025, leaving approxi-
H
COURTESY OF FLICKR
FEMA ends in-person support in Los Angeles
THE DECREASE IN DEMAND FOR IN-PERSON SERVICES FOR THE EATON AND PALISADES FIRES HAS LED TO THE CLOSURE OF FEMA’S IN-PERSON LOCATIONS.
As of Oct.17, 2025 both the California (Cal OES) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ended their in-person Survivor Support services at Los Angeles county Disaster Recovery centers.
Formerly located at University of California, Los Angeles Research Park West and the Altadena Disaster Recovery Center, these centers along with others saw 81,901 in-person visitors, since early 2025 at the height of Los Angeles. FEMA in particular was able to assist 35,052 of those people. The organi-
viduals that visited these centers.
cesses, like low interest federal disaster loans for those who lost their homes and businessbehind ending in-person services is because
“the demand for in-person services for the time.”
Cal OES on the other hand focused on “individual assistance,” they informed the community of their local assistance centers and made sure that the victims of the Pali-
organizations that were best suited for their particular circumstance. They did this bytal agencies like the Red Cross and federal agencies like FEMA.
The in person services that Cal OES provided were; mental health services, food benreplacing personal documents that may have Cal OES approved a Fire Management Assistant Grant that provided 75 percent reim-
Individuals that still need access to these
programs will be able to access them on-
OES’s website. Los Angeles will still have local assistance centers that will be able to provide in-person assistance to those who need it. The Small Business Administration will also continue to provide in-person assistance at two locations, the One Stop Rebuilding Center in LA City and the Altadena Community Center in LA County.
AWS outage causes service interruptions at UCR and worldwide
AMAZON SAYS SERVICES HAVE BEEN RESTORED FOLLOWING A GLOBAL AWS OUTAGE.
On Oct. 19, 2025, just minutes before their 11:59 p.m. assignment submission deadlines, students at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) joined millions of other students and web users worldwide in a widespread service disruption when Amazon Web Services (AWS) experienced major platforms.
Some students on campus celebrated the potential for cancelled lectures and postponed homework deadlines, while others panicked about the logistics of their impending midterms. Those who weren’t awake to witness the live AWS shutdown woke up
made inaccessible due to the outage. Many instructors on campus exercised leniency with their students in response. Students in UCR Assistant Professor Rich Yueh’s BUS 101 - Information Technology Management class, for example, were told regarding their review assignments, “Hold onto it for now, wait until Canvas opens. We will waive late penalties.”
Globally, major social media platforms, were disrupted, among Amazon’s own internal operations. Some individuals were even awoken in the middle of their sleep due to malfunctioning mattresses that relied on AWS technology to control bed positioning and temperature regulation.
Like most campuses within the University of California (UC) system, UCR follows a tight ten-week quarter schedule that leaves little room for error or disruptions in coursework and examinations. The loss of crucial campus resources, including learning management systems, video conferencing platforms and workplace communication tools
campus for thousands of students and fac-
ulty on campus.
Services were restored Monday afternoon as people began to wind down from the effects of the outage and return to their regular schedules. In the days following, AWS re-evaluated its systems, as well as issued a post-event summary apologizing for the inconvenience caused to clients, pledging its commitment to prevent similar issues in the future, or should another problem occur, to reduce system turnaround time. It reports that the outage was caused by a domain name system (DNS) error in a DynamoDB database system at its Virginia-based US-East-1 data center that required manual correction.
For institutions like UCR, whose livelihood, communication, data storage and infrastructure rely heavily on cloud-based services such as those hosted on AWS, the outage serves as a cogent warning of how one technical failure can trigger a domino effect of disruptions. The outage has left businesses and individuals wondering how they can “outage-proof” themselves from unreliable web systems moving forward.
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Father pleads guilty to infant son’s murder
JAKE
HARO PLEADS GUILTY IN
RIVERSIDE COURT TO MURDER CHARGES FOR THE DEATH OF HIS SON EMMANUEL.
On Oct. 16, 2025, 32-year-old Jake Haro pleaded guilty to the murder of his sevenmonth-old son, Emmanuel. He withdrew his previous not guilty pleading from a Riverside Court Arraignment on Sep. 4, which he gave alongside his wife, Rebecca Haro, who currently awaits her preliminary hearing on false police report.
The couple reported their son abducted on Aug. 14, claiming Rebecca Haro was attacked in a parking lot while changing her son’s diaper, upon which he was kidnapped. This claim was later proven false, upon investigation by the authorities revealing substantial inconsistencies. On Aug. 17, the couple’s home was searched, before they were arrested on Aug. 22 and charged with their son’s murder as well as falsifying a police report.
On the same day, Haro pleaded
Jake Haro is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 3, with a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison. Haro pleaded guilty in tears, his voice breaking with each response to Judge Gary Polk’s questions, and answering, “I’m guilty,” when asked if he was admitting to murder.
In spite of Jake Haro’s previous child abuse case, Rebecca upheld that he was “wonderful” and was a caring father to Emmanuel as well as their 2-year-old daughter and Rebecca’s 16--year--old son, Jake’s stepchild.
Amy McKenzie, a spokeswoman for the stated that, “As of today, the baby’s remains have not been recovered.”
bation. Haro had previously been charged with child cruelty.
Haro’s wife, Rebecca, maintains that she is not guilty; in an Aug. 24 jailhouse interview, she stuck to her story that her child was abducted and that her police report was truthful.
When Jake Haro was interviewed by Riverside Police, he claimed his wife was innocent, but he did not want to state what role he played, if at all, in his son’s death. He argued the District Attorney falsely assumed he murdered his son due to his previous child abuse charge, and that said charge was decided against him incorrectly.
The case has received resounding public attention, with supporters installing a memorial at the Haro residence, searching the area on foot and posting across social media platforms in speculation and mourning of Emmanuel’s death.
Addictive behaviors in dogs seen with toy-play
DOGS DEMONSTRATE ADDICTIVE TRAITS AROUND TOYS SIMILAR TO HUMAN ADDICTION TRAITS.
ports, researchers from Vetmeduni Vienna toys may show patterns similar to human ad-
pirical attempts to operationalize “addictionlike” play behaviour in dogs, bridging the gap between human behavioural addiction models and animal play motivation.
The study was assessed and approved by
Switzerland and used a mixed-methods design combining behavioural testing and owner questionnaires.
Dogs were exposed to controlled situations to assess signs of addictive-like behav-
and lack of self-control were evaluated experimentally. While the remaining four: tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, external consequences and relapse were assessed through owner reports of everyday behavior.
The scientists then set up a series of tests to see how far that eagerness to “get” the toy would go. Owners brought in three toys: a ball, a plush toy and a tug rope, and let the dogs choose their preferred toy in 30 seconds. In one, the toy was placed just out of reach on a high shelf. Some dogs sat and waited, others jumped and whined.
In another test, dogs had to decide between a sealed box containing their favor-
ite toy and a puzzle feeder full of treats. For many, the toy won. Out of the group, 33 dogs showed “addictive-like” behaviors. Dogshavior score spent longer trying to access an unavailable toy.
Their pattern mirrored human behavior, addictions and noted how these dogs seek the way humans chase a “high” or a rush of excitement.
The importance of the study lies in the fact that the dogs’ behaviour did not involve any substance; instead, it was based on their need for feelings of reward. The focus was less on the toy itself and more on the addictive experience of play, which developed as an untaught, learned compulsion in the dog’s daily routines. The study also found that certain breeds bred for drive, focus and task-oriented work, such as Border Collie, Shepherd dog, may be more prone to exhibiting these addictive-like tendencies.
COURTESY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
It’s time for Taiwan to have its own Iron Dome system
WITH GROWING CONCERNS OF A CHINESE INVASION AND A SHAKY ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON, TAIWAN MUST ACT ON ITS OWN. TAIWAN MUST ACT ON ITS OWN.
ALAN LOK
For too long, Taiwan has relied on the goodwill of Washington to aid its defense interests against the impending threat of Beijing and its claims to retake the self-governed island, by force if necessary.
pro-Taiwanese independence and who has sought Washington’s support since his inauguration in 2024, announced that Taiwan will begin work on its “T-Dome,” a new multi-layered missile shield and air defense system designed to intercept and defend against “hostile threats,” on the National Day of the Republic of China (ROC), Oct. 10.
This comes a day after Taipei’s government warned that Beijing is increas-
sive against the island. Additionally, a French report revealed covert military cooperation between Israel and Taiwan, in which Israel assisted in developing Taiwan’s new “T-Dome,” which is
“Iron Dome” defense system. This strategic collaboration came to light after it was revealed that Taiwan’s deputy defense minister covertly visited Israel in Sep. 2025 to discuss the details of the project.
Taiwan’s current air defense system uses United States (U.S.) produced patriot missiles, the same used by Ukraine since 2023 against Russia’s invasion; the new “T-Dome” seeks to enhance and supersede the island’s current capabilities. Additionally, the construction of a “T-Dome” proves to Washington that Taiwan is committed and capable of sustaining its own defense, as the Trump administration has urged Taiwan to commit up to 10 percent of its GDPsponsibility.
have evolved from a formal alliance to a reduced strong cultural, commercial and economic relations, the U.S. remains a bulwark against Chinese aggression in the Taiwan Strait.
This can be better understood with the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which, importantly, mandates the U.S. must provide Taiwan “with arms of a defensive character” and establishes a policy “to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or
President Lai’s announcement echoes a pervasive fear that many Taiwanese feel: the day Beijing launches an invasion to “reunify” the island with Mainland China. Since 1950,
with all the characteristics of an independent state, including its own democratically elected government, currency and armed forces. Beijing sees the island as a breakaway state and has repeatedly laid
the Chinese Civil War in 1950, and has not ruled out force, if necessary.
Taiwan, as a key ally and partner, has been historically reliant on the U.S. for its defense since the start of the Cold War, making the island an instrumental part of the strategy of communist containment in East Asia which was directed against the Soviet Union.
While relations between the U.S. and Taiwan
The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, a pro-cross-strait relations camp, has said that more confrontation isn’t the answer to Beijing. Andrew Hsia, the KMT party vice chairman, stated, “There is no political base for a dialogue between the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Beijing, so there is no dialogue and they’re becoming more hostile towards each other.”
But right now, aspirations for dialogue and diplomacy between Lai’s administration and Beijing seem to be a reach. Lai’s agenda has stayed committed to maintaining Taiwan’s independence and deterring Beijing from its threats to Taiwanese sovereignty. For that reason, there couldn’t be a more crucial time for a “T-Dome.”
economic system, of the people on Taiwan.”
Given the shifting direction of the Trump administration’s stance on Taiwan’s regional security and future aid given to the island’s defense, Taior without support from the White House. It starkly contrasts with that of the Biden administration, defense. Now, the second Trump administration has urged Taiwan to become more responsible for its spending on its defense system.
This is all part of the U.S. policy of “strategic ambiguity,” which involves deterring a Chinese takeover without an explicit defense commitment to Taiwan. The ambitious “T-Dome” plan would require a massive increase in Taiwan’s defense budget, a controversial topic and challenging to pass in an opposition-controlled legislature.
Construction for the new missile defense system would also ben-
Asia because it would relieve the need for extensive American support in the region and support the U.S. Island
dated Cold War strategy with a contemporary focus to restrict and control sea access of rivals.
Soviet Union and has now moved to China by stationing American military garrisons along
demonstrate power in the far east and to monitor rivals. Taiwan’s position is strategic and vital to U.S. surveillance, deterrence of a Chinese attack and submarine tracking.
If Taiwan is successful in constructing a “TDome,” then the U.S. would gain another powerful military intelligence in the long term.
Finally, the threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is comparable to that of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, a global superpower intimidating and laying claims to a smaller and sovereign country, but this time, Taiwan can be more prepared than Ukraine.
No one wants to see Taiwan become the Ukraine of Asia or the Ukraine of the east, and this “T-Dome” might just prevent that by creating a precedent for the future expansion of Taiwanese defense. The Trump administration needs to prioritize Taiwan’s plans for a “T-Dome” with Lai’s administration, but also to demonstrate that the U.S. is committed to upholding its promises made in 1979.
ADELIA URENA / THE HIGHLANDER
Take it or leave it: Sitcoms are the best TV genre!
SITCOMS HAVE A COMFORTING QUALITY THAT CAN INSTANTLY MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.
There are many TV genres in the world of entertainment, such as drama, reality and romance. As a TV enthusiast, I have watched all the reality and romance shows, there is one
for your brain.
One of the sitcoms that I absolutely love and never fails to make me feel better is “The Good -
eanor Shellstrop, dies and is accidentally sent to the afterlife. In the show, she meets fellow characters who are also navigating the afterlife and grappling with their previous human lives.
lead to one being more aggressive. According to Very Well Mind, a platform that reports on mental health resources and studies, psychologists stated that “short-term exposure to violent media increases aggression in children, teenagers and young adults.”
und comedy The rt for “situational comedy ” This genre set where the same characters are olved in situations
t can span
u l t i p l e asons
n g - t e r m
i s o d e s d plots t c o m s m a i n
h
Sitcoms are a type of TV genre centered around comedy. The term “sitcom” is actually short for “situational comedy.” This genre is usually set where the same characters are involved in relatable, amusing situations that can span multiple seasons with long-term episodes and plots. Sitcoms remain the best genre because they help make people happier and allow people to see themselves in the characters and storylines.
When I watched “The Good Place,” I found it to be not only psychologically impactful, but also incredibly humorous. Almost every episode had me laughing nonstop. During this time of my life, I was also going through a lot of stress and anxiety. Watching episodes
to get stressed based on how tense the show is.
When I am watching a serious show, I tend also humorous Al ery had me nonstop this time of my I was also a lot of stress and anxiety of “The Good Place” would make my days better Another sitcom that I found in “New Girl ” This show centers on Jessica who moves into an apartment with all men
worried and in a relaxed state of mind. Studies show that comedies on television can actually one’s mental health.
-
ter releases “neurotransmitters responsible for your happiness, such as dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins.” This demonstrates that sitcoms not only make your day less stress-
This demonstrates how watching genres that are more violent and angry can make people become more aggressive. From my personal experience, I’ve noticed this behavior after people watch violent TV shows and often glorify violence and become more aggres-
sive themselves This is not a healthy way to consume television
comfort in is “New Girl.” This show centers on Jessica Day, who moves into an apartment with all men and forms an unlikely friendship with them. During the pandemic, a chaotic time for me, watching “New Girl” was a way for me to escape that chaos. It greatly improved my mental health with its humorous jokes and relatable characters. Both “The Good Place” and “New Girl” are comforting shows that always leave you feeling better than when you started the episode.
Studies also show that more violent TV shows can impact one’s mental health and may
Another reason why sitcoms are the best TV genre is because it is the most relatable of all the other genres There are manyma television series I have watched before, and even though they may be great, they are not necessarily relatable With other genres, I cannot relate my own experiences to the characters
When watching sitcoms, I have witnessed more relatable things and scenarios For e x a m p l e ,
myself relating a lot to this show and the experiences the characters go through.
Today, current events happening in the world can make people feel great anxiety and stress. If you ever feel this way, sitcoms are a great form of media to cheer you up and make you feel better when you’re down. There are hundreds of sitcoms you can watch, where you life.
NATALIE MARTIN
LAYNA LAPIKAS / THE HIGHLANDER
Take it or leave it: Halloween kinda sucks
I MISS TRICK-OR-TREATING.
AAKIF IQBAL
If there was ever a purpose to Halloween, to me it meant getting candy. This is the one day a year my consumption was not limited by those
As a kid, Oct. 31 could not come quicker. Preparation began months in
dress up as. From Jack Sparrow to the Dark Knight to Anakin Skywalker, I enIt was always a bargain as to what was deemed too expensive to buy, but I always made it work.
Getting home after a long night of scavenging did not conclude what was “Halloween.” Because then came the bartering. The economy of candy was healthy in my uncle’s house, as a steady stream of Almond Joys and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups was bartered for.
how long I was willing to walk around the neighborhood. My cousins and I were fearless, going from house to house, street to street, in search of king-sized candy bars.
s the one a mited those ound the fearless, et, in search of come ths in to the r, I enat was ut I alght of at was e y was teady ’s Peae of the up as horoes was a ed houses t that t
Seeing my schoolmates outside of the classroom or playground, suited up as horror movie characters and superheroes was a sight to behold. Stumbling upon haunted houses that turned out to be those of my teachers was also quite shocking. But as the years have gone by, the excitement I once had for this day has started to fade.
As everyone around me has gotten older, and everybody has stopped trick-or-treating, what used to be so much fun has become dull and mundane. All of a sudden, costumes have to be provocative or lazy. The elaborate creations of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) moms have gone out the window, and in came a t-shirt and jeans and a mask resembling some character from a movie or television show.
The costumes are no longer the purpose of the night, but the entry ticket in. Halloween as an adult just means going to a party. Whereas the night’s meal used to be a smörgåsbord of candy has now become a spread of cold pizza and some chips. Every food that is Halloween-themed has to be infused with something a little bit more exciting because ghosts and zombies are not enough to entertain.
October itself remains atmospheric as ever, if not better, thanks to all of the horror movies that come out in theaters or are played at home. As a kid, there are not many horror movies below an “R” or “PG-13” rating that one can enjoy but that’s probably not an issue if you’re at college. For all the hype that surrounds this one, scary bucket of popcorn and bat-shaped brownies rather than standing around in a random house with a bunch of strangers and mediocre music.
H to
ADELIA URENA / THE HIGHLANDER
Scotty-Scopes:
The signs as Halloween tropes
Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22): The aesthetic ghost
You’ve color-coordinated your group costume, arranged a mini photo shoot and somehow made fake blood look elegant. It’s Halloween, but you make it fashionable.
Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19): The overachiever
Your costume looks like it came from handed out full-size candy bars and still made it home before curfew, meticulous as always.
Aries (March 21 – April 19): The fearless trickste
You’re the one daring everyone to go actually do it. Halloween is your competition and fear is optional.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22): The Halloween parent
You’re the one making sure everyone’s snacks, tissues and probably everyone’s extra candy bags.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21): The mysterious one
Your costume is dark, detailed and maybe a little too realistic. People can’t tell if they should compliment you or run.
Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18): The innovator
You built your costume from cardboard, LEDs and pure genius. People either don’t get it or think it’s the coolest thing they’ve ever seen.
FROM JUMP-SCARE MASTERMINDS TO CANDY HOARDERS.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21): The spontaneous adventurer
You didn’t plan anything, but somehow ended up at three parties and a pumpkin patch. Halloween is just another excuse for adventure and exploration.
Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20): The enchanted spirit
You live for the whimsical part of Halloween – the lights, the fog, the moonlight. You might even cry over how pretty the pumpkins look.
MAIN ST
Taurus (April 20 – May 20): The cozy pumpkin
You’d rather stay in with warm cider, a blanket and a movie marathon. If you’re out, it’s only for the good candy (and maybe a cinnamon donut).
Gemini (May 21 – June 20): The costume switcher
You changed costumes halfway through the night. Twice. You love the chaos, the compliments and the chance to reinvent yourself every hour.
ORANGE ST
Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22): The main character
performance. You’ve been planning it for weeks and every photo includes your best angle and perfect lighting.
Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22): The planner
You planned your Halloween night perfectly, from parties to photos. Being organized is your superpower.
SPOTLIGHT NORM’S NOOK
The Rivera Library hauntings
Many generations of students here at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) have reported incidents supporting a macabre rumor: the Rivera Library is haunted.
For those who don’t know, there have been many tales of students studying late at night who have seen and heard strange occurrences. Some people have reported hearing footsteps and voices in the staircase when no one was present. Others have seen a refrigerator door open
DIWALI
and close on its own. A janitor once claimed to have seen a door handle shake with no one on the other side. All of these events might have been coincidental, but after two deaths in the Rivera Library, the ghosts. The most famous Rivera Library ghost is named Carmen.
Many years ago, Carmen was a night guard of our library and liked to drown her sorrows in alcohol, riding up and down the elevators to avoid being
caught by her superiors. One night, after drunkenly leaving UCR, she got into a car accident, tragically losing her life. Students now believe that she is the ghost that haunts our library at night as it was one of the places she felt safest in. So if you are studying in the Rivera Library late at night hear an eerie whisper, it might be Carmen looking for someone to talk to.
26. Here, in France
27. Salty solution
30. Of a delta deposit
35. “_____ on danse” song by Stromae
36. Canadian Native tribe
37. “____ la Douce” 38. Chambre d’____ 39. Poet Teasdale et al.
40. Warner Bros. creation
41. Etched: Abbr.
42. Not kosher
43. Capital of Belarus
44. Muttonchops moisturizer
46. Afternoon nap, in Spanish
trouble for someone
48. Flock members
50. Victory of all victories
54. RR stop
55. Enzyme Acetyl-___
58. Big name in little trucks
59. Rama’s most loyal companion
62. Romanian Tennis player
63. The princess of Mithila
64. Indian gooseberry
65. French sweetie
66. Scheme
67. Tiny Diwali lamps
UTING
BY KIRTI S CONTRIBUTING WRITER
1. Flushed, as in cheeks
2. Automated Data Processing Equipment
3. Complain
4. Owner of red, white and blue planes, on the NYSE
5. Survey respondent 6. 1972 Bill Withers hit song
IT’S SPOOKY SEASON Y’ALL. LET’S SEE WHAT GHOSTS LIVE IN OUR LIBRARY’S BASEMENT.
SUDOKU
DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM
Which Halloween monster are you?
By: Nola Perifel, Assistant Features Editor
1. In a relationship, you tend to:
A. You need to be in control of everything and your rela-
C. You don’t forgive and you don’t forget. If theyvenge.
D. You are very committed and loyal, but your jealousy can sometimes get the best of you.
2. When a school project goes awry, what is your
A. A have a list of planned activities.
bring me some of their candy.
4. You encounter a haunted house with your friends on a spooky late night walk, what do you
A. I go in cautiously, and convince everyone to come
B. Nope. But you guys go ahead. inside!
vampire! You are very intelligent, (sometimes too smart
a ghost! Your strength is that you are organized and youtive and you love the people around you very deeply. But afraid of commitment because you are scared of getting you panic much too fast. Try to let people in, they may surprise you.
witch/
wizard your emotions and feelings to guide you. You are inde-
from you. You are vindictive, and the need for revenge usu-werewolf loyal in your relationships and you can be over-protective. tendencies turn into jealousy, and you might become a bit can be good in some situations, but dangerous in others.
COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
The ultimate Diwali sweet showdown
It’s that magical time of the year again! So, in the spirit of Diwali, here’s the ultimate Diwali mithai ranking.
Contributing Writer
Warm, syrupy melt-in-your-mouth perfection – gulab jamun doesn’t just win, it rules. Soft as a dream and as sweet as your favorite aunt’s compliments, you can’t go wrong with it. Served warm, with that golden-brown color and a drizzle of rose-scented sugar syrup, it glows with perfection. This soft amber delight has single-handedly carried weddings, birthdays and every Diwali dinner for as long as anyone can remember. It’s comfort. It’s tradition. It’s love.
Whether it’s besan, motichoor or boondi –the humble ladoo is Diwali’s golden boy. It’s mouth after saying “Beta, you’ve grown so that’s never missing from the Diwali platter. Golden, crumbly and melting with nostalgia, ladoo earns its runner-up spot with pride.
Rasmalai is the sweet you’d eat if mithai had Michelin stars. These spongy cheese milk are delicate, elegant and perfect for those who like their sweets with a touch of sophistication (and a lot of cardamom).
If there was a “most likely to be gifted” award, kaju katli would win hands down. These diamond-shaped cashew delights are the Shakira of the mithai world: smooth, and the go-to gift for your favorite guests.
Crispy, syrupy and unapologetically messy – jalebi is that friend who convinces you to do spontaneous things – like eating three more even though you said you were full. It’s chaos in a coil, and we love it for that. Best enjoyed hot, sticky and with zero regrets.
A warm bowl of rice pudding simmered with milk, sugar and love – kheer feels like an edible hug. It might not win beauty contests, but it wins over hearts, especially when your mom makes it just right.
It’s spongy, sweet and often dripping with more syrup than your taste buds can handle. You either love it or politely pretend to. It’s the kind of dessert that tests both your sweet tooth and your acting skills.
cool kid. Creamy, nutty and nostalgic, it’s it’s cold in October, and Diwali is all about warmth, it lands lower on the festive ranking.
This Diwali, whether you’re team gulab jamun or jalebi, there’s one universal truth – the best sweets are the ones shared with people you love (and maybe hidden from the siblings that eat all the good ones). So, light
to coconut or pista, it’s the backbone of every festive box. Think of it as the vanilla ice cream of mithai – simple yet comforting.
It looks divine, until it crumbles in your box. You think you want one until you take one bite and your entire living room is coated
NAYSHA AGARWAL / THE HIGHLANDER
NAYSHA AGARWAL
MALINI JOSEPH
Sober Halloween hilarity
HOW TO HAVE FUN ON HALLOWEEN WITHOUT DRINKING.
There’s a chill in the air. Ghouls and goblins are coming out of hiding and the witches’ cauldrons are bubbling. The spooky season has arrived, and we could not be more excited, espethis year. That means it is truly a Halloweekend, with festivities continuing all the way through to Sunday, as per the college tradition.ties overwhelming and overstimulating. Thankfully you can still keep up the fun tradition of Halloweekend without the mildly claustrophobic nightmare that is house parties. Here are some group and introvert-friendly activities to do this Halloweekend sober while keeping the
If you still want to hit the town with your friends without being cramped into a musty house, there are numerous events to attend in Riverside and the general Los Angeles area. Within Riverside itself is the Bellamy Place Light Show – a longstanding attraction with impressive animatronics
Nightmare Before Christmas.”
There’s also Castle Dark: an amusement park, here in Riverside, that hosts haunted mazes, scare zones and much more. In Los Angeles, there is -
ed attractions such as hayrides, mazes and houses. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios is another attraction in the LA area perfect for the haunted house and haunted ride lovers.
side your door, and, if you know your suitemates well enough, go trick-or-treating with them. Just because you’re in college doesn’t mean this nostalgic fun has to stop.
If you feel more like a chill weekend in, with friends or by yourself, then here are a few homebody friendly activities to do this weekend. Hold a haunted house-making competition. Instead of the festive gingerbread houses that come with the winter season, see who can make the bestners get bragging rights and can choose the movie for that night.
Even if Halloween horror nights and haunted houses are not your thing, you still don’t have to be stuck inside all weekend. Not to worry. Grab your friends and head out to the local pumpkin patch. You can carve pumpkins and leave it at that, or you can do a jack-o’-lantern photoshoot around the city. If you’re allergic to pumpkins, you can take a sheet and cut out holes to do a ghost photoshoot instead, like @jackjanson88’s Tik Tok trend.
You can even do activities in your dorm or apartment hall. Leave out bowls of candy out-
Speaking of movie nights, sit through a Halloween season. For a fun little twist, make themed treats and drinks for each movie you watch. For example, if part of the lineup is “The Mummy,” “Dracula” and “Frankenstein,” you could make Frankenstein’s monster sugar cookies, a mocktail with blood-red cranberry juice and mummy hot dogs.
There is much fun to be had this Halloween season, whether you partake in the partying or not. Don’t let the idea of what a college student “should” be doing on Halloweekend limit how you enjoy yourself this spooky season. H
They’ve got the numbers: The Highlander Statistics Society’s activities at UCR
THE HSS PROVES THEIR PASSION FOR DATA SCIENCE.
SANJANA THATTE
The Highlander Statistics Society (HSS) has been a part of the University of California, Riverside (UCR)’s campus for a decade now providing math majors a space to get to know others options and test their skills. themselves networking with businesses, preparing for community for the mathematically inclined on campus.
Mahiyat Bhuiyan, fourth year data science major and co-president of the club explained that the club started as a way to showcase more math majors especially with the rise of data science applications. The HSS in particular, aims to showcase UCR’s Statistics Department.
Bhuiyan joined the club casually, but found herself getting more invested after
participating in the annual statistics competition DataFest last year. She applied for a board position and became the co-president. Bhuiyan’s passion for data science started in high school, “Ever since I took AP Statistics, I’ve been really enjoying statistics, as well as …how it comes together with computer science to make up for data science. So I think … it’s been a long journey since I’m a fourth year now, but I still really enjoy statistics.”
However, prior knowledge is not a requirement for the HSS as Bhuiyan described the club’s membership as being diverse with a fascination for statistics being the uniting factor.
The average club meeting is spent preparing for competitions such as the DataFest. Bhuiyan stated, “And essentially what our quarter is going to consist of is work-
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shops on how to like scrollytell which is a data visualization platform, we’re also going to have study sessions towards midterms week and -
cials. And then we plan on asking some professors to come in to showcase what they’re researching, as well as give students opportunities to research under them as well. And we also plan on doing resume building workshops.”
trips to potential employers in the statistics and data
reach out to big companies that people are interested in, applying to for internships or full time roles and having them either come here and talk to us about their company, or if we are able to, rent out a bus or something, and [have] a bunch of us go and visit the company and get
a tour of the entire place,” as Bhuiyan explained. The workshops that the clubs put on are mostly skill based, training students on programs like Excel and other data visualization platforms.
The club is currently preparing for UC Berkeley’s scrollytelling competition, where the club competes online as a team. They will be given a data set and will have to create data visualizations techniques as well as a website to showcase the data and help users understand what the data is telling them.
DataFest by comparison can be compared more to a Hackathon where club members will receive a large data set and be asked to perform tests accordingly. These results are then presented to the judges as they progress
Though the club has struggled to maintain member-
ship over the years, Bhuiyan emphasized how the club atmosphere has continued to be close knit, “I would say just to bring a safe space for statistics, data science, math, computer science [majors], even a place for them to just really, grow their skills and not have such of a hardcore environment. I know we’re called Highlander Statistics Society, so it sounds very fancy, but honestly I think this year, especially me and Sumeda, my other co-pres, have been really trying to make it a safe space for students to just be able to grow without the pressures of the job market.”
The Highlander Statistics Society has shown engagement, commitment and passion. As a longstanding club on this campus it has earned its keep as a staple math club here at UCR. H
GRAPHICS BY ADELIA URENA
Biryani Heaven: This year’s go-to D i wa l i destination
BIRIYANI HEAVEN IMPRESSES WITH ITS CLASSICS, BRINGING A TASTE OF INDIA TO RIVERSIDE.
KISHNEET KAUR
Happy Diwali or Bandi Chhor Divas to those who celebrated this past Monday occasions, I took it upon myself to go review a South Asian restaurant right
When asked what food I could eat for the rest of my life, my answer has always been my grandma’s chicken biryani. So, when I discovered a restaurant on Iowa Avenue named Biryani Heaven, I knew that it was
When walking into the restaurant, I was cheerfully greeted by the host. The restaurant had a very homey, simplistic atmosphere. The warm lighting and soft leather booths gave the seating area a nostalgic feeling. Keeping that in mind, the walls themselves were not overly decorated and they had a very minimalist appeal.
There was a decent variety of options to choose from on the menu and it was separated into vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. This variety of vegetarian options making it amenable to all kinds of dietary restrictions..
Overall, I found this to be Asian restaurant, taking into account quantity of food was enough for two people and could easily make for great comfort food for a night in.
Rating: 4/5
A staple drink in South Asian Culture is mango lassi. Mango lassi is a refreshing yogurt based mango beverage which is served commonly with meals, at events or on a hot day.
When trying the mango lassi at Biryani Heaven, I was very pleased
thick, creamy texture and a strong mango taste which I enjoyed. In my experiences with mango lassi, there should be a good balance between the tartness of the yogurt and sweet taste of mango and this restaurant provided that balance. Even though it had a slightly acidic aftertaste, the was not overly sweet making it go well with the meal.
Rating: 4.5/5
Paneer is a type of cheese that is a prominent ingredient in South Asian cooking. It can be served in various ways and is a very popular protein.
The chilli paneer was hands down my favorite dish of the night. When eating dishes like this I am very used to having a soft texture in my mouth, however this particular paneer was fried on the outside, giving it a crispy yet very spongy feeling. This added a nice crunch when biting into it experience.
In addition to this, the paneer had the perfect amount of tomato and garlic in the sauce contributing well
not overly spicy, but did have a slight kick to it. It was also sautéd with and onions. The vegetables were well cooked as they were tender and not soggy or drowning in sauce.
back and having this dish again.
Rating: 4/5
The next dish we tried was Chicken 65. If you are a fan of popcorn chicken, this is a great pick for you. In trying this, the chicken was incredibly tender, crispy and juicy. It was perfectly salted and spiced with garam masala .
Squeezing the lime juice on the together.
Rating: 4.5/5
For the main course, we had to try their biryani. Afterall, the restaurant is called Biryani Heaven. The one that caught my attention was the chicken dum biryani as it was under the
of home. The chicken was bone-
in and was served with very wellseasoned rice. Both the rice and chicken complemented each other very well and enhanced the dish. The chicken was cooked separately as it very soft and tender. The rice tasted the two together felt like Diwali in
Rating: 3/5
The manager of the restaurant was kind enough to provide me with a complimentary sweet dish called double ka meetha. This dish is a warm bread pudding served with nuts.
This sweet dish tied perfectly with the cool autumn weather outside and left you feeling warm and cozy. It was cooked in ghee and although I am not the biggest fan of it, the dish was subtly sweet which I did enjoy.
Biryani Heaven was an absolute gem of an Indian restaurant. With
spot was an absolute win for me, and for so many others looking for a taste of home. So grab some takeout from Biriyani Heaven, it’ll make your day and the Diwali celebrations that much better.
COURTESY OF KISHNEET KAUR
Actualize self-empowerment with this free local yoga class
THIS FREE YOGA COURSE HOSTED IN DOWNTOWN RIVERSIDE HELPS PROMOTE STILLNESS AMIDST HECTIC DAILY LIFE.
KASSANDRA AGUIRRE
College life gets busy quickly, as students must adjust their schedules to accommodate studying, work, personal relationships and other ambitions. This whirlwind of responsibility can disconnect students from the present. Yoga instructor Genevieve Aleman recognizes this stress not only among students but people of all livelihoods.
Aleman hosts free beginner yoga classes at Downtown Riverside’s vintage clothing store Raincross District to help attendees embrace stillness in their lives. She currently
children, along with Thursday sessions for teens and adults, each from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Aleman is a 23-year-old mother who began practicing yoga in high school and started instructing yoga courses two years
Yoga Initiative.
She began hosting public courses and advertising them on her Instagram and TikTok accounts to encourage locals to come out and experience the activities’ therapeutic qualities for themselves. Although it took months for people to begin showing up, Aleman expressed that the community that has formed through her classes is something she was proud to help curate.
“To now have a full room every time I see it, I literally just want to start crying because I feel so happy to see that people are showing up,” Aleman commented.
The classes themselves take place in the back of Raincross District in a separate,
dimly lit room referred to as the “wellness studio.” It’s covered with zen decorations, and during classes soft music is played in the background. To start the class, Aleman greets
a mantra and a spritz of lavender oil on their wrist, both of which are meant to immerse guests in a relaxing ambiance. Attendees are provided with mats if needed and can take whatever space is available on the studio
The class focuses on gentle movements, which are held for minutes at a time to
environment. Some movements encourage the body to enter positions which are not often used, such as the happy baby pose, which has attendees lay on their backs and hold their shins, putting them in a slightly awkward position. However, in the soothing environment of the studio, it induces a destressing yet empowering feeling as it introduces the body to foreign movements and makes guests aware of how much their body is capable of.
Although the experience does encourage attendees to follow the instructor’s lead, it’s
for each person so adjustments are allowed which helps promote the therapeutic nature of the class.
Now that Aleman’s classes have begun to garner more attention and have grown, so have the reasons people have chosen to attend.
Imelda Perez, a mother and someone who travels often for her profession, explained
that she had decided to participate because she wanted to engage in more self care.
“I was thinking that I really need to start doing something for myself. It’s nice to have a little moment to take care of myself,” stated Perez.
Returning attendee, Amelia Wicker, had a similar sentiment, expressing that as a working woman who spends much of her daily life in busy environments such as her workplace, the weekly class has helped her decompress.
“I feel really relaxed, centered and happy,” mentioned Wicker.
By making the course free and donationbased, Aleman hopes to eliminate issues of accessibility that may prevent people from attending.
“Presence and energy matters more than payment to me, as long as you’re there and you’re present and participating, that’s how people can pay me,” Aleman insisted.
stimulant to everyday life for students, faculty and the community. In it, people can
“I guess my hope overall is that yoga helps remind people that no matter what is going on in our lives that there is always a place of peace within us … you just need your breath, your body and your willingness to learn and show up,” concluded Aleman.
Halloween costumes you can make at home!
HERE ARE SOME EASY HALLOWEEN COSTUME IDEAS FOR PEOPLE WHO
DON’T WANT TO BUY A COSTUME OR NEED SOMETHING LAST MINUTE.
TYLER YANG
Spooky season is here, and the time to prepare it’s time to start thinking about costumes assuming you haven’t already. However, buying a new costume each year isn’t good for your wallet or the environment.
Fortunately, there is an easy solution to this:ing items you can wear every day or materials found at home, you can create your own costume to wear to any upcoming Halloween party yousic, easy-to-make costume ideas.
This one is the easiest to make at home, so if you need something very last minute, this will all you will need is a white sheet and a pair of scissors. Take the white sheet and put it over your head, ensuring that it covers your entire body down to at least your thighs.
Then cut out two holes where your eyes should be. Additionally, you can also cut out a hole for your mouth underneath the eye holes. You can make this hole even larger to turn the top part of the sheet into a hood. Now, when you need more visibility, you can just put your head through the hole and the top part of your costume becomes a
This costume will require a bit more preparathis costume, you will need white or brown-colored sheets, or some type of cloth wrap, a pair of scissors and safety pins. If you are using sheets, cut them into many long, thick strips of cloth (around 6 inches in width) to make bandages. Wrap them around your body, using safety pins to hold them in place once you’ve fully wrapped them.
Start by wrapping your legs, then work your way up your body until you reach your neck. Like with the ghost costume, you have the option to wrap around your face and head or leave it uncovered for better visibility and so others can see your face. If you want to, add some makeup to make it more realistic.
Creating your own zombie costume will require you to use your clothing items, but it is also the most customizable design you can create. Start with ripped jeans, a white T-shirt and some type of paint or dye (fabric dye works best). If you don’t have a pair of ripped jeans, try using an old pair that you don’t mind cutting. Use scissors to make rough cuts just above and below the knee.
Then, use red fabric dye to create blood splotches on the shirt. You could also stain the clothing to give it more of a ragged appearance
by rubbing dirt into it or using more fabric dye to you could stop here or you could put green face paint on your face to really drive home the undead appearance.
I hope these ideas have inspired you to create
You can change elements of the design, materials or anything else to make your costume your own. This Halloween, you can feel good about not only wearing a cool costume, but also how hard you worked to make it yourself.
First-Gen Life: One midterm won’t define you
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A REMINDER THAT YOUR WORTH IS NOT MEASURED IN PERCENTAGES.
KARMEN LEON
The purpose of this column is to support you. First-ries, and guidance to help just survive, but thrive here at the University of California, Riverside (UCR).
Let’s be honest, midterm season hits hard and fast. Especially when you areing that every grade is the not you deserve to be here. You tell yourself, “If I fail this midterm, that’s it. I’m done.” But it’s not the end of the world.
A single poor grade does
not make you a failure. Trust me, we’ve all been there, but everyone’s academic path has its ups and downs. The work you put in to get into UCR and the kind of future you can crepercentage. -
dent, you are already making progress and paving the way for future generations. There is more to your journey than a single test. Don’t allow a small setback to change the narrative you’ve -
ating. Your future deserves the tenacity you’ve put into your present, so learn from
and keep going.
The strain of the entire quarter can seem to have piled up into one week. You’re most likely balancing several classes, possibly a job, expectations from your family and the ongoing feeling that you must prove yourself. You are studying for everyone who believes in you, not just yourself, so the stress you
grade could feel like the end of the world under that type of pressure, but it’s not. It is only a single chapter in a much longer book.
It is critical to keep in mind that your self worth is not tied to the score you see on Canvas. That number
night study sessions, your
takes to brave college as a have overcome or the ambition that keeps you going. You are learning, adapting and growing through every test, even the ones that do not go your way.
Give yourself a minute when you receive a disappointing result, and utilize it as motivation rather than evidence of failure. Next
egy, modify your study schedule or ask for assistance. Improvement occurs gradually, not all at once. Before they excelled, every genius you looked up to made mistakes.
With that said, during midterm season, take a deep breath. You belong here, even when things do not go as planned. One bad grade does not close any doors. It just means that you have to push harder. Success is not by your determination. H
COURTESY OF PEXELS
Kleoween returns to UC R
COSTUMES MUSIC AND MAYHEM COLLIDE AT THE BARN
On Oct. 4, 2025, Japanese-American pianist and Oc On Oct. 23, 2025, guests poured into The Barn’s dining hall to watch Kleo, an indie surf rock band, play their second gig at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). Alongside alternative rock band Citrus Park, the group graced the stage with energetic rock music for the audience to dance and sing along to. Playing into the event’s Halloween theme, many of the concert-goers boldly showed up donning spooky and entertaining costumes.
The opening act Citrus Park took to the stage at 7 p.m., immediately setting the tone and energy for the night. With an unapologetically loud audio feedback, raw vocals, and a lively tempo, and alternative bands such as The Fastbacks, X and My Chemical Romance.
Concert-goers moshed and pogoed to the raw and vigorous songs in Citrus Park’s setlist. Keeping in line with the Halloween spirit, the band played “Bones,” a hard-hitting distorted song that evokes a sense of living in a zombie apocalypse. Some of the songs that Citrus Park played also leaned into a slow and melancholic shoegaze sound, showcasing how they are capable of diving into other genres as well.
Alongside some of their original songs, Citrus Park additionally played covers of songs and more. At one point during the show, the band decided to play a cover of Rage Against
the Machine’s “Killing In The Name,” but not before dedicating the song to those currently facing social injustice. The band ended their gig leading the crowd into a quick and safe wall of death mosh.
Before Kleo came out to perform, guests were treated to an early music video premiere of the band’s newest single, “Save Your Time.”
the 80’s synth sound that the song is trying to go for. Many of the people who’ve worked on the music video also happened to be present at the concert as well. The music video’s screening was met by applause and approval by the audience.
After a few minutes had passed, Kleo came up on stage to perform with each band member wearing a Halloween costume. With an indie, yearning sound reminiscent of The Drums and Beach Fossils, the band was quick to woo the Kleo concert were quick to dance and sing along. With a large amount of people swaying
some of the concertgoers were most likely put on to the band. Kleo played songs from their discography such as “Something” and “Home,”
The band’s crowd work was nothing short of phenomenal. Kleo, as well as Citrus Park, invited the audience to sing along to some of their songs, and even interacted with them in
between song breaks. In the middle of Kleo’s performance, the band members announced that they’ve been scouting audience members for a costume contest. With elaborate and outstanding costumes ranging from Superman to a six foot costume contest was none other than a guest sporting a lion pajama, which was still a pretty awesome sight to see.
The band also covered “Worm in the Sun” jangly surf rock aesthetic the band has going on. Kleo additionally played an original song called “Past Yesterday,” which has a more slow and romantic tempo than any other of their songs.
After a quick break and an encore, the band ended the night with a cover of Ben Kweller’s “This Is War,” a familiar track for those who’ve watched “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.” As with a lot of the songs that came before, the crowd took the opportunity to mosh and dance. After the show concluded, the band members of Kleo warmly met some of the crowd members.
The event goes to show that Kleo has amassed a cult following from the students at UCR. With a combination of food, live music and costumes, the event served as a chaotically enjoyable prelude to Halloween. Given the event’s enthusiastic reception by the audience, it wouldn’t be completely out of the question for The Barn to host “Kleoween III” next year.
IAN PALMA
Everything to know about how to layer this fall
THIS THE ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALL THINGS LAYERING THIS SEASON.
With the changing of the leaves, the ushering in of the fall season suggests a celebration for all those into hoodies, the colder climate invites the addition of more clothing to combat the freeze. However, as it is still not winter, it can be confusing at times as to what is appropriate to wear. Thus, this list serves as a guide for those who have found themselves in this pickle.
Though perhaps an obvious suggestion, the need for knitwear is imperative to the autumnal aesthetic. It is time to give the terry cloth hoodies and crewnecks a break and pull out -
ble knit to fair isle, and from shetland to cashmere to lambswool, there are a variety of styles one can try on.
Fully cotton sweaters are great for the more transitional days where it is not too cold, but just cold enough. Chunky wool cardigans are the perfect piece to throw on to elevate a graphic tee. In any case, knit wear is the perfect place to start with an autumnal wardrobe.
Historically, leather jackets have been associated with subcultures
from bikers to punks, but given the proper silhouette, there is a kind of understated. A black or brown leather bomber jacket goes great over pretty much any piece of clothing and immediately invokes an aesthetic har-ing paired with more formal attire, or something more casual, one can pretty much never go wrong with a piece like this.
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sport coat as. That being said, however they are to be labeled, they are a must wear for fall. From houndstooth to herringbone, the patterns sports coats can come in vary greatly. Whether it’s a classic Irish tweed or simply wool, a sports coat is the one piece of clothing essential to elevat-
shows exactly this, from the likes of Julia Roberts to Denzel Washington to Robin Williams, everybody was throwing them on and for good reason.
Most of the time, the button-down is associated with a formal setting. As t-shirts have become more popular in casual settings, and button-downs less so, it may feel a bit awkward to throw one on, but their style cannot be understated. A button-down shirt is simply a button-up shirt with a collar that has buttons to secure it in place.
There is arguably nothing that screams autumn quite like a corduroy piece of clothing. The fabric itself is known for being a heavier cotton weave than something like a pair of chinos but still as breathable. Similar to knitwear, the varieties in corduroy are vast enough to explore for days. The direction of the fabric, and the distance between the signature wales or lines of corduroy, can be very exciting to play with. Not to mention the colors that they often come in. Whether it is a corduroy jacket in the vein of something Bob Dylan would’ve worn or some corduroy pants, they seamlessly transition one into the cooler temperatures.
An underrated avenue of clothing accessories is all things neckwear. Scarves in particular are oftentimes associated with a certain notion of class or geography, but they are the
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pashmina or plain, wide and long or thin and even longer, scarves can add a variety of dynamic and aesthetic interest.
Once one starts wearing scarves, a whole new world opens up. In the way to tie scarves, how to arrange
In place of a t-shirt or long sleeve t-shirt, a button-down shirt provided much more dynamic interest with the introduction of collars and buttons. The amount one chooses to leave open in the shirt, the shape and size of the collar and whether it’s popped up or down serves as a stellar replacement for what t-shirts lack in versatility. Not to mention the variety of colors and patterns they come in.
Though blazers historically refer to coats in navy with gold buttons, they are what most people refer to a
them with. They may not provide the full coverage of the head that a hoodie gives, but they’re much more fashionable.
All in all, fall layering really means being comfortable and warm, while remaining breathable. Winter is the time to put on heavier coats andmain mobile while having something a little extra on. Look to movies like “Hannah and Her Sisters” or “Fantastic Mr. Fox” for further inspiration, and scroll Pinterest for more ideas. Fall is the perfect opportunity to experiment with style.
AAKIF IQBAL
Radar Replay: “Shaun of the Dead”
A 21-YEAR-OLD FILM THAT’S MORE RELEVANT TODAY THAN IT SHOULD BE.
[CONTAINS SPOILERS]
21 years ago, director Edgar Wright intrepidly threw his hat in the ring when it came to making a
as some cheeky humor that could be seen from his previous work “Spaced,” Wright managed to create arguably one of the best horror
“Evil Dead 2.” Ever since its release, in the annals of the horror genre, being viewed by those wanting to be frightened all the while getting a few chuckles in.
by Simon Pegg, a 29-year old-slacker and sales associate trying to get his life together. With a relationship going down the drain all the while
-
er slacker friend Ed, as played by Nick Frost, it seems that Shaun’s life couldn’t get any worse. But with the advent of a zombie apocalypse, Shaun must take up the role as the reluctant hero to try and save his family and loved ones.
“Shaun of the Dead” skillfully balances out both horror and comedy elements. The scarier parts have been meticulously crafted to mimic same era such as “28 Days Later.”
However, it wouldn’t be consid-
out his trademark humorous wit, jibe and slapstick comedy. The comedictaining respite from the usual terrifying elements expected for a zombie
zombie genre on its head, proving that it doesn’t have to be all that serious.
hilarious dynamic between Simon Pegg and Nick Frost on full display. The duo managed to perform the straight man trope so perfectly, it would make Abbott and Costello proud. The chemistry between the
Wright such as “Hot Fuzz” and “The World’s End.” Alongside Pegg and Frost, many of the characters within the movie exhibit a comedically tone-deaf attitude towards their predicament.
par with that of James Gunn himself. From hard-hitting tracks such as “Orpheus” by Ash and “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen to the more mellow songs of bands like Chicago’s “If You Leave Me Now” and “Ghost Town” by The Specials, each song has been tailored to both amplify and comically juxtapose the dire situation the characters are fac-
ing. It’s surprising to see how well Edgar Wright has mastered the art of soundtrack curation especially for
comes out when one realizes how relevant it is today.
In a way, “Shaun of the Dead” almost seems to be prophetic. Shaun’s nonchalance with the zombie apocalypse heavily mirrors the attitudes of many during the COVID-19 pandemic in which many idly passed the time while watching TV or playing video games. With the rise and fall of COVID-19 giving way to the idea of a “new normal,” it’s hard not to see the parallels between today’s society and the journey Shaun takes
Just like Shaun, many are doing the best they can to keep everything together in such a messy world. Additionally, attitudes regarding the whole COVID-19 pandemic have shifted since then, with more and more people forgetting where they were or what they were doing. Some have even started to forget that there
Trying to protect one’s peace while societal issues continue to stack up has been a prevailing sentiment, especially for those in Gen-Z.
old, almost works as a social com-
Instead of having a preachy “call-toaction” message, Wright somewhat the characters while communicating that the best thing to do in a situation like this is to just focus on oneself
real horror might be coming from how alike it is with today’s world as well as the feelings and thoughts of the people living in it.
Verdict:
comedy, Wright completely changes the conventions of what a horror movie should be. Alongside its parallels to apathetic attitudes within modern society, “Shaun of the Dead” is a must watch for the Halloween season.
COURTESY
IAN PALMA
Seeing Through Smog: The opening of 4QS with Smog Fowler-Hurst
AN INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCE THAT STRADDLES THE LINE OF TECHNOLOGICAL CULTURE AND EMOTIONAL WEIGHT.
University of California, Riverside’s (UCR) Dance department to showcase its second-year MFA
opening week with artist Smog Fowler-Hurst, in collaboration with performers Negar Kamali and Jackie Nii.
Fowler-Hurst’s installation opened to the public on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Performance Lab. The audience entered the space without instructions, allowing them the freedom to explore the space freely and take in the three-dimensional work. A sheer fabric curtain veiled a boxed space from within the room.
The inside of the veil housed various sound equipment that was used throughout the piece. On the fabric that bounced light onto the the ground. Kamali and Nii stood inside the enclosure, awaiting the main performance. Fowler-Hurst rested outside the veil, wrapped in a clear plastic that left them unrecognizable.
The audience curiously roamed around the room and inside
the veiled space until a deep, almost whale-like siren began to
Performance Lab as Fowler-Hurst crawled into the veiled enclosure, ripping themselves free of their plastic entanglement. From thereon, the performers commanded the around.
Fowler-Hurst began to sing into a microphone, disguised as a pink cord telephone, lingering on the phrase, “I need more.” After a screech, Fowler-Hurst introduced a spoken word section that heightened
room. They used a looping machine to repeat lines such as “the end of the world” and “you were a child.” This section created a state of panic and rush, underscored through Kamali and Lii’s repetitive, glitched movements that progressively increased in speed.
In the climax of the piece, the dancers left their veiled enclosure. Kamali followed a boxed spotlight began to sprinkle seeds into the lighted area. On the opposite side of the space, Fowler-Hurst created silhouettes on top of the
hypnotic image projections. Lii acted as a medium between both realms, weaving through the entire installation. Images of trees and
red once again to cue a panicked state. Kamali and Nii each had a sound glove to create noise. Kamali pounded the glove repeatedly on her chest, and Nii frantically rubbed the glove on her clothes, as Fowler-Hurst began to wail into the pink telephone. Simultaneously, a projection of sparks played on the performance, all of the lights shut sounds faded. Fowler-Hurst’s wails began to soften. For these brief
burst into applause.
MAIN ST
Each person left the space with their own interpretations about the piece’s meaning. Depending on how the audience navigated the space during the live performance from the piece. For some, it could represent a shift from nature into a machine-focused, cyborg culture.
For others, it’s an expression of trauma and a longing for support. When asked over email about their inspiration for this piece, FowlerHurst responded,
“I am constantly experimenting, following my curiosity, learning, and unlearning. I wanted to create promoted growth. It emerged from an ecology of labor, love, relational support, and limited resources.”
This installation was a representation of Fowler-Hurst’s multidisciplinary talents, from movement practice, sound manipulation to visual artistry. In the blend of these abilities, they’ve created a synesthetic experience that captivates the eyes and ears. The work’s dense sensory aspects had the potential to overwhelm audiences, but the seamless integration of sound and visual components came together as a singular, living and breathing entity. Fowler-Hurst’s risk-taking resulted in a thought-provoking experience that displayed the strength of their artistic vision and creative capabilities.
GIANNA ALMARIA
COURTESY OF DENNIS CHA / UCR
Highlanders fall to volleyball powerhouse Cal Poly
HEAD COACH BRANDEN HIGA IS HOPING FOR A LATE SEASON SURGE AS UCR PUSHES TOWARDS THE POSTSEASON.
The
University of California, Riverside
a 3-0 loss to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) this past Thursday, Oct. 23. After a win the momentum was on the Highlanders’ side as they stood sixth in the standings with a solid
Though the sets were close at times, UCR was unable to pull through to defeat powerhouse Cal Poly.
a strong start, staying neck and neck with the Mustangs. However, a kill from Cal Poly outside hitter Emma Frederick killed UCR’s momentum. From there, the Mustangs racked up points as the Highlanders struggled in their defensive positioning and the set ended 25-12 in favor of the Mustangs.
Cal Poly jumped to an early 7-3 lead in the second set after a series of kills from Frederick following a devastating service ace from Kendall Beshear. The Highlanders stood their ground against the Mustangs, waiting in anticipation of Frederick’s bulletlike serve. Finally, the Highlanders found their footing after a kill from middle blocker Layla Hooks. UCR steadily climbed up the scoreboard until Frederick returned, ending the set 25-18.
Nearing a close, the Highlanders needed to
win the third set to keep the game alive. All looked lost as Cal Poly jumped to a 10-5 lead until UCR’s setter Makena Tong and middle blocker Kylie Proctor blocked a spike from Frederick. The pressure was on as Cal Poly continued their climb and UCR struggled to catch up. Sophomore outside hitter Vanessa
pushing the Highlander towards a potential set win.
The crowd held their breath as a kill from Beshear put Cal Poly ahead 23-18 for the set. The tension only increased as a potential kill from Imoh was blocked by the Mustangs and only brought them closer to a set and match win. Just as it seemed like there was no coming back, the Highlanders caught a second wind, with a devastating kill from outside hitter Mia Delahoussaye and a service ace from defensive specialist Misu Nguyen, they stood face to face with the Mustangs 2422. However, a service error from Nguyen placed Cal Poly on top, winning not only the set, but also the game.
Imoh led the game for UCR with 10 kills,
Setter Makena Tong set her teammates with 12 assists throughout the game. However,
conference’s top players showed up. The Highlanders were out-killed 51-25 on the night.
Looking internally at the Highlanders, this
coaching at UCR after serving 13 seasons at
California Baptist University. Commenting on the warm welcome he received from the team, he stated, “The heart that these women have is truly special. The way that they believe has been incredible and to be able to come into a place and be accepted [is special]. I was across the freeway [and] they accepted me in a really incredible way.”
Tong is currently in her senior season of volleyball and ranks eighth in Big West play
she hopes to achieve moving forward in the season, she shared, “Our coach always tells us to just play with heart. I think that’s the main thing about our team. We’re not the biggest team, we’re not the strongest team, we’re not the tallest team. But to play with heart against opponents like Cal Poly and UC Davis, that’s what’s going to bring us to the [Big West] tournament.”
Preparing for upcoming games against challenging opponents such as UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis, Higa mentioned, “I hope we go to the tournament. I’m literally not thinking about anything past this group of women. So in the future, continue what they build, continue the foundation they build.”
On Saturday, the Highlanders traveled to UC Santa Barbara and lost 3-1, leaving them with a 3-7 conference record and currently sitting in the eighth seed. Tonight, the Highlanders travel to UC Davis to face the
MATA ELANGOVAN
H
ELENA VERSAGE / THE HIGHLANDER
Newcomers are ready to rock SRC Arena
UCR MEN’S BASKETBALL HOPES TO FIND SUCCESS IN A NEW ERA LED BY GUS ARGENAL. SPENSER GONZALES HOPES TO LEAD WOMEN’S SOCCER TO THE PLAYOFFS AND DETAILS HER LIFE OFF THE PITCH.
Heading into the 2025-2026 season, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) men’s basketball team has just two returning players from last year compared to 13
Argenal, who was previously the head coach at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) for the past two seasons.
While UCR basketball fans can expect to see many fresh faces on the court, Gus Argenal is very familiar with rebuilding a team composed of mostly newcomers. He commented, “I took over a team that went to the [NCAA Division II] Final Four and we only had two or three returners, and the next year I only had two or three returners … I’ve done this before.”
In the process of rebuilding a team at UCR, Argenal emphasized, “[We] understand there’s going to be a learning curve, but [we’re] still trying to run a race as fast as we can so we’re ready to win at the start of the year.”
One face that won’t be new to Argenal is graduate transfer Andrew Henderson, who also comes from CSUSB. Henderson averaged 17.3 points per game last year with CSUSB in 35 games while being named an All-California Collegiate Athletic Association First Team selection.
“Drew has been great so far [in the summer]. He plays the two [guard], and he’s brought a calming sense because he knows what I want,” noted Argenal.
Henderson is a player who can put the ball
the rim. He’s also a good catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter, a trait that Argenal values a lot in his team.
Other players that have stood out to Argenal include transfers BJ Kolly, Marqui Worthy, Osiris Grady and Jailen Daniel-Dalton.
In the preseason Big West coaches poll,
seed before losing to Cal Poly in the Big West Tournament.
The Highlanders begin the regular season on Monday, Nov. 3 at home versus La Sierra University.
H
TERRY NGUYEN
NIKO SUWANDI / THE HIGHLANDER
ANDREW HENDERSON NIKO SUWANDI / THE HIGHLANDER
Royal blue - The Dodgers fight to build a dynasty
THE DODGERS ARE ON THE BRINK OF CREATING A DYNASTY WITH ANOTHER WORLD SERIES WIN.
DANIELLA SHAKIROVA
This World Series is shaping up to be a nail
Last season, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the New York Yankees in the World Series - acan League (AL) that season. The Dodgers set the tone after winning game one of the slam. During an unforgettable game 5, the in one inning, ultimately driving their World Series victory.
back in the World Series after sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series (NLCS). In the American League Championship Series, the Toronto Blue Jays went toe to toe with the Seattle Mariners in a gripping seven game series. This sets up an intriguing World Series matchup between the NL’s Dodgers and the AL’s Blue Jays. Toronto is looking for the Dodgers, winning a second consecutive championship and third in six years would
So far this postseason, the Jays have relied on their hitting. Toronto boasts a .296 batting
average compared to the Dodgers’s middling .256 batting average. The Jays have also hit for power too with a postseason slugging percentage of .532 besting the Dodgers’s .402 percentage.
pitcher’s mound. The Dodgers have dominated hitters with a postseason strikeout rate of 33.5 percent, overshadowing the Jays’s meager 15.8 percent. The Dodgers will need
This will be easier said than done. Taking a look back at the ALCS, the Mariners starstudded rotation, led by the likes of George Kirby, Bryan Woo and Luis Castillo, domithe Jays before the Toronto hitters seemed to over 30 years.
If the Dodgers can successfully win backto-back World Series championships it would be a huge feat in a sport where randomness postseason statistical chaos, starting a dynasto other sports. Any noise about how improbable and unlikely it is to repeat success will be silenced with another championship ring added to the stack.
This article was written on Thursday, Oct. 23 before the World Series began.
VLADIMIR GUERRERO (COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES VIA MARK BLINCH)
SHOHEI OHTANI (COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES VIA JUSTIN EDMONDS)
Women' s Soccer - Oct . 29 Women's Soccer - Oct. 3-0 L
CSUB: Kim Garcia 29’
CSUB: TEAM GOAL 45’
CSUB: Cynthia Ramirez 61’
Women' s Soccer - Oct . 23 Women's Soccer - Oct.
UC Riverside vs. Cal Poly
L CP: Ashley Brewer 86’
Women's Volleyball - Oct. 23
Cal Poly vs. UC Riverside 3-0 L
UCR Team Leaders:
Kills: Vanessa Imoh (10)
Assists: Makena Tong (12)
Digs: Sophia Ewalefo (7)
UC Riverside vs. UC Santa Barbara 3-1 L
UCR Team Leaders:
Kills: Sophia Ewalefo (15)
Assists: Makena Tong (30)
Digs: Jessica Dean (16)
Be scared.
The Highlander Newspaper is a great way to keep up with current events and news around campus. If you are interested in the newspaper’s articles or pictures, we offer opportunities in writing, photography and design. Join us every Monday at 5:15 p.m. in HUB 101 to learn more.
