Volume 74, Issue 21

KASSANDRA AGUIRRE / THE HIGHLANDER

2 APRIL FOOLS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

Humans of UCR

Staff Editor-in-Chief

Compiled by Isaac Solnick, Managing Editor

Mata Elangovan

editorinchief@highlandernews.org Managing Editor

“

Isaac Solnick

managingeditor@highlandernews.org News Editor

José Del Ángel

news@highlandernews.org Asst. News Editor

Angelica Brianna Acosta asst.news@highlandernews.org

Opinions Editor

Cecile Diroll

opinions@highlandernews.org

Asst. Opinions Editor

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Aakif Iqbal

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Sports Editor

Terry Nguyen

sports@highlandernews.org Asst. Sports Editor

Pepe the Rubber Chicken (he/him)

“I had a great spring break. It was really nice getting to see my family once again. My big sister just had twin chick. Their names are Rosa and Camila and they are the sweetest little chicks in the world. I can’t wait to watch them grow up into beautiful rubber hens.

It was also nice to get away from school. My friends at UCR like to stuff things like batteries down my big mouth. That’s cool and everything.

But as a practicing Muslim, that makes things difficult during Ramadan.

It was really difficult studying for finals during Ramadan. I was really exhausted all the time. I’m also training for a triathlon and I didn’t pause my training at all during finals week. My grades might have suffered a bit from it, but I’m proud of myself for sticking through with it.

I’ve been following Islam and reading the Quran since this quarter.

Since then, my faith has been a big part of my life and shaped who I am as a rubber chicken today. I think what helped me get through finals was knowing that I wasn’t alone. The Muslim Student Association has given me a group of friends and community that is invaluable to me.”

Sofia Majeed

asst.sports@highlandernews.org Photography Editor

Vash Chen

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THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

APRIL FOOLS

31

Tuesday

1

Upcoming Events

Wednesday

2

Thursday

3

Friday

4

Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein: A Roundtable 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Humanities & Social Sciences Building 1500 Black Box Diaries: Screening and Talk by Director Itō Shiori 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

CHASS Interdisciplinary South 1128

ASP Care Kit Making 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Costo Hall 133

R’Hours at the R’Garden 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

R’Garden Softball vs. UC San Diego 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. & 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Amy S. Harrison Field

MSA College Day 10 a.m. to 8 p.m UNLH 1000

Saturday

Softball vs. UC San Diego 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Amy S. Harrison Field from

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No events

Sunday

6

Monday

IRENE TU / THE HIGHLANDER

No events

Fireside Chat with Chancellor S. Jack Hu 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Alumni & Visitors Center The Highlander Newspaper Writer’s Meeting 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m.

HUB 101

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4 APRIL FOOLS

NEWS

highlandernews.org/category/news

News ASUCR

ASUCR Senate Meeting THE FINAL WINTER QUARTER MEETING FOCUSED ON A JUDICIAL DECISION AND OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS.

OVI MATHIVANAN Assistant Opinions Editor

O

n March 11, 2026, the Associated Students of the University of California, Riverside (ASUCR) meeting began at 7 p.m. and adjourned at 9:49 p.m, having occurred via Zoom.

After a few friendly amendments, the agenda was approved, followed by a unanimous approval of meeting minutes for the third and fourth Executive Cabinet meetings and the first five Senate meetings of the winter quarter.

The Senate then moved into new business as no public forum comments were made.

During new business, Associate Justice Nathan Johnson presented Majority Opinion W26-JR-01 on behalf of the ASUCR Judicial Council. In the decision, the council unanimously declared

through a majority opinion that the ASUCR Office of the President violated ASUCR bylaws during its R’Gear distribution event, allegedly excluding certain students from having equitable access to the distribution items.

ASUCR President Leila Haidar, who stated she was present at the night’s virtual Senate meeting primarily to deliver her State of the Association (SOTA) report, and was unaware of the judicial decision until then, briefly spoke in response to the statement. President Haidar expressed that she felt blindsided by the decision and questioned why the Office of the President was not consulted for input on the matter prior to the council releasing the judicial decision.

Moving into further new business,

President Haidar delivered a SOTA report detailing recent projects on behalf of the Office of the President. Afterwards, Vice President (VP) of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Brandon Edward Dunbar provided his SOTA report. He shared that his unique transition was marked by him not being fully onboarded until winter quarter and detailed his office’s efforts since then..

During committee reports, the meeting minutes for Finance Budget Hearing #13 and sustainability funding requests made through five Green Campus Action Plan grants were all unanimously approved by the Senate.

During public comment VP of Sustainability Anahita Hooshyari Far and VP of External Affairs Briana Trujillo both made notes and provided recognition

for the university having won Campus of the Year at the 2026 Student Lobby Conference hosted by the University of California Student Association. Executive Director Asha Nettles also provided some general reminders to the Senators regarding paperwork and forms, especially as ASUCR prepares for the upcoming spring term.

Bourns College of Engineering Senator Bruce Riazi delivered a Senator report regarding BCOE Town Hall updates and two resolutions he has recently worked on.

Lastly, School of Public Policy Senator Pia Prashanth announced that applications are open for the 2026 Highlander Lobby Day, where students can advocate for student issues.

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The city of Riverside will not honor César Chávez Day FOLLOWING RECENT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CÉSAR CHÁVEZ, MARCH 31 WILL INSTEAD BE CELEBRATED AS UNITED FARMWORKERS DAY.

MARIBEL HERNANDEZ Staff Writer

Following several sexual assault and abuse allegations being raised against César Chávez, labor rights activist Dolores Huerta, both local and state legislature are taking steps to remove him from public facilities. The City of Riverside has declared in a press release statement that March 31 will no longer be recognized as César Chávez Day. Instead, it will be celebrated as United Farmworkers Day, following the lead of state lawmakers, including California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is discussing with legislators about the possibility of officially renaming César Chávez Day. The United Farm Workers (UFW) Foundation’s statement on this matter condemns Chávez’s behavior and reports its decision to “cancel all Cesar Chavez Day activities this month” as a result.

Two public facilities in the city are named after Chávez: The César E. Chávez Memorial statue and the César Chávez Community Center. The city reports it is looking to “review options” regarding the future of the facilities.

The César E. Chávez Memorial statue resides in Downtown Riverside, but the land it sits on is owned by the Riverside Latino Network, rather than the city.

Now, both entities are collaborating to determine the next appropriate steps for the statue’s presence.

The press release statement sent out by the city on March 19 noted that the City Council was set to hear an item on March 24 that called for Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson to proclaim

March 31 as César Chávez Day, but since the allegations arose, the city and its leaders are now considering the next appropriate steps.

The statement also notes that Mayor Dawson is calling for “thoughtful” review, including community input, regarding any city monuments or facilities that honor Chávez. She states that, “We are aware of actions taking place both locally and nationally and determining what appropriate steps will be taken here.”

Councilmember Philip Falcone, who represents Ward 1 — where both memorials in Riverside to César Chávez are located — has stated, “I wouldn’t be comfortable changing the name of anything or taking anything down without having their input [from resident Latino communities].”

Regarding the case itself, numerous women, many of whom were minors during the abuse, shared their stories.

Among the women was Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the UFW alongside Chávez.

Now at 95 years old, she has shared that both sexual assault encounters with him led to pregnancies, which she kept and arranged for the two children to be raised by other families. She also notes how neither child knew “the full truth about how they were conceived until just a few weeks ago.” She has held onto this secret for nearly 60 years.

She states that she did not come forward earlier, including reporting the assaults to the police, because of their “hostility” towards the UFW movement, and she worried nobody

within the union would believe her story.

Among the other women who have come forward about their experience is Ana Murguia. She reports being eight years old when she first met Chávez, and was only 13 when the sexual abuse began. At the time, Chávez was 45. She recalled how he told her, “Don’t tell anyone, they’d get jealous.” The abuse went on for four more years.

She said that by the age of 15, she was so “traumatized that she attempted to end her life multiple times.”

As Huerta has stated, “The farmworker movement has always been bigger and far more important than any one individual,” and Chávez’s actions must be condemned while simultaneously keeping the legacy of the UFW movement itself alive.

Overall, Riverside officials are looking to hear the input of Riverside’s Latino communities, as Councilmember Falcone has stated, to help determine the next course of action regarding the public facilities bearing Chávez’s ■H name.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR

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NEWS

APRIL FOOLS

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Leaping past limitations A PANTROPICAL SPOTTED DOLPHIN MADE A SPLASH WITH ITS LEAP- EXPERTS CALLING IT THE MICHEAL JORDAN OF ITS SPECIES.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR

KASSANDRA AGUIRRE Staff Writer

With the Tursopos Truncatus (common bottlenose dolphins) being familiar inhabitants of Southern Calif., many residents have stories of encountering them while visiting local beaches. Well past the mainland however, wildlife experts with the non-profit organization Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) reported a not so typical sighting off the west shore of Maui, Hawai’i on March 4 as a Stenella Attenuata (Pantropical spotted dolphin) leapt 15 feet into the air.

With word of the dolphin’s feat extending from the Pacific Ocean to media headlines, people have fawned over the creature’s accomplishment and began drawing comparisons between it and cultural icons.

The PWF originally shared an image of the jump to their Instagram account on March 17, prefacing the post with a disclaimer that the image was not AI but instead describing it as an incredible shot and introducing the dolphin as “the Micheal Jordan of Dolphins.”

The caption further detailed how the small size of Pantropical spotted dolphins in comparison with other species would make it significantly more difficult for it to jump as high as the one captured.

For reference, Pantropical spotted

dolphins average a growth of 6-7 feet and a weight of 250 pounds, whereas the common bottlenose dolphins can grow anywhere between 6.6-12.8 feet and weigh 300-1,400 pounds. This means the smallest common bottlenose dolphin is the size of the average adult Pantropical spotted dolphin.

Given that perspective, the PFW clarified, “If a human could match this feat relative to their body size, it would be like jumping clean over a basketball hoop” — hence the Micheal Jordan comparison.

Various Instagram users commented under the PWF’s post, expressing their amusement towards the dolphin. User ashleydoju commented, “Dolphin lore was not on my 2026 bingo card,” while others continued to make cultural references to dance-pop and R&B artist Zara Larsson’s hit single “Symphony.”

User oliviawinters22 joked that the dolphin “just wanted to be part of our symphony.”

Most commonly, users left comments praising both the PWF and the dolphin’s physical ability such as user protographyofficial’s statement “15 ft. in the air. Ocean life never disappoints.”

Since the initial post was made, major news stations such as KTLA5, WBAL-

TV, Yahoo, MSN and Surfer Magazine have covered the event among others.

Giving praise to the dolphin in their coverage, KTLA5 co-anchor Megan Telles commended, “What a shot, what are the chances. It just makes you smile.”

Pantropical spotted dolphins are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which prohibits them from being captured, hunted or killed in U.S. waters, and they are currently considered to be of “least concern” status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. This means that they are presently secure from risk of endangerment and safe to continue living in accordance to their recorded energetic and social nature. *This is an April Fools’ publication. This article is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about the writer’s article except through humor and/or exaggeration. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental or is intended purely as satire, parody or spoof of such persons and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about that ■ person.

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6 APRIL FOOLS

NEWS

highlandernews.org/category/news

Olvera Street donkey stand faces eviction A BELOVED LOS ANGELES PHOTO ATTRACTION FACES REMOVAL FROM THE HISTORIC MARKETPLACE.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIK LATTWEIN

OVI MATHIVANAN Assistant Opinions Editor

In mid-March, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lawrence H. Cho ruled to evict a longstanding donkey stand from Olvera Street, a historic market street in downtown Los Angeles. The donkey stand, currently featuring a stuffed donkey wearing a sarape, has operated on El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument — frequently referred to as Olvera Street — since it was opened by Jesus “Don Chuy” and Maria Trancito Hernandez in the late 1960s.

The stand, La Carreta, is currently operated by the founding couple’s son, Richard Hernandez.

The donkey is frequently referred to as Jorge or “El Burro” and has made for over six decades of photo props, movie appearances and many a priceless vacation memory archive. La Carreta has become part of both a family and historic Los Angeles legacy, with Hernandez noting that he has worked there since he was 13 years old.

Initially, the stand featured the family’s pet donkey, Cirila, and visitors could get photos with the living burro. Jorge came years later as a stuffed replacement and has since remained as a wellrecognized photo opportunity for local community members and visitors alike.

However, issues with the stand initially began two years prior, when Hernandez’s mother, the original vendor leaseholder, died in April 2024.

Hernandez was never formally added to the vendor lease and received an eviction notice from the City of Los Angeles just five days after his mother’s death, initiating a two-year legal battle over the stand’s contract.

On May 17, 2024, the Los Angeles City Council had passed a motion to save the popular local photo

attraction. The motion was presented by former Councilmember Kevin de León and requested that the Board of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument Authority Commissioners consider the proposed addition of Hernandez and his sister, Patricia Josefina Hernandez, to the lease.

The motion also revealed that Hernandez’s mother had filed paperwork with the City to formally request that her children be added to the lease, but Hernandez and his sister were never added to the lease, something they had only discovered upon their mother’s death.

Olvera Street was founded in 1781 and is made up of over two dozen historical buildings, and for many, it is more than a mere marketplace or a random street corner; it’s a culture and a living storybook of the local community’s efforts and labor. In speaking of the motion, former Councilmember de León had noted, “El Pueblo is more than just a tourist destination. It is the beating heart of our city’s history and culture.”

Hernandez previously compared the popularity of La Carreta as if it were Olvera Street’s version of the Hollywood Sign, a symbol of the neighborhood’s longstanding culture and unwavering traditions. He added that La Carreta offered a piece of Mexico in what he calls the heart and fabric of Los Angeles.

The Board of El Pueblo maintains that the family is being evicted due to contract issues and nonpayment of rent. However, Hernandez and many others have proposed the city wants to remove the family from the location without concrete reason because they do not want La Carreta to remain there, with some even suggesting the City intends

to utilize the space for other vendors.

Despite the wave of bad news regarding La Carreta’s future over the past few years, members of the Hernandez family have continued to make efforts to fight for La Carreta’s right to remain on Olvera Street. The family have tried attending meetings held by the Board of El Pueblo but noted the discussions were unproductive.

Hernandez also noted many of the people he had reached out to shortly after the eviction notice simply told him they could not help the family, whether that be the City Attorney, the commission or anywhere the family went for clarity and assistance. Hernandez says former Councilmember de León’s office response brought hope with their willingness to help by introducing and backing the motion.

Still, the family and Olvera Street community remain hopeful that despite the eviction notice, the family will be able to continue operating La Carreta and raise awareness of its rich history through local community efforts and a recently launched GoFundMe fundraiser. *This is an April Fools’ publication. This article is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about the writer’s article except through humor and/or exaggeration. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental or is intended purely as satire, parody or spoof of such persons and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about ■H that person.

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NEWS

APRIL FOOLS

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Riverside County Sheriff accuses Attorney General of interfering in Prop 50 election probe THREE-JUDGE PANEL STRIKES DOWN ATTORNEY GENERAL’S PETITION TO END INVESTIGATION.

ANDREW HAGLER Staff Writer

Sheriff of Riverside County and current Republican candidate for Calif. governor, Chad Bianco, has accused the Attorney General Rob Bonta of trying to interfere with an ongoing investigation into alleged fraud regarding the recent Proposition 50 election. In February, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department executed a warrant they claimed was signed by a Riverside judge to seize 1,000 boxes of ballots from the Registrar of Voters, totaling more than 656,000 ballots.

On Monday, March 22, Bonta filed a 70page petition to California’s Fourth District Court of Appeal to stop Bianco’s investigation into alleged election fraud, arguing that not only did the investigation threaten to erode public trust in elections, but was also legally unsupported.

Bianco said the investigation stems from a watchdog group called the Riverside Election Integrity Team, which alleges there were 45,000 more votes tallied than ballots received and logged by the Registrar of Voters, seeking to evaluate whether the allegation has merit by counting the ballots and comparing the number to the reported votes.

The day after it was filed, a threepanel judge denied the petition and stated in a brief ruling that Bonta should apply to a lower court. Bianco posits that Bonta, a Democrat, is attempting to improperly interfere with what he says is a lawful criminal investigation.

In a recent statement, Bonta argued that “Sheriff Bianco’s

investigation is unprecedented in both scope and scale and appears not to be based on facts or evidence but on unfounded allegations that have already been refuted by the Riverside Registrar of Voters.”

Bonta previously sent letters to the Sheriff’s office on Feb. 26 and

March 4 asking that they stop the investigation and share case files with the AG’s Office. He later stated that the Attorney General office has attempted to work cooperatively to review the warrants and files themselves, but “during this time, the sheriff has delayed, stonewalled and otherwise refused to work with us in good faith.”

Bonta has argued that there is no indication of widespread voter fraud in the United States, and that the seizure of ballots by the sheriff’s appears based on questionable allegations, feeding into election conspiracy theories that erode confidence in our country’s

democratic institutions.

Bonta’s office further stated the Sheriff’s Office’s warrants and supporting affidavits were legally deficient because no particular crime was identified that had been committed, which is a necessary predicate to obtain a criminal search

election in Riverside County as it “sows mistrust in our system,” going on to outline his rationale for the investigation while accusing California’s AG of trying to stop it.

Bianco argued that “what does sow mistrust in our system is failing to conduct an investigation, or worse, attempting to stop or interfere with a lawful PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES investigation, to sweep it under the rug so evidence can possibly be destroyed.”

He criticized what he said was a state law requiring Proposition 50 ballots to be destroyed by May, citing that it denies transparency and fosters a “sense of corruptness” in the Attorney General.

Bianco argues that no amount of error is acceptable, no matter how small.

He stated that the investigation is not a recount, but aims to simply count the number of physical ballots and compare that with the number recorded.

“There is no legal justification for the attorney general to warrant. Bonta also questioned stop a lawful investigation,” Bianco whether Bianco concealed said, adding he will carry out his information from the judge who “constitutional duty to pursue issued the search warrant. justice impartially.”

In a statement, Bonta’s office said the court’s denial of his petition was In a news release on Friday, based solely on the court in which March 19, Calif. Secretary of the case was filed rather than its State Shirley Weber argued that, inherent validity, and that “the facts regardless of the validity of the have not changed. The Riverside case, Bianco and his deputies are County Sheriff continues to not election officials and do not directly defy the AG’s instructions, have the election administration in violation of the California expertise, qualification, or legal Constitution and state law.” authority necessary to properly In a statement on Friday, March investigate it.

19, Bianco countered that it’s “absolutely ridiculous” to suggest ■H a probe into the Proposition 50

8 APRIL FOOLS

Opinions

OPINIONS

highlandernews.org/category/opinions

Free tuition is yet another April Fools’ joke we’re told to laugh at UCR STUDENTS CAN TRIUMPH AS THE UC BOARD OF REGENTS ISN’T ACTUALLY MAKING TUITION FREE.

OVI MATHIVANAN Assistant Opinions Editor

In a monumental decision, the University of California (UC) Board of Regents voted on March 23 to make tuition free for all students at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) starting in the 2027-28 academic year, citing student concerns about the affordability of tuition as their utmost priority. Gone would be the days of thousands of dollars students don’t have going toward tuition, along with the hours spent stressing over financial aid applications like the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Application.

Students will no longer have to contemplate whether they will get run over by a scooter on the way to their next exam, hoping to get injured enough to warrant an accident payout that will offset the costs of their tuition and student fees.

For a moment, they can instead take a break to rejoice — maybe even breathe, something students rarely get to do — as their prayers for affordable education have been answered and life as a student stops feeling like a constant barter.

Then comes the reveal, the ruiner of dreams: it’s April Fools’ Day, and governing boards wouldn’t dare give up millions in funding from student tuition so easily. The headline speaks for free tuition, but the real April Fools’ joke is that students can only dream about free tuition, as it may as well remain a dream that they will never hold in their hands.

Free or reduced tuition doesn’t feel like a dream because it’s actually unattainable; it feels so far out of reach for students because they have been conditioned to not expect it. The system tells students they need a college education to

be a valuable contributing member of corporate society, but it gives no instruction manual on how to navigate the higher education system and the mountain loads of hidden fees necessary to make it out of the rat race.

The struggle doesn’t end when students manage to climb out from under piles of college application essays and associated application fees, unless they’re part of the minority that qualifies for a fee waiver. The UC waives the $80 per campus application fees for up to four campuses for qualifying low-income students, saving up to $320 in application fees alone.

Once students step away from the application portals, they immediately must consider how they will proceed to pay for any colleges they are admitted to. They have to wager whether they will rely on family support, juggle multiple jobs, take out federal and private student loans, qualify for scholarships or otherwise source money.

The 2025-26 estimated tuition and fees for continuing undergraduate students who initially enrolled at UCR in the 2022-23 academic year are $13,104. In contrast, the 2025-26 estimated tuition and fees for those who initially enrolled at UCR in the 2025-26 academic year are $14,934, a $1,830 difference from that charged to the 2022-23 incoming cohort.

The headaches don’t stop there for students, as that tuition sticker price climbs for every year’s cohort of students in adherence with the UC Tuition Stability Plan, in which the UC Admissions page notes “tuition will be adjusted for each incoming undergraduate class but will subsequently remain flat until the student graduates,” beginning with the 2022-23

incoming class of UC students.

For now, a tuition-free UCR remains a mere fantasy and the product of sleep-deprived students’ April Fools’ humor. But behind the joke, there is a possibility and the withering hope of UCR students and those around them, that one day will bring a reality where students no longer need to pray for affordable education.

That one day, UC and local policymakers will remember the daily struggles and lived realities of students, something they once were but seem to have forgotten, abandoning any recognition that education should serve the public and not mere financial statements or bookkeeping records.

Until then, and until the punchline of free tuition becomes a lived reality, students will continue to spend everyday calculating every dollar and every second, hoping to capitalize on every opportunity to make their tuition worth it.

And maybe, through it all, students will keep laughing, and the line between humor and coping blurs. Because while the humor may be wistful, at least it’s one that’s theirs to claim and a lasting college memory, marked by years spent paying back the crushing costs of a college education. *This is an April Fools’ publication. This article is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about the writer’s opinion except through humor and/or exaggeration.

Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental or is intended purely as satire, parody or spoof of such persons and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about that person.■H

LAYNA LAPIKAS / THE HIGHLANDER

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OPINIONS

APRIL FOOLS

9

Thanks, President Trump, for the higher gas prices CECILE DIROLL Opinions Editor

THIS MAY JUST BE PRESIDENT TRUMP’S GREATEST SUCCESS.

Since the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, gasoline prices have skyrocketed across the country. As President Trump protects the U.S., obviously, regular unleaded prices will rise a little bit, temporarily.

Sure, California prices have hit an all-time high, with a gallon costing over $7. Some well-known left-wing economists estimate that Americans will likely pay approximately $740 more for gas this year, but these are just scare tactics from the left.

The White House has said the spike is temporary and that it will bring down fuel prices. So, then why is the fake media at it again? They’re missing the story, as this may just be President Trump’s greatest success since regaining power.

As he explained on the aptly-named Truth Social, “The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money.”

And he is right.

From Texas to Alaska, the U.S. pumps more than 13 million barrels of oil per day and became the world’s largest oil producer in 2018. Indeed, oil companies such as Chevron and Exxon Mobil are making “a lot of money” from the spike as stock prices rose following the attacks on Iran. Exporters

and traders of American liquefied natural gas are also reportedly earning nearly $1 billion more per week.

For the average American, a trip to the gas station has become a fun, interactive experience. Drivers can now play a “guess the price” game where they predict the gas prices on the signs. Americans cannot get this level of suspense when prices are low and predictable. President Trump has once again done what no one else could.

High gas prices also encourage commuters to spend more time at home. When travelling a mile costs around $7, people can relive their “pandemic era” — without the virus — and engage in virtual hangouts with friends, staying at home with their families. What’s better than going to the park or shopping at the local mall? Staying in your room.

The spike also affects airfares, as domestic flights are up 10% to 15%, just in time for spring break. Summer trips are also expected to increase by about 19%. Higher airfares mean less crowded airports, more legroom and room to recline — making trips to Mara-Lago a delight.

Unlike previous price spikes, this one is different, according to President Trump.

The strikes on Iran are not like the 2022

Ukraine conflict, in which global supply shocks caused U.S. gas prices to reach $5 per gallon. Rather, gas prices are solely affected by domestic changes, not global ones.

Biden’s economists have no idea what they are talking about when they say “supply and demand” and “global markets,” but President Trump does. The basic concepts of economics are fictional and this global conflict defies everything. If he says high gas prices will make the U.S. “a lot of money,” then it will happen.

So, when Americans pump gas and watch as the price shoots upward on the screen, there is only one person to thank. President Trump, “to Thee I sing!” *This is an April Fools’ publication. This article is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about the writer’s opinion except through humor and/or exaggeration. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental or is intended purely as satire, parody or spoof of such persons and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about that person.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF RAWPIXEL

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OPINIONS

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America enters its next phase in cash transactions with the end of the $1 bill THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BANS THE $1 BILL, MARKING THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR LOW-VALUE US CURRENCY.

SHREYA PATEL Staff Writer

Many thought 2026 would be THE year.

But it’s not even halfway through the year and the U.S. has already lived through the war in the Middle East, U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents acting as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers at several airports and skyrocketing gas prices. Now, to add to the list, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has decided to say goodbye to the $1 bill for the better.

Founding Father George Washington has blessed this bill, which will finally be put to rest in May 2026, since 1869. This policy came as part of modernization efforts and the push towards digital efficiency and monetary transactions.

This decision represents a shift away from lowvalue paper currency toward digital transactions due to the rise of technological advancements. As the world turns towards quick one-tap payments, this announcement serves as exciting news for the younger population.

The elimination of the $1 bill came about as the next logical step after the one-cent shutdown.

In February 2025, the federal government announced the discontinuation of the U.S. penny due to high production costs, demeaning it as a “wasteful expense.” This decision will save the nation $56 million per year.

It might come as a surprise at first, but there are many benefits to this decision. One is its minimal inflation impact, with its low value and the ability to round to the nearest five cents or a dollar. Now, with the $1 bill being retired, the U.S. Treasury plans to save even more, investing it in far more important issues and efforts.

When the $1 bill cessation goes live in May 2026, purchasing power will be reduced dramatically over the recent inflation period.

Market prices, where nothing really costs $1 — even at Dollar Tree — show that cash transactions are far less common in the present-day payment system. This also helps with the modernization efforts that the federal government is pushing towards.

According to Fortune, around half of Generation Y and Z use Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services, while cash payments are becoming less popular. With these trends, the federal government assessed ceasing production of the $1 bill, pushing people towards digital payments such as Apple Pay and reducing printing costs as its usefulness declines.

After May 2026, printing will be reduced and no businesses will be allowed to accept $1 bills as payment. Around early fall 2026, banks will begin withdrawing $1 bills from ATMs and cash stocks. By 2027, the circulation of the $1 bill will completely fade out. This is a great sign of progress for future generations who don’t have the habit of carrying wallets with cash and credit cards, but have the luxury of digital wallets on their phones. Slowly, banks will shut down because there is no need for cash withdrawals, since all payments can be processed digitally.

Before anyone knows it, once the elimination of the $1 bill has passed, other cash notes will not be too far behind. Soon, cash will be out of the way and everyone will adapt to Apple Pay. However, there are some downsides. This decision will harm those who rely on $1 bills for vending machines, which often require $1 bill payments. Whipping a bill out and buying

a soda or snack pack will now become more complicated.

Club fundraisers also account for the latter effects of this ban. The $1 World’s Finest Chocolate bars sold at middle and high school fundraisers will now sell for the next whole dollar amount, putting an end to a period of old memories. With these policy effects, students will have to shift to digital payments on their phones, such as Apple Pay, Venmo, credit cards or turn to higher rounded cash transactions.

Soon, the U.S. will gather to say one last goodbye to the beloved $1 bill. Public resistance is expected from cash-reliant communities, small businesses and older Americans who have the habit of feeling the paper money under their thumbs. But due to current political events, this is the most logical step for the future of U.S. currency.

With global conflicts, an inflating economy and the rise of the digital age, budgeting is becoming a top priority of the U.S. Treasury.

After saving $56 million from the elimination of U.S. penny production, the $1 bill is next in line for increasing savings. It’s time to embrace digital currency as the world adapts to this cashless age and frame the $1 bill as an antique on the walls. *This is an April Fools’ publication. This article is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about the writer’s opinion except through humor and/or exaggeration.

Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental or is intended purely as satire, parody or spoof of such persons and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about that person.■H COURTESY OF RICHARD FORSTER VIA FLICKR

SUSANNA WU / THE HIGHLANDER

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OPINIONS

APRIL FOOLS

11

NYT’s investigation into Chavez shows society should reconsider how to remember movements THE UFW LABOR MOVEMENT IS MORE THAN JUST AN INDIVIDUAL. MATA ELANGOVAN Editor-in-Chief

Following a recent investigation the New York Times (NYT) conducted on Cesar Chavez, multiple organizations and public figures have issued statements condemning his alleged actions. The celebrated labor leader — long seen as a symbol of farmworker resistance and dignity — is now under renewed and intensive scrutiny.

This investigation doesn’t just call into question the legacy of an individual, but rather forces a broader reckoning with how movements choose to remember and protect their leaders.

Chavez, who cofounded the United Farm Workers (UFW) alongside Dolores Huerta and Larry Itliong, has been institutionally memorialized for decades. Cesar Chavez Day has been officially observed in California since 2001, following its establishment as a state holiday in 2000. In 2014, former President Barack Obama issued a proclamation recognizing March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day at the federal level. Since then, schools, public institutions and communities across the country have commemorated his legacy annually, reinforcing his status as a nearmythic leader in American Labor History.

However, as recent reporting has surfaced alleging that Chavez groomed and sexually abused girls within the movement, his legacy has now been fractured. In response, UFW announced on March 17, 2026, that it would cancel Cesar Chavez Day activities for the remainder of the month. The statement, while significant, remains brief, and raises the question: Is issuing a statement enough?

No.

This moment demands more than institutional distancing; it requires active, ongoing accountability. As a women-led organization, the UFW — and others deliberating with similar histories — must go beyond a simple symbolic gesture.

While the statement already provided survivor support systems and hotlines for individuals to reach out to, there is more to be done.

They can embed regular worker check-ins within organizing spaces, whether through oneon-one conversations or during collective actions like picketing. Or simply put, they can require direct engagement with survivors, and in doing so, ask them what support looks like, what accountability requires and how the organization can actively support and show up for those who have been harmed.

Public response has been swift following the release of the NYT article. Organizations, schools and local governments have begun to condemn Chavez’s alleged actions, with some calling for a reevaluation of his legacy. These calls have extended to them making changes to holidays, monuments, public honors and even how Chavez is taught in curricula in middle and high schools. This past week, California renamed César Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day. However, defenders of Chavez have pushed back against the claims of sexual assault, arguing that his contributions to labor rights should not be overshadowed. This tension is what sits at the center of the debate, but underlying this moment lies a deeper structural issue. History in the United States is often taught through individuals

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rather than movements and through this framework heroization occurs. Leaders are elevated to statuses where they appear beyond critique.

Through this approach, harm is obscured and survivors are silenced. The narrative may become easier to teach and celebrate, but far harder to challenge.

This is not a phenomenon unique to Chavez.

Figures like Mahatma Gandhi have similarly been revered while troubling aspects of their histories are minimized or ignored. The pattern is all too familiar: charisma and cause become shields, protecting individuals like Gandhi and Chavez from scrutiny. But no movement benefits from unquestionable loyalty. Real leadership requires accountability, not just blind solidarity — otherwise, it becomes complicity.

To move forward, the focus must shift. The value of a movement does not, and should not, rest on the moral infallibility of a singular leader.

It lives and breathes through the collective: the workers, organizers and community members who built and sustained the fight for labor justice. Centering the collective also means centering those who were harmed by and within it.

True accountability requires confronting uncomfortable truths. It means not sanitizing history for the sake of preserving iconic characters.

One of the parts of being in a movement means telling the full, fucking story — not just the parts that are easy to celebrate or are neatly packaged for public consumption.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF LOS ANGELES TIMES VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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12

FEATURES

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Features

Scotty-Scopes:

THE SIGNS AS APRIL FOOLS’ PRANKS.

How will you be pranking people this week?

SANJANA THATTE Features Editor

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22): Covering Someone’s Desk in Sticky Notes

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21): Jumpscare

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21): Prank Call

Like you, a spur of the moment prank is what you need, Libra. You saw sticky notes and a desk and decided to get to work.

Depending on the person they will either laugh for 20 minutes straight or hate you for the rest of the week.

Cruel and slightly sociopathic. A jumpscare shows your commitment to pranking someone along with your need to drive the shock factor home. Like a Libra, you want to make sure who you’re pranking.

As a Sagittarius you are definitely clever and talented enough to pull off a prank call.

The IRS, an ex-boyfriend and maybe even a fake trip to Tahiti. Have fun with this one Sagittarius, we’ll all have stories to tell after you’re done.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19): Fake animal

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18): Fill Their Room with Balloons

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20): Whoopee Cushion

Like Scorpio, you will be using this day as an opportunity to release your inner demon.

Maybe a rubber rat in someone’s shoe or a plastic spider on someone’s hairbrush.

Using someone’s phobia against them seems right up your alley, Capricorn.

Whimsical and sure to leave a smile on their face, you’ll use your spontaneous nature to bring joy to someone’s day. Filling someone’s room with balloons will fulfill the surprise factor of a prank but spread the happiness you so naturally exude.

I’ve got one word for you: annoying.

Irritating, vexatious, aggravating and bothersome. A whoopee cushion will scare the daylight out of your friends and is sure to leave them fuming for the rest of the day.

Aries (March 21 – April 19): Supergluing Someone’s Stuff to the Desk

Taurus (April 20 – May 20): Fake Food

Gemini (May 21 – June 20): Draw a Mustache on Their Face

Bold, daring and making waves. No matter how much you enrage your boss with this prank Aries, they will be impressed enough to not fire you. Stay true to your ambitious nature.

Ah yes, the classic sriracha filled cupcake or chocolate covered sponge. Tried, true and sure to shock your prankee, but not scare or hurt them. Stay steady, Taurus.

It’s why people love you.

Gemini, you are one thing and one thing only during prank season: annoying.

That being said, stay in your lane and draw a mustache on someone’s face.

It’s the best of your immaturity.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22): Fake Tattoo

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22): Toilet Papering

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22): Stealing Someone’s Phone

Your emotional nature is a double edged sword, Cancer. You’ll likely be using your prank day as a way to get back on the jabs throughout the year. A fake tattoo will scare people enough to worry about your wellbeing, but be harmless in the long run, just like you.

Flamboyant and attention seeking. Toilet papering someone’s locker, desk or house is sure to put your signature on the prank completely defeating the discrete nature of it.

Lame, yet still kind of mean. You’ll steal someone’s phone just as they sit back down for dinner and give it back just when you start to see them panic. Controlled but still H boring. ■ LAYNA LAPIKAS / THE HIGHLANDER

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FEATURES

APRIL FOOLS

13

Empowering women in business through community RACHEL KO Copy Editor

One of the most popular majors here at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) is the business administration major. With over 3,000 enrolled undergraduate students, it’s no surprise that our campus is home to many business-oriented organizations. These clubs promote networking, host workshops and overall help guide those who wish to pursue a career in business.

UCR’s very own Women’s Business Association (WBA) does all of that and more, as they welcome women of all majors and help them succeed in a male-dominated field that is called the world of business.

WBA’s former name was “She Means Business,” and earlier this year, they rebranded the club to what is now known as the Women’s Business Association. Melina Shafie, fourth year business administration major with a concentration in marketing and the current president of the club, explained that despite the club’s rebranding, WBA still stands for the same professional virtues as it did before.

“Our values have always been to just promote inclusivity of women in business,” Shafie said. “We’re trying to create an empowering space for all the women at the school who are studying business or are trying to develop professionally.”

While some business clubs focus on only one type of concentration, WBA emphasizes everything that the world of business has to offer. This ranges from guest panels to life after UCR. Alina Syed, a transfer third year business administration major and an events intern for WBA, described the club as comprehensive and informational: “We’re open to a lot of things, all the things, and even if it’s not targeting a specific niche or a concentration, it’s all about growing professionally.”

WBA STANDS FOR BUSINESS. The core foundation of WBA is to create a comfortable learning environment for women aiming for a career in business. Shafie recalled that in nearly every event and class she’s participated in, the speaker would always be male, and described that feeling as rather difficult. In order to promote the club’s virtue of empowering women in business, the organization has invited many prominent female guest speakers in the past, such as Jordana Katcher, the vice president of apparel from Nike, and has plans to invite another speaker from JP Morgan.

Shafie shared, “We feel that having speakers that are women is really valuable to other women who are in the organization and just at the school in general, because it’s easier to envision yourself in the place of those people when it’s women.”

Fourth year business analytics major Jasmine Ma, vice president of internal affairs, couldn’t agree more. “I think that having these speakers who have gone through similar things — as well as ourMAIN events —ST specifically cater towards creating that comfortable environment, rather than just pushing out information about the corporate world,” she added.

Besides guest panels, the club hosts a variety of workshops and social events. Such workshops include resume building, improving LinkedIn profiles, mock interviews, and more.

WBA prides themselves on their interactivity, as their events are engagORANGE ST ing and dynamic. “We’ll group off in sections and take a glance at their resumes,” Syed explained, “and if they don’t have any, that’s totally fine. We work from the ground up.”

During these workshops — and in the club in general — there’s no such thing as a silly question. Everyone is here to learn and help each other. “It just creates a more motivating and

collaborative atmosphere,” said Lily Rizo, fourth year media and cultural studies major and the vice president of team relations.

If you’re looking to wind down a bit and bond with other club members, WBA’s social events might be just for you. They host cupcake decorating and bedazzling events, so check them out if you’re interested!

One thing that sets WBA apart from other clubs is their special mentorship program. Interested girls who are unfamiliar with the business industry are encouraged to apply for the program, where they will be paired up with a more experienced mentor. The mentor would usually be someone who has had internships in the past and overall is more well-versed in the field, and this provides the mentee with an opportunity to both familiarize themselves with the industry as well as network.

It’s okay to feel unsure about what you want to do with your major later in life. Ultimately, your area of studies does not set a set path for you to strictly follow, as it’s important to do what you want to do. Shafie understands that too well, as she herself was uncertain about joining WBA or what kind of concentration she wanted to go into.

Shafie encourages those interested yet still hesitant to step out of their comfort zone and to take a leap of faith. “If you’re unsure, still come and try to learn. And if you think it’s too overwhelming, that’s okay, even if you know what you don’t like do-■ ing because that’s still helpful. Maybe you can do this.”

This spring quarter, WBA will have bi-weekly meetings starting on Week 2 on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with social events hosted throughout. Follow their Instagram @wba.ucr to stay updated on their schedule!

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FEATURES

14 APRIL FOOLS

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NORM’S NOOK

SPOTLIGHT

Outdoor area of the Chemical Sciences building

PHOTO COURTESY OF UCR

NOLA PERIFEL Assistant Features Editor

This outdoor seating area, in front of the Chemical Sciences building, is a hidden gem for all studying endeavors. With ample shade cast by the trees, this area is a great place to relax. Shielded from the loud hustle and bustle of the center of campus, this quiet part of our university will only maximize your learning. The only thing you may start question-

ing during your study session is ”Who had the brilliant idea to make all seating out of hard and cold concrete?”. To remedy that, you may want to take a cushion with you to avoid the soreness that comes with the outdoor area of the Chemical Sciences building.

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SPRING FLOWERS

LAYNA LAPIKAS / THE HIGHLANDER

By Haley Klein, Staff Writer

ANSWERS

(DON’T PEEK!) By: Haley Klein, Staff Writer 1. Upside-down sleepers 5. Stockpile 10. Clerical vestments 14. Not give ___ 15. “Gymnopédies” composer 16. “I didn’t ___ _ thing” 17. Store event 18. “_____ we all?”

19. Female horse 20. Asian plant named for its heart-shaped pink flowers 23. Singer Celine 24. Airline to Stockholm 25. “Chocolat” director Hallström

28. Obamacare, for short 31. “_____ be awesome!”

35. Shortly 37. Tax exemption 39. Expert 40. Flowering plant also called May Bells 44. __ _ glance 45. Preferring platonic relationships, informally 46. Place for an ace?

47. Groups of actors 50. Nova Scotia hrs.

52. Once more 53. Supplementary medical benefit: Abbr.

55. “Yeah, I’ll pass” 57. Bloom featured during an annual D.C. spring

festival 63. Takes off 64. Werewolf friend of Dumbledore 65. Jack of “Rio Lobo” 67. Suffix with billion 68. Run off to wed 69. Trillion: Prefix 70. Some college tests, for short 71. “This is dear mercy, and thou ___ it not”: “Romeo and Juliet” 72. It’s a long story DOWN 1. Humanities degrees 2. United ____ Emirates 3. Towering

4. Passes in a hurry 5. South American barbecue 6. Yacht spot 7. “... two fives for _ ___?”

8. Join the chorus 9. Rogen and MacFarlane 10. Quite the hit 11. Shakespearean king 12. Muppet with a unibrow 13. Motor oil letters 21. “Old MacDonald” refrain 22 “Dig in!”

25. New Hampshire state flower 26. Singer Baker 27. Rooms in una casa 29. Pacific salmon

30. Consumed 32. Cop _ ____ 33. Rome’s _____ Fountain 34. Senior expert in an organization 36. Nonprofit that recruits college grads into education: Abbr.

38. Colorado Avalanche Ice hockey team 41. ___-la-la 42. Astronauts Bean and Shepard 43. They’re built brick by brick 48. Dissertations 49. Georgia, once: Abbr.

51. The Netherlands’

spring bloom 54. Where Van Gogh painted “Sunflowers” 56. “Impression, Sunrise” painter 57. Coconut fiber 58. Roll call response 59. Christmas season 60. Elk-related fraternal org.

61. Olive genus 62. Helgenberger of “CSI” 63. Joke 66. Goat’s bleat ■H

FEATURES

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Whole wheat buttermilk pancakes By: Sanjana Thatte, Features Editor

15

TEST YOURSELF! What spring flower are you?

A nice breakfast that you can whip up with ingredients lying around the house.

Prep Time: 20 minutes Servings: 4

Instructions:

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELS

1.In a bowl, whisk whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

2. In a different bowl, whisk buttermilk, egg and melted butter until combined.

3. Whisk dry ingredients into wet ingredients slowly until just combined, and fold any unincorporated ingredients in. The batter will be lumpy, but be sure not to overmix.

4. Preheat your pan on medium low 4. heat and when warm, grease with butter.

5. Use an ice cream scooper to place batter onto the pan and smooth into a circle with the back of the scooper.

6. After about 2-3 minutes, flip the pan cake on the other side and let it sit for the same amount of time. This would be when you add fillings of your choice.

7. Do this until the batter has finished cooking and then serve with some maple syrup and ■H orange juice on the side.

COURTESY OF VEGANBAKING.NET VIA WIKIMEDIA

Ingredients: • • • • • • • • •

1 cup of whole wheat flour 2 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1 cup buttermilk 1 egg 2 tbsp of melted butter Extra butter for pan Optional fillings (chocolate chips, blueberries, strawberries, etc)

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SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY: EASY

APRIL FOOLS

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Spring quarter is upon us! Find out which of these colorful flowers represent you best.

By: Nola Perifel, Assistant Features Editor 1. During social events, you tend to: A. Arrive classy and elegant but only open up in specific situations.

B. Take up a lot of space in conversation and leave an unforgettable impression.

C. Appear out of nowhere, be the life of the party and disappear as suddenly as you arrived.

2. Your motto is: A. “Always be yourself.”

B. “Never give up.”

C. “We only have one life.”

3. You describe yourself as: A. Sensitive B. Resilient C. Passionate

answer key If you got “A,” you are a Tulip. Like tulips who open in the sunlight and close in the dark, you are full of energy during the day but you need enough hours of sleep to recharge. You are sensitive to your environment, meaning that you tend to wither in unsupportive environments and thrive more than others in caring and loving environments. Tulips are celebrated, and similarly, you are someone that people look up to. You have a very cheerful and bubbly personality and you always show up to parties dressed classy and elegant. You engage in many different hobbies, making your various interests one of your biggest strengths.

If you got “B,” you are a Wisteria. If you are a wisteria flower, you are a complex person.

Beautiful, enchanting and always smelling great, you are the kind of person that leaves an unforgettable and ever-lasting impression on the people you meet. You take up space in conversation and you enjoy when people turn their attention to you. You are patient, wise and tougher than you look. You tend to be possessive and you may have some toxic tendencies, but you are also supportive and loving. You cling tightly to those you love.

If you got “C,” you are a Cherry Blossom.

You are the type of person who makes a brief but meaningful appearance at parties.

You are full of joy, and your nurturing tendencies draw people to you. You are delicate, but passionate and you always live life to the fullest. Your motto is “live in the moment,” or “we only have one life,” and you always remind people that life is short and is meant to be lived. People always feel happier around you because you bring hope with you everywhere you go. Keep inspiring us, cherry blossoms!

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16 APRIL FOOLS

FEATURES

Dorm room revelations

My ideal sunny day

OVI MATHIVANAN Assistant Opinions Editor

HOW THE PERFECT SUNNY DAY WOULD GO ON A WEEKEND AT UCR. SOPHIA UCROS Contributing writer

In Riverside, especially during the transition from winter to spring, you never know what the weather is going to be like when you wake up in the morning. But, every once in a while, you’ll wake up and look outside to see the sun is shining, the palm trees are swaying and that the grass looks a bit greener than usual. The perfect sunny day is upon us, and this is exactly how it should go …

First, after realizing how perfect the weather is, one of the best parts of the day is creating an outfit to match the day. It might be time to bring out shorts or a good tank top. If you’re feeling fancy maybe throw some sunglasses on your head as well.

Then, it’s time to power up and start off with the most important meal of the day: breakfast. My personal favorite is an ABC bagel, or also known as an avocado, bacon and cream cheese bagel. On an average day I would say it would then be

time for class, but on our perfect sunny day, it’s safe to assume it’s a weekend.

Now the moment the weather is above 80 degrees, I’d make my way to the pool at the Student Recreation Center (SRC). It’ll likely be busy, but on this perfect day, there will be a beach chair open for you right when you get there. If you haven’t been to the pool at the SRC, then you should know that it has an awesome feature with a donut lazy river where you can float in circles, the epitome of relaxation!

After treating yourself to some relaxation time in the sun, you get a text from your friends saying that after the heat dies down they want to go get dinner. Excitedly, you make your way back to your dorm, taking the scenic route surrounded by trees and wildlife.

It’s a beautiful sight, the sun slightly peaks through the leaves and the squirrels shuffle through the bushes as

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a butterfly flies across your line of vision.

Once you make it back you take a nice long shower and get dressed up to go hang out with your friends, wearing your favorite jeans and shirt. Then you meet up with your friends to go get malatang once the cool has set over the Riverside atmosphere.

The meal is amazing, the sun has set and you share laughs and memories with your friends.

From there the options are limitless, we could watch a movie, play board games, go get dessert or even just sit and talk for a while.

This is not just the perfect sunny day. It’s a reminder of how easy it is to overlook the small beautiful things in our lives that make it a little more worth living each day. This type of day may not happen everyday, but when it does, life does seem a bit brighter. And it all started with the rising of the sun, the sway of a palm tree, and a bright blade of grass. ■ H

PHOTO COURTESY OF RAWPIXEL

THOUGHTS COLLECTED FROM MY CORNER OF CAMPUS. Someday, somehow, fear of mortality became shadowed by the choices of the life that remains.

I race against time’s brevity, leaving yesterday’s self behind.

Someday, somehow, I stopped resenting goodbyes and found comfort in myself.

I don’t turn away from people, but I’ve learned to loosen my hold.

Age 13 felt like I knew everything.

Age 20 laughs at that certainty, knowing even a dozen lifetimes couldn’t touch all the world has to show.

I hold the guise of steadiness close, even though tomorrow isn’t promised.

Someday, somehow, I started accepting the love others offered and learning how to return it.

Our economy charges aura points for caring.

The bank can keep mine if loving means losing the game.

Someday, somehow, an unexpected conversation sparked optimism in a self-proclaimed realist, once bound so tightly by logic I had betrayed my own emotions.

Now, 20 years of realizations fill the confines of my quiet room.

Staring at the nauseatingly off-white ceiling, I care more than I’ve ever had words to say.

My humanity peeks through little cracks: slipped smiles, the ways I’ve found family in friends.

Something I once vowed I’d never do, haunted by the anticipatory grief that even what’s found could be lost.

Today, I choose to keep feeling, keep doing.

Though it’s tempting to step away, I would rather be hurt again and again than watch life pass me by in the small cube I call my bedroom. ■H

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FEATURES

BEST

The Highlander’s Biggest

LEARN MORE ABOUT CARGO THE OFFICE DOG.

APRIL FOOLS

17

Employee

MATA ELANGOVAN Editor in Chief

There are a few constants at the hovel known as The Highlander Office, located in HUB 101. Deadlines that creep by too fast, editors who speak too loud and water guns aimed at unsuspecting heads haunt all that enter. But somewhere, amidst all the chaos, hiding beneath a table or tucked under a blanket is Cargo Sarabia, the office dog.

At first glance, Cargo seems like any other dog.

He’s 10 years old, roughly 30 pounds and he’s frequently found burrowed under blankets to protect his peace. He may not seem like a part of leadership, but after spending five minutes in his vast presence, it becomes clear that he plays an integral part in molding the newsroom’s emotional infrastructure.

His official title is “Nap Coordinator.”

Unlike the rest of the staff in the office, Cargo didn’t apply for the position. He didn’t go through a formal onboarding, there was no HR paperwork to be completed or even a training manual to be found. His responsibilities are simple and straightforward: be soft, be present and be available at all times for emotional support, despite his feelings on the matter.

Cargo explains, “I don’t really have a system. Sometimes, I’ll be under the table, and then I’ll hear a voice say, ‘Cargo,’ and I know it’s my time … They pick me up … and then I know I have to clock in.”

It’s a demanding job — one that requires so much vulnerability and braveness. Despite undergoing emotional support training, Cargo admits the role is not without its challenges. He’s unsettled by loud noises, sudden attention can be overwhelming, and yet, he shows up to work everyday.

There is a burden that comes with being as brave, as Cargo himself admits.

“I am not just an office dog,” he says.

“I am brave.”

His bravery manifests in small acts, very small baby steps. He attempts jumps that he may not make, walks routes he doesn’t fully trust, but

despite it all, he tackles all in front of comfort,” Cargo shares.Currently, he is looking for a good balance between selfimprovement and staying soft enough for others to find a pillow on.

Like everyone in the office, Cargo has his opinions. He hates the noise. In fact, he shares “[The staff] get very loud sometimes.

When they realize that I’m there and they want to find me, it feels very concerning — like I’m being hunted.”

His favorite part however, is the quiet acts of kindness.

Often seen in under the table affection or through a certain unnamed editor who slips him ham when no one is watching …

If there’s one thing that Cargo wants the people on campus to know about, it’s this: strength doesn’t always look loud. It’s all about showing up when you’re anxious.

To keep moving on and standing up for yourself when needed. Like carrying a “heavy load,” both literally and figuratively, and choosing ER AND L H not to let it stop you.

G HI / THE A N RE Anyways, Cargo is currently acLIA U ADE cepting donations to help him better his mental health. Specifically, tortillas.

So if you’re ever in The Highlander office and hear someone calling his name, just know that Cargo is clocking in. And him with a smile. Like 50% of the time. like most journalists, he’s doing the work, even when no one sees it.

Some would even say Cargo reflects the students he interacts with every *Kassandra Aguirre, Staff Writer, day. We’re all just navigating uncer- supplemented Cargo’s interview after tainty and pushing through discomfort astral projecting into his brain to make it by day to day. Just like how *This is an April Fools’ publication. This article Cargo is learning to exist in spaces that is not intended to communicate any true or facaren’t built for a dog of his stature. tual information about the writer’s article except Speaking of stature, Cargo is also no- through humor and/or exaggeration. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely cointably on a weight loss journey. or is intended purely as satire, parody or In the recent past Cargo was once cidental spoof of such persons and is not intended to comfueled by a steady diet of tortillas, municate any true or factual information about something he reminisces on quite often that person.

■ during meal times. Now, he faces strict dietary restrictions and longer walks, both of which he approaches with a mix of reluctant acceptance and resilience.

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“I aspire to lose some of the weight … but keep the size which allows me to give

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COMICS

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Comics

Watch me eat a cookie - Susanna Wu

Stuck In MSPaint - Adelia Urena

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The Fred Movie series is the greatest trilogy in film history COMING OF AGE DRAMAS THAT DEFINED A GENERATION. ANTHONY ASCENCIO-CARVAJAL Staff Writer

When Lucas Cruikshank entered into the YouTube landscape as Fred in 2008, it wasn’t by chance he received fame and stardom, it was destiny. The fictional character resonated with audiences far and wide, being able to capture the experiences of a mild mannered suburban child who documented his dysfunctional life during the start of the streaming era. A fictional series like no other, the magic Lucas Cruikshank created was only beginning. The Fred Channel was the first in Youtube history to receive one million subscribers, leading to an eventual movie series being released under Nickelodeon.

“Fred: The Movie” conceptualizes the hero’s journey as no other film had done, up to its release in 2010. Lucas Cruikshank, using his blessed vocal cords as the greatest singer/actor in our modern times, was the star of the film.

It was a tale of great romance, comedy, thrills, the occasional horror and war as Fred fought for what he loved most.

The unimaginable cast included Jennette McCurdy to play Bertha, the Sundance Kid to Fred’s Butch Cassidy. The lack of presence of a father figure throughout the Fred web series is explained when John Cena was cast as his Dad. Cena instilled within him the confidence he needed to have the courage to go onto his journey despite the myriad of conflicts awaiting.

Jacob Weary, the film’s antagonist and one of the most evilest characters written in fictional history, would send shivers down Shakespeare’s Iago spine for how much he captures the villain persona.

Fred’s treacherous tour across his town to see Judy takes place when he takes the number six bus instead of the number seven bus. Catastrophe

strikes when Fred’s delusions appear to be reality, finding out Judy hadn’t invited him to her party he crashed. Embarrassing himself, he finds redemption in throwing a party that’d rival Project X, and posted a video with the help of Bertha to succeed at making everyone at school jealous. “Fred: The Movie” is an anthem for all the youths having felt left out at some point in their lives.

The second film in the trilogy, “Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred,” takes inspiration from many different horror classics. Released in 2011 during the Halloween season, the villain of the story took the role of the new music teacher “Mr. Devlin,” played by Seth Morris, who Fred suspects is a vampire. Bertha’s role had been replaced by another Nickelodeon legend, Daniella Monet, who played Trina in “Victorious.”

The film engages with other films through cutaway references, from “The Fly,” to “Mosquitos,” and especially with the “Twilight” series that were in full effect at the time. The sequel consists of a lot of art in dialogue with other films in order to engage with the vampire tropes that make Mr. Devlin’s character. From avoiding garlic for fear of burning to his palate consisting of eating raw bloody meat to using an umbrella during the day and more, the film does an amazing job in characterizing Mr. Devlin’s identity.

For a unique time in the Fred series, this was even the closest Kevin had been a friend to Fred, since they aligned with their fear of Mr. Devlin.

However, their enemy dynamic returned after Fred fooled the school by pretending he was the real vampire all along. A Halloween classic to stand the test of time, Fred 2 took the fictional

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character’s adventure to a new avenue that would even put fear in the most frequent horror viewer.

“Fred 3: Camp Fred” was the final installment of the Fred trilogy. The film began with a musical number to use the most of Lucas Cruikshank’s vocal gift. Singing about the last day of school before summer, Fred is ecstatic to join Camp Superior over the summer, but conflict arises unexpectedly when he must go instead to Camp Iwannapeepe. Thrice more, Jake Weary reprises his role as Kevin at Camp Superior to continue the rivalry that has maintained throughout the Fred series.

Fred eventually finds the silver lining in the story, and manages to uplift the rest of the camp by encouraging the truth: they’re the best at being themselves. During the final challenge of the Camp Games, they sing “The Loser Song,” a beautiful ballad to deliver Camp Iwannapeepee’s victory over Camp Superior.

Overall, the Fred film trilogy gives an in depth view of the human experience across multiple genres through several challenges. Issues having to deal with self-identity, self-love and finding ways for growth and love in the most difficult parts of one’s life. If there’s anything to learn from Fred, it’s that self-love is all one needs to succeed and be happy in life. *This is an April Fools’ publication. This article is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about the writer’s article except through humor and/or exaggeration.

Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental or is intended purely as satire, parody or spoof of such persons and is not intended to communicate any true or factual ■H information about that person.

ADELIA URENA / THE HIGHLANDER

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2slimey is the next big thing in hip-hop THROUGH “HIGH ANXIETY,” 2SLIMEY IS PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF RAGE MUSIC. JIHOON KWON Staff Writer

Underground rap fans often discuss which artist is “next up” in breaking it into the mainstream. In recent years, artists such as Nine Vicious, Nettspend and OsamaSon have taken that leap in reaching broader listeners. However it seems that one artist in particular, 2slimey, has risen among the rest, garnering explosive attention in recent months, suggesting that he is next up in having a breakout year.

2slimey has been growing at a rapid pace, hitting 500 thousand monthly listeners on Spotify which is several times higher than what it was at only a few months ago. The clip of his Underground Sound Cypher Verse has also gone viral on Instagram and TikTok, reaching even non hip-hop listeners and gaining millions of views.

While it is true that the reactions to the clip are mostly negative, it is due to the growing gap between what the general listeners and underground-rap listeners consider to be good music, as shown recently in the vastly contrasting reaction to Playboi Carti’s newest album “Music.” While underground-rap listeners were hailing tracks like “Pop Out” and “OPM BABI” as rage classics, many general music fans just did not find much appeal in the album. The same thing seems to be happening with 2slimey as most people don’t seem to understand what it is that he is achieving.

Since the release of “Whole Lotta Red,” rage music has largely become a parody of itself, with the flow and production becoming extremely

repetitive. While there were some novel attempts by artists like Yeat, Lil Uzi Vert or 2hollis, combining rage sound with industrial, metal or electronic music, the vast majority of rage music being released in the underground rap scene between 2021 and 2024 were largely mimicking that of Opium rappers like Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely.

Considering the fact that rage is still relatively a new subgenre, the risk of the sound becoming dull is fatal. One example which clearly illustrates this is drill music, which seemed like it was going to be the next biggest subgenre in hip-hop in the early 2020s but quickly lost its momentum due to repetitiveness in flow and rhythm.

For a genre that thrives on being abrasive and boundary-pushing such as rage, unless the artist is able to craft it in a way that is pleasant to the ears like Slayr’s “Half Blood,” its entire merit depends on being able to provide innovative and experimental sound. While few artists such as Lucy Bedroque and Jane Remover attempted this combining it with hyperpop or digicore sound, many seem to be trying to do this through noisier production.

This was reflected in the trend of the underground hip-hop scene in 2025, loosely defined as Axxcelerationism, with albums such as Osamason’s “Psykotic,” bleood’s “Rascal51” and Che’s “Rest in Bass” being the prime examples. 2slimey and his album “High Anxiety” is a product of this movement. Across the album, the tracks carry anxiety-inducing production

with heavy 808s, distortion and high-energy that 2slimey brings. Tracks like “Roc” transcends above the norms of music, bringing a level of aggressiveness unseen in rap music since the trap metal of the mid-2010s with resemblance to XXXTentacion and Ski Mask the Slump God. It’s hard not to compare this new wave of artists like 2slimey to that of the SoundCloud era of 2016. Despite many people, including old heads such as Snoop Dogg, mocking the “newschool” rappers and the “mumble rap” sound they were bringing to the scene at that time, the 2016 XXL Freshman Class is considered the greatest ever now. Emerging artists like 2slimey have the potential and musicality to go on a similar trajectory. It’s no coincidence that Lil Uzi Vert openly endorsed 2slimey in an interview.

2026 will likely be a career-defining moment for 2slimey, given the volume of attention on him.

While they might not be all positive, 2slimey has shown that he has what it takes to turn his haters into his fans and he will be looking to do just that. *This is an April Fools’ publication. This article is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about the writer’s article except through humor and/or exaggeration.

Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental or is intended purely as satire, parody or spoof of such persons and is not intended to communicate any true or factual ■H information about that person.

COURTESY OF RICHARD FORSTER VIA FLICKR

EVENTS THIS WEEK 11/18

Arts and Letters: Susan Straight @ Palm Center Desert Auditorium, 6 p.m.

11/19

Student Performance and Composition Concert @Arts Building 157, 12 p.m.

11/19

The Audacity of Failure @CHASS Interdisciplinary South, 1128, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

11/20

BVRNT/TOUR Jakobs Castle and Strawberry Fuzz with Strange Case @The Barn, 8 p.m. to 10 a.m.

ADELIA URENA / THE HIGHLANDER

COURTESY OF LYNDSEY RANKIN VIA CHASS MARKETING & COMMUNICA-

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Flat caps off for ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’

THE FOLLOW-UP FILM TO THE HIT SERIES SPINS A PASSIONATE TALE OF FORTUNE, FATE AND FAMILY.

ADELIA URENA / THE HIGHLANDERCOURTESY PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

IAN PALMA Radar Editor

Even while being in the dead center of a world the cinematography captures a hell-on-earth **Spoilers Ahead** From “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Story” to war, Birmingham’s criminal underworld goes environment similar to the famous bridge scene “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me” to “Ed Edd & on with business as usual. The film manages from “Apocalypse Now.” While the film manages to wrap up Thomas Eddy’s Big Picture Show,” there are few examples to balance out crime and war aspects all while of a television show ending in a film to be concise concurrently telling a broader story about family. Shelby’s saga in a somewhat satisfying way, Cillian Murphy, in one of his more recent and certain decisions made regarding the fates of and satisfying.

The switch between mediums typically allow compelling performances since “Oppenheimer,” certain characters seem to be predictable and for a grander scope in terms of storytelling and vehemently portrays Thomas at his most forced. The movie particularly mentions the cinematography. Whereas most TV shows would damaged and melancholic. A far cry from the passing of Arthur, Thomas Shelby’s older brother. rather be discontinued and fade into irrelevance, stoic and calculating character fans of the series The fact that Arthur was murdered by Thomas in the conclusion of these series through film gives were familiar with, Thomas’ guilt from his past a fit of blind rage seems to be somewhat out-offans a proper chance to say goodbye to their actions, both before and during his time with the character even for his standards.

With Thomas being guilty about his favorite characters. Fans of “Peaky Blinders,” Peaky Blinders, is laid bare for all to see.

“Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man” displays involvement in the death of his brother being a arguably one of the most influential shows of the past decade, have been given that very privilege an emotional, human side to Thomas that’s almost major plot point, the film eerily evokes the same with a film titled “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal hard not to sympathize with. Barry Keoghan does narrative as “The Godfather Part III.” Despite Man.” The film serves a poignant farewell of an equally grand job of portraying the morally Thomas’ demise in the film practically being ambiguous Duke Shelby. Keoghan particularly a given, the manner in which he dies seems to TV’s most recent and riveting protagonists, Arts albeit and Letters: Susan Straight excels when it comes to underscoring Duke’s be somewhat melodramatic and preventable. not without a bang. @ Palm Center Desert Auditorium, 6 p.m.

Set in 1940s Birmingham amidst the Blitz, the desire for attention and love from his family Although one may argue that the way he goes out film follows Thomas Shelby, played by Cillian members — feelings that ultimately lead him to is meant to symbolize his acceptance of mortality and fate running its course, concepts that have Murphy, as he grapples with the legacy he’s left be exploited by the Nazis.

Student Performance and Composition Concert If there’s any aspect within “Peaky Blinders: been brought up throughout the course of the film, behind as the former leader of the Peaky Blinders The Immortal Man” that deserves the most praise, his blaze of glory feels lackluster nonetheless. @Arts Building 157, 12 p.m. gang. He is called back into action when his son Verdict: All in all, “Peaky Blinders: The Duke, played by Barry Keoghan, recklessly leads it definitely has to be the cinematography. Despite the Peaky Blinders while collaborating with the being set almost a decade after the conclusion of Immortal Man” serves as a solid send-off to one Nazis in a conspiracy to inflate and cripple the the series, the film does a superb job of displaying of the greatest series of the 2010s, as well as one The Audacity of Failure British economy via the distribution of counterfeit Birmingham in all of its grimy, industrial glory of TV’s most compelling characters. Despite @CHASS as Interdisciplinary South, 1128, p.m. From to 8 p.m. originally portrayed within the 7show. being fast-paced and rough when it comes to money. dilapidated buildings attributed to German certain character decisions, the film makes up for Despite trading the show’s traditional period crime drama genre for a more conventional war bombardment of the city to the mix of horses it with gorgeous cinematography and awesome for transportation, of modernity moments depicting thriller, the film nonetheless captures the essence and carsJakobs BVRNT/TOUR Castle andsigns Strawberry Fuzz with Strange CaseTommy’s last hurrah, even accustomed the ‘40s are all but nonexistent. dropping hints at what’s to come with the of what made “Peaky Blinders” so great.

Along @The Barn, 8 p.m. towith 10 a.m.

The film particularly shines, both franchise. Although Thomas’ story has ended, with anachronistic yet bombastic needledrops and bouts of gung-ho action, the film stays true to metaphorically and literally, during its nighttime one could figure that the story of “The Peaky ■H the original series’ goal of portraying ambivalent scenes depicting the bombing of the city. With Blinders” isn’t over yet. characters fighting for power in a time of social orange hues from explosions being the only source of illumination across the industrial landscape, and political upheaval.

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11/18

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‘Project Hail Mary’ is a bottle of hope that opens the other way around The first film of 2026 movie-goers absolutely cannot miss.

PHOTO COURTESY OF OF AMAZON MGM STUDIOS

DILLON CLARK Contributing Writer

Most of the time, dystopian science fiction tends to be fairly bleak. This makes sense, as layering hypothetical threats on top of the already messy modern world would normally only serve to craft a cautionary tale, but “Project Hail Mary”’s optimistic tone proves this genre’s true range. Like “The Martian,” this is yet another nearfuture hard sci-fi film about a man stranded alone in space based on a novel by Andy Weir, yet it remains refreshing through an absurd quantity of other strengths. The end result is a fun and enjoyable movie that manages to uphold its prestige through technical achievement.

The basic concept of the story, despite the layers of carefully researched scientific explanation embedded in the source material, is quite simple: The sun is dying and Dr. Ryland Grace, portrayed by beloved actor Ryan Gosling, must travel to another star to figure out how to save it. After overcoming a nearly insurmountable language barrier, he is eventually aided by an alien engineer named Rocky, and the two of them turn the narrative into a feel-good buddy picture about saving the universe.

Lots of weight was placed on Gosling, considering how much of the runtime is dedicated to Dr. Grace problem-solving either alone or alongside the puppet Rocky, but luckily the performance delivers

and then some. Even in the absence of other actors to play off of, he radiates with charisma and heart, and his comedic energy carefully gives emotional moments time to breathe while still lifting the otherwise heavier content tonally.

Weir, Gosling and screenwriter Drew Goddard have come together to develop a protagonist that keeps feelings high, scenes engaging and science cool.

The level of thought behind every fictional concept in both the novel and this adaptation is astounding.

Something as simple as Rocky’s inability to see is expanded to such an intriguing degree. Since his people do not perceive light, they likely never would have researched it very deeply, leaving them without any understanding of concepts like wave-particle duality. Without a discovery like this, they are shown to also have no understanding of crucial scientific concepts like radiation and relativity, which ends up causing disastrous consequences later on. Attention to detail is one thing, but “Project Hail Mary” takes this a step further by tying these ideas back into the story itself.

Hopefully, despite his flaws, Ryland Grace becomes an inspiration for the next generation of moviegoers to learn more about how the world around them works, making science interesting again in the same way “Interstellar” did.

One might be skeptical about how directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller would portray Grace and Rocky’s relationship. Despite poor marketing to the contrary, this film is free of any overly obnoxious “Marvel dialogue” tropes. Rocky’s limited English vocabulary and Grace’s struggle to step into the role of a hero keep any conversation from turning into quippy banter.

Instead, their bond feels authentic for two individuals confronted with such literally cosmic loneliness and their dialogue is understandably witty given their demonstrated intelligence. Lord and Miller’s streak remains unbroken with yet another project of endless appeal.

Fans of the original 2021 novel will be quite happy with this film as an adaptation too. Weir was brought on as a producer, and his influence is evident in every detail of the worldbuilding. While many omissions were made, none stand out as particularly egregious. This adaptation manages to keep its pacing in check while still bringing the entire heart of the pages to the big screen.

“Project Hail Mary” takes advantage of its medium in more ways than just an intricate and condensed script, but also through gorgeous cinematography. Edits of the climactic and already iconic cloud-fishing scene set to Harry Styles’ “Sign of the Times” have

become inescapable on social media, and for good reason. The scene is spectacular, and due to another earlier scene in the film, the song has successfully become synonymous with the project itself.

Verdict:

Greig Fraser’s artistry behind the camera brings space to life as wondrous, vast and incomprehensibly beautiful, transforming the movie from a must-see to a must-see-in-theaters.

Most importantly, this film is simply a great time for anyone who enjoys clever science fiction, engaging character dynamics, high-stakes drama or comedy.

■H

AMAZE. AMAZE. AMAZE.

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‘Daredevil: Born Again’ is back and better than ever EPISODE ONE SETS THE STAKES AS THE LINE BETWEEN FRIEND AND FOE IS BLURRED.

IAN PALMA Radar Editor

**Spoilers Ahead** The last episode of season one of “Daredevil: Born Again” undoubtedly ended in a way that’s shocking and consequential, both for the show and to a certain extent the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With Mayor Fisk declaring martial law while outlawing all vigilantes in New York, Daredevil is forced to go into hiding and build a resistance group in order to fight back. With the odds stacked against Matt, fans of the man without fear were more than ecstatic to see how he manages to pull himself back up and become a symbol of rebellion and hope.

After what’s practically been a year of waiting, Daredevil is back and ready for round two.

The premiere episode, titled “The Northern Star,” follows up after the Kingpin’s fateful order. Matt continues his crimefighting crusade as he intercepts a cargo ship harboring arms meant for Fisk, which he plans to expose him for.

The episode wastes no time setting up exposition, particularly when it comes to who’s on whose side. With Matt, Karen and patrons from Josie’s Bar going up against Wilson Fisk, Heather and members of the Anti-Vigilante Task Force (ATVF), the factions are set in the war for New York City.

That is except for the arrival of the mysterious Mr. Charles, played by Matthew Lillard, whose ulterior motives are unknown. Further complicating the situation is the fact that Bullseye remains at large, leading to a potential teamup with Daredevil as the two are staunchly against Fisk.

The show’s consistent commitment towards groundedness is evidently expressed within the first episode.

Propaganda against vigilantism is utilized

by Fisk to great extent. People are seen being hassled by members of a militant task unit free from all accountability, and those who’re suspected as vigilantes are kept in off-the-book detainment centers where signs of torture are present and chances of freedom remains bleak.

For the more apolitical and unmindful viewers, the AVTF being an allusion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is as clear as it gets. Despite being

PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEY+

a show centered around a blind man who moonlights as a superhero at night, the allegories to real life events are both oneto-one and startling.

The action scenes within the first episode are spared no expense either.

Spectacles of bloodshed accompanied by guttural yelling drive home the point that Matt is still that same primal warrior audiences saw last season. Albeit these violent scenes can be gratuitous at times akin to a Quentin Tarantino film, the depictions help to distinguish it from the more cartoonish and low-stakes fight scenes plaguing most superhero films while reinforcing how the show is meant to mirror everyday life. With a plethora of visceral beatdowns courtesy of the devil of Hell’s Kitchen, “The Northern Star” serves as further testament to “Daredevil: Born Again” being one of Marvel’s most unhinged projects.

It’s additionally nice to know that Fisk’s decision to outlaw all vigilantes in New York isn’t just for show. The consequences of this decision is evidently seen when Jack Duquesne, a familiar character from Marvel’s previous show “Hawkeye” who goes by the alias “The Swordsman,” is imprisoned in an AVTF detention facility.

The show is more than likely setting Duquesne up to be a prominent figure as he is set to be put on trial, in which one can only hope that he doesn’t suffer the same fate as Hector Ayala.

Despite Matt and Karen’s potential for a romantic relationship which was always in the cards since season one of “Daredevil: Born Again,” as well as in the original “Daredevil” series on Netflix, no one could’ve expected for them to hook up as early as the first episode, especially with the risks being too great. Although their intimate relationship being formed as a result of shared trauma is most likely the plausible explanation, the buildup towards it was close to nonexistent.

The first episode constructively poses more questions than answers. Why is Daredevil’s new suit black? Are there any other recognizable vigilantes affected by Fisk’s new law? Alongside Jessica Jones, whose presence in the show has been hyped throughout the series’ marketing, are there any other members of the Defenders and as well any other familiar superhero who could maybe lend a hand?

Though some of these questions may not be answered, far greater truths are likely to be revealed within the coming episodes.

Verdict: Season two of “Daredevil: Born Again” hits the ground running with a balance of action and suspense. With epic twists and plenty of spectacular fight scenes, “The Northern Star” is without a doubt one of the most definitive episodes ■ within the series.

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Sports

SPORTS

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Highlanders display the heart of a champion at the Big West Championships

UCR LOSES IN THE QUARTERFINALS TO THE AGGIES, BUT ARE PRIMED TO WIN THE TOURNAMENT IN THE FUTURE ISAAC SOLNICK WITH THEIR TOUGHNESS AND YOUNG CORE. Managing Editor

O

n March 11, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) women’s basketball team kicked off the Big West Championships with their first round matchup against UC Santa Barbara (UCSB). The seventh-seeded Highlanders entered the contest a slight underdog against the sixth-seeded Gauchos. However, UCR was confident knowing that they had a 2025-2026 All-Big West First Team member on their side in sophomore guard Hannah Wickstrom.

UCR graduate center Bria Shine mentioned what it was like playing with Wickstrom. She noted, “She’s our rock. She does whatever she can.

She does a lot for our team. Just being able to support her finds me joy. You know a lot of players want to score all the points. Hannah doesn’t find joy in that. She just knows that at the end of the day, as long as the team wins, that’s good enough for her.”

Wickstrom started off slow offensively, but UCSB failed to contain the Australian throughout all four quarters. Wickstrom started to find her groove in the second half and finished the contest with 26 points, nine rebounds and six steals.

Wickstrom detailed how other aspects of the game helped bring out her offense. “I’ll always try to do whatever it takes to get my team to win. If that’s getting rebounds, I think it also helps me get into my offensive flow. Getting steals and especially rebounds help me push the pace and find my flow in the game.”

Coming out of halftime, the Gauchos went on a 11-2 run. After the Highlanders found themselves down by nearly double-digits, Wickstrom and fellow sophomore guard Kaylani Polk helped spark a comeback to bring UCR back in front before the start of the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter was tightly

contested, but the Highlanders were able to hit clutch shots down the stretch while the Gauchos were unable.

UCR head coach Brad Langston credited the adversity his team faced throughout the season as the reason they were able to close out in the big moments: “I’m really, really proud of this team. We’ve had a lot of adversity, injuries, illnesses. We played a really tough strength of schedule to get to this point. That’s what it’s all about, right? So really, really proud of the poise that we showed and how we battled the last four minutes, holding them without a field goal. So I think it speaks to our growth and where this program is headed.”

A 58-53 win over the Gauchos set up a quarterfinal matchup with UC Davis (UCD) the very next day. UCD was fresh and boasted a star-studded lineup that featured All-Big West First Team member, center Megan Norris, and a trio of guards in Avery Sussex, Nya Epps and Ryann Bennett. The Highlanders knew they were in for a tough test as UCR lost both regular season matchups and they would be fatigued from their battle with UCSB the day before.

The Aggies got out of the gates quickly and jumped out to an early double-digit lead behind nine first quarter points from Bennett. She highlighted, “A big thing for me was just to come out aggressive. I knew that we were going to have to get a lead because they were going to be tired from yesterday, and I thought I did a good job with that.”

UCD would extend their lead to as many as 14 points, but the Highlanders would claw their way back just like they did against the Gauchos. Once again, it was Wickstrom who took the reins of the offense. Epps, an AllBig West Defensive Team member, made Wickstrom’s life difficult, but

the Australian superstar still finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and eight steals.

UCD head coach Jennifer Gross discussed what it was like gameplanning against a player of Wickstrom’s caliber. She detailed, “Hannah is a tremendous player and you’re not able to limit her too much.

We knew that you got to try to make her work and make her shots tough.

Nya [Epps] kind of drew the match up today. Nya is a tremendous defender.

I thought she did a really good job of making Hannah work. Obviously we know that you got to bring a double [team] sometimes, [but] I thought our team executed the game plan pretty well. But I really want to shout out Nya. I thought she worked extremely hard all game long.”

Epps added how she took pride in guarding one of the Big West’s best players, “I think everyone on our team is capable of having a good night of scoring, and so my role is supposed to be defense [in] this game. I have no problem with that. So I’m really proud of Avery and Ryan for coming out and setting the tone offensively for us.”

UCR would briefly take the lead in the third quarter, courtesy of a pair of Wickstrom free-throws. However, if the first half was about Ryann Bennett for UCD, the second half would be all about Avery Sussex.

After only scoring two points in the first half, Sussex went nuclear in the second half to propel the Aggies to an eventual 70-59 win.

Sussex finished with 23 points, but gave all the credit to her teammates.

“I think it was all just fueled [by] my teammates. Nya has been very positive [and] she’s a great leader for us. [On offense], Ryann did a great job with bringing other defenders in.”

Despite the loss, the Highlanders

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Despite the loss, the Highlanders had a lot to hang their hat on from their playoff run. Gross even applauded the Highlanders during her opening statement after the game, “I want to start by congratulating UC Riverside.

We knew we were going to be in a battle for today. [It] wasn’t easy.

We got out to a little bit of a lead.

And then, as we weren’t surprised, Riverside came back, but I felt like our team just kept finding a way with the adversity that we faced.”

After the game, Langston displayed his admiration for the resilience and growth his team showed throughout

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the season. He smiled when talking about the special group of players he got to work with this year, “The players we have, they’re fighters, strong willed. They step in every day, ready to fight, ready to compete, get better. You want players that are willing to fight and compete and learn and grow.”

For Langston, coaching his players is more than about basketball. He loves seeing his players grow as humans.

When talking about Wickstrom he noted, “It’s been a pleasure [coaching Hannah]. I think the growth that she made as a human first is even more

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remarkable, which is part of the reason [that she] had the on the court success. It’s been a pleasure watching her grow.”

Langston couldn’t hide the excitement he has for the future of UCR’s women’s basketball program.

He stated, “I’m just proud of the growth this program has made. We’re excited about where this program is headed and thankful for the seniors and what they brought to us this year.

We can hope that we can impact their lives over the next 20 to 40 years, not ■ just today.”

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26 APRIL FOOLS

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Five SoCal golf courses on my wishlist TERRY NGUYEN Sports Editor

GOLF SEASON IS OFFICIALLY HERE! THESE COURSES SHOULD BE ON YOUR RADAR.

Now that daylight savings has made our days longer, it means there’s more time to play golf! Here’s my list of the top five courses I wish to play in southern California.

range, short game area and a putting green.

Given that the Riverside weather is hotter than coastal cities, the window to practice and play golf is wider, which means more time to golf! Players can also enjoy frolicking in downtown Riverside before 1. Torrey Pines Golf Course (South and after their golf outing.

Course) - La Jolla, CA Nobody could forget the iconic moment 3. Pelican Hill Golf Club - Newport at the 2008 U.S. Open where Tiger Woods Beach, CA made the birdie putt heard around the world Pelican Hill Golf Club is another course on the 72nd hole to force a Monday playoff with ocean views and great playing with Rocco Mediate. That singular moment conditions, and you’re near UC Irvine and gave Torrey Pines Golf Course more aura Balboa Peninsula. I could get a green Thai than it could possibly buy. Outside being tea from the famous Seaside Bakery and a course that hosts a PGA Tour event each see college students make stupid TikToks, year, Torrey Pines offers amazing views of then drive to play one of the most beautiful the ocean, where players can see paragliders courses in southern California. Pelican Hill fly across the San Diego skyline. Torrey is a great course to escape the hustle and Pines is also a public golf course that’s bustle of work life, and enjoy golfing where reasonably priced given its rich history and nature meets the sea. immaculate playing conditions.

4. Van Buren Golf Center - Riverside, 2. Fairmount Golf Course - Riverside, CA CA Van Buren Golf Center makes this list Fairmount Golf Course is a beautiful because it was the first place I played golf nine-hole track just off California State when I was a student at UC Riverside, and Route 60, offering players a fun, relaxed the nostalgia of being back hits home. Van experience that can be completed in under Buren doesn’t have beautiful ocean views two hours. Fairmount also offers all the or perfect country club conditions, but it’s amenities a golfer could need: a driving got what golfers need. Good food, good

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

vibes and a driving range with night lights.

5. Riviera Country Club - Pacific Palisades, CA Riviera Country Club in the Pacific Palisades is well known for hosting a PGA Tour event each year and will be used during the 2028 Summer Olympics.

There’s a few famous holes, such as the short par-4 10th hole, which can fool many pros into getting bogeys or worse. It can also kickstart a round into new life, with an eagle opportunity if you choose to risk it for the biscuit off the tee. There’s also the 18th hole with a green at the base of a natural amphitheater, making for a fun finish if there’s a tournament happening, or if it’s a friendly gathering of friends cheering each other on. *This is an April Fools’ publication.

This article is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about the writer’s article except through humor and/or exaggeration. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental or is intended purely as satire, parody or spoof of such persons and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about that person. ■ H

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APRIL FOOLS

Women’s Tennis - Apr. 23

Softball - Apr. 28 | DOUBLEHEADER

UC Riverside vs. UC Irvine

UC Riverside vs. Cal Poly

4-0 L

Game 1 score: 6-0 L Game 2 score: 7-2 L

Men’s Tennis - Apr. 24

Baseball - Apr. 28

UC Riverside vs. Sacramento State

4-0 L

Cal Poly vs. UC Riverside

10-4 W

Baseball - Apr. 25 UC Riverside vs. California Baptist

12-1 L Men’s Tennis - Apr. 25 UC Riverside vs. UC Davis

6-1 L Baseball - Apr. 27

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Cal Poly vs. UC Riverside

22-4 L

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Be Refried.

The Highlander Newspaper is a great way to keep up with current events and news around campus. If you are interested in the newspaper’s articles or pictures, we offer opportunities in writing, photography and design. Join us every Monday at 5:15 p.m. in HUB 101 to learn more.

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