UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
The Highlander For the week of Tuesday, April 28, 2026
VOL. 74, ISSUE 25
est. 1954
Apathy and disinterest cloud ASUCR elections Low voter turnout should not come as a surprise this year. THE EDITORIAL BOARD
NIKO SUWANDI / THE HIGHLANDER
UC Riverside goes green with the Earth Day Festival IAN PALMA, JIHOON KWON Radar Editor, Staff Writer
ALONDRA ORDAZ / THE HIGHLANDER
On April 22, 2026, the Earth Day Festival was hosted at Pierce Lawn to promote and celebrate sustainability. The festival was an opportunity for organizations from on and off-campus to highlight their efforts in maintaining a habitable planet through various programs while educating students about ecological practices. The event was a collaborative effort between the Green Campus Action Plan (GCAP) and the Office of Sustainability. GCAP is the sustainability branch of the Associated Students of the University of California, Riverside (ASUCR), hosting events and programming such as campus and beach cleanup, raising funds for solar-powered tables throughout the campus and providing scholarships for student-led sustainability projects. The Office of Sustainability’s goal is to put in place eco-friendly policies through initiatives such as developing Climate Action & Adaptation Plan or hosting events. The festival was intended to be modeled after farmers markets. Tables were set up by representatives from various clubs on campus, nonprofit organizations, local businesses and regional services from the County of Riverside, collectively creating a space to promote and discuss sustainability. Huge emphasis was placed on the idea of eco-friendly methods and sustainable practices to reduce reliance on products from corporations. Tables seen throughout the festival included those from the Riverside Transit Authority, the ► SEE EARTH DAY FESTIVAL ON PAGE 19
Endorsements for the ASUCR 20262027 elections THE EDITORIAL BOARD
The Associated Students of the University of California, Riverside (ASUCR) voting booths will be open from April 27 through May 1. With any election, it is of utmost importance to know as much as possible about the potential representatives of next year’s student government. The purpose of The Highlander’s endorsements is to help inform students about candidates for various positions and provide context on what these candidates have to offer so when students are ready to vote, they know what each candidate has to offer. The following students are the candidates that The Highlander Editorial Board believes are qualified and deserve an endorsement for the 20262027 ASUCR elections.
From April 27 to May 1, 2026, University of California, Riverside (UCR) students will have the opportunity to elect officers for the 2026-27 Associated Students of UCR (ASUCR) and to vote on the R’Garden and Highlander Abroad Referendum. However, this year’s elections have been marked by apathy due to the lack of candidates, minimal campaigning and limited outreach from ASUCR to the student body. In the Senate, seven candidates are running for nine seats in the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS); five candidates are running for five seats in the College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS); one uncontested candidate is running for the single seat in the School of Education (SOE); and one uncontested candidate is running for the single seat in the School of Public Policy (SPP). Across multiple colleges, including CHASS, the largest student college, there are fewer candidates than available positions, and several candidates are running uncontested. With more than 26,000 students and the largest incoming class of first-year students, it is concerning that ASUCR cannot hold a competitive and transparent election featuring candidates who can represent the entire student body. This year’s Elections Director and Elections Committee have not effectively promoted the ASUCR elections, as evidenced by limited social media advertising and few public forums beyond the public debates for students to learn about candidates. In previous years, the Elections Committee hosted events to encourage students to run through more outreach. They have also promoted voting in ASUCR elections by offering students incentives. This year, those efforts have stopped. Additionally, The Highlander’s News team conducted significantly fewer candidate interviews this year than in previous years and many candidates — particularly in the Senate — did not respond to outreach. Endorsements help The
► SEE ASUCR ENDORSEMENTS ON PAGE 8
► SEE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL ON PAGE 7
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