UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
The Highlander For the week of Tuesday, May 5, 2026
VOL. 74, ISSUE 26
est. 1954
Spring Splash 2026 is nothing Riverside continues to deliberate over the short of divine University Terrace Homes project rejection
MARIBEL HERNANDEZ AND KASSANDRA AGUIRRE Staff Writers
ALEX WONG / THE HIGHLANDER
IAN PALMA, SANJANA THATTE Radar Editor, Features Editor
The Associated Student Programs Board’s (ASPB) Spring Splash has always been the premiere event for students to get the needed respite from grueling midterms all the while serving as the perfect send-off for those graduating. With the promise of delicious food, fun activities and performances from somewhat recognizable artists, any reason to miss out on the event are close to nonexistent. 2026’s Spring Splash, held on May 3, 2026, had students form up in U-shaped lines down to Webber Hall and eventually left towards Eucalyptus Drive in order to attend the event. The excitement of the eventgoers was strong enough for them to stay resilient against 85 degree weather, though some trees scattered throughout the lawn offered shade and rest. With doors opening at 4 p.m., eventgoers eventually flowed through security checks. Given the diverse music lineup with artists such as Malcolm Todd and Mike Sherm as well as the plethora of amenities, it seems as if no expense was spared when it came to the planning of the event. The distinction between this year’s Spring Splash and previous Spring Splashes were made all the more apparent given the faintly identifiable “Percy Jackson” theme. ► SEE SPRING SPLASH ON PAGE 20 AND 21
Inland Empire food banks are being forced to do more with less JOSÉ DEL ÁNGEL, OVI MATHIVANAN News Editor, Assistant Opinions Editor
Many people imagine food banks as places where individuals line up to receive groceries, but after visiting Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB), it’s clear that this assumption misses the bigger picture. This organization is not just a food distributor — it is the backbone of an entire regional network working to combat food insecurity across the Inland Empire. On April 21, 2026, FARSB issued a press release warning individuals that potential drops in CalFood funding could cause food insecurity to rise in the region, placing further tension on a food distribution system that is already overburdened.
JOSÉ DEL ÁNGEL / THE HIGHLANDER
On Jan.13, Riverside’s City Council ruled in a 4-3 vote to reject $20.1 million in state funding to convert the Quality Inn Motel, located at 1590 University Ave, into 114 affordable housing units. Although the period of reconsideration for the project passed in February and the rejecting councilmembers have stood firm in their decision, public discourse has remained active throughout the city. The project was first publicly disclosed on April 28, 2025, when the city’s Housing and Homelessness Committee (HHC) approved a resolution to submit a joint application for the Homekey+ grant. The proposal, in partnership with an independent contractor and the local nonprofit Riverside Housing Development Corporation (RHDC), aims to convert the Quality Inn into supportive housing units. That same day, the three councilmembers who sit on the HHC, Chair and Ward Two Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes, Vice Chair and Ward Five Councilmember Sean Mill and Member and Ward Three Councilmember Steven Robillard, met to consider it at the conceptual resolution stage. They unanimously approved it, albeit Mill and Robillard without recommendation. The state granted the request, awarding the city and RHCD approximately $20.1 million in Homekey+ grant funds on Nov. 17, 2025, making the city one of five, out of 67 applicants, to be awarded funding. The initial 4-3 vote occurred on Jan. 13 following presentations outlining the project’s development and funding plan. The proposal included preparatory action in designing the project prior to presenting it to the council, tenant procedures to be enforced once completed and a request for approximately $9 million in city loans — sourced from Riverside taxpayer funds — along with additional funding from the Homekey+ grant to fully fund the project.
ALEXANDER WONG / THE HIGHLANDER
► SEE CALFOOD ON PAGE 9
► SEE HOUSING PROJECT ON PAGE 6 AND 7
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