UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
The Highlander For the week of Tuesday, April 28, 2026
VOL. 74, ISSUE 25
ALONDRA ORDAZ / THE HIGHLANDER.
est. 1954
The Well and CARE relocate KASSANDRA AGUIRRE Staff Writer
Ivan Cornejo: a pioneer of the Mexican sierraño genre ABIGAIL ORTIZ Contributing Writer
Romantic ballads are very common in Mexican regional music but Ivan Cornejo is introducing the sierreño genre to the younger masses. As a Riverside native and a child of immigrants, Ivan’s successful career is a testament to how powerful love and passion can be when pursuing a music career. Born in Riverside, California, the singer rose to fame because of his song “Esta Dañada,” which became a popular sound on TikTok. The lyrics “Su Sonrisa, su carita, sus manitas hay que delicia,” or “her smile, her face, her hands, oh what delight” were the ones that resonated the most with users of the app. “Esta Dañada” also became the second regional Mexican song to chart on the Billboard Top 100, cementing Cornejo’s legacy as a trailblazer of modern regional Mexican music. Cornejo began his music career by playing guitar when he was seven years old. He then continued his passion for music by leaving school at 16 and pursuing his career full time. In 2021, he released his first album “Alma Vieja” which gained major traction for tracks such as “Esta Dananda” and “Esa Carita.” Since then he’s released two successful albums “Dañado” and “MIRADA” which both reached number one on the Billboard Latin Music Chart. Cornejo’s music usually consists of lyrics about break-ups and infidelity, showcasing raw and vulnerable emotions in the process. In his most recent album “MIRADA,” Cornejo does not hold back when writing sad songs. The theme of the album is the emotions felt after a
separation and the loss of the person in his life. lthough his music includes the typical regional instruments such as acoustic guitar and trumpets, Cornejo also includes electric guitar which can be seen on songs such as “Ya te Perdí” off of his deluxe sophomore album. This is his own introduction of alternative sound in his music. Due to his success in the sad Mexican regional sound, Cornejo has had the opportunity to work with many big and notable spanish artists such as Becky G, Jhayco and Establon Armando. He has also been compared to Spanish artist Peso Pluma because of their similar sad ballad-like songs. Cornejo is very open about artists that he looked up to as a child that have influenced his career. During his NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert, he mentions watching Alt-J, Coldplay, Mac Miller and Tame Impala and how they inspire him in pursuing his career. Similarly, in an interview with Billboard, Ivan stated that one of his first encounters with regional music was “Corridos Tumbados” by Nathaniel Cano and praises him for being a pioneer for the sierreño genre. Cornejo works closely with his family and has them around for his big milestones. Alejandro Cornejo, Ivan’s cousin, is the bass player in his band and travels with Ivan. As he stated in a short documentary for the Coachella Arts and Music Festival YouTube channel, Alejandro, who is originally from Texas, works alongside his cousin to support his dream and passion for
RACHEL WONG / THE HIGHLANDER
The Health, Well Being and Safety department restructures the HUB to support student services. On May 6, The University of California, Riverside’s (UCR) department Health, Well Being and Safety (HWS) announced the relocations of student resource centers, The Well and the Campus Advocacy, Resources, and Education (CARE), within the Highlander Union Building (HUB) to support new student programs. The Well opened in 2010 at HUB 248 to support students by providing them with health and educational resources while curating a culture which promotes these goals. Their operations were temporarily closed as they relocated to HUB 381, reopening on May 12. The announcement did not disclose a permanent location for The Well nor how long they will be stationed at their temporary location. The Well’s director Dr. Connie Marmolejo will remain in their original office until May 22 to direct students to the new location. In an email, Marmolejo stated that The Well is currently in the process of adjusting to the change but is still fully operational, telling The Highlander, “While the location has changed, our mission and commitment to supporting student well-being remains the same.” CARE opened in 2015 as an intervention and prevention support program which has aimed to develop a “consent culture” on campus and support community members impacted by sexual and relationship violence. Their CARE advocates were initially based at HUB 381 and prevention services in HUB 377 and were told they were to consolidate into HUB 377 in March according to CARE advocate Cynthia Martinez. Their operations include initial advocacy contact, service navigation and prevention initiatives will now be based at HUB 377. Along with this, CARE advocates will be relocated to the Student Health and Counseling Center. The HWS’s announcement suggesting the separation was appropriate due to the center being a “confidential, supportive counseling environment.” Highlander and students learn about the candidates, including their background, prior experience, plans if elected and accomplishments if they already hold a position in ASUCR. If endorsed, candidates ► SEE THE WELL AND CARE ON PAGE 6
► SEE IVAN CORNEJO ON PAGE 19
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