UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
The Highlander For the week of Tuesday, June 2, 2026
VOL. 74, ISSUE 30
est. 1954
ASUCR Senate meeting
The 2025-2026 Senate holds their last meeting. KASSANDRA AGUIRRE, NEWS EDITOR
B MATA ELANGOVAN /THE HIGHLANDER
Apartment fire on University ave displaces over 150 residents ANGELICA ACOSTA, KASSANDRA AGGUIRE Editor-in-Chief, News Editor
Disclaimer: Investigation into the fire at the University Riverside Gardens apartment complex is ongoing. This article includes information available up until May 31. At approximately 11:13 a.m. on May 29, the local apartment complex University Riverside Gardens (URG) — 3996 Iowa Ave — caught fire. The Riverside Fire Department (RFD) was able to contain it by around 5:30 p.m., after around six hours of activity, resulting in the incineration of 50 units and the displacement of 150 residents. Some of the affected were students of the University of California, Riverside (UCR). As investigation into the incident continues, UCR and city organizations are working to support the affected community. UCR student and resident Isabel Anglestead described that she had been in a discussion class when the fire broke out, stating, “I started to get texts from my friends. Then immediately after, I got a text telling me that my apartment was on fire. I had to run out of my discussion.” Others reported that prior to the arrival of firefighters, evacuation was a communal effort as residents ran through the halls screaming ‘fire’ and banging on doors. “I was still in my room and everyone was just knocking, [saying] ‘get [out] there’s a fire,’ and everyone was trying to get everyone out,” described another UCR student and resident John Nieves. ► SEE APARTMENT FIRE ON PAGE 6
Welcome to Normchella: A breath of fresh air JOSÉ DEL ÁNGEL Contributing Writer
On May 26, 2026, the Residence Halls Association (RHA), in partnership with the Campus Apartments Resident Association (CARA), hosted Normchella.This creative re-creation of Coachella was hosted at Pentland Greeneries and was a breath of fresh air compared to the repetitiveness of the belltower’s annual events. Normchella invited the talents around the University of California, Riverside (UCR) to participate and perform in front of the student body. Students packed the Pentland Hills residential complex which was transformed into a festivalstyle space filled with games, vendors, performances and food ahead of finals season.
ALONDRA ORDAZ / THE HIGHLANDER
On May 27, the Associated Students of California, Riverside (ASUCR) commenced their final Senate meeting of the academic year. It began at 6:44 p.m. following an informal review of the agenda items and adjourned at 8:26 p.m. The meeting began with State of the Association reports from the Office of the Executive Vice President, the Office of the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Vice President of Finance and the Vice President of Sustainability. In committee reports, the legislative review committee examined four resolutions and 20 bills — the most set to pass in a single senate meeting this academic year. The resolutions included SR-S26-007 or “ASUCR’s Stance on Solidarity with Black Students Across the UC System,” SR-S26-008 or “ASUCR’s Commitment to First Generation Student Success” and SR-S26-009 or “Resolution in Support of CA SB 886 and 887,” and called on the Senate to support students with regard to a range of social issues including continued discrimination against black and first generation students as well as the increasing construction of data centers across California. SR-S26-010 or “Resolution Announcing R’Bus” officially launched the Green Campus Action Plan’s (GCAP) R’Bus service which will provide transportation for disabled students around campus with Global Electric Motorcars and begin operation in coming academic years. Senate Bills 9 and 14-30 made various amendments to the school’s constitution and bylaws to consolidate functions for efficiency. This series of amendments removed the offices of the Non-Traditional Student Director, the International Student Director, the First-Time College Student Director and the Transfer Student Director and relocated their respective positions to other offices. Along with this, the Black Student Affairs Team Chapter, the Student Voice Committee Chapter, the Summer Powers
► SEE WELCOME TO NORMCHELLA ON PAGE 22
► SEE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL ON PAGE 4
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