Highlander University
Volume 63
of
C a l i f o r n i a , R ive r s i d e
Serving the UCR community since 1954
Issue 17
FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
Child Development Center Building reopens AARON GRECH Senior Staff Writer
The Child Development Center (CDC) reopened Building A on Feb. 2, four months after its closure last October due to a mold infestation. Children attending the CDC daycare who previously had to relocate to either Building B or the community center in UCR Family Housing have returned to their respective buildings. The reopening of the facility was delayed several times, with Dec. 6 and Jan. 26 both given as dates for the opening. This delay was caused by the building not passing final inspections until the latter deadline, according to Director of Media Relations Kris Lovekin. While the building was closed, the center had to accommodate an influx of children being added to classrooms in Building B. According to Julia Stewart, a student parent and fourth-year ethnic studies major, teacher-student ratios went from 1-to-6 to 1-to-8, which was problematic. “With such large ratios, I felt that my child and others were not getting the attention they need. The sleeping space was really crowded and there was no room to effectively roam,” Stewart explained. In addition, Sharee Hughes, a fourth-year psychology law and society major and student parent program assistant at the Women’s Resource Center, felt that the center was not being transparent at the time of Building A’s closure back in October. According to Hughes, this changed when students spoke up about the lack of
WRITER’S WEEK 2015 Multiple writers gathered at UCR for Writer’s Week to share their works and insights.
12-14
AARON LAI / HIGHLANDER
CRIME WATCH
Two armed robberies strike near UCR SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer
Two crimes occurred within two days near UCR last week. UCPD has yet to determine whether the crimes are connected to one another and are currently investigating both incidents.
Located near the intersection of Canyon Crest Drive and Blaine Street, the first crime occurred at 11:20 p.m. on Feb. 1. Two females were taking out groceries from their car when they were approached by two suspects who robbed them of their cell phones and cash. One suspect was armed with a handgun, but the victims were not hurt. The suspects ran north on Canyon Crest Drive and could not be found by police who arrived soon after. Two days later, on Feb. 3, another crime occurred at 11:45 a.m. in front of Oban apart-
► SEE CDC, PAGE 6
ments. A female victim was walking on Linden Street when a suspect grabbed her phone from her hand and escaped. While pursuing the suspect, the victim stopped when she was threatened with what she believed to be a knife. The victim immediately went to the UCPD police station and reported the crime. “Cell phones continue to be a frequently stolen item. UCPD encourages our community to be alert to the fact that small electronic devices are seen as items of value for criminals and should be treated accordingly,” read a H UCPD email to the campus. ■
17
ASUCR to educate community on safer encounters with police AMY ZAHN Senior Staff Writer
ASUCR passed a resolution intended to improve the relationship between law enforcement and the campus community at their most recent meeting in the hopes of making officer-citizen relations safer. Authored by Senator Akeem Brown, the Community Law Enforcement Education Act allocates $1,000 to create a campaign that educates the campus community about the cultural and ethnic diversity training that police officers in California receive. The campaign will also educate the community on “best practices” to engage in when interacting with a police officer to make the encounter safer for all parties. In addition, Brown hopes to use this resolution to gain support in the California state legislature to require officer training every three years instead of the current requirement of every five years, as mandated in penal code 13519.4. The resolution stems from recent deaths associated with police violence — such as the shooting of African-American teenager Michael Brown — and supersedes a past resolution in December which urged UCPD to require ethnic and gender studies courses, since senators discovered that California police officers are already required to take such courses. Now, Brown has turned his attention on educating the community. “If a cop tells you ► SEE ASUCR, PAGE 4
MATT HONG / HIGHLANDER
VINCENT TA / HIGHLANDER
UCR’TS Walk
ASUCR
Women’s basketball
NEWS 1 • OPINIONS 7 • FEATURES 10 • A&E 15 • SPORTS 24
24 PLEASE RECYCLE
2
NEWS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org
NEWS IN BRIEF COMPILED BY AARON GRECH, SENIOR STAFF WRITER
UCR offers sustainability fellowship UCR will award five students a $1,500 fellowship to develop a sustainability project which will contribute to a reduction of greenhouse gases or educate the campus community about carbon neutrality.
The deadline for the application is Feb. 13 with the winners being announced one week after. Both graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to receive the award. The application will look at
the applicants’ project idea in a one-page outline which will include a brief description of the project, including its goals and cost. Judgment criteria will be based on the innovation of the project and the applicants’ GPA.
Graduate student receives Switzer Environmental Fellowship Heather Hulton VanTassel, a UCR graduate student in ecology, has received a $15,000 research fellowship from the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation. The foundation supports individuals and organizations who are committed to research and solving environmental problems. VanTassel’s research studies how a variety of species — from birds to invertebrates — respond to environmental disturbances such as fires and non-native grass
species. This highlights the importance of incorporating landscape complexity in research to analyze the effects of species’ responses to a disturbance in their environment. Robert Switzer, one of the founders of the fellowship, was also a founder of the Day-Glo Corporation, which focuses on the production of daylight fluorescent chemicals. As a lifelong environmentalist, he and his wife Patricia founded the fellowship
in 1985 to help fund graduate students dedicated to environmental problem solving. VanTassel is expected to finish her doctorate in the spring with a larger career goal of educating landowners on how to best manage landscapes to maintain or increase biodiversity. “I am honored to receive this fellowship and be part of a community that strives to make positive environmental changes,” she told UCR Today.
MATT HONG / HIGHLANDER
UC creates food blog The University of California (UC) has created a food blog entitled the UC Food Observer. The blog covers news and discussions about various issues and how they relate to food across the world. Curated by UC Food Observer Rose Hayden-Smith, the blog will focus on food systems and history, covering 22 issues related to food, ranging from business and cooking recipes to politics and climate. “Food encompasses many disciplines. It’s about climate science, culture, economy, health, law, policy, social science and a multitude of other fields that UC is actively engaged in,” UC President Janet Napolitano said in a press release.
The blog is part of the Global Food Initiative approved by Napolitano and the chancellors last July which aims to find sustainable ways the UC system, state and nation can feed themselves. While the blog is relatively new, with archives dating back to November, the site already boasts over 125 pages’ worth of content from a variety of sources — from chef and author Mark Trello to Johns Hopkins undergraduate and cooking instructor Emily Hu — with links to other blogs and interviews related to food. According to Hayden-Smith, the blog simply “Aims to contribute to one of the most important conversations in the world today — food in the broadest H sense, which affects us all.” ■
ONLINE IN NEWS 2/11: “UC Student Association passes divestment resolution PHOTO OF THE WEEK
QUOTEBOOK “As a Highlander, it’s more Scottish style than Gangnam style.” - Korean General Consul Hyun-myung Kim on the “Korean wave”
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f
UCR Highlander Newspaper @ucrhighlander UCRChannelH
LAURA NGUYEN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A girl placed in the graceful woods. The glowing trees are peaceful yet the displacement of her body is transfixing.
KUCR 88.3 FM, Wednesdays @ 9 a.m.
UPCOMING EVENTS
WINTER 2015, WEEK 6
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
2/10
2/11
2/12
2/13
2/14
2/15
2/16
Careers For Undeclared Majors 1 - 2:30 p.m. HUB 355
Valentine’s Partner Yoga 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Student Recreation Center Multipurpose Room B
Family Movie 2 - 4:30 p.m. La Sierra Library
No School Presidents Day Holiday All Day
Free Film Premiere: Fifty Shades of Grey 10 p.m. University Village Theater
21st Annual Noche Festival 7 p.m. (open 6:30 p.m.) University Theater
Men’s Basketball vs. UC Irvine 5 p.m. Student Recreation Center North Measure for Measure, a play by William Shakespeare 5 p.m. ARTS 113
U.S. Marine Corps Information Table 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Bell Tower
Wellness Wednesday: Cookin’ For College 4 - 6 p.m. Student Recreation Center Classroom Kitchen 10-Minute Chair Sex + Money – A Massage FREE! National Search for 5 - 8 p.m. Human Worth Student Recreation Center 6:30 p.m. (open 6:15 p.m.) 2nd Floor HUB 302 South
In the Heights 2 - 5 p.m. Landis Performing Arts Center
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
► ASUCR FROM PAGE 1
to stop, stop,” he said. “Don’t put your hands in your pocket … small things save lives.” According to Brown, many officers only resort to violence because “they are simply afraid, they’re scared for their life … (so) they fire,” citing officer statements from recent instances of police violence, such as the Michael Brown case. In addition, Brown believes that by increasing the frequency of required police training, officers will be better informed about the cultural trends that take place in communities and be better able to serve them. Brown plans on working with California Assemblyman Jose Medina to amend the penal code, but as of now, direct plans have not been made. The marketing committee will work on implementing the campaign; however, it has not provided a concrete timeline for when the campaign will begin. The resolution was met with support from other senators, but some, including Senator Sam Uweh, expressed concerns that the act only aimed to help members of the AfricanAmerican community.
Brown, however, assured them that “the whole intent of this is the preservation of human life,” and is not only for the benefit of one group. “I like to see ‘human lives matter,’” he said. Senators hope that the campaign will help put a stop to racial profiling, with several citing the very broad suspect descriptions that are often sent to the campus in crime alert emails. “When you’re walking down the street and match the description, you would always be right away … on guard,” said Outreach Director Jessica Urquidez. Fourth-year Shane Brandon is uncertain that the resolution will prove beneficial. “I think that community education programs could be effective if they are done in a certain way,” he said, but “programs like these oftentimes are used to train people to accept invasive policing rather than actually protect citizens.” The resolution was passed with a vote of 120-1. ■H
NEWS
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org
HIGHLIGHTS: - Clubs and campus organizations will now be endorsing candidates by filling out a form, as opposed to having endorsement hearings like in previous years. - Freshmen will be receiving flyers in their mailboxes to tell them how to pick up their free R’gear, which includes campus-themed clothing and other memorabilia.
Full video coverage of ASUCR senate meetings is available online at youtube.com/UCRChannelH.
Correction: In the Feb. 3 article entitled, “Additional funding seeks to fill mental health staffing gap,” the Highlander misstated the ratio of UCR psychologist to students, which is one per 2,512 and not one per 22,000. The Highlander regrets the error.
LAURA NGUYEN / HIGHLANDER Marketing and Promotions Director Ravin Rathod reassures the speaker and audience that the calendar on ASUCR’s website is up to date with election dates for the public to view.
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org
NEWS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
5
“The world is changed by people and people are changed by education ...” - Korean General Consul Hyun-myung Kim
MATT HONG / HIGHLANDER General Consul Hyun-myung Kim speaks about his early years as a student. Diversity has grown dramatically in American universities over the years with UCR being no exception.
“Korean wave” spreads across the world SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer
Reflecting on his diplomatic experiences in Italy, Vietnam and Iraq, Korean General Consul Hyun-myung Kim spoke of how South Korea transformed from being one of the poorest to richest nations over the past 50 years. His lecture was organized by the Young Kim Center for Korean American Studies (YOK) last Thursday in CHASS 1128. Kim says that the “Korean wave,” or Hallyu, is conventionally thought of as the worldwide phenomenon of Korean pop music, drama and food, but also represents the struggle through which South Korea changed from being a country of “nothing to something” since the 1960s. With a keen ability for learning foreign languages, Kim joined the Korean foreign ministry in 1979 because he wanted to travel around the world more easily. “It was very difficult for Korean(s) to get passports,” he said. In 2010, Kim made the decision to go to Iraq as a South Korean ambassador. “I thought if I go to Iraq, I’d be challenged,” Kim said, considering the experience to be
both exciting and rewarding. Volunteering to go to Kurdistan, he was surprised to see the popularity of Korean dramas there. Even as early as last year, Kim noticed that the Korean drama, “Queen of Housewives,” had also become popular in Cuba. “It was interesting to know that many people have this interest (in other countries),” remarked Kim. Another “Korean wave” was the ability for South Korea to transition from an underdeveloped to industrialized country. “Back in my day, we went through economic development and knew what it was like to be poor,” he said. “The world is changed by people and people are changed by education. Life is a process of learning.” Kim read a sentence from a 1951 editorial in the United Kingdom’s The Times newspaper which said, “Expecting democracy to bloom in Korea is like hoping for a rose to blossom in a garbage can.” South Korea would eventually prove the world wrong. Over the last five decades, Korea has made a rapid switch from being a large recipient of international aid to becoming a donor nation. In 1996, Korea became one of 30 members in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, an international body consisting of democratic countries dedicated
to supporting free market economies. The country has also experienced setbacks, however, in its path to development. From 1997-99, South Korea was hit with a financial crisis, encouraging the citizens of the country to donate gold to the government, which he estimates to be worth nearly $2 million. Kim expressed, “Our attitude gave some trust to (foreign) lenders,” who felt unconfident about South Korea’s economic stability. “During the last 20 years or so, we sent more than 4,000 or 6,000 Korean people all around the world in more than 90 countries,” he said. Kim believes that the “Korean wave” of democratic and economic prosperity will wash over North Korea (which split off in 1945), encouraging it to reunite with its southern brethren. At the same time, South Korea still faces the challenges of overcoming its low birthrate and aging population, which places a strain on its economy. Many classes ranging from Ethnic Studies 136 and 191 to Korean 20B were invited to attend the public event. Alejandra Delgado, a third-year psychology and ethnic studies major, attended the event because she noticed how relevant it was to her class, noting the rise of Korea’s
economic prominence equivalent to that of Japan and the U.S. “I’m not Korean-American, but I … thought it was pretty interesting learning about Korean history,” Delgado said. “We are actually learning about this state and how they’re forming relations within the U.S.” Edward Oh, fourth-year art major, explained that the lecture was a “big gesture” because it served as gathering place for discussion within the community. “It’s relevant to my life. I’m Korean and American and I’d like to see a reunited Korea,” he expressed. “I liked that (Kim) was optimistic about the reunification process because I feel like it could be easily dismissed and never become a serious topic.” The event was a part of a Korean American Lecture series organized by YOK. “I hope this event inspired students to learn more about international and global issues,” expressed Professor of Ethnic Studies and Director of YOK Edward Taehan Chang. Two upcoming YOK events include: a roundtable discussion about the everyday lives of Korean Americans after the Korean War on Feb. 18 and a public art display of Korean women raped by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II on Feb. 26. ■H
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
NEWS
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org
Evergreen pear trees can be found all around campus. The most notable places are in front of Pierce Hall, Sproul Hall and in between Bourns Hall and the University Lecture Hall.
CAMERON YONG / HIGHLANDER
Conversation blossoms about tree scent SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer
Evergreen pear trees, also known as Pyrus Kawakamii, have started blooming midwinter, leaving behind a strong scent that penetrates the central part of campus and general vicinity of the Bell Tower. Originating from parts of Asia, the Evergreens were first planted at UCR in 1967. Some of their main features include leathery leaves and white flowers that bloom during winter and spring. The clusters of white flowers give off a “sour laundry odor” presumably to attract pollinators, according to Andy Sanders, curator of UCR’s
herbarium. Known to grow around 25 feet tall, Sanders said the Evergreens also produce small, round and hard pears, “around the size of a cherry” that cannot be consumed. “I think it’s been popular, despite the smell, because it flowers when few other things do and it can be quite showy,” he said. There are an estimated 30 to 40 Evergreens on campus, yet most campus officials are unsure as to why they were planted in the first place. Assistant Director of Physical Plant Toshio Ishida speculates that the species was considered “a good patio tree” despite its odor during blooming season. Though the Evergreens are no longer planted on campus,
other species of pear trees such as the Aristocrats were planted around the HUB plaza and outside the Highlander office (near the ATMs) back in 2008, coinciding with the construction of the HUB. “This variety does not produce the same odor issues,” assured HUB Facility Manager Joe Steinmeyer. Many students who pass by the blossoming trees have responded positively to the growing flowers, yet are not content over the pungent smell that is left behind. “Every time I walk by them, I feel like throwing up. Out of all the trees, I don’t understand how these ones were chosen,” said second-year student Wendy De La Cruz.
Sharing similar sentiments, fourth-year English major Bryan Medina expressed that he’d prefer seeing a reduction in Evergreen trees. “I wish that they’d actually put cherry blossoms instead,” he said. “They’d smell way better.” Angela Hurley, a secondyear transfer, said that even though the trees emit a foul odor, they are aesthetically pleasing. “It would also be too expensive a project for them to tear them all out and replace them,” she said. “(But) I think they should have thought them through before they put them in everywhere.” Steinmeyer agreed that the tree odors were not particularly pleasant, yet said that there could be little done
apart from cutting down all of the trees and replacing them with another kind. Ishida said that neither the Aristocrats nor Evergreen trees have been planted as part of the 400 additional trees added to campus this year, since pear trees do not meet the required standard tree height or canopy size for the state grant allocated for tree planting. “I do also see and value the history of all the trees on campus. Removing any tree should never be taken lightly without serious thought and H reason to do so,” Ishida said. ■ Contributions made by Amy Zahn
► CDC FROM PAGE 1
communication. “We, the parents, spoke up that we were not pleased with not being told of the changes while the changes were happening. As soon as we voiced our opinion, the director (of CDC) Renee (Jacobs) started sending parents weekly updates,” Hughes said. In response to other problems such as childcare displacement that arose during the shutdown, student organizations such as R’Kids — an organization which advocates for programs and provides resources for student parents — reached out to help parents who were temporarily displaced by the closure. “We organized a system during the closure where we organized in a HUB room and parents who didn’t have class would watch after the kids and those who did would go to class and leave their kids with another student parent, like babysitting,” Hughes, who is also vice president of R’Kids, explained. While the parents have been able to transition into the building and classrooms, the center has not commented on others affected by the closure, such as the 28 student workers who were laid off. The CDC has previously stated that they may ask student workers to return if there is enough demand. With the reopening of the building, Hughes added that she and her son are “home now, we’re driving into the parking lot we’re used to, we’re walking into the same doors that we’re used too, so it seems like it’s going to be a smooth transition.” ■H
After two delays, the Child Development Center opened its doors Feb. 2 after suddenly closing up four months ago.
JANINE YBANEZ / HIGHLANDER
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org
7
Opinions HIGHLANDER HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL EDITORIAL HIGHLANDER STAFF
PARKING STRUCTURE COULD SOLVE UCR’S PARKING PROBLEMS
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A
ttempting to park anywhere at UCR without owning a permit is harder than most students’ midterms, especially if you don’t arrive at campus well before midday. Even with a permit, arriving after noon rules out nearly every reasonable spot. With more than 14,000 commuter students, UCR’s parking situation is necessarily difficult and expensive. The nonprofit agency tasked with managing all of our parking, Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) is an organization that runs on a limited budget, and is charged with keeping up the operations of all the parking UCR owns. TAPS is an operation that runs off of the revenue from parking tickets and the purchase of the color-coded permits that commuter students are all too familiar with. Recently, in an attempt to balance out their budget after the $200,000 hemorrhage they suffered in 2013, TAPS was forced to increase the cost of the parking permits that they issued, with plans for them increasing further in the coming years. With TAPS being so limited in funds as it is, and the parking situation in need of such change, it begs the question as to what and where improvements need to be made so that the parking congestion around campus can clear up. Furthermore, the creation of that necessary space without stepping on TAPS’ toes could be harmful to their association with the school that depends on them. Can anything actually be done? Many students who don’t have parking permits cope by keeping spots that they know of secret, creating a system of social exchange between commuter-buddies that continues the tradition of passing down the mysteries of parking. However, as the student population continually increases, even having doubled from 1997 to 2007 and another 50 percent anticipated after that, these
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locations won’t remain hidden, and many of the other parking spots will be flooded as well, pointing back to the need for a change. The first thing that must be understood is that TAPS should not be counted on as the harbinger of parking development at UCR. With a past operating budget of around $1.5 million according to their 2013 fiscal year report, TAPS makes nowhere near the amount that would be required to affect any serious difference, especially when you consider the $18,000 it would cost per parking space. Instead, we should look to UCR itself to make the change that many of us who attend the school through a daily commute would depend on. Using the sheer square footage available on the land where Lot 30 currently is, and multiplying that vertically by three or four times, many of the current issues with parking could be greatly alleviated. Lot 30 is not only the perfect size for such a building, but is the closest parking lot for the gold permits, making it the best of all possible choices. Moreover, should UCR continue any outward expansion, it will be ideally located near the heart of the school. Additionally, to avoid the catastrophic disaster that would result in shutting Lot 30 down for any length of time during the school year, this plan could be withheld until the summer, where the number of commuters to the school is much more limited, though the structure shouldn’t be expected to be open for at least another quarter afterward. Nonetheless, the head start would be invaluable to ensuring the project is done before the need is too dire. Some concerns on the construction of this structure may point to the one at University Village; however, aesthetic issues as to how this building would look could be resolved with the use of the bricks that UCR is known for, adorning the steel and concrete
structure’s exterior to keep with the rest of the school’s motif. When it comes down to it, the biggest issue with constructing a new parking structure — let alone one as big as being proposed here — is the astronomical cost that it would take to tear down the parking lot, erect the structure and widen the street near Lot 30 that would need greater accessibility out of sheer necessity. As discussed earlier, TAPS doesn’t have anywhere near the operating budget to hire approved contractors for construction, so the cost would necessarily have to be taken from an outside source. The student populace at UCR needs to ask itself whether it is willing to pay for such an expansion, should it ever be adopted to any degree by the school. Commuters already pay through the nose to have permits for the various lots around campus, so should they be expected to pay for the expansion themselves, or can we take this opportunity to come together and transform our school’s makeup altogether into something more amicable to the commuting populace that attends our school and struggles to find reasonable parking? With funding from the school itself as well as from the students who depend on the extra space, a parking structure is one of the best ways to ameliorate the cramped space in which we find ourselves. UCR should not allow cost to be a barrier to the significant price that a parking structure would ask, whether that means the transferring of funds, an additional student fee or the placing of a large corporate logo on the side of the new building. ■H Highlander editorials reflect the majority view of the Highlander Editorial Board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Associated Students of UCR or the University of California system.
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OPINIONS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org
Opinion Poll Should children be vaccinated for measles?
C ompiled
by
J aspery G oh
Marcelo Guardado English Third-year
Megan Kieu Chemical Engineering Third-year
Mireya Murga Biology Fourth-year
Merin Alvarez Guzman Psychology Third-year
Alejandro Cortez Business Second-year
Marcos Padilla Chemical Engineering Third-year
“Sure. Because they might get measles.”
“They should because there’s no harm to it, and there are many of us vaccinated and there’s just a small amount of autism?”
“I do think they should. I think it’s important for the health of the community. It can help in decreasing the number of diseases that spread.”
“Yes they should be vaccinated. The benefits vastly outweigh the very minimal risks.”
“Yes. Because if children are not vaccinated it’s a threat to our society.”
“It does the kids good. Why not? The whole thing linked to autism was disproved.”
Dear single people, Valentine’s Day is not about you HONEIAH KARIMI Senior Staff Writer
Valentine’s Day is a holiday that dredges up all sorts of emotions. For some it’s simply February 14 and for others it’s “Singles Awareness Day.” I love Valentine’s Day. I’m single, not particularly a fan of romantic comedies or Nicholas Sparks related things — tortured love stories, such as “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” or “(500) Days of Summer” are more my cup of tea — but Valentine’s Day is a holiday I enjoy nonetheless. Valentine’s Day can be rough for many members of the single crowd, but I’m here to propose approaching this holiday with an alternative attitude — no more feeling sorry for yourself, and it’s time to come to this harsh realization: Single people, it’s not about you. Valentine’s Day is not about single people no matter the myriad of bitter tweets out there. This is a holiday for people in love or even “in like” with each other. I suspect some couples who have been together for some time might get stuck in a rut, and maybe Valentine’s Day is a day for them to reignite the flame. Perhaps this is the day a new couple decides to utter the words “I love you.” In either case, be happy for them. It’s liberating to put aside bitterness and be jubilant alongside your friends in relationships. The reality is, being in a relationship does not constitute a higher state of being. It does not mean people in relationships have attained nirvana.
It’s simply a way of being, just as singlehood is. Certainly there is a whole slew of couples out there that do not enjoy Valentine’s Day. They may see it as a day of forced affections and pressure, which is an understandable perspective. You don’t have to like it. You may find yourself tempted to go on a “This is a holiday created by Hallmark and candy companies” rant. It’s fine to have opinions and to not enjoy this day, but don’t make it your mission to bring down other people whether it be “You shouldn’t need a specific day to show your love for someone,” or “It’s all about capitalism.” While these claims may have some validity, they miss the point entirely. People deserve to feel special and in reality, no one has the power to make their significant other feel loved 365 days a year. Instead of psychoanalyzing couples, wish them joy. If you see a couple kissing or exchanging gifts on your way to class or at a restaurant, be happy for them. Bitterness takes a lot out of you. It’s no way to feel. Maybe somewhere down the line you’ll be a part of one of those corny couples. Remember that being single is not a negative thing. In fact, in many cases it’s healthy, but feeling lonely is another story. If you find yourself in low spirits, try hanging out with a friend or doing something nice for yourself. Keep in mind that you are not missing out on anything. Being single versus being in a relationship are only different experiences — both quite enjoyable if one approaches them with a healthy attitude. At the same time, don’t allow people in relationships to pity you. If you don’t want to be a third wheel or be set up, then politely decline. Try on a new perspective for size. Don’t be that person whining on Facebook about how it sucks being single on Valentine’s Day. I hope you find love this Valentine’s Day, no matter the source — yourself, friends, family members or a significant other. It’s no less valuable if it doesn’t come from a romantic partner. In being happy and appreciating love for others, you’ll find happiness and love within yourself. ■H
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There is a need for physical education majors — not basketball majors JESSICA BAKER Contributing Writer
With our school currently participating in the Big West Conference, I see UCR’s student athletes sporting their blue, white and gold jerseys as they go off to their next game, possibly with homework in hand. In contrast to many UCR students, student athletes have two roles on campus: to study in academics and to engage in sports. Despite their dual role and the obligations accompanying both, the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) mission statement assures that student athletes are guided throughout their college career: “Student-athletic success on the field, in the classroom, and in life is at the heart of our mission.” However, the lawsuit against NCAA by two former student athletes, Devon Ramsay and Rashanda McCants, reveals not only a hole in the sports organization’s conduct with academics, but also the paradox of student athletes’ roles. Both Ramsay and McCants assert that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and NCAA were hypocrites in their promises to provide students a quality college education. Instead of an education, the two student athletes say they’ve only received a measly piece of paper written with the words, “college diploma.” Unfortunately, their case seems to be true. At UNC, classes were labeled as independent study, yet ironically involved no studying due to no syllabus, no practical assignments and no adequate tests. Such academic fraud even began as early as the 1980s with Dexter Manley, formerly the Washington Redskins’ defensive end, graduating from Oklahoma State University without being able to read. The fault should not be pressed onto student athletes, as former marathon swimmer and student athlete, Diana Nyad, recounts: “the hours at practice, on the road, on the trainer’s table, at banquets can be overwhelming … Even academically superior students would be hard put to miss that much school.” With academic reform desperately needed in collegiate sports departments and the NCAA, a viable solution may be to invest in physical education majors. Now on the surface such a proposal may seem to just continue this strain of academic fraud. Many will imagine this proposal would involve majors like Basketball or Football in the College of Throwing Stuff or courses called “The Ball and You” with the curriculum merely a set of dates to practice free throws. These ridiculous notions are reserved for the “Space Jam” sequel — not
in an actual college setting. I understand that sports programs are always accused of receiving a greater amount of funds than other college programs — but critics need to understand the funds are not being used appropriately, as evidenced by the lack of constructive academic resources for student athletes. Colleges like UCR are implementing tutoring programs to aid their athletes, but more needs to be done. Big leaps like establishing sports-appropriate majors do not have to be done first. Such a leap would require fast planning and a lot of faith in a program that has no credential. Perhaps testing out a physical education minor could be the best route. Already underway in universities’ sports and physical education departments, classes more focused on student athletes’ dual roles are being created, with the strong intent to not be fluff classes to earn credits but to teach student athletes skills they can use during and after their college career. Here at UCR, Dio Saucedo, the student athlete leadership coordinator, teaches his “Sports Psychology” course, which covers topics that the everyday student athlete endures, such as “stress, anxiety, frustration, failure, what to do when you are out of sync or out of rhythm, what kind of mental strategies do you use to focus, recenter, back in the present.” While UCR students are provided many counseling or career resources tailored to their collegiate experience, Saucedo’s course is one of the few resources specifically meant for student athletes. While UCR students are able to pursue niche majors like history and administrative studies or biochemical engineering, student athletes are not able to pursue majors like kinesiology or physical education or sports psychology. Such a solution would take a couple of years to accomplish, yet it is within these years that a physical education major could be perfected for UCR students. As opposed to a sports-specific major, a physical education major allows student athletes to seek opportunities after graduation that relates to their commitment to sports; however, the major gives a broader range of opportunity. A sports-specific major would only prepare students for opportunities in a niche field — playing sports professionally. Proposing a minor is often the perfect testing stage for a proposed major. Faculty would not need to create a vast amount of classes, but instead only construct a few for students to take for the minor. This allows faculty to experiment with what is needed for the future major without hindering students’ overall college experience, or having them regret taking on a major that was not initially planned out. ■H
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Nationwide isn’t on your side ROBERT LEES Staff Writer
A running theme in insurance commercials, be it automotive, property or life insurance, is “here at ‘x’ insurance company, we care about you.” I have always found this patronizing, because many of these corporations try to pass themselves off as charities, pretending to be loving, father figures created to bestow money upon the less fortunate in their time of need. Imagine my surprise when Nationwide insurance decided to drop the facade and go into full-on crazy mode during their now-infamous “dead kid” advertisement during the first half of Super Bowl XLIX. Exposure to this ad, even to those who chose to not watch the Super Bowl, is nearly unavoidable. Commentators on both the television and Internet have discussed it, several spinoff memes have been shared on Reddit and Facebook, and a YouTube video of the ad has amassed over six million views at time of writing. For the uninitiated, the ad features a young, blue-eyed child lamenting that he’ll never learn to fly, ride a bike or get married — because he’s dead. The screen then cuts to an image of an overflowing
bathtub, and mentions that the number-one cause of childhood deaths is preventable accidents. It then shows a link to their “make safe happen” website and the Nationwide logo. Now, the ad is effective. The sheer volume of people discussing one commercial several days after its original airing is impressive. However, the ad is also crass and manipulative. Rather than using the quality of their products to sell their merchandise, they’re playing on the fears of the number-one demographic for people with life insurance: adults who have children. It has often been said that any parent’s worst nightmare is having to bury their child, and Nationwide has used this universal fear to peddle their product. Imagine how people who may have gone through a recent tragedy may have felt after seeing this commercial. The last thing anyone needs when going through the grieving process is some smug insurance company, pretending to understand your pain. The sheer insensitivity is palpable, much akin to a home security company airing a commercial wherein an axe murderer kills a family because they failed to install a home alarm. Any non-psychopaths will
generally agree that manipulating peoples’ fears is a bad thing, and it’s even worse when it’s carried about by a multimillion dollar corporation that claims to be “on your side.” In addition, the ad uses a trope from an M. Night Shyamalan movie that’s 15 years old, and that’s just lazy. The kid was dead the whole time! What a twist! After the immense backlash that has come as a surprise to absolutely nobody, Nationwide has gone into damage control mode, stating that their advertisement was meant to bring awareness to their nonprofit campaign for home safety, instead of trying to sell insurance. The problem with this rationale is that the ad, and their “make safe happen” website, is plastered with the Nationwide logo. Even the downloadable guides that are supposed to have helpful hints on preventing child injuries around the home feature the logo. Brand recognition is a big part of marketing, and people who view the website are constantly viewing that image. If the tips are helpful, their subconscious may make the association between “Nationwide” and “Child safety,” which will push them to purchase insurance from Nationwide. While
COURTESY OF NATIONWIDE
A Nationwide commercial starring the child above has sparked controversy.
their campaign does shed light on an important issue, their good intentions are undercut by their ulterior motive, which is to make a profit. This debacle represents the worst of free-market capitalism. I love the free market; it creates a competitive marketplace where companies can vie for the favor of consumers by selling a superior product. However, it
also leads to underhanded, manipulative sales methods, which are designed to draw people in by playing on their fears and desires. Insurance companies are some of the worst, claiming to be on the side of the consumer when in reality, their goal is to make money. Despite what any advertisement may say, Nationwide is not on your side — unless you have money. ■H
Vaccinations and your government DANIEL KELLEY Contributing Writer
In a recent interview with NBC News, President Barack Obama declared his stance on the now decades-old controversy over the dangers of disease vaccination. “I just want people to know the facts and science and the information,” said Obama in reference to parents who refuse to immunize their children from deadly diseases. “The fact is that a major success of our civilization is our ability to prevent disease that in the past have devastated folks. And measles is preventable.” His last point is why this issue requires our attention. During 2014, the United States had a record number of measles cases, with 644 cases from 27 states reported to Center for Disease Control’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). For scale, this is the greatest number of cases since measles was eradicated in the U.S. in 2000. Let me be clear: Measles was eradicated from the U.S. in 2000. Now, 15 years later, because of bogus science and misleading rhetoric propagated by both our media and certain political figures, a completely preventable
disease once again threatens public health. And it shouldn’t. The science is indisputable: Vaccinations do not cause autism and are not a public health threat. But the debate, and the subsequent public insecurity it provokes, is. So the question rises: What should we do? And better yet, what should our government do? Although it might effectively resolve the issue, it is not within the federal or any state government’s authority to immunize all children without the consent of their parents with no exceptions. Some parents refuse to immunize their children because they are misled by incorrect science, but many opt out of vaccination due to religious reasons. We as Americans do have that right. Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of our government to preserve public safety. We cannot and should not forcibly immunize children, but we can conform state law to require immunization against contagious diseases as an unconditional requirement for enrollment into public school systems. Seeing as how the federal government is crippled by political obstinance, the more effective route might be through state legislatures, where gridlock is bad, but not as bad.
Either way, our governments must act quickly. Children, who have the least control over whether or not they are immunized, are also the most at risk for contracting disease, and because of this, making schools safe for students should be a top priority. However, as exemplified by the measles outbreak that occurred at Disneyland in December, which, according to Reuters infected 58 people with the virus, the danger to public health posed by unmitigated disease outbreaks extends far beyond our classrooms. It isn’t quite enough for our school districts to mandate immunization when there are limitless other public spaces where transmittable diseases can explode into an epidemic. This is a public health issue, but it is also a public knowledge issue. Although our media’s culpability in this problem is undeniable, they reside in the private sector. However self-serving it may be, we can’t reform Fox News’ or CNN’s agenda. Unfortunately, the public sphere is equally as liable, but perhaps even less controlled. When we have politicians like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie calling for “balance”
JAMESON ADAME / HIGHLANDER
between public health interests and parental choice, this intentionally distorts the issue by implying that the debate is equally legitimate on both sides, and undermines the very purpose of government: to uphold public safety. Frankly, the only way we’re going to eradicate measles again
is if our elected officials stop coopting issues of public health for political gain and speak the truth. This is why President Obama has the right idea. He leaves no room for misinterpretation when he says, “There is every reason to get vaccinated — there aren’t reasons to not.” For this, I say, “Thanks, Obama.” ■H
LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
In response to the Feb. 3 article entitled, “Forget the foie gras unless it’s natural” F rom K enneth M ontville , S enior C ollege C ampaign S trategist , P eople for the E thical T reatment of A nimals Dear Editor, While we at PETA are glad that writer Jessica Baker is decrying the cruelty of foie gras, please allow me to correct some inaccuracies in her column, “Forget the foie gras unless it’s natural.” Ducks do indeed have a gag reflex. In fact, a common cause of death on foie gras farms is aspiration pneumonia (which occurs when ducks inhale their own vomit). The ducks raised for foie gras
are moulards, which are dabbling ducks, a different species with a different diet than the diving ducks foie gras apologists describe swallowing large fish. Nor are moulards migratory, but even migratory ducks do not gorge in preparation for migration—instead, they eat frequent small meals. Moreover, PETA has never thrown blood on anyone or issued any death threats: Our protests may be colorful
and eye-catching, but they are always peaceful. The same can’t be said for foie gras producers, however, who not only threaten ducks and geese with death, they actually follow through with their threats! Sincerely, Kenneth Montville Senior College Campaign Strategist, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
The Highlander accepts letters from the campus community. They must be 600-800 words at length and include the author’s name and contact information. Topics should be UCR-centric and/or pertain to our generation of students. Contact opinions editor Jameson Adame at opinions@highlandernews.org by Wednesday if interested in writing a letter and submit completed letter by Saturday at noon. Letter can and will be rejected if it does not meet requirements.
The opinions expressed in the Opinions section belong solely to their authors and do not represent the Highlander Editorial Board or the University of California, Riverside.
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Features
A professor shares a poem she wrote for the Black History Month Nooner event
BLACK HISTORY MONTH R
BEGINS WITH A BANG ASHLEY CHUNG, CONTRIBUTING WRITER PHOTOS BY JEFFREY CHANG
iverside’s winter weather proved to be not so wintry once again as a much-too-warm 80 degrees persisted on Wednesday afternoon. Highlanders dashed off to their classes and away from the blazing sun, passing the Bell Tower from every direction, yet not many gave a second glance to the Nooner many had grown familiar with. However this was the annual Black History Month Nooner, hosted by African Student Programs. Clubs and organizations like the National Society of Black Engineers, Black Student Union and Nigerian Student Association gathered with vibrant booths displaying pamphlets on their tasks and goals, while celebrating African-American culture. ► SEE NOONER, PAGE 11
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► NOONER FROM PAGE 10
Soon enough, Riverside’s diverse students quickly crowded into the soothing shade of the Bell Tower once they heard the soulful sounds of the first performer on stage. After shoutouts were made to all the African-American associations, a first-year student graced the heat-weary audience with her powerfully melodic voice as she belted out the classic tune of “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke. Her strong voice stayed true to Cooke’s hopeful tone and vision for the African-American community’s success. After appreciating the timehonored song, five members of Alpha Phi Alpha, Pi Epsilon Chapter proudly marched up to the stage to represent AfricanAmerican culture within their fraternity. They stomped in recognition of their brotherhood as they announced their motto: service for all and their love for all mankind. The members also declared their goal to develop leaders with academic excellence and provide service to the community before commemorating a momentous African American history. They listed a few wellrespected civil rights heroes as “the men that we represent, the men that we’ll become: Martin Luther King Jr., W.E.B. Du Bois and Thurgood Marshall.” Before leaving us with an unforgettable ceremony and honoring African Americans’ past, they shouted, “Alpha history is black history.” “This is our month, right?” a professor of West African dance, Makeda Parker, enthusiastically called to the crowd. Excitement and energy passed from one student to the next as she proceeded to the stage. She brought appreciation of African-American culture and history to every student, regardless of race, as she preached that Black History Month is a collection of “what we learned in 365 days, brought together in one perspective in a month.” Highlanders had the privilege of hearing Parker recite her original poem, “Manifestation of Self,” in which she declared that though she had never touched a grain of African soil, her “soul sprang from within.” She left the audience with her last demonstration of African pride through her performance of the ritual dance, Kakilambe. Highlander enthusiasm rose to an all-time high as soon as four girls from the Caribbean Student Union pranced onto the stage in their spirited costumes adorned with bright red, blue, green and black tutus that paired with their gold-embellished bras. They put on a festively entertaining dance to express their pride and celebrate their roots. Finally, another UCR student rose to the stage to share her speech titled “America” to close off this year’s annual event. She used her strong voice to raise awareness about the lasting existence of AfricanAmerican discrimination, stating that groups like the Ku Klux Klan never vanished, but instead evolved into authority figures with badges. She was clearly not afraid to share her bold opinion on racism in today’s society as she exclaimed that “systematic oppression has been concealed,” in America. Thus, she brought forth the lasting question in our minds: How will we react now that white privilege in America has been revealed? Students pondered upon all the performances featured by the African-American student organizations as they scattered off to their next classes. This special Nooner kicking off Black History Month raised the spirits of African-American Highlanders in the celebration of self, while it taught others the value of cultural awareness. ■H
Clockwise from top left: Brothers from the Alpha Phi Alpha performing a dance at the Bell Tower; A student performs “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke; Performers from the Caribbean Student Union showing their moves at the Black History Month Nooner event.
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WRITER’S W
UCR HOST CLASS W
MONDAY, FEB. 2 COMPILED BY: MICHELLE MITANI
Claudia Rankin
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iterature enthusiasts and members of academia filled the chairs and couches in the UCR Bookstore Lounge last Monday to witness the award-winning poet, Claudia Rankine, share and discuss her work. Her most recent publication, “Citizen: An American Lyric” — a finalist for the 2014 National Book Award in Poetry and sequel to “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely: An American Lyric” — combines
poetry, prose and images to communicate to readers the ways in which racism still pervades our society. An amazing speaker, Rankine used anecdotes to not only provide an informative background to her poems, but also kept the crowd engaged. One of her pieces of writing in “Citizen: An American Lyric” tells the story of a friend who attempts to bridge the divide between her and the African-American community
through her instinctual eagerness to fill an empty seat next to a black man. Not only a poet, but also a professor at Pomona College, Rankine had something to share with each and every one of the audience members as she answered questions about how to engage a diverse classroom of students, and why second-person narrative allows her writing to speak to the collective audience about race and racism.
TUESDAY, FEB
COMPILED BY: COLIN MARKO ASHLEY CHUNG AND NATHA
Tod Goldberg
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he first full day of Writer’s Week got off to a slow start, with eager students beginning to doze off in the afternoon sun once the announcement was made that the speaker would be slightly late. Onlookers didn’t have to wait long, though — little more than five minutes later, Tod Goldberg strutted into the room, cracking the ambient buzz with a loud, “Wake up, this will
be on the final!” That entrance blematic of the as he told humo about writing where he receiv tion with an in Goldberg’s speci thriller, and he h nal novels based television series in addition to his for the day, the n
Steph Cha
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aw student-turned-writer Steph Cha spoke to UCR about her novels and writing techniques for the second day of Writer’s Week. Cha studied English and East Asian Studies in college before going to law school. Although she passed the bar exam, Cha decided that she wanted to dedicate her life to
writing. She re but novel, “Foll in April 2013 a novel “Beware August 2014. C cerpt from “Be a Hollywood m and proceeded t importance of c opment. “The m character, the le
Josh Emmons
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osh Emmons has published two novels, “The Loss of Leon Meed” and “Prescription for a Superior Existence,” and is currently working on his third novel and short story collection. His novels have been translated to several languages and have been recognized in an array of magazines and newspapers such as “The New York Times Book Review” and “The American Scholar.” Highlanders had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with Em-
mons as he readi his short story, “ He related the de as he explained t ly based on Eric “My Night at Ma Rohmer’s movie takes place in F middle-aged man himself caught women. He disc strong interest i of self-denial” th ation of temptati ery of the will to
Katie Ford & Alliso
Highlander
T
he duo of Katie Ford and Allison Benis White took to the podium to read aloud selections from their poetry compilations that silenced the audience with their raw emotional power. Both UCR creative writing professors, each took turns reading, with Ford’s voice softly rumbling over the rolling r’s
in her “Blood Lyr murmurs emphasi ic sounds in “S Crayon.” The me heartrending natu themselves — “B tormented by mot her young daugh Portrait with Cra by a daughter’s s
TURES
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WEEK 2015
TS WORLD Mike Davis & Juan Felipe Herrera S WRITERS .3
OVICH, CHRISTAL MIMS, AN SWIFT
” e would be emrest of his talk, orous anecdotes and explained ved his inspiranfectious energy. ialty is the crime has written origid on the popular s “Burn Notice,” s source material novel “Gangster-
land.” The book tells the story of a gang member forced to take up the life of a rabbi to avoid arrest, and gripped the audience with its visceral details and moral quandaries faced by the main character. “Good stories are about bad people,” Goldberg remarked, saying that he wanted to “demystify the bad guy,” and encouraged writers to let readers see the human side of violence in their works.
eleased her delow Her Home,” and her second e, Beware” in Cha read an exeware, Beware,” murder mystery, to speak on the character develmore you do to a ess you can use
them in different situations,” Cha said. Currently working on her third novel, Cha elaborated on her writing process. “Setting deadlines and having structure is definitely useful,” Cha explained. When she isn’t working on her novel, she writes extensive Yelp reviews and writes as a freelance writer for the Los Angeles Times.
ily began reading “A Moral Tale.” etails of his story that it was highc Rohmer’s film, aud’s.” Similar to e, Emmons’ story France, where a n, Bernard, finds between two scussed how his in the “dynamic hrough the “situion” and discovo resist it led him
to the idea of this short story. He was able to throw himself into the depths of the passage by introducing a “20-something French woman living alone,” stating that he would have become her if he had continued his high school path. Though the main concept was borrowed from Rohmer’s film, Emmons made certain that his story still demonstrated a reflection of himself, revealing that finding one’s self in their written work is the most important aspect of being an author.
on Benis White
rics” and White’s sizing the euphonSelf-Portrait with elody masked the ure of the poems Blood Lyrics” is therly worry over hter, while “Selfayon” is marked struggles with the
absence of a mother. When the two finish, White says the two at first hadn’t intended to alternate readings, joking that writers are lonely creatures. But, she says, “to put work together that never thought to be together” is one of the fun parts of being a writer, and opens the door to new messages and ideas altogether.
tudents filled the third floor of the HUB to listen to two greatly accomplished UCR lecturers, Mike Davis and Juan Felipe Herrera. Davis read excerpts from his book “In Praise of Barbarians: Essays against Empire,” speaking within the realm of academia that he’s most known for: examining historical injustices committed by the state. A longtime commenter of political injustices in his fiction and nonfiction, Davis largely spoke of the dangers of historical revisionism
concerning civil rights, talking slowly as though he were reciting old war stories to a family around the dinner table. Next came Juan Felipe Herrera. Speaking toward the crowd in his regular fast-paced demeanor, Herrera read from his poem “Saturday Night at the Buddhist Cinema,” which strangely was not a poem found in the poetry collection being sold at the reading, “A Book of Lives.” While this might seem strange — reading a poem not found in the book being sold — it could also be seen as typical Herrera:
funny, quirky, at odds with the expectations of listeners. Herrera also employed a few more techniques, such as ad-libbing his own spoken poetry apart from “Saturday Night at the Buddhist Cinema,” and conducting the crowd into a call-andresponse musical chant, mixed with whatever poetry he was currently reading with whatever came to his mind. And like most times where one sits and listens to Herrera speak poetry, it might’ve been difficult to follow, but there’s no denying there was a magic to it.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4 COMPILED BY: MAXINE ARELLANO, COLIN MARKOVICH, ROBERT LEES AND MELISSA FUENTES
Ernest Hogan
U
CR’s own Nalla Hopkins opened for Chicano writer Ernest Hogan with a brief description of the author, but Hogan dove right into his story, “Burrito Meltdown,” a short story within a collection of “Sci-Fi, Mexican stories,” as Hogan described, in his book “Angel Body and Magic for the Soul.” The story illustrated the tale of aliens abiding by stereotypes to assimilate with the Latino popu-
lation. “‘I can’t pass as a Hispanic …’ ‘That’s okay, we have a tanning bed in the back,’” Hogan read. He paused for the few chuckles from the back as he brought each character’s voice to life. Aspiring writers and eager listeners were captivated by the description of the galaxy and characters. Biting back snickers, many were hesitant to laugh at the racial jokes he presented. As he wrapped up his reading, he noted, “Many of
these quotes are from people that have said this around me.” He stayed to sign books — with a complimentary doodle with each. He explained how his collection embodied the same themes: racism, stereotypes and how he uses each to “create satire.” His inspiration is derived from the raids of churches in his old neighborhood and most of his characters are based on actual people.
Ching-in Chen
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elf-described poet-activist Ching-In Chen radiated with sheer power before the seated crowd, with bold, vigorous readings from the collection of poetry at the podium that declared the poet’s sense of self to the world. Holding a master of fine arts in creative writing from UCR, Chen explained that the best part about UCR’s creative writing program is the exposure to
and ability to critique multiple genres of writing, something that has helped as Chen works toward a graduate degree at the University of Milwaukee in Wisconsin. The poems focused on the harsh realities of discrimination in the United States, especially for Chinese immigrants and their descendents. During one particularly powerful reading, hands clenched the podium as voice bursted to a fever pitch,
using a unique style of storytelling that eschewed normal syntax and grammar and jumped from object to seemingly unrelated object before linking them inextricably together in a chain of struggle. When an audience member asked why Chen was drawn to poetry, the poet-activist said it was a way to answer the questions people faced in life, explaining, “Is the answer not a poem?”
Maria Bustillos
“I
love the cut and thrust of a debate,” Maria Bustillos opened, partially as an explanation of her choice of topic, as she began to read aloud the review of the book “Racecraft” she penned for the Los Angeles Review of Books. Explaining that this is the only book
in which race made sense to her experience as a person of multiple ethnicities, she discussed how the characterization of race and ethnicity as an in-group and out-group is wrong. Chuckles and assents filled the room as she began dismantling the walls that separate people from one another, whether based on race,
sex or gender identity, and emphasized the need for intercultural communication, understanding and participation. “This message can be said in any language and needs to be,” she finished, encouraging the crowd to share the message to others in the languages they understand.
Highlander More on page 14
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Mona Simpson & Michelle Huneven Geoff Dyer
O
ne of the Writer’s Week events on Wednesday was a talk with Michelle Huneven and Mona Simpson, two acclaimed female novelists. Michelle Huneven, who teaches creative writing at UCLA and has written “Off Course” and “Blame” shared the stage with fellow novelist and friend Mona Simpson, known for her novels “Casebook” and “Anywhere But Here,” which was adapt-
ed into a film starring Natalie Portman and Susan Sarandon. Breaking with common Writer’s Week tradition, the two did not read any excerpts from their books, and instead focused the talk on their methods and discussions of their futures. Both are working on new novels: Huneven on two at the same time, and opened the discussion by jokingly admitting they would disappear from the public eye for a few years as they
worked. They shared the stage, answering questions jointly and explaining the need for organization and drive when writing. Huneven suggested that aspiring writers keep their notes in three-ring binders, while Simpson explained the benefit of naps, as they “give you two mornings” in one day, contributing to the spark of creativity. Their valuable tips will likely prove helpful to many of the aspiring writers who attended.
Jane Smiley & Laila Lalami
“A
story of transformation where the conqueror becomes conquered … there was this voice that had never been recorded in history,” Laila Lalami shared passionately as she discussed her novel “The Moor’s Account.” The Moroccan-born woman took the podium to promote her book and share her life experience as a writer. The sto-
ry is a piece of historical fiction that describes “the first black explorer of America.” Though it was a Wednesday night on week five, many took some time off studying for midterms and piled up in the HUB eager to listen to what the author had to share. Many also anticipated Pulitzer Award-winning author Jane Smiley, but unfortunately Smiley had the flu and was not able to attend. Professor Susan
Straight gave a brief description of Smiley, humorously describing her successes. “A Thousand Acres” was Smiley’s most successful book and won a Pulitzer in 1992. To wrap it up, students cheerfully asked questions and had their books signed. Both Lalami and Smiley are professors at UCR where they continue to teach other aspiring writers to pursue their creativity.
THURSDAY, FEB. 5 COMPILED BY: JAKE RICH, CHRISTAL MIMS, ROBERT LEES, NATHAN SWIFT AND TIFFANY LIAW
Michael Datcher
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porting dreadlocks and an earnest, laid-back attitude, critically acclaimed author and poet, as well as UCR Ph.D. candidate Michael Datcher, started off Thursday with a lunchtime talk. Datcher read passages from his novel, “Americus,” set from the late 19th century through the early 20th century in St. Louis and centering around a set of twins, Asar and Set Americus. Datcher read
as a poet would, inflections dancing on and off of his words as he navigated his text, describing harsh realities for African-Americans at the time. He described the differences in writing fiction versus nonfiction. “Fiction, fiction is way harder. You have to make someone suspend their disbelief, suspend their knowledge that these are made-up people,” he said. “Up until like, draft 12, I said to myself, ‘I don’t believe
these people, these people aren’t real.’” Datcher explained that he would read the book aloud to help him perfect his novel, and that as the characters became so real to him, he would weep as he read, even in public places such as Starbucks. “I don’t recommend that,” he said. His memoir, “Raising Fences,” was recently optioned to Will Smith’s production company, with Datcher being hired to write the script.
cult subjects of self-identity and pain in a relatable and unique way. She treated the audience to a reading of one of her comics entitled “Sleep Deprived,” an amusing tale about unrequited love and the horrors of living with bed bugs. MariNaomi revealed that she always wanted to be a novelist but her love for illustration spawned new goals to become a comic artist. “I got really into un-
derground comics and I’d always liked to draw and paint,” MariNaomi explained. For content, she draws from her own life and experiences while also tackling the subject of what she calls the “grey area” in human nature. “I like to focus on the duality of human beings,” she said. MariNaomi is currently working on a new book called “Dragon’s Breath and Other True Stories.”
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t roughly 5:20 p.m., Andrew Winer, chair of the creative writing department at UCR, announced the arrival of author Geoff Dyer, who would be speaking in memoriam of the past professor and department chair, Stephen Minot, as a special guest author sponsored by Minot’s writing scholarship. “Dyer offers something the rest don’t; he’s really fucking funny,” mused Winer after describing the author’s remarkable success with his four novels and seven nonfiction books. As Dyer apologized for his tardiness, he began his reading of the first book, “Out of Sheer Rage,” which illustrates his ex-
perience on a desolate Greek island and his attempt to study the works of D.H. Lawrence. His thoughts ranged from his dilemma of bringing the rather large compilation of Lawrence’s complete works to an encounter with a fearful snake that left him and his wife running away. Dyer joked of his “droning intolerableness” and proceeded to describe the two parts of “Jeff in Paris, Death in Veranasi.” He illustrated the cities vividly and left his audience in suspense after closing with his standoff with a monkey that had stolen his prescription sunglasses, never failing to entertain the sizable crowd with his hilarious narrative.
NoViolet Bulawayo
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CR finished off its Writer’s Week with Zimbabwean author NoViolet Bulawayo. Bulawayo earned her master of fine arts in creative writing at Cornell University and is currently teaching at Stanford. The award-winning author read from her debut novel “We Need New Names,” which tells the story of a young girl’s journey from Zimbabwe to America. She explained that she began working on the novel in 2008 and captured the immigrant experience by analyzing her personal life and the lives of her friends. Bulawayo’s descriptive storytelling contains a power and grace that has captured the attention of many around the
country, but she revealed that writing hasn’t always come easy. However, she explained that being disciplined creates ease in an unpredictable process. Bulawayo is currently working on her next novel and expressed her preference for writing in her native language before translating it to English. “The English language doesn’t always capture the essence and true nature of what I’m trying to say,” she explained. Bulawayo ended the engagement with words of encouragement for aspiring writers. “My breakthrough came when I learned that my stories and my voice were valid,” she said. “The most important thing is to have cour■H age.”
MariNaomi
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CR welcomed author and illustrator MariNaomi to its campus for the last day of Writer’s Week. MariNaomi’s comics have been featured in many anthologies and her graphic memoir “Kiss and Tell: A Romantic Resume Ages 0 to 22” has helped her acquire a fairly large amount of fans. Her honest and humorous writing confronts the diffi-
JEFFREY CHANG / HIGHLANDER Juan Felipe Herrera telling a passage from his book “Saturday Night at the Buddhist Cinema.”
Alan Soldofsky
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n the warm sun of Thursday afternoon, Alan Soldofsky, director of creative writing at San Jose State University and author of the critically acclaimed “The Buddha Factory,” came to the UCR Bookstore Lounge to read several of his poems. A jovial, balding man, he began by reading a poem from his upcoming collection “Charts for the End of Days.” He jokingly remarked
that he stole the title from E. E. Cummings, and continued to joke about stealing his best work throughout his presentation. Setting plays a large role in his poetry, and he would often preface a reading by describing the location he had in mind when he wrote it, be it Silicon Valley or a cave in China. Along with his new material, he also read several poems from “The Buddha Factory,”
including the eponymous title poem and the heartfelt, melancholic “Close.” The audience was engaged for the duration of his presentation, and the large crowd was solemnly silent as they digested his words, only breaking the quietude to clap after each reading. After a brief Q-and-A, the crowd thinned, heading off to class or moving to a new seat for the next presentation.
TIM BACA / HIGHLANDER MariNaomi speaks alongslide slides with hand-drawn characters that accompanied her stories.
Jervey Tervalon
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n the middle of Riverside’s wonderful winter heat, Jervey Tervalon read an excerpt from his book “Monster’s Chef,” which examines Gibson, a young man exiting rehab following a nightmare drug addiction. His talents as a chef are put to good use when he’s hired to cook for Monster, a superstar musician known for his tremendous onstage talent and crazy offstage antics. Gibson is soon at the center of a plot involving a dead body in Monster’s home and
he quickly learns about the danger of falling down the rabbit hole of superstardom. Tervalon intermixed his reading with his reflections on pop culture, and specifically about Michael Jackson. To Tervalon, Jackson represented “love, like Ghandi, Buddha and Jesus.” But he could also represent all that was wrong with pop culture and the entertainment industry as a whole. In fact, the character Monster in “Monster’s Chef” was inspired by Michael Jackson him-
self, and was “a meditation on what Michael Jackson meant culturally, with a gothic vibe.” Given that he personally witnessed but never intermingled with the celebrity culture around UC Santa Barbara and USC (where he used to teach), and that he used to work next to Ronald Reagan’s ranch, one of Tervalon’s highest concerns addressed in his fiction is “the idea of celebrities being excused for their actions,” which is looked at in “Monster’s Chef.”
VINCENT TA / HIGHLANDER UCR Professor Tod Goldberg cracks snarky jokes to the audience as he prepares to read a passage from his book “Gangsterland.”
ONLINE: “SEVENTH SON” REVIEW
R adar ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
EVENTS THIS WEEK 2/11
Del the Funky Homosapien @ The Barn, 7:30 p.m.
2/12
“Measure for Measure,” a play by William Shakespeare @ ARTS 113, 8 p.m.
2/13
Encuentros/Encounters: Latin American Music for Two Pianos @ ARTS 166, 8 p.m.
2/14
“Memphis: the Musical” @ Fox Performing Arts Center, 8 p.m.
TIM BACA / HIGHLANDER
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
MAMMA MIA!
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org
Maxine Arellano, Senior Staff Writer // Photos by Tim Baca
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he first time I heard of the play “Mamma Mia” was in Las Vegas when I was about five years old. Posters, billboards and taxi cabs sparkled everywhere in the city for the iconic musical. Each time I heard the original song from ABBA played on the radio, I vowed that I would see this play and whether it lived up to the twinkle it had alway lit in my eye. When the troupe traveled to the Fox Theater in Downtown Riverside, I found the chance to serve my five-year-old self right. As I waited at the intersection of Market Street and Mission Avenue, the corner was illuminated by the radiating picture of the laughing bride. People poured into the double doors, scattering across the paisley carpet as they find which aisle their ticket matches. If I didn’t catch the vast age difference of the crowd right off the bat, the distinction between the line at the bar and the souvenir stand set them apart. Past the threshold and into the theater, any first-timer would be in awe. Small but memorable, the inside of the theater resembles a castle in the Renaissance. The walls and rounded balconies in the corner glowed purple, with a ceiling of rustic turquoise. Guests descended into the abyss, as the stage’s backdrop mirrored the reflection of the Mediterranean Sea. Many took their seat, silently awaiting curtain call. However, avid fans bobbed their heads side to side as they enthusiastically hummed each tune in the pamphlet. Soon, the lights dropped, music blasted, the sea dispersed and the moonlit dock in the middle of Greece took the stage. Actress Chelsea Williams, who plays Sophie Sheridan, faces the audience as she read aloud her letters. The colors and costumes alone gave the illusion of midnight in Greece, but the two-piece set replicated a white house villa on a cliff in Santorini. After returning from touring in Las Vegas, Williams opens up the show with a voice that moves across the entire theater. The 20-yearold Sophie sings of how she wishes to find her father in the ballad “I Have a Dream.” Her perky and lively attitude brings forth the
character Sophie well — especially when she is met with her two best friends and bridesmaids, Lisa and Ali (played by Emily Price and Olivia Ashley Reed). As any young bridal party would, the three catch up on the gossip as Sophie confesses to the two that she found her mother’s diary with three names that could possibly be her father. The three bust out into the song “Honey, Honey, Honey” as they chase one another around the stage, before Sophie slips three wedding invitations to each prospected father into the mailbox … without telling her mother.
The story carries a comedic tone throughout, with the dramatic pivots of the mother-daughter relationship. We’re soon introduced to Sophie’s mother Donna Sheridan (Rebecca Mason-Wygal). The single mother is the focal point of the play, as the owner of the local bar and hotel on the island of Kalokairi. Family friends Rosie (Sarah Smith) and Tanya (Bailey Purvis) describe Donna as the strong, independent mother and businesswoman. The play sets up the conflict of the daughter’s dream of tradition versus the mother’s will for independence. Donna’s blast from the past interrupts the stage as Sam Carmichael (Jeff Drushal), Bill Anderson (Michael Colavolpe) and Harry Bright (Mark A. Harmon): three possible fathers of Sophie and one huge breakdown for
Clockwise from top left: Lights from the stage wash over the audience; The female wedding guests lead a dance after the plot-ending wedding scene; The male wedding guests have their own dance after the wedding; At the end of the night, the satisfied guests all leave the Fox Theater.
Donna. The bride-to-be is met with the struggle to know her true father and marry her fiance Sky (Eric Pressnall), as the shadows of the potential mistakes Donna could have made as a single mother loom overhead. The story carries a comedic tone throughout, with the dramatic pivots of the motherdaughter relationship. Songs such as “Slipping Through My Fingers” and “Knowing me, Knowing you” are emotional tunes that earn the response from any parent-and-child relationship. However, the lighthearted play is always met with upbeat songs that get the audience up in their seat — literally. As Tanya and the neighborhood stud Pepper (P. Tucker Worley), dance-battle on the dock to “Does Your Mother Know,” audience members have the urge to join them. It is not until the very end when the cast takes their final bow and encourages the members to join them in the disco party as they perform the guilty pleasure of everyone there, “Mamma Mia.” Each castmember’s voice moved through everyone there. Whether it was a soft ballad to one another or rocky tone as they dance across the stage, most voices fit the songs perfectly. The one character’s voice I found to be troubling was Harmon, as I felt his voice was better suited for opera rather than the “poppy” song of “Voulez-Vou.” Sounding more like Kermit the Frog, Harmon seems to sing in the back of his throat compared to the belted notes of the rest of the cast. The costumes not only presented the Greek life perfectly, but the funky suits for the threewoman band of Donna, Tanya and Rosie, “The Dynamos,” created the perfect disco flashback for everyone as they performed “Dancing Queen.” But nothing closes the story itself better than the opening song of “I Have a Dream” by Sophie as she walks into the moonlight with Sky. The curtains close and the lights go back up. Some guests are winded from jiving in their seat, others are fired up from the show. Praise for the actors and whistles of the songs seep out of the door and onto the street. It is clear to say hardly anyone can resist “Mamma Mia.” ■H
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
UCR’TS WALK OFFERS STROLL INTO THE ARTS
By: Jake Rich, Senior Staff Writer // Photos by: Vincent Ta
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s the sun was setting into a warm winter’s evening at UCR, students could be seen lining up in mass amounts near the Bell Tower. As it turns out, the longest line was for free tacos (never underestimate a college student’s ability to find ways to get free food). But if the tacos made the students get out to the Bell Tower, it was the second annual UCR’ts Walk (which sponsored the free food) that kept them there, as an evening of performances and art pieces scattered round the area kept the attention of students and passerby alike. Relaxed vibes abounded as students walked around with their free food and peered over various art pieces. Easels nearly surrounded the Bell Tower, with art styles ranging from pencil sketch to oil to watercolor and more. As I waited in the long and understandably slow-moving line for free caricatures, three figures in tight-fitting black bodysuits suddenly materialized from the sides of the stage in front of the Bell Tower with paint brushes. Slithering their way across the stage, the San Diego-based art performance group Splash rhythmically danced to the synth-based music coming out of the PA system. Unlike the speed painter performance at last year’s walk, Splash, a performance art group of three, took their time — their performance lasted close to 15 minutes. Acrobatics included,
the painting on the black canvas behind them slowly took shape, forming a tiger’s face in a grassy field. Though from my angle I could see that faint lines were printed onto their canvas for them to follow along, their performance was still impressive as they timed their painting and movements with the music. A reggae-rock band took the stage next. The performance was nothing really special, and lost my attention fairly quickly as I became anxious to have myself drawn as a caricature. Land of the free stuff continued as there was once again no charge for this service — making the event more carefree and less stressful, even for student wallets. Two women sat in their chairs diligently drawing countless student faces for hours, and though my beard was drawn a little long, I had nothing to complain about — getting a caricature drawn is always a fun experience (she added a little propeller to my hat as well, something I’ve always dreamed of having). One of the more unique exhibits was available for all who walked by to edit. Two large chalkboards reading, “Before I graduate, I want to …” sat at one of the corners of the Bell Tower with chalk available for students to scrawl their ambitions and future accomplishments onto the board. Aspirations ranged from raising one’s GPA to studying abroad, from skydiving to changing
Performances by Splash (top left) and Hip Hop Congress added to the festivities of the UCR’ts walk art displays.
someone’s life. Later on, more music, this time from Hip Hop Congress, including one student calling himself Korean Jesus, who was part of the group, entertained the crowd of students in front of the Bell Tower. Joined by a drummer and two other Hip Hop Congress members at one point, Korean Jesus and the group’s upbeat buoyant energy and dancing, along with their quirky and enjoyable lyrics made for a fun and engaging performance. As Splash returned to the stage one more time, the unmistakable cantina music from “Star Wars” began blaring from the speakers, and the quest to figure out what portrait from a galaxy far far away they would paint began. As the music cycled through variations of the famous John Williams’ score, the black-suits fought with their paint brushes as if they were light sabers, while appeared, Yoda did, on the black canvas. As the two paintings were raffled off to two excited and grateful students, the night came to a close. Though not a lot happened beyond the handful of performances, the event was a perfect opportunity to rest and get away from the stress of midterms. Walking around and admiring art in different forms with friends and fellow students in the now-brisk Riverside night turned out to be the best of all the free things available that evening. ■H
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
MOVIE REVIEWS
COMING OUT SOON: FIFTY SHADES OF GREY
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE
THE LAST FIVE YEARS
JUPITER ASCENDING // RATING: ★☆☆☆☆ ROBERT LEES Staff Writer
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ell, our march through the cinematic wasteland of January and February continues, with nervous studios trotting out potentially bad films to be torn to shreds in the court of public opinion. Movies that perform well in the post-Christmas slump tend to be the exception, rather than the rule, with the summer blockbuster season still a haze in the distance. Imagine my delight when a winged, tattooed Channing Tatum swooped down from on high with promises to whisk me away on an exciting science fiction adventure. Imagine my disappointment when he flew too close to the sun like a modern-day Icarus, dropping me and leaving my hopes for an enjoyable filmgoing experience splattered across the pavement. My initial response to “Jupiter Ascending” is positive. It is written and directed by the Wachowski siblings, known for their original and engaging “The Matrix” trilogy. Also, it closely resembles “Guardians of the Galaxy,” a movie I really enjoyed. The setting and ship designs between the two films are wildly similar: The hero of both stories is a relatively normal person from Earth with a stupid name (Starlord in “Guardians” and Jupiter in “Jupiter Ascending”) and the villains are carrying out a nefarious plan to eradicate billions of lives. “Jupiter Ascending” is able to distance itself from its cinematic cousin by having a much less concise plot and by not being very good. The film borrows heavily from common tropes and visuals seen in science fiction today. The villains dress and talk like the vil-
lains in “The Hunger Games,” the supporting cast of aliens with odd skin tones and dumb names is reminiscent of “Star Wars” and the subplot that aliens live among humans reminds me strongly of “Men in Black.” There are several Wachowski-isms in place as well, including excessive use of slow motion during fight sequences and a cast of characters that all dress like they’re headed off to a bondage convention. These associations aren’t necessarily bad, as it can provide some support when we step into the uncertain waters of a new cinematic world. However, the excessive use of recycled tropes and visuals served only to remind me of more original, better films, and “Jupiter Ascending” began to feel like a stitched-together creation devoid of any truly original ideas. Things lose their punch and charm the more we’re exposed to them, and mixing several things that are good on their own won’t necessarily make a better product. You can’t throw a dozen of your favorite foods into a blender to make a delicious gourmet meal, and you can’t mix together a bunch of tropes from successful films to make cinematic history. The oddly wooden Mila Kunis plays Jupiter Jones, the daughter of Russian immigrants who works in Chicago as a maid, scrubbing toilets and wishing for a better life. Eventually, she meets a few aliens and discovers she is at the center of a plot to destroy Earth and melt the inhabitants down into some blue Kool-Aid with restorative properties. She is aided by a shirtless, grim Caine Wise (Channing Tatum), who works to protect her from the machinations of the Abrasixes, three siblings in a quasi-incestuous relationship who are all
vying for control of Earth. The film is characteristic of the Wachowksis in having what I like to call a “drive-home plot,” in that much of the plot is elucidated by discussing what happened with your friends on the drive home from the theater. Rather than introducing the canon of the film’s universe and the characters by showing it to us, the film instead focuses on telling everything to us in oddly long soliloquies delivered by the supporting cast. If there ever was a film that would benefit from being part of a trilogy, it’s “Jupiter Ascending,” as the Wachowskis have tried to fit 20 pounds of story into a five-pound box. There’s also a problem with many of the characters mumbling their lines, with Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne and Tatum being the worst offenders. I’m sure I missed several key plot points whenever two of these characters spent their time on screen incoherently grunting at each other, and the entirety
of what I know of the plot is the small snippet I included earlier in this review. On an unrelated note, Sean Bean actually lives through the entirety of the plot, which is nice to see for once. As Hollywood legends known for their talents in screenwriting, it’s amazing that the Wachowskis could misstep in writing a protagonist as bland and one-dimensional as Jupiter Jones. They try to portray her as a strong female character, but she spends the entire film being duped, crying and being rescued by Tatum. It would be like a Mario game where you play as Princess Peach, and the only time she asserts herself is at the end when she beats up an effeminate Benedict Cumberbatch knock-off. The film also retcons its entire universe at the end of the film, with Jupiter throwing up her hands and saying “Oh well, back to cleaning toilets for me.” It would be like Neo choosing the blue pill instead of the red pill, and spending the
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rest of the “Matrix” trilogy going about his day-to-day life. Speaking of which, “Jupiter Ascending” tries to do the whole “reality as you know it is false” plot like “The Matrix.” But whereas “The Matrix” postulated that we are all trapped in a false computer-generated reality, “Jupiter Ascending” posits that extraterrestrials exist, and that most of them are jerks. Wow, what a bold claim. As I sat in the theater, comically large soda in hand, the projector malfunctioned and the screen froze on the “Please, silence your cell phones” card that is commonly displayed before films. Most of us were content to continue fiddling with our phones, laughing and ignoring the film’s absence. One enterprising young lad, however, decided to inform the staff of the malfunction so they could fix the problem and screen “Jupiter Ascending.” I’d like to take this time to remind everyone that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. ■H
THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER // RATING: ★★★☆☆ EDWARD DAVE Contributing Writer
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he sponge is back, more visually and aesthetically stunning than ever. Fifteen years into the game and these aquatic creatures are still alluring in the most dynamic ways possible. “Spongebob Squarepants: Sponge out of Water” is an extremely fun and comical journey through Bikini Bottom that brings plenty of old faces and creatures back into the fray, which will no doubt leave children and adults alike with a goofy grin on their faces. Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of the series, having taken a hiatus from the show after season three, is back to help write the film and give his creative brilliance a chance to shine again. The payoff mostly works and makes viewers wonder why he left the series in the first place. It’s blatantly clear that Hillenburg knows what he’s doing when Spongebob is involved. “Spongebob Squarepants: Sponge out of Water” has a premise that many will find nostalgic as it begins with a typical afternoon at the staple Krusty Krab, home of the delicious Krabby Patty. Plankton, the archnemesis of the Krusty Krab, decides to stage an elaborate attack on the restaurant to finally
seize the secret recipe of the Krabby Patty. His plan is thwarted by the valiant forces of Spongebob and Mr. Krabs after a comedic battle of condiments. Plankton, however, tricks the Krusty crew, but ultimately ends up botching the plan as the secret recipe miraculously vanishes into thin air after a tugof-war with Spongebob. Soon after, Bikini Bottom descends into a post-apocalyptic zone of terror because of the deprivation of everyone’s favorite snack. It becomes Spongebob and Plankton’s mission — who happen to be cast as the primary suspects for its disappearance — to come up with a reliable team to get the formula back. Unlike its predecessor, this film does a better job at capturing the aesthetics of the actual show. The issue plaguing the last film was the linear narrative not having those spastic and sporadic moments that people have come to know and love the show for. This movie has it all: Everything from fart jokes to pop culture jokes are thrown into the midst of the chaos. These random inclusions would normally make a film feel jarring structurally, but it works for a series like Spongebob that thrives on random gags and motifs. The voice acting in this film is stellar. All of the original cast return from the show to
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voice the characters. Tom Kenny and Doug Lawrence, who voice Spongebob and Plankton, respectively, have electrifying chemistry together and their relationship forged throughout the movie is palpable. From their doo-wopping to their high-pitched yelps of terror, these two veterans are masters of their craft and it shows. Kenny has a strange way of making Spongebob’s voice oddly appealing even despite the constant shrieks and laughter. Lawrence summons all the bass in his chords to deliver a surprising performance for Plankton where he actually shows some character development and has to speak in various uplifting tones. While the movie’s soundtrack is less than remarkable, it’s important to note that the songs they do sing for the film are incredibly catchy and will definitely get plenty of airplay from children who crave infectious rhyming with doo-wops and imagery. The rap segments toward the end of the film are hilarious and give Spongebob a flare it does not regularly have. Combining pop culture references like this makes this film more multifaceted and prevents it from being strictly for kids. The main issue permeating the movie’s 90-minute run is the fact that none of it feels conclusive. After the story ends, you know that the character development gained throughout the movie won’t translate onto
the actual show, which makes the decisions made in the movie hold less gravity. Being in a separate canon from the actual show leaves a disconnect amongst what is real. The 3-D segments are also only featured for the last 20 minutes of the film, despite the television ads attempting to display almost all of the scenes in 3-D. A good marketing ploy only led to disappointment, as I expected at least half the film to take on that multi-dimensional feel. The 2-D was excellently animated and showed fine quality but wasn’t anything vastly different from the show. The 3-D just felt tacked on to glorify a climactic battle sequence at the end of the movie, but it was welcome nonetheless. Both the character and series “Spongebob Squarepants” are starting to show their age. But that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get a few more seasons and movies of actual quality. After giving audiences a source of laughter and excitement for over a decade, he needs to be treasured. This film does that. It takes our heroic sponge and puts him into a grandiose story that will leave those entertained the whole duration of the film. Rest assured that this film won’t only get a rise out of children as plenty of adults, even an older teenager like me, chuckled throughout the movie. Fart jokes, pop culture, random madness and squareness get mixed together for a great recipe. ■H
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org
MUSIC REVIEW
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
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JOHN CARPENTER: “LOST THEMES” // RATING: ★★☆☆☆ STASEAN WASHINGTON Staff Writer
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n the ‘80s, icons like Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers terrorized theaters, but amongst them an even bigger star arose. As one of the biggest names associated with modern horror, American director John Carpenter has directed horror masterpieces such as “The Thing,” “Halloween” and “In the Mouth of Madness.” He is known for his minimalist lighting, static camera and use of the steadicam. However, his special trademark, which most may not know of, is his selfcomposed scores. With the exceptions of the “The Thing,” “Starman,” “Memoirs of an Invisible Man” and his most recent film “The Ward,” Carpenter has scored all of his films. He has created famous themes like that of “Halloween” and “Assault on Precinct 13.” And with his time behind the camera at an end, Carpenter has returned to the keyboard once more. “Lost Themes” is the debut solo album from the legendary director, a collection of scores that emulates Carpenter ’s visual style. These songs are those one would hear in any classic horror film. Clad in synthesizers, the album is a time machine back to the ‘80s. Carpenter manages to
revisit his style; however, to those who aren’t too fond of horror films, movie scores or the ‘80s, the album is as lost as its title suggests. There isn’t much variety in this album — the entire album is mysterious, dark and unnerving. Carpenter uses instruments to accompany the atmosphere. The first song of the album, “Vortex,” exemplifies the album’s general scheme. In this particular song Carpenter opens with a soundscape reminiscent of a horror scene in which a character is in complete darkness while an unseen threat lurks, slowly approaching to strike. The song then breaks into a piano chord melody, accompanied by rhythmic synths and guitar chords. This is the formula Carpenter uses throughout the entire album. Just mix and match the components, change the pitch on the synths and you get a new song. The only song on the album to break the mold is “Purgatory.” Carpenter is known for his use of synths and his lack of percussion. In “Purgatory,” Carpenter does the opposite, going heavy on the drums and un-synthing the piano. This is a breath of fresh air for the album, and should have been done more frequently. Surprisingly, the album sounds like it could be the soundtrack
These songs are those one would hear in any classic horror film.
write. shoot. design. FOR THE HIGHLANDER Meetings on Mondays at 5:15 p.m. at HUB 101
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of American neo-noir films like “Drive” or “Nightcrawler.” Listeners will hear the inspiration felt by many modern electro artists like Kavinsky, Fantastisizer, Trevor Something and Scratch Massive. In their own songs, these artists manage to take the best parts of songs like those on “Lost Themes” and mix them with modernity, which is something most of the album fails to do. Carpenter sticks to what he knows, which is both out of
touch with current times and shows a lack of growth and experimentation as a composer. Carpenter ’s album epitomizes what horror movies sounded like in the ‘80s, but the style altogether is boring and repetitive. The days of catchy theme songs and soundtracks are long gone. Nowadays, the style is a relic of what it is like to take regular music and shove it into a synthesizer. ■H
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org
Valentine’s Day Outfit
Nelson Luu, Staff Writer
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ith Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I’ve been thinking of a good outfit to wear on my date. You would think that picking out a date-night outfit is a simple matter for a fashion writer, but
we still get jitters and nerves over what to wear for that big date! For this look, I decided to go off-tradition and eschew red accents — with the overflow of red and pink in every direction the eye can see, I’d opt for a
different color palette. While green is traditionally seen as the complementary color to red, blue stands out nicely. While not too garish, this beautiful blue blazer from Express works wonders for both work and date nights. I love the details in the interior lining and it’s incredibly light and airy. Underneath the blazer, I
paired a simple short-sleeved button-up from American Apparel with a gold-collar cuff I bought from Topman. It attaches itself to the tips of your collars through a pin, so you should wear this accessory with shirts that already have buttonholes in the collar, or with shirts that you wouldn’t mind having a pinhole in. I have yet to see this trend
CAMERON YONG / HIGHLANDER
take off in the United States and it’s a great surprise element that adds interest to an otherwise mundane outfit. Anchoring this look are a pair of slacks from Express and Aldo shoes. For first-time designer dress shoe-buyers, I will warn you that these shoes need a lot of breaking in. Don’t expect to be wearing these out the door when you first buy them. With brands like Aldo, you first need to wear them around the house at short intervals for the leather to fit to the shape of your feet. It will be uncomfortable at first, but they will gradually mold to your feet over time. If you happen to have a beau for Valentine’s Day this year and need to find a good date night spot, look no further than the Mission Inn area of Downtown Riverside. There are plenty of Valentine’s Day-worthy locations in that area, including Mario’s Place and Bella Trattoria. These restaurants tend to be on the pricier end, and reservations are an absolute necessity. For those who want to stick closer to campus, Sushiya at the University Village and Best Thai on Spruce Avenue both offer beautiful ambient lighting that’s perfect for a date night and you won’t break the bank trying to impress your date. However you approach Valentine’s Day, whether with jubilation or dismay, on a date with your significant other, or out at a bar with your fellow single friends for a night of fun, dressing up for the holiday will always make the occasion more festive and fun. ■H
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
GAME REVIEW GRIM FANDANGO // RATING: ★★★☆☆
COURTESY OF DOUBLE FINE PRODUCTIONS
JAMESON ADAME Senior Staff Writer
Gameplay is exactly what anybody who liked LucasArts and Sierra adventure games in ouble Fine has finally the ‘80s and ‘90s would expect. revived one of Tim Players can expect to wrap their Schafer’s best-known heads around puzzles involving and least-played ad- pneumatic tubes and a machine venture games from his days at that redirects messages, attemptLucasArts. Those of us who were ing to clog it up with balloon too young or bound by the limits animals and playing cards so that of our computers always heard they can steal their coworker’s of it: tales of the greatness, the messages and intercept the best splendor, the sheer Dia de los leads on who is newly dead. If Muertos-esque grace, of “Grim you were confused when reading Fandango.” And now it’s finally that description, good. The game available on Vita and PS4 for the design is based entirely around new generation of console own- forcing you to be in such a headers and other people too inept space that even the most nonsento wrap their minds around the sical situations — like oppressed game’s logic (myself included). proletariat worker bees without “Grim Fandango” tells the the words to rally themselves — story of Manny Calavera (Tony can be used to achieve your own Plana), a skeletal travel-guide ends. who works in the land of the While these puzzles are nothdead and sells travel plans to ing if not hilarious, they can also the newly deceased so that they be some of the most frustratmight make the ing attempts at four-year jourgameplay chalney to the ninth lenges that have underworld. His The plot is arguably ever existed, own journey beleading me to the best part of the shout “How in gins when he meets Mercedes game, operating as God’s holy name Calomar (Maria was I supposed one of the best noir to know that Canals-Barrera), the saintly and stories to exist since would work that beautiful skelway!” Adding to eton of a woman movies started to be the frustration, who should have some downloads made with color. earned a train of the game are ticket through the plagued with seLand of the Dead rious gameplay with her life’s good works, but bugs, although some people are instead is forced to walk through saying this only affected those its dangers unaided. Thus, Man- who bought the game in the first ny must uncover the reason why few days of release. At one point, such a good woman left with no Manny got trapped halfway inhelp, and save her from the har- side an elevator door, never able rowing trek through Mictlan. to escape and keeping me from (Google it.) making any progress. Another The plot is arguably the best time I was unable to enter an elepart of the game, operating as vator on the way to solve a puzzle one of the best noir stories to (the game apparently had issues exist since movies started to be with elevators). Though annoymade with color. Homages of ing on their own, these bugs are various noir flicks also make up conflated by the fact that the a good majority of the writing, game has no autosaves, and left at one point even leaving Manny me loading files that were one to as the owner of a cafe that of- two hours back in the game. fers a bar and roulette, while his “Grim Fandango” is certainly demonic sidekick Glottis (Alan not a game for everybody. With Blumenfeld) plays the piano (see its specific sense of humor (most“Casablanca”). For those of you ly based around the setting) and who get the visual and thematic cultural influence, any player cues, hearty laughter will most who has ever wanted to celebrate likely ensue. Dia de los Muertos from the othThe graphics are some- er side of life and death would what dated, as this is a port of a likely delight in the game and its 17-year-old adventure game to puzzles. However, as plagued as new consoles, so if you are only it is by difficult logic and proginterested in high fidelity images, ress-hampering bugs, only those you won’t enjoy “Fandango.” with saintly patience will be able Aesthetics and visual style are to get the maximum enjoyment on-point however, and the pseu- from the game. If you have the do-noir look of the game coupled time, patience, desire to test your with every character’s appear- intelligence and $15 to spare, ance as a sugar skull straight out give “Grim Fandango” a whirl, of a Dia de los Muertos celebra- and hopefully you’ll find yourtion manages to make up for the self a new fan of Double Fine low poly count. studios. ■H
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
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SPORTS
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
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ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER
With the ball in midair, Cooper Bridge prepares his stroke as teammembers and family anxiously watch to see the outcome of the rally.
UCR tennis readies for conference play DARREN BUENO Senior Staff Writer
Following their first set of home matches at the Student Recreation Center, the men’s and women’s tennis teams travelled to Hawaii and Las Vegas, respectively, to play a few more matches before Big West conference competition begins next week. Coming off of their first victory of the season over Whittier,
the women’s team journeyed to the Aloha State, facing Hawaii Pacific on Friday, Feb. 6. Though the contest was Hawaii Pacific’s first match of the spring schedule, the Sharkys only conceded one singles match in a 6-1 thumping of the Highlanders. Doubles partners Natalie Penner and Tamilla Vaksman overcame Hawaii Pacific’s Vivian Hansen and Sofia Tavitian, 6-4, though UC Riverside lost the remaining
pair of doubles matches. Highlander Kassie Truong scored the lone point for UCR at the sixth singles slot, coming from a set down to defeat Sofia Tavitian, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2. Ranked No. 56 in the nation, Hawaii swept the Highlanders in UC Riverside’s second match of the weekend, 7-0, on Saturday, Feb. 7. In both teams’ first conference match, the ‘Bows won every contest in straight
sets including the trio of doubles matches. Highlander Courtney Pattugalan won four games in her 6-3, 6-1 defeat to Martina Kostalova, which was the most games a UCR player won on the day. The men’s tennis team only won a singles match in Friday’s defeat to Weber State, 6-1. Highlander Julian Ruffin’s tight 7-6, 6-4 victory over Jakub Gewert was the lone bright spot for the
► MEN’S BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 24
lead of the night by 13 with 16:05 remaining. However, with 8:04 remaining the Titans caught up and tied; from then on the scores bounced back and forth. Fifty seconds remained on the clock and UCR was up by two; however, Titan Alex Harris knocked down two free throws that ended regulation with a tied score 59-59. ► WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 24
shots from Crain, Ito, Dynese Adams (10 points) and Jaelyn Wilson (nine points) helped put the game away and sent the Student Recreation Center Arena crowd home happy. The Highlanders move to 14-8 on the year and 5-3 in conference play. FEB. 7, 2015
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Highlanders 80 - 49ers 74
Fresh off her addition to the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List, Brittany Crain showed exactly why she deserves recognition on the national level. In front of a raucous Student Recreation Center Arena crowd, the junior guard from Moreno Valley, Calif. lit up the scoreboard with 27 points as the women’s basketball team played one of their best games of the season, taking down the visiting Long Beach State 49ers, 80-74, who lost only three games heading into the contest. Averaging 23.9 points per game, along with 6.5 rebounds and 2.4 steals, Crain showed her election to the award watch list on Friday was merited. Named after the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and women’s basketball pioneer, the Nancy Lieberman Award is given to the point guard who displays the floor leadership and playmaking ability that Lieberman exhibited during her career. Crain exemplified both of these ideals with a toughness and unrelenting pursuit for the basket, shooting 17 free throws and converting on 14 of them, while making six-of-12 from the field. Michelle Curry stepped up her scoring output, contributing a career-high
university as UCR fell in every other contest. Facing off against New Mexico State on Saturday, Feb. 7, the Highlanders again fell to lose their sixth match of the season. The Aggies notched the doubles point with two convincing wins, 6-2 and 6-3. On the singles side, several matches were not finished because New Mexico State’s three singles wins secured their H 4-0 victory over UC Riverside. ■
Five minutes of intense overtime began. The teams tied twice but finally a free throw by Johns put the Highlanders in the lead. The Titans were three points behind, and though they tried, they failed to score enough points. With seven seconds remaining, Johns powered down a dunk, and as the whistle blew, the Highlanders brought home the victory 71-66. The Highlanders prepare for their next H stop at Hawaii on Thursday, Feb. 12. ■ 20 points for the Highlanders and also grabbing 10 rebounds. UCR also got major contributions from Ito (18 points). Riverside native and junior guard Akilah Martin provided a spark off the bench with eight points in a back-and-forth game where every possession was valuable. Facing a daunting three-loss team, the Highlanders got off to an excellent start and built a 10-point lead quickly. However, Long Beach State would not go away, and they soon rallied to take a 25-23 point lead with 6:38 to play in the first. However, UCR brought the lead back to 10, followed by another Long Beach State run. This pattern of runs continued into the 40-35 Highlander lead heading into halftime. The second half started in much the same way, with Long Beach State quickly scoring four points and trading short runs back and forth, but through a 9-0 run with about 14 minutes to play, the Highlanders were able to sustain a comfortable, multi-possession lead throughout most of the second half. Even this advantage decayed, as the 49ers crawled to within two with seven minutes to play. However, they could never surmount the Highlanders, as the aggressive UCR offense led to 12 free throws in the final seven minutes of play, sustaining the lead and the win. The Highlanders dropped Long Beach State to 19-4 overall and 6-3 in conference play, while UCR improved to 14-8 overall and 6-3 in conference play. The Highlanders are now in a three-way tie for second place in the Big West standings with the 49ers and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. UCR next hosts Hawaii on Thursday, Feb. 12 at the SRC Arena. ■H
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org
Sports
Dynese Adams (No. 13, Guard) watches as she sinks the ball into the hoop.
MATT HONG / HIGHLANDER
ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER Haley Harris (No. 15) makes a hit and sprints to first base, helping UCR inch along against the opponent.
Women’s basketball stuns Long Beach UCR softball secures first season State, now second place in conference win over Western Michigan CHRISTIAN MAY-SUZUKI Contributing Writer FEB. 5, 2015
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Highlanders 77 - Titans 69
Fueled by a quick and aggressive defense, the women’s basketball team defeated the Cal State Fullerton Titans, 77-69. Brittany Crain scored 20 points and dished out nine assists, and Annelise Ito added 14 points and 12 boards for the Highlanders, who outshot the Titans 41-26 in field attempts in the first half and 69-53 overall. This discrepancy was mainly due to the ferocious defensive display of the Highlanders, who ended the game with 17 steals and forced 27 turnovers, scoring 30 points off those turnovers. Neither team could establish a significant lead early, with neither squad being ahead by more than seven points for the first 16 minutes of play. Michelle Curry (10 points), the freshman guard from Los Angeles, established the aggressive mindset on defense early, though she picked up two quick fouls in the process, with the team committing five fouls in five minutes. However, the team adjusted and did not reach the seven-foul bonus for another 10 minutes. The Titans, lead by Chante Miles’ 20
Men’s basketball defeats Fullerton in overtime MELISSA FUENTES Contributing Writer FEB. 5, 2015 ............................................................................. 49ers 68 - Highlanders 63
Thursday night the men’s basketball team traveled down to Long Beach, Calif. to compete against the Long Beach State 49ers. It was a close game as the Highlanders ended five points
points and eight assists and Kathleen Iwuoha’s 19 points and 14 rebounds, kept the game close for a majority of the first half. However, with 7:52 to play in the first and the Highlanders leading by only one, the defensive intensity from Head Coach John Margaritis’ squad increased dramatically. Rotations were quick and smooth as help defense collapsed on dribble penetration and stayed aggressive on the passing lanes, forcing six turnovers and going on a 13-2 run over the next 5:14 to create a solid eight-point lead heading into the locker room at intermission. The second half saw UCR take advantage of the cushion it created, keeping a comfortable margin between the two teams. While they were hindered early by Curry’s third foul, they found themselves establishing a lead as large as 15 and coasted through the early minutes of the second half with a flurry of mid-range jumpers and continued their defensive onslaught. Things looked even grimmer for the Titans when Miles fouled out of the game with 7:47 to play and her team down 63-52. However, the Titans proceeded to close the gap, narrowing the lead to 64-60 with 4:41 remaining. This was as close as they would get, as clutch ► SEE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL, PAGE 23
short of a victory with a score of 68-63. The 49ers came out of the gate on fire, and it wasn’t until 6:56 into the game that the teams tied with a score of 10. With 6:06 remaining, a layup by Robert Boezeman put the Highlanders in the lead by one point. However, soon after, a dunk by the 49ers put Long Beach in a three-point lead. They remained in the lead for the rest of the half and finished 32-29. Out of the locker room and onto the court again, the 49ers scored the first seven points of the second half. With 9:05 remaining in the game, Long Beach State held their largest lead of the night by
JASON AHN Contributing Writer
After a long off-season of batting practice, fielding and endless drills, the UCR Highlander softball team set sail to the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. for a five-game, season-opening tournament. After dropping their first two games, they marked their opening victory against Western Michigan, 7-1. On Friday, Feb. 6, UCR faced Pacific University with junior Chelsea Ponce on the mound for the Highlanders. Despite losing the game, Ponce performed remarkably well, striking out nine batters and allowing one hit through eight innings. UCR’s softball team has only achieved this feat eight times in the program’s Division I era. Seven scoreless innings later, an international tie breaker was held, which means the last batter in the line-up is placed on second base, giving the offense more innings and a chance to score. The Tigers batted first and scored after a passed ball, putting one run on the scoreboard. The Highlander’s Taylor Wright jogged to second base to start off the bottom of the eighth, and made it to third after a sac-
16 points. Though the Highlanders tried they were not able to tally up enough points to be at least one possession away from the 49ers. With only four seconds remaining, Taylor Johns slammed a dunk that brought the team to within five points, but well short of a victory. Jaylen Bland and Johns each contributed 18 points on the night while Steven Thornton contributed 10. It was an unfortunate night for the Highlanders, but for Bland, it was historic: The junior transfer broke UC Riverside’s Division Iera record for three-pointers made in a single season. His shot with 17:45 remaining in the game tied the record with current UCR As-
rifice bunt. UCR would then ground out to shortstop, and fly out to left field, finishing the game scoreless, 1-0. On the morning of Saturday, Feb. 7, the Highlanders continued the tournament, losing to the Creighton Blue Jays, 5-2. Freshman Rebecca Faulkner made her college debut for UCR, pitching for five innings. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays scored early, racking two runs in the first inning. UCR would attack offensively in the third, with Jenna Curtan and Shylene Helms both scoring, bringing the game to a 2-2 tie. Faulkner would allow six hits and five runs before reliever Marcilena Valenzuela stepped in. The Highlanders swung their way to nine hits but could not stop the Blue Jays victory. Shortly after their loss, UCR switched gears and defeated Western Michigan, 7-1. Ponce started off the game, pitching four innings until another freshman, Kaylynn Pierce, filled in for Ponce. Pierce gave up two hits and recorded four strikeouts. UCR would then score six of their seven runs in the first two innings. Western Michigan did not score until the seventh and final inning, but could not dig themselves out of a six-run deficit. ■H
sistant Coach Justin Bell and former Highlander Javon Borum, each of whom connected on 70 three-pointers. With only 17 seconds remaining, Bland broke that record with yet another trey. FEB. 7, 2015
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Highlanders 71 - Titans 66
Jaylen Bland scored 25 points and Taylor Johns dominated with 18 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to lead the men’s basketball team to a 71-66 overtime victory over the Cal State Fullerton Titans. The Titans, who were playing their homecoming game at the Titan Gym, began the night in the
lead as they raced to a 4-0 advantage. The Highlanders tallied up points and shortly after they tied 9-9 with 16:45 remaining. The Highlanders’ offense continued to click, and the team took the lead for the rest of the half, ending 3729. UCR shot 56 percent from the field including six-of-11 from beyond the arc. Bland led the team with 13 points at intermission while Johns was near a doubledouble with seven points and eight rebounds. Back on the court for the second half, UCR remained in the lead. The team held their largest ► SEE MEN’S BASKETBALL, PAGE 23