Issuu

THE HIGHLANDER

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

VOL. 69, ISSUE 04

FOR THE WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

est. 1954

2020 ELECTIONS GUIDE

Table of Contents: P5 Measures Guide

Proposition Guide

Mayoral Town Hall

Voting Rights & Student Voting

D E E N U O Y G N ! I W H O T N Y K R O E T EV

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t o

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

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HUMANS OF UCR

UPCOMING EVENTS: WEEK 4

NIKKIE HERZOG | BIOLOGY | SECOND-YEAR COMPILED BY LEO YUE

26 Monday

Diversity Abroad: Unlocking the World & Connecting You to Opportunity! 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Virtual Event

Hot off the Presses: Toby Miller 3:00 p.m. Virtual Event

APSP’s Speaker Series with STEVEN LIM 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Virtual Event

Wednesday

Catholicism in Struggle: Community, Clergy, and the Impact of Vatican II in Latin America 3:30 p.m. Virtual Event

Props Put Plainly 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Virtual Event

Counseling and Psychological Services Virtual Fall Open House 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Virtual Event

Career Panel & Networking for Mathematics, Life, & Physical Science Majors 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Virtual Event

Tuesday

“My greatest struggle right now is living with severe generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Many people believe having anxiety isn’t bad, but they haven’t experienced the severe and unbalanced levels of anxiety that people with GAD

Thursday

have. It makes everything more difficult, whether that be social events or even a simple phone call. I am blessed to have a very supportive family who understand my disabilities but still encourage me to stay positive and do what makes me happy in life. I’m learning how to cope with invisible disabilities like

30 Friday

dissociation, depression and anxiety.”

Saturday

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Pictionary with “celebrity drawer” Vice Provost Jennifer Brown 12:00 p.m to 1:00 p.m. Virtual Event

Chair Strength 4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Virtual Event

Stay Healthy During COVID 19 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Virtual Event

UCR Dance MFA project: “Herd/Heard” by Jennifer Hong, MFA Candidate in Experimental Choreography 4:01 p.m. to 6:01 p.m. Virtual Event

Sunday

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

ASUCR

Senate passes resolution advocating to make election day a school holiday

DAVINA GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Oct. 21 ASUCR held their first state of the association meeting of the quarter. In state of the association meetings, the executive cabinet (ECAB) shares their updates with the senate and gives their official monthly report on the work they have been doing throughout the month. The senate passed three senate resolutions surrounding California ballot Propositions 22 and 16 along with a resolution to advocate to make voting day a school holiday. One of the resolutions passed was SRF20-001, which was primarily authored by President Pro Tempore Orlando Cabalo, and its purpose is for ASUCR to stand against corporate greed and go against the points outlined in Proposition 22. Proposition 22 is a constitutional amendment that is on the California ballot for the 2020 general elections, and it seeks to repeal a California law passed under AB5, which outlines that gig economy workers — such as those under Uber, Lyft, Doordash and Instacart — must be classified as employees rather than independent contractors. This gives them employee benefits such as health care, paid sick leave, unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation. The senate resolution outlines that Proposition 22 was placed on the ballot and Uber, Lyft, Doordash, amongst other app based companies collectively allocated $185 million dollars to get the measure on the ballot. The resolution acknowledged

A screenshot of the Oct. 21 ASUCR Zoom meeting.

that UCR students employed under these companies may be affected and states that ASUCR shall stand in opposition of Proposition 22, advocate for and contact local leaders to express their opposition and make a formal statement and send mass emails to students expressing their opposition. The resolution passed with a vote of 13-1-2. SR-F20-002 was primarily authored by Vice President of External Affairs Vincent Rasso and aimed to have ASUCR endorse Proposition 16, which would reinstate affirmative action in California’s public employment and education systems. The senate resolution acknowledged that Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities are disproportionately affected by poverty and violence caused by systemic racial oppression. According to the resolution, this directly affects the public education system because higher education has been deemed one of the pathways to reduce inequality and poverty. Similar to SR-F20-002, it would require ASUCR to publicly showcase their support for Proposition 16

DAVINA GARCIA / THE HIGHLANDER

through statements and emails, as well as acknowledge the negative effects that Proposition 209 had on the higher education system. The resolution passed with a vote of 13-0-3. SR-F20-003 was primarily authored by CHASS Senator Christopher Kent and backed by the UCR Civic Engagement Coalition and the UCweVOTE campaign. The resolution aimed to have ASUCR showcase their support in making election day a school holiday, thus making Nov. 3 a non-instructional day. The resolution outlines that many students may not have time to vote on Nov. 3 if they have class and since this year there are no polling locations on campus, they will have to travel longer distances to cast their ballot. The resolution highlights the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that the University of California system entered with the Secretary of State meant to increase civic engagement amongst students and encourage them to perform their civic duties. It outlines that ASUCR would advocate that all professors, teaching assistants

and administration officials cancel all instruction for the date of Nov. 3, 2020. The resolution would also ask that the Academic Senate adopt this resolution for future election days. A petition was created in support of this resolution and currently has 127 signatures, at the time of writing. The resolution passed with a vote of 16-0-0. During officer reports, ASUCR President Luis Huerta discussed the work that he has been doing over the summer and in fall quarter. He stated that he has met with various organizations like the Black Student Union and the Let’s Take Action to discuss the distribution of a pending Black Lives Matter Donation of $5,300 that was approved by the previous ASUCR senate but has not been allocated to anything specific. He has also been speaking and working with UCR staff and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in response to the recent Budget Advisory Committee’s recommendation to cut the athletics program. Vice President of Internal Affairs Angelica Garcia,

introduced her office’s staff during her report and outlined their goals for the quarter. She also included an update on her seat on the recreation governing board. She stated that they are currently discussing the debt that the SRC needs to pay off and a reduction of the src north referendum fee. Similarly, Vice President of External Affairs Vincent Rasso, presented what his office has accomplished since June. He highlighted that the Office of External Affairs has been organizing meetings with the UC Student Association (UCSA) to discuss plans to work together throughout the academic year. Rasso also stated that he will soon be meeting with UC President Michael Drake to discuss issues surrounding basic needs, academic issues, campus safety and policing and support for workers and students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The office has also been spearheading civic engagement efforts and campus organizing efforts. Before the meeting was adjourned, Chief of Staff at the Office of Internal Affairs Preeti Juturu raised concern surrounding the senate’s lack of utilizing pronouns in their screen names over Zoom. Since Oct. 21 was National Pronouns Day, Juturu advocated for the importance of utilizing pronouns in normal operations to improve diversity at UCR. “I think it’s important to acknowledge that all individuals, regardless of gender, have pronouns, and it’s quintessential to support and act as an ally and be there for the UCR student body,” she stated. The meeting adjourned at 8:37 H p.m.■

NEWS IN BRIEF: UCR to remain online through winter quarter

DAVINA GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

All UCR students and faculty received a winter quarter email update from Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox and Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Thomas Smith on Friday, Oct. 23. Within the email, Wilcox and Smith detailed the university’s plan to continue modified operations throughout the upcoming winter quarter. The email stated that UCR is still situated in the second phase of the school’s COVID-19 recovery plan, hence all of the same fall quarter regulations will be implemented for winter quarter.

Classes will remain accessible online for at least until the end of winter quarter, including the few that may be approved for in-person instruction. Instructors who are interested in hosting inperson classes must confer with their department chair and adhere to UCRs Instructional Continuity Plan. Campus housing, research and student services will continue to operate with the same modifications that have been in place for fall. Though they noted that for students living on campus, UCR will be providing further information in regards to the winter quarter move-in process.

In addition, the email directly addressed those employed by the university, affirming that there would be no significant changes to daily work life; anyone working on campus will continue to do so. In the event of any questions, the email recommended contacting direct supervisors. Wilcox and Smith concluded by emphasizing that the school faculty will continue to prioritize the health of the UCR community. The goal thereafter is to maintain access to quality education as best as possible during this time and to allow flexibility for both H individuals and the institution. ■

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4 MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

NEWS

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The

Highlanderâ€™s

2020 ElectionS Guide

NEWS

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

vote v e

HOW TO

BY MAIL

Election Day is Tuesday Nov. 3, 2020. All of California’s registered voters will be mailed a ballot no later than 29 days prior to Election Day. Early voting and in-person voting will still be available to voters.

HERE’S HOW TO VOTE BY MAIL: Insert your ballot in the envelope provided and make sure to complete all required information on the envelope. Sign the envelope with your official signature.

Fill out your ballot. Make sure to only use blue or black ink.

YOU CAN RETURN YOUR BALLOT BY: Mail it to your county election official. They must be postmarked on or before Election Day.

Authorize someone to return your ballot. If someone returns your ballot for you, voters must fill out the authorization section found on the outside of your ballot envelope.

Drop off your ballot at any polling place in the state between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Returning it in person to a polling place or the office of your county election official. COUNTY They must be delivered no later than the OFFICIAL close of polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Dropping your ballot off at one of your county’s ballot drop boxes. They must be dropped off no later than the close of polls at 8 p.m. on Election Day.

voters can track the status of their mail-in ballot at where’smyballot.sos.gov.

Riverside ballot measures By: Davina Garcia, Senior Staff Writer

In addition to the 12 statewide ballot propositions, voters will be asked to consider ballot measures that affect their own counties. These particular measures have an impact on local government.

Here is a look into the Riverside County ballot measures: MEASURE Q:

Amends the city charter procedure for filling vacant elected office seats

Measure Q will allow voters more say in who sits on the Riverside city council, while limiting local politician influence. It requires the city council to file an appointment to fill a vacancy for an elected office with up to one year left in the term. Measure Q also requires a special election to fill an empty elected office seat with more than one year left in the term, and establishes a runoff election in the event that no candidate gets a majority vote in the aforementioned special election. It will stop appointed officials from referencing incumbency in these elections. If passed, the cost of calling each special election is currently estimated at $63,000. A YES vote on this measure means that the Riverside City Council would start filling vacancies strictly through special elections, versus appointing someone themselves, provided that there is more than one year left in the term. Anyone who is appointed to fill a shorter vacancy, would be prohibited from referring to themselves in the next election as an “incumbent” or “member of the council.” A NO vote on this measure means keeping the same regulations as before, with no changes to local election vacancy procedures.

MEASURE

the Riverside City Council to S: Requires receive approval for any city charter amendment proposals before it is placed on a ballot

Measure S necessitates the city council to submit any potential city charter or constitution amendments to the Charter Review Committee for approval before they can place them on a ballot for voting purposes. Note: Amendments proposed by voter initiatives are exempt from this process. A YES vote means that the city council would have to go through a vetting process each time before putting out a new measure for voters to decide upon. A NO vote means that the current process for handling charter amendments

MEASURE R:

Consolidates mayor and city council elections with the state primary and general elections

Measure Q was proposed to encourage voter turnout, this measure moves the council election voting dates from odd years to even, beginning in 2022, so that they coincide with statewide elections. If passed, one more council election would occur in 2021, and those members would hold ofﬁce for an extra year until 2024. A YES vote means that the council election voting dates would occur at the same time as statewide elections and would allow for temporary adjustments to term length as this change is being made. A NO vote means that the council election dates and statewide election dates would remain separate.

MEASURE T:

Eliminates the requirement to have written and reproduced copies of the city’s budget

Measure T removes the need for written and reproduced copies of the city budget in all Riverside public libraries and city departments, asides from the city website. Minor changes include: clarifying charter language, like using the word “person” instead of “citizen” when discussing the right to speak during city meetings. This measure’s ﬁscal impact: would reduce reproduction and distribution costs of maintaining physical copies. A YES vote would get rid of the city budget’s paper copy requirement, in favor of keeping records online; a yes vote also approves the language change. and also that H the minor language change would be acceptable.■

6 MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

NEWS

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CALIFORNIA PROP.

14 PROP.

15 PROP.

Increased stem cell research funding

Proposition 14 would continue funding stem cell research in California by borrowing up to $5.5 billion for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). For context, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine was created in a 2004 voter-approved measure and given $3 billion to support scientiﬁc research surrounding Alzheimer’s, heart disease, Parkinson’s and paralysis, amongst other things. As of June 2020, that funding has run low; without the extra funding, the CIRM would cease to exist. This measure would dedicate $1.5 billion for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy and other brain and central nervous system

disease research, excluding heart disease; the rest of the money would be used to fund research for other illnesses, medical training, new research facilities and expanding treatment centers. Supporters say that stem cell research is valuable in finding treatments that affect millions of people in California. Without passing Proposition 14, those efforts would be halted, and treatments and cures would take longer to find. Supporters include the UC Board of Regents because the primary beneficiaries of CIRMs grants are UC labs and hospitals Opponents say that CIRM has not made

progress in finding treatments and life-saving cures cures like they promised in 2004. In California, the previous ban on federal funding has been lifted, which was one of the reasons for CIRMs creation in the first place. Other opponents claim that Proposition 14 does not address shortcomings in the previous Proposition 14 measure, including having no legislative oversight for an effort that is publicly funded and failing to address possible conflicts of interest between the institute’s leaders and the projects they choose to fund.

Proposition 15 would raise the property tax of businesses with over $3 million in California property. Now, owners pay property taxes based on the original price of that commercial real estate; it would leave the existing rules for residential property taxes in place. Homeowners will not be affected by this proposition. Proposition 15 taxes commercial properties based on current market value, instead of purchase price, which in turn would provide $6.5 billion to $11.5 billion in new funding to local governments and schools. Proposition 15 attempts to roll back the property tax rules that were passed under Proposition 13 in 1978, which currently

allows homeowners and commercial real estate owners to pay property taxes based on the original value. This has caused huge savings for businesses but has caused the funding for local governments to plummet. Supporters say that this funding would make up for all that was lost for local governments since Proposition 13 was passed in 1978. California has historically lacked in per-pupil spending compared to other major states, and Proposition 15 would bring more funding to K-12 schools and community colleges. Supporters also say that this change would only affect wealthy business owners and landlords, closing the large wealth gap

that Proposition 13 helped to extend. Opponents say that Proposition 15 would backﬁre and be a detriment to commercial property renters and consumers alike. They say that while small businesses are exempt from the rule, commercial property owners and landlords may end up funneling the costs to their consumers by raising rent. Also, Proposition 15 may leave farm owners vulnerable to this rule; although they are technically exempt, farm ﬁxtures — such as barns, dairies, fruit tree establishments and more — are not.

Proposition 16 would allow for the reinstatement of affirmative action programs in California. Since Proposition 209 was passed in 1996, California has been prohibited from making decisions in the government employment and public education process based off of race, sex, ethnicity or national origin. Proposition 16 aims to increase diversity in the work force and in colleges and universities. These institutions would be prohibited, under federal law, to use quotas or race-based point systems. For example, since affirmative action was banned, the number of Black and Latino students admitted into the UC system has significantly increased. However, in 2019, Black and Latino students made up 60% of the state’s high school enrollment, but only 28% of UC Freshmen

enrollment. Supporters say that the reinstatement of afﬁrmative action would increase diversity in government employment and public institutions, closing the inequality gaps that have primarily affected Women and racial minorities in these spaces. They argue that Proposition 16 would bring equity into these spaces and would allow them to consider how race plays a role in one’s life story and defeat structural racism. 42 U.S. states currently allow afﬁrmative action and California would be in line with most of the country. One of propositions supporters includes the UC Board of Regents, former University of California President Janet Napolitano. She stated, “It makes little sense to exclude any consideration of race in admissions when the

aim of the University’s holistic process is to fully understand and evaluate each applicant through multiple dimensions. Proposition 209 has forced California public institutions to try to address racial inequality without factoring in race.” Opponents say that Proposition 16 allows for discrimination in the work place and in the public education system, stating that it would further divide the state and fall back on equality. They argue that the remedy for equal opportunity is to strengthen the education system to give all students access to a quality education, thus giving opportunity to students who are economically disadvantaged in the process.

Raising commercial property tax

Restoring afﬁrmative action

PROP.

Voting rights for felons on parole

PROP.

Voting at age 17

17 18 PROP.

Proposition 17 restores voting rights for convicted felons who are out on parole. Currently, the voting rights for felons convicted of a crime are not restored until the parole period has been completed, which lasts about three years on average. The annual county costs would likely be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars statewide, for voter registration and ballot materials and the one-time state costs would likely be in the

Proposition 18 would allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections if they will be 18 and eligible to vote in the next general election in November. Currently, 18 other states and the District of Columbia allow for 17-year-olds to vote in the state primaries. Supporters say that allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections will

hundreds of thousands of dollars, for voter registration cards and systems. Proposition 17, however, would allow for around 40,000 more Californians to vote. Supporters say Proposition 17 would allow for the proper reintegration of former felons into society, alluding to the true purpose of parole. They say civic engagement will lead to fewer parolees committing crimes, and if they are already granted the right to have jobs

and pay taxes, they should be allowed to vote as well. Opponents say that parole is an opportunity for felons to prove that they have been rehabilitated and can properly integrate into society. They do not believe that the right to vote should be restored until the parole period has been completed.

allow for them to clearly shape their views and be more prepared to vote in the general election. They argue that while they are not legally adults, they still participate in adult activities, such as being in the workforce, paying taxes and are eligible to enlist in the military. Opponents say that 17-year-olds are still children and are not mature enough to vote.

Since they are not allowed to sign contracts and need parent permission for certain activities, they should not be given the right to vote. Opponents also argue that 17-yearolds could easily be inﬂuenced by teachers and school biases. They argue that they do not have real world experiences like buying a house, paying bills or having a stable job.

Changes to property tax breaks Proposition 19 contains two parts: one for individuals 55 or older who are buying new homes and those who have received inherited homes from their parents. Current property tax rules passed under Proposition 13 allow homeowners to stick to their property taxes based on the value of their house when they first bought it. Typically, when Californians purchase a new home, their property taxes increase dramatically because it reflects the current market value of the house. Proposition 19 allows homeowners who are over 55, disabled or those who have been affected by a wildfire or natural disaster to

transfer their current property taxes onto any residence they move into. Proposition 19 would also limit savings on inherited homes by requiring the heirs to actually live in the home, meaning they would no longer be able to rent out their homes as vacation homes and have to continue paying the same property tax that their parents paid when the property was purchased. Supporters say that, under Proposition 19, closing the inheritance tax break could potentially generate billions for schools, local governments and specifically state firefighting efforts at a time where the

pandemic is taking a toll economically. They also claim that Proposition 19 will incentivize seniors to downsize their homes and free up the real estate in California. Opponents say that heirs of their parents’ homes should be allowed to do with a property what they so wish without facing any tax burdens. They say that expanding tax savings for one group and stripping them from another only increases inequality. They argue that if older homeowners actually took advantage of tax breaks under Proposition 19, the state would end up losing revenue.

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ER NEWSPAPER

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

PROPOSITION GUIDE PROP.

20 PROP.

21 PROP.

22 PROP.

23 PROP.

24 PROP.

Increases criminal consequences

Proposition 20 increases penalties for certain property crimes and repeated parole violations – and makes it more difﬁcult for them to qualify for early parole or release from prison. It gives prosecutors the ability to charge property crimes over $250, such as repeated shoplifting and car theft as felonies rather than misdemeanors. Formal felons who violate the terms of their parole more than three times would be subject to jail or prison time. Proposition 20 limits access to parole programs established for non-violent offenders who have completed the full term

of their primary offense by eliminating eligibility for certain offenses. It would likely increase state and local correctional, court and law enforcement costs by tens of millions of dollars annually. Supporters say that approving Proposition 19 would correct the mistake of minimizing certain property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, which has caused an increase in car thefts and shoplifting in California. Supporters also argue that Proposition 20 would specify certain offenses as “violent felonies,” adding things such as child abuse,

City based rent control policies If passed, Proposition 21 would give individual cities the ability to implement new and stricter rent control policies if they choose to do so. The policies would only be eligible for homes that are at least 15 years old and would exempt single-family homes, unless the family owns more than two properties. According to an analysis by the Legislative Analyst’s ofﬁce, the measure could cause cities and states to lose tens and millions of dollars per year.

Supporters say that California needs to expand protections for tenants to avoid eviction and homelessness in the state. It gives local governments the opportunity to mandate their own rent control policies based on the need of the city and address issues of homlessness and gentriﬁcation. Supporters of the proposition claim that at a time where Americans are being ﬁnancially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, this could give tenants the relief they need.

Gig worker beneﬁts

Proposition 22 would exempt gig economies like Uber and Lyft from a new state law requiring them to treat workers as employees and classify them as independent contractors instead. According to Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5), which was passed last year, workers that are essential to a company’s operations — like a driver for Postmates — would be required to be classiﬁed as an employee. This would guarantee them basic labor rights, such as overtime pay, health care, paid sick leave, unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation.

If Proposition 22 passes, companies that employ drivers through apps would continue to classify their workers as contractors and offer them narrower beneﬁts like health care subsidies and accident insurance. Supporters say that it is necessary for gig economies to continue offering ﬂexible schedules to drivers and cheap rides for consumers. Uber has stated that up to 76% or 209,000 drivers in California could be cut if the measure passes and the price for rides would increase anywhere from 25% to 111%.

Kidney dialysis clinic rules

Proposition 23 would require kidney dialysis clinics to have at least one physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant on site at all times. It would prohibit dialysis clinics from reducing state approval and refusing to treat payments based on their patients payment source. Over 80,000 Californians depend on dialysis treatment. Proposition 23 would target

dialysis companies to provide quality care to all patients. Supporters say that dialysis patients deserve better treatments from clinics than they are currently receiving, and the multi-million dollar companies running the dialysis industry have not invested enough in patient safety. Having a physician on site at all times would ensure that a medical

Increased data privacy

Proposition 24 would add new provisions to California’s current privacy law, which gives people more privacy over their digital data by allowing them to know what personal information businesses are collecting from them. It also requires businesses to refrain from selling information if the consumer denies. The 52-page text includes allowing individuals to tell businesses to limit the use of sensitive information, such as location, health information, race and religion. It prohibits businesses from holding on to individuals’ data, allows the government to ﬁne

companies up to $7,500 for violating child privacy laws and creates a new state agency to enforce the privacy law, investigate violations and assess penalties. Proposition 23 would reduce the number of businesses that would need to comply under this rule; it would only apply to companies that buy or sell data of at least 100,000 households per year. Supporters say that the provision would add speciﬁcity to the existing privacy law and enforce it further. It would give consumers more control over their personal data, allow them to hide sensitive

Removing cash bail Proposition 25 is a referendum asking voters to reject or accept a 2018 law abolishing cash bail in California. This ballot measure would be the ﬁrst state to replace cash bail with a system based on an algorithm that would assess an individual’s risk of not appearing at trial. Supporters say that bail is a classist

system that allows wealthy people to pay to avoid jail time while awaiting trial. Poorer people cannot pay their way out of jail, and Proposition 25 would put all classes on the same playing ﬁeld. They argue that keeping people in jail while they await trial will save taxpayers money. Opponents are divided on this issue.

domestic violence and hate crimes to that list, which are currently classiﬁed as nonviolent offenders. Opponents say that Proposition 20 would only worsen mass incarceration in a system that disproportionately affects Black and Latino men. It would increase the state’s prisons budget drastically, and instead, they say that funding should go towards pusking to keep communities safe and crime rates low.

Opponents say that Proposition 21 would make it less proﬁtable for builders to construct more housing, increasing California’s massive housing shortage. The loss in revenue would greatly affect the economy of the state during the pandemic and since a similar proposition was rejected in 2018, opponents do not see the need for a new one.

Opponents say that gig companies are constantly undermining the work put in by their drivers, and their efforts are essential to the survival of the business. Opponents say that the pandemic has made it clear that gig workers need the protections that will be provided to them under stricter state laws like AB 5. Opponents think this would ensure more stability than having to rely on government programs, such as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program made available to drivers.

professional will be able to respond to emergencies. Opponents say that having a physician present at all times is unnecessary, would increase health care costs and keep physicians away from hospitals. They argue that Proposition 23 is simply a union ploy to organize dialysis clinics and pressure clinics to listen.

information, such as location tracking, and give consumers the ability to sue companies if their emails and passwords are stolen or hacked. Opponents say that since California privacy only went into effect this year, more time should pass before making decisions to change it. They argue that the new changes are too mixed and would give companies the ability to withhold discounts from consumers unless they allow the business to collect and share their information — also known as a “pay for privacy” scheme.

On one hand, opponents argue that the bail industry is costly and switching the system would not improve it. Other opponents, like civil rights advocates, argue that the measure gives too much power to judges and that the algorithm based system would still lead to people of color being held at H disproportionate rates. ■

8 MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

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Riverside mayoral candidates debate over issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and assistance for low-income communities

A screenshot of the Oct. 21 Riverside mayoral debate.

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Senior Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Oct. 21 the UCR School of Public Policy hosted a town hall between Riverside mayoral candidates Patricia Lock Dawson and Andy Melendrez. The event was hosted in collaboration with ASUCR, the UCR Science to Policy program, the Civic Engagement Coalition and the UCR Office of Government and Community Relations. The event began with a one-hour debate and discussion forum over Propositions 15, 16 and 21 on the California ballot. Representatives from both sides of the propositions were allowed four minutes to give their initial statements regarding their stance on the proposition. The speakers’ orders were chosen by random draw. Proposition 16 was discussed first, which would allow for the reinstatement of affirmative action programs in California. The speaker who presented the opposing side of Proposition 16 stated that the measure was rushed to be put on the ballot during a global pandemic. He stated that Proposition 16 will remove a clause from the California constitution that states, “the state will not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.” According to the opponent, “Prop. 16 will stoke racism and tension between racial minorities because it only offers a coverup ... to our systemic problems in our K-12 education.” He stated that since Proposition 209 was passed in 1996, minority admissions to universities have increased. The speaker in support of Proposition 16 stated that voting YES on Proposition 16 would allow for lawmakers to reinstate affirmative action policies. It would support members of disadvantaged and underrepresented groups that have previously suffered discrimination in areas such as education, employment and housing. The supporter added that the systemic barriers set forth by Proposition 209 affect women of color and single mothers like herself from reaching their true potential. “In California, small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and nearly all government contracts are awarded to large companies which are run by older, caucasian men,” she stated in support. According to the speaker, passing Proposition 16 would close the wage gap, ensure that government contracts are equitably distributed and ensure access to a quality education for all.

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Proposition 15 was discussed next which entails raising the property tax of businesses with over $3 million in California property. The spokesperson for the opposing side of Proposition 15 gave some background to the ballot measure. He stated that Proposition 13, which was passed in 1978, capped the taxes placed on California property and for 42 years, has provided certainty and stability for property owners. “Prop. 15, unless defeated, is the largest property tax increase in California history, coming in at … $11 billion per year,” they stated. The opponent stated that approving Proposition 15 would devastate small businesses, highlighting that most small businesses lease the properties that they are working out of which would most likely cause them to pay the property tax increase of their spaces. For example, if a business owner rents a space within a shopping mall and the shopping malls property taxes increase, the landlord would increase the rent of all the small business owners leasing their property. Finally, they added that Proposition 15 would increase the prices of consumer goods as well. They also added that education is funded last under Proposition 15, and there is no oversight or transparency on how that money is being spent. The spokesperson in support of Proposition 15 outlined how the measure would support local schools and local communities across the state. They stated that this proposition ensures a “split-roll tax” that would ensure that large corporations pay their fair share of property taxes, which would in turn provide $6.5 billion to $11.5 billion in new funding to local governments and schools. They stated that Proposition 15 is critical in restoring and enhancing local schools, local governments and housing. Proposition 21 concluded the debate and discussion forum over California ballot measures. Proposition 21 would implement city based rent control policies, not including family homes or homes that are less than 15 years old. The spokesperson in support of Proposition 21 stated that it seeks to address the housing crisis in California. They acknowledged the cost of housing is too high and that rent has increased in the state while wages have remained the same. They stated that this has contributed to the worsening homelessness crisis happening in California; in 2019, homelesseness in California grew by 16%.

The spokesperson for the NO on Proposition 21 campaign began by stating individuals who oppose it, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, claim that it may make California’s housing crisis worse. They agreed that housing in California is too expensive and that something must be done but classified Proposition 21 as a “bandaid fix.” They argued that there are already laws and rules in place to ban evictions and protect rent controls. The second half of the event consisted of a town hall between Riverside Mayoral Candidates Patricia Lock Dawson and Andy Melendrez. The candidates discussed issues facing Riverside including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and protecting people of color communities. Melendrez spoke first, giving some insight into his long standing history with the city of Riverside. His family is local to Riverside, and Melendrez went through all levels of the public school system from K-12. He started his early education at Casa Blanca Elementary School, Lincoln Middle School and Poly High School. His higher education began at Riverside City College before transferring to UCR for one quarter. His time at UCR was cut short after having to leave for work, but he obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at California State University, San Bernardino. Melendrez was elected as a city council member in 2006 and added that he has witnessed many ups and downs in the city of Riverside, such as the 2008 recession. Under his term, he helped to create the Riverside Renaissance initiative, a $1.6 billion investment to improve roads, sewers, parks and libraries with over 400 projects. Lock Dawson is also a Riverside native whose family has lived in Riverside for 70 years. She is a UCR alumni and stated that the importance of college was ingrained in her at a young age because her parents understood college to be their children’s way out of poverty. After college, she studied wildlife and forestry at the University of Washington before returning to Riverside to pursue her goals to work toward a community where their young people would feel that they have opportunities. Lock Dawson is a business owner, has worked for the California State Legislature and currently serves as a trustee on the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) Board of Education, having first been elected in 2011. The candidates answered questions that were previously submitted by the community. The candidates were asked to distinguish the differences between both of their platforms, considering that they both have progressive endorsements. Lock Dawson stated that her platform is quite different because she is endorsed by both Republicans and Democrats, as well as businesses and employee unions. “Councilmember Melendrez is running on his experience, but his experience is very limited,” stated Lock Dawson. She added that she has vast experience in different aspects of government and volunteer experience in Riverside as well. Melendrez expressed his distaste over Lock Dawson’s claim that he is limited in experience, stating that he has worked in a variety of levels of legislature and has worked with federal offices in the past.

Melendrez added that he has operated a big business and has worked under various state laws supporting workers rights, which he believes puts him above his opponent in terms of understanding how it works to operate one successfully. Next, the candidates discussed what Riverside should be doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially after Riverside was recently placed back into Tier 1 of California’s coronavirus reopening scale. Melendrez stated that the testing rate in Riverside is working successfully and says they can do a better job at encouraging people to get tested in order to be able to open up the city more. He also mentioned that he is currently working with the Small Business Association (SBA) to aid small businesses during the pandemic. Lock Dawson stated that under her guidance, the city of Riverside would follow in the footsteps of the RUSD to ensure that they are open and safe. Opening up safely is also one of her priorities for Riverside. The candidates also discussed how they would support people of color within the Riverside community. Lock Dawson acknowledged that the city’s priorities have changed, and for good reason. Last year, she says, Riverside’s most pressing issues were job, economy and homelessnes but that has now changed to fighting for police reform, racial justice and civil unrest. She stated that she would implement an equity taskforce, like she did at the RUSD, and individuals to oversee a program of diversity and inclusion. Melendrez stated that the city of Riverside has implemented anti-racist training within public health and recently passed an anti-racism resoultion that will be incorporated into the city council’s strategic plan. Melendrez stated that one area where Riverside can improve is in their hiring processes and as mayor, he would constantly monitor these figures and ensure that hiring practices are conducted at an equitable rate. Finally, the candidates addressed the issue of climate change pertaining to Riverside. As an environmental scientist, Lock Dawson stated that this is a subject she is very familiar with. She stated that there is no question that climate change is real and important steps need to be taken to keep Riverside cool. She acknowledged that in order for this to happen, the city needs to increase green spaces in the community, work to get cars off the road and increase public transportation and bring down emissions. Melendrez responded stating that the city council is working on their strategic plan for 2025 to lower greenhouse gases in the city. He added that they are making steps to increase the use of solar and green energy. Melendrez recently received a $31.2 million grant from the Strategic Growth Council aimed to lower the carbon footprint for low income communities in Riverside. The grant will be used to create safe and walkable trails on the east side and create an environment that would decrease the use of vehicles in that area. “I think this [grant] will be the seed that the city of Riverside needs to have it grow,” stated Melendrez. Both candidates are on the Riverside general election ballot to be voted on Nov. H 3.■

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NEWS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

UCR students talk voting in the upcoming election

DAVINA GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

Voting season is now in full swing, and those registered to vote in California should have received, or will soon be receiving, their mail-in ballots. The official election day and deadline to vote in the U.S. is on Nov. 3 and fast approaching. This election, California voters have the opportunity to vote on 13 propositions, the presidency, the state assembly, the state senate and congress. However, young college-aged students are consistently one of the least likely demographics to participate, with generally a lower voter turnout. According to the National Study of Learning Voting, and Engagement, in the most recent general presidential elections, from 2012 and 2016, UCR had a voting rate of 38.9% and 41.1% respectively. Though there was a slight increase in turnout between the years, the percentage remained less than half of the university’s student population at the time. In a conscious effort to encourage more young people to vote this year and promote student civic engagement overall, ASUCR’s Office of External Affairs formed the student-run Civic Engagement Committee earlier this summer. The organization operates as a part of the UCR Civic Engagement Coalition, a group that works with students, staff and other entities on campus. Third-year public policy major and director of civic engagement, Emily Thomas, spoke to The Highlander about why it is important for young

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people to use their voices. “You have power in your vote to enact change in your community — literally every vote counts. I’ve seen local races that have been lost and won by one vote. That one vote could be yours,” she stated. Thomas went on to add that this year is especially critical, as the upcoming election will mark the first time in which millennials and Generation Z will have a greater voting majority than baby boomers and the silent generation. Still, students who already intend to vote have strong opinions when it comes to political views, and particularly, as it involves the election of the incoming president. The Highlander spoke to a handful of students to share their perspectives on the upcoming election. Daniel Huynh, a fourth-year psychology major, asserted that he is a sure vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. However, he added that it is not necessarily because he supports their platform, rather “just to not

have another Trump presidency.” Huynh stated that Biden and Harris have their own issues, especially in that they cannot seem to agree on many policies that are included on their 2020 ticket. Another student, Charissa Johannes, a third-year business major, also conveyed her support for Biden and Harris with a similar stipulation. She asserted that although neither of this year’s presidential candidates are ideal, Biden clearly seems like the lesser evil out of both men. Johannes was vehement in her opposition of the reinstatement of Donald Trump as president. She expressed severe disappointment with many facets of Trump’s leadership, from the way he has handled the COVID-19 pandemic to the way he has treated and talked about women over the course of his term as head of the nation. “Trump is racist, disrespectful and does not care about the American people as a whole,” Johannes concluded. Ramy Shbaita, a third-year

history and public policy major, stated that he is uncomfortable with voting for either candidate; though, he is likely voting for Trump. ”There’s not anything I truly like about Trump,” he stated, ”I just trust that with him most of the policies I agree with won’t be repealed or changed.” Shbaita added that he dislikes the “moronic” image that Trump can often project in public. However, he also does not appreciate the way Biden has been handling the issues that have been thrown his way, as according to Shbaita, the Democratic candidate has vacillated between stances one too many times. A third-year business administration major who requested to stay anonymous due to concerns over the backlash he might receive for his political affiliations expressed his complete support for Trump. He stated, “I’m voting for Trump because he’s addressing issues that most people aren’t aware of, from media bias to tech censorship…” This student

maintained that he is appreciative of Trump’s fearlessness when talking about issues that he sees, though he added that Trump can be too brash and should take the time to conduct proper research and think before speaking out. This student also felt that Biden is the more worrisome candidate in that he “refuses to answer questions because his responses would jeopardize his support.” Still, regardless of which candidate one ultimately decides to vote for, Thomas encourages all students to have a plan for this election season. She advises people to make sure that they are completely informed about the voting process, being sure to fill out each section correctly. “Get your friends and families involved because you have the power to create change in your communities,” she stated. Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Vol. 69, Issue 03. The Highlander is republishing this article for the H Elections Issue.■

UCR’s Civic Engagement Coalition tackles voting rights

DAVINA GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

ASUCR’s Civic Engagement Coalition hosted its first free information session on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Titled “Our Power, Our Vote,” the webinar aimed to educate students about voting rights, especially as it pertains to the upcoming election. The webinar was led by two of the coalition’s programming coordinators, fourth-year public policy major, Alicia Larson, and Zobia Qazi, a third-year neuroscience major. Qazi began by giving a brief overview of voting rights throughout history, from the passing of the Fifteenth Amendment in the 1800s to census redirections in the 2000s. From there, they segued into a discussion about voting rights for those who are or were incarcerated, those who face language barriers as well as those with disabilities. They first prefaced this by advising anyone within this category to look into the Election Protection Coalition online, a nonpartisan group that provides plenty of extra resources regarding election voting.

Qazi went on to talk more about rights for formerly incarcerated people. She noted that voting rights for individuals with parole or on probation are lost until the completion of the sentence with automatic restoration afterward, provided that the person registers to vote once more. Qazi added that California has been a little more lenient with voting rights for the incarcerated; those in county jails may retain the right to vote while serving time, but it does not apply to those in state or federal prisons. The state also requires that knowledge of voting right restoration be provided on the internet and to felons leaving prison. The discussion then turned to people with disabilities and those who face language barriers. Qazi urged the former group to tap into resources, such as the Organization of Disability Rights California, and to check out a government provided resource geared towards those who use American Sign Language and made to explain the current propositions. For those who might have trouble with the English language, Qazi recommended

checking out the Advancing Justice website for information in a variety of languages. She also stated, “You always should ask staff at your polling place what materials they may have in your language, or the language you prefer. And always ask if any staff at the polling place speak your language.” For individuals who vote by mail, she affirmed that it would be best practice to call their elections office and ask about free translated materials. The webinar also featured an informative section on voter discrimination. Qazi quoted the Brennan Center for Justice, and stated, “Even in the 2020 election, while the risk of COVID-19 will no doubt move more voters to cast their ballots by mail, some communities, more typically communities of color, rely on these polling places.” Historically, communities with a higher population of Black and Latino people are shown to have higher waiting times at polling sites on election day. The landmark case of Shelby vs. Holder in June 2013 overturned an important provision of the Voting Rights Act; subsequently,

voter suppression increased, especially in communities of the elderly, the poor and BIPOC. From there, Larson took over and pointed out important dates for the upcoming election. Oct. 19 was the last day to register online, while Oct. 24 was “Vote Early Day,” marking the middle of California’s early voting period. Election day is approaching on Nov. 3, and Larson mentioned that anyone can find their local polling place through the Secretary of State website. Though online and regular in-person registration has passed, for those who may have missed the deadline, the state of California offers conditional voter registration. This secondary deadline is a “safety net” for California residents that still need to register or update their personal information. They would just need to find their local polling place and register at the same time they fill out their ballot. Larson added that proper identification is needed in order to do this, such as a driver’s license, passport, credit or debit card.

Larson made it a point to talk about common mistakes to avoid when filling out the actual ballot. In order for a vote to be counted, the voter must use a blue or black pen, use the same personal signature that the government has on file, write out the complete date and completely fill in all required marks. She also recommended voting early if possible, as it helps gauge voter turnout and ensures all ballots get counted while also allowing voters to avoid long polling lines and beat voter suppression. Both Qazi and Larson stressed the importance of this election in particular, as it will be the first time in which the polls will be dominated by people under 40 years of age. “Register to vote if you haven’t already,” they concluded, “And encourage friends and family to vote as well.” For more updates and information about the UCR Civic Engagement Coalition, their social media presence can H be found @ucr_cecoalition. ■

OPINIONS

10 MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

OPINIONS

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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

The UC must adjust tuition and fee costs to match the quality of education

et again, the University of California (UC) has proven itself to be an all-forprofit business, neglecting the needs of their students during a pandemic. Even with a class action lawsuit against the UC, students’ grievances about paying full tuition for online classes remain unheard. It is not likely that the UC will change their selfish money habits for the foreseeable future. Time and time again, students are continuously let down by the UC. The UC has become too much of a business rather than an educational institution, and that is why they have not considered lowering tuition. It is predatory for the UC to use COVID-19 as an excuse to charge students the same amount because they know that students have no choice but to either accept the charges or drop out into an unstable job market. People need to recognize that the UC only cares about their finances and ensuring that top administrators keep most of the money to themselves. The only people who would greatly benefit from a potential tuition decrease would be the students. Unfortunately, the students who make up the UC are not the top priority. In March of 2020, the UC released a letter announcing that since

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students are continuing to earn full credit for their coursework, mandatory charges such as tuition, the student services fee, nonresident supplemental tuition, professional degree supplemental tuition and charges for self-supporting graduate professional degree programs will continue to help cover the faculty’s delivery of instruction, other educational costs and the cost of student services such as registration, financial aid and remote academic advising. They used this to justify their decision that the University has not changed its policies or practices related to refunds for these charges. While the UC has claimed that students are continuing to earn full credit for their coursework, the quality of education is just not the same. Over the course of the pandemic, students were reassured that they would be paying full tuition for the same quality of resources online. It soon became clear that this was not the case at all. Students are finding themselves paying thousands for empty facilities and Zoom classes. For instance, at UCR, the Student Recreation Center (SRC) remains closed to the campus community, yet it is still getting paid for by students. Additionally, important resources, such as the financial aid office, have gone completely

online, and the accessibility of these resources has become a steadily increasing challenge. Even if students were to call the financial aid office, their phone lines are turned off, making them only available through email. This makes getting a response even more difficult, considering they probably have to sift through an immense amount of emails from students who rely heavily on financial aid. It does not make sense that students are still paying for these facilities as if they were operating in person. The UC has also tried to justify that they have to keep tuition the same by claiming they need it in order to pay their lower wage employees and to deal with the other large costs of coronavirus, but they have otherwise shown that this is not the case, since they decided to lay most employees off anyways. The lack of transparency when it comes to what exactly tuition is funding is extremely problematic. Although it is promised that money goes directly back to the students at their respective schools, it is difficult to believe this sentiment when the UC regents have obscenely high salaries while some buildings on campuses, such as several at UCR, are falling apart and while important resources remain

unavailable. Furthermore, the UC needs to stop placing the financial burden on students and start looking to themselves as an institution. It seems as if whatever decision the UC comes to with tuition, the students will always pay the biggest price. While it may look like the UC is counting on this virus being a temporary setback, they are missing the bigger picture and are not thinking about who this is directly affecting. Even if tuition were to be lowered, this would give the UC more of a reason to cut whole academic or athletic programs. Consider UCR and their proposals to eliminate the School of Public Policy (SPP) and Athletics in order to cope with financial strain. If tuition was actually lowered, this proposal would most definitely take place not just at UCR, but at other underfunded UC campuses all because at the end of the day, the UC will continue to place the burden on their students. Again, this is rather vulturous of the UC to make students either pay full tuition for half a college experience or give up programs that they benefit from. It does not sound likely that the students will win their lawsuit against these big institutions. The UC alone has money and lawyers and will undoubtedly find a loophole to justify keeping

tuition as is. It does not seem very hopeful that the students will come out of this situation with the promise of lowering tuition. No matter what the outcome is, the students of the UC will always be the biggest losers. All of the burdens will continue to be the students’ problem because the UC will always put their proﬁt ﬁrst. The best-case scenario for this worst possible situation is for the UC to stop running itself like a corporation once and for all. The university needs to be more transparent and honest about how much money it has and where that money is going. The regents need to consider taking a pay cut, and money, such as the 10 billion dollar unrestricted fund, needs to be redistributed fairly to cover the costs that each campus is claiming to suffer from. With that money alone, employees could be kept, tuition would not have to be paid in full and the student body would be better off H overall. ■

The 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

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

America shouldn’t forget what Kamala Harris said about Joe Biden’s racial voting record

JACK LEHER Contributing Writer

Vice President Joe Biden shocked many when he announced Senator Kamala Harris to be his running mate despite the two’s previous debate clashes. While Harris and Biden appeared to be the best of friends at the DNC nomination and on the campaign trail, her past statements on his racial voting record remain valid and something that America shouldn’t overlook just because she now chooses to align herself with him. During their first debate together, Harris attacked the vice president’s voting record saying while she does not believe Biden is a racist, his past comments on segregationists he served with in Congress were hurtful and that Biden went as far as to work with them to oppose bussing. She ended her statement by saying that she herself was integrated into public schools through bussing. Harris was right to say Biden’s past comments on segregationists were hurtful. In June 2019, Biden held an Iowa event where he recalled the civility of James O. Eastland and Herman Talmadge, two senators that heavily opposed desegregation when in office. Biden said that while he disagreed with these men and is no longer friends with them, he touted his ability to compromise with segregationists, referring to them as the opposition rather than the enemy, as opposed to today’s levels of partisanship. It is also worth noting that in 2010, Vice President Biden gave a eulogy

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for West Virginia Senator Robert Bryd, who led a 150 member chapter of the Klu Klux Klan as well as filibustered the 1964 Civil Rights Act for 14 hours. In his eulogy, Biden called Bryd a mentor, guide and friend. Biden’s praise and respect, while not on the actions of these men but on their reputations and character, raises understandable concern from Harris and should not be acceptable. Biden should not have respect for those that segregated America; there is nothing civil about them, nor should he be referring to them as mentors. Equality after the Civil Rights Act was non-negotiable and not something to be compromised on; those men were the enemies

to freedom, not the opposition. Americans shouldn’t be impressed with Biden for merely compromising with the enemy, and having Harris as his running mate doesn’t rectify his racially insensitive behavior. Biden, at the time, did not only compromise with segregationists, he worked with them to oppose bussing, which was the vehicle by which American schools were racially integrated, as Harris stated again in their second debate together. Harris also pointed out that had the segregationists Biden worked with gotten their way, Barack Obama would not have been in the position to nominate Biden for the title he now holds and that the vice president still

fails to acknowledge that he was wrong to take his position. In 1972, Biden originally ran for the U.S. Senate on a platform of desegregating schools, but after narrowly winning, he then flip-flopped his position to appeal to his mostly white constituents. In 1973, Biden then sponsored a bill barring the federal government from defunding schools that stayed segregated. This bill was passed with bipartisan support going beyond bussing. In 1975, Biden co-authored a bill that barred federal courts from ordering bussing plans unless the courts found discriminatory intent. This bill failed, but was designed to complicate and slow down the process of racially integrating

schools. To wrongfully justify his stance on school integration, Biden, in 1977, said he did not want his kids growing up in a racial jungle. Biden has argued he is for school bussing, just not the federal mandate of it. However, Biden’s spokesman, Bill Ruso, has contradicted this by saying Biden has never thought bussing was a good way to integrate schools and said it would not achieve equal opportunity. In 1977, The Civil Rights Commission described Biden’s work as stymieing school integration, and federal data has shown that bussing does narrow racial achievement and equal opportunity gaps. Biden’s approach to segregation was different from his colleagues where rather than relying on racial obscenities, he tried to implement a systemic, less apparent version of separate but equal. Senator Kamala Harris was right to bring the morally repugnant past of Joe Biden into question. Joe Biden advanced the agenda of segregationists and led the charge against racially integrated schools to which he needs to be held accountable for. Yet now, she campaigns for Biden, which calls into question how important her own values are. Those that worked with and praised segregationists on character do not represent the morals this country presently holds and have no place in leading it. The American people were reminded of Joe Biden’s past by Senator Harris, and it’s not something they should quickly H forget. ■

Yes, there is such thing as ‘too far’ in comedy, but that shouldn’t stop comedians from pushing the envelope

EVELYN HOMAN Senior Staff Writer

The concept and validity of online cancel culture has been hotly contested in the last few years. “Cancel culture,” the removal of support from celebrities or public figures, has become a popular way to respond to a celebrity’s wrongdoing — whether or not that wrongdoing is trivial or serious. This internet phenomenon has reached its typically toxic tentacles into almost every branch of fame, but it has been especially interesting to watch it edge its way into the realm of comedy. Recently, high-profile comedians have been called out more and more for tasteless jokes they made in their younger years, and this has sparked the question of “how far is too far” when it comes to comedy, especially when it comes to “edgier” comedians. That said, some of the “edgiest” comedians of all time have yet to be canceled. The fact is, there are indeed some boundaries in comedy, even with its subjectivity. The way to keep

from getting canceled is quite simple — adhere to some general guidelines of what is considered tasteless, and leave jokes about identity to people qualified to make them. And following these guidelines doesn’t mean a comedian loses their edge — but it could prevent future conflict. The most common jokes that get comedians canceled are homophobic remarks. A good majority of people dismiss these by saying it was a different time when these jokes were told, but that doesn’t make them any less tasteless. Cancel culture shamed Kevin Hart for his homophobic jokes, and it cost him hosting the Oscars. It also came for Eddie Murphy for making similar jokes, but Murphy denounced those old jokes as ignorant and has not ultimately lost anything. Despite the endings of these situations being different, a similar delineation is drawn: comedians get themselves in hot water when they make jokes which attack a group they are not a part of. Both Hart and Murphy

identify as straight, cisgender males; therefore, they do not have the right to make jokes about the LGBT minority. Though the time periods they may have been told may not have been quite as progressive, it still does not deny the tastelessness of mocking the sexualities of others. Jokes about the LGBT+ community should be left to LBGT+ comedians and them alone. Hart and Murphy do not deserve to be canceled if they have learned from their mistakes, but it is ultimately up to the LGBT+ community to forgive, as only they have the authority to do so. A prime example of comedy being taken too far is Kathy Griffin’s 2017 stunt where she posed with a fake severed head of US President Donald Trump and was brutally canceled thereafter. In this case, it doesn’t matter what side of the political fence a viewer sits on. This was no joke, but a horrific, tasteless attempt at humor. But again, she did not deserve to be canceled. The core of cancel culture is to take

away a person’s livelihood, and though this post was outrageously inappropriate, it is not the right of the masses to take away what a person makes their living off of because of something like this. If the average person were to make a similar joke, their peers probably wouldn’t be rushing to remove the base of their livelihood, so the Internet should not get to determine someone’s unworthiness in the same manner. Social media could come together to simply denounce the joke for being tasteless, not lean toward ad hominem attacks. With all these cancelations, it is curious to look back to comedians of the past who often were even edgier than comedians currently and wonder why they haven’t been canceled. George Carlin, for instance, was known for his crass yet brilliant humor that was pointedly offensive towards everyone in some way or another, but he is still hailed as a brilliant comedian. Although he was offensive, he did not pointedly attack minority groups

or the like; rather, he attacked large concepts, breaking them down philosophically at times while keeping a fresh hilarity to it all. Carlin’s humor should be looked to by modern-day comedians because he did what all good comedians should do — push boundaries without mocking people directly. In short, there are few simple guidelines comedians should keep in mind to dodge offending minorities while also pushing the boundaries of what it means to laugh. Humor makes us human, and it is human to want to laugh at the human condition, but a laugh should not come at the cost of someone’s identity or from a person being attacked. And while comedy is subjective and a joke not meant to be harmless may end up offending somebody anyway, comedians should at least bear in mind the weight their jokes might have not for the sake of their careers, but for the sake of people who tune in to laugh at what it H means to be a human. ■

OPINIONS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

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Grassroots movements enable ordinary people to make extraordinary change

ROBERT GOLD Contributing Writer

America was founded on protest and civil disobedience. But few Americans, whether they are politically engaged or cynical about the entire political process, realize that the efforts of grassroots movements are still making huge waves. These grassroots organizations amount to more than just marches, protests and social disruption — they’re getting candidates elected to public office and making real, measurable, legislative achievements. In 2009, the Tea Party emerged as a libertarian-right wing populist. Its members and affiliates have achieved prominent political offices. In 2011, Rand Paul was elected to the Senate. Ted Cruz followed suit in Texas in 2013. In 2012, when Donald Trump considered making a run for president, he became a popular figure within the Tea Party movement. Four years later, the Tea Party got their man in the White House. The Tea Party has been effective because, rather than running their own candidates like the Reform Party or the Green Party does against the establishment parties, the Tea Party effectively carved out its own voting bloc within the Republican Party. Rather than try

to make changes from the outside in, as a Third Party, the Tea Party has introduced right wing populism to Washington DC from the inside out. In 2011, the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement sparked a new wave of far-left wing activism. In 2016, selfproclaimed Democratic-Socialist Bernie Sanders ran for president. In 2017, at the local level, 15 candidates who were members of the DSA were elected to public office across 13 states, and many others ran. In 2014, the Democratic Socialists of America had 6,500 members. Since Bernie’s two runs for president, the DSA’s membership now stands at 70,000 as of August 2020. The far-left has also been effective for the same reasons that the Tea Party has. Rather than running DemocraticSocialist candidates to challenge Democratic Party incumbents in blue states, far-left wing candidates have run themselves as Democrats, and some, including Alexandria OcasioCortez and Rashida Tlaib, have even been elected to Congress. Some of the most effective grassroots movements are ultimately the ones that stick to a single issue, and hit it over and over again repeatedly. Black Lives Matter (BLM) has also been effective employing

On June 1, protesters took to the streets of Downtown Riverside to protest police brutality.

this strategy by sticking to the central message of police brutality. This year, BLM has been characterized in the media by violent riots, but BLM as an organization has made significant legislative achievements including the Right to Know Senate Bill 1421 in California, which requires state and local agencies to make public records available for inspection. Additionally, in Louisville, Kentucky, the newly passed Breonna’s Law makes “no-knock warrants’’ unlawful. In response to BLM activist pressures, Robert E. Lee,

Jefferson Davis and Christopher Columbus statues have been removed across the country and NASCAR has banned the usage of the confederate flag. BLM has also been effective because it knows how to make headlines. BLM understands that the first step in any successful political campaign is that one must first establish a brand recognition. Once you have become a household name, then collecting manpower and financial resources to get laws passed becomes a lot easier. There is no way to change the minds of non-politically minded people who are too lazy or

RYAN POON \ THE HIGHLANDER

cynical about the political process to take part in it. But for the people who do care and want to make a difference in this country, it is important for Americans to constantly remind themselves that when this country was founded it was a very different place, and it is the job of every new generation to leave this country better then they found it. Just like every individual person, America is a work in progress. The Founding Fathers built within the system opportunity for growth, change and progress. If they didn’t want it that way, they would not have designed the system in the way H that they had. ■

Mitch McConnell has got to go due to his incompetence and hypocrisy as a leader and to ensure a better future

ABHIJIT REGE Staff Writer

Mitch McConnell needs to be voted out. The 2020 election is underway, and many Senate elections are on the ballot. Of those, one of the most significant races in the country revolves around Kentucky’s Senate election between incumbent Mitch McConnell and Amy McGrath. McConnell remains one of the most unpopular senators in the nation and is arguably Donald Trump’s most critical ally. Replacing McConnell is not an easy task, as he has held power in the Senate for 28 years and still maintains a very high chance of winning in November. Many view him as unbeatable given his firm grasp on his home state and his notoriety as one of the longest serving Republican senators in the nation. Originally elected into the Senate in 1984, he has remained a major obstructionist throughout his political career and is known for his stark opposition to many of former President Barack Obama’s initiatives and judicial nominees. His actions, such as his blocking of President Barack Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland and his refusal to allow

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witnesses to appear in the Senate impeachment hearings, were unpopular among many and are inexcusable. Furthermore, McConnell has shown his lack of integrity, conservative partisanship and hypocritical nature under Donald Trump’s presidency, especially when he became Senate majority leader in 2016. His frequent usage of filibustering has been subject to consistent criticism, especially after defending the practice. Even though McConnell argues that filibustering should be preserved for the sanctity of Senate rules, many were quick to point out the irony in his argument considering his track record of manipulating rules and norms to benefit himself and his party. Under the Trump administration, McConnell most

notably expanded a filibuster exception, known as the Reid rule, to apply to the Supreme Court, thereby reducing the 60vote confirmation requirement down to a simple majority. As such, this allowed for a record number of Supreme Court nominees to be confirmed, including Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. However, his hypocrisy has been especially blatant with current nominee for the Supreme Court; Amy Coney Barrett. Barett’s confirmation fell under the same timing and circumstances as Merrick Garland, yet McConnell and many other Republicans chose to flip positions completely and followed through with the process, exhibiting a clear example of Republican partisanship over integrity.

His response to the coronavirus pandemic has also been quite problematic as well. McConnell waited several months to provide coronavirus aid after the passing of the CARES act, and even then, the Senate majority leader gave a huge handout to big businesses and corporations. His response has been rather tone-deaf to the needs of the American People. Kentucky remains in the present as a very red, conservative state, so he unfortunately maintains a solid lead over his opponent, Amy McGrath. However, McGrath’s campaign has generated significant waves and has given her a much larger chance against McConnell than former opponents. There is potential for the Democratic candidate to garner more votes, even if she fails to obtain a majority. The importance of this election lies in the power that McConnell holds currently. The senator has promised to be Congress’ “grim reaper” and oppose any progressive legislation that arrives on the Senate floor. This, along with his undying loyalty to President Trump, has paved a path of blatant immorality and obstructionism where he won’t

even allow votes on election security bills which earned him the nickname, “Moscow Mitch,” MediCare, The Green New Deal and other climate change reforms, student loan forgiveness and even background-check legislation for guns sales, disregarding the numerous mass shootings that have occurred in recent years. However even though his role as Senate majority leader allows him to hold a great deal of authority, this power can be reduced if he returns to his former position as minority leader. McConnell as a blatant bad-faith politician makes him a dangerous legislator who can easily undermine the nation’s democratic foundation. Voters continue to cast their ballots, and Mitch McConnell has proven time and time again that he is an ineffective and unreliable leader who is prone to many hypocritical actions. His role as Senate majority leader has allowed him to effectively serve as a minister to the Trump administration’s agenda, which has repeatedly undermined the nation’s trust. Now is the time to fill his seat in the Senate with H new blood. ■

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Features

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

FEATURES

Bob the Drag Queen comes to

SLAY Alexandria Esteban, Senior Staff Writer On Saturday, Oct. 24, the Associated Students Program Board (ASPB) and the LGBT Resource Center (LGBTRC) hosted a virtual Q&A event with Bob the Drag Queen, the season 8 winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and the host of HBO’s “We’re Here.” The event ran from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and it featured a Highlander Drag Pre-Show, with students Wright Wicked and Crescent Rose. The event kicked off with the Highlander Drag Pre-Show. Both the performers showed pre-prepared videos of them dressed to impress in masks, makeup and gowns. Wright Wicked gave a fantastic dance performance to some classic Disney villain songs, and Crescent Rose showed off their dance moves to Kate Bush’s “Suspended in Gaffa.” After each video, both performers opened up about their experiences with drag, and then, Bob the Drag Queen made his appearance. Bob the Drag Queen goes by she/her and he/his pronouns. During the Q&A sessions, selected students were allowed to turn their cameras on and ask Bob the Drag Queen any questions that they had. The questions

ranged from the number of wigs he owned to his experience being on television. He also opened up about being nonbinary. When one student asked what his favorite part of doing drag was, Bob the Drag Queen revealed that the best part was seeing each performance move people while also making others laugh. Everyone that attended was respectful during this portion of the event. Throughout it all, Bob the Drag Queen had some friendly banter with many of the students that asked him questions. He took the time to compliment people’s looks or ask them where they were calling from. It was interesting to hear how many people were watching the Zoom meeting from outside of Riverside, and it was good to see that events like this one were still bringing UCR students together. In all, the evening was full of lighthearted fun. The Zoom audience repeatedly gave positive feedback to the performers and Bob the Drag Queen. Hopefully, there are more events like this in the future as they incorporated student and celebrity performances well. Sashay H away, everybody. ■

ALEXANDRIA ESTEBAN \ THE HIGHLANDER

UNDER THE

KILT

Have you ever had those moments where you wished you had put your foot down and stood up for yourself? Maybe it was during an argument with friends or a significant other that made you feel like you had no say. This feeling is something I am familiar with, and I have learned ways to establish boundaries between friends, significant others and myself. Establishing boundaries can be something as simple as stating your need for alone time. Being an introvert myself, I find any social interactions to be extremely draining, regardless of who I am spending time with. It would get to the point where my interactions with my friends would result in moodiness, and oftentimes, I would get called out for being quiet. As a result, my relationships would be strained, and I would feel awkward. I had thought I was putting in effort to meet my friends and spend time with them, but with no time to recharge myself, I was only hindering my friendships and causing tension. The first step in improving my friendships was to talk to them plainly. I remember explaining that I had been so caught up in being present that I never got

Establishing boundaries for yourself and not others By: Adriana Mandujano Angel, Senior Staff Writer

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alone time with myself to recharge. Once I had explained my need for alone time and self care while reassuring my friends that I still appreciated them, our friendship improved. I was able to say no to hanging out with no fear of them hating me for it, I found that whenever we would hang out, I would be happier and have more fun. The

same could be said for my friends who no longer had to deal with me and my moodiness and the same method can be used in romantic relationships. With romantic relationships, it seems like there is more of an expectation to hangout and see each other. The entire reason one enters a relationship is due to

the fact that both parties enjoy spending time together, but no matter how much each person enjoys doing so, it is still important to take time to recharge. You can recharge alone or together in silence, so long as both of you are happy and understanding of each other’s boundaries. Another important, yet not widely discussed, boundary that I believe everyone should have are work boundaries. I remember when I worked a closing shift at a fast food restaurant on my birthday and had a day off the next day. My manager at the time asked me to work on my day off, and I felt obligated to comply. These situations would occur on a regular basis, and it was not until my last month of working there where I put my foot down and drew a clear line between my work environment and my availability. For the first time, I was saying no to extra shifts, and I felt good and unapologetic. Establishing boundaries in the workplace and in relationships is something that everyone could exercise, as it improves happiness and allows you to become a H better person.■

14 MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

FEATURES

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Job Offer

By: Jay Mendoza, Contributing Writer No one in my family is working. I’ve been searching for a job for months, hoping for a call from any random number to tell me “You got the job.” Today feels like every other day: Just now getting home to a house that only contains my sister, singing her heart away. My parents are at a meeting for something I can’t even understand. They’ve brought my brother with them, seeing as that was the only choice they had. All I can understand is that I need a job. I need to support my family. Today changes when I hear my phone ring. Upon seeing the unknown number, I smile, hoping that I’ve finally been accepted in. Picking up the phone, I try to contain my happiness, acting professional, just the way I learned in AcaDec. “Hello, is this–” My raised shoulders drop as fast as my mood as the dull tone in their voice fills my veins with a poisoned dread. “–eldest child of–” What happened to my parents? To my brother? Please just get to the point. Tell me they’re alright. “I regret to inform you that your parents and brother are here–” In the hospital? From a car accident? But how could this happen? My father’s most cautious when he gets onto the road. “Your parents are in critical condition. You and your sister need to come take care of your brother and be at the side of your mother and father.” Today, I got the call I wanted for a job offer in the way I didn’t expect nor want. In a week’s time, all three children will be dressed in black. But even before that moment, I must take my place. “Yes, I will,” I reply as I accept my job, as eldest daughter, to become my siblings’ caretaker, as we are now without Mother or Father. ~JRM {20160111}

■H

Precious Inventions

By: Jay Mendoza, Contributing Writer In the midst of the town, an inventor, Old and frail, but still, reluctantly, alive; Inventions unlike others – nearly human. One in particular, a cute white doll, Resembling his long lost wife, Wipes stains noisily everyday, Reminding him of the story That haunts all but him: Jaehyun. Strong, but relentless. Again and again, this king would pester the inventor To make him the perfect wife. One day, a woman shooed him away But the king returned – now with the image of perfection. Long, dark hair and eyes to match, Perfect for any man to eye as she passed, She wouldn’t pass much longer. “Give up your wife, or make me one by tonight.” The inventor now worked for hours For Jaehyun’s sake, To no avail. The king came back at dusk, taking the woman with him. Forced into bright pink hanbok Paired with gold silk shoes, The bride stood in wait. Consummation approached with the night, But darkness is better left with the unknown. By morning, the bright red dress, Laid on top of an unmoving king. One shoe in place of his royalty. Bride missing. Year past, shack in the woods Held doll twins – One covered in blood, one as a messenger – Fire on the death anniversary. The inventor never married, Not even once, For his wife was his invention, Programmed only for him. He had to burn one, And lives, forever, With Jaehyun’s mindless, Now-hidden bride, Wearing one gold shoe And another made of skin. H ~JRM {20190520}■

16 MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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The proof is in the pudding in Benny the Butcher’s new full-length album

‘Burden of Proof’ by: James Jones, Contributing Writer

Griselda Records signee and one-third of the Griselda collective, Benny the Butcher, is back and better than ever in his long awaited project “Burden of Proof.” The album is executively produced by legendary producer, Hit-Boy, who’s been dominating 2020 by producing Big Sean as well as Nas’s latest album. This record is one of Benny’s crowning achievements, with tales of streetlife along with the big risks and high rewards that come with it. There are a lot of moments where it felt as if Hit-Boy and Benny were really connected sonically when creating these tracks, which is shown in songs such as “Thank God I Made It” where Benny told Genius that he cried in the studio with Hit-Boy when making the record. The fluidity of the beat accompanied with Benny’s bars make for a beautiful pairing. The beats Hit-Boy crafted appeared to be tailored for Benny, as if it was created on the spot and wasn’t something that he had already in his stash. Benny’s album is a gritty yet authentic description of his street endeavors, as well as his success in the music industry. I like how he is able to give advice about the streets without sounding preachy, but also having his lyrics be accompanied by some luxurious beats. Cuts like “Famous,’” where he speaks on the ghosts of his past, lament his current status because once everyone knows your music, they think they know you too. Many lines reflect on his fame, such as “And I never think I’d make it out the hood / And it don’t feel how I thought it would,” revealing that all that glitters may not be gold and that there are problems that come with notoriety. It’s refreshing to hear someone who’s music may glorify streetlife, but at the same time, isn’t simply eulogizing the glamorous sides such as the money, jewelry and eventually getting out of the drug business. I also enjoyed guest appearances from revered MC’s like Rick Ross, Lil Wayne and Big Sean, as well as indie favorites, Freddie Gibbs and Dom Kennedy. The track “Where Would I Go” with a guest appearance from MMG’s very own Rick Ross is a definite high point with luxurious raps accompanied

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by expensive beats. It’s nice to hear an artist that’s relatable in some capacity. Honesty and vulnerability is something The Butcher is not unfamiliar with; songs like “Thank God I Made It” as well as “Trade It All” depict his past so elegantly while also giving his listeners a bit of advice with every bar. As a fellow asthmatic, I enjoyed the bar where Benny mentions being in the hospital recently due to his asthma. For a 12-track project, Benny wasted no time fitting as many dope one liners or impressive wordplays. He does not hold his tongue when he raps poetically about hustling in the streets and his distaste for today’s rappers rapping about the luxuries of living the street life, which I find to be refreshing. He doesn’t only praise the wins, but he also acknowledges the losses, and that’s what separates Benny (as well as the entire Griselda group) from the rest of today’s musicians. Tracks such as “Thank God I Made It” where Benny speaks on the loss of his brother, Machine Gun Black, along with dropping a few jewels for his street savvy listeners makes for a triumphant

highlight. I, for one, really appreciate the honesty throughout this project; Benny has always had a knack for putting authenticity at the forefront of his albums. It’s clear that Benny is concerned with making music that can stand the test of time, which he expresses in his lead single “Timeless” featuring rap veteran, Lil Wayne, and Detroit’s own Big Sean where they all speak on living on through their music. This track was the first of the two singles he put out before releasing the record, the second being the outro cut “Legend”, which I found to be very strategic on his part, but nonetheless, I was still hyped to hear the album in its entirety after hearing the singles. There is a lot to love on this album. After all that Benny has gone through in the industry to get to this point, it really is a full-circle moment when looking at Benny’s career entirely. As aforementioned, this record was a match made in heaven being executively produced by Hit-Boy. With Benny’s gritty yet cogent poetics mixed with Hit’s hand-crafted soulful beats, creating something as beautiful H as “Burden of Proof” was inevitable. ■

Verdict:

This album is a crowning achievement for Benny. I can’t say this is an instant classic, but I will say it has high chances of standing against the test of time. Its replay value is extremely high, and I suggest this record to anyone who enjoys honesty, good wordplay and introspection, not to mention amazing instrumentals. COURTESY OF FREEPIK.COM

Radar

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ turns a history lesson into an

unexpectedly electrifying

portrayal of a movement By: Silvia Ferrer Senior Staff Writer The opening montage of “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is indicative of what the audience can expect of the next two hours — dynamic dialogue, a myriad of characters and an overload of information. While the high-powered conversations are so quick and witty that, at times, they are hard to catch on to, writer and director Aaron Sorkin is clearly onto something; the film perfectly reflects the ever changing, fiery 1960s and the various political players in the spotlight of the notorious 1969 court trial. “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is an excellent dramatization of an already dramatic trial that manages to seamlessly incorporate the stories of radically progressive groups with history about the tumult created by the Vietnam War. Three groups, the Youth International Party (known at the time as the Yippies), the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), the Mobilization to End the War in Vietnam (the Mobe) and the Black Panther Party, are all put on the stand against the government of the United States with charges to conspire to cause the riots that had erupted at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. In a mix of reality and fiction, the audience sees the accused eight stand before the seemingly senile Judge Julius Hoffman (Frank Langella) in an effort to defend themselves in a case that they seem to have lost from the start. Intercepting the scenes of the trial are scenes of the “Chicago 7” as they prepare for the protest and attend other demonstrations; these scenes are particularly powerful when the Chicago Police Department is present and offer a jarring reflection of the brutal policing happening even today. Although the cinematography and the setting of the film is exceedingly simple, the storyline and dialogue are not. It is

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fast paced, dynamic and interesting, as if it is trying to cram in all of the details the audience needs to know about the historical period and its political players before it moves on to another layer of the story — and the film is chock full of layers. One of those said layers is based on the disgusting treatment of Bobby Seale (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), one of the leaders of the Black Panther Party, by the judge. Seale, more than the other defendants, was unfairly charged with conspiracy despite the fact that he had not

met the other defendants prior to the trial and had only been in Chicago for several hours before flying back to Oakland. Throughout, Seale protests against the assumption that he was in cahoots with the group and is eventually bound and gagged to a chair in the courtroom. Abdul-Mateen II is compelling in his short appearance as the notorious figure who was the co-founder of the Black Panther Party and helps emphasize the pervasive racism that existed during such a “progressive” era. With the assassination of Martin Luther King

Jr. just months prior to the trial, Black America was in a state of grief, which Sorkin makes sure to point out. One of the only flaws of the film is that after Seale’s case is finally declared a mistrial, the racism issue essentially disintegrates. It is no longer addressed in the film or by the characters, which makes it feel a bit like the screen time was wasted. All of the actors, however, make the most of their screen time. Eddie Redmayne, in particular, who plays Thomas Hayden, is one of the charismatic founders of the SDS that manages to win the hearts of the audience along with his best friend, Rennie Davis (Alex Sharp), just as he managed to win the hearts of the jury in real life. He delivers one more heart wrenching speech against the judge at the final moments of the movie that is sure to drive audience members to tears. Beside them, Abbie Hoffman (Sacha Baron Cohen) and Jerry Rubin (Jeremy Strong) offer some much needed comic relief. On the opposing side, the iconic Joseph Gordon-Levitt humanizes the prosecutor, Richard Schultz, with his troubled expressions and soft voice. Although Sorkin has come under fire for the over romanticization of the prosecutorial side, Gordon-Levitt lights up the screen in a way that feels genuine but still manages to allow the flaws of the system and the embedded corruption to bleed through. Overall, the film keeps its cinematography and soundtrack subdued to allow the dialogue and acting performances to shine, which is definitely the correct decision. By focusing on the historical significance of the moment and its uncommon players, the film results in an entertaining and enjoyable history lesson on the impact the Vietnam War H had on a generation. ■

Verdict: “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is a fast paced film with dynamic dialogue and eccentric characters that managed to encapsulate the turmoil of the 1960s superbly. The acting performances are top-notch, but most importantly, it is one of few films that deftly gives the audience a history lesson on a war that is mostly ignored in the movie industry.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

Dreams can come true, but so can nightmares in

‘A Babysitter’s Guide to

Monster Hunting’

By: Jashanpreet Malhi, Contributing Writer We all know that feeling of having to wake up from a great dream that is disrupted by the awful sound of our alarm clocks. At times, we may fall back into a deep slumber to finish our dreams, to no avail. But what if all our dreams can come true with a cost? In Netflix’s recent light-hearted adventure-filled film, “A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting,” a group of babysitters must unite to prevent children’s nightmares from dominating the world. “A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting’’ follows the outcast, Kelly Ferguson (Tamara Smart), who is nicknamed “Monster Girl” after she reveals she was almost taken by the boogeyman. On Halloween, the boy she babysits is kidnapped by the Grand Guignol (Tom Felton), the film’s rendition of the boogeyman who aims to ravage the world by releasing children’s nightmares. Liz LeRue (Oona Laurence), a babysitter-hunter, is part of a secret organization of hunters who are dispersed globally to destroy monsters and protect children. The babysitterhunters become aware of the situation and collaborate with Kelly to prevent this destruction and return the boy home safely.

“A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting” captures adventure with several setting changes while maintaining a stable plot. Some of these settings range from the babysitter hunters’ headquarters to a Halloween party to the Grand Guignol’s lair, without producing an unorganized plot. However, some settings appear too colorful and childlike, such as the Grand Guignol’s lair, which subtly distracts from the evil ambiance of the villain. CGI, on the other hand, is effectively used when creating the monsters (“toadies”), which works to make the film silly and capture its fantasy aspect. Despite the few bumps in the appearance of the setting, the audience travels on an adventurous journey to defeat the wicked villain. In addition, scary moments in the film are very brief, such as when it opens up with a cheesy dark and stormy night where a young Kelly is almost taken by Guignol. The humor is more dominant and makes the film a fun-filled watch with tiny, silly and colorful “toadies” that unintentionally hurt themselves and fall victim to silly tricks. The film also incorporates childish humor stemming from the Grand Guignol, who in one scene, is seen conversing

Verdict

about his evil plans with a teddy bear. The performance of the Grand Guignol by Felton significantly makes the film more humorous than scary. The acting in the film is performed exceptionally by all the actors whose performances capture the light-hearted aura of the film. Felton encompasses villainous traits with hand gestures, evil smirks and a restless behavior to become closer to achieving his goal. In addition, his dark costume paired with long, dirty hair and beast-like eyes portray the Grand Guignol as an old, mythical creature. Felton’s character makes the film more enjoyable, as he sings and dances, traits which make the antagonist a truly fun character. Felton, infamous for his role as Draco Malfoy in the “Harry Potter” franchise, solidifies his skills as an actor as he transforms himself into this fun, yet evil, monster. Moreover, Laurence captures a fierce and fearless demeanor that establishes herself as a great leader among the babysitter hunters. Smart also performs well in showcasing herself as an awkward, misfit teenager who is quite the opposite of Liz, but becomes determined to defeat the villain. All of the actors do well in bringing distinct

characteristics to the table, which made the film an altogether fun watch. In terms of themes, “A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting” develops the bond of friendship among the babysitter hunters. Kelly escapes her comfort zone and takes initiative through her actions, which proves she possesses a resolute nature that aligns with the babysitter hunters. At times of distress, the team relies on her strength and choices, which causes them to trust her. In addition, the coming of age theme is fostered as Kelly transitions from being picked on for her intelligence and the “Monster Girl” moniker to utilizing her math skills and taking risks to help the team. Hence, Kelly discovers a sense of belonging and immense growth among individuals that accept her uniqueness. Despite the few errors in cinematography, “A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting” impressively binds a scope of settings in a short run time that immerses the audience in the adventurous journey to halt the villain’s plans. The great acting and humor make the film an enjoyable watch. Moreover, the heartwarming themes are efficiently delivered, which capture the film’s H light-hearted aura. ■

“A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting” is a cordial watch that maintains a well-constructed plot and keeps the audience engaged in this fun-filled adventure. The humor, excellent performances and few scares make the film a great watch that can be enjoyed by anyone.

Sports 18

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020

SPORTS

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Big West announces that basketball competition will return for the 2020-21 season SILVIA FERRER Senior Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the Big West Conference announced the 202021 conference schedules for men’s and women’s basketball teams. Athletics events, college or otherwise, were canceled amidst the coronavirus pandemic, and the future of future athletics events was undecided for the majority of the year. Although the continuation of campus closure did cancel fall sports, winter sport fans need not fret — basketball will return during winter quarter, albeit in a modified format in order to accommodate for health and safety restrictions. All 11 member institutions — California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; California State University (CSU), Bakersfield; CSU Fullerton; CSU Northridge; Long Beach State University; University of California (UC), Davis; UC Irvine; UCR; UC San Diego; UC Santa Barbara and the University of Hawai‘i, Manoa — will play 20 conference games in a format that will reduce travel. Instead of playing in the traditional manner, i.e., taking turns on a home-and-home schedule, teams will now play the same opponent on consecutive days at one site. The majority of games will take place Friday and Saturday, with the first tournament game beginning on Wednesday, March 10 at the Honda Center

KEVIN CONTRERAS Senior Staff Writer

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in Anaheim. 16 teams total, both men’s and women’s, will compete at the Honda Center over the course of four days, with the Big West Basketball Tournament concluding on Saturday, March 13. Women and men’s basketball game schedules mirror one another; teams will play the same opponent on opposite venues. According to a press release by the Big West, “conference play will commence with back-to-back games” with the first game commencing on Sunday, Dec. 27 and Monday, Dec. 28. Conference competition will conclude on March 6, 2021. In addition to the modified format of the conference, all teams will also begin the season without fans in attendance per the direction of the Big West Board of Directors.

The lack of spectators will be reconsidered once the season progresses, but Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly stated that the Big West Board of Directors is ensuring that basketball competition returns in a way that is “safe and responsible.” In the upcoming weeks, more information about tie-breaking and game management protocols, as well as a broadcast schedule will be announced. As of now, the statement by the Big West has only said that, “tiebreaking procedures shall be utilized at the end of the regular-season.” UCR’s men’s basketball teams will begin conference play on Friday, Jan. 1, and conclude on Saturday, March 6. Women’s basketball will begin on the same date and H conclude on Saturday, Feb. 27. ■

UCR men’s soccer wins award for academic excellence KEVIN CONTRERAS Senior Staff Writer

UCR’s men’s soccer team has received the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award. This award contributes to their winning streak, as they won the most recent Big West tournament and ranked in the top 25 nationally during the 2019 fall season. Head coach Tim Copello is incredibly proud of the constant state of improvement that his team has been on over the past few years. “Over the past 2 academic years, we continue to achieve levels of success our program hasn’t achieved in the past,” Copello said. He went on to state, “It is all due to a shared commitment between our student-athletes and our support staff to pursue excellence in everything that we do.” The United Soccer Coaches is the National Coaches Association with over 32,000 members. The award is granted to collegiate teams that earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or more. The UCR men’s team earned a cumulative GPA of 3.3. According to Copello, this new level of success could have not been possible without the mass efforts of both coaches and student-athletes alike. In an email interview with The Highlander, Copello stated that a few years ago, the men’s soccer team implemented what they call the Academic Game Plan (APG). The APG focused on time-management skills, mandatory attendance to office hours and weekly meetings with the coaching staff. Copello, along with the rest of the coaching staff, believe that the integration of these values will benefit their players in their collegiate journey, as well as later on in their professional careers. Recognizing the large number of first generation college students on his roster, the coaching staff hope to

Highlander Hot Take: Big West resumes competitive sports in a safe and responsible manner

LLOYD KAO \ THE HIGHLANDER

provide a system of support. “We have a wide range of individuals that make up our roster. Many of them are first generation college students. Many times they just need a little bit of guidance and practice to reach their full potential as a student,” he said. Even though it was the coaching staff that integrated these core values of excellence into the fabric of the team, it was the studentathletes who worked incredibly hard in order to triumph and win big, despite the massive hurdles put in place by the current pandemic. Leonardo Targia, third-year goalkeeper, and Daniel Aguirre, third-year midfielder, both recognized the hard work and dedication of the entire team and staff. “I believe that our coaching staff and all

our athletic department did an amazing job in offering all the resources to be successful even when we were in the middle of a pandemic. This recognition is the result of many efforts put by every member of the team,” said Targia. “This is definitely an amazing feeling. Our school and our athletic department deserve to always be at the top. We will keep working in bettering ourselves every day and honor UC Riverside on and off the field.” “Bringing this recognition to the school for the first time makes me proud. I’m proud of my team, but not surprised. Not only do we push each other on the field, but in every way we can. This is our first recognition, but I promise it won’t be our H last,” said Aguirre.■

The Big West Conference has recently released the men and women’s basketball schedules for the upcoming 2020-21 season. The organization is taking all necessary steps in order to ensure the safety of all students, coaches and staff involved. Big West has proposed an altered form of scheduling in order to minimize the risk for all those involved. Over the course of 11 weeks, with one bye week included, teams will play against each other on consecutive days at the same location. The men and women’s teams will play the same teams at opposite venues. Most of the games have been scheduled to take place on a Friday or Saturday. As expected, no spectators will be allowed until further notice. Big West is wise in taking the first steps in resuming sports. With mostly all professional sports back in effect, Big West, along with other collegiate sports organizations, should feel safe enough to resume game-play. The precautions that they have taken demonstrates the importance they have placed in ensuring the safety and health of everyone, especially since they have stated that they considered all factors in resuming competition play. The decision from the Big West Conference could not have come at a better time for UCR Athletics. With the potential elimination of UCR Athletics from the UCR budget, the return of sports could change the mind of the Budget Advisory Committee. UCR Athletics has been in a state of constant improvement all across the board. With each team getting stronger and more efficient each year, every team will be able to make a statement on the court and show the school that they are here to stay. This is especially crucial for UCR as they continue to climb the ranks as a university nationally. The Highlanders’ basketball team’s first game will be against Long Beach on December 27. With new Head Coach Nicole Powell and new assistant coaches, the women’s basketball team has high hopes for the upcoming season. Similarly, the recent change in men’s basketball of the newly appointed head coach Mike Magpayo hopes to lead his team to victory alongside the assistant coaches. Despite the changes, the goal still remains the same: for our fellow studentathletes to win big on the court. Sports are very important, not only for the coaches and athletes, but for the many fans who enjoy the thrill of the game and seeing their school represented. Attending collegiate sporting events adds to the value of a student’s college experience and resuming gameplay, albeit in a way that is safe for both players and fans, is the best decision that Big West can make. This announcement has given new hopes and a light at the end of the H tunnel to many. ■

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS