The Highlander
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
For the week of Monday, December 7, 2020
VOL. 69, ISSUE 10
est. 1954
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NEWS
UCR issues winter quarter instruction update A TOTAL OF 50 COURSES HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION; NO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES THAT USE STANDARD CLASSROOMS OR LECTURE HALLS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY UCR. AMANI MAHMOUD Editor-in-Chief
On Nov. 30, UCR Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Thomas A. Smith provided a campus update on the status of the winter quarter. According to Smith, a total of 50 courses have been approved for in-person instruction with remote options for winter. This represents 2% to 3% of UCR’s overall course offerings. The approved courses that will meet indoors require specialized settings such as studios and laboratories. Other approved courses will meet outdoors or off-campus and are subject to the health and safety protocols of the host location. This includes courses that might meet outdoors for fieldwork or off-campus internship courses. All of these approved courses are consistent with state guidelines. Smith wrote that UCR will continue practicing the policy that was in place during the fall quarter. This means that individual study, thesis, practicum and similar ► SEE WINTER PAGE 4
WATKINS WILL BEGIN HER POSITION AT UCR IN MAY OF 2021 PENDING APPROVAL FROM UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESIDENT (UC) MICHAEL DRAKE. COURTESY OF BARBARA RIES VIA UCSF
NEWS
Elizabeth Watkins appointed as new UCR provost and executive vice chancellor
AMANI MAHMOUD Editor-in-Chief
UCR Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox has appointed Elizabeth Watkins as provost and executive vice chancellor, effective May 1, 2021. The appointment is pending approval from University of California (UC) President Michael Drake. Watkins currently serves as the dean of the graduate division, vice chancellor of student academic affairs and as a professor in the Department of Anthropology, Department of History and the Department of Social Medicine at UC San Francisco. Watkins’ research focuses on the interrelations of medicine, science, commerce and culture in the United States in the 20th to 21st centuries.
Watkins has published pieces on topics such as the history of prescription drugs, birth control, estrogen and female aging, testosterone, male aging, stress and disease. Watkins’ research has been funded by the Natural Science Foundation, the Natural Institute of Health, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Academy of Education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and her doctorate in the history of science, both at Harvard University. The provost and executive vice chancellor is responsible for managing the daily operations of the UCR campus, developing academic and administrative policies and working closely with the chancellor, the chair of the Academic Senate and the deans of UCR’s colleges,
schools and divisions to formulate and realize campus goals. The provost is also responsible for the academic enterprise and numerous organizations report directly to the office. The provost is in charge of initiatives and ongoing projects related to the academic enterprise, including strategic planning and current and upcoming projects related to students, faculty and campus planning. Former UCR Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Cynthia K. Larive left the position after being appointed by the UC Board of Regents as the 11th chancellor of UC Santa Cruz. She served as the provost and executive vice chancellor of UCR from 2017-20. ► SEE WATKINS PAGE 3
FEATURES
Scientific trailblazers: Celebrating UC’s Nobel Prize winners THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA HOSTS A VIRTUAL DISCUSSION IN HONOR OF FOUR NOBEL PRIZE RECIPIENTS TO DISCUSS THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY. COURTESY OF ELENA ZHUKOVA VIA UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
ALEXANDRIA ESTEBAN Assistant Features Editor
On Thursday, Dec. 3, the University of California (UC) held a virtual discussion titled, “In Conversation: UC’s 2020 Nobel Prize Winners on Changing the World Through Scientific Discovery,” in honor of four individuals who have been recognized by the Nobel Prize committee for their accomplishments in their fields of study. The recipients were
Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D. at UC Berkeley, Reinhard Genzel, Ph.D. at UC Berkeley, Andrea Ghez, Ph.D. at UCLA and Charles Rice Ph.D., a graduate from UC Davis. The event ran from 1 p.m to 2 p.m and featured a Q&A with each of the Nobel Prize recipients. The discussion was introduced by John A. Pérez, the current chair of the board of regents and was moderated by Michael Drake, the president of the UC. Unfortunately, one of the
Nobel Prize recipients, Genzel, was unable to attend the event, but he left a message with Pérez expressing his “deepest gratitude” toward the University of California and the Nobel committee for their recognition of his work. Throughout the discussion, the three recipients who were able to attend the event shared stories about their experiences in their field and on receiving a Nobel ► SEE NOBEL PAGE 8
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Upcoming Events: Week 10
CALLEE HEAGNEY| ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE | THIRDYEAR COMPILED BY THE HIGHLANDER STAFF
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Monday
8
Holiday Cookie Decorating 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Virtual Event
Eliminating Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Virtual Event
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Cooking with Chef Val 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Virtual Event
How Gender Stereotypes Oppress Queer People with Alexis Ungerer, PhD 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Virtual Event
Tuesday
Wednesday
“Not a lot of people know of my Iñupait background and the struggle behind discovering this identity. My mom was adopted and therefore never registered with a tribe and only within the
Fall Feedback Listening Tour with Dr. Brown 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Virtual Event
Access Microbiomes in a Unprecedented Scale 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Virtual Event
10
Abs & Glutes 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. Virtual Event
California Poverty During COVID-19 11 a.m. Virtual Event
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Holiday Bingo 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Virtual Event
CEPCEB Noel T. Keen Distinguished Lecture and Awards Ceremony 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Virtual Event
Thursday
last few years have we connected with biological family and began the registration process for my mom, sister and I. For years, I knew that I was some sort of Alaskan Native but was never able to pinpoint my family’s origin and even now, it’s still a process to become a part of the community. But I’m grateful for my mom and
Friday
her willingness to preserve despite the lack of identity even after all these years.
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Saturday
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UCR Theatre Auditions: She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms, a play by Qui Nguyen 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Virtual Event
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NEWS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020
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► FROM WATKINS
RYAN POON/ THE HIGHLANDER
She began her position as the UC Santa Cruz chancellor on July 1, 2020. A national search for a permanent replacement began in fall 2019. In June of 2019, Graduate School of Education Dean Thomas M. Smith was appointed interim provost and executive vice chancellor. In a campus communication, Watkins stated, “I am excited about the opportunity to champion the education of first generation to college and historically underrepresented students ... I am also keen to help develop and implement innovative programs to build on the UCR faculty’s existing foundation of nationally and internationally recognized scholarship to grow into a research powerhouse and to encourage and support external funding for scholars in all disciplines.”■ H
ASUCR
ASUCR passes senate resolutions in favor of providing relief for students during online classes LAURA ANAYA-MORGA News Editor
On Wednesday, Dec. 2, ASUCR held their last State of the Association (SOTA) meeting of the quarter and unanimously passed seven pieces of legislation regarding Greek life, providing resources to students while classes are online and amending the ASUCR constitution. The meeting started with SR-F20006 ASUCR Stands in Solidarity Against Sexual Violence Recognizing its Prevalence within Greek Life Communities which was authored by members of the office of Campus Internal Affairs along with SPP Senator Nava Majlessi. The senate resolution was authored in light of a recent Twitter thread created by UCR Alumna Erin Spate, in which survivors shared personal anecdotes of their experiences, many of them referring to UCR Greek life. The resolution stated that while ASUCR recognizes that not all Greek life members promote a culture of sexism, research has shown that fraternity men are three times more likely to commit acts of sexual assault than other college men, and women in sororities are 74% more likely to experience rape than other college women. The senate resolution also addressed a statement published on the Interfraternity Council (IFC) of UCR’s Instagram page which stated that systemic changes would be implemented in the organization and another by the UCR Panhellenic Association that sexual violence training would be implemented for the 2020-2021 school year. Not all recognized Greek life chapters, however, have implemented such training, according to the senate resolution. With the approval of SR-F20-006, ASUCR declared their support to include mandatory sexual assualt and consent training for Greek life, encourage Greek life chapters to become active participants of Campus Advocacy, Resources &
ASUCR PASSES SEVEN PIECES OF LEGISLATION AT THE LAST STATE OF THE ASSOCIATION MEETING OF THE QUARTER.
Education’s (CARE) Brothers & Sisters Against Violence program, as well as support survivors of sexual violence by “committing itself to fully endorsing its solidarity against sexual violence on campus, and specifically within Greek life communities.” Majlesi stated that they were unable to get IFC and the UCR Panhellenic Association to sign off on the resolution, as their email inquiries were left unanswered but are choosing to move forward with it otherwise. SR-F20-008 Proposition to Make Live Participation and Attendance NonMandatory, authored by CNAS Senator Barry Liu, CHASS Senator Mufida Assaf and CNAS Senator Lina Nguy, outlined their proposition to make live participation and attendance optional for online classes amidst the virtual winter quarter coming up, mainly to assist international students living in different time zones. The resolution states that students may be hindered by attending their classes due to “familial obligations, work obligations, mental and physical health and disabilities.” The resolution aims to have all professors adhere to providing alternative ways for students to receive participation credit, whether that be through supplemental assignments or extra credit opportunities and to provide at least a 24-hour window for students to take final examinations. With the approval of SR-F20-008, ASUCR will present the resolution to the Academic Senate and get in contact with the dean of each college to further discuss this policy. They will also work with the campus Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) to discuss best practices when it comes to their individual teaching and learning styles. SR-F20-009 Proposition to Mandate Syllabus Resources was presented by CNAS Senator Akanksha Sancheti and it acknowledged that students with disabilities have experienced more COVID-19 related adversities than
THIS PHOTO IS FROM A PAST YEAR’S ASUCR MEETING PRIOR TO THE CAMPUS CLOSURE.
their peers without disabilities or health concerns, according to a study conducted by Cornell University and the University of Washington. SR-F20-009 intends to advocate for a statement to be included in every professor’s course syllabus that includes resources for students such as the SDRC, and UCR’s 24/7 COVID Wellness Hotline. The senate also approved three senate bills starting with SB-F20-012 General Updates to Chapter X Executive Vice President to amend Chapter 10 in the ASUCR Constitution and clarify general updates regarding the Executive Vice President’s position. The senate bill changes the responsibility for the Executive Vice President to publicize ASUCR Senate Meetings from the previous 24 hours to 48 hours in advance, to hold three quarterly individual meetings with senators and to sit on one campus-wide committee. SB-F20-013 Amendment to Include Two Additional Positions under the VP of Finance Office was presented by Vice President of Finance William Wang and it includes the implementation of his office’s event coordinator and social media manager positions. The bill outlines the duties and responsibilities of each new position as his office tries to expand their outreach to students and provide educational events surrounding financial literacy, stated Wang. Finally, SB-F20-014 Removal of Chapter 38 and Amendments to Chapter
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16 intended to update a chapter regarding the Transfer Non-traditional student taskforce in the ASUCR Constitution that had not been updated since 2015. During Officer Reports, ASUCR President Luis Huerta, VP of Campus Internal Affairs Angelica Garcia, VP of Finance William Wang, VP of External Affairs Vincent Rasso and Personnel Director Sean Nguyen gave updates on the status of their respective offices in terms of meetings that they have and their plans for the upcoming winter quarter. Rasso stated that his office is currently working with all nine UC undergraduate campuses to prepare four statewide campaigns advocating for critical issues. Fund the UC centers around doubling the federal funding for the Pell Grant and expanding eligibility for undocumented students to recieve financial aid. Racial Justice Now is focused on defunding the UCPD and reinvesting that funding into students. ACQUIRE intends to secure an equitable COVID-19 response on campus. UCweVOTE is intended to build campus vote coalitions across the state. Before the end of the meeting, Elections Director Lama Yassin announced that her team is currently planning for the upcoming ASUCR Elections in spring and they are searching for ways to engage with students through surveys, social media and through town halls they are planning for the winter quarter. The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 H p.m.■
4 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020
NEWS
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► FROM WINTER
by their instructors with more information if their course has plans to teach in-person. The schedule of classes will continue to be updated and the university will notify the campus via email if they must make further changes to their instructional plan for winter. Smith had two specific requests for winter quarter instructors. He asked that they please consider increasing the enrollment limits in their remote courses, where possible, to help students make timely progress toward their degrees. He also asked that they incorporate student learning outcomes into their syllabi and link those outcomes to the lectures, readings, homework and labs that students complete as part of their coursework. Smith believes that doing so is a best practice across institutions of higher education and creates a roadmap for students to meet faculty expectations and for faculty to assess learning effectiveness. “Especially for remote teaching, this helps to reduce potential confusion between students and faculty. For guidance, faculty can use this How-To Document on the assessment website, H or visit XCITE for help,” stated Smith.■
one-on-one unit-bearing activities may occur inperson without a remote option if the instructor determines that a remote format is not feasible. International students whose visa status requires registering for at least one class with mandatory inperson participation have to enroll in one of these classes. Smith wrote that “New international students should consult with the International Affairs Office and their program advisors on the requirements. A small number of courses in the School of Medicine also will meet in-person without remote options.” According to Smith, no in-person instruction activities that use standard classrooms or lecture halls have been approved by UCR. Instructors for all lectures, discussions, colloquia, seminars, workshops and other similar course types should plan to teach remotely for winter quarter. As the campus remains in phase two operations, undergraduate research must be conducted remotely in winter. Instructors can find more information on the delivery modes for specific courses in the schedule of classes. Students should expect to be contacted
RYAN POON / THE HIGHLANDER
NEWS IN BRIEF: Technical difficulties cause University of California to extend fall 2021 application deadline DUE TO A WEBSITE OUTAGE, THE UC SYSTEM GRANTS POTENTIAL STUDENTS A FOUR DAY APPLICATION EXTENSION.
DAVINA GARCIA Assistant News Editor
The University of California extended the deadline for incoming applications after the website experienced technical difficulties on Sunday, Nov. 29, the day before all applications were due. The outage issues were reportedly caused by an increase in traffic on the database server due to the excess number of students accessing the site. In the interest of fairness for student applicants and reducing workload for the database site, the application due date was moved to Friday, Dec. 4. Emily Engelschall, director of Undergraduate Admissions and interim associate vice chancellor of Enrollment Services, spoke to The Highlander about the current admissions process. She stated that the deadline extension has changed applicant behavior, especially as it relates to submission times. Considering other external factors, like the removal of the SAT/ COURTESY OF PEXELS
ACT requirement as well as the far-reaching impact of COVID-19, Engelschall affirmed that the Undergraduate Admissions office is having a difficult time predicting what the final application count will be. Though, she added that as of two days before the official deadline, UCR has approximately 75% of the applications they had been expecting to receive. In thinking about potential students and their worries, Engelschall admitted that the near and far future might seem a bit bleak at the moment. “I understand that there is much uncertainty regarding what the world and region will look like in the future, especially as far into the future as next fall,” she stated. However, Engelschall urged prospective students to not shut the door on attending college in the future and to consider the many benefits of applying to H and attending UCR.■
THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news
DAVINA GARCIA Assistant News Editor
NEWS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020
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UCR takes part in growing California plant portal
Along with 18 other herbaria across California and a few from outside the state, the UCR herbarium is now part of the California Phenology Thematic Collections Network, a project that is dedicated to growing a collective, statewide “plant portal.” This portal consists of a database with imaging and information regarding native California plants, detailing where they grow, what other plants grow with them, when they flower and more. Each participating institution submits and includes digitized data about plant collections from their own work, as one part of this project’s aim is to make data about native California plants readily accessible for researchers, scientists and the public. Though ultimately, according to Amy Litt, director of the UCR herbarium, the goal is to allow people to study how these plants and their growth habits may be changing over time due to climate changes in local climatic conditions. In an interview with The Highlander, Andrew Sanders, herbarium curator and project manager, stated that part of the reason that the UCR herbarium was asked to participate in this endeavor is due to the sheer extensiveness of the university’s collection. The university’s herbarium is known to have one of the largest stores of Californian plants in the world and is reportedly highly regarded. “UCR has c.180k CA specimens and so is a fairly representative collection for the state as a whole, and particularly strong for the southern part of the state,” Sanders confirmed. When discussing progress, Sanders stated that UCR has finished with the basic databasing of their collection, meaning that all labeled information has been inputted into a searchable database. Their staff is now focused on capturing digital images of all university plant specimens. Considering the boundaries of the school’s $750,000 grant, Sanders affirmed that their end target is set to recording 100,000 specimens, half of which have already been documented by
the team. Litt went on to praise the efficient and dedicated work of the herbarium staff, reiterating the significance of this project for not only California, but also the world. “Being able to determine how plants are responding to climate change is important for plant and habitat conservation,” she stated, “which means also important for all the animals that depend on the plants.” Litt emphasized that there must be an understanding of how climate change is affecting plant life in order to devise better plans and strategies to counter the effects. However, Litt also added that climate change is only the tip of the iceberg. With the massive amount of data that is being collected by UCR and other institutions through this project, there are many other related questions that can be answered regarding plant diversity, evolution, physiology, ecology and more. “It will create a truly unparalleled resource for H understanding plants,” she concluded. ■
THE UCR HERBARIUM IS PARTICIPATING IN A PROJECT THAT WILL HELP STUDIES ON HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS IMPACTING CALIFORNIA FLORA.
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Opinions
6 MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020
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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL
America needs to stop fearing the rich and instead make them work for us
THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND HOLD THE TOP 1% ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE REDISTRIBUTION OF THEIR WEALTH.
A
lthough millions of people are out of jobs and without relief because of the pandemic, billionaires have still managed to get richer. This problem has gone on for far too long, and without proper government regulation, wealth inequality will only worsen. Too many working class citizens are slipping into poverty while individuals, such as Jeff Bezos, amass wealth to the point that they can end world hunger twice over. No sole person should have that much money and get away with it. Billionaires need to be held accountable when it comes to redistributing their wealth, and the solution lies within government regulation on donations and taxes. Trusting the rich to hold themselves accountable to redistribute wealth is useless without the government stepping in. The top 1% is too greedy for the general public to trust that they will be responsible without regulation imposed on them. Most importantly, big corporate CEOs should not be accumulating massive amounts of wealth while their employees suffer during the pandemic. Corporate giants such as Amazon have gone unchecked, and their employees are paying the price while CEO Jeff Bezos is on track to become a trillionaire at the expense of their labor. Because of this, it has become increasingly important that corporations and their billionaire leaders have strict regulations imposed on them so that they give back to society in a more positive way instead of contributing crumbs. Of course, there is often the proposed solution of putting a cap on how much these billionaires make; however, there is no substantial justification for an individual to stop making money even with a limit. The rich would surely fight back and say that their rights are being
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violated. Nevertheless, they cannot remain safe from government regulation. Billionaires have had it too easy when it comes to distributing their wealth in a way that is barely effective. For instance, most of them attempt to donate to charities so that they can escape paying higher taxes. All of this takes place while everyday people struggle to put food on the table and try to keep up with the same taxes they do not have the luxury to avoid. Although some people may see charitable donations as adequate redistribution of wealth, realistically, it is still not enough. Billionaires and mega-philanthropists are trying to cheat the tax system, which ultimately hurts the rest of the nation. Without their tax money, important community necessities, such as education and infrastructure, remain greatly underfunded, which only widens the gap between the rich and poor. If billionaires do not take on the responsibility of redistributing the wealth they accumulate, people in struggling communities will never be able to break out of poverty. There is simply no reason that one person should amass most of the nation’s wealth and hoard it for themselves. At that point, it is truly sinister to knowingly withhold that much wealth when they have the power to address issues such as homelessness and food insecurity. There needs to be real consequences for the top 1% because they are living in a completely different reality than the rest of the nation. It is not ethical to have hard working people decide between putting food on the table or paying rent when billionaires have the power to remedy this issue and still have money left over. In order for effective regulation to be imposed on the top 1%, the government needs to play a stronger role in making sure their wealth trickles back into society for the greater good.
Primarily, the government and general public need to stop having the fear of upsetting the rich and realize how much power they have in making them submit to the needs of their workers. The country needs to be more extreme and passionate about raising taxes for the wealthy. First and foremost, there should not be loopholes for the wealthy to utilize so that they do not have to pay as much taxes as everyone else. Donations are supposed to be selfless acts to help society and not huge tax write-offs. Therefore, taxation for the rich needs to be unavoidable, and donations need to be ignored. Although it is impossible for wealth inequality to completely disappear under a capitalist system, solutions can still be imposed, such as taxes being substantially raised for the wealthy. Otherwise, it would be completely irresponsible on the government’s part to allow these people to have so much wealth and influence over the country. The irrational fear of the rich needs to dissipate if we are to ever completely hold them accountable and make them pay their fair share. No matter what, billionaires today should not be getting richer while the everyday person suffers, especially during a global pandemic. In order to address the growing issue of inequity and wealth inequality, the government needs to step in and regulate the top 1%. The rich do not deserve a free pass with taxation, and we need to stop making them feel like they have the freedom to live luxurious lifestyles at the expense H of the working class.■
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
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020
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It’s time to let Black Friday fade into the darkness THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC MEANT THAT AMERICA’S FAVORITE CONSUMER HOLIDAY WAS CANCELED. LET’S USE THIS AS A CHANCE TO LET THE TRADITION DIE. EVELYN HOMAN Assistant Opinions Editor
Black Friday has been the terrifying celebration of ravenous American consumerism for the last few decades. The day after Thanksgiving has become almost synonymous with the beginning of the Christmas season, usually featuring extremely low prices and extreme violence. But this year, thanks to physical distancing restrictions required by the global pandemic, employees everywhere were able to heave a sigh of relief as Black Friday was pushed almost completely online. There was no pushing, killing or media coverage of soccer moms going feral in order to purchase a PS5. With all the positives that could come from following this same setup in the following years, we as Americans need to let this consumerist tradition evolve past its days of caveman violence. If you’re anything like me, you turn on the TV on Black Friday each year, watch a few minutes of people swarming shelves and punching one another and then go
outside feeling grateful that you’re not one of those people. The violence that has become commonplace on Black Fridays is truly disgusting, oftentimes resulting in deaths of employees or customers by trampling. If we continue on with Black Friday deals being fully online even once the pandemic is over, then we can prevent the senseless casualties that the holiday often comes with. Employees will be safer, customers will be safer and stores won’t have to deal with the liability that comes with a customer dying on the premises. Keeping Black Friday sales online makes all the more sense anyway, given the extension of sales into “Cyber Monday.” Additionally, having deals up all weekend digitally means that people will stay out of stores, hopefully compelling consumers to take advantage of deals from the comfort of their own homes when it is most convenient for them. Fortunately for the consumer, shopping online not only means that they would be able to avoid senseless violence, but also that they’d avoid the low-quality products being promoted in place of the more expensive, real products sold during the rest of the year. It has come to light in recent years that some of the items that are sold on Black Friday deals are poorly made and are not the models that consumers are actually paying for. There
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has not been quite as much coverage on this as there should be, as this is essentially a scam being run by big businesses by promising a normally expensive item for a lower price and then giving a knockoff item in its place. The way to solve this would be either holding these businesses accountable for their scam tactics or simply letting reasonably low prices on legitimate products last for the course of the buying season to prevent consumers from being swindled. Lastly, it would be best if Black Friday went wholly online or faded into something completely different to help benefit the employees of the stores people shop at. Workers are often called in on Thanksgiving to prepare for late-night sales and are overworked when most other people get the day off, especially if they are low-wage workers. These individuals are just as at risk, if not more so, of being hurt because of the mobs of people who come in to shop. Considering
Celebrities need to stop invalidating the political process of America
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MADISON RHEINS Opinions Editor
THERE NEEDS TO BE STRONGER PARAMETERS FOR CELEBRITIES WHO WANT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE INTEGRITY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
By the end of the 2020 presidential election, Kanye West managed to pull 60,000 votes with only four months of campaigning under his belt. These votes were stolen from real politicians just as they were stolen in 2016 by Donald Trump — with his only qualification being the fact that he was a celebrity. In like fashion, Kanye West ran for president on the grounds that he is a household name and therefore holds some influence over the general public. If America continues to enable fanatical celebrities such as Kanye West to run for president without any test for real qualifications, the nation will suffer greatly and become the laughing stock of the world. While it is a positive thing that celebrities have been more vocal with their platforms on political issues, they should still be barred from running for office
if they have no credentials that would make them fit for politics. The presidency should not be something millionaires get to check off their bucket list just because they have the means to campaign. Celebrities like Kanye West do not quite understand the weight of the position they carelessly run for. After all, the president is in charge of running a nation that is increasingly more diverse with millions of communities having different needs, and these are issues that celebrities will never completely understand without extensive political knowledge. Above all, stealing government positions from individuals who devote their lives to politics would be robbing the American people of strong leadership. Kanye West and other celebrities with the same temperament have followers who revere them as gods and therefore believe they have the makings of a strong president. However, while these public
that Black Friday is not regarded as a national holiday, and thus doesn’t qualify for holiday pay, workers are not getting paid nearly enough to be putting their lives at risk so people can get cheaper goods. In the name of the workers more than anyone else, we need to take their safety into account and abolish Black Friday as we know it. Though it does not seem like the Christmas season without knocking out someone’s grandmother over a gaming console, we would be wise as a consumerist culture to re-evaluate how we run Black Fridays going forward. We should follow what happened this year, thanks to physical distancing guidelines, and rework the Black Friday system so that it is either taken completely online or dismantled altogether. The end result would be a much less stressful holiday season for all involved and help quell parts of the rampant greed that has plagued this H country for too long. ■
figures boast change and promise progress with flashy campaign theatrics, they are all bark and no bite. For instance, during his campaign, Kanye West spoon fed impressionable voters the promise that he would fight for the everyday person and address important issues, but at the end of the day, he is still a millionaire who will never experience the struggles of the working class American. Likewise, people make the mistake of electing celebrities into office thinking that it will somehow be different than past administrations, but this is how narcissists like Donald Trump get elected into office. In fact, Kanye West never even voted until 2020, and he also did not follow protocol by recording himself, so it would be ridiculous for Americans to put all of their trust into someone who has cared so little about the political process until it pertained to him. These celebrities only care about image and putting on a show but are otherwise unprepared to take on the real responsibility of addressing important issues, as we have seen during the Trump administration. Of course, we cannot completely strip people of the right to run for office, but for the integrity of American politics, we need to at least implement a vetting process in order to keep people from running on unsubstantiated grounds. Donald
Trump’s undeserved victory in 2016 and Kanye West’s repeated threats to run for president are evidence enough that a vetting process is extremely necessary. There should be extensive background checks for candidates in order to see if they have any experience in addressing important issues going on in American politics, such as wealth inequality, international affairs or climate change. Besides, with a vetting process in place, we can look out for America’s best interests so that we do not vote a lunatic into office once again. Additionally, it will prevent people like Kanye West, who have a neverending amount of wealth, from campaigning over and over again if they do not reach the criteria of said vetting process. If there were stronger parameters required of celebrities to follow, we’d have more qualified candidates running for office. Some form of integrity would be brought back to the political process, and the country can move forward with stronger leadership instead of wasting time taking steps backward with someone unqualified. America deserves to have real politicians with the ability to make real changes instead of narcissistic celebrities who think they are the main character in their own movie and treat American politics like a H Hollywood fantasy. ■
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Features MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020
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Prize. Viewers were welcomed to send in their questions prior to the event, but the Zoom chat was disabled. Doudna was 1 out of 7 women to win a Nobel Prize in chemistry. She won the Nobel Prize for her work in genome editing, or the altering of genes within living organisms. Her knowledge of genetics even led her to work alongside Rice. Together, they worked toward understanding the influence of RNA on Hepatitis C. When asked for her advice to women seeking a career in the scientific field, she encouraged them to “go for it” and to “follow your passion.” Growing up, she says she was fortunate to have a father who supported her interests in math and science. She advised future scientists to “look for people who will
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support you.” Ghez was 1 out of 4 women to win a Nobel Prize in physics for her research on black holes, a project that she has been working on for 25 years. When asked what her advice would be for inspiring scientists, she said, “I encourage young scientists to take the risk” and “to have a project that you really believe in.” In her experience, there were times when she was denied the funds and support for her studies, but she pushed through and found a way to continue the research she was passionate about. Rice is a virologist who was awarded a Nobel Prize in physiology. He was 1 of 3 recipients who were recognized by the Nobel committee for their discovery and research of Hepatitis C. His work helped others reach an understanding of the virus which, coincidentally, is similar to yellow
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fever and led him to do some research on that virus as well. Rice stated that “supporting curiosity driven research is so important” and “we need to fund people who still have a passion for discovery.” Each of these scientists were surprised when they learned that they would be receiving a Nobel Prize in their field, especially since the call announcing their achievement came in the middle of the night. They dedicated their lives to their studies and were honored by the recognition they received from the Nobel committee. While traditionally the Nobel laureates attend a ceremony in Stockholm and Oslo, this year the medals were brought to each recipient. Events, such as Nobel lectures, were open to be streamed by the public. This event was enlightening and hopefully H encouraged others to pursue their passions fully. ■
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The silver lining of 2020: Inciting introspection and growing new friendships CAMUS COPE IS A COLUMN UNDER FEATURES THAT AIMS TO HELP STUDENTS WITH A MYRIAD OF TOPICS.
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ADRIANA MANDUJANO ANGEL Features Editor
Around this time last year, I remember studying at Rivera and being hopeful for the new year. I thought that 2020 would be my year. I would be turning 21, starting my senior year of college and with it the seemingly last phase of freedom before journeying into the real world. Looking back at my New Year’s resolutions from last year, I felt defeated. Everything I had wished to accomplish or experience was not possible. Now with the new year quickly approaching, the thought of making a New Year’s resolution weighs heavy. If 2020 taught me anything, it was to expect the unexpected. For a while now on social media, people would post new contenders for the month that could make 2020 worse: from COVID-19 cases spiking further, to aliens to killer wasps. Amongst everything, 2020 saw it all. While it may have seemed like fun and games, this method of using humor to cope with the stressfulness of 2020 truly did help me. With everyone being stuck at home, most of us congregated on social media sites, such as Twitter and TikTok. I personally feel that without the humor stemming from my peers on social media apps, quarantining would have been so much more lonely. Along with expecting the unexpected, 2020 taught me to cherish friendships. I’ve met so many new friends in 2020 through various different online platforms. When I wasn’t working, I spent most of my time on my PS4 playing Final Fantasy XIV, a massive multiplayer online role playing game. That game is where I met many amazing and wonderful people who I can call friends. We’ve studied together, had tons of movie nights and done in-game activities. Along with making online friends, I was able to befriend coworkers. Despite 2020 being a terrible year, the silver lining for me is the fact that I truly cherish friendships more than before. After a lot of thought I decided my first New Year’s resolution for 2021 was to show my appreciation for friends who appreciate me back. It might seem like a resolution that should already exist or something that’s
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ICTION
FEATURES FICTION IS A COLUMN SHOWCASING CREATIVE WORK FROM STUDENTS, RANGING FROM POETRY TO SHORT STORIES.
common sense, but 2020 also taught me that sometimes the people you regard highly don’t appreciate you in the same way. Unfortunately, during my time at UCR, I had one best friend who betrayed my trust and disrespected me to the point of no return. Part of this was my fault, as I chose to ignore all of her problematic behavior and snippy comments, but in 2020, I found out about her true colors and am grateful to not have her in my life because I can now focus on friendships that truly matter. My second New Year’s resolution: Stand up for myself. Growing up, I let my family talk down to me out of fear of being yelled at for speaking up. This is something that followed me into adulthood with significant others and friendships. I let a relationship go on for so long while knowing it was unhealthy. I let the person that I thought was my best friend say and do hurtful things to me. I wasn’t strong enough to stand up for myself. Although I am still not strong enough, I know that by continuing to stand up for myself, even with little things, I can become strong. My third New Year’s resolution: to manifest good health for everyone. A resolution that has always been on my list is wishing health and happiness for everyone. Recently I have become knowledgeable in the powers of manifesting and spirituality in order to attain goals. Whether that be from career goals to manifesting good days it is something that I will practice more and use it to manifest for everyone I know to maintain good health in 2021. The global pandemic, however, has brought on a new meaning to this resolution with many people passing away from the virus or being seriously ill from it. I am manifesting for everyone, including you, to be healthy this new year. Although my three resolutions might not seem like much, each of them hold great significance in my life, and I hope to be able to accomplish them as best as I can: to stay healthy, cherish friendships and become a stronger person overall. We’ve all gone through so much this year, H and I hope 2021 is nicer to us all. ■
Rose
Katie Polanco, Contributing Writer Days like today, I see myself as a rose. Soft petals, red thorns. If I let myself be picked, I hope I am treated well. I wouldn’t want to change A thing about me. If I am picked apart, Changed to be like other roses, I would lose my beauty.
If you pick off my flawed petals, I will wither in your hands. Take away my thorns, And I lose my protection. If I am to be yours, Never change a thing about me. I don’t want to be like other roses. H Let me be me. ■
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Radar
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020
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Slasher fans are tired of the reboots and retcons of their beloved franchises
ROBERT GOLD Contributing Writer
The secret to the success of the “Saw” franchise is that its filmmakers have never done a reboot. Even when all the major franchises from “Star Wars” to “X-Men” to “Terminator” have retconned their own previous films and overridden them with sequels, reboots and contradictions that destroy previously established rules of their universe, “Saw” continues to world-build in a concise and consistent manner. Even when original “Saw” co-creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell stepped away from the franchise in 2006 after completing a trilogy, killing off most of their main characters in the process, “Saw IV”’s screenwriters Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan worked within the perimeters set for them by “Saw”’s original creators. These iconic slasher villains are some of the most beloved and the most reviled people in America. The fans adore them because they explore our dark fantasies of illrepute. Slasher films are not a glorification of violence, they are an exploration into human depravity, a necessary exfoliation of our inner demons. But even the most loyal and adoring slasher fans get tired of the constant retcons. “The Nightmare on Elm Street” films have continuously rewritten Freddy’s backstory again and again and again. In 1994, “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare” skewed away from the continuity of the previous films. In this box office dud, Freddy is a fictional movie villain who comes into the real world to terrorize the cast and crew of the Freddy films. The 2010 remake made huge changes to Wes Craven’s original 1984 movie, making Freddy a child molester as opposed to the 1984 film in which Freddy was a child killer. “The Child’s Play” franchise has jumped from genre to genre with each new installment. While the original 1988 film can arguably be considered a psychological thriller, its two sequels “Child’s Play II” (1990) and “Child’s Play III” (1991), went for a straightforward slasher theme. The
‘SAW’ HAS NEVER ABANDONED ITS CONTINUITY AS EACH SEQUEL INTERCONNECTS WITH THE LAST.
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subsequent sequels, “Bride of Chucky” (1998) and “Seed of Chucky” (2004), building upon the small elements of dark humor from the previous films, decided to expand upon that, making Chucky satirical and campy, reminiscent of horror comedies like “Gremlins” and “Ash v. the Evil Dead.” “Saw” has continuously repeated its formula with each new installment. “Saw” is about people trapped in a torture chamber as police detectives attempt to track down the elusive Jigsaw Killer. The Chucky films are no longer about innocent children and their serial killer dolls. Freddy has strayed away from being a demon killing teenagers in their sleep, and other classic horror and villain slasher franchises
like “Leprechaun” are no longer simply about murderous leprechauns trying to get their gold back. In response to this betrayal, the fans of Chucky and “Leprechaun” have not come out to support these franchises the way they once did, as the recent Chucky and “Leprechaun” sequels have all been released direct-to-video. While comparatively, franchises like “Halloween,” “Friday the 13th” and the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” have remained successful and vibrant franchises because they have stayed true to concept and never strayed away from their formula that’s made the original films successful and classics that has stood the test of time. The upcoming sequel in the “Saw” franchise, “Spiral: From the Book of Saw” was the work of an unlikely brainchild. In 2017, comedian Chris Rock approached the head of Lionsgate at a friend’s wedding and pitched a concept that would extend the franchise. Lionsgate CEO Joe Drake publicly stated that Rock’s ideas were “completely reverential to the legacy of the material while reinvigorating the brand with his wit, creative vision and passion.” The film will star Rock alongside Samuel L. Jackson, while Darren Lynnn Bousman, the director “Saw II,” “III” and “IV” has returned to direct this ninth installment in the Saw franchise. Chris Rock’s “Saw” sequel will only be successful if it brings back some characters, plot lines or mythology from the previous films. Something that lets the fans know that this is still a “Saw” sequel and not just a retcon or reboot of their beloved franchise. What tethers these films together is their continuity. “Saw” fans want to be rewarded for their dedication and loyalty to the franchise. Slasher films are an important sub genre in the world of horror. For those who enjoy a psychological thriller filled with blood and gore but find themselves squeamish at the idea of being genuinely scared, slasher is the perfect genre for this subsection of the American population. They are necessary to the cultural lexicon, filling a much desired H void that would otherwise be left empty and unfulfilled.■
‘Happiest Season’ showcases challenges in the LGBTQ community in this lighthearted, yet flawed rom-com ‘HAPPIEST SEASON’ FOSTERS LGBTQ REPRESENTATION AS WE WITNESS A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP.
JASHANPREET MALHI Contributing Writer
It’s finally December, and there’s no better way to embrace the holiday spirit than by curling up with a good ol’ Hallmark movie. With more shows focusing on LGBTQ representation such as “Love, Victor” and “Schitt’s creek,” Hulu adds “Happiest Season” to the list. But if you’re looking for a fun Christmas movie, you might be disappointed. Although the movie sheds light on a social issue and possesses stellar performances, its poor plot execution disinvolves the audience. “Happiest Season” follows Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis) who are in a longterm relationship. Ever since her parents passed away, Christmas isn’t the same for Abby, but she reluctantly agrees when Harper invites her home for the holidays. But there’s one problem: Harper hasn’t come out yet, fearing it will hurt her family’s image in the midst of her father’s mayoral campaign. So throughout the film, Abby is known as Harper’s roommate as she conceals her true identity and is treated like an outsider. The acting in the film is executed brilliantly by each cast member. Harper’s parents (Victor Garber and Mary Steenburgen) really capture their conservative nature and high expectations through their professional clothing, extreme attention to detail and disappointed expressions when their values are ignored. With regards to the protagonist, Stewart delivers her lines with a touch of innocence and is very soft-spoken, which shows Abby’s kind personality. Stewart’s character is shy, just how one would feel if they were spending the holiday with strangers.
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While Abby is likable, Harper is the exact opposite. She is oblivious as to how her actions impact Abby and is locked in another world where Abby is nonexistent. In doing so, Davis does an incredible job at making herself the “villain” of the story by utilizing angry facial features and expressing carelessness when her and Abby’s relationship is brought up. The audience roots and sympathizes for Abby after witnessing the way she is treated. Apart from the protagonists, the supporting cast includes actors in the LGBTQ community, such as Daniel Levy (Abby’s best friend, John) and Aubrey Plaza (Harper’s ex-girlfriend, Riley). This not only adds an authentic touch to the film but also displays it as pushing for LGBTQ inclusivity. The cast radiates with enthusiasm and works well together in a lighthearted atmosphere. Although the performances are great, they don’t redeem the terrible plot. The storyline is very rushed towards the end as Harper is essentially forced to come out, so the audience doesn’t witness her authentic experience. Moreover, the plot significantly lacks development as it doesn’t progress Abby and Harper’s relationship and the consequences of Abby being trapped to Harper’s toxic whims. Instead, they have an on and off relationship that makes the film quite boring. The plot also goes off on another tangent as it explores Abby’s relationship with Riley and jumps back and forth between Abby spending time with Harper and Riley. This distracts the audience because it builds potential for the two characters, as Riley is more considerate than Harper, but ultimately abandons their chemistry altogether when Abby gets back together
with Harper. For being a rom-com, “Happiest Season” is far from funny. For example, Abby is often referred to as an orphan throughout the film so much so that in one scene, Abby introduces herself as one. It’s a feeble attempt at presenting humor that instead comes across as inconsiderate and rude. The only humor you will find is from John, who has a good number of funny lines throughout the film. “Happiest Season” showcases the challenges and judgments that may arise when LGBTQ individulas come out. The audience is powerfully impacted as we receive a glimpse into how they may conceal their true identity out of fear of others’ opinions. We see Harper as the golden child who will do anything to remain the perfect daughter in her parents’ eyes, hence her deteriorating relationship with Abby. In doing so, the film calls to attention the stress and fear of disappointment some LGBTQ individuals may encounter for simply being themselves. The downside is that the film focuses on a toxic relationship, almost suggesting that this is fine as long as one comes out. “Happiest Season” has a good concept, but it is poorly executed with a rushed plot that lacks development. Despite the remarkable acting and traces of humor, the plot distracts from enjoying this holiday film. It does a fairly good job at representing the LGBTQ community but H adds a toxic aspect to it. ■
Verdict:
Though it has outstanding performances, “Happiest Season” is not the best but is a decent holiday watch. The plot is in shambles and disengages the audience, but it still manages to highlight a societal issue.
Sports 10
SPORTS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020
THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports
basketball Head Coach Sports Men’s Mike Magpayo Spotlight:
HIS JOURNEY FROM REAL ESTATE TO DIVISION I COACHING.
KEVIN CONTRERAS Assistant Sports Editor
COURTESY OF UCR NEWS
Coach Mike Magpayo is the head coach for the UCR men’s basketball team. Hailing from Hacienda Heights, he was named the head coach on July 1 of this year and has already been making history as the first Asian American head coach to win a Division I game. Basketball is nothing new to Magpayo, but the road to becoming a head coach for a Division I team has been a long one. In 2001, Magpayo graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in business economics. Coaching is nothing new to Mike Magpayo. From 2001-10, he was the head basketball coach for the Southern California High School basketball team. Before entering the world of collegiate basketball, Magpayo ventured into different businesses, each of which brought him great success. He was the CEO of a multimillion-dollar real estate company in Southern California. Though Magpayo was fortunate enough to find success in the real estate business, his heart was with basketball. He sold his
UCR men’s basketball get their first victory of the season KEVIN CONTRERAS Assistant Sports Editor
On Tuesday, Dec.1, Head Coach Mike Magpayo was greeted by a loud and rowdy locker room. The athletes on his team doused him in water to celebrate the history he had just made. Coach Magpayo is the first Filipino and Asian head coach to win a Division I game, and with this win, he has made his first career win as head coach. The Highlanders secured a victory against the University of Washington Huskies 57-42 after being narrowly defeated by the University of the Pacific Tigers. This faceoff came as a result after Fresno State Bulldogs, UCR’s original opponents, had to cancel the scheduled Nov. 30 game due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the team. The game took place in the Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena. After a tough start last week against the University of the Pacific, the Highlanders demonstrated how deadly the team can be when implementing their defense and when they move the ball around. Washington started with an immediate lead in the first minute of the game with a 3-point advantage, but UCR pushed back defensively. In minute eleven of the first half, junior guard Flynn Cameron received the ball at the 3-point line and dribbled towards the inside, passing the ball to an open Jock Perry. Perry leaped to score, extending the lead to 13-8. Perry, the Australian redshirt senior, posted a career-high total of 21 points. Around the halftime margin, the Highlanders had established a 7-point lead at 29-22. UCR managed to increase and maintain their lead throughout the rest of the game. The Highlanders’ top 10 defense of last season was demonstrated throughout the game, allowing only five defensive rebounds throughout the game.
With a minute left in the first half, sophomore point guard Zyon Pullin had the ball at half court. He passed the ball towards senior guard George Willborn, who then sent it to the corner towards Perry. Perry sank the 3, which gave UCR an 8 point lead at 30-22. UCR kept the Washington Huskies at bay throughout the entire second half. Senior forward Arinze Chidom set a career high total of 12 rebounds. Similarly, Pullin, Cameron and junior forward and center Angus McWilliams each totaled nine rebounds throughout the game. It was not until the second half that Washington seemed to gain some momentum, as they went on a 9-2 run to cut the UCR lead to six, 44-38. In response, UCR had a 5-0 spurt contributed by McWilliam’s bucket and a corner three from Wil Tattersall on a possession extended by a Chidom offensive rebound. Combined, they were able to increase the lead to 49-38. Their defensive aggression helped maintain possession of the ball, creating opportunities for the team which contributed to the win. With a little under two minutes left in the game, Flynn Cameron again gained possession of the ball after having received a pass from McWilliams. From behind the 3-point line, Cameron sank the 3 in order to put the Highlanders up 56-42. UCR closed off access to the opposing team, stopping them from scoring for the rest of the game. After having missed the season-opening game to be with his wife during the birth of his son, Coach Mike Magpayo made history in collegiate sports. As the first Asian coach to win a Division I game, Magpayo was thrilled to lead this team toward their historic victory. This is surely just the first of many victories for the UCR Highlanders this season. Their next match will be in Denver against the University H of Denver on Dec. 6 at 12 p.m.■
company and began to pursue a career in the sport he loved. From 2010-14, Mike Magpayo was the director of operations, assistant coach, recruiter and scheduler for the Columbia University men’s basketball program. Mike Magpayo was an integral part in revamping the Columbia men’s team, being the lead in recruiting Luke Petraesek and the German player Maodo Lo from Germany, named Ivy league player of the year in 2015. Both of these players now play professional basketball in Russia and Germany, respectively. Magpayo then went on to spend three seasons at Campbell University. At Campbell, he was the defensive coordinator and the recruiting coordinator. Magpayo is credited with being an integral part of one of Campbell’s best seasons in the program’s history. During the 2016-17 season, the Campbell Camels advanced to the conference championship game and the CollegeInsider. com Postseason Tournament quarterfinals, the school’s first postseason appearance
since 1996. To top that off, he recruited Chris Clemons, who is now a guard for the Houston Rockets. Magpayo then spent a season as the men’s basketball director of operations for the University of San Francisco (USF). During his year there, USF had a total of 21 wins and placed fourth in the West Coast Conference and also made it to the Championship Finals of the College Basketball Invitational Championship Postseason Tournament. Afterward, Magpayo was added to the UCR men’s basketball program. As an assistant coach and defensive coordinator, Magpayo was an integral part of the program’s top 10 defense and with a record-tying 17 wins last season. Magpayo hopes to take UCR men’s basketball to new heights this year, and if the team’s most recent game is any indication, then there are a lot of victories down the road for the Highlanders. Coach Mike Magpayo is also the founder and president of the Asian Coaches H Association. ■
UCR MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH MIKE MAGPAYO MAKES HISTORY AS THE FIRST ASIAN HEAD COACH TO WIN A DIVISION I GAME.
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