The Highlander
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
For the week of Monday, February 8, 2021
VOL. 69, ISSUE 15
est. 1954
NEWS FEATURES
Local UCR eatery, The Sub Station, implores the help of its patrons as it tries to navigate the pandemic READ MORE ON PAGE 3
COURTESY OF THE SUB STATION
Delicious food and great company can always be found at The Sub Station
READ MORE ON PAGE 8
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MONDAY, FEBRURARY 8, 2021
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Upcoming Events: Week 6
Humans of UCR JUAN MORALES | PSYCHOLOGY, LAW AND SOCIETY AND SPANISH LITERATURE MAJOR | FOURTH-YEAR COMPILED BY THE HIGHLANDER STAFF
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A Gentle and Friendly Introduction to APIs 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Virtual Event
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Disability Ally Workshop 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Virtual Event
Eliminating Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Virtual Event
HPAC: Letter of Recommendation Workshop 10 a.m. Virtual Event
Girl Talk: Unfiltered with APSP 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Virtual Event
Monday
UndocuCircle 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Virtual Event
Tuesday
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Wednesday
“I currently serve on the legislative branch of ASUCR. As a new senator, navigating the role during a pandemic has been extremely challenging. It has been a struggle trying to bridge that gap between the student body and ASUCR, but luckily I have used my creativity to develop a space that helps in breaking that barrier. I have created @juanlovesucr, a platform on Instagram that gives the space to highlight students who are not usually recognized. It has definitely not
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Thursday
The “Religiosity” of Whiteness and the Myth of “White Genocide” 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Virtual Event
Lunar New Year 2021 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Virtual Event
Sherwin-Williams Coffee Chat and Q&A 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Virtual Event
Brown Bag Conversation series 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Virtual Event
League of Highlanders: Valorant 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Virtual Event
Writers Week 2021: Francisco Aragón 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Virtual Event
12 Friday
only contributed to bridge the gap but also given me as a senator the opportunity to be as transparent as possible with my constituents.”
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Saturday
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NEWS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021
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Local UCR eatery, The Sub Station, implores the help of its patrons as it tries to navigate the pandemic MADISON RHEINS Opinions Editor
One of the oldest eateries in Riverside, The Sub Station was established in 1972 and has been a hub for the UCR community. Coupled with the absence of students at the UCR campus, local businesses such as The Sub Station have found themselves in dire need of assistance from faithful patrons. In an interview with The Highlander, Richard Munio, the owner of The Sub Station, explained the impact his sandwich restaurant has had on the culture and daily life of the university. The Sub Sation has been serving the UCR community for 49 years — their sandwiches are a staple to UCR’s culture. Munio grew up in New Jersey, started college in Colorado and eventually graduated from California State University Chico. After graduating, he was immediately drafted and served for one year in Vietnam. After returning, Munio opened The Sub Station with his college roommate, who eventually left the company after one year. Munio explained the many financial hits they have had to endure due to the pandemic and offered solutions on how to help during these trying times. Munio explained that it is important patrons continue to support establishments who have been serving the community for decades — connecting current students to alumni through delicious meals and great service. Throughout the interview, Munio emphasized the importance of The Sub Station and its impact on the culture of UCR. Munio unveiled old university IN AN EFFORT TO PROMOTE A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE REOPENING, ASUCR OUTLINES FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UCR ADMINISTRATION.
ATENAS ODRIOZOLA Contributing Writer
OWNER RICHARD MUNIO HAS CREATED A UCR LANDMARK THAT IS FLOUNDERING AS A RESULT OF THE LACK OF STUDENT PRESENCE.
photos and even a letter from Timothy P. White, the previous UCR chancellor, to further illustrate how much of UCR’s culture has been shaped by The Sub Station. He stated that he was moved by the letter as he recognized the impact his restaurant has had on university life. According to Munio, White once said, “The Sub Station is not across the street from UCR, UCR is across the street from The Sub Station.” After his introduction, Richard explained that if The Sub Station were to disappear at the hands of the pandemic, it would leave a gaping hole in the fabric of campus life. Over the past year, Munio has cut down his staff and shortened business hours in order to sustain his restaurant during the pandemic. As a result, many students working at The Sub Station have lost their jobs or had their wages cut down significantly. The Sub Station has lost out on profits that are vital for their survival as a small business, according to Munio. He further explained that The Sub Station used to be in business seven days a week, 12 hours a day. In order to survive, The Sub Station now operates at only six days a week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Munio stated,
“We’re trying to find a niche where we can do some business and still survive.” In an effort to find different ways to survive, Munio stated that they have focused some efforts on catering and providing bagged lunches to customers. While Riverside recently reopened for outdoor dining, Munio stated, “I’m disappointed that we haven’t found a way to get people to come dine outside … with everyone stuck at home, homeschooling their children and working from home, people just aren’t coming out to eat.” Nevertheless, Munio remains optimistic that his regular customers will help keep them afloat and is hopeful that with more patrons attending, The Sub Station will not have to close its doors. Munio sent out an “SOS,” standing for “Save Our Sub Station” during December of 2020 and had an incredible show of support and attendance. “We sold out of our T-shirts and hats,” he said. Many regulars and previous employees have offered to help send donations to Munio’s establishment and have made GoFundMe donation pages to ensure that this UCR landmark does not disappear. However, Munio maintained that what would be most beneficial is if people continued to come into the store and purchase meals. He explained that he has rejected any donations sent to this business, instead asking patrons to eat at the restaurant, a solution he stated would ensure the business would remain in place for years to come. For the donations he did accept, he has donated them to Inspire, a
COURTESY OF SUBSTATION UCR
private, nonprofit organization in Riverside that aims to help emancipated foster youth transition into adulthood with financial means that will help them break the cycle of abuse and poverty of their past. Munio stated, “It is not a given that The Sub Station can survive this pandemic. It is up to you, as our longtime friends for 50 years, to make a conscious effort to drive across town and do business with us.” Recently, The Sub Station has created a Save our Substation campaign and email list that customers can join in order to receive alerts about upcoming specials and remind them that the shop is still running and ready to serve the community. Munio explained that he has continued to collaborate with Inspire, making a donation with every purchase of an item from The Sub Station. Munio added that if customers visit The Sub Station at least two to three times a month, not only will he be able to keep his establishment running, but other Riversidebased organizations will benefit from the profits as well. Munio takes pride in his lifelong business and shared that it has become as important to UCR’s identity as the university mascot, H Scotty the Bear.■
ASUCR writes letter to UCR administration outlining their recommendations for a smooth fall 2021 reopening
On Jan. 11, University of California (UC) President Michael V. Drake officially announced that UC campuses plan to allow in-person learning in fall 2021. The decision was made with the consultation of the 10 UC campuses chancellors. Since then, ASUCR has drafted a list of recommendations to Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox and Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Thomas Smith. These recommendations outline UCR student recommendations and desires for the reopening of campus. The letter outlined the recommendations into four sections: academic continuity, COVID-19 vaccine and testing accessibility, student health wellness and basic needs and addressing concerns with policing and campus safety. The recommendations were created from the results gathered through a systemwide survey, the COVID Impact Survey, sent in fall 2020. The academic continuity portion refers to the option for students to choose between online or remote courses, the possibility of an extension of S/NC and withdrawal deadlines and allowing for
grading leniency. The COVID-19 vaccine and testing accessibility section outlines student recommendations to provide every student access to the COVID-19 vaccine, mandate mask-wearing on campus, have testing locations on campus and in residential halls free of charge and “sensitive strategies in place to support isolation or quarantine period.” In an interview with The Highlander, Vice President of External Affairs Vincent Rasso stated that sensitive measures such as contact tracing, frequent testing for students that are residential advisors or dining employees and prioritization for vaccines need to be in place. He also stated, “It’s really important the university, the health services or the programs that are employing student workers are being held accountable to make sure that their students are safe and secure.” As for addressing students’ health, wellness and basic needs, ASUCR recommends the creation of a COVID-19 Impact Working Group, which would help students shift to in-person instruction and be prepared for any challenges that may arise for students who are learning either in person or remotely. In addition, ASUCR asks for the expansion of services including the R’ Pantry and Counseling
and Psychological Services (CAPS) to address the mental health and food insecurities students may be facing. The expansion will coincide with community support groups through resource centers and departments, which will act as a safe space for students to express their needs and concerns. ASUCR hopes that attention will not be limited to reopening campus housing, but will also address off-campus housing and issues pertaining to navigating eviction. The letter recommends that UCR administration continue communicating nonprofit and legal resources around leases and contracts, and that this method of transparency be centralized so that the Fair Housing Council and Riverside Legal Aid are support services that students can immediately identify for issues they may run into. AUSCR’s final recommendation touches on the need to create a safe environment for students on campus, particularly students of color. Changes proposed are to “immediately address any proposed changes to UCPD standards and long-term solutions including budget recommendations that have been identified by the Task Force.” The letter states that without the full support by UCR leadership to promise substantial change through
systemic reform, they are concerned that the issue of policing will continue to be “revisited for years to come due to institutional inaction.” In a statement given to The Highlander, Chancellor Wilcox stated, “There are many variables impacting UCR’s decisions for fall 2021, not the least of which is the status of vaccine distribution ... Working groups for health, vaccines, instruction, and research are among those meeting now to determine UCR’s fall 2021 plan. Feedback from students and student organizations, including ASUCR, is invaluable in developing our plans for fall.” In an interview with The Highlander, ASUCR President Luis Huerta stated, “Truthfully, of all the things at its core and its infrastructure, we need to have a successful fall 2021 or whenever we come back in person and transition.” He continued, stating, “It will definitely be a continuous bombardment of social media campaigns, emailing folks over at student leadership and campus admins, reminding them these are the recommendations we need.” ASUCR asks that students who wish to voice their concerns and feedback email H them at asucr@ucr.edu. ■
4 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021
NEWS
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ASUCR
ASUCR senate approves resolution to implement inclusivity training for faculty and staff THE MANDATORY TRAINING WOULD FOCUS ON TOPICS SUCH AS PRONOUNS, DISABILITY ETIQUETTE AND MICROAGGRESSION AWARENESS.
LAURA ANAYA-MORGA News Editor
At the ASUCR meeting held on Wednesday, Feb. 3, the Vice Chair of the Student Voice Committee Mark Hanin, shared the results of the Classroom Etiquette and Academic Experiences Survey conducted last November. The purpose of the survey was to gather feedback on UCR students’ academic experiences and on topics such as inclusivity and classroom etiquette; its goal is to ensure that UCR students are able to succeed in the classroom. Through the survey, which received 139 responses, the committee learned that the majority of students rate their academic experiences and inclusivity experiences at UCR a 4 out of 5. Fifty-three percent of students reported having negative experiences while at UCR. Fifty-three percent of students also believe that faculty and staff need additional training in areas such as inclusivity. To go along with the survey, the Student Voice Committee, CNAS Senator Abigail Nguyen, Internal Affairs Chief of Staff Preeti Juturu and CHASS Senator Juan Morales authored SR-W21-007 Declaration of
LLOYD KAO /THE HIGHLANDER
Support for Mandatory Inclusive Language Trainings. “There presently is no existing training that faculty administration and staff at UC are required to take that covers topics such as pronouns, disability etiquette, microaggression awareness, and other inclusive related topics,” stated Juturu. She stated that the Student Voice Committee is currently working with the ASUCR Diversity Council to create a rough outline of the curriculum for these trainings and they hope to work with the ethnic and gender program officers in the near future to further these efforts as well. The senate resolution was passed with a vote of 17-0-0. The senate also approved SB-W21-002 Amending Online Campaigning Regulations submitted by Election Director Lama Yassine in order to monitor the social media posts of candidates during the 2021 ASUCR Elections. Two constitutional amendments were discussed during the meeting as well. CA-W21-002 Amendment to GPA Requirement/ Ballot Submission for Election
was previously presented to the Legislative Review Committee during fall quarter and its purpose was to bring the GPA requirement for the holding office down to 2.0 rather than 2.5. The amendment was tabled due to concerns raised by the senate that the 2.0 GPA was too low. With the help of President Pro Tempore Orland Cabalo, the amendment was rewritten and would implement a one-time waiver system for representatives with a serious reason for an academic decline. The amendment would also implement a requirement that 3/4 of the senate approve GPA alterations for holding and running for office. CHASS Senator Morales raised a concern to the senate that their academics should always come before any position within ASUCR and while they can waive their GPA for one quarter, they should rethink whether that is the best decision for their academics. “I feel like if you’re already at that point where you’re struggling and you need help academically, you shouldn’t have to put ASUCR first.” BCOE Senator Leonardo Ballesteros also expressed concerns with the amendment, stating that it might promote “org
culture” or the desire for individuals to over dedicate themselves to an organization. “I think we should always put our academics before any of the other extracurriculars,” stated Ballesteros. CHASS Senator Christopher Kent expressed his support for the amendment stating, “I personally believe that 2.0 is totally fine. In fact, on the UCR register website, it says that anything above a 2.0 is good academic standing.” The senate participated in a lengthy debate over CA-W21-002, and the amendment failed to pass with a vote of 11-1-5. It ultimately failed to meet the minimum 12 votes needed to pass. CA-W21-003 Amendments to the Recall Process, authored by Cabalo, was aimed to create a more democratic and responsive recall process in ASUCR. “Currently the recall process is a near impossibility in ASUCR. However with this amendment, students will be able to more easily start recall efforts against elected representatives,” stated Cabalo in an interview with The Highlander. This amendment would make it so that only 2% of the undergraduate population would need to approve of a recall election for any given ASUCR representative. “My intent with this amendment is to bring more accountability measures within ASUCR. And the best way I think we can make the association more accountable, is if we give more power to students,” stated Cabalo. CA-W21-003 will be voted on in the ASUCR general election this spring. The meeting was adjourned H at 8:02 p.m. ■
Be introspective.
Opinions
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OPINIONS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021
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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL
California residents should not be responsible for cleaning up a mess made by government agencies STRUGGLING CALIFORNIANS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO MITIGATE THE FAILURES OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT AGENCY. INSTEAD, CALIFORNIA NEEDS TO REFORM THE POLICY DECISIONS THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
A
fter irresponsible mismanagement of the unemployment s y s t e m , California’s unemployment agency has found themselves in a backlog. Having overpaid millions of people and failing to enforce eligibility rules to process claims faster, 4.1 million claimants risk having to repay the unemployment benefits they received during the pandemic. However, it is unfair and predatory of the agency to demand repayment from those who have suffered from the pandemic. Instead of placing the burden on those who are in need, the state of California and its unemployment agency should just learn from their mistakes so that something like this never happens again. As a matter of fact, this error reveals the many weaknesses of bureaucratic agencies and reinforces the need for important systems like unemployment to be updated and made more streamlined. Although California may appear to be one of the richest places in the world on the surface, there are many flaws behind the scenes that have become more prolific with the pandemic. This clerical error is not the fault of the claimants and instead
is a result of the lack of planning and underfunding of government agencies. It should come as no surprise that programs that are supposed to benefit poor people are always underfunded and disorganized. California was not ready for the pandemic, and the unemployment agency was not ready to take care of so many people all at once. Furthermore, California was already in debt before the virus hit. Consequently, they are simply trying to pick up the pieces and fix what has already been broken before the pandemic. In the process, however, they are harming those who need help the most instead of looking back at the policy decisions that got them into debt in the first place. It is completely unfair for the unemployment agency to request that people repay their benefits, especially with the uncertainty of the pandemic. This clerical error happened because of the agency’s oversight, and therefore, many people were made unaware of whether they were eligible or not in the first place. As a result, this made way for a lot of fraudulent claimants that received benefits they may not have been eligible to get. Nevertheless, considering the pandemic is still ongoing, the agency needs to simply let these people keep their money. The pandemic has been raging on for a year, and with no real federal aid, the least California can do is let these people keep their benefits. Most likely, people already spent the money anyways, whether it was on rent, food or other essentials. It is too redundant to ask for the money back, and doing so would take many years to remedy every case. So, there’s really no point to start
fixing anything when it will take too long to finish. Besides, there are larger issues afoot, and it is hardly the fault of the people since the agency and government were so foolish. California residents have suffered enough at the hands of the pandemic and should not be the ones fixing this issue. Moreover, California has not been doing much to help businesses or people during the pandemic, so people should just be allowed to keep what little benefits they have received. What would be more beneficial in the long run is if the unemployment agency learns from this mistake in order to avoid it in the future. At the very bare minimum, they should re-evaluate their requirements for who gets unemployment to make sure that the right people are receiving it. They also need to implement more safeguards and restrictions so that, in the case of another unforeseen crisis, they do not release benefits to anyone who signs up in order to get through cases quickly. That way, fraudulent claimants will be less likely to take benefits away from those who are in need. This whole experience has shown that the system is way too bureaucratic and that there is far too much red tape. Therefore, the unemployment agency should be revised to run more efficiently. To make it more streamlined, the agency should start by hiring more people. Not only would this help the job market, but it would also change how the system is run as a whole. Additionally, if the people hired have more experience building apps and websites, then the process of filing for unemployment would be more modern
and user-friendly. The agency should strive to make their website more accessible to everyone. In other words, they must make the language a lot easier to comprehend and make sure all the guidelines are clearly stated in order to avoid fraud. Instead of saying yes to everyone in a panic, the unemployment agency needs to prepare for these types of situations. This pandemic has shown that they are not equipped to handle statewide crises of this magnitude. Thus, they need to go about things in a more sophisticated way. Most importantly, the state of California needs to invest more resources into an important agency like this one so that they are more prepared to take care of people struggling to make ends meet. There is no way to sugarcoat the fact that the unemployment agency of California messed up immensely. However, this should be taken as a lesson so that this will never happen again. Improvements need to be made so that the unemployment agency is better prepared for another crisis in the future. In the meantime, those who have received benefits during the pandemic should be allowed to keep the money given to them, and instead, the agency needs to implement more regulations to H avoid large mistakes.■
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.
COURTESY OF PEXELS
6 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021
Only through sovereignty can all Kurds have a place to call their own
OPINIONS
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POLITICAL RECOGNITION FOR IRAQI KURDISTAN AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE WILL GIVE KURDS ACROSS THE DIASPORA A NATION TO FLOCK TO. ROBERT GOLD Contributing Writer
The people of Kurdistan have faced violence as an ethnic minority and deserve their own state. They have populations that would make it one of the largest countries if it does achieve statehood. But most importantly, they already function as an independent state. If a Kurdish state were to be created today by the United Nations or as the result of a long protracted civil war, the ideal Kurdish state would be an incorporation of regions spanning across northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, Northeastern Syrian and Northwestern Iran. What is far more likely is that Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous region, will one day officially break away from Baghdad and formally become a homeland that all Kurds across the diaspora can flock to. If the Kurds were a people living in peace, there might not be as strong an argument for independence. However, the Kurdish populations have faced continuous violence in the countries they call home. In 1978, conflict for Kurdish independence began in Turkey known as the TurkishKurdish conflict, which continues to this day. Over the course of nearly 42 years of perpetual war, 60,000 people have lost their lives. No ethnic minority deserves
COURTESY OF KURDISTAN VIA FLICKR UNDER CC-BY-SA 2.0
to live in a country that they cannot truly call home. For instance, you cannot call yourself a citizen of a nation that wants you dead. If the Kurds were fully integrated into Turkish society and lived in relative tranquility, this wouldn’t be an issue. But the Kurds have lived for half a century in a perpetual state of war. As a result, the next generation of Kurdish children should not have to grow up in a world that does not love them, accept them or want them. These Kurdish children who live in this perpetual state of war are not few and far between either. According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), there are 12 million Turkish Kurds, 6 million Iranian Kurds, 6 million Iraqi Kurds and 2 million Syrian Kurds. These are conservative estimates, as some projections put the Kurdish population at anywhere between 36.4 to 45.6 million people, making Kurdistan, if it were to become its own country today, the 33rd largest country in the world. This 45.6 million person population is not a widely thinned out diaspora that spans the globe either. The Kurds are spread across four neighboring countries, and the Kurdish regions of these countries are all connected. Thus, a Kurdish state
could unite these disconnected regions, taking a small portion of land from each of these four countries to form a new nation — an independent Kurdistan. This is not a pipe dream either; the Kurds already have their own functioning society. In fact, an unofficial Kurdistan already exists in Northern Iraq. And while there are Kurdish regions across Iran, Turkey and Syria, Iraqi Kurdistan is the only 1 of the 4 which already functions as an independently recognized, autonomous region. Furthermore, Iraqi Kurdistan was first recognized in a 1970 agreement with the Iraqi government and has essentially functioned as an independent state ever since. Additionally, Iraqi Kurdistan has its own court system, police force and even has its own military known as the peshmerga. If Iraqi Kurdistan is any indication of what a Kurdish state would be like, then the results are awe-inspiring and uplifting. Kurdistan is a peaceful region with airports and free travel. Considered to be one of the safest regions of the Middle East, there are Kurdish travel options in airports across Canada, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. Kurdistan
has its own borders, airports, army and a functioning democratic government. Additionally, Kurdish women serve in the peshmerga and the Kurdish parliament. And Iraqi Kurdistan, who maintains peaceful relations with Baghdad, is known for its tolerance and co-existence alongside various ethnic and religious minorities. The people of Kurdistan deserve independence. Over the past 20 years, 10 new countries have been successfully created. In 1900, only 49 countries existed. Today, there are 195 recognized countries. The geography of the world’s nations are not done shaping themselves. New countries are being created all the time. As the populations of minority groups sore and cultural divides become more distinct over time, the need for national sovereignty arises. In the case of the Iraqi Kurdistan, it already functions as its own country. Kurdistan is a place in the world that anyone can travel to. It is 98% Sunni Muslim, with its own Kurdish language, culture and even Kurdish cuisine. It is a rich culture with a fully functioning society. But only through political recognition can all Kurds across the diaspora have a place H to call their own.■
Under the guise of classics, instructors are perpetuating racist stereotypes SILVIA FERRER Managing Editor
Unfortunately, every student in America has had an experience with reading a racist or dated book in their English class. Books like “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which includes racist tropes and promotes harmful stereotypes of African Americans, are taught widely in high school classrooms. In both my AP English Literature class and my college introduction classes, I had to read “Heart of Darkness,” a book narrated by a white supremacist that perpetuates views of Africans and Indigenous people as primitive and “savage.” Students constantly have to return to these “classic” books because of their position in American literature, but instructors should only teach these books if they deconstruct the racism and xenophobia in them otherwise, they are adding nothing to the class but discomfort to minority students. Classics has long been revered as the “foundation of Western civilization,” a descriptor that in and of itself is problematic because of its roots to colonialism and white supremacy. In my own AP English curriculum, for example, we started with Greek classics like “The Odyssey,” usually moving onto Shakespeare and then to more contemporary books like “Moby Dick,” or the “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” One pattern is blatantly obvious: all of these books are written by white people about white people’s adventures, and most perpetuate a type of racial insensitivity. Historians like Dan-el Padilla have spoken out about how classics have continued to cause harm much after the death of their creators by offering justifications for slavery, colonialism or pseudo science about racial supremacy, for example. Worse yet, Padilla believes that classics have helped weave racism into higher education. The first experience I had as an English major that deconstructed a book’s racist undertones was at UCR, in Dr. Emma Stapely’s class. I expected our class, “The American Novel: Nineteenth Century,” to focus on texts
like “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” or “Pride and Prejudice,” simply, books that featured boring white characters — “great works of literature.” Instead, Dr. Stapely made it clear from the beginning of the quarter that our class would focus on works by people of color that were the agents of their own narrative. My first introduction to the “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave” or the Haitian revolution was in this class. Almost every single experience I’ve had in a English class at UCR has been similar; I’ve learned more about the plights of African Americans from Black writers like Toni Morrison or read accounts of immigration that are more pertinent than simple tales of boyhood adventures or marriage schemes. Professors who intentionally ignore these books to instead preserve whiteness within the humanities should be ashamed. It’s understandable that secondary school instructors may be bound by curriculum rules, but they too should make the utmost effort to find books that fall outside the white “classics” to introduce ideas of race and gender to students by authors of color. On a wider level, the university and American school system needs to reflect on the aforementioned descriptor of classics and move away from it entirely by dismantling curriculum rules and placing experts like Padilla at the forefront of creating a more inclusive, more racially sensitive curriculum. My formal academic awakening should not have been until college — outside of my own research, my instructors have a duty to me and their students to introduce social issues and scholars of color. High schoolers have the capacity to digest heavy information about revolutionary protests and the treatment of Indigenous and Black people by Westerners and they should not be forced to wait until college to find out the nonwhite side of history. Otherwise, people without the financial or personal means to get a formal college education will remain with these antiquated views and harmful perceptions, essentially sowing the H next generation of white supremacists.■
THE TRADITIONAL INSTRUCTION OF CLASSICS NEEDS TO BE ABOLISHED AND REPLACED WITH A MORE INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM THAT BROADENS LITERATURE TO SCHOLARS OF COLOR.
COURTESY OF RAPHAEL WARNOCK VIA FLICKR
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OPINIONS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021
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Dogs deserve the same basic respect as humans
EVELYN HOMAN Assistant Opinions Editor
The story of a pit bull dog being put down for attacking a child or another dog is sadly relatively common. These stories once riddled the news and helped cultivate an unfair reputation for pit bulls, characterizing them as being aggressive or even dangerous, when this is not the case. The main reason why dogs become aggressive is because of the way they are treated, not because they are predisposed to being violent. Animals should not suffer extreme consequences for being raised in poor environments. Instead of euthanizing an animal whose actions are based on what they’re taught, we should implement a system similar to Child Protective Services (CPS). Such a program could rehome and rehabilitate dogs in order to prevent more animal lives from being senselessly lost. It is not a stretch to say that dogs are born to love. In fact, pit bulls in particular are not usually inclined to harm humans, or even other animals. In reality, the environment they’re raised in has the biggest impact on how their personalities develop. Sadly, some animals are not raised in an environment that allows them to gain the full range of interaction with humans and other animals in order to make them friendly. Even worse, if an animal is abused, they may be more likely to get aggressive. But a bad past should not mean that an animal must be executed for acting out. There are countless stories on the internet of abused pets being rehabilitated because animals are, at their core, loving creatures. Even animals who attack can be rehabilitated, avoiding the need for an unfair death. As with all things, though, if we want to solve the problem, it should actively be
prevented first and foremost. In order to keep dogs from feeling like they need to attack, dogs who appear aggressive should be reported to authorities, but not so that the animal can be locked away or put down. Instead, the living situation these animals are in should be evaluated, much like that done in CPS. There should be a specific group of people that can be dispatched to review the living situation of a dog that might seem at risk for attacking. Then, if the living situation is not up to par, then the dog can be removed from the home and fostered until the owners can improve conditions for their pets. Of course, enforcing such a system could prove difficult because even abusive owners are very attached to their pets and may not want them to leave their homes, but for the well-being of a dog in such a situation, removal is necessary and beneficial. It could be argued that if one dog kills another, the punishment should fit the crime because the offending dog could attack or even kill again. But dogs are innocent creatures, and they are only acting on their survival instincts. Even dogs who have killed another dog could be rehabilitated if they are placed in an environment with no other dogs, children and only a few professionals who want to help restore the dog to its typical state of loving. Dogs being unleashed and attacking others is not the problem. The problem is that innocent animals are being wrongfully punished for acting out on instinct afte being raised in situations that did not allow them to become the loving animals they are meant to be. We need to enforce better animal care by removing animals from situations that may make them overly aggressive in order to prevent innocent H animals from losing their lives.■
COURTESY OF PEXELS
TOO OFTEN, INNOCENT DOGS HAVE BEEN PUT DOWN BECAUSE THEY ARE SIMPLY ACTING OUT. IT’S TIME TO REVIEW THEIR LIVING SITUATIONS INSTEAD OF SENTENCING THEM TO DEATH.
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Features
FEATURES
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Delicious food and great company can always be found at The Sub Station COLIN CARNEY Radar Editor
A staple of campus life at UCR, The Sub Station is nestled right in the heart of Bannockburn Village and across the street from the softball field. This convenient location near the heart of campus has made the restaurant a steady source of delicious food and reliable company as it has become a hub for the community. Known locally for its great sandwiches and welcoming environment, it is a relief to hear none of that has changed since the pandemic struck. When you walk inside, you are immediately confronted by the enthusiastic energy of the restaurant and all who eat and work there. In all the times I’ve gone to The Sub Station, not once have I seen a frown or heard a moan. The student staff are lively and engaging, and any who decide to eat lunch there are sure to run into the friendly and engaging owner, Richard Munio, who seems to know almost everyone who walks through his restaurant’s doors. Furthermore, the layout of the restaurant is comforting as everything there is original and authentic, and practically every bit of furniture, from the tables to the outdoor patio cover, was handmade by the owner and his father. This welcoming environment puts newcomers
at ease while they scour the menu for just the right sub. Of course, a welcoming staff and appealing decor isn’t all that’s needed to make a great restaurant since quality of food is obviously critical. Thankfully, The Sub Station has that in spades. With a full offering of 20 cold subs, 11 hot subs and plenty of vegetarian options, The Sub Station is sure to have just what you are craving. Each sub is given the proper attention as it is filled with delicious ingredients and fresh meats for customers to enjoy. In the many times I have eaten at The Sub Station, not once have I been disappointed. As I am personally a fan of cold subs with Italian meats, my go-to sandwiches include, but are not limited to, the No. 8 (pepperoni, ham, capicola and cheese) and the No. 11 (ham, capicola, dry salami and cheese). Each of these two sandwiches have been consistently delicious as I have regularly ordered them. Expertly made so that they don’t fall over the place while still packing away all those ingredients between the two pieces of bread, the sandwiches here never disappoint. The same can be said for hot and cold subs alike, as every time I’ve been there with friends, they too have enjoyed everything they’ve gotten off the menu. I challenge any customer to find a disappointed face when you enter since it
simply can’t be done. Though the atmosphere has changed slightly with the pandemic (now with smaller crowds as indoor dining is closed), the welcoming atmosphere and customer loyalty has yet to truly diminish. Staff are still personable, Richard is still the life of the shop and loyal customers still spend their lunches there. Since the pandemic started, I have visited The Sub Station at least three or four times, and there has almost always been a line of people exiting out the front door as they wait to place their order or lingering outside at an appropriate distance as they wait for their order to be prepared. Even more impressive is the fact that I have started to recognize faces there as I hear Munio greet customers by their names, which only reaffirms the community spirit that The Sub Station embodies. Though the pandemic has limited customers’ ability to linger and socialize as they eat their food, the community spirit of The Sub Station has managed to endure. For any hungry Riverside local or UCR student living in the area, The Sub Station is a treasured part of the community. Providing customers with great food at a reasonable price (averaging $8 for a 7-inch and $12 for a 12-inch) and great company, The Sub Station should always be on the H menu for anyone looking for a place to eat.■
A STAPLE OF THE COMMUNITY, THE SUB STATION ALWAYS DELIVERS ON GREAT FOOD AND GOOD TIMES.
COURTESY OF THE SUB STATION
Raveena exudes mellow romanticism into her art and artistic presence SILVIA FERRER Managing Editor
26-year-old singer and songwriter Raveena graced the screens of dozens of UCR students on Wednesday, Feb. 3 for Associated Student Program Board’s (ASPB) “Mindfulness and Meditation with Raveena.” In this 1 1/2-hour-long event, the R&B and indie soul artist guided the attendees through a 30-minute meditation and affirmation session, which she followed with a performance of some of her most popular songs and a Q&A. ASPB opened the event by announcing the giveaway prizes attendees had a chance to win, which included merchandise for the event and an annual Calm subscription while students flooded the chat with excited remarks about wanting to destress. Raveena appeared in a simple white room, wearing her signature eccentric earrings and exuding a peaceful presence. She explained that she had begun her journey into meditation and mindfulness earlier this year when she was going through a depressive episode that compelled her to make a change in her life. In 30 minutes, she led the audience through a hypnotic series of affirmation and requests; during this time, the chat was disabled. Raveena closed her eyes during the majority of this session, breathing deeply and asking the viewers to “feel this
ASPB’S “MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION WITH RAVEENA” WAS A NIGHT OF RELAXATION AND INTROSPECTION FOR STRESSED STUDENTS.
RYAN POON / THE HIGHLANDER
sense of warmth all around the upper half of your body … this glowing. Bringing peace to wherever attached.” This themed event is tailored for Raveena, an openly spiritual person with a delicate voice seemingly made for meditation. Toward the end of the session, she said that she had repeated the following affirmation to herself daily: “I am loved and the world reflects that love.” Wind chimes in the background coupled with the faint echo of her microphone suited her ethereal voice perfectly. Listening to her instructions and watching her serene smile was a perfect way for students to spend a Thursday evening relaxing. She assured the audience that the space that they had created together was “completely safe” before ending
this part of the event with a few cleansing breaths. To my delighted surprise, Raveena then launched into an acoustic performance of some of her most popular songs. She was joined by Aaron Liao, who she claimed was her songwriting partner, to accompany her on the guitar as she launched into the romantic, hazy “Headaches.” The chat was blown up with excited cries and decrees of love for Raveena, who continued with “Close 2 U,” a song she explained was about the sweet ending of a relationship that has to end because of distance. She danced along to “Honey” and followed it with her angelic voice softly singing “Spoonful of sugar / My cup is fuller when you’re there.” Raveena’s discography is mostly
composed of romance tunes and a soft piano or guitar, which Hannah Chung, an attendee and marketing chair for ASPB, said is “calm and soothing which really catered to a lot of students … her soft presence and angelic tunes really brought a lot of comfort to a lot of the anxiety many of us students are experiencing.” The final portion, a Q&A with Raveena, felt more like an intimate chat with a close friend than a public interview with a celebrity. The questions were introspective and profound; one student asked about how to stay grounded in times of high emotion while another asked how to navigate the loneliness of a spiritual journey. There was an incident in which the wrong student was allowed to ask a question that broke the
seriousness of the audience and Raveena into giggles — the student animatedly exclaimed that he was honored to speak to Raveena but was actually from UC Berkeley. This funny moment showcases how Raveena’s influence is spread widely, as she attracts fans from all over. The Q&A was brought down to a vulnerable level afterwards as Raveena contemplated that love and heartbreak inspired her work. “Love is a powerful force in my life,” she said, “having to be a being of suffering is to be fully alive. I want to feel the whole range of emotions.” One of the final questions was asked by Chung, who asked Raveena about how people can stay respectful of spiritual practices in this new age of spirituality. Raveena took a moment to think, encouraging the novelty of spirituality while noting that understanding the distinction between cultures and its different connections to spirituality was significant. “She does an amazing job of incorporating and weaving who she is, what she believes in and her culture into her music and the energy she gives to people. I think students really appreciated ASPB bringing a really known, relatable and not to mention, POC artist,” said Chung. ASPB’s next event is the Winter Film Festival on H Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.■
FEATURES
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021
The homecoming king, Hasan Minhaj, shows he’s more than just a comedian
ALEXANDRIA ESTEBAN Assistant Features Editor
On Friday, Feb. 5, the Associated Student Programs Board (ASPB), the Middle Eastern Student Center (MESC) and the Asian Pacific Student Programs (APSP) hosted “Chai Chat with Hasan Minhaj.” Minhaj is a wellknown comedian, writer, actor and political commentator. He is best known for his Netflix political comedy show, “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj,” his comedy film, “Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King” and his time as the senior correspondent on “The Daily Show.” Ali Saadat, a UCR alumni, was the moderator for this event. The night started with Saadat asking Minhaj a variety of questions. One topic that was brought up was Minhaj’s attendance at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in 2017. Minhaj revealed that when he received the invitation, he “thought it was a set up, but then [he] thought about it” and realized “this is the job a lot of immigrants work hard to get.” He attended the event with his parents, two Muslims who immigrated to the United States from India before Minhaj was born. Although his mom originally considered wearing something more American, Minhaj convinced her to wear a sari, an elaborate piece of clothing traditionally worn by women from South Asia. Minhaj is proud of his heritage and uses his background to help educate others. One of the causes that Minhaj has been very vocal about is student loan debts. During the virtual discussion, Minhaj advised students to “take an income-based repayment plan.” Later, when questioned about his experience with stage fright, he encouraged students to “lean into [their] strengths, try to get into things that [they] know [they’re] already good at.” He claimed, “The more you get up in front of an audience the more you get comfortable.” To conclude his interview with Saadat, Minhaj revealed some of his newest projects that fans can look forward to. Minhaj stated that he’s going to appear on season two of
HASAN MINHAJ, AN AMERICAN COMEDIAN AND ACTOR, SHARES STORIES ABOUT HIS ENTERTAINMENT CAREER AND HIS INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS.
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
“The Morning Show,” a TV drama on Apple TV+ that stars Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspon. He’s also working on a sequel to “Homecoming King.” The discussion was then turned over to the student Q&A portion, where students submitted questions
Endless Possiblilities ADRIANA MANDUJANO ANGEL Features Editor
Financial aid has always been the defining factor in being able to pursue a college education. When college decisions were first sent out, I remember excitedly telling my parents I had been accepted to UCR. Despite their happiness for me, there was reluctance and worry. My family would not be able to pay for my education, and all the information regarding financial aid was solely in English. Despite my efforts to translate, the technicalities always posed a barrier when explaining. Unlike then, there now exists a viable means of communicating with Spanish-speaking parents regarding all the financial resources and other information needed to pursue a college education. During July 2020, the Undergraduate Admissions Campus Tour Office (UGA) at UCR implemented its first virtual Spanish sessions titled “Sesiones en Español con un embajador estudiantil” in which Spanish-speaking parents are able to take a virtual tour in Spanish. During the month of February, interested parents can schedule an online tour on Feb. 20 and 27 via the undergraduate admissions website. These sessions were spearheaded by Juan Morales, a fourth year psychology and Spanish literature major and ASUCR CHASS senator, and Mayra Flores, a fourth year double major in media and cultural studies and sociology. Both are co-managers for UGA. According to Morales, these Spanish sessions have been in the works since summer 2020 and had been offered informally in the past. He explained that if there were Spanish speakers in the office at the time a tour was being conducted, they would be assigned to that tour; however, Spanish tours were officially available on the website. Morales said that he decided to start these official sessions when he realized there was a community of people who could benefit from learning about all the opportunities UCR has to offer for their students. “There was a high school district who brought twelve moms who wanted to be talked to,” he explained. “These moms seemed familiar, as if speaking to a tia or another family member. They just wanted to know
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through the Q&A feature on Zoom. Kirsten Lambincio asked, “Would you ever run for a government position?” Minhaj replied that he “would hate to run for office and be boxed into a corner.” He believed that, unfortunately, politicians have to serve their party first, their re-election second and their constituents last. He stated that this prevents politicians from representing the truth. Aram Afghajanian asked Minhaj what inspired him to blend political commentary and comedy. This blend is most notable in his show, “Patriot Act.” Minhaj replied that “a huge point of inspiration is that people would be down to watch that” and that he already “kind of introduced the visualize style with ‘Homecoming King.’” The conversation quickly turned to the topic of Minhaj’s celebrity connections. In response to Neha Saxena’s question about the “coolest” celebrity Minhaj’s met, Minhaj said that it was Nicki Minaj. Next, Pari Asif asked which of Minhaj’s celebrity friends he’d go to college with, and Minhaj replied that it would be John Mullaney because “John’s always been my big bro.” During the pandemic, Minhaj’s wife, Beena Patel, gave birth to their second child. Simrithi Sethupathi asked, “How has being a parent in the pandemic been?” Minhaj expressed his excitement towards the birth of his new son. He also reminisced on all the time he gets to spend with his daughter during quarantine. He stated, “Me and my daughter, we got super close.” He said, “This year I haven’t been able to tour, I haven’t been able to go out,” but that he was happy he got to be with his family more. The night was full of fun and enlightening questions. All the students who were chosen to ask questions couldn’t contain their excitement as they introduced Minhaj to their roommates or parents. Some students even asked to take pictures or videos of the experience. Students can stay up to date on future events by checking out ASPB’s Instagram page. Their next event, “Spice it H up with Nick DiGiovanni,” will be on Feb. 12. ■
Undergraduate Admissions implements first Spanish speaking sessions
if there were options for them.” Some of these mothers had questions about opportunities for undocumented students or questions regarding first generation students. “Moms like them are gonna be taking advantage,” claimed Morales. Experiences such as the one above have inspired Morales to continue these sessions and formally implement them. Another memorable experience was on the first official Spanish session where a single mom worried about being able to send her daughter to college. After taking the Spanish tour and learning about the different financial aid opportunities, she felt much more comfortable. Due to the tours’ virtual nature, Morales’ own parents were able to listen in on their son giving tours to families. He recalls his father asking, “Remember when we didn’t have these resources?” Morales claims that this is his driving force. “We wish that four years ago these sessions were already implemented,” he said, adding that he is happy to have the privilege of implementing these sessions due to his passion for these causes and community. He noted that it is especially important as UCR is one of the most diverse campuses in the University of California system and the large number of Spanish speaking families in the Inland Empire. In what seemed like a “miracle,” an admissions counsellor gave Morales’ parents information in Spanish, which allowed him to commit to UCR. According to Morales, it has been a “wonderful decision” that has allowed him to now make an impact creating programs that can help incoming students. With admissions decisions being rolled out beginning in March, Morales hopes to see many families attend the Spanish speaking sessions and show UGA that this is a program that should stay. Morales stated that the level of interest and attendance will decide whether the program remains and open up the possibility for sessions to exist in different languages. He said that this is dependent on UGA and the amount of student ambassadors who speak that language. But with this being the first officially implemented H language program, the possibilities are endless. ■
UCR’S UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS CAMPUS TOUR OFFICE IMPLEMENTS “SESIONES EN ESPAÑOL CON UN EMBAJADOR ESTUDIANTIL” FOR PARENTS TO DISCUSS FINANCIAL AID AND OTHER COLLEGE RESOURCES.
COURTESY OF UCR
10 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021
Radar
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The CW’s ‘Walker’ is more a poorly written cowboy story than an action-packed reboot JASHANPREET MALHI Staff Writer
The CW network is known for its exciting DC shows, such as “The Flash.” Among its most popular TV shows, the season premiere of “Walker” was a huge hit for the CW, as it captured its largest audience yet at over three million viewers. By now on its third episode, “Walker” has proven a disappointing watch accompanied with a frail plot that immediately disinvolves the audience. The acting in the first two episodes are worth a watch but don’t make up for the void of interest that is evident early on in the story. A reboot of the original “Walker: Texas Ranger,” the show follows Cordell Walker (Jared Padalecki) grieving the loss of his wife, Emily Walker (Genevieve Padalecki), in the midst of seeking answers for her murder. Upon returning home to Austin after months away, he is treated with hostility by his children, who have become more comfortable with Walker’s brother, Liam Walker (Keegan Allen), as a father figure. Walker attempts to rekindle bonds with his family and befriends his new partner, Micki Rameriez (Lindsey Morgan), as they solve cases. “Walker’’ is an ongoing arc that engulfs Cordell’s journey in mending his familial relationships, while seeking answers about Emily’s death. The show possesses a feeble plot that rushes through pivotal scenes and disengages the audience. The pilot immediately opens up with Emily running from someone before her inevitable demise. It then leaps from the central problem to a time jump two years later, failing to provide a backstory of the couple’s relationship and Cordell’s actions following Emily’s death. Moreover, the dialogue between the characters takes place in strange situations that center the show around a family drama, rather than Cordell’s role as a Texas Ranger. In a lunch scene, for example, Cordell’s parents start judging his absence in his childrens’ lives out of nowhere in a scene that quickly devolves into chaos. The pilot is extremely unorganized as scenes are disrupted with Cordell’s work calls and transitions between work and family, which purloins the audience from focusing entirely on just one scene. The show doesn’t get any better in the second episode. Cordell continues to mend relationships, especially with his daughter, Stella Walker (Violet Brinson). Stella incessantly runs away in the first two
COURTESY OF CBS MEDIA VENTURES
‘WALKER’ FALLS SHORT OF A GOOD STORY AND UTILIZES A HASTY PLOT IN A DISAPPOINTING WESTERN DISPLAY.
episodes, which makes scenes repetitive: Cordell finds her, has an argument about shirking his fatherly duties and is judged by his parents. Toward the end, there is a quick reunion with his defiant, brokenhearted daughter. For a reboot that may focus on crime and mystery, the cases in “Walker” are solved way too quickly without creating any anticipation. “Walker” deserves applause for including real world issues, such as LGBTQ representation and racism, in an attempt to make a difference. However, in alignment with the plot, they could be communicated more effectively. Its swiftness prevents the characters from delivering themes associated with them, as they are not greatly focused on throughout the episodes. Micki is introduced as the first woman of color to be a Texas ranger, but, with the exception of a brief scene when she discusses her desire to make things right after past racist encounters, the plot hardly centers around her. Instead, it focuses more on family drama than the crime aspect. While “Walker” embodies great thematic elements, the dreadful plot confines them from being further explored. The only feature that bolsters the show is its acting, but that can only do so much to deem the show as a “must-watch.” Jared Padalecki, having won audience’s hearts in “Supernatural,” nails the agony Cordell feels through his excellent facial expressions and by delivering lines with great emotion. Having Padalecki’s real life wife play Emily makes for a more authentic experience, as the actors possess great chemistry. Brinson greatly engulfs the grief associated with losing a mother and Emily’s struggles in coping with the loss. Morgan, known for her fearless demeanor in “The 100,” performs great acting without a doubt, as she takes initiative and stands independent in the face of adversity. The cast executes a beyond exceptional performance with leads that bring their all to the table. Despite this, “Walker’’ possesses a rushed plot that tries to juggle more than it can handle with key themes, family issues and solving cases. It has a lot going for it with the mystery surrounding Emily’s death and praiseworthy performances and thus has the potential to be better. “Walker’’ was recently picked up for a second season, so it may evolve into providing a more H immersive experience. ■
If you’re looking for an escape similar to the original “Walker,” this is far from it. Audience members are in for lots of family drama rather than action and mystery. The rushed plot disengages the audience with its lack of organization. The idea is promising but needs work.
VERDICT:
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COURTESY OF NETFLIX
INSTEAD OF HONING IN ON THE EXTRAVAGANCE, THE NETFLIX REALITY SHOW TRIES TO BALANCE ITS SPECTACULAR CAST WITH REAL WORLD ISSUES IN A TONE DEAF WAY.
‘Bling Empire’ is the convoluted gray area between reality and escapism
SILVIA FERRER Managing Editor
Reality television is meant to be the intersection between the real world and the escapism of fiction. Shows like “Bling Empire,” however, blur that line greatly, almost being fantastical enough to be considered fiction. Although it is set in a real location featuring real people without scripted dialogue, the reality that these people live is so outside the realm of possibility that it may very well be set in Narnia or Hogwarts. The Netflix show capitalizes off of the popularity of 2018’s “Crazy Rich Asians” by following extremely wealthy Asians living in Hollywood. “Bling Empire,” however, is more similar to “Keeping up with the Kardashians” than it is to the movie as it focuses on the glitzy parties and exorbitantly priced designer wear of the vapid cast. Worse yet, some of the show’s “problems” are seemingly copy-andpasted from sitcoms and, similarly, follow problematic tropes in the same way that sitcoms do. Take the token poor guy of the show, model Kevin Kreider, a 37 year old that has found himself in the midst of millionaires. It’s rare that one episode finishes without Kevin expressing amazement at the cavalier attitudes of his rich friends, like Kane Lim or Anna Shay, both of whom dole out expensive designer gifts or treat him to extravagant lunches. Kevin has an interesting story; unlike his friends, he was adopted by a Caucasian family and raised in middle class Pennsylvania, far away from the glamour of Hong Kong or Los Angeles. Despite the possibility for the show to explore Kevin’s search for his birth parents further or even the disparities between his own experiences and that of his socialite circle, most of his scenes are centered around his infatuation with Kelly Mi Li, a beautiful former real estate developer and tech investor. Kelly’s own arc revolves around her unhealthy relationship with Andrew Gray (“Power Rangers Megaforce”), their couples therapy session and her attempts to heal from the damaging fights that she and Andrew frequently have. Again, the show
could do well in developing this storyline. It would be incredibly more interesting to see Kelly escape from the toxic grasps of this long-term relationship to better herself and go on a self-help journey (complete with the popular Los Angeles retreats or gurus) or even see the couple get closer and rise from these patterns with the use of therapy. Instead, the audience is forced to see Kevin pursue Kelly while she’s in a relationship and during the brief period she is single. It’s nauseating to see Kevin insist that he is the “nice guy” that Kelly deserves, the supposed sweet Midwestern boy that is in contrast to her terrible actor boyfriend. Reality television thrives off of being an enhanced version of reality, but this storyline arc reads like a bad scene with bad actors considering Kevin is ill suited to play the “nice guy.” He’s a model with celebrity friends! Furthermore, he speaks about tricking women into sleeping with him by making pancakes and offering to “just” cuddle. This sitcom trope — the nice outcast trying to start a relationship with the popular girl with the mean boyfriend — is seen throughout teen shows like “Riverdale,” and that’s where it should stay. It should not infiltrate reality television because the show ends up looking tone deaf. It’s impossible to believe Kevin’s claims that he is only looking out for Kelly’s best interests when he is so obviously sexualizing her. He is not encouraging her to seek individual therapy to help herself, instead, offering to replace one abusive boyfriend with another. If “Bling Empire” is to remain relevant or entertaining, it needs to decide what it wants to do: it can either delve into the vapidity of Hollywood, like the Kardashians have decided, or fully commit to their more serious plot lines, like the search for Kevin’s birth parents and the positions of wealthy minorities in white culture. This limbo that it currently exists in does nothing for the value of the show. It only makes it a weird hybrid between reality and fantasy. The caricatures of their real selves will only harm their reputation H and shows if they continue.■
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021
Magic, Next Gen
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and the X-Men universe;
predicting the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe MARGARITA MANZO Contributing Writer
THE MCU IS DESTINED TO EVOLVE ON BOTH THE LARGE AND SMALL SCREEN WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF PHASE FOUR.
Since its inception in the 1960s, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has transformed into elaborate movies, TV, video games and even podcast series. Marvel movies are broken down into interconnected phases: Phase One introduced the main players: Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye, Nick Fury and Black Widow. Phases Two and Three introduced other major players like Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, AntMan, Black Panther and others. They are all characters who played a role in the eventual arrival of the Infinity Stones, Thanos and the extinction and resurrection of half of the universe. With the end of a ten-year story arc, Phase Four has a clean slate, with almost all the major players taken out of focus. This phase will begin with “WandaVision,” “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier,” “Loki,” “Black Widow,” “What If?,” “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Eternals,” “Ms. Marvel’’ and others that have yet to be announced. The recent premiere of “WandaVision’’ on Disney+ has given viewers a glimpse into the new story arc the MCU is aiming for. Previous iterations of Marvel’s shows and movies were more closely tied into science with hints of magic but “WandaVision” leans more heavily on the magical elements of the universe. The previous three phases of the MCU established the worldbuilding and lore of the Marvel universe while the next set of phases lay itself out like the middle of a book. All of the upcoming films and movies are based on secondary characters who, in the first half, were mostly sidelined for the sake of its main characters, as audiences saw with Sam Wilson going from being Falcon to becoming handed over the Captain America mantle. The MCU’s style of storytelling will not be the only major change; marketing tactics will also transform. Marvel’s TV shows during its first
three phases were spread out on various platforms, primarily Netflix and Marvel. Shows like “The Punisher,” “Jessica Jones,” “The Defenders” and “Luke Cage” got cancelled by the end of it’s first season or mostly fell under the radar. “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” was the exception, mostly because it had an active impact on the film franchise. The pilot and first season of “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D,” for example, is centered around solving the mystery around Phil Coulson’s resurrection, who was killed in the first “Avengers” film by Loki. This time around, the company is taking full advantage of it’s clean slate and exclusive streaming platform, Disney+. “WandaVision,” for example, is taking full advantage of its exclusivity and established audience. The first couple of episodes were vague and disjointed, which would completely disinterest anyone who wasn’t already invested in the Marvel franchise. They don’t have to focus so much at this point on building up a target demographic since they have ten years worth of an established audience. From a business standpoint, allowing creative liberty and investing endless amounts of marketing is an almost guaranteed profit. Part of the creative liberty allotted to them will come from the more TV-centric Marvel products. TV storylines would allow for more character driven plots as opposed to the usual environment driven forces that pushed the characters from point A to B to C and so on, the Marvel formula they are famous for. For example, in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” Captain America is motivated by an external factor — being given a flash drive and marked as a fugitive for its information that he is unwilling to divulge. In comparison, the plot of “WandaVision” is motivated all around Wanda’s internal struggles and the grief around the death of Vision, which is shown externally by the town of Westview she traps everyone in. The changes in her emotions shaped by this tragedy drives every aspect of the
plot, episode to episode. From a business perspective, Marvel’s plan to produce TV properties as opposed to box-office films stems in part as a reaction to the pandemic that began early last year. With the smaller cast and crew that comes with television production, it keeps them relatively unaffected. TV shows as a whole are also good with keeping the audience’s attention held longer as they anticipate the weekly airing of the next episode. With Phase Four’s projections, there is already talk about Phase Five. In 2019, Disney and Fox merged, and therefore Marvel and Fox merged. There is confirmation of the Fantastic Four and it is speculated that eventually the X-Men will enter the fold. The only way I can see how these connections would be accomplished is through Wanda Maximoff. In “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Quicksilver and Wanda were introduced, and at around the same time, Fox’s iteration of Quicksilver appeared in the mutant universe. With the recent success of “WandaVision” on Disney+ and Marvel’s acquisition of Fox’s Marvel properties, the MCU is destined to grow and evolve in its storytelling on both the small H and large screen. ■
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It’s time to move away from the Jedi — the ‘Star Wars’ universe is bigger than the force ROBERT GOLD Contributing Writer
“Star Wars” fans are ecstatic that Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) will be getting his own spinoff on Disney+, “The Book of Boba Fett,” after having appeared on a few episodes of “The Mandalorian.” Temuera Morrison, the face of the clone army, will probably be appearing all over the “Star Wars” universe with the release of several other “Star Wars” Disney+ TV shows, including “Ashoka,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi’’ and “Rangers of the New Republic.” These new programs will explore multiple eras of the “Star Wars” galaxy. Boba is the perfect character for a spinoff because as an antihero, he has the potential to be complex, unpredictable and compelling all at the same time. Bounty hunters in the “Star Wars” universe are not bound by codes of morality like the Jedi. Characters like Aurra Sing and Cad Bane are more attuned to Samuel Jackson’s characters in “Pulp Fiction” and “The Hateful Eight.” A Boba Fett TV series is the closest thing we’ll ever get to
a “Star Wars” spaghetti Western directed by Quentin Tarintino. Boba Fett breaks our traditional understanding of what a science fiction protagonist is supposed to be. The Jedi are boring. They always do the right thing, unless they’re name is Anakin Skywalker. While the Jedi occasionally travel through the underworld, they don’t exist in a seedy underworld where scum and villainy abode. Their world is clean, prestigious and filled with Trade Federation Senate negotiations. It’s boring. The “Star Wars” universe is so much bigger than the Jedi. Let’s get away from lightsabers and explore the criminal underworld of this everexpanding universe. Antiheroes’ storylines are less predictable, and Boba’s character as a protagonist is unpredictable. He has the ability to do the right thing, which is not outside his
character arc. But Boba is also written in such a way that he could very well do the wrong thing, and that too would feel deserved. When Tobey Maguire played
you’ve established a character as the ultimate do-gooder. When you make your protagonists these one dimensional sticks who can do no wrong, it’s not only unnatural and unrealistic, it’s boring. Antiheroes are more compelling as they remind us more of ourselves because they are internally flawed. When a good guy like Superman does the right thing, we feel like we’ve been given a generic ending, or we feel satisfied that the film ended in the predictable superhero fashion. If a bad guy does the right thing, like in “Baby Driver” or “Guardians of the Galaxy,” we feel COURTESY OF DISNEY PLATFORM DISTRIBUTION emotionally jarred. black suit Spider-Man in “Spider- We see ourselves in these flawed Man 3,” fans revolted at the sight antiheroes. Our hearts break of Spider-Man trying to kill his when they do the right thing. It best friend and watching civilians makes us see the human side of get mugged and doing nothing ourselves, the part of us that’s but shrugging his shoulders and flawed but has the potential for chuckling to himself. It’s hard good. It makes us feel like maybe to break character molds once we’re not passed that point of
WITH A VAST UNIVERSE OF PLANETS, SPECIES, TECHNOLOGY, SPACESHIPS AND TIMELINES, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF STAR WARS TALES YET UNTOLD. redemption in our own lives. Traditional heroes can’t make us feel like this because they always do the right thing. Our protagonist doing the right thing is only emotionally impactful if we are used to seeing them do the wrong thing. That hits home. That hits the heart. “The Book of Boba Fett,” set to premiere in December 2021, has the potential to expand this universe. Most protagonists in the “Star Wars” universe aside from Lando, Han and Anakin follow a strict moral code. Boba Fett also doesn’t have a lightsaber, which is a new trait in the “Star Wars” universe. Bringing in Ashoka to Mando’s lightsaberless series was a bad move, for just as the “Star Wars” universe was starting to move away from the Jedi, it took a full swing back into its traditional tropes. Boba Fett, a lightsaber-less and morally questionable bounty hunter, has the potential to eternally change the face of Star Wars forever. Hopefully, a successful Boba Fett TV series will show future “Star Wars” writers that the “Star Wars” universe is so much bigger H than a glowing sword. ■
Sports 12
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021
UCR Athletics looks to the future as Big West resumes spring 2021 gameplay SILVIA FERRER Managing Editor
On Jan. 29, the Big West Conference announced in an official press release that 2021 gameplay would return for the sports of baseball, softball, men’s volleyball and women’s water polo. These news come at an opportune time for UC Riverside, who is transitioning into a change of leadership with new Interim Athletic Director Wes Mallette and is still discussing whether formal athletics will remain at the university. The Big West is making this step forward with their focus still remaining on the “health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes and we will continue to evaluate the pandemic’s effect on our ability to provide a safe environment for competition,” said Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly. As such, the schedule format has changed, contests have been limited and all institutions will continue to adhere to health guidelines and COVID-19 testing protocols. In an email interview with The Highlander, Mallette stated that their sports medicine and performance team will continue to work closely with the campus to ensure that they are in “compliance with, and adhering to,
SPORTS
UCR ATHLETICS CONTINUES TO MANAGE THE UNCERTAINTY OF COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS AND SAFE RECOMMENCEMENT OF SPRING SPORTS WHILE STILL FACING POSSIBLE EXTINCTION.
all recommended and required testing and safety protocols (which includes UCR, Riverside County, State of California and CDC guidelines).” Game day protocols have changed to accomodate for health and safety guidelines, Mallette explained, stating that they are “adhering to COVID-19 testing protocols for all involved, changing our game day protocols accordingly to ensure the safety of the working staff and student-athletes in the arena … following all cleaning protocols, and making sure we are communicating at every turn.” Additionally, the Athletics team has to be prepared to make changes at a moment’s notice, from being prepared in the event a game is canceled to being ready to play in case the opportunity to play arises. “All plays a major role,” Mallette said. “Everything across our landscape has changed, but we are adapting.” Mallette continued to state that studentathletes in both women’s and men’s basketball teams have been doing an outstanding job in complying with health guidelines. “We expect the same will be the case once our spring sports return for practice and competition shortly,” he stated. “We are incredibly proud of how our
UCR demonstrates great team unity in Game 2 against California State University, Fullerton AFTER GAINING AN EARLY LEAD IN THE FIRST HALF, THE HIGHLANDERS GATHER ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THEMSELVES. KEVIN CONTRERAS Assistant Sports Editor
UCR’s women’s basketball team won their second game against California State University Fullerton (CSUF) on Saturday, Feb. 6. In a show of force, the Highlanders came in off the momentum generated by Game 1, coming away with a 15-point deficit. The Highlanders opened up the scoreboard after freshman forward Kari Kyrkjebo stole the ball and drove it into the basket with an easy layup. The Titans replied with a solid jumper. UCR then went on the attack, going on an 8-0 run. CSUF managed to sneak in another shot, leaving the scoreboard 10-4 in the first five minutes of the game. CSUF tried to stay in the game but ended up sending UCR to the charity stripe. Junior forward Bryanna Brady successfully shot both free throws. The Titans attempted to get a run going, scoring two back-to-back shots before the Highlanders managed to get in another shot. With the scoreboard now 12-8, UCR went on a 5-1 run in the last two minutes of the quarter. UCR finished ahead 17-9. Going into the second quarter of the game, the Highlanders were able to find their rhythm in an effort to extend their lead. As they tightened up, UCR forced CSUF into a six minute drought. The Highlanders went on an 8-0 run until Joy Krupa, the senior forward from CSUF, halted their charge. This prompted a 6-0 run from the Titans, leaving the scoreboard 25-17 with under two minutes left in the first half. A solid 3-pointer from UCR’s freshman forward Suzan Kinran prompted CSUF’s sophomore forward Kathryn Neff to score a 3-pointer of her own. UCR managed to gain another 2 points before ending the first half on top 30-20. Despite the Titan’s consistency in the second half, the gap created in the first 20 minutes of the game proved to be too wide. Both teams went head to head in the first three minutes of the third quarter, each gaining 4 points. CSUF tried to break away,
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going on a 6-0 run before being stopped with another 3-pointer from Kinran, leaving the score 37-30, UCR still on top. Both teams went head-to-head again, each gaining 4 more points. Again, UCR managed to sneak in another 2 points in the last five seconds before the end of the quarter. UCR managed to stay ahead 45-34 before heading into the final 10 minutes of the game. UCR came in strong into the final quarter of the game, going on a 6-0 run before CSUF could score. CSUF replied with a layup, UCR got in 2 points of their own. The Titans got another 2 points which prompted the Highlanders to go on another 7-0 run before the Titans could score again. This helped cement UCR’s lead 60-40. With just under three minutes left in the game, there wasn’t much left for the Titans to do. They managed to go on a 9-4 run, but it was too little too late. UCR won the game 94-49. The Highlanders improved significantly in comparison to last week’s game. Shooting at 49% in field goals and scoring 76.9% from the free-throw line. They also managed to force CSUF to turnover the ball 23 times, allowing UCR to score 26 points off those turnovers. The charge was led this week by sophomore guard Georgia Ohiaeri who gathered 14 points. Coach Nicole Powell praised her team’s ability to perform despite everything presently happening in UCR’s press release. “I am really proud of this team and those aren’t empty words. We really have been through a lot of adversity, and this team has a lot going on; midterms, the pandemic, real life, and on top of that we have been hit with a few injuries. We have had to pivot and adjust this weekend.” She continued, “I couldn’t be prouder of this group for keeping their heads on their shoulders, especially in the middle of the grind of the season. Right now, we need some rest so we can prepare to get back out there!” The women’s basketball team will get back out there on Feb. 12 and 13 against the H University of California, Irvine. ■
team in Athletics continues to respond in real time to keep our student-athletes safe and competing in the most challenging of times. This is a program our university, the city of Riverside and the Inland Empire can and should be proud of,” he continued. It is this flexibility and commitment to the program that may eventually be the saving grace of UCR Athletics as they battle to continue operating on campus during such uncertain times. Mallette stated that UCR Athletics has continued to communicate and work closely with the Athletics Working Group, the task force assigned with recommending whether the collegiate athletics program will remain in function for the future. They have continued to work with campus leadership, donors, students, student organizations, campus partners and Athletics stakeholders as well. “Now more than ever, universities are faced with challenges that are quite daunting, so it is important we continue to work together to find positive solutions that benefit our students and others who are potentially impacted,” he stated. In addition to working to establish and follow health and safety guidelines and training players for competition, UCR Athletics stated that they place the same critical importance on academic success and involvement on campus and in the community. “Our teams are
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playing well, winning and competing at a high level. Academically, our studentathletes are achieving at a very high level with a cumulative GPA above 3.1 right now. In addition, nearly 70% of our student-athletes have a GPA above a 3.0,” stated Mallette. Thirty studentathletes achieved a 4.0 GPA this past fall, and UCR’s soccer team was awarded the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award in September for academic excellence. Mallette stated that these factors all contributed to “building a strong Athletics program.” Although UCR Athletics is facing possible extinction as UCR deals with the detrimental effects the pandemic has had on their budget, they are working toward “long-term sustainability” that ties into their current sustainability plan and the numerous factors involved with keeping UCR Athletics in a position to thrive long term, not only on campus, but any intercollegiate program. “Everything we do with respect to how we operate across the board in Intercollegiate Athletics is important. We are incredibly proud to represent UC Riverside and this is an honor and privilege none of us take lightly. Our ability to compete safely — especially during this time and represent UCR on the court, field, track and course — is everything,” finished Mallette.■ H
UCR women’s basketball team win in dominating fashion over California State University Fullerton A THIRD QUARTER SURGE PROPELS THE HIGHLANDERS OVER THE TITANS. HANSEL CHU Contributing Writer
After losing the last two games to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the UCR women’s basketball team bounced back with a dominating win against Cal State University, Fullerton (CSUF) on Friday, Feb. 5. A third quarter run from UCR ultimately put the game away, and combined with their suffocating defense, the Highlanders won in convincing fashion. The Highlanders started the game with a 5-2 lead; however, both teams started slow and sloppy, as both UCR and CSUF committed 3 turnovers apiece. UCR began to play much better as senior Keilanei Cooper scored 5 quick points off the bench to give the Highlanders a 13-8 lead to end the first quarter. The defense for the Highlanders also stepped up to end the quarter, forcing the Titans to commit 7 turnovers in the opening quarter, which led to 9 points of turnovers. The second quarter was a back-andforth battle between the Highlanders and Fullerton’s Titans, as both teams traded baskets throughout the quarter. It was the Keilanei Cooper show for the Highlanders in the second quarter, as she scored 9 of the 14 points put up by UCR in the quarter. A 3-pointer and midrange jumper from senior guard Cooper gave the Highlanders a 2721 lead going into halftime. Cooper carried the Highlander offense with 14 points and 3 rebounds off the bench. The defense also stifled the Titan’s offense to 31% from the field and 17% from 3-point range. In the third quarter, the Highlanders saw their lead cut to 2, as a layup from the Titan’s Carolyn Gill cut the lead 29-27. This would be the closest Cal State Fullerton would get in the second half, as the Highlanders responded with a roaring 14-2 run, blowing
the game up open 43-29. Joy Campbell led the charge with a couple buckets and steals, and Suzan Kinran and Bryanna Brady had contributing buckets that helped the Highlanders on this run. A 3-pointer from Cooper gave the Highlanders a 14-point lead before a 3-pointer from the Titan’s Gabi Vidmar finally stopped the bleeding for CSUF. A beautiful pass by Campbell to Brady for the layup with nine seconds remaining saw the Highlanders up 45-32 to end the third quarter. In the third quarter, the Highlander defense forced 5 turnovers, which led to 7 points off turnovers for UCR. In the fourth quarter, CSUF ramped up their defensive intensity, forcing UCR to commit 6 turnovers and holding them to 25% from the field. However, it proved to be too late as the Highlanders were able to hold onto the lead. A layup from the Highlanders’ Kari Kyrkjebo put the Highlanders up by 17 points, 53-36, the largest lead of the game that sealed the game away. A pair of made free throws by Campbell at the end of the game gave UCR the win 55-43 over CSUF. “I am really proud of the team tonight ... Everyone who was able played for us tonight, which was great to see,” said Head Coach Nicole Powell after the game. “I’m so proud and think things are coming together really well for this team.” The Highlanders were led by an offensive outburst from Cooper, who finished with 19 points and 3 rebounds. Joy Campbell stuffed the statistics sheet with 6 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals. However, it was the defense that gave the Highlanders the dominating win, as the defense held the Titans to an ice cold 31% from the field and 14.3% from 3-point range, as well as forcing 15 turnovers. The Highlanders improved their record to 6-7 as they take on UC Irvine next Friday, Feb.12 and Saturday, Feb.13 in H Irvine.■