THE HIGHLANDER
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
est. 1954
FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
VOL. 67, ISSUE 30
Emerbee’s, a new cafe on campus, is set to open in spring 2019
National Science Foundation grants UCR and Riverside schools $1.19 million to address air quality
AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer
( M R B ) . E m e r b e e ’s , s t a t e d E i s e n s t e i n , is a play on words of MRB. According to Eisenstein, UCR Housing, Dining & Hospitality Services wanted to c r e a t e a p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h U C R ’s Department of Entomology which is also what inspired the name and t h e m e o f E m e r b e e ’s .
The National Science Foundation (NSF), a U.S. government agency that supports research and education in the nonmedical fields of science and engineering, recently awarded UCR and the Riverside Unified School District a grant of $1.19 million in order to provide a high school curriculum t h a t a d d r e s s e s a i r q u a l i t y. The grant will create the Riverside Air Monitoring Project (RAMP) which will provide curriculum that will educate students on air pollution as well as the health impacts of pollution.
► SEE EMERBEE PAGE 4
► SEE GRANT PAGE 6
EVA FUENTES-LOPEZ/ HIGHLANDER
AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer
E m e r b e e ’s , a n e w d i n i n g f a c i l i t y, i s set to open on campus tentatively the w e e k o f J u n e 3 , h o w e v e r, t h e o p e n i n g date is not yet confirmed. I n a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h t h e H i g h l a n d e r, Benjamin Eisenstein, the marketing and strategic communications
manager for UCR Housing, Dining & Hospitality Services, stated that d u e t o t h e r a p i d g r o w t h o f U C R ’s campus, new dining facilities are needed to keep up with the increased population. Eisenstein stated that the name of the dining facility was inspired by their close vicinity to the Multidisciplinary Research Building
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HUMANS OF UCR
UPCOMING EVENTS: WEEK 9
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Japanese Taiko Drumming Demonstration 12:00pm to 1:00pm Arts Building, ARTS Building Amphitheatre Steps
Tuesday Talk - Family Talk 5:00pm to 6:00pm Costo Hall , 245
APSP Womxn’s Program Presents: API Beautify 12:00pm to 1:00pm APSP Office, 244 Costo Hall
UCR Music Wednesday@Noon Performance: Highlanders LOVE Bagpipes! 12:10 – 1:00 P.M. Performance Lab, ARTS 166
Critiques of Violence/Languages of Critique 2:30pm to 6:30pm CHASS Interdisciplinary South, 1113
Glow Stick Challenge Course 7:00pm to 10:00pm Student Recreation Center (SRC), Challenge Course
PSUSD: Showcase Art Exhibition 5:00pm to 7:00pm Palm Desert Center, B Lobby 75080 Frank Sinatra Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92211
UCR Chamber Music Ensembles and UCR Choral Society 8:00pm to 9:30pm Arts Building, Performance Lab, ARTS 166
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Black Graduation 2019 4:00pm to 6:00pm Student Recreation Center (SRC)
Twilight Carillon Recital 6:00pm to 7:30pm UCR Bell Tower
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Raza Graduation 2019 1:30pm to 5:45pm SRC
Inland Empire Network: Dinner and Tour at the Mission Inn 5:30pm to 8:45pm Mission Inn
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cool and rewarding experience watching him grow up. By the time I’m 30, he’s going to turn 18. It’s going to be hard since we were born so far apart; we’ll be entering completely different phases of our lives, but I hope to be able to stick with him and help him out along the way.”
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Entomology ENTM250 Seminar Fernanda Valdovinos 4:10pm Genomics Building, 1102A
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TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
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Emerbee’s, a new cafe on campus, is set to open in spring 2019 AMANI MAHMOUD, SENIOR STAFF WRITER
► FROM EMERBEE
Within the department of entomology, there is the Center for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER). Eisenstein stated, “We knew we wanted to use their honey in our menu items. We wanted to help them save the bees and we wanted to integrate the word bees into our name.” A portion of each sale at Emerbee’s benefits CIBER. “A healthy bee population strengthens our shared ecosystem, so we are happy to do our part to save the bees,” stated Eisenstein. Their official story states, “By enjoying Emerbee’s and, in turn, supporting the study of bees, you strengthen our shared ecosystem. Thank you for helping to preserve our world, one bee at a time,” The entomology department will have a dedicated display case which Eisenstein stated will allow the department to “tell whatever story they want. They can advertise anything bee related, any save the bees events or just advertise the research that they do.” Emerbee’s will be a paninifocused concept that will serve meals for breakfast and lunch and will open at 7:30 a.m. most days and remain open until 9:00 p.m. In an interview with the Highlander, Julie Zeno, the manager of Emerbee’s, stated that the dining residence halls on campus close at 8:30 p.m. so they are hoping their closing time of 9:00 p.m. will prompt students to visit. Zeno stated, “We’re hoping that students know that we are open
late and that they can visit us after they work out or after their late night classes.” They will serve Starbucks and the menu will be rounded out by signature Emer-Treats and signature drinks. The staff for Emerbee’s is currently being trained and will learn how to prepare the menu items that Emerbee’s will sell. The menu, which is subject to change, will include items infused with honey that is produced through the department of entomology. They will sell a variety of paninis including Cuban, vegan with jackfruit, roasted turkey and smoked gouda. The menu will also feature harvest egg and cheese wraps and more. Dessert menu items will include Emer-Tart desserts which come in flavors such as cherry, blueberry, chocolate banana and brown sugar cinnamon. Additional menu items will include a Singapore noodle salad, a black bean salad with cilantro lime vinaigrette and roasted butternut squash, a steak melt with roasted tomatoes and sweet onion and add-ons such as tofu, shrimp and chicken. Breakfast items will include: stuffed french toast, a monte cristo panini, avocado and peanut butter and jelly toast and an egg and chorizo panini. They will also serve drinks such as: espresso, iced coffees, coffees, teas, smoothies, frappuccinos and others. Emerbee’s will have room for studying and lounging, with 1,000 square feet of umbrella-
covered tables and chairs. It will seat about 20 students at five tables with umbrellas. Eisenstein stated, “We’re excited to discover the atmosphere after we open … there is plenty of room for the campus community to study and socialize.” Emerbee’s will accept dining dollars, bear bucks and dining gift cards. The 600-squarefoot kitchen and servery features an ordering window and a pickup
window. Digital menu boards will sit above the pickup windows. During the day and night, a light will shine a bee logo near the ordering window. Eisenstein stated that their neighbors at MRB will be staff of a new life sciences incubator and their neighbors at MSE will include students in large lecture halls. “We’re hoping both these communities will congregate
EVA FUENTES-LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER
at Emerbee’s and make it a truly special experience,” stated Eisenstein. “This is the first entirely new dining concept that has opened on campus since 2014 with the Market at Glen Mor. We are matching the exciting growth that campus is seeing and we think the campus community is definitely ready for us. We will be ready for them,” stated Eisenstein. ■H
“‘By enjoying Emerbee’s and, in turn, supporting the study of bees, you strengthen our shared ecosystem. Thank you for helping to preserve our world, one bee at a time,’”
EVA FUENTES-LOPEZ/ HIGHLANDER
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NEWS
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
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ASUCR
CAMERON SADEGHI Senior Staff Writer
ASUCR revises two chapters in bylaws
The eighth ASUCR Senate meeting of the quarter started at 6:37 p.m. on May 22. Elections Director Laura Pullen submitted new revisions for the chapter seven bylaw regarding the elections code. Pullen’s motive for revision of the election code is to make the election process more efficient. Filing for candidacy will be condensed into one Google Form submission instead of a packet of papers. According to Pullen, this will be more efficient because a candidate’s information can be submitted all at once. Another change to the election code regards posters. Any item on a wall will be classified as a poster including stickers. Pullen also added an amendment on funding from organizations. The elections director noted that fundraising from organizations supported by student fees will not be allowed during the election. Chapter 11 of the ASUCR bylaws outlines the duties of the vice president of internal affairs. Jose CortezHernandez, the current vice president of internal affairs, revised certain aspects of chapter 11. Cortez-Hernandez added responsibilities for the academic affairs committee during midterms was one of the revisions. He stated, “The academic affairs committee would go through the libraries during weeks four through six and hand out test materials to the students. This way, academic affairs can
be busy during the middle of the quarter, not just the final weeks of the quarter,” stated Cortez-Hernandez. Revisions to chapter seven and chapter 11 could not be approved by the senate because they did not meet quorom. The meeting concluded with several
announcements. A mental health event will be taking place on UCR’s campus. CHASS Senator Chelsea Davenport mentioned the Mental Health Faire on June 5 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in HUB 302. Davenport told senators at the meeting: “If you have extra money in
LYDIA TSOU/ HIGHLANDER
your senator accounts and you would like to put it towards the mental health fair, we would desperately appreciate that.” No public comments were made during this meeting. ASUCR bylaws can be found on the ASUCR website. The meeting adjourned at 7:11 p.m. ■H
UCR celebrates official grand opening of Wellness Express Vending Machine ANTONIO VELAOCHAGA Contributing Writer
LYDIA TSOU / HIGHLANDER
On May 24, Planned Parenthood Generation Action (PPGA) organized a special event for the grand opening of the Wellness Express Convenient Contraceptive and More. The safesex vending machine was installed in the Student Recreation Center (SRC) North building on April 24. The event lasted from 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. The safe-sex vending machine contains a variety of safesex products such as condoms, tampons, pads, pregnancy tests, pain and allergy relief, pregnancy tests and more. A stand with pamphlets on sexual reproduction, health resources and other information regarding sex is beside the safe-sex vending machine as well. According to PPGA copresident, Elizabeth Kavianian, the grand opening was meant to celebrate the work done to install the safe-sex machine and “recognize those who had done it.” Kavianian remarked that the vending machine was a “huge step” in supporting student access on campus. She added, “This vending machine provides an additional option for our campus community that will enable students to make safe and healthy decisions about their bodies, their sexual lives and their health.” PPGA, The Well and the Student Resource Center worked together to get the safe-sex vending machine installed on campus since spring
quarter. In a collaborative effort, they installed UCR’s first safe-sex vending machine next to the racquetball courts in the SRC. Around 40 people attended the event. Many of them were members of PPGA, the Well and resource centers at UCR. The event had a podium to give staff and individuals a chance to voice their celebration of the achievement that they had made. Water and goodie bags filled with pens, letter openers, chapstick and candy were handed out to all who attended. The speakers included Kavianian, Marisol Torres from The Well, Director of the Women’s Resource Center Denise Davis, Vania Del Villar from PPGA, Karla Reyes from PPGA, Stephanie Orozco from PPGA and Sufiya Manju from PPGA. California Assembly members also sent representatives to honor the achievements of these organizations such as Sabrina Cervantes, Jose Medina and Senator Richard Roth. “We are excited to support this Wellness Express initiative on campus that allows students the ability to purchase items long after stores have closed and regardless of transportation,” stated Davis. Torres said, “We are supporting this project as a student-led and data-driven project that helps improve access to health services on campus.” After the speakers were finished, everyone walked to the safe-sex vending machine and did a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the Wellness Express Convenient Contraceptive and More. ■H
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TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
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UCR receives $2.5 million grant for first wet lab incubator in Inland Empire
AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer
CAMERON SADEGHI Senior Staff Writer
UCR has received a $2.5 million grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to obtain equipment for the first wet lab incubator in the Inland Empire. The wet lab incubator is 3,000 square feet and is centrally located on the first floor of the Multidisciplinary Research Building (MRB). The wet lab incubator will be equipped to accommodate regional companies in the life science, agriculture biotechnology and medical technologies. In an interview with the Highlander, David Pearson, the managing director of Entrepreneurial Programs at UCR’s Office of Technology Partnerships stated that approximately $1 million from the grant is allotted for equipment for the wet lab incubator. The incubator, according to Pearson, will house about 15 job-creating startup companies from UCR and the Inland Empire. Pearson stated that this grant will have an impact on students at UCR because it will allow startup companies to provide more opportunities for students. The wet lab incubator, stated Pearson, will help student entrepreneurs through the use of Creat’R Lab, a space at UCR where students can learn experiment, design and create. According to the Office of Technology Partnerships at UCR, residents will have access to core laboratory and equipment facilities in the building and campus specialized facilities. Residents will also have the chance to interact and collaborate with UCR researchers, faculty and students to increase the number of entrepreneurial opportunities. They will also have access to specialized UCR campus resources such as the vivaria, imaging, sequencing and other core facilities. Residents of the wet lab incubator will also have access to the UCR SBIR Resource Center to, “facilitate the submission of research commercialization proposals for non dilutive funding,” according to the Office of Technology Partnerships. Pearson stated that he believes that this grant is overall a great opportunity for students and a solid project for UCR. ■H
LYDIA TSOU / HIGHLANDER
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National Science Foundation grants UCR and Riverside schools $1.19 million to address air quality ► FROM GRANT
LYDIA TSOU / HIGHLANDER
Cecilia Cheung, an assistant professor of psychology at UCR, will work with high school science teachers in Riverside to create new lessons that incorporate topics about air quality. Cheung stated in an interview with the Highlander that this project will also provide a platform to conduct research on teaching, student motivation and STEM engagement. UCR’s Center for Environmental Research & Technology (CE-CERT) will be involved in curriculum development and will provide training for teachers on air quality issues and technology, such as how to use air quality monitors. Cheung stated, “We are hoping to increase students’ awareness of environmental challenges (e.g., poor air quality) pertinent to their daily lives, and to get them excited about learning science and STEM career opportunities.” Among other things, Cheung will be conducting research on teacher and student engagement in the new curriculum and assist in curriculum development and teacher training. She stated, “The data my team collects will help us better understand how we can link locally-relevant environmental issues to teaching and learning about science.” The program will be implemented at high schools in the Riverside Unified School District starting in the fall of 2020. Funding for the program will extend until Jan. 31, 2022. ■H
Opinions
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OPINIONS
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
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HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL
Trump’s frivolous pardoning practices underscore issues with current pardoning system
COURTESY OF JULIAN MASON, FLICKR
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rump pardoned fellow billionaire Conrad Black on May 15, 2019, with very little explanation. The pardon allegedly came as a surprise to the media mogul, who was convicted of fraud back in July of 2007. More perceptive individuals may have seen this coming, however, as Black has had only positive things to say about the current president in recent years. So many positive things to say, in fact, that he went so far as to write the current president’s biography, referring to him as “a president like no other” in the title. To an outside observer, this pardoning appears to be the product of favoritism, bringing to mind the recent pardoning of former sheriff Joe Arpaio, another individual eager to express his support for Trump, who was convicted of criminal contempt for his vicious handling of undocumented immigrants back in August of 2017. Trump’s habit of pardoning individuals who are vocally supportive of him has made one thing clear: if this system is to be improved, the president should not be able to pardon people he has a history with.
Pardonings like Black’s set a bad standard for the writing community. The current message being broadcasted to journalists suggests that sycophantic authors can praise the president should they ever encounter legal trouble and expect clemency in return. Political journalists should not be making friends with their current president. They are supposed to be impartial observers who report on current events without bias. Feeding the president’s ego should not be the go-to option for convicts looking for absolution of their crimes. It is also worth noting that, at the time of writing this editorial, Trump is looking into pardoning several war criminals in time for Memorial Day. United States officials have gone on record stating that the president has already requested the required paperwork and that some of the men soon to be pardoned are still awaiting sentencing. Trump should not be mass pardoning war criminals without a detailed explanation, and the fact that he seems eager to pardon them prior to their sentencing indicates a blatant disregard for what little structure the pardoning process currently
has. When criticizing the pardoning system, it should be pointed out that this issue is not at all exclusive to Trump’s administration. Presidents on both sides of the party line have been conducting shady pardons for years now. Bill Clinton granted clemency to his brother back in 2001 who was convicted for possession of cocaine and Gerald Ford fully pardoned Richard M. Nixon a month after taking office in 1974. This issue has been woefully overlooked for years, but egregious examples like Black and the aforementioned war criminals should serve as a wake-up call to curb this aspect of the president’s power. As executive power increases, pardoning will only get further out of hand if it is not contained here and now. A more defined path to pardoning could help resolve the issue. Perhaps, after the convicted individual has asked for executive clemency, the president could then decide to pardon said individual before turning the final decision over to Congress for a vote. Following that line of reasoning, it is also important to keep in mind that using the United States
Congress as an intermediary layer for pardoning could slow down the process significantly, possibly harming the deserving and desperate individuals who are waiting for the lifeline. A non-partial, smaller third party could also serve as that second layer to the pardoning process. A Robert Mueller type individual with the expressed intent of ensuring justice, regardless of the convicted person’s political alignment, may be exactly what the system needs — hopefully putting an end to this partisan polarization. Another possible answer may lie in the imposition of a numerical limit to the number of pardons a president can perform throughout their term. This limit would effectively preserve the president’s right to pardon individuals they find deserving of clemency while discouraging them from exercising the power without careful forethought. This will ensure that those pardoned are more likely deserving of the gift. New York is working on its own solution to the pardoning problem. The state assembly passed a bill this past Tuesday that allows for the prosecution of
certain convicts regardless of whether or not the president pardoned them. This serves as not only a step in the right direction, but an example of what can be done in order to circumvent this issue of unnecessary pardoning. The bill itself is meant to rewrite the state double-jeopardy laws, which might provide prosecutors with an angle to pursue convicted individuals who worked directly with the president, rendering any past pardons irrelevant. One way or another, some sort of limitation on the presidential pardoning process is absolutely necessary. The fact that this issue is only being brought to light now is a huge oversight on the part of the media. A reformation of current U.S. law may be in the works, but until that legislation passes, Trump and future presidents would do well to be mindful of what their citizens want. They reserve the right to pardon whoever they see fit for now, but that may not be the case forever. ■H Highlander editorials reflect the majority view of the Highlander Editorial Board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Associated Students of UCR or the University of California system.
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TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
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OPINION POLL Compiled by Lydia Tsou Staff Photographer
“Should the president be allowed to pardon his friends?”
Destiny Tran Sustainability Third-year
Dolores Magdaleno Sustainability Second-year
“I don’t think so. I feel like they knew what they were doing was wrong. They should be punished fully just like anyone else. It’s not fair to anyone else.. ”
“I don’t think he should, because a lot of the crimes those people committed wouldn’t be acceptable for others to be pardoned..”
Sara Garcia Environmental Engineering First-year “I don’t think he should be able to because it’s just so unfair. He has this ability to use it on his friends; it doesn’t seem presidential, but childish.”
Marco Malano Economics First-year
Allan Choi Religious Studies Second-year
Taylor Fix Computer Science First-year
“No, I don’t think he should, because he’s known to use his powers for selfish reasons. He puts himself before others. ”
“The most obvious answer is no, but one of the powers of a president is to be able to pardon. If he’s given that power, there’s nothing we can do about it. All in all, no he shouldn’t be.”
“Honestly, no, because it seems like a conflict of interest. Unless there’s a solid reason why, then he should not be able to.”
“Nuking” the Iran deal means an unstable and volatile world
ANDREAS RAUCH Staff Writer
Since President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA – the “Iran deal”) in May 2018, the world’s prospects for increased denuclearization and nonproliferation have decreased significantly. What had been a landmark agreement brokered by President Obama and, in a rare show of solidarity and agreement, supported by all five UN Security Council permanent members (plus Germany, leading to the moniker P5+1), was unilaterally vetoed by the world’s foremost guarantor of international stability and security. Trump’s withdrawal came with the usual justifications that dealing with a state sponsor of terrorism over nuclear weapons it should never be allowed to have is foolish. While it is true that this concern is valid insofar as nuclear weapons acquisition by any state should be prevented, and moreover one that represents a regional power trying to play politics in the unstable Middle East, there is no evidence that Iran has itself failed to uphold the agreement. Therefore, Trump’s refusal to hold the U.S. to its word without provocation has led to a loss of credibility in the eyes of the world and poses a significant risk of escalation in global tensions. The fact is that the nuclear deal is an important step in denying Iran nuclear capabilities and normalizing relations with the U.S., and that destroying this agreement can have serious repercussions in an already unstable and untrustworthy global arena. The stipulations of the JCPOA are intended to prevent Iran from pursuing various enrichment projects, which entail refining uranium to a level at which it can be used either for peaceful nuclear power production or, hypothetically, in the assembly of nuclear weapons. The U.S.’ prior policy towards Iran, hailing from the days of the regime change and establishment of the theocratic Islamic Republic, was to enact tough sanctions to
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economically cripple its adversary. Despite these sanctions and perhaps in order to improve their negotiating position, Iran sought uranium enrichment as a potential bargaining chip and self-defense endeavor. The JCPOA offered incentives in the form of economic aid and the cessation of sanctions, in exchange for enforced limitations on the centrifuges and nuclear material Iran was allowed. This would work to increase trust between both parties through slow and careful concessions, as well as provide a real mechanism to observe the Iranians’ adherence to the terms of the agreement. Critics of the deal were quick to argue that the treaty is rather flat, and toothless, as it allows for Iran to retain some nuclear capabilities. Admittedly, some stipulations were lenient, such as allowing Iran a stockpile of centrifuges large enough to produce nuclear weapons. In addition, the deal’s physical limitations on nuclear enrichment were enacted with a sunset period of 15 years, after which Iran could resume enrichment activities. While valid criticisms, the deal’s tougher stipulations render these rather insignificant. Iran is allowed
to pursue research, development and enrichment of its very limited nuclear material only at one facility, monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and must sell off or store any excess material in a way that is satisfactory to the P5+1 monitors. In addition, as a concession to the Iranians, the P5+1 will offer to help upgrade Iran’s facilities in a way that renders them safer and more modern while simultaneously making weapons-grade enrichment impossible. These clauses are the core of the restrictions placed on Iran’s capabilities, and they ensure that any work they have done thus far is halted in its tracks. By the time the aforementioned sunset period is over, Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities will be effectively neutered. Critics of the JCPOA further miss the point of the agreement in the first place: to immediately prevent Iran’s power grab and delay its potential capabilities at a time when the U.S. is losing its hegemonic power, which has long guaranteed relative stability across the globe. Already facing a resurgent Russia, an ascendant China and
its time-honored mix of regional challengers, the U.S. doesn’t need another adversary complicating its precarious position in the Middle East. Iran, as of now, is not a significant threat, although its pursuit of nuclear arms is certainly a signal of intent and future aspirations for nuclear power. The JCPOA is a masterful achievement of diplomacy that eliminates one more potential adversary while upholding the U.S.’ image as a guarantor of stability and it highlights the nation’s ability to work with those it doesn’t agree with for the sake of ultimate peace. Trump’s utter failure to grasp the intricacies of global realpolitik and his pandering to a hawkish base are weakening U.S. dominance over the world, a position that has been eked out in blood and over a century’s worth of diplomatic and military craft. At the end of the day, despite critics’ portrayal of the JCPOA as appeasement, the Iran deal is a geopolitical necessity. Failing to honor it accomplishes nothing, and only serves to throw a wrench into the hard work past administrations and the U.S.’ fellow UN members have put forth to secure a safer and more stable world. ■H
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OPINIONS
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
9
North Korea’s recent missile test signals that they are running out of patience
ESTHER CHOI Contributing Writer
On Saturday, May 4, Kim Jongun fired “missiles” in the air. The U.S. government responded by stating that Kim’s action did not violate their agreement to not launch intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) implying that North Korea didn’t do anything wrong. South Korea did not share this opinion, and interpreted the missiles as a threat and a violation of its agreement with North Korea to not take “hostile action” in which the projectiles flew from 43-149 miles. Many experts interpreted the recent missile drills as an emotional response. It is safe to take their opinion as truth because North Korea has proven to us in the past that they will quickly take action in response to an action or decision made by a country that they are unable to tolerate. For example, back in July 2006, North Korea went against their 1999 moratorium, which prevented them from testing medium and long-range missiles. This was their response to a sanction the Bush administration placed despite their effort to dismantle the nuclear plant. This clearly shows that North Korea has the tendency to react in a violent and threatening way. Following this logic, Kim’s actions may be an expression of frustration toward the U.S. Kim, who must be in a hurry to solve North Korea’s economic crisis, may have been running out of patience for President Trump to lift economic sanctions from the country. South Korea and U.S. leaders have responded to the incident with a fairly positive attitude, changing their verbiage when describing the missile incident, initially referring to them as “missiles” before later referring to them later as “small projectiles.” This is significant because it shows that South Korea is actively trying to stay on good diplomatic terms with North Korea . Kim’s actions have startled South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, and they have risked North Korea’s reputation as a reformed country. Kim took
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this risk because his country is in an economic crisis due to the many economic sanctions that prevent income from flowing into the country. Compounding that, the country is in dire need of food aid following last year’s harsh weather. North Korea, in general, has experienced unseasonable weather patterns throughout their history, but the recent severity of said weather has led to issues producing enough food to stave off starvation. Kim and President Donald Trump met on Feb. 28 of this year at a summit in Vietnam — their second
summit since 2018. The two world leaders held the summit in an effort to come to an agreement that both satisfies and positively affects both parties. Kim wanted some sanctions to be lifted, and in return he offered to partially denuclearize his power plant. President Trump was not satisfied with partially denuclearizing the power plant, insisting that he wants North Korea to completely denuclearize it. This led to both sides being unable to reach an agreement. Kim Jong-un seemed to be in a desperate hurry to make sure sanctions imposed on them
were lifted because of their food crisis — a crisis affecting about 40% of their population. Kim’s actions are not professional at all. A leader should not act according to his emotions, but rather step away from emotions and think rationally. Kim’s action could have led to further conflict. Similarly to a domino effect, losing diplomatic relations with South Korea and the U.S. could lead to many complications in North Korea, and those complications may result in further degradation of their economy. ■H
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FEATURES
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
Karamo Brown emphasizes the importance of accepting and loving yourself Christine Tran, Senior Staff Writer On Wednesday, May 22, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Residential Life and ASPB collaborated to present #UCRHIPTIP with Karamo Brown, moderated by social justice and LGBTQ activist Dr. Christopher Jackson. Students gathered inside the Pentland Bear Cave and were allowed to write down any questions they had for Brown before the beginning of the talk. Brown is an American author, activist, single father and television host and personality, well-known for his role as a culture and lifestyle expert in the Emmy award-winning 2018 Netflix reboot of the show “Queer Eye.” The show revolves around five experts who help people in the southern U.S. improve their lives. Each expert focuses on a different aspect of a person’s life, ranging from fashion to culture and lifestyle. The talk began with Brown stressing the importance of language; on “Queer Eye,” Brown and the other experts don’t use the term “makeover”
because it implies that there was something wrong with the way the person lived before. He also brought up how terms like “coming out” are outdated because it “gives others the power to accept or deny them as who they are.” “I’m really big on understanding language. I don’t like the fact that we tell LGBTQ people that they have to make these grand announcements about who they are and if we don’t it somehow says that I’m not proud of who I am,” said Brown. “I prefer using the phrase ‘letting people in’ because it encourages others to know that you have the power and the only person you’re worried about loving you is you.” Brown continued by delving deeper into his personal experiences growing up queer and African American in a predominantly white neighborhood and his time in college. As a child, Brown faced constant scrutinization of his parents because they were
immigrants from Jamaica and Cuba. He often found himself pressured to apologize and make excuses for his parent’s experiences in order to fit in. As Brown grew older, he began to face scrutiny like his parents did, but instead people were questioning how gay and black he was. At first, Brown downplayed his likes and interests that weren’t considered stereotypically black or gay enough but later came to realize that his behavior was feeding into an ignorant mindset and that other people’s opinions should not dictate who he is and what he loves to do. “When you find yourself about to hide a part of your identity or not highlight it because you’re scared of how people will perceive you, go back to the things that you love about it and use that as what you should say out loud,” advised Brown. Brown and Jackson ended the night by answering the questions students had prepared
for them. A recurring topic was improving mental health and the image that people have of themselves. Brown encouraged being outspoken with mental health the way people are with physical health, commenting on how people openly advertise their physical health, but close themselves off when it comes to their feelings. He also shared a method that he uses when he feels like he is “not good enough.” Brown said it helps to stop in the moment and ask where the feeling is coming from and from there, Brown backtracks and confronts the origins of his insecurities with positive thoughts. “When it comes to your selfesteem — your self-worth — it’s practice. If there is anything about yourself that you are thinking in your mind right now that you don’t like about you, it’s because you have been practicing for years telling yourself that. And the only way for you to change that is to practice positive thoughts,” shared Brown. ■H
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FEATURES
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Cafe
an easygoing night of acoustics and vocals, with a side of coffee By: Mark Bertumen, Senior Staff Writer
The stage was set — rather literally — in front of the HUB plaza tables for students to show their talents on Monday, May 20 at “Casa de Cafe” night, hosted by the Highlander Union. To the side of the stage, a Starbucks booth was giving out free coffee and snacks to students attending the event in accordance with the “Cafe” in “Casa de Cafe,” as a lineup of student artists both solo and in groups were ready to sing the night away. The night kicked off around 6 p.m. as student band Blueseason took the stage, with music major and guitarist Marwan, biology major and guitarist Norbu and philosophy major and singer Alex. Marwan said that their band is actually made up of seven people but that Casa de Cafe was a “one-off thing” for them, something decided out of spontaneity, and that they all wish to make careers in music. The night air was filled with the folksy sound of acoustic guitar strums and picks, now and then accompanied by Alex’s singing and backup from the other band members. The sound was not unlike that of campfire songs, especially when they played “Under the Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, a rather barebones song of guitar, singing and drumming. Being a “one-off thing” for Blueseason, the music they played at Casa de Cafe was light compared to their normal content. Alex is also a pianist, bassist, guitarist and drummer, and Noah, another band member, is the band’s “beloved metalhead.” But when only the un-amped six strings and singers remained, the end result was mellow tunes apt for winding down to at a day’s end. Next up on stage was Luis Ortiz, a thirdyear transfer student and sociology major, bringing with him only a guitar and his voice. He initially started out with the same folksy tone of the previous performance, but changed things up as he started singing oldies, including “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” by Elvis Presley and “Angel Baby” by Rosie and the Originals, centrally acoustic and vocal songs popular in the ‘60s.
Ortiz said that music he wants to play aims at “taking it back a notch,” as he enjoys slower music and finds that the lyrics of a song carry more weight than the music itself. He took his first guitar class in seventh grade and now, inspired by rhythm and blues, oldies, Bruno Major and his own emotions, Ortiz has come to a revelation: “I’ve been thinking about it lately, but now I want to compose my own original music, and I’m finally in the place to start doing it,” Ortiz reflected. At around 7:30 p.m. the night took a different turn from the calm nature it started out with as Sergio Sanchez Alcantara took the stage. Armed with amp, electric guitar and instrumental accompaniment from his phone, Alcantara turned the night’s tone from relaxed to head-thrashing metal, picking frets left and right as the strings wailed power chords out of the speakers. Alcantara describes the music he plays as a means of self-expression and stress relief, considering it his only escape from life’s difficulties. He especially admires bands that “can create an atmosphere and say things without saying them.” After Alcantara stepped down Alex Chen came up, putting another twist on the night — one of poetry. Chen presented to the crowd an assortment of his own works, each of which he said was meant to “provide commentary on conspiracy and forced beliefs. My poems originally came out of annoyance with beliefs of flat-earthers and the denial of climate change. I took those ideas and exaggerated them to the point of absurdity. I also threw lizards in there for some reason,” Chen joked. The night finished out with karaoke sessions from the remaining performers, because Lucas Lopez never showed up for his scheduled act, a group of students from the crowd decided to fill in for him, singing together a soulful Mexican tune. The impromptu performers Eric Ramirez, Iris
Chaves and CHASS Senator Angel Cuevas had actually just met in the crowd that night and collectively decided “why not” when considering to go on stage. As the end of the night neared Faith Meyer was up next, and sang a soulful and tender rendition of Lauren Daigle’s hit song “I Believe.” The night closed out as Andrew Salas sang just as spirited a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love.” The event ended at 9 p.m., with almost 200 students having come through to pick up coffee and watch the performances. ■H
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MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER
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UCR's MUN wins
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
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“Distinguished Delegation” and aims to continue success By: Martha Delgado, Staff Writer
UCR’s Model United Nations (MUN) team was awarded “Distinguished Delegation” at National Model United Nations (NMUN) - New York during spring break. The award was only given to the top 5% delegations at the conference. This was the second year in a row that UCR MUN has won the award after attending the event for 11 years. Each delegation is given a country and committee that they need to research in order to represent accurately at the conference. At NMUN New York, UCR’s team represented Ukraine and the Dominican Republic in the Security Council. In November, the delegation also won “Outstanding Delegation” at the NMUN Washington, D.C. and Xi’an, China conferences. The NMUN New York conference hosted over 1,500 and 3,000 students during each week respectively. According to the NMUN website, 42% of the participants at the conference were from the U.S. while 58% were international. Among the members that were recognized at the conference was second-year political science and international affairs double major Merce Gerdes, who won a committee award for her leadership and communication skills while representing Ukraine in the UN Environmental Assembly. Subham Barua, a first-year political science and economics double major and international student from Bangladesh, represented UCR at the UN General Assembly and spoke on “zero poverty,” one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. “When (people) talk about poverty, at least in the West, I don’t think they have seen what poverty actually looks like,” Barua said
while explaining the topic of his speech. This was the first year the UN held a General Debate where each attending university had a representative speak
on a chosen topic in the Sustainable Development Goals. The goal was to listen to the youth’s perspectives on the issues. “If you do MUN at any capacity, your ultimate goal is speaking at the UN … As a first year, it’s a surreal experience speaking on the same platform as people of the likes
of Barack Obama. I don’t think my prime minister has spoken (at the UN) yet; it’s a pretty huge experience,” Barua commented. When Barua first applied to UCR, he
the conference, MUN could only send 16 members. To decide who would attend, each member had to submit a position paper detailing their country’s stance on an issue. Kyle Stafford, a secondyear history and political science international affairs double major, helped the members prepare for New York by providing feedback on position papers. In addition to attending the general meetings, the group members attending the conference also met more than once a week to prepare for NMUN. Barua credits the team’s success to its members. “The club (has a) professional atmosphere, but it’s (also) homely,” Barua began. “When people are explaining (and) teaching (other members) they are not doing it because they have to do it, they’re doing it because they care.” In the 2000s, MUN at UCR had lost members and was not rechartered until 2010. Since then, the club has grown from 12 active members at the end of last year to 18 active members this year. This upcoming school year is also UCR MUN’s non-consecutive 50th year on campus. Since being rechartered, the club has increased their involvement in NMUN by attending the Washington, D.C. conference and the international conference in China both for the first time in November of 2018. As current president of UCR MUN, NIK ROH / HIGHLANDER Stafford hopes to host large high school knew the success of the UCR delegation conferences again this year like they have in and joined the club after the friendly past years. atmosphere of the first meeting. “People UCR MUN is preparing for their have this impression that most of us are upcoming NMUN conferences in Erfurt, political science majors, that’s not actually Germany and Washington, D.C. They have true,” Barua said. meetings from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays in H Although 25 members wanted to attend INTS 1002 and Wednesdays in MSE 103. ■
Easy Homemade Strawberry Jam Victoria Davy, Contributing writer Jam is a very versatile food. It can be spread on sandwiches, mixed with ice cream, used as cake fillings and so much more. The great thing about jam is that it’s cheap and easy to make. Most of the ingredients are already in most peoples’ houses.
Ingredients: 2 pounds of fresh strawberries (can be substituted for any fresh berries or peaches) 2 cups of granulated white sugar (add more sugar if you want a sweeter jam) 1 tablespoon of lemon juice Mason jars for storage Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes Servings: About 2 cups of jam COURTESY OF PEXELS
Directions: Cut the stems of the strawberries and then cut them into chunks. Combine the strawberries, lemon juice and sugar into a bowl and set aside for an hour to draw out the water. Once there is strawberry juice at the bottom, transfer to a large pot on the stove and boil at medium-high heat. You must stir constantly or else the strawberries will burn at the bottom of the pan. Stir until the foam is incorporated with the dark-colored mixture completely. Pour into a mason jar or large clean glass container and write the date it was made on the lid. Store in the refrigerator. The jam can be fridged for three months or frozen for a year.
tips:
This recipe does not work if there is less sugar. To reduce the messiness, put all the ingredients into the pot you plan on using.
Use a large bowl because it will foam up. If it foams up too much, lift it off the burner for a few seconds. Before storing the hot jam, pour hot water into the container and let it rise to the jam’s temperature so the jam isn’t shocked into hardening. ■H
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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
A diamond in the rough Disney’s live-action “Aladdin” is a fun, magical adventure with a few flaws along the way
BY: COLIN CARNEY Senior Staff WRITER
The latest trend from Disney in recent years has been to adapt their collection of animated classics into modern live-action films. Their first two endeavors, “The Jungle Book” and “Beauty and the Beast,” were both critical and box-office successes prompting Disney to double down on this new path and schedule several more adaptations. However, the announcement of a live-action “Aladdin” was met with a great deal of skepticism. This was only heightened with the first trailer that made many concerned about the appearance of a CGI Genie. The fear that “Aladdin” would tarnish the original was multiplied when Disney released “Dumbo” this last March to critical and box-office disappointment. As advertised, Disney’s “Aladdin” follows the same plot as the original animated classic. A charming street rat discovers a mystical oil lamp inside the Cave of Wonders. He unleashes an all-powerful genie that helps him win the heart of the princess he loves. Meanwhile, the sultan’s evil vizier Jafar, desires the lamp for himself to gain unlimited power. As an adaptation of the original, “Aladdin” succeeds in adapting the beloved classic while also adding some new material to keep the film interesting. Characters like Jafar and the Sultan are tweaked in order to make them more interesting and complex. Jasmine and Genie are given more time to be fleshed out, and a new song is added for good measure. The opening of the film is quite jarring as we are quickly introduced to our protagonists and then suddenly thrown into our first action scene and song. The entire sequence is rushed and oddly edited as the camera work feels as if it was sped up for the song “One
Jump.” The entire scene happens so fast and with little set up that the audience is hardly able to catch its breath. It felt like the filmmakers assumed that the viewers would all be familiar with the story and characters and decided to just get the movie going. After this rushed opening and once the Genie is introduced, the movie catches its footing and takes off. The beloved musical numbers from the original are all here and performed beautifully, as well as one welcomed addition performed by Jasmine. Additionally, the chemistry between the three leads is well integrated and they each shine in there respective roles. The humor works and the entire adventure is a fun experience to watch on screen. Sadly, the finale with Jafar is underwhelming as it surprisingly does not capture the cinematic and dramatic feel of the original’s ending despite the film being a big-budget live-action remake. Furthermore, the final confrontation feels rushed and the resolution at the end, though touching, is wrapped up quickly. 2019’s “Aladdin” excels when it came to the casting of its three main stars. The relative newcomer, Mena Massoud, who plays the titular Aladdin manages to carry the film as the lovable and charming street rat. Naomi Scott who takes on the role of Jasmine also impresses as she delivers a more fleshed out performance as the princess. We see more of her life inside the palace and are shown that she is willing and capable to help her people despite not being allowed to because of her gender. Most importantly however, Will Smith manages to carry the film as the Genie and does so without trying to copy the
masterful work of his predecessor, R o b i n Williams. Though both actors played the same role in their respective films, Will Smith’s Genie is a fresh representation of the character. William’s performance relied on his amazing impressions and non-stop references. Smith instead makes the role his own and relies on his innate charm and charisma that works beautifully with every member of the cast, especially Massoud’s Aladdin. Despite early fears, the Genie’s effects made the film feel magical and cinematic despite a few moments where it appeared jarring. The supporting cast also manage to deliver entertaining, albeit forgettable performances; but the biggest let down was the villain, Jafar. To the filmmaker's credit, they managed to give Jafar a decent backstory as a beggar who craved power and took it, but the villain never managed to stand out. The original animation’s Jafar was captivating and menacing, but Marwan Kenzari’s Jafar never managed to stand out in the film despite the added layer of complexity. Overall, Disney’s latest live-action
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NE remake YS TU DIO “Aladdin” SM OT is a fun and ION endearing take on PIC TU RE the beloved classic. S Director Guy Ritchie manages to create a faithful and eye-catching adaptation of the original for new audiences to love. The main cast each deliver on their performances and Will Smith’s Genie steals the show as he provides some of the best laughs and best musical performances. Fans of the original songs will be happy to see their faithful inclusion in this film as well as a welcomed addition in Jasmine’s “Speechless.” For those skeptical of Disney’s desire to remake animated classics, 2019’s “Aladdin” by no means surpasses the original, but is still great on its own and manages to justify its existence due to its quality. ■H
VERDICT:
Disney’s latest live-action remake, “Aladdin,” is a welcomed take on the animated original. Despite a poor start, underwhelming ending and a lackluster villain, the film is an entertaining adventure in Agrabah with spectacular performances from its leading stars, especially Will Smith’s Genie. COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
15
THE UNIQUE HORROR FILM
“BRIGHTBURN” FAILS TO STAND OUT IN ITS OWN GENRE ADAM ALVERNAZ Senior Staff Writer
A spin on the classic saviour from another planet trope is an interesting film idea that “Brightburn” plays with and spins into a dark take on an otherwise happy story. A Superman-type figure turning evil is fascinating and can be made into a great story if given the time and thought to flesh out fully. This concept is what the film plays with through its seemingly short hour and a half run time. With a small budget of $6 million dollars, “Brightburn” hopes to capture the horror audience in full. Seeing the trailers and marketing had really risen expectations of a fleshed-out film with enjoyable visuals and a satisfying horror experience. The film delivers on some satisfying effects but fails to detach itself from common horror tropes. Starting with the plot, the film follows the Breyer family as Brandon Breyer (Jackson A. Dunn) grapples with his new found superpowers and superiority complex. Set in Kansas, the town of Brightburn is changed by Brandon’s awakening to his powers which leads to some interesting interactions with his family. Both parents stay skeptical to their adopted sons new personality and erratic behaviour. Tori Breyer (Elizabeth Banks) is nurturing and motherly to Brandon as he changes further to his sinister side and Kyle Breyer (David Denman) is the caring father figure that tries to set Brandon on the right path. The movie follows their lives after Brandon finds his powers and starts to act more malicious and evil. The plot is simple with other one note characters used to push the film along to its final climactic act. With Brandon acting as the exclusionary force, it gives us a twisted look into the mind of a warped, superpowered child. The film chooses to only focus on a close-knit cast and never branches out. Because this is a horror film, I feel that this movie would have benefited by being longer and having more buildup and overall substance to the
plot. Due to this, many characters have no real change or larger role in the film as we mainly follow Brandon’s sadistic spiral downwards. Similarly, I feel that the horror elements of the film fail to innovate and only imitates what has come before it. The most important element to a good horror film is how scary it is. In “Brightburn” I felt that putting audiences in the shoes of normal people works well to isolate the viewer. Using this as the main driver of its horror is done well as it shows how utterly useless normal people would be to a superpowered villain. However, I felt that the film was also subject to common horror tropes such as overusing dramatic irony. Every horror scene has used this same trope and it gets tiring real fast. Jumpscares are also overused in this film although some notable ones succeeded in providing satisfying suspense. Most of the time, however, it’s used very distastefully to just catch the audience off guard. I never felt that the films use of horror was bad, but that it was lacking some extra uniqueness that it desperately needed. Graphically, the film looks great with many of the CGI effects looking extremely realistic such as the jaw-droppingly gory scenes the film displays. One of the notable examples is the uncomfortable glass-inthe eye scene that made me cringe while watching it. These seemingly disgusting scenes are ones that you can’t look away from as the effects are done so stellarly. They fit the perfect balance of being appealing and shocking but never too much or overdone. I felt that it was able to find a nice mix of scary and gory that few films can achieve. Much of this I would attribute to the masterful CGI but also the cinematography for making scenes flow in a satisfying way. Much of this is achieved solely due to the rather mute soundtrack and heightened sound effects. Overall, I felt that the film’s soundtrack was nothing special and did not feature anything outstanding. Much like other horror films, the soundtrack is merely used to increase the tension or deflate it as the
scene develops. Despite this, I felt that the sound design of the film was able to shine with some creative and vibrant sounds. Despite the messy plot and underwhelming horror elements, I would say that I was fully captivated in the world that they created. I still feel that if
the movie was longer and branched out further that it could’ve been even better. Overall, the end result is still the same and the execution fails to fully envelop the viewers into the world David Yarovesky and the Gunn family have created. ■H
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verdict:
“BRIGHTBURN” FULLY REALIZES THE IDEA OF AN EVIL SUPERMAN, YET IT FAILS TO FIND ITS OWN PLACE IN THE HORROR SETTING. WHILE IT FEATURES SOME GREAT HORROR EFFECTS, OVERALL IT FAILS TO FULLY DEPART FROM FAMILIAR AND PLAYED OUT CONVENTIONS AUDIENCES ARE TIRED OF.
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“IGOR”
TYLER, THE CREATOR’S BEST ALBUM YET AS HE MAKES STRIDES TOWARD THE ARTIST HE’S ALWAYS WANTED TO BE BY: ANMOL PANNU, CONTRIBUTING WRITER In 2017, Tyler, the Creator dropped his fourth studio album, “Flower Boy.” The Grammy-nominated album marked a dramatic shift in the tides of his work. He went from making gritty, angsty music controversial enough to get him banned from other countries, to a summery album which allowed him to grapple with his internal issues in a more mature way. In a sense, “Flower Boy” allowed Tyler to blossom into the type of artist he’s always hinted at wanting to be, which was less of a rapper and more of a producer. “IGOR,” Tyler’s fifth studio album, continues what “Flower Boy” started. The album begins with the heavily synthed “IGOR’S THEME” where Tyler, assisted by Lil Uzi Vert, provides a foreboding warning that something is lurking and about to come out of the shadows. Every time Tyler utilizes the synth on the rest of the album a revelation or a darkness erupts; like on “I THINK” where deep synths stay in the background of a relatively upbeat song which allows him to reveal that he’s fallen in love and this time it may be for real. On “NEW MAGIC WAND” darker synths expel as he revels in jealousy while saying “I saw a photo, you looked joyous” serving to reveal the obsessive monster he has become. Many of the beats are reminiscent of Tyler’s idols Pharrell and Kanye West. “EARFQUAKE” specifically sounds like a mix between something Pharrell would make combined with Tyler’s own spin. While “I THINK” sounds like Kanye’s “808’s and Heartbreak,” it also
VERDICT:
interpolates elements of “Sexyback” by Justin Timberlake and Kanye’s “Stronger.” Instead of creating a strong beat which could be looped and rapped over, he decided to meticulously construct songs in an experimental and almost patchwork fashion. Adding to this, he buries the vocals deep into the mix of music almost to the point that his guest features and his own, pitched up voice become virtually indistinguishable. Lyrically his guest rappers don’t provide any substance to the songs they are featured on. It is glaringly obvious that Playboi Carti is only utilized on “EARFQUAKE” because of the production value his baby voice brings to the song. Nonetheless, “IGOR” most definitely is not a rap album. It simply serves as another transition point for Tyler to come into his own as not only a musician, but also a producer. The album chronicles the somewhat relatable feeling of falling in love with someone, becoming too dependent on them, and then trying to remain friends once the love is gone and the relationship has ended. But within this, there are also tracks that really detail Tyler’s own personal growth. On the upbeat “GONE GONE/ THANK YOU” he reflects on how he is going to be fine even though his love is gone. He also makes peace with how they might not have been true to themselves further continuing his shift in perspective and way of dealing with hardship that became apparent from “Flower Boy.”
COURTESY OF TYLER THE CREATOR
“IGOR” is another step in the right direction as Tyler is working towards becoming the type of producer and artist that he envisioned himself to be. It is a fun, experimental album that allows the listener to get a feel for Tyler’s relationship woes while simultaneously being able to experience the intricacies of his musical mind. However, “IGOR” shows there is still quite a bit of refining and growing that Tyler can do in order to nail exactly
what his own sound is. It is fairly easy to see the influences Tyler’s idols have on his production style and maybe his next album will deviate from this and allow him to really come into his own. If Tyler truly wants to be the type of producer he is striving to be, he will also need to create music that can be versatile enough to fit other artists, not just himself. Still, it is exciting to trace his evolution into an even better and ambitious producer. ■H
“IGOR” is the smoothest album Tyler, the Creator has put out yet and he is on track to become the producer he has been striving to be. The album proves he still has quite a bit of growing to do in order to refine his own style and produce music that other musicians can be successful with as well.
COURTESY OF TYLER THE CREATOR
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts
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How H B O’s a da p tat ion of
“Game of Thrones” ones” su dde n ly w e n t aw ry
ANDREW WANG Contributing Writer
From the conclusion of the seventh season back in 2017, the anticipation of the final season of “Game of Thrones” weighed heavily upon fans. With the show’s ending quickly approaching, there was a mounting pressure upon the writers to deliver on their promises of all the pomp and circumstance that the show offers viewers. As everyone anticipated events such as Cleganebowl, the Battle against the Night King and many more. Plotlines needed to all be concluded in six episodes, and they needed to deliver everything in a way in which most of the audience would be satisfied with it. Now that the eighth season has concluded, we can determine if the finale delivered on those promises. Much of the subplots and backstories from the books were entirely eliminated, more characters introduced past season five were combined. As a result of all these hollywood alterations, there was always a certain acknowledgement by the community that there had to be compromises made as the story went from book to screen. Otherwise the entire show would have easily taken 20 seasons to finish, if not more. The season eight writers thought it was a good idea to have nearly every single main character of the story have some kind of significant conclusion to their character arc. This is drastically different from how characters had died in Westeros, a world in which anyone could die at any time for any reason. In past seasons, George R.R. Martin (GRRM) willingly killed off characters, but the show has been much more hesitant to do so. Instead, the season eight writers decided every main character that died needed to die in the most dramatized drawn-out way possible. When Tywin Lannister died, he did so while on the toilet, and Catelyn Stark was killed as she mourned her family, but I would argue that the effects of their deaths reverberated more effectively within Westeros than the deaths in the last three seasons did. We felt it when Catelyn stood in shock as the last of her children, and the culmination of all her efforts to serving justice to the Lannisters, evaporated at her feet. We feel the rage that Tyrion felt after being berated and looked down upon by his father and peers before finally taking it upon himself to rise to a level only his
father could ever imagine him reaching, as he pulled the trigger on Joffrey’s crossbow. We as the audience learn early on that no one was safe, and that the very essence of “Game of Thrones” was slowly forgotten as the seasons started to surpass GRRM’s source material. One of the most notable points of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” was how it visualized the plotting and scheming of the Seven Kingdoms. Every little nuance in dialogue begins to slowly snowball into shocking events, such as when Oberyn Martell’s face turned into cherry pie filling. Yet when he met his dramatic death at the hands of The Mountain, the audience was not horrified because of a decision the writers made; rather, it was a flaw in Oberyn’s debonair character that led to his eventual demise. This season we had Starbucks cups being left in post-production, deaths, dialogues, a Daenerys that did not make sense and battle scenes that were sloppily constructed and barely visible to begin with. Dany’s character revolved around how she was the breaker of chains and how she empowered others to rise up against those that abused their power. She knew the sacrifices that it would take to reach the Iron Throne, making her decision to kill millions of people unjustified to her character. Character development and dialogue are only two of many important pillars to a well-written, cohesive story and yet, they have already come up short. I think it would be fair to have GRRM share some of the blame. With the amount of characters, the adaptation was bound to make sacrifices somewhere. Meaning the show’s pace had to suddenly pick up starting from season five, as Benioff and Weiss wanted to finish the rest of the series as soon as they possibly could. Despite HBO’s willingness to extend the series, Benioff and Weiss still decided to rush the ending of this great series, perhaps motivated by their upcoming new “Star Wars” trilogy. “Game of Thrones” had, and has, the perfect environment for success. The story is able to capture a wide range of demographics as they lock onto a screen and watch the culmination of thousands of hours of work, which makes this season even more disappointing. GRRM might have told Weiss and Benioff how he wanted the story to end, but he definitely didn’t tell them how to get there. All the show runners had to do was have a little ■H more patience.
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SPORTS
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019
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Highlanders earn rare victory against Oregon, but can’t slow down UC Irvine’s bats RICARDO GARCIA Senior Staff Writer
It’s a victory as rare as they come for the Highlander baseball team (19-34, 7-14). On Monday, May 20, UCR defeated Oregon (27-27, 10-17) at home 3-1, their first victory over the Ducks since a 7-3 victory in 1979. It was another difficult start for UCR, as they allowed the opponent to score first in the top of the first inning. Highlander freshman starting pitcher Alec Arnone gave up a single to junior third baseman Spencer Steer, which drove in freshman shortstop Sam Novitske to give Oregon a 1-0 lead. However, the Highlanders quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning, taking advantage of some poor Duck’s defense. An error by Novitske brought home senior outfielder Yeager Taylor to tie the game at 1-1. UCR’s pitching, which has put them behind in several games in recent weeks, held steady for most of the day, keeping the Oregon bats at bay. The Highlanders took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, when sophomore left fielder Cole Pofek homered to right field to give the Highlanders the lead 2-1. In the bottom of the eighth inning, senior right fielder Dean Miller brought home sophomore third baseman Nathan Webb to give the Highlanders an insurance run and 3-1 lead. That run proved important as the Ducks put the tying run on base in the top of the ninth inning. However, freshman reliever Andre Granillo buckled down and struck out sophomore designated hitter Evan Williams to end the game, and the Highlanders earned just their third win in 11 games. For UCR, senior reliever Jared Noonan earned the win in relief to improve to 3-2 on the season. Miller finished two-for-four with an RBI and a run scored. For Oregon, sophomore Hunter Breault took his first loss of the season in relief, allowing Pofek’s go-ahead home run during his two innings of work. Novitske finished three-for-four with a run scored. After an uplifting victory, the Highlanders began their senior weekend with their final series of the season against second-place UC Irvine (34-16,15-6). The Anteaters entered the series on a four-game winning streak, which included a three-game sweep of the UC Davis Aggies and a victory against the USC Trojans. Game one quickly got out of hand early, and the Highlanders fell 11-4 on Thursday, May 23. Starting pitcher Shamus Lyons was
knocked around in the top of the first inning, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits, all while recording just two outs. Irvine sophomore outfielder Jake Palmer led off the inning with a walk, and capped off the Anteater’s rally with an RBI single that deflected off Lyons’ foot during his second plate appearance. The Anteaters quickly went on another run in the top of the second inning as well. This time, they scored four runs off reliever Trevor Bateson. Palmer once again burned UCR’s pitching with a two-run single to cap off the scoring for the inning. As horrendous as the first two innings were, the Highlanders managed to shut out UCI for the rest of the game. UCR soon broke up the shutout with Arnone’s RBI groundout in the bottom of the fifth inning. They would score two more runs in the sixth and one more in the ninth, but it was not enough as the Highlanders dropped the series opener. Lyons took the loss for the Highlanders and fell to 3-7 on the season. Sophomore left fielder Dylan Orick finished the game two-for-four with a run scored. For the Anteaters, junior starting pitcher Andre Pallante earned his 10th win of the season after allowing only three runs, two earned, on six hits through six innings. Pallante also struck out six during his six innings on the mound. Palmer finished three-for-five with three RBI and a run scored. UCR looked to bounce back in the
second game of the series on Friday, May 24. They did so in solid fashion, ending the Anteaters’ win streak with a 3-1 home victory. Junior designated hitter Connor Cannon continued his hot streak in the bottom of the fourth inning, and doubled home Miller to give the Highlanders a 1-0 lead. UCI had several scoring chances early in the game, but did not bring a run home until the top of the eighth inning, when sophomore right fielder Mike Peabody’s RBI fielder’s choice tied the game. The Highlanders quickly responded in the bottom of the eighth inning when Orick drove freshman second baseman Damien Sanchez home to give Riverside a 2-1 lead. UCR then took advantage of some shaky Anteater defense when Orick scored on a fielding error at first base that gave UCR a critical 3-1 lead. After walking Palmer to bring the tying run to the plate, Granillo buckled down and recorded the final two outs to preserve the close victory. For UCR, Granillo earned his first NCAA win, striking out three in 1.2 innings of work. Cannon finished the game two-for-four with an RBI. For UCI, sophomore starting pitcher Trenton Denholm pitched a complete game, but took the loss, allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits. The Highlanders wrapped up their season on Saturday, May 25, looking for
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a series win. However, just a day after quelling the Anteaters’ bats, the Highlanders were blown out 22-7 at home. The Anteaters got their bats rolling early and often, as they scored in every inning except the sixth. Senior outfielder Matt Hardy got the Highlanders on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, but by then, the game was out of reach. In the bottom of the ninth, UCI redshirt junior reliever John Vergara induced a foul out off the bat of UCR redshirt junior pinch hitter Houston Naucler, and the Anteaters finished off yet another blowout victory. For the Highlanders, sophomore starting pitcher Abbott Haffar took the loss, allowing nine runs, seven earned, on 10 hits. Hardy finished the game two-forfive with a home run, an RBI and two runs scored. For the Anteaters, redshirt senior starting pitcher Taylor Rashi earned his fifth win of the season, allowing four earned runs on six hits over five innings. Palmer finished the game two-for-five with a walk and four runs scored. UCR finishes the regular season with a 20-36, 8-16 record. Connor Cannon also set a new program record with 18 home runs in a single season. The Highlanders will be saying farewell to seniors Jared Noonan, Dean Miller, Yeager Taylor and Justin Mannens as they will leave the program due to graduation. ■H
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Williams and Ober III represent UCR in NCAA Division I West Regional Championship Tournament
KEVIN SANCHEZ Contributing Writer
On Thursday, May 23, the NCAA Division I Track and Field West Regional Championships welcomed UCR’s own, sophomore Quinn Williams and freshman John Ober III. Williams competed in the 400-meter hurdle event while Ober III participated in the javelin throwing competition. The two student-athletes came into the tournament fresh off a Big West Championship weekend in Santa Barbara, in which the two won their respective events. With moderately cloudy conditions at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, Calif. Quinn Williams was up first in the first round of the men’s 400-meter hurdles. The Big West Champion capped off a stellar season with a time of 52.66 seconds, but was ultimately eliminated after the first round. He ends his season on a high note, and gives UCR’s track and field program a boost after representing on a prominent stage. On Friday, May 24, John Ober III, UCR’s other Big West Champion threw for a distance of 60.14 meters — his best distance out of three attempts. Ober III placed 33rd among all competing participants. The freshman concluded his first season as a Highlander with an already illustrious track record. The pair represented the best of UCR athletics, and gives the track and field program plenty to H look forward to in the future. ■
Highlander Hot Take:
Cody Bellinger will win this season’s NL Most Valuable Player award ZIYAYE CHONGWE Contributing Writer
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The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger has been a hot topic this season. His fast and unbelievable start has already placed him at the forefront of the Most Valuable Player race this early in the season. Last season’s MVP Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers has a lot of pressure to defend his MVP trophy, especially against Bellinger, as he has excelled this season. During his sophomore campaign Bellinger swung at almost everything that crossed the plate. Bellinger finished the season with a .260 batting average, 25 home runs and only 76 runs batted in. This was a considerable drop-off from his rookie season, which was a recordbreaking season for him that ended with 97 runs batted in, and a National League rookie record of 39 home runs. With two years of experience in the majors, Bellinger has once again upped his game. As of Wednesday, May 22, Bellinger was ranked first or second in the three most important offensive categories: first in runs batted in with 44, second in home runs with 17 and a league-best .404 batting average that is only two points off of Ted Williams’ singleseason record .406 batting average. Like Christian Yelich did last season, Bellinger will make every plate appearance a memorable one as he attempts to win this year’s triple crown. However, if he is unable to win the triple crown, it still is plausible for him to finish with a batting average over .400. Just like Russell Westbrook did during his triple double season, Bellinger’s run for MVP and for a .400 batting average will generate a new level of excitement for baseball, an issue that the MLB has been dealing with over the last few years. ■H
Junior Gilbert Chung and senior Kyle McCann honored after record-breaking season RICARDO GARCIA Senior Staff Writer
After setting a new program record for wins this season, several of UCR’s men’s tennis players were bestowed with postseason honors. Senior Kyle McCann was named to the Big West All-Conference second team for his singles play this season. McCann was also named as an honorable mention for his doubles play, alongside his partner, freshman Andreas Whelan-Merediz. “It’s a great honor,” McCann said. “It brings a lot of recognition to the university, and it shows the hard work I have put on and off the court has paid off.” In his final season playing for the Highlanders, McCann led the team with 16 singles wins in dual-match play. Junior Gilbert Chung was also named as a Big West All-Conference honorable mention for his singles play. “I’ve only ever received (this recognition)
one other time, and that was for doubles my freshman year,” Chung said. “It’s always cool to be awarded for that, especially in the Big West Conference.” For Chung and McCann, their success was something they strived toward since the beginning of the season. McCann and Chung both emphasized the importance of hard work and dedication. “A lot of hard work,” Chung said. “If you put the work in, you put the effort in, you will see some really good success.” McCann will leave the tennis program due to graduation, but his life will still continue to revolve around tennis, although now it will be through coaching. “In the immediate future, I will be coaching tennis at the Southern California Tennis Academy,” McCann said. Although Head Coach Mattias Johansson will surely miss McCann’s production on the court, he emphasized that McCann’s presence will be missed even more. “He is the all-time winner in singles, all-
time winner in doubles, all-time leader in combined matches,” Johannson said. “The attitude of wanting to win every match, I think that’s what every teammate will miss the most.” Though he will be without McCann’s services next season, Johansson hopes that the team will be ready to pick up right where
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he left off. “Hopefully the players coming in are on the same altitude as the players leaving,” Johansson said. “Hopefully, being young they will be able to progress through the stages (of development) faster and be ready to replace, in a sense, the players that are leaving.” ■H