Issuu

THE HIGHLANDER

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

est. 1954

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

VOL. 68, ISSUE 01

welcome back, STUDENTS!

COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

UC President Janet Napolitano announces resignation

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, University of California President Janet Napolitano announced at the UC Board of Regents meeting that she will step down from her position in August 2020. Napolitano served as president for seven years and served as the first female president of the UC. At the Board of Regents meeting, Napolitano stated, “My time at UC has been deeply gratifying and rewarding. I have been honored and inspired every day to serve this institution alongside incredibly dedicated, passionate people … The decision was tough — and this moment, bittersweet — but the time is right.” In an interview with The Highlander, Elisa Smith, a UCOP spokesperson reiterated the statement that Napolitano gave at the Board of Regents meeting when asked why Napalotino was

stepping down. “We have new regents on UC’s governing board, a new governor in Sacramento, and a presidential election on the horizon. With many of my top priorities accomplished and the university on a strong path forward, I feel it’s the ideal time for a leadership transition — an infusion of new energy and fresh ideas at the university,” Napolitano said in the meeting. Smith listed a number of accomplishments Napolitano achieved throughout her time as president of the UC. Smith noted that Napolitano added more than 17,500 additional California students above planned enrollment, including large numbers of first-generation and transfer students. Smith stated that in Sept. 2017 the UC system was also the first university to sue the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for its rescission of DACA, a program that protects young undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation.

Napolitano also established a housing initiative in 2016 that will add 15,000 more student beds by 2020. Smith added that Napolitano pledged that UC will become operationally carbon neutral by 2025. Additionally, Napolitano revamped the UC’s response to sexual violence and sexual harassment allegations and established a systemwide program that has become a nationwide model. After she officially resigns on Aug. 1, 2020, Napolitano plans to take time off before teaching at the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. Smith told The Highlander that the Board of Regents will soon appoint a committee to start a national search for the next president of the university. “Per policy, the search committee will include student, faculty and alumni representatives who will seek and incorporate input from the UC community and the public at large,” stated Smith. ■H

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

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HUMANS OF UCR

UPCOMING EVENTS: WEEK 0

CHARLOTTE JOSHI | STATISTICS | FOURTH-YEAR

AGSM Challenge Course 5:30pm to 8:00pm Student Recreation Center (SRC),

It’s Back! Walk and Talk with Leadership 12:15pm to 12:45pm HUB Plaza, Scotty the Bear Statue

CHASS Transfer Fall Welcome 11:00am to 1:00pm UCR Career Center Patio

Geospatial/GIS Brown Bag Lunch 12:10pm to 1:00pm Rivera Library, 140

Fraternity and Sorority Info Night 7:00pm to 9:00pm HUB 355

Women’s Soccer vs. Denver 7:30pm to 9:30pm UCR Soccer Stadium

Friday

Build-A-Care 12:00pm to 2:00pm HUB (Highlander Union Building), HUB 355

Fall Welcome Back 2019 4:30pm to 6:30pm Anderson Hall (School of Business, AGSM), Lawn

Film: Woman at War 7:00pm to 8:30pm UCR ARTS, Culver Center of the Arts

ASPB Presents: Block Party 2019 4:30pm HUB Lawn

Tuesday

COMPILED BY MARTIN LOPEZ

Wednesday

Thursday

“I love stargazing. It’s something that my dad and I used to do when I

was a kid. Every night, we’d set up a dingy little telescope and we’d track the stars. He’d point out constellations and planets and my interest in stargazing kind of evolved into a love for space and every secret our universe holds... Also, black holes are super cool.”

Saturday

29 Sunday

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Monday

Q-Camp: Orientation to Campus Life for LGBTQ Students & Allies 1:00pm to 4:00pm Pentland Hills Residence Halls, PH F111 (Foxhole)

Disability Awareness Month Display 12:00am HUB (Highlander Union Building), (next to Transfer & Commuter Student Lounge

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The Highlander accepts letters from the campus community. They must be 600-800 words at length and include the author’s name and contact information. Topics should be UCR-centric and/or pertain to our generation of students. Contact Opinions Editor Samuel Harrison at opinions@highlandernews.org by Wednesday if interested in writing a letter and submit the completed letter by Saturday at noon. Letters can and will be rejected if it does not meet requirements.

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The Highlander is published and copyrighted by the Highlander for the students, faculty and staff of UCR. All rights are reserved. Reprinting of any material in this publication without the written permission of the Highlander is strictly prohibited. Readers are allowed one free copy of the newspaper. For additional copies or for subscription information, please contact the Highlander. The Highlander fully supports the University of California’s policy on non-discrimination. The student media reserve the right to reject or modify advertising whose content discriminates on the basis of ancestry, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, age, sex or sexual orientation. The Highlander has a media grievance procedure for resolving complaints against it. All inserts that are printed in the Highlander are independently paid publications and do not reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the staff or The University of California or the Associated Students of UCR.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

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UCR ranks No. 1 in social mobility in US News & World Report Best Colleges rankings

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AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

Every year, the U.S. News and World Report publish college rankings in the United States. In the 2020 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, UCR ranked No. 1 in the Top Performers on Social Mobility category. The Social Mobility category is a new addition to the U.S. News and World Report rankings. The category, according to U.S. News, measures how well schools graduated students who received federal Pell Grants. They measure students who typically come from households whose family incomes are less than $50,000 annually. However, they noted that the majority of Pell Grant money goes to students with a total family income below $20,000. In an email to The Highlander, Chancellor Kim Wilcox wrote about UCR achieving a No. 1 ranking. Wilcox stated that he is very proud of the UCR campus community and believes that they have created a culture of helping students succeed. “We’re also heartened that UCR has been effective in leading by example to change the national conversation surrounding student success and social mobility, and now the rankings systems have caught up to understand the impressive value of our longstanding ethos as a public research university,” stated Wilcox. Wilcox also said that he would be proud of all of this even without a ranking. The major strides UCR has made in improving graduation rates is a primary contributor to achieving a No. 1 ranking in the area of student social mobility,

stated Wilcox. Wilcox believes that UCR managed to rank No. 1 in social mobility because “we listened to our Graduation Rates Task Force’s recommendations, and a few of the programs that stand out as contributing programmatic factors of

He also added that UCR’s world-class staff and faculty come to UCR because they want to be at a research university, they believe in UCR’s mission and they want to work with UCR students. Wilcox believes that UCR’s faculty see themselves

#1 IN SOCIAL MOBILITY our success are supplemental instruction, learning communities, pipeline and bridge programs, financial aid and basic needs work, and course planning.” In June of 2013, the task force was created to look into the causes of UCR’s low graduation rates and to make recommendations to increase the campus’ four and six-year graduation rates.

and their values reflected at UCR. “Such is the case for Richard Schrock ’67, a Nobel Prize-winning chemist, for example,” stated Wilcox. Wilcox noted the importance of U.S. News adding the Social Mobility category. He stated, “U.S. News is further recognizing universities must effectively serve all their students, regardless of economic status.”

He said that their old formula was mostly about wealth and perceptions, rewarding schools that raise and spend a lot of money but provide little incentive for schools to become more efficient at serving students with disadvantages. He added that they had too little, if any, emphasis on what universities should be doing, and instead were focused on resources and exclusivity. “We were doing what was right, not what was popular, and eventually U.S. News caught up to us and I do think there is value in the category and its addition to the overall ranking formula,” noted Wilcox. Wilcox believes that college rankings do impact public perception of an institution and he is happy that UCR is being recognized for its exceptional culture of student success and its inclusive campus community. He stated, however, that UCR, “still have a ways to go to make the rankings truly reflective of the value of higher education.” He believes that public universities still do not fare as well on some key measures that influence the rankings, namely exclusivity and funding, so in that way, they are not truly reflective of UCR’s values. He stated that UCR is working to make this clear as they reframe the national conversation about higher education, but in the interim he thinks UCR’s top social mobility ranking enhances UCR’s outer image as an institution that gets positive results and cares about its students. He concluded, “UCR has been on this path for a long time, and will continue on the path because it’s the right thing to do, not simply for rankings.” ■H

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NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

Transportation Services implements permit rate increase for the 2019-2020 school year

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

On July 15, Irma Henderson, the director of UCR’s Transportation Services, sent out a letter informing students that Transportation Services implemented an overall average permit rate increase of 4.50% for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The rate increase officially went into effect on Sept. 1, 2019. In the letter, Henderson noted that Transportation Services has been involved in several projects that were intended to increase available parking while planning for the construction of a parking structure. In an interview with The Highlander, Henderson stated, “The primary driver for this rate increase is to fund the construction of the parking structure at the east end of Parking Lot 13. The project is expected to start Winter 2020 and completed in Winter 2021.” In the letter, Henderson also listed other projects that Transportation Services was involved in. She stated that Transportation Services resurfaced the majority of campus roads. Lighting for campus roadways as well as parking lots were updated with brighter, energy efficient LED lighting. Transportation Services also completed the renovation of Lot 50 to add 361 gold parking spaces to the current parking supply. Transportation Services contracted with local churches and businesses to lease their available parking for student commuter overflow parking. They developed a plan to accommodate construction worker parking for a number of building projects. Transportation Services began the design-build process for the parking structure on Lot 13. Henderson noted in her letter that since Transportation Services is an auxiliary service, meaning that users of the service pay for the cost of operations, the permit

rate increase was implemented to generate revenues to fund the construction of new and replacement parking inventory. Gold parking permit rates increased from $117 quarterly to $121.50. This is a 3.85% increase. In a 5.15% increase, Blue parking permit rates increased from $145.50 quarterly to $153 quarterly. Red parking permit rates increased by 6.57% quarterly from $205.50 quarterly to $219 quarterly. Transportation Services is also introducing a new parking permit. The new permit category, Orange, can be purchased online through the Transportations Services website and is priced at $42. Henderson told the Highlander that this parking permit will allow users to park in lots that Transportation Services has leased from the community. Transportation Services currently has two of these lots, one behind University Extension at the

International Village apartment complex and one on Blaine at the Gethsemane Lutheran Church. Orange permits can park in these lots all day. After 6 p.m., Orange permits can park in the Blue sections of Lot 1, 6, 9, 13, 23 and 24. Another change that Transportation Services is implementing is the time that regular permit holders have access to their assigned lots. Henderson told The Highlander, “As the campus has been growing, we have found that many staff and faculty permit holders are staying on campus later for meetings, classes, office hours, etc.” She noted that over the past few years, they have been getting feedback from staff and faculty that they are unable to get parking in their assigned parking lots while there is sufficient parking in the Gold lots. “This change was implemented to accommodate the lengthening campus ‘business’ day,” stated Henderson.

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

Parking permits will also no longer be required in marked Gold parking spaces (Lots 26, 30, 32, 50 and 51) after 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day on weekends. Permits will still be required in all other locations. This change, stated Henderson, was implemented because “We typically have ample parking spaces in the Gold lots in the evenings and weekends and want to encourage more people to utilize campus resources during these times.” She went on to state, “We are hoping that academic departments, student organizations, and community members can benefit from this change while also decreasing the traffic and parking demands during the day.” Henderson encouraged students who have any questions regarding the new changes to contact her at irmahenderson@ ucr.edu. ■H

ASUCR Judicial council overturns decision that ruled that candidates elected in special elections were considered ineligible

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

On June 7, the ASUCR Judicial Council petitioner filed a case regarding the eligibility of the candidates of the special elections that took place on May 29, 2019. The Judicial Council initially found that the candidates elected for elections director and marketing and promotions director were ineligible because they did not have at least one year of experience. However, after an appeal from the Executive Branch, the Judicial Council overturned their decision. The Judicial Council found that the constitution contradicts the definition of the members of the Executive Cabinet and complicates their roles. This prompted the Judicial Council to concur with the appeal given by the Executive Branch and ruled to

overturn the previous decision from the former Council of 2018-2019 by establishing the precedence that directors elected in the special elections meeting are eligible and may take their respective positions without needing one year experience. The Judicial Council initially stated that the ASUCR bylaw, Chapter 31, Section 2 states that the Executive Cabinet shall comprise of the president, executive vice president, vice president of internal affairs, vice president of external affairs and the vice president of finance. The majority opinion stated, “When following the definition put forth in the Constitution it is clear the Bylaw Chapter XIII should include all Executive Cabinet positions. This definition would include two of the positions that took place during the Special Elections, Elections Director and Marketing and Promotions Director.” The bylaw also

stated that only candidates with the required one year ASUCR experience shall be eligible to run and take office in the Executive Cabinet. This prompted the Judicial Council to conclude that the candidates elected to the position of elections director and marketing and promotion director during the Special Election that took place on May 29, 2019 were ineligible. Dyanna Castaneda, who was a second-year political science major at the time, was elected as elections director, but held no previous ASUCR experience. William Wang, who also held no previous ASUCR experience, was elected as the marketing and promotions director. The Judicial Council initially noted that candidates may submit waiver applications that waive the one year requirement of Bylaw Chapter 31, pending approval of the waiver by the Elections Committee. In an interview with The Highlander, Sarai Fuentes, the chief justice of the judicial branch, stated that the Judicial Council was approached by the Executive Cabinet with an appeal that pointed out that there was some new information that affects the former case regarding special elections. Fuentes claimed that part of the information that the Executive Cabinet submitted stated that the structure of Executive Cabinet was originally five members instead of the ten that are listed now. “There was a change of how many people are in the

Executive Cabinet but there was an absence of requirements for all ten members which in turn affected the case and special elections,” stated Fuentes. She stated that as a result there was a lot of contradicting parts in the constitution that gave the Judicial Council “more than enough reason to overturn the former decision and work with ASUCR to ensure that this does not become a recurring issue.” Fuentes said that she believes that Chapter 31 of the ASUCR bylaws can be fixed but only if they are reviewed by the Legislative Committee and approved by the senate on how they wish to proceed with the year experiences for some members of ASUCR. If they believe that some positions require more ASUCR experience than others, then they are allowed to change those requirements so long as they are doing so with the interest of the student body, stated Fuentes. Fuentes also stated that the Judicial Council will do what is necessary to ensure that the best interest of the students and UCR. She stated, “We believe that the overturn was made in the best interest of UCR because there was an issue and therefore we must work with ASUCR to find a solution and prevent future issues from coming up. We will always do what we can (within our power) to ensure our decisions are best for the students.” ■H

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

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UCR researchers find that Ecopipam reduces stuttering symptoms

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

In a proof-of-concept trial, UCR professor of psychiatry and neuroscience and chair of the department at the UCR School of Medicine, Gerald A. Maguire, led a team that found that the medication ecopipam reduced the stuttering symptoms in adults from the start of therapy after eight weeks of dosing. The study was conducted in an open-label and uncontrolled clinical trial. In an interview with The Highlander, Maguire stated that although this is a preliminary study, it did show that in a majority of subjects treated, ecopipam led to positive results in reducing the severity of stuttering itself and having a positive impact on the quality of life of those treated. Maguire stated that they did not observe any significant side-effects in this study. However, they are planning a much larger study to investigate the effectiveness and tolerability in a more definitive manner. Maguire added, “We are planning a larger, multi-center study, conducted around the country, involving many more individuals.” They will utilize a double-blind, placebocontrolled design where some subjects will be receiving a fake pill and others the real one but neither the subjects nor the researchers will know. Maguire stated that if ecopipam is proven to be a safe and effective treatment for stuttering in adults, his next step will be to seek FDA approval. He stated that his plan is for, “us here at UC Riverside

School of Medicine to lead the way in bringing the first FDA approved treatment of stuttering to assist the millions of

be heard and to let the world know we have a voice — to allow an individual who stutters to live a life freely with the

COURTESY OF PEXELS

people worldwide who share stuttering with me.” Maguire believes that having a medication to effectively treat stuttering will “empower individuals who stutter to have the freedom to speak freely, to

empowerment of choice of treatment.” Maguire was motivated to conduct this study because he is a person who stutters himself. “I have stuttered since I began to talk over 50 years ago,”

stated Maguire. Maguire believes that stuttering can have a major impact on one’s life which prompted him to want to give back to others who share the condition with him so that they have hope and empowerment. He said, “not only am I researching new treatments, but I also treat people who stutter and I serve as the chair of the National Stuttering Association, the world’s largest organization devoted to education, research and support to assist the stuttering community.” Stuttering can negatively impact one’s functioning and can lead to significant distress, stated Maguire. He added that he receives numerous emails each day from people all over the world asking for assistance. “Not only have I been affected by stuttering, my older brother also stuttered. He unfortunately passed away as a victim of suicide,” stated Maguire. He noted that a “minority of ill-informed and not compassionate individuals” believe that stuttering is not a big deal because no one dies of it and therefore does not need treatment but Maguire believes that these sentiments discount the immense suffering that those with stuttering can endure. “The avoidance, the stigma, the bullying. I believe, in some part, my brother passed away in part at least because of his stuttering,” said Maguire. He said, “I was committed to helping the stuttering community before his death, but his untimely passing has emboldened me even further to assist those who share stuttering with me.” ■H

UCR receives grant from the National Institutes of Health to address health disparities in inland Southern California

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

UCR has received a five year, $16 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which will initiate the Center for Health Disparities Research at UCR (HDR@UCR). The grant and new center are aimed to help focus on and help reduce health disparities in inland Southern California. According to their website, the Center for Health Disparities Research’s focus is on researching health disparities among Latino and Hispanic communities in inland Southern California. The objective of the center is to build capacity in communitybased health disparities research across all of the communities they serve. Their website states, “This is a rapidly growing and diverse region of more than 4.3 million people, with pronounced health disparities and also characterized by a severe shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly primary care physicians.” In an email to The Highlander, Juliet McMullin, a co-director of HDR@UCR and a professor of anthropology, stated that the strength of the center and its ability to reduce health disparities is in its collaborative goals. “We are committed to supporting interdisciplinary work with researchers across campus and more importantly to supporting health disparities work that engages our community which ranges from individuals to community organizations and policy makers,” stated McMullin. McMullin noted that health disparities are not an individual problem, it is a problem of the way we organize our

society as well as a problem with the social structure. She believes that reducing health disparities requires research that is holistic, investigating policies that produce inequities, the manner in which we live and use our environments and resources, the training and delivery of health care and working with communities to understand where and how their lives are impacted by these larger processes as well as creating

education and expertise to conduct research that can understand how disparities are produced and maintained across the continuum. The center is currently funding two research projects: Disparities in Environmental Exposures and Health Impacts and Addressing Childhood Obesity in Low-income Families. McMullin believes that both of these research projects

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spaces for individual healthy behaviors. McMullin also believes that reducing health disparities requires addressing upstream conditions social and institutional inequities, living conditions and the downstream effects related to risk behaviors, disease rates and mortality. She stated that the Center for Health Disparities and Research creates the infrastructure by providing research funds, training,

are excellent examples of how researchers and communities can collaborate to address health disparities. As Co-Director, McMullin will be working with the Community Engagement and Dissemination Core (CEDC) to create a community engagement studio for the center. The community engagement studio will serve as a hub for community-engaged proposal development, implementation and

dissemination activities. The engagement, noted McMullin, runs across the research continuum — from proposal development to dissemination. “If we want research to be relevant and to create systemic change in the way that health disparities are created and experienced we need to have the people whose lives are affected by disparities at the table from the start of a project,” stated McMullin. McMullin believes that the community-engaged approach shifts the research focus from research on people to research with people. She believes this will create opportunities for social science, biomedical and clinical researchers to frame problems from the perspective of what is relevant and important to the community whose lives are impacted by their research. McMullin stated, “true collaboration with the community at the start makes research more robust - accounting for the diversity of life, access, and exposure and makes findings more applicable to the communities where they are disseminated.” McMullin believes that as a public university, it is critical that the center’s research reduce the burden of disease for all people. Integrating community engaged practices into biomedical and clinical research brings them closer to achieving that goal, added McMullin. McMullin noted that the ultimate goal of the center is to “support UCR researchers who have expertise in these areas to conduct interdisciplinary and community collaborative research that focuses not just on the downstream effects but intentionally examines upstream effects so that the reductions in health disparities result in a thriving culture of health for all.” ■H

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Opinions

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

OPINIONS

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HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

The Amazon f ires must be approached with both haste and caution

ugust saw social media light up with discussion of the Amazon rainforest fires, and one month later those same fires are still burning bright. 80,000 rainforest fires have started in the region since the beginning of January, and Brazillian President Jair Bolsonaro has done very little to put them out. The far-right wing former congressman was a vocal advocate for the industrialization of the Amazon rainforest region throughout his campaign for the presidency, and he seems to be keeping true to his promises this year. The rainforest has degraded drastically since he took office last January, with fire rates up 80% since this past year, all for the sake of making way for farmable land and other whims of private interests. If we hope to save the world’s greatest carbon sink and source of biodiversity something must be done today. Failure to act now will have indelible consequences that our descendants will reap for the rest of humanity’s existence on earth. The road to solving this issue is an arduous one. As terrible as the Amazon fires are, it is important to remember that the people with the power to solve the issue don’t see them as such. To men like Bolsonaro, the Amazon burns are little more than pragmatic business decisions made by suits who would like to believe they sit above the rest of humanity. Big businesses like Burger King

COURTESY OF DOUG MORTON/ NASA

and the cash flow they bring with them to the region take precedence over the millions of people, plants and animals that reside in the Amazon. Indigenous Brazilians have now been thrust into a seemingly endless struggle to remind the rest of the world, and their president, that they exist, and that they don’t deserve to be driven out from underneath the leafy canopies they call home. To make matters worse, it doesn’t stop there: they aren’t just having their territory stolen and redistributed, some sources say the leaders of indigenous tribes like the Waiapi are being outright hunted down and murdered by miners on the payroll of the owners of the companies starting the fires. That’s not to mention the wide variety of animals native only to the rainforest that now lie dead or dying amongst the swirling whirlwinds of ash and soot. One in 10 known animal species in the world are found in the Amazon rainforest, with species ranging from the capybara to the river dolphin. The animals fortunate enough to survive the actual burns are often subjected to altered breeding cycles, which can be the death knell of their species’ extinction. The damage corporate greed wreks on the rainforest will be irreversible if something isn’t done soon. A common defense of Bolsonaro’s continued destruction of the Amazon is that the burning and logging are all done in the name of clearing

land and generating new jobs for the citizens of Brazil. And, to be sure, some jobs are being generated. Many believe that the construction of farms and hydroelectric plants could very well create tens of thousands of new employment opportunities. At a cursory glance, it may seem as though some of the poorest communities of Brazil will be among those benefiting the most from deforestation and subsequent industrialization of the forest. This argument smolders out, however, once you consider the fact that the workers Bolsonaro is allegedly so concerned for are suffering due to the methods employed by the farmers he supports. Citizens who work in the heart of the Amazon are developing respiratory issues due to the abysmal air quality caused by the controlled burns nearby, with children and the elderly experiencing the worst effects. Compounding that, large soy farms — the type of farm the land is often being cleared for — are usually automated and require few workers from the local community. Jair Bolsonaro has not established himself as a president for the people. In the wake of criticism from environmentalists and conservationists, Bolsonaro is now desperately trying to play both sides of the conflict, going so far as to suggest that the recent fires in the Amazon were caused by environmental groups trying to debase him, and were not the fault of any negligence

on his part. This backpedaling is with good reason, as plenty of his once passionate supporters have since turned against him. His approval rating has plummeted from its peak of 49% this past January to a worrying 29% as of August. The citizens of Brazil are speaking out against his actions, and, if only to quell his own political firestorm, he’s taken baby steps towards extinguishing the literal firestorm in the Amazon. The Brazilian military was indeed deployed to fight the fires late last month, which is heartening to a degree, and Bolsonaro issued a statement claiming he is committed to “protecting the Amazon region.” Bolsonaro’s keenness to shift the blame and backpedal suggests that the time may be ripe for other countries to offer aid for the Amazon again, but it would be risky not to tread lightly. The Brazilian president has made it abundantly clear that his end goal is to commodify the rainforest, and went so far as to initially refuse aid from multiple countries at a G7 summit in August because he perceived the offer as an example of “colonialism and imperialism,” suggesting the G7 leaders were going over Brazil’s head “as if (Brazil was) a colony or no man’s land.” This presents a dilemma, as the Amazon can only be saved with financial aid and the help of environmental experts, but the rest of the world must be careful to not step on Brazil’s

proverbial toes lest Bolsonaro misinterprets the aid as a further slight towards his country. The situation only becomes more tenuous if Bolsonaro does refuse further international aid, because other world leaders may feel an obligation to intervene without Bolsonaro’s approval, which is exactly the kind of imperialist mindset Bolsonaro accused the G7 leaders of last month. The prevailing theory is that damages exceeding 25% will result in the Amazon entering a “dieback” scenario in which the forest’s ecosystem would essentially collapse. In spite of this urgency, caution will be key when it comes to addressing the Amazon fires. If outside nations don’t approach Brazil with a healthy amount of deference then he may feel pressured to make hasty decisions that will affect the rest of the world. Hope is not lost for the Amazon rainforest, but, for now, the world’s primary concern should be extinguishing the flames still raging throughout its thickets. The only permanent solution is to enact stronger environmental protection laws, but until then the fires will continue to crackle and spread throughout the forest expanse like a fever. ■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.

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

Convenience over connection: the problem with dating apps VICTORIA DAVY Contributing Writer

Technology has done both a lot of good and a lot of damage. It has brought people closer together, while simultaneously pulling them apart. There is an app for everything, from finding a partner to maintaining a relationship. That being said, relationship apps should only be used as a tool to enhance a relationship, they shouldn’t be the foundation it is built on. Dating apps have become a helpful way for people to meet in an age where dating and relationship apps make the dating pool larger, which in turn connects people that wouldn’t have met otherwise. These apps are available at any time and any place without interrupting a person’s daily life. They don’t require any more work than the initial sign up and opening of the app. Relationship apps become a problem when the apps move from being a way to meet and get to know each other to being the backbone of a relationship. While relationship apps can improve communication, they can also make a person seem disingenuous when talking about their feelings. There is an app that sets reminders for users to send affirming or emotionally connecting texts to their partner. Using an app like that can put a person on autopilot, so romance becomes just as robotic as brushing one’s teeth. Telling your significant other “good morning” or “have a wonderful day” shouldn’t require an alarm every morning. Instead of enhancing a relationship, it

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makes it monotonous. Dating apps can commoditize the dating experience. With most dating apps, a person can search for desired traits and come up with many different options. Having many choices for potential partners can often feel less like finding a compatible partner and more like searching through Amazon for the best french press on the market

— it becomes less about getting to know the person and more about the superficial choices available to you. In the midst of a busy life, reminders could be useful for big events like anniversaries and other important dates. Life has become so fast-paced with jobs, classes and other engagements that time for romance can be difficult to fit into the hustle and bustle of the

everyday. The occasional reminder can aid couples in having a healthy and fulfilling relationship, but that’s where it should end. Apps can be useful during the beginning stages of a relationship but they should not be the be-all and end-all of a relationship. Intimacy and communication should be created and fostered by a couple, not an app. ■H

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

ANDREW CHEN Contributing Writer

OPINIONS

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

China-US Trade War: A Clash of Cultures

Trade representatives from the U.S. and China faced off in Washington on Thursday, two months after the leaders of the two countries agreed to resume trade talks during the G20 summit. So far, President Trump has been bullish when asked about the trade war with China; in March, he claimed that “trade wars are good and easy to win.” For anybody who is familiar with the fundamental differences between the central tenets in the cultures of China and the U.S., it’ll be anything but. In the U.S., where individualism is valued above all else, the country is run from the bottom-up, perfectly exemplified by the startup culture zeitgeist of the Silicon Valley. In China, where collectivism is valued above all else, the country is governed primarily through a top-down approach, with the government regularly doling out generous government subsidies and support. These opposing styles of governance have their upsides and downsides. With an emphasis on the individual, individual interests are put ahead of the collective, leaving room for more open conflict. As a result, it can be hard to pivot and conduct concerted pushes through government initiatives. With a top-down approach, the importance of the leaders’ competence is pronounced. If all goes well, this approach can be highly fruitful, leading to an allin allocation of resources towards a common goal. The caveat is that this policy amplifies failed leadership, manifesting events parallel to Mao’s catastrophic Great Leap Forward. Another roadblock for the U.S. to hurdle is the stubbornness of the Chinese Politburo. Because the Chinese government extols

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stability and places the utmost importance on its image of legitimacy, any deal made with the U.S. won’t put them on a serious back-foot. Currently, the United States has several misgivings towards China’s trade policies. China is not doing enough to curtail intellectual property theft and is, in many cases, facilitating it. China employs a policy called Forced Technology Transfer (FTT), which forces companies to share technology for access to the Chinese market. Additionally, unfair trade practices, China’s top-down approach and generous support for domestic enterprises undermine freemarket principles. Countries functioning in a top-down approach or boasting shady human rights records don’t usually lock horns with the United States, provided they’re on the “good side.” For example,

no real action was taken against Saudi Arabia because of American oil interests, even in light of the Jamal Khashoggi murder. China is a starkly different case; it is a country that has the potential to threaten the status quo and become the future dominant global superpower. Those who believe that the United States is winning the trade war posit that, as a result of tariffs imposed on Chinese imports, China is hurt by companies seeking to diversify supply chains with cheap labor markets in countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh, and that because China exports to the U.S. five times more than they import, the tariffs will have a more pronounced effect on China. However, these points are only valid if China’s “Made in China 2025” (MIC 2025) plan fails. China’s MIC 2025 seeks to move China away from being the

world’s source of cheap labor and towards producing higher quality goods and services, with concrete goals of raising Chinesedomestic core content in hyper-sensitive fields such as information technology, robotics and space from 40% in 2020 to 70% by 2025. If China can achieve their MIC 2025 plan, it will seriously threaten the United States’ technological advantage, and, as a corollary, further deteriorate the U.S.’ firm but loosening grip on their title as the leader of the world economy. With China slated to overtake the U.S. in terms of GDP by 2030, there’s not much time for the U.S. to get its affairs in order to preserve global American influence. In the 21st century, the world will continue to become disproportionately defined by economic “soft” power as opposed to “hard” military might. Maybe it’s time for

the U.S. to think about investing a greater share of federal funds into science (1%) and education (3%) as opposed to spending more on defense (16%) than the next ten countries combined. Furthermore, much of China’s economic strength comes from its sheer population. If the U.S. wants the principles of the West to prevail, it needs to start focusing on building coalitions with countries, like China with the Belt and Road Initiative, not alienating countries and peoples with destructive wars and restricting immigration. At the root of the problem, we can see that the trade disagreement stems from deep-seated cultural values. That being said, in the interest of the U.S. and maintenance of Western ideals, Trump is right: China’s rise needs to be curtailed. Only time can tell whether or not a trade war is the best route. ■H

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Be yourself.

Do you have an interest in writing, photography, design or marketing? The Highlander can help you polish your skills. Come to our weekly meetings every Monday at 5:15 p.m. in HUB 101 to learn more.

HIGHLANDER

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

Features

FEATURES

Highlander // highlandernews.org/features

campus cope:

Navigating the new year, new student or not Christine Tran, SENIOR STAFF writer Here we go again, the most dreaded but also exciting time of the year for students. Summer break is over and it’s time to accustom yourself to the college lifestyle, which is a lot easier said than done. With every new school year comes something unexpected; whatever got you through last year might not work this time around. Whether you’re a nervous freshman or recovering from a tough year, everyone could use a little help on what to do and what not to do this school year.

DO...

Get involved and stick with it. This doesn’t mean paying a club fee, then going to the first general meeting and never being seen again. You should be genuinely interested in committing time and effort towards whatever you join; things are always more fun when you care about what you do. There are various ways to be involved on campus; for example, identity-based student programs or taking cooking classes at the Student Recreation Center. Whatever you have your heart set on, just make sure to stick with it. Consistency is key, and getting involved on campus can help you make long-lasting friends with people of similar interests and gives you a way to enjoy your time outside of school. Make sure you’re on track. Invest in an agenda or a journal; trust me, you’ll need it to track your progress in your classes. I recommend sitting down on Sunday night and writing out your assignments and upcoming events for the week. This way, even if you don’t remember exactly what day or time something is due, you’re still aware that something is coming up. Plus, an agenda or journal is easily portable, so you can check it no matter where you are. Near the end of the quarter, it’s also important to make sure you’re on track toward graduating. You can do this by going onto your student portal and checking your degree audit before choosing classes to make sure you’re picking the right ones. If you need more help, your academic counselors are accessible through email, appointment and walk-in hours.

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DOn’t...

Overthink it. If you worry about every little thing, you’re going to continuously psych yourself out and miss out on some great experiences. Join a sport you’ve never done before or say hi to the person sitting next to you in class. It’s important to do things that you may be scared of because you never know what good can come out of it. It’s better to say that you tried it and didn’t like it instead of not trying it at all. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just remember that the people around you are as anxious but eager to make connections as you are. You’re not the only one who feels unsure, so be bold and take the first step towards something new. Overdo it. This applies to every aspect of college life. If your eyes are feeling droopy after a long study session, take a nap. If the world is spinning out of control, put that drink down. You need to make sure that you have a good balance between work and play. If you obsess over school and plan out every single step you need to take toward graduating, you may miss out on making memorable experiences and friends. But on the flip side, if you have too much on your plate outside of school, then it could negatively affect your academics. Be honest with yourself about what you can and cannot handle. Other people understand that you can’t juggle everything. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that you have limits and it’s better to know earlier instead of after you burn out. ■H Martin Lopez/ HIGHLANDER

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

Riverside Recreations

BY MARK BERTUMEN, SENIOR STAFF WRITER Even if the academic year has just started, you’re going to need a bucket list of things to do when it’s time to unwind from the stress that comes from ﬁnals or a frustrating professor. Luckily, UC Riverside and Riverside County at large have a great array of things to do when you turn study mode off and recuperation mode on.

If you’re done with the day and looking for a quick dinner offcampus, you might want to stop by the University Village, colloquially known as the UV. The UV is a plaza that hosts restaurants and small stores that you can ﬁnd by passing under the freeway, either by driving or walking down University Avenue, though it would be especially convenient if your last class was held inside the UV’s Regency Theatre. During my own visits, I especially loved Boba Cafe, which offers a large menu of boba drinks as well as a wide selection of foods, so wide that the walls are decorated with pictures of them, from deep-fried chicken to steel-cut beef noodles, from combination fried rice to egg noodle soup. And speaking of soup, pho noodles enthusiasts will love the Pho Vinam restaurant hiding in an alcove of the UV, offering that classic comfort food taste of rice noodles bathed in hot chicken broth.

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But if you’re not in a hungry mood, and you’re instead looking for some fresh air, those with a few hours on hand ought to visit the Botanic Gardens, great for a brisk hike and sightseeing. The Gardens are 40 acres of florals and foliage, a “living plant museum” of over 3,500 plants species from around the globe, according to the website. All of campus is welcome to visit in their free time and the garden is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; bring water, a friend and snacks if possible! The entrance path is near Lot 10 and the Chemical Sciences building, straight down Botanic Gardens Drive; the street ends with a gatehouse and opens up to a clearing of canopying deciduous trees, offering up a rather secluded sensation that follows you throughout the acreage. A full map of what lies ahead can be found on their website. Going straight down the paved path will bring you to the many themed garden collections, including herbs of “aromatic, culinary, dye and medicinal” usage, the “Butterfly Garden” of flowers vital to pollinators such as butterflies, and gardens focused on one variety of flowers, such as irises and lilacs. Going east from the entrance might be more ideal for longer, more strenuous hiking as the road is unpaved and scatters throughout a large collection of forestry, complete with trail markers in case you get lost.

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

If exploring the Gardens made you hungry again, but the UV isn’t your proverbial cup of culinary tea for the day, you’ll be able to find an even wider cup of proverbials at the Riverside Food Lab given you have a car or are willing to take a bus down University Avenue. Having first opened up in September of 2018, the Lab is a collection of unique and experimental eateries, perfect for the foodie inside of you. Perhaps one of the biggest attractions of the food court is Monty’s Good Burger, a burger joint of entirely vegan choices, where their specialty is completely plant-based burgers and burger patties. The Highlander and other students were “shocked by how much the burger tasted like a real beef patty.” If you’re looking for a great Instagram foodie shot, stop by “Sweet Combforts” and pick up a waffle on a stick, but be mindful that some menu choices are tasty only for the camera.

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

Have you finally reached the weekend, and you’re looking for a night out on the town? Then look no further than Downtown Riverside, the go-to nightlife spot in the Inland Empire county that’s straight down University Avenue. You’ll need either a car or a bus, and if you’ve got the former, keep some money on hand for parking. The novelty of making your way downtown, walking at pace with your friends as faces pass without being homebound never wears out as time goes on. One of the most common kinds of stores to browse are mom-and-pop-esque shops, such as the Downtowne Bookstore of vintage literature and TiggyWinkle’s, a trinket store full of all sorts of miscellaneous baubles and bits. When the holiday season comes around, the LED-driven Festival of Lights is a must-see occasion as every road is sparkled with ornaments and decorations.

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

Gastropubs, restaurants and cafes dot every corner of the urban environment, but the Back to the Grind coffee shop is an atmospheric delight. There’s the coffee they serve, which is already delicious, and then there’s the venue they boast. Standing two stories high, there’s plenty of breathing room to spare. The first floor tables are the canvases of many decorative designs while bookshelves and paintings line the walls, and the second story viewing platform is perfect for nightly performances by local bands. If you’re into a more poetic vibe, there’s a downstairs stage area where the daydreamers and stoners can snap their fingers to vivid vernacular Whether you’re a freshman ready for quarterly cram weeks or a senior wellversed in cutting it close, you’ve got more than an academic life ahead of you: you’ve got the roads of recreation, relaxation, repose and all sorts of R&R that is Riverside. Throughout the year, be sure to do your body and your mind a favor and know when to give them a break: we’ve already given you a few answers to where. ■H

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

Radar

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

RAMBO LAST BLOOD

Ends the franchise on a disappointing note By: Colin Carney, Senior Staff Writer

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Sylvester Stallone is back at it with another continuation of an iconic franchise that made him into an action star. Previously, his return to the screen as Rocky Balboa in “Creed” and “Creed 2” were welcomed as the character played a supporting role to a new star and offered audiences an endearing and entertaining new story in the franchise. Sadly, Stallone’s attempt to revitalize Rambo and provide him with a meaningful conclusion fails to compare with the resurgence of the “Rocky” franchise and does little more than to provide fans with some entertaining and excessively gory action scenes. “Rambo: Last Blood,” cleverly referencing the first film in the franchise “First Blood,” follows an old and seemingly happy John Rambo as he’s settled down to train horses on his ranch. Accompanying him is his niece, Gabrielle, and her grandmother Maria. As the film begins, audiences are quickly introduced to these three characters and given a tour of the ranch which includes a series of tunnels that run throughout the property. The film’s plot kicks into motion when Gabrielle receives a call from a friend in Mexico informing her that she has found her father who left her and her dying mother years ago. Against the wishes of both Rambo and her grandmother, Gabrielle travels to Mexico to meet him and is subsequently kidnapped by Mexican sex traffickers. In the vain of the “Taken” franchise, Rambo ventures to Mexico in search of Gabriella and comes into conflict with the criminals who abducted

her. What follows is a violent revenge tale that pins an aging Rambo against hardened criminals. Not surprisingly, the plot of “Rambo: Last Blood” is simple and straightforward. The film’s central revenge story does little to separate itself from others in the genre and only manages to justify the extreme violence committed against Gabrielle’s kidnappers. That said, the film never really gets us to care for these characters and Rambo’s stoic and limited range of emotions gives the audience little to build off of. Furthermore, the film’s villains, the Martinez Brothers, are one dimensional and simply appear evil just for the sake of being evil. They do little to stand out; one is even killed off screen, and they blend in with the nameless waves of criminals Rambo mows down in the final act. In terms of acting, Last Blood doesn’t offer any groundbreaking performances and simply manages to get by. Practically every character in the film exists to propel the plot and they fail to leave an impression with the audience. Stallone has the monotone Rambo down and manages to make the action sequences entertaining but provides no real emotional weight to his character. This is abundantly clear when the majority of his lines center around brief monologues about revenge that often reiterate the same points. Additionally, the few scenes in the film that are meant to be emotional and heartbreaking never succeed in connecting with the audience as Stallone’s Rambo doesn’t convey much

emotion to begin with. With all of this being said, audiences don’t expect much in terms of plot from the “Rambo” franchise and mostly go for the action. This film does manage to deliver an entertaining and over-thetop action sequence at the end but is limited in what it offers through the film’s 89-minute runtime. Much of the film focuses on Rambo traveling to Mexico to find his daughter (remarkably easily by the way) with a few brief action moments that mainly consist of Rambo either punching or stabbing a handful of goons in typical brutal fashion. The real carnage does not occur until the final act when Stallone goes full Rambo on a small army of Mexican criminals that storm his ranch. Reminiscent of an R-rated “Home Alone,” Rambo sets up countless lethal booby traps throughout his property and turns the previously mentioned tunnels into a custom murder hole as enemy after enemy dies in a unique and brutal way. Overall, “Rambo: Last Blood” does little to make itself stand out and will likely be forgotten by audiences the day after going to the theater. It manages to entertain action fans with its violent final act but fails to entertain or captivate audiences beforehand. Additionally, though the film is marketed as the last installment in the franchise, the film’s ending fails to feel final. By the film’s end, Rambo seems to be the same character he was in previous films with little development and room for future sequels should the studio decided to revive the ■H franchise.

Verdict:

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“Rambo: Last Blood” is a disappointing entry in the franchise that does little to differentiate itself from other films in the action genre. The final action sequence manages to entertain and mildly redeem the film but does not justify the boring plot or the price of admission.

Highlander // highlandernews.org/arts

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

iPhone 11 Pro: improved but not innovative BY: ADAM ALVERNAZ, SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Apple’s control over the smartphone market is much like an empire. With over 45% control, the industry leader has become content with their current model of upgrading a previous generation phone every other year. Unfortunately, the iPhone 11 Pro does little to innovate with its new ultra wide lens, XDR (External Data Representation) display and even better battery life. Apple’s newest line of smartphones have raised quite a lot of controversy since its initial unveiling on Sept. 10. Besides other minor upgrades to performance and cellular technology, Apple’s newest line seems like the weakest with no major changes in design or direction. Furthermore, many of the tech giants competitors have innovated to provide an equal or better experience. The latest model of iPhone does give substantial upgrades to the quality of their camera, yet the tech giant fails to innovate in a field of variety. By implementing a new ultra wide lens, the new phone can enhance picture depth and quality. This new camera has the capability to bring in more light to brighten darker photos. Despite these changes, however, the other cameras have largely stayed the same with only minor adjustments to the selfie camera. The triple camera design is an extreme benefit to anyone taking lots of photos on their phones. Yet, Apple isn’t the only company with three lenses. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S10 offers a three lens setup with many of the same features the 11 Pro offers. The S10 is an excellent smartphone that is able to hold its own in camera quality without low-light functionality. Despite this, Huawei’s P30 Pro has a four camera setup that can take photos with impeccable quality and all the same features of Apple’s newest smartphone. Despite Apple’s attempt to give more camera options to users, their newest phone simply gets beaten by several other devices with cheaper pricing. Despite the shortcomings in camera quality, the new smartphone is no slouch when it comes to its all new XDR display quality. In the advent of smartphones, Apple has always retained its philosophy of making the screen best for the user. One of the biggest benefits to the 11 Pro is its screen with an all new XDR display. First featured with the new Mac Pro, the XDR display is definitely top of the line quality giving more vibrant pictures and better contrast. While the pixel density is the same as the iPhone XS, the new XDR display will make pictures and movies much more vivid than ever before. Coupled with a stronger contrast ratio and a brighter screen, the display of this new phone will hopefully set the standard for them in the future. In spite of this, the Samsung Galaxy S10 still comes out on top with its top of the line AMOLED display and massive 1440p display. Samsung is able to achieve this due to their display not being hindered by a “notch” on its top side. Without this hindrance, they are able to push out more pixels in a similar space. Undeterred by

this, the iPhone 11 Pro’s display should not be underrated as it holds its own in the upper echelon of modern smartphones. With the iPhone 11 Pro having one of the best displays in the industry, the battery seems to follow suit as one of the biggest in any smartphone. With the growing need for longer and better batteries, Apple has always delivered on giving their new phones more efficient batteries. This year Apple has tried to improve upon their XS Max battery by giving five more hours. While not sounding like much, it’s a huge difference for those that use their phones constantly and always need to be on call. Sporting a huge 3968 mAh (milliamp Hour) battery, the iPhone 11 Pro Max holds one of the best batteries in any phone. This is only beat by the budget giant, the Motorola G7 with its 5000 mAh. While the G7 does seem to last forever, it sacrifices much more just to have the space for such a humongous battery. Forgoing many smartphone staples, the G7 hardly stacks up next to the iPhone 11 Pro in any aspect besides battery. Apple is definitely an industry leader this year with its battery on top of all other features that are packed into the phone. However with the exceptional display and camera, the iPhone 11 Pro suffers from the price gouging that Apple has become known for. One of the many complaints of new Apple products are the overwhelming prices that are set for the devices and their accessories. The iPhone 11 is no different sporting the same base price as the iPhone XS. The same is true for the Pro Max as it retains the same price as the XS Max. This is definitely one of the weaker aspects of the new line of phones as its new features hardly justify the insanely high price. As discussed before, many other manufacturers have set the bar for competitive pricing for their products. As with many other Apple products, the consumer pays a fee to have all the functionality of the “Apple ecosystem.” Many competitors don’t have to worry about this and let their product speak on its own. Due to this, it’s hard to recommend the iPhone 11 as its price is much more expensive than any of its competitors. For example, the Moto G7 is only $300 and the previously mentioned Galaxy S10 retails for only $800. Despite all the changes made for Apple’s flagship phone, the main issue is the selling price. Starting at $1,000 flat, the iPhone 11 is priced way too high for features that simply aren’t worth the upgrade. While the smartphone is competitively priced, there are many different other brands that can achieve similar or better feats than the iPhone 11 Pro. Frankly, this iPhone isn’t groundbreaking this time around and it sucks because of how much they got right with the model X. Regardless of how unoriginal the smartphone is, those in need of an upgrade will be perfectly happy with a suped-up iOS experience with the iPhone 11 line. H

■

Be brave.

Do you have an interest in writing, photography, design or marketing? The Highlander can help you polish your skills. Come to our weekly meetings every Monday at 5:15 p.m. in HUB 101 to learn more.

Highlander MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

Highlander // highlandernews.org/sports

SPORTS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

UCR women’s basketball Head Coach John Margaritis resigns; Seyram Bell will serve as interim head coach Jordan Hom Senior Staff Writer

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John Margaritas, head coach of the UC Riverside women’s basketball program, resigned Friday, Sept. 13. Assistant Seyram Bell will serve as interim head coach for the time being. Athletic Director Tamica Smith Jones said in a statement that an immediate search would begin for a more permanent replacement. Prior to his resignation, Margaritas was placed on indefinite leave without pay because of allegations surrounding his behavior with various athletes. Many of his former players spoke out about the emotional and verbal abuse

they experienced during Margaritis’ tenure as coach of the program. These issues of alleged mistreatment and abuse surfaced after former Assistant Coach Giuliana Mendiola’s contract was not renewed for the 2019-20 season. This pushed former players to create a petition on change. org in support of Mendiola, who was described as a voice and mentor for the players. After an initial investigation by a third-party, Margaritis was issued a 20-day suspension without pay on Friday, Aug. 2. Margaritis was placed on unpaid leave Thursday, Sept. 12 before resigning Friday. ■H

Men’s soccer off to a fast start, winning five of their first six Jordan Hom Senior Staff Writer

UCR’s men’s soccer team has thrived in their first few games to begin the season. On Friday, Aug. 30, The Highlanders opened the season with a 1-0 win against (2-3) Bryant University in Riverside. Junior forward Roberto Garcia-Vargas scored the only goal of the game, and it came in the first four minutes of action. On Sunday, Sept. 1, The Highlanders followed up their win against the Bulldogs with another win versus (2-3) Hartford University. Garcia-Vargas led the way as he scored the first goal for the Highlanders in the 24-minute mark

of the game. Freshman midfielder Alex Jung added to the scoreboard when he scored his first goal of the season in the 49th minute of play. Sophomore defender Nick Benjamin of Hartford scored the only goal for the Hawks but the Highlanders still secured the 2-1 victory. Five days after their victory against Hartford, UCR faced off against Riverside rival Cal Baptist University (1-4-1) where the Highlanders earned a 2-1 overtime victory against the Lancers. The Highlanders and the Lancers have played each other three times since 2016, with UCR winning all three of the matchups. “The Crosstown Showdown means a lot to us and a lot to the community

because it shows that Riverside soccer is growing,” senior midfielder Ronaldo Lomeli said in an interview with UCR Athletics. The Highlanders traveled to Dallas, Texas on Monday, Sept. 9 where they suffered their first loss of the season against Southern Methodist University (6-0). Sophomore midfielder Nicky Hernandez of SMU scored the only goal of the game when he wove through the Highlanders defense and put the ball in the back of the net in the 24th minute of play. After their trip to Texas, the Highlanders made their way back to Riverside where they earned two more victories on the season against Florida Gulf

Coast University (FGCU) and the U.S. Air Force Academy (1-4) on Sept. 13 and 15. UCR held FGCU (3-2-1) scoreless throughout the game and won by a score of 2-0. The Highlanders earned a 2-1 victory against the Air Force Falcons on Military Appreciation Night. Sophomore midfielder Caio Guazzelli from Brazil and junior forward Hugo Magana Jr. each scored one goal apiece for the Highlanders. Up next, the Highlanders will match up against the University of San Diego on Friday, Sept. 27 in Riverside before heading to Los Angeles to battle against UCLA. ■H

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Former Highlander big man Menno Dijkstra signs with Spanish basketball club, Basquet Girona Jordan Hom Senior Staff Writer

Former Highlander Menno Dijkstra will continue the next chapter of his basketball career in Girona, Spain. Dijkstra signed a professional contract with the basketball club, Basquet Girona, which NBA Champion Marc Gasol of the Toronto Raptors founded in 2014. This won’t be the first time that Dijkstra will play basketball overseas. Dijkstra, a native of the Netherlands, played high school basketball at the Canarias Basketball Academy prior to making his debut at UC Riverside in 2015. Dijkstra played his entire college career with the Highlanders with career averages of 6.1 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game and 0.5 blocks per game. During his freshman and sophomore seasons, Dijkstra was mainly used as a

reserve, starting only two games in total. He produced similar numbers during his junior season but was inserted as a starter for eight games. In his senior season, Dijkstra produced career-high numbers in points, rebounds and assists while starting 23 out of his 33 games played. Dijkstra’s scoring average went up from 5.7 in his junior year to 8.1 in his senior season. During a game against Pepperdine, Dijkstra scored a career-best 20 points. Familiarity shouldn’t be too big of a barrier for Dijkstra next season as he has played basketball in Spain and Europe prior to playing for UC Riverside. He might experience some rookie struggles overseas as he gets used to playing with professionals, but if he continues his trend of improvement as he did in his senior season, Dijkstra should have a successful professional basketball career. ■H

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

Highlander // highlandernews.org/sports

Sports

T o p U CR s p o r t s m omen ts o f t h e s u m m er

By: Callie Lawson-Freeman contributing writer

The Highlander fall sports teams are off to a promising start after many exciting performances this summer. With an impressive collective recruiting class and multiple teams earning winning records early in the season, UC Riverside’s fall teams will be interesting to watch. Here are some of the top UCR sports moments of the summer.

Women’s basketball dominates overseas in 93-16 victory over professional team Women’s basketball started off with a bang in their summer international trip to the Republic of Cyprus, beating a professional team named Anorthosis 93-16 on Aug. 26. Their win was credited to a cohesive defense. Junior guard Aiyana Barnes led the team with 14 points, while sophomore guard Bryanna Brady scored 12 points while shooting 80% from the field. COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

Men’s soccer wins crosstown showdown against Cal Baptist In a battle against crosstown rival Cal Baptist University on Friday, Sept. 6 the men’s soccer team earned the victory in a nail-biter that was tied until the last minute of overtime. With 20 seconds left on the clock, the winning goal was scored by senior midfielder Ronaldo Lomeli off an assist from junior forward Roberto Garcia-Vargas. This win secured the team their best starting record since 2013 (3-0-0).

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

Women’s volleyball wins first two matches to start the season Women’s volleyball also opened their season with a winning record at the Northern Illinois Tournament on Aug. 30. The first win against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville featured a breakout performance from freshman outside hitter Amarachi Osuji, who led the team with 11 kills and two aces. The second win against Fairleigh Dickinson was dominated by another freshman, outside hitter Ashley Dittman, who led the match with an overwhelming 25 kills and five aces. COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

Women’s soccer gets first win against University of Houston Women’s soccer clinched their first win of the year in their matchup against the University of Houston at Cal State Fullerton on Sunday, Sept. 8. The two teams engaged in a tense defensive battle with no score in the match until the 88th minute. After Houston attempted nine shots on goal in the first half, the win was secured for the Highlanders when junior forward Alexis Vera capitalized on a penalty kick in overtime. COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

Cross Country hosts UCR Invitational

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The 39th Annual UCR Invitation was held on Saturday, Sept. 14, where both the men’s and women’s team finished ninth against tough competition. The women’s team was led by upperclassmen Emily Sanchez and Haley Cabrera running 21:55.40 and 21:56.08 in the women’s 6k invitational respectively, a huge PR for Cabrera. The men were led by senior Arman Irani who snagged a top-30 finish with a time of 24:59.19 in the 8k invitational. “We’re excited about opening the season up.” Coach Rob Hansen said, “The guys can work on running as a group, while the women can definitely work on patience. Once we polish those things up we’ll be more than ready for our next home meet. We love the home course advantage.” The teams’ next home meet will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19th with only one meet separating it from Big West Conference Championships that will also be hosted at UCR. ■H