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THE HIGHLANDER

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

VOL. 68, ISSUE 07

est. 1954

THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES WILL CONTINUE TO RAGE ON AS LONG AS CLIMATE CHANGE GOES UNADDRESSED

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

HUMANS OF UCR

UPCOMING EVENTS: WEEK 6

SAM DUENAS | PSYCHOLOGY | SECOND-YEAR COMPILED BY ALEJANDRO AGUILAR

GameChangers Leadership Series 3:00pm to 5:00pm HUB 379

Persist Movie Night: Knock Down The House 6:00pm to 7:30pm HUB 367

Tuesday

Wednesday

Transfer Transitions Study Jams! - First Womxn’s Program: How to be Cliterate with Stephanie Orozco Gen Week 11:00am to 12:00pm 9:00am to 8:00pm Costo Hall, 244 Winston Chung Hall, 103

Student Engagement Fair 11:00am to 2:00pm Belltower

Anya: Film screening and director Q&A 5:00pm to 7:00pm CHASS Interdisciplinary South, 1128

Persist Women’s Political Engagement Conference 9:30am to 5:30pm HUB

The Well’s 10th Birthday Bash 1:00pm to 3:00pm HUB 248 (The Well)

Film: The Last Black Man in San Francisco 7:00pm to 8:30pm UCR ARTS, Culver Center of the Arts

Thursday

“Drawing has always been a good way for me to vent out all my thoughts and feelings and make it something nice. I also love story telling so being able to make it something visual really inspires me.”

Friday

Saturday

10 Sunday

HIGHLANDER STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

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ASUCR

ASUCR hosts a focus group to brainstorm alternative plans for commencement

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, ASUCR hosted a commencement focus group in order to allow students to brainstorm alternative locations for commencement. Commencement will tentatively be taking place at the Toyota Arena in Ontario. The event began at 12:30 p.m. and pizza was available for attendees. ASUCR President Julian Gonzalez began the focus group by stating that as student body president he “wants to make sure that the student body and their opinions are heard before I meet with Wilcox to negotiate with him.” Gonzalez then presented the same powerpoint that was presented by the Dean of Students Christine Mata and the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Alumni and Constituent Relations Jorge Ancona during the Oct. 16 ASUCR meeting. This powerpoint outlined how the administration was looking to change some traditional aspects of commencement that presented problems. The proposed changes presented by Ancona and Mata would move

commencement from campus to the Toyota Arena of Ontario. The changes would also mean that the names of graduating students would not be called as they walk across the stage; instead, their names would be flashed on a banner-like screen. After students protested, the administration announced that they are committed to saying names at graduation. However, they would need to have more discussions in regard to the location of commencement. When they were presenting the powerpoint on Oct. 16, Ancona and Mata identified individual recognition of graduates as a priority for students. This prompted Gonzalez to state during the focus group, “I kind of find it funny that even though they highlighted that recognition of individual graduates is important to students, they still decided to take away the one thing that did that from students.” Gonzalez then encouraged students to brainstorm alternate locations besides hosting commencement at the Toyota Arena as well as express any concerns or questions they may have. While discussing with students, Gonzalez noted, “If we were

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to move commencement to the Toyota Arena, parking would not be paid for. Our families are going to have to pay for parking.” He noted that this would also affect business in Riverside because it is a weekend where families are eating at the restaurants at the UV and paying for Riverside hotels. Gonzalez stated that all of that business will move to Ontario. ASUCR Executive Director Laurie Sinclair then began writing student ideas on a whiteboard. One student proposed that commencement take place on the baseball or soccer fields on campus. Many students also suggested that UCR host smaller and more intimate ceremonies in various campus locations hosted by departments. They suggested that funds be allocated to departments to let them host their own commencements. Students noted that while it is traditional to have Chancellor Wilcox present at commencement, it is not a crucial aspect for commencement to many students. Some students suggested that having professors or the head of departments hand students their diploma is more intimate and meaningful.

During the discussion, Luna Sebastian, the ASUCR personnel director then stated in reference to the survey answers that Ancona and Mata presented at the Oct. 16 ASUCR meeting, “A question that would have been important to ask students who participated in the survey is if they had to go through commencement again, would they rather have it on or off-campus … maybe they did not know what impact their responses would have.” Gonzalez also stated, “I am hoping to present something in the next two weeks to the chancellor. I know that he is probably waiting for something to be said right now because I do not think he will continue with any plans until he gets the final proposal from students.” Gonzalez stated that even if Wilcox were to proceed then that “is when it would get messy because he would violate shared governance.” Fourth-year biochemistry major Martin Lopez stated, “We can probably separate smaller schools into smaller commencements. I know that the real problem is CHASS. They have too many people but CNAS or BCOE have way smaller graduating classes.” Lopez then went on to state that if they could, they could just put the smaller colleges into their own areas and reserve Pierce Lawn for CHASS. He stated, “Even separating by major would help a lot because I know there’s probably a disproportionate amount of say psychology majors compared to others.” A few of the locations for smaller ceremonies on campus suggested by students were the UCR Extension Center, Alumni Center, track field, Hinderaker Lawn, Rivera Lawn, North District, Botanical Gardens, and Glen Mor Field. Sinclair noted that the number of tickets students could receive if smaller commencements were to take place at any of these locations should be taken into consideration. The event concluded at approximately 1:40 p.m. ■H

New CHASS senator has high hopes for the future of ASUCR LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Senior Staff Writer

Nelson Huerta has been hired to fill the recently vacant CHASS senatorial seat after the previous senator, Itzel Heraldez Rojo, stepped down for unknown reasons. Huerta is a third-year double major in sustainability studies and media and cultural studies. In an interview with The Highlander, Huerta expressed his excitement to fulfill the position after receiving an email from Executive Vice President Abigail Cortes asking if he would be willing to fill the vacancy. Huerta was hesitant at first, stating, “I didn’t know if I was cut out for the position,” but after talking to a few of his peers involved in ASUCR, he became motivated to accept the role. Huerta stated he is “just getting the hang of things and learning the basics,” but he has many plans for his future in ASUCR. Throughout his

term, Huerta hopes to bring awareness to the lack of diversity he sees present in the organization, as well as help with commuter issues on campus. Immediately upon accepting the position, Huerta said he contacted Evylen Simmons, the president of the Black Student Union (BSU), to inform her that he hopes to work with her to bring awareness to issues that directly affect BSU on campus. He also plans on diversifying ASUCR by informing Costo Hall on ways that they can get involved in the organization. “I want them to know that they can also make change happen on campus because when I was a freshman I didn’t know this was even possible,” stated Huerta. As of now, he says hosting presentations at club meetings will help to get the word out. Another issue he hopes to tackle during his time as senator is how to help commuters find their place at UCR.

Huerta stated, “I was a commuter for a quarter so I know that it’s a struggle since there’s a lot of lack of exposure (on the issue).” He specifically wants to make sure they are being considered when events are planned by asking questions such as “How would the parking look for people that want to come to this event at this time?” Huerta also wants to work on making commuter-only parking spaces or even building more parking lots for students who live further away from campus. Huerta stated that he is “proud of what Senator Evelyn Castaneda and all of MEChA did for commencement, so (he will) probably look at them for help to fight for these issues that would require more than simple meetings.” Ultimately, Huerta wants to put an emphasis on transparency during his time as an ASUCR senator and he encourages students to ask him any questions they have about his position.

He assured The Highlander that he promises to be “as honest as possible” throughout his term. ■H

COURTESY OF ASUCR

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

NEWS

UCR students create app to help combat the lack of parking on campus

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Senior Staff Writer

Two fourth-year biology majors, Bharat Rai and Andrew Attia, have created an app to help fight the parking situation that students are facing at UCR. The app is called Pickup N’ Park and it is expected to be finalized by the end of November but will officially be launched in January 2020. In an interview with The Highlander, Rai stated that the inspiration for the app came from the frustration of trying to find parking on campus. “We understand the struggle of students and we relate to it,” stated Rai. Upon identifying this, they contacted Chancellor Kim Wilcox about their idea. Wilcox put them in contact with Andy Plumley, the associate vice chancellor of auxiliary services and Irma Henderson, the director of Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS). While they were not able to get endorsed by UCR, Rai and Attia were advised to make a third-party app that was separate from UCR, which led them to create Pickup N’ Park. Pickup N’ Park is an app that will help students find parking faster. The app will allow students to select the time that they will be leaving class and walking back to their cars. They will then be matched up with someone who has just arrived at the parking lot who will be able to pick them up, drive them to their car and take their parking spot. When asked about the importance of the app, Rai stated that finding parking on campus, “wastes your time, gas and energy and it’s just unnecessary.” He added, “school should be an institution for learning, when you get here you should go straight to your education.” Rai stated that when the app launches in January it

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will be free. All he and Attia are looking for is honest student feedback. “What we want out of it is students helping students, we are both students and we are just trying to help,” stated Rai. They are also trying to promote their app through social media in order to “get people on board with it so (they) can have the strongest user base possible to download (Pickup N’ Park) in its initial stages,” stated Rai. Rai stated that UCR is accepting more and more students every year and while they have plans to build more parking lots around campus, it is unknown if current students will be able to reap those benefits.

TAPS recently increased the price of parking permits by five-dollars as well as the price of parking citations by two-dollars, and while this will help in funding those new parking structures, Rai stated that students who are graduating will not benefit from that. “This is something students can use now,” stated Rai, “it maximizes the efficiency of the parking spots (UCR) currently has.” He ended the interview by encouraging students to follow Pickup N’ Park’s social media accounts to gain exposure for the app and to leave comments about how the parking at UCR has affected them. ■H

ASUCR

ASUCR awards first senator of the month EVP announces CNAS senator vacancy

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, ASUCR held its fifth meeting of the quarter. During Public Forum, Rich Davis, a Riverside community member, spoke about his concerns on the STEM high school that is being built on campus. Davis informed students that a STEM town hall will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the University Extension Center at 5:30 p.m. He encouraged ASUCR members and students to attend the town hall to address any concerns they may have themselves regarding the STEM high school. The meeting then moved on to Committee Reports. The Finance Committee went over the finance hearing meeting minutes from Oct. 28 and Oct. 30. The total organization allocation for the Oct. 28 hearing was $13,589 while the total allocation for the Oct. 30 hearing was $19,628. Both meeting minutes were approved 12-0-0. The senate also approved GCAP’s meeting minutes from Oct. 23 12-0-0. Before Senator Reports, BCOE Senator Maurice Armstrong motioned to amend the senator reports time allotment to one minute per senator. The motion was approved 10-0-2. CHASS Senator Miguel Ramirez announced during his report that he is working with Dining Services to give a free meal to dining workers during their breaks. Ramirez stated, “A lot of students who work on campus are food insecure and dining is throwing away so much food every day … so we are collaborating to try to get dining to give student workers a free meal every time they have a shift.” Ramirez stated that this could help address food insecurity as well as food waste on campus. President Pro Tempore Preeti Juturu announced during her report that she attended the Riverside Farmers Market and met with Oscar De Leon, the Riverside Farmers Market manager. Juturu announced that De Leon is willing to provide UCR with donations of produce for the R’Pantry. During Roundtable and Announcements, Executive

Vice President Abigail Cortes announced that there is a CNAS senator vacancy and has reached out to the alternate and is waiting on a response from them. She also announced that the Senator of the Month is BCOE Senator Maurice Armstrong. Cortes addressed Armstrong and stated that, “You have been recognized

for your continuous dedication to ASUCR, your ability to be vocal during senate meetings, demonstrating knowledge and passion to help the student body and having a very professional meeting with your ethnic and gender program.” She then encouraged Armstrong to keep up the good work. ■H

Rich Davis, a Riverside resident, addresses the ASUCR Senate on the STEM high school.

MARTIN LOPEZ /HIGHLANDER

6 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

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UCR philosophy professor explores the mysteries of near-death experiences

ANDY LI Contributing Writer

John Martin Fischer, a distinguished professor of philosophy at UC Riverside, recently embarked on a project exploring patients claiming to have near-death experiences. The project began in June 2019, and he was granted $5.2 million from the John Templeton Foundation in research funds to study the phenomenon. “Today, we still do not have any definitive scientific evidence that near-death experiences constitute the existence of another dimension or reality,” said Fischer in an interview with The Highlander. He added, “However, the evidence does suggest that the human mind is far more sophisticated than we previously thought.” Fischer said that patients who have near-death experiences engage in a highly intelligent strategy of coping with the existence or death, or terror management. “The amazing thing about human beings throughout the entire history of our evolution is our inability to come to terms to the eternity of death. It’s possible that this self-delusion is a survival strategy to keep ourselves mentally sane to carry on our other duties throughout millennia,” stated Fischer. In addition, Fischer acknowledged a multitude of anecdotal accounts of people visiting heaven when

undergoing a traumatic experience. There have also been accounts of people having out-of-body experiences where they claim they can see their body by floating directly over it. “Most of this can easily be explained by the presence of religion in our culture and our obsession to find explanations even in confusing circumstances,” Fischer explained. He added, “The human mind is capable of an amazing level of imaginative creativity.” Fischer discounted supernatural explanations for out-of-body experiences, arguing that similar accounts are common amongst patients who experiment with hallucinogenic substances, such as mushrooms. “We’ve seen study after study show that people on hard drugs claim to be floating in the air and seeing themselves from above. A lot of this has to do with chemicals interacting with the posterior cingulate cortex, a region of the brain that manages spatial comprehension and balance,” he said. Fischer is using the grant on a study focused on patients in emergency rooms who have had near-death and out-of-body experiences. A number is flashed across a screen while the patients are unconscious, and if they awake they are asked if they saw a number. There have not been any occasions when patients have correctly identified the flashing number. ■H

COURTESY OF UCR TODAY

Riverside County CEO and assistant CEO give public policy seminar

COURTESY OF UCR SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY

ANTONIO VELAOCHAGA Contributing Writer

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the School of Public Policy (SPP) hosted a seminar titled, “Shaping the Next Generation of Public Service.” The event began in the CHASS Interdisciplinary South room 1111 at 5:30 p.m. SPP Marketing, Communications and Events Manager Mark Manalang and SPP Marketing, Communications and Events Specialist John Batres organized the seminar. The seminar was hosted by Kurt Schwabe, the associate dean for SPP while the two main guest speakers were CEO of Riverside County George Johnson and Assistant CEO & Human Resources Director of Riverside County Brenda Diederichs. According to Johnson, the event was meant to be an informative seminar that would not only provide a deeper understanding of Riverside County’s public policy system but he said that he wanted to inspire the members of the audience to pursue a career in county government. Schwabe opened the event by introducing the speakers: Johnson has served as the county’s chief assistant executive officer for five years and Diederichs, a labor law attorney, has “more than 20 years of experience in the public sector.” Johnson said, “county government is one of those

areas of government that’s not very well understood.” He spoke more of his beginnings in public policy and that he received a degree in civil engineering because he “wanted to create quality communities that people wanted to live in.” Diederichs focused on her past working for human resources in the public sector at San Bernardino County and said, “when you are in public service there is no such thing as just doing the little job you set out to do.” Johnson played a video that displayed the different programs and services the county provides its residents; he described that the infrastructure of the county departments is essential to provide these programs and services. Johnson spoke of Riverside County’s rapid growth stating that it will “continue to grow to two million people in the next five to six decades … with that growth comes tremendous challenges.” Johnson stated that the five elected to the county board of supervisors have the authority to make policy decisions. He added, “it is the citizens of this county who are really in charge,” since the residents vote for the board of supervisors. Then Johnson showed a clip of Supervisor Chuck Washington giving a summary of the Riverside County board of supervisors’ duties and responsibilities. In the video Washington stated, “State law allows the board of supervisors to make decisions for their county and

the supervisors sets priorities for their counties.” Washington stated that the board can authorize and enforce ordinances that do not conflict with state law, however, individual supervisors cannot make ordinances or decisions about the district. Washington said, “No decision or ordinance can be implemented without the support of at least three of the five supervisors, even if that decision or ordinance only affects one district.” He said that the board represents unincorporated areas because those locations don’t have a city council. Washington said the board makes decisions that affect the everyday lives of county residents such as road improvements, health policies, traffic signs and more. Johnson said, “We are the public safety net. We are providing services to those who are most vulnerable in our communities who can’t afford services themselves.” He gave examples of homeless people, residents who have mental health issues, substance abuse problems and many more. Johnson stated, “the internal reorganization efforts we are focusing on is creating high performance through collaboration, trust and accountability.” Johnson said that as CEO of Riverside County he wanted to improve the communication and collaboration with the county departments. Diederichs stated that an open line of communication between the head officials and those who want to get into public policy is important to find the best ways to train and mentor them. With regard to the seminar and speakers, Maddie Bunting, the SPP chief ambassador and public affairs student assistant said, “I think it went wonderfully … They really want to hear our voices, which is important to come from leaders of the government.” Regarding the importance of speaking at the seminar, Johnson stated, “We think it’s very important to support the UCR school of public policy. More importantly we want to create a partnership where we can help one another out.” After their presentations, Johnson and Diederichs answered questions from the audience. The event ended at 7 p.m. ■H

Be bold.

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Opinions

8 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

OPINIONS

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HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

The California wildf ires will continue to rage on as long as climate change goes unaddressed

he wind b l o w s and the California wildfires continue to spread across the state like a crackling fever. Most Californians are well acquainted with the common brush fire, but the past couple of years have brought with them a series of burns unlike any before, and they’re only getting worse. People are losing their homes, and in some cases their lives, resulting in many state residents calling on power companies like PG&E to address the structural issues that appear to be the root cause for many of the fires. What many Californians don’t realize, however, is that the wildfires razing their homes aren’t just the fault of greedy corporations; they are a direct result of climate change. The true culprit continues to stare humanity in the face: the horrors of the climate crisis have been drying the state out for years. The regularity California’s annual wildfires have increased by 500% since the 1970s, with 2019

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seeing 198,000 acres of land burn since the year began. Infernos like the northern Kincade fire are only able to travel so far south because of the state’s unnaturally dry conditions, which render vegetation more flammable and facilitate further burning. It would seem as though these wildfires are meant to serve as the world’s wake up call, but the people aren’t heeding it yet. Companies like PG&E continue to catch most of the blame for the fires. Of course, this reaction isn’t unwarranted: the Getty fire in western Los Angeles was reportedly caused by a tree branch falling onto nearby power lines. One could speculate that had the area been better maintained the fire may not have started in the first place, but accidents like these are inevitable. The fire wouldn’t have spread as far as it did had the rising temperatures not dried out the forests. The most these companies seem willing to do so far is shut off the power in affected areas so as to prevent the ignition of more fires, but doing so results in folks being unable to receive important evacuation notices.

Utility companies may be able to revise the power grid, but doing so would be a half measure. Revising the electric grid and infrastructure are much easier fixes than climate change, but the process would be costly and the solution would be impermanent. Fighting to prevent accidents like the aforementioned power line mishap without addressing climate change is tantamount to fighting a losing battle. To be sure, addressing climate change will also cost the taxpayers a pretty penny, but it would mean attacking the problem at the source, and it has to happen eventually. The burden doesn’t fall solely on the people. While it is incredibly important for the public to be educated on the issue, they can’t be the only ones to recognize this as a climate change issue. State elected officials also need to recognize the severity of the situation if there is any hope for progress. California officials have been dragging their feet regarding the climate change issue for years, but their constituents are losing their homes to these fires, meaning lawmakers have every reason to pay attention

today. Strides have already been made with the passing of SB 100, which committed the state to 100% carbonfree electricity by 2045 and AB 2127, which funds the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, both of which were passed in August of 2018. That being said, half measures are no longer good enough. The people must call for more radical, transformative legislation. The situation looks bad for California, but it’s not too late yet. Lobbyists for dirty energy companies have so far effectively quashed the more revolutionary bills, but if the severity of the fires is understood and conveyed to elected officials then there may be a greater push for legislation that moves the state further away from the use of fossil fuels in favor of more clean, renewable sources, and a change in California might just be exactly what the world needs. California is the most populous state in the nation, and if California and other large states like it succeed in making a radical change it could cause a ripple effect throughout the rest of the country. Granted, it

would not transfigure all of the United States, but a state like California taking a hard stance on the issue would be hard to ignore. People must take notice before some catastrophic event forces them to take notice. California’s fire season is getting longer and humanity is running out of time. These wildfires are a crackling, hissing omen of what is to come. People may not realize it, but time is of the essence; global temperatures continue to rise, and a climate change event horizon may be arriving sooner than oil lobbyists would have one think. California residents, and ultimately all people across the world, must advocate for change. If that change doesn’t come, society’s unflinching climate skepticism might just cause the end of the world as humanity knows it. ■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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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

OPINION POLL Compiled by Lydia Tso Staff Photographer

“Do you believe that the UCR administration does a good job listening to the concerns of UCR students?”

Enoch Lin

Julian Sanchez Political Science Second-year

Toshiona Carroll Political Science Fourth-year

Itzel Cruz Mathematics Fourth-year

Grad - Computer Science

Bryan Alberto-Cruz

First-year

Alicia Medina Psychology Second-year

“No I don’t believe they listen to the concerns of students or professors. Our concerns are being ignored at times, but with the recent commencement, I think it’s a step in the right direction.”

“Hell no. For instance, our graduation. They didn’t ask us about our thoughts on the location change before they made the decision. It took us rallying to form a protest for them to change some decisions.”

“Sometimes. Regarding graduation, they took care of part of the problem. Other times they don’t listen and understand our concerns - I don’t think the school they’re building will be as useful as more parking spots.”

“From what I gather, I feel like they don’t really listen - regarding the school and parking. I don’t think it’s a strong degree that they listen to us. The students act on reaction; there’s no preemptive action taken beforehand.”

“They blindsinded us regarding the commencement and I don’t think they’re doing a good job because they waited until there was a huge petition to make one decision to call the name of the graduates.”

“I don’t know actually. I just come here and go to the library to study, I go to my job, and I hang out with my friends. I don’t involve myself.”

Language Third-year

Why America needs safe injection sites

SAAD KHAWAJA Contributing Writer

The opioid epidemic, which many consider the worst public health crisis in decades, has ravaged the country and left behind the bodies of tens of thousands of Americans. In 2017 alone, more than 70,200 died from drug overdoses and around 68% of those deaths involved an opioid. An average of 130 Americans die every day from opioid overdoses, and the continued spread of fentanyl, as well as other synthetic opioids manufactured illicitly, will lead to more fatal overdoses as the crisis continues to worsen. There have been many proposed solutions to combat the issue, but America must also look toward a long-term solution that has been deemed as controversial and too radical by many: safe injection sites. Safe injection sites are medical facilities that allow individuals to use their drugs in a clean environment under the medical supervision of health professionals. These sites act as prevention centers and offer access to clean needles, overdose prevention antidotes, drug addiction counseling and social services with the aim to reduce overdose fatalities as well as the negative impact of drug use on individuals and communities. Although illegal in the United States, there are currently at least 100 supervised injection sites in Canada, Europe and Australia. Efforts to open these sites have been pushed in several U.S. cities, although the Department of Justice has promised a crackdown on these injection facilities on the basis that it would violate a provision of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which makes it illegal to manage

any site for the purpose of using an illegal substance. Labeled as the “crackhouse statute,” the creation of safe injection sites would, in reality, create safe houses for thousands of Americans struggling with drug addiction. Since its conception in 1986, safe injection sites have saved lives. Those who are addicted to drugs such as heroin and fentanyl-laced opioids risk death with every injection, and thus having trained medical staff ready to administer naloxone, a medication that counters the effects of opioid overdose, would eliminate the possibility of death. In addition to eliminating opioid deaths, safe injection sites also prevent the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C viruses by providing users with sterile syringes. In Vancouver, Canada, results have shown that there has been a reduction in drugrelated mortalities, ambulance calls for overdoses and transmission of HIV infections since the opening of its safe injection sites. Criticized by opponents for “normalizing” drug use, the fact of the matter is that there is simply no magic solution towards ending the use of illegal drugs, but there is a way to prevent fatal drug overdoses and it is through the promotion of safe injection facilities. Not only do supervised injection facilities promote safer injection conditions and better health outcomes, they also massively increase access to health services and addiction treatment. Safe injection sites take a less punitive and more health-centered approach which allows those who struggle with addiction to be treated like humans. Living in shame and alienation, many addicts are forced to shoot up in public restrooms and streets using dirty needles. As a result, neighborhoods witness drug users dying on

the pavement and needles left in playgrounds and parks. Safe injection sites would help these neighborhoods to become safer, cleaner and more peaceful as there is a place for people to inject safely. In addition to this, no studies have shown that there is an increase in drug-related crime in neighborhoods surrounding safe injection sites. These facilities don’t just protect the lives of drug users, they also protect the community. The creation of safe injection sites would not only save lives, but it is also a cost effective measure. According to the CDC, the opioid epidemic is estimated to be roughly $78.5 billion per year in health care, emergency response and criminal justice costs. In a new study on safe injection sites in Canada, researchers found that the cost of maintaining a facility would cost $33.1 million over 20 years, but would save $42.7 million due to the prevention of HIV and Hepatitis C. This results in $9.6 million in net savings. With the opioid epidemic and drug overdoses at an all-time high, it is time for the United States to join its allies in Canada, Australia, and Europe in creating safe injection sites. Results have shown that it not only reduces drug use but also reduces the risk of diseases in nearby communities since its implementation. Safe injection sites are safe, cost effective and make our communities better places for everyone. It’s time to move away from the cultural stigma and irresponsible rhetoric left over from the war on drugs and tough on crime era that has painted drug abuse as a criminal issue rather than a mental health issue. With all the evidence supporting safe injection sites, cultural stigma cannot get in the way of a solution that America desperately needs to solve this public health nightmare. ■H

COURTESY OF PEXELS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

OPINIONS

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Bernie Sanders is the only true progressive among democratic frontrunners: Warren doesn’t count

TIMOTHY HUGHES Staﬀ Writer

Since his narrow defeat by Hillary Clinton in the 2016 democratic primary, Bernie Sanders has not taken his eyes off his goals for the American people for a second. His new campaign has been marching on in force, determined to take the White House and give Americans a better future. Sanders has returned with a base that is far more diverse and powerful than before. His message resonates with young people, minorities and the working class because he is the only true progressive in the race and the only candidate with the guts and commitment to stick true to progressive values during four long years in ofﬁce. Bernie’s policy platform is progressive to its core. He is well known for his plan to make public college tuition-free and forgive all $1.6 trillion in student debt. The ﬁght for education is still a priority for Sanders, but his leading policy this time around is Medicare for All, a proposal for single-payer healthcare that would guarantee medical care for all Americans at no cost. Medicare for All replaces

halfhearted measures like Obamacare, and it does it with no copays, premiums or deductibles. Sanders is also a strong ﬁghter against climate change, an issue that has risen to the very top of all progressive policy efforts. Sanders wrote the Green New Deal, a $16 trillion, decade long plan to modify the United States’ infrastructure and consumption patterns to be as environmentally conscious as possible. Bernie acknowledges climate change as the existential crisis it is and has a plan to address it. Sanders’ proposals are expensive, but they will be paid for by another progressive policy: a wealth tax. Bernie proposes taxing net worth over $32 million by 1%, which has been projected to raise $4.36 trillion over 10 years. Sanders also intends to institute a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) on Wall Street transactions. The FTT would tax bond transactions at 0.1% and stock transactions at 0.5%. This tax serves a dual purpose. First, it could generate up to $3 trillion over 10 years. Second, it would cut down the amount of speculation — a dangerous practice investors engage in

that is credited with causing the Great Recession. Redistributing the wealth of the top 1% and curbing the recklessness of Wall Street are Sanders’ progressive priorities. There is another frontrunner in the Democratic race being lauded as a progressive leader: Elizabeth Warren. Warren deﬁnitely stands out among the crowd of candidates due to her co-opting of much of Bernie’s platform including the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, Free College for All and a wealth tax, albeit, a weaker one. Unfortunately, Warren’s sincerity in her progressive views comes into question for two reasons: her consistency in her support for progressive values and her decision to accept corporate and PAC money in the general election. Elizabeth Warren was a Republican until 1996, meaning she was a Republican during the Reagan and Bush Sr. administrations, presidents known for their die-hard conservative values. Warren is running on a platform very similar to Bernie’s but endorsed Hillary Clinton, the apotheosis of

the centrist establishment wing of the Democratic Party, in the 2016 race. The case can be made that an individual’s politics can change and they should be given the beneﬁt of the doubt. This is not the case with Warren. Warren has consistently voted in favor of Donald Trump’s war budgets and increases to Pentagon spending in the last two years, too recent to cut her any slack. Bernie voted no every time. Increasing military spending is not only a betrayal of progressive values, it gives money away that could be used for progressive causes. Warren, for much of the race, said that she would take money from corporations, Wall Street and Super PACs during the general election. Bernie will not, and has repeatedly said so. These are the same people she claims to want to take on and hold accountable in her presidency. She has backpedaled on that position, but says she will still support corporate donations to the DNC. Elizabeth Warren and her party cannot take on the greed of Wall Street and the insurance industry if she is on their bankroll. Bernie Sanders is a ﬁghter for progressive values and always has

been. His track record is ﬂawless. Bernie was arrested at civil rights demonstrations in the 60s, criticized Reagan’s interventionist and corporation favoring policies throughout the 80s and declared LGBT pride days during his mayorship, his ﬁrst political position he won in 1981. He is consistent and powerful in his support of those in society who have been downtrodden by our current systems. Sanders isn’t taking corporate money and never will, one of the most important stances necessary for accomplishing substantive reform. His policy platform is purely progressive and proposes progressive tax reform to pay for it. Bernie outshines every other “progressive” in this race and is the only option for those who want to see real change. ■H

Voting is not a privilege, it’s a right

America must expand the vote to become a true democracy ROBERT GOLD Contributing Writer

The United States has a long history of denying its citizens the right to vote. Every group in America has at one point or another been disenfranchised. Poor whites did not get the right to vote until the 1820s. Women did not attain universal suffrage until 1920. African-American men did not get the right to vote until the 1860s, but it was not until the 1960s that these laws were fully implemented with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In 2016, only six in 10 eligible voters cast ballots. With such low voter turnout, it is time to make voting a mandatory civic duty. Citizens should be eligible to vote at the age of 16. This may seem like a radical proposal but in March of this year, the House voted

on a bill to lower the voting age to 16. The “For the People Act” would overhaul federal election laws. Engaging young voters while they’re still young will create a greater sense of political activism and political awareness later in life. Some of the notable Congress members who voted for this

bill included Rep. Maxine Waters, presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Introduced by Rep. Ayanna Pressley, the amendment fell short, at 126-305. Pressley cited the teen activism surrounding recent school shootings, stating, “Young people are at the forefront of some of our most existential crises. The time has come. Our young people deserve to have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.” Inmates and former inmates should be allowed to vote as well. Just because someone has committed a crime does not make them any less human and it does not make them any less of an American. Many supporters of these voting initiatives point to the fact that 37% of the male prison population is black and view this as a purposeful attempt to silence the voices of black men at the ballot box. Compulsory voting would close many of the loopholes w h i c h currently hold so many Americans back from voting. Voting is a civic duty comparable to other duties citizens perform: taxation, compulsory grade school education or jury duty. In a compulsory voting system all 245.5 million eligible voters will need to participate in the democratic process.

Voting is compulsory in many countries including Belgium, Brazil, Singapore and 19 other countries. In 2009, Singaporean Minister K. Shanmugam spoke before Parliament declaring that, “The right to vote could not be a mere privilege as this would imply the existence of an institution superior to the body of citizens that is empowered to grant such a privilege, but that no such institution exists in a free country.” America should adopt the Australian system, where voting is compulsory and failure to vote will result in a ﬁne. Critics may say that punishing somebody for not voting is cruel, but every civic duty in the United States comes with consequences for those who

fail to meet them. Tax evasion or failing to respond to a jury summons can result in jail time. Critics of compulsory voting also claim that it violates civil liberties, but the voter could refuse to vote for anyone at all and turn in a blank ballot. As long as a ballot with their name is submitted to the ballot ofﬁce, this is not a violation of civil liberties. No one is being forced to vote Republican or Democrat or even third party. From drug legalization to the death penalty, laws in this country are being passed every day which affects the rights of prisoners. Gun rights, school choice, education reform, free college and reproductive rights are all issues that affect teenagers

LYDIA TSOU / HIGHLANDER

in this country. Aside from the white wealthy landowning elite who built this country, every group in American society was once treated as second class citizens at one time or another. Poor whites, women and African Americans were once denied suffrage. But every generation of Americans has expanded voting rights to a new class of society that was previously disenfranchised. Let this be the generation in which young people and those behind bars are given the chance to have their voices heard. Voting should not be a “privilege” handed down by the elite, but rather a mandatory civic duty demanded of every citizen in a functioning democracy. ■H

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

Brown and beautiful: the color-based beauty standards of Asian culture are grossly outdated

MADISON RHEINS Contributing Writer

Equating skin color to power, success and beauty has been a continuous issue for many cultures. However, while most other cultures have been able to move with the times and find other traits to value, some Asian countries, especially in the Southeast, still have challenges accepting the new norms that come with complexion. To many people in Asian cultures, lighter skin is symbolic of a better life including wealth, higher social statuses and more media attention. At the other end of the spectrum, people with a darker complexion in these societies are associated with poverty and the working class. In countries such as the Philippines, the social divide between people with tan skin and fair skin is very clear, as most celebrities in the media have fair skin. To further explain the stigma behind a darker skin tone, the University of California, Irvine Law Review wrote about a Vietnamese woman, explaining that the reason why she hid her face from the sun was because a dark skin tone meant the mark of the laborer or someone who worked in the fields. Although it seems as though Asians are receiving more representation in the media than ever, one minority is still left out. Due to Western media exposure, Asians are mostly portrayed as having porcelain-like skin. In most Netflix dramas presented in the U.S., little to no characters have tan skin. Even in the very popular movie “Crazy Rich Asians” almost all of the actors appeared to be light skinned. Modern entertainment has caused the mass amount of brown-skinned Asians to be dismissed and underrepresented. Young Asian girls are influenced by this misrepresentation and are pushed to skin lightening procedures. It’s unfortunate to imagine how many little girls believe they are burdened by the color of their skin. They are constantly criticized by their family on how they maintain their skin and how it’ll somehow affect their life in the future. These girls are conditioned to give in to the idea that their skin will have some sort of influence over their happiness in life. Telling girls as they mature that they would be more beautiful if they were less dark is the wrong way to raise a child. By promoting these unhealthy standards, the skin lightening industry will claim more naive victims. Due to an increasing demand to be more white, the skin whitening industry is booming. Most women who partake

in such routines are unaware of the damage that this cosmetic alteration causes. Whether someone was to use creams, pills or even Glutathione injections, all whitening products are essentially bleaching the skin and stripping it of melanin. Without melanin, the skin is more delicate and prone to sunburns and other serious skin ailments. In fact, Glutathione injections, also known in some places as the Cinderella IV, is said to cause organ failure, blood poisoning and other serious medical issues. Fortunately, mercury as an ingredient in whiteners are banned in the U.S., but it’s hard to regulate or keep track of which other countries actually do include mercury in their products. Agencies in Europe and the United States have identified several countries that still include mercury in their skin lightening creams. Mercury based creams can also be found on the internet, which adds to the difficulty to regulate mercury usage within the U.S. Mercury compounds in any

item applied to the skin can do more harm than good. It is said that applied or ingested mercury can cause kidney damage, skin damage and other shocking side effects. The fact that people are putting these dangerous poisons into their bodies is proof that the way people define beauty in Asian cultures must be corrected. Change must be implemented so that the alienation of dark-skinned Asians ends. Children in Asian and American countries alike must be taught that all skin tones are beautiful and there should be more representation of this in the media. Furthermore, awareness must be raised regarding the many health risks actually associated with skin lightening products so that the usage of them decreases. Unhealthy beauty standards lead to unorthodox practices of beautification. These problems can easily be remedied if people reevaluated their social norms and values. ■H

COURTESY OF PEXELS

The United States should cut their losses and end the trade war with China ILHWAN LUKE PARK Contributing Writer

During the past few years, the two biggest economic powers, the United States and China, have experienced increasing tensions with each other due to tariffs and taxes. The past year has contributed to those rising tensions, especially with the Trump administration’s extreme approach to conflict resolution. The U.S. government recently placed a 12% tariff on $112 billion worth of Chinese goods. This action was taken to demonstrate dominance over their economic rivals. The recent tariff not only put a strain on the immediate price of goods, but also the supply chain of the

economy. This ultimately forces companies to raise prices of goods in response to the sanctioned tariffs, Especially after China has been using various tactics to become a world-dominant power after dominating the Asian market, the U.S. did not want to back down against the Asian giant. However, in the recent turn of events, the U.S. seems likely to take losses in the trade war with China. On Oct. 11, China and the United States met to discuss new negotiation guidelines for future trades. In contrast to previous agreements and deals, the negotiation ended in talks about easing tensions and decreasing tariffs. Although the conference ended with

COURTESY OF THE WHITE HOUSE

only vague terms about future agreements, both sides were working to find a way to ease tensions. There are many factors for such a sudden change in attitude in terms of economic interaction between the two giants, especially the U.S.’s change in tone toward China. A huge factor is that both countries have suffered economic losses by establishing a wall of tariffs against one another. Despite the conflicts, they are both each other’s most profitable and marketable country. The United States holds a lot of global power and therefore has a lot of influence over the international monetary flow. China, on the other hand, is a very marketable country just for the sheer number of people living in the country. It is inevitable that they would want to come to an agreement that allows them to bring down the economic pressure between them, especially the U.S., who has reasons to want to end the trade war, even with losses. There are two main reasons that the U.S. wants to end the trade war and come to a conclusion despite the huge possibility of taking losses. For starters, the U.S. is facing an imminent economic crisis. The Federal Reserve has been getting ready to cut interest rates if the U.S. and China do not come to an agreement soon. If the Federal Reserve cuts the rates, then it is an indication that they want to stimulate the economy because it is falling apart. The U.S. is now trying to gain their biggest economic partner back to help improve the economy. Another reason why the U.S. will try to end the trade war is due to the upcoming election. President Trump is currently running for reelection and likely does not want to make rash decisions. To make the most beneficial economy for the U.S., it would be in Trump’s favor to end the current conflict with China before the situation gets worse. Not only is Trump trying to end the trade war, but other candidates will work toward concluding it to gain the favor of voters. Therefore, it is likely that the trade war between the U.S. and China will come to an end with the U.S. taking losses. ■H

LYDIA TSOU / HIGHLANDER

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

Fall Nooner:

DíA MUERTOS de Los

HEEWON KIM Contributing Writer

Typically, we see death as a sad part of our lives. In some cultures, however, people celebrate Dia de Los Muertos with optimism and believe that even though their loved ones aren't with them physically, their memories, legacies and experiences will be remembered by future generations. Dia de los Muertos, translated to Day of the Dead, is a two day event where families set up altars and place their ancestors' portraits with their favorite foods and ﬂowers with the belief that their ancestors’ spirits will come and visit them. Likewise, on Oct. 30, Chicano Student Programs (CSP) held the Dia de Los Muertos event at the Bell Tower, co-sponsored by ASPB and Teatro Quinto Sol. The event started at 11:30 a.m. and consisted of various Day of the Dead student activities, including sugar skull decorating, face painting and placing sentimental objects on the community altar. The event also hosted bands such as Teocali Tepeyollotl, an Aztec dance group, and Conjunto Tenocelomeh, a group that, according to their website, focuses on "preserving folk music and dance traditions of southern Veracruz." The event started off with the entrance of the Aztec dancers on UCR’s campus. Their performance opened with the pounding of a drum; they danced to the rhythm as Aztec bells rattled, which mimicked the sound of rain. Juan Soria, a third year double majoring in Spanish and business, is a member of Teatro Quinto

Sol who attended the event and explained the purpose of the Aztec dancers. "When the Aztec dancers first entered and walked around the campus they were blessing the campus and everyone on it," stated Soria. One student organization, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MEChA) de UCR, is a student organization that focuses on activism and social and political issues. Valeria Moreno, a third-year sociology major and the president of MEChA de UCR, came out with other club members to the Dia de Los Muertos event with portraits of deceased activists. "Dia de Los Muertos is an indigenous event that usually happens in Oaxaca and southern Mexico. It's been more mainstream in all of Mexico, because of films such as ‘Coco,’" said Moreno. "For our reasons, we wanted to honor activists that have passed away that we respect and honor. The decorations we put out are mainly for aesthetic reasons, but if you see the altar the Chicano Student Programs put out, theirs is more traditional." The community altar had multiple portraits, different colored cloths and marigold flowers. Moreno further commented on the community altar, stating, "The community altar has food and ‘cempasuchiles,’ the marigold flowers that symbolize a pathway for ancestors to find their way back. Dia de Los Muertos is not an event of mourning, it's a celebration of death. We imagine our ancestors coming back to visit us and eat the food we put out." Litzy Guzman, a third-year gender and sexuality studies,

further explained that, "Anyone is free to pay their respects, or place an item that reminds them of someone they've lost." Students were also able to get their faces painted to resemble the deceased on Dia de los Muertos. They ﬁrst painted their face with a white base and unlike the skulls we see on Halloween, they are decorated with ﬂower patterns and other colorful designs. Soria shared his interpretation; "My face is only half painted. The one half represents the living and the other half, which is painted, represents the dead. It's very fun since you can choose whatever design you like." Similarly, one of the activities set up for students were decorating sugar skulls, which are placed on altars as offerings to the dead. Many students hovered over these white, glistening craniums, and were able to decorate it with brightly colored icing. Ashley Diaz, a third year double major in Spanish and education, has been a member of Teatro Quinto Sol for three years. Diaz elaborated on the meaning of the event, saying, "The Aztec dancers are dancing in celebration of the altars, which also show the appreciation and remembrance of our ancestors." Throughout the event, students gathered around the altars, some with their faces painted, others with decorated sugar skulls, whilst the performance groups performed their cultural tunes and dances. The event concluded at 2 p.m., but the celebration does not end there; CSP will also host a Semana de la Mujer during winter quarter and a Cinco de Mayo celebration during the spring quarter. ■H

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

SOFIA GARCIA / HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

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campus spotlight: The Center for Ideas and Society Celebrating its 30th anniversary, CIS continues to put UCR in the spotlight of the modern humanities discussion

HANNA RUTQVIST Contributing Writer

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, UC Riverside’s Center for Ideas and Society (CIS) celebrated their 30th anniversary. Since 1989, the Center has supported CHASS faculty in their personal groundbreaking research and helped UCR solidify its humanities and improve the school’s social studies. As its mission states, the CIS is meant to “promote and advance humanistic research and study at UC Riverside.” UCR professors, researchers and graduate students collaborate on each other’s work and carry on discussions about the world’s current culture and the direction it’s headed. According to the current director, Georgia Warnke, the Center’s purpose is “to heal a broken world.” That’s what founder and UCR philosophy professor Bernd Magnus said when he established CIS 30 years ago. In an email interview with The Highlander, Warnke said, “Magnus envisioned a center with what was at the time a new and innovative approach to research: interdisciplinarity.” With the humanities

covering so many fields, this is the place for different research backgrounds to convene and find impactful agreements between each others’ studies. The soul of the Center rests with Magnus. “Bernd was a charismatic person,” said former associate director and English professor Steven Axelrod. “You felt his presence in any room he was in.” Even back when the Center conglomerated at the Ramada Inn, Magnus was passionate about making the meetings just right. “The Center’s parties became huge successes,” Axelrod said in a speech, “deconstructionists talking to historians in perfect weather around a crystal clear kidney-shaped pool.” Magnus’ first years of his life were spent at a German death camp during the Holocaust. According to a 2014 article by The Highlander, he was born in the town of Danzig, Germany, where he was taken to the concentration camp BergenBelsen because of his Jewish faith. He and his family soon escaped to New York. Axelrod, having been a close companion to Magnus, described, “He embraced his new American identity even as he was

haunted by his previous one. He wanted to show off his new identity, even as he hid his old.” The Holocaust survivor grew up to become a scholar of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, graduating from Columbia University. He published analytical books discussing Nietzsche’s thought while teaching philosophy to UCR students. His other great involvement was connecting with the Jewish community in the Inland Empire, as he would visit synagogues and share memoirs to fellow Americans of his religion. He died in 2014 due to illness. Axelrod explained what qualities UCR students can take from Magnus. “Bernd rose from unimaginable suffering as a child to do good in the world,” stated Axelrod. “I think we can all take inspiration from that.” “To do good in the world” is the probable reason why research institutions like universities and laboratories are created. It is the mission to constantly revolutionize how humans live today, yet there lies competition on what fields truly help humanity in significant ways. “Humanities and humanities centers are

COURTESY OF THE CENTER FOR IDEAS AND SOCIETY

generally under attack,” stated former Dean of Graduate Studies Joseph Childers, “but the university continued to support the Center.” Warnke explains, “The work of the humanities is often dismissed as a luxury, or as irrelevant, to a world oriented to advances in technology, science or medicine.” She continued to say that the 2010s decade is marked by pushing young students’ interest in STEM careers, and it’s common for parents to push their student children to earn careers that “matter,” such as in the medical field or engineering. Yet, Warnke states, humanities scholars ask essential human questions such as who we are and how we got here. To reference Magnus’ mission to “heal,” advancements in health and technology won’t matter if the world continues to be, at its soul, broken. In fact the connection between the sciences and humanities is made stronger through the Center, according to Childers. “Researchers and the faculty have seen each other for 30 years in this place. We interrogate each other, sometimes not in pleasant ways, but always progressive,” said Childers in a speech. Their common catchphrase is “Theory is dirty business.” Emory Elliot took up director of CIS after Magnus handed it over. A professor of American literature at UCR, he pushed CIS to garner attention across America. According to UCR’s Department of English website, he brought in grants from major foundations like the Ford and Rockefeller foundations and sponsored nationwide conferences through CIS, which “placed Riverside at the center of national discussions of a progressive future for the Humanities.” There is now an Emory Elliott Endowed Memorial Student Award, which annually recognizes an upperclassman’s distinguished work involved with American literature. Elliot died in 2009. “I think (Magnus) wanted to reward the excellent scholars who were already here with a welcoming and lively place to talk, think and write. I think that was true of Emory Elliott too,” Axelrod said. Members say Warnke is fit to lead the center because philosophy regards ideas and political science regards society. With both Elliot and Warnke continuing leadership of CIS, Axelrod states, “They also wanted the Center to be a place to help heal a broken world, to increase the amount of light and justice in the world.” UCR undergraduate students typically think of the university as a place of instruction. As it goes for all universities, it is also a place where researchers convene and discuss, directly impacting the same fields that are taught to students concurrently, where their published findings are constantly changing subjects at this moment. CIS invites students to their upcoming conferences, such as the Populism after Socialism conference on Nov. 15, Legacies of Commedia Dell’ Arte on Nov. 21 and When East meets West on Nov. 22. ■H

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

H I G history HLANDER Creat’R A place for students to Lab: explore their creativity

HEEWON KIM Contributing Writer

On the ﬁrst ﬂoor of the Orbach Science Library is the Creat’R Lab where students are free to experience various gadgets from sewing machines to VR headsets. The Creat’R Lab was started by UCR’s librarians approximately two years ago. One of the founders, Michelle Potter, still works at the Rivera Library. She worked as Orbach’s engineering librarian until four years ago. The space was primarily focused on students who needed 3D printing. The Creat’R Lab later became a makerspace, a communal place where students could explore their ideas and use new technology. “I used to work with students in the sciences and engineering area, the graduate students all work in labs, and so do the undergraduates,” Potter said. “3D printing would allow them to have a prototype of whatever it was they were designing. So we wanted to explore the possibility of the library being a place where they could do that printing.” The library started with one 3D printer, which students were eager to use. Eventually, new workshops dedicated to electronics allowed easier access to 3D printing. The faculty noticed its popularity and proposed that the printers have their own home. “We just said, ‘Wait, we just need a whole space and a whole student staff dedicated to making

this place awesome,’” said Potter. To raise the money for the printers’ new home, Potter mentioned that she and her coworkers partnered up with UCR’s Entrepreneurial Proof of Concept and Innovation Center (EPIC) to earn a grant for a makerspace. “We had space, but we didn’t have a lot of money to put stuff in it,” Potter said. “So we worked with them to design a space and put awesome technology (in it) so that students could try out all the new cutting-edge technology that are about making things.” Cutting-edge technology, however, is expensive and difﬁcult for college students to access on their own. The librarians wanted to give students easy access to such gadgets and create positive perspectives on the future of technology. Potter gave further comment on the outcome of giving students access to technology, saying, “Virtual reality is the kind of thing that will change the world. The more people get to thinking about it the more people will think about how it could apply to teaching kids or apply to psychological therapies, or whatever they might be thinking.” Potter believes the more people think about greater applications the faster we’ll move forward to greater innovations. The tech equipment in the lab makes students assume the lab is exclusively for computer science or engineering majors, which was initially the case — the space was meant to provide project resources for those majors. Eventually, though, the

Lab opened up to students of all majors and all student organizations. Jalak Patel, a fourth-year business administration major with a concentration in information systems, is a student employee who has been working there since her second year. She gives tours of the lab to students visiting for the ﬁrst time and teaches and demonstrates how to use the gadgets to students. “When I give tours of this place, I like to show a pie chart that we have in the lab representing the four colleges and essentially it allows the big four majors of the school to come in and explore the equipment that we have,” said Patel. One of the most frequently asked questions is if students have to pay to use the equipment. Patel reassures interested students that the lab equipment is free for all. “Our VR headsets are very new, and a lot of students have been coming here for that,” Patel pointed out. “We have four different versions of the headsets, with a bunch of games downloaded on there, so you can experience virtual reality through that.” Katie Garwood, a second-year bioengineering major, shared her first experience at the Creat’R Lab. “She (Patel) showed us the paper cutting machines and sewing machines. The electrical stuff I thought was the coolest and I’m learning about them right now in class,” Garwood said. Garwood also discussed her interest in the Creat’R Lab’s Raspberry Pi, a small device that

you can plug into a computer monitor that enables you to learn how to program in coding languages like Scratch and Python. Besides their technical gadgets they also provide equipment for textiles, such as the sewing machines Garwood mentioned. Student led clubs such as the Cosplay Club come into the lab every so often to work on anime-inspired outfits. Students can use the sewing machines to fulfill any of their wardrobe desires, from simply hemming their shirts to crafting a whole costume. “What’s really nice about the Creat’R Lab is unlike the library, where everyone is really quiet and all the desks are walled off, it’s a much more communitystyle space,” stated Christian Alvarado, a graduate student studying computer science. “It’s very useful, especially for the Game Development Club because we can all collaborate together, and it’s a nice bright space.” Potter and her librarian colleagues’ proposal to create a space for students to explore technical gadgets led to passionate, student employees who hope for other students to explore their creativity as well. The Creat’R Lab awaits for and encourages students to come in and explore the digital, electrical and creative aspects it has to offer. The Creat’R Lab is open from Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on weekends. ■H

HEEWON KIM / HIGHLANDER

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

s u p m Ca ope: C

Dealing with midterm stress Sofia Garcia, Contributing writer

Everyone is going through midterms, it’s not fun (we know), but here are some tips and ideas to help you through this trying time. 1. Make sure to eat before you study. If you are studying and eating at the same time you might get food on your notes or become distracted. Getting hungry right in the middle of a study session will sidetrack you. If you need to snack while studying, grapes, bananas with milk, jerky and popcorn are good options. 2. You should also remove any and all distractions. If you have headphones or earbuds, I suggest listening to ambient sounds: white noise, ASMR and anything without lyrics that might take your attention away from studying. If you are like me and love music, I suggest listening to musical scores from movies or video games. They are designed to keep you engaged and don’t have any distracting lyrics. If you are easily distracted when you are with your friends, maybe it’s not the best plan to have a study group with said friends. If you want to study in a group, I suggest studying with people from your class who you know, but aren’t particularly close with so that you can focus on the topics at hand. Whatever you do, don’t study outside. There are so many distractions: people passing by, insects, small animals, cars on campus and the list goes on. The oncampus libraries are a more efficient alternative. The cubicles in the library were designed to keep students from straying away from their studies. If you’re having trouble finding a study

spot, try branching out somewhere new. If you always go to Rivera, try checking out Orbach, or even walk into a building where your class is held and check if there are any study rooms. 3. When studying it’s also important to set a schedule and be kind to yourself. Set a timer on your phone for an hour and a half. After it goes off, set another timer for 15 minutes and walk around or just lean back and let your brain absorb all that you’ve gone through in your reading. Then when you’ve done that and given your mind a break, go on to your next study session with a refreshed mind. The key is to stick to your schedule. If you have an hour between classes, take that opportunity to sit outside of your next class and study while you wait. The people leaving and entering the room will serve as your alarm. This is where time management comes into play. It’s so easy to say that we will do something and then it’s 11 p.m. and the last five hours have disappeared. If you have to push the phone away, do it. If technology distracts you, do it the old fashioned way with a notebook and pencil. 4. Use your resources, but if you don’t feel comfortable going to your professor’s office hours, then go to your TA’s office hours. There are tutoring sessions in the Academic Resource Center (ARC) and they can be really beneficial. Just walk in and ask to be there while someone is

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

giving a lesson. It’s a lot easier to ask questions in a room of 12 rather than 200. There are also tons of campus resources such as meditation rooms, study rooms, and nap pods and massage chairs in the Student Recreation Center (SRC). 5. My ﬁnal piece of advice to you, is to sleep. It’s easy to push yourself to stay awake or rely on coffee and other things, but this is the worst thing for your body and your mind. That burst of energy you get at night? That’s your body’s energy meant for storing the events of the day during your sleep. It feels like something that your body is doing to help you, but

it’s actually you hurting yourself. Going to sleep early is difﬁcult, but you should try if you can. Try to stay away from your phone for an hour or two before your self-imposed bedtime. Try using binaural beats or ASMR to help yourself wind down. If you sleep earlier, your body will get used to it and you will soon fall into a cycle where you actually want to sleep at a healthy time. Aside from this, you will wake up earlier, which will give you more hours in the day, and let’s be honest, nothing beats being the ﬁrst in line for Starbucks or Coffee Bean. ■H

LYDIA TSOU / HIGHLANDER

RADAR

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

EVENTS THIS WEEK 11/07

ASPB Presents: Pop Culture Movie Night @ 5:00 PM

11/08

Video Game Release: Death Stranding Platforms: PS4

11/22

ASPB Presents: Homecoming Bonfire 2019 @Lot 19, 6:00 - 10:00 PM

RYAN POON/ HIGHLANDER

RADAR ODERN ‘ CALL OF DUTY M WARFARE

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

‘

strives for strategic gameplay, but inevitably encourages camping

JAMIE PETERSON Contributing Writer

Infinity Ward’s “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” is aptly named: old but new. The infamous first person shooter brings back loads of old mechanics such as killstreaks, frag grenades and, of course, modern terrain. With that said, it’s hard to believe that anything new could be introduced in the series, but since its drop on Oct. 25, Infinity Ward has delivered. Finally putting Activision’s wealth to work, “Modern Warfare” encapsulates how modern gunplay should feel through its photorealism, reimagined gun mechanics, new game modes and a huge world of gun customization. Still, all of these experimental changes are focused on Infinity Ward’s vision to make tactical play style more dominant. Although there is nothing wrong with this decision, it’s constant encouragement for tactical gameplay unintentionally promotes camping and alienates an aggressive play style altogether. Starting with the good news, implementing strategy is a fun change of pace. Having to check corners before slowly advancing is wildly different from the run and gun of Treyarch’s “Black Ops 4.” Thanks to the reformed gun handling, not all guns feel the same. You can no longer spray and pray with AR’s like the Scar or Oden because it is riddled with recoil. The 3-burst FFR 776, the game’s FAMAS, is able to compete with full-auto weapons due to its precision. The .50 GS, the game’s desert eagle, holds insane stopping power but spam-shooting it will add major kickback, so one must use it carefully. SMGs, such as the AUG and the MP5, might have a faster fire rate but with limited range. Most of these guns sound and feel overwhelming but a fast time to kill makes up for it. If the fan favorite Search and Destroy mode didn’t scare you already, the reimagined gun handling will send goosebumps up your arms. The game also makes a notable leap in

new game modes. Gunfight, Cyber Attack and Realism all break the redundant expectation of recycled content “Call of Duty” has been throwing at us. Cyber Attack is very similar to Search and Destroy where teams must “destroy each other’s data” by planting a bomb at the enemy’s base. Only this time, teams are not on a turn system and players can be revived. I personally like this since I am not that good at Search and Destroy and hate having to sit out for entire matches. It also makes sense for “Modern Warfare” to have another tactical style mode based on the play style it encourages. Realism seems to be their most popular new mode. Players are stripped from all heads-up display (HUD) elements, forcing players to rely more on visual cues. All in all, this makes battles feel natural and immerses players into the beauty of the game’s graphics. Gunfight is my all-time favorite mode and is essentially why I bought the game. It is a fast-paced 2v2 where the first team to get to six rounds wins. In any other game mode, people are likely to stick to their sturdy ARs, SMGs and snipers but since everyone has the same loadout in Gunfight, players get to familiarize themselves with the power (and fun) of these guns ranging from kitted pistols to naked marksman rifles. This also makes for a high skill gap. Players’ ability to push or hold back at will and their use of throwables could be the make-it or break-it moment in a round. Unfortunately, Infinity Ward goes overboard with changes that can render players immobile. Campers are going to be found in any shooter but it seems most players I have encountered, enemies and teammates alike, are at a standstill — and maps are a big influence. Grazna Raid is a congestion of ruined buildings riddled with accessible windows in every direction. We do not have multiple eyes to check each window before getting sniped or sprayed from one of them. Piccadilly, although a three-laned map, really

COURTESY OF ACTIVISION

only focuses on the middle lane which serves as a long and wide curving street. Campers practically stay at spawn and by the time you see the glimmer from their sniper scope, you’re dead. In my own experience, spawns haven’t been switching nearly enough as they should. The winner is usually the person who has the first big killstreak, which forces people to prone and snipe back. In the game’s new 20v20 team deathmatch and domination, you would think bigger player count means less camping; but, maps like Aniyah’s Palace have very flat terrain at spawn points and only a couple ATV vehicles to bring you to the palace (where all the action is). The Palace itself has a long balcony on the second floor and the only way to access it is through the entrance stairs. Essentially, whichever team holds the second balcony wins as they can easily spray from above. Infinity Ward keeps three-lane maps all too familiar to the franchise with a map design that makes it easier for people to sit and wait. Although the abundance of customization for guns, perks and new field upgrades (classes that can be related to “Black Ops 4” specialists but weaker) makes the player feel in control, more

options mean more opportunities for Meta’s (strong tactics created and operated in contrast to the game’s intention). Creative campers combine the perk Shrapnel (one extra lethal frag) with the munitions box (a field upgrade resupplying players), which essentially gives campers an unlimited restock on claymores. Aggressive moves to counter this, such as mobility and aiming down sights, are slower. Attachable lasers only slightly improve the poor hip-fire accuracy. Flanking is soiled with new character callouts like “Enemy spotted!” and “Contact!” which can be heard by teammates and enemies alike. Despite the impressive balance of most weapons, all four overpowered shotguns are amongst the strongest weapons. Reload speed is no consequence to the ridiculous quickness and power of the shot. All shotguns exceed short range and can almost do the same amount of damage at medium range. One of the shotguns, the R9-0 is a 2-round shotgun so if players miss their first shot, they can hit their second. This hinders the use of SMGs regardless of how great they are and gives campers crouched in a corner extra assurance. ■H

creative leaps in new game modes and the use of new 2019 technology makes the VERDICT: Although game worth a peek, Infinity Ward takes great strides in slowing down the pace of “Call of Duty,” which unintentionally encourages camping and makes for bland gameplay.

COURTESY OF ACTIVISION

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

From Minty to Moses:

‘Harriet’

is an inspiring retelling of Tubman’s journey to freedom By: Anna Baik, Contributing Writer

We are in the midst of a biopic season. January’s “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile” shocked audiences with its depiction of infamous serial killer Ted Bundy’s relationship to protagonist Elizabeth Kloepfer. In late November, “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” will profile the inspiring Fred Rogers. Now, it’s “Harriet” that will bring light to the suffering slaves endured in a war-torn 19th century America. The film opens with Harriet Tubman (Cynthia Erivo), known as “Minty” at the time, embracing her newly-wedded husband John Tubman (Zackary Momoh), a free man. He works with Harriet’s father, Ben Ross (Clark Peters), who is also free. They work near her master Edward Brodess’ Maryland plantation. Brodess’ greatgrandfather stated in his will that when Harriet’s mother, Rit, turns 47, she and all her children will be free. When Harriet and John bring this up to Brodess, he is outraged, declaring that her and her descendants will always be his property. After Brodess’ death, Gideon, his son, decides to sell Harriet. When Harriet learns this, she flees the plantation and is assumed to be dead. Harriet made her way to Philadelphia, where she is greeted by William Still (Leslie Odom, Jr.), a black abolitionist. Harriet spends a year in Philadelphia but is haunted by her decision to leave her family behind. As a result, Harriet returns to the plantation to free her family and other slaves. Once she becomes an official member of the Underground Railroad, Harriet returns to the Maryland plantations repeatedly to free other slaves. She transformed the lives of those around her through her strong faith and earns a new moniker: Moses, the slave liberator. Erivo’s performance as the famous abolitionist cannot be overlooked. She took on the

COURTESY OF FOCUS FEATURES

essence of Tubman’s bravery and was able to translate that onto the screen. Despite her fantastic performance, “Harriet” received backlash prior to its release, particularly due to the casting of Erivo. Erivo is a British actress of Nigerian descent — a far cry from Tubman according to some critics of her casting. Nevertheless, the film is still worthy of appreciation. Erivo is just an Oscar away from becoming an EGOT — an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony winner — in record time. She clearly put her acting and singing skills to use, especially in one emotional

scene where Harriet sings a song to her mother when she is about to escape the plantation. Many slaves used music to cope with their labor, and some used it as a form of code. These coded songs were usually riddled with biblical references, such as Moses freeing the slaves — which served as a code to start escaping the plantation. As a result, music plays an integral part in “Harriet,” as there are several scenes where Harriet uses coded songs to guide escaping slaves. Supporting cast members of “Harriet” cannot be ignored. Peters’ performance as Harriet’s

Verdict: “Harriet” is a fantastic biopic that wastes no time establishing Harriet Tubman’s character. An inspiring depiction of the dangers of escaping slavery, “Harriet” offers an emotional story of Tubman’s bravery.

father was both emotional and humorous, allowing for his character to be more humanized. Although his moments were brief, Momoh’s performance provided rich context for the way black people were treated in 1850’s America. Despite being a free man, Momoh’s character still struggled and was treated as subhuman by other whites, showing how tough life was for black people in this time period. Odom’s portrayal of William Still shed light on not just racial inequality, but gender inequality. In the beginning of the film Harriet doubts her ability to

help free slaves because she is a woman. Gender inequality is an important part of abolitionist history that created divisions amongst many abolitionists. The use of Odom’s character served to bring up other societal problems in a practical way. Don’t expect gory scenes of slave owners abusing slaves in this film. “Harriet” is very mellow compared to grittier movies about slavery (i.e. “12 Years a Slave”). Depictions of the brutal and cruelty of slavery are definitely evident throughout “Harriet,” but are more subtle in nature. There are harsh scenes such as when Gideon slaps and ridicules Harriet, but most are subtle scenes that show the physical toll slaves endured, such as brief shots of whip scars on Harriet’s back. The cruelty of slavery is definitely toned down to focus more on Tubman’s journey towards becoming an abolitionist. Despite understanding this, “Harriet” should have taken more time to cover the brutality of slavery. Most of the brutality is shown through verbal abuse rather than physical. While this doesn’t undercut the cruelty of slavery, it should have been included to create a much more honest depiction of slavery in Tubman’s story. Overall, the film has a strong message about trust and purpose intertwined in Tubman’s actions of bravery. “Harriet” is an emotional, thought-provoking film that tackles the life of powerful former slave and abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Audiences will not let Erivo’s portrayal be forgotten as she manages to deliver a captivating, encouraging and, most of all, memorable performance. “Harriet” is not afraid to address societal issues while also delivering a film focused on Harriet Tubman’s work and accomplishments. “Harriet” offers a satisfying film and positive entertainment based on real-life events. ■H

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Rex Orange County's 'Pony' is an excellent addition to his lovestruck discography SILVIA FERRER Senior Staff Writer

Indie artist Alexander O’Connor (better known as Rex Orange County) released his third album, titled “Pony,” to much fan anticipation. Although this is Rex’s first album release with Sony Music, his musical integrity remains as if he were still an angsty teenager recording music alone in his bedroom. “Pony” chronicles his struggles with his newfound fame, mental health and love while retaining the earnest lyrics and soulful sounds that he is best known for. Although he stumbles through some of the more experimental songs, Rex Orange County delivers on a satisfying, emotional and heartfelt album that stacks up well next to his previous releases. The first single that was released was “10/10” and it is admittedly one of the weakest songs on the album. The synth-heavy beat, autotuned vocals and catchy lyrics are far different from the poignant lyrics and soulful harmonies that were featured on “Apricot Princess” and the 2018 single “Loving is Easy.” Thankfully, it is also one of the shortest. By “Always,” he returns to his roots: his mournful voice lends perfectly to painfully sincere lyrics in which he acknowledges that “It’s hard to make yourself believe/ That it’ll get better when you feel defeated/ And carrying on is easier said than done.” The instrumental features a slow piano melody, which allows his voice and the accompanying trumpets to shine through. Rex is known for his lovesick tunes, but he handles this shift into more serious topics incredibly and appropriately adjusts his usually euphoric sound to be simple and sad. Although the beat and trumpets of “Laser Lights” musically fit in well with the rest of the album, Rex’s rapping sticks out from the

otherwise perfectly crafted mix of passionate signing. The few short verses about his dislike toward fake social interactions don’t resonate as well. Thankfully, the song quickly fades into the groovy “Face to Face.” The song is an upbeat, ethereal tune that is an ode to 1970s pop music. Rex toes the line between cheery and earnestly wistful as he sings about his long distance relationship and its tribulations. By the fifth track, “Stressed Out,” Rex Orange County has made it clear that this album is a window into the troubles and joys he has faced since “Apricot Princess.” The fifth track is significantly less elaborate, but it is just as vulnerable as the other songs when Rex explains the downfalls of fame — fake friends, endless stress and crushing isolation. “Never Had the Balls,” an account of the helplessness he has felt in the new phase of his career, again exemplifies the negativity Rex has felt. Unlike “Stressed Out,” however, he points to a light at the end of the tunnel. At first, it is as overwhelmingly upbeat as the first track, but it quickly develops a more steady and relaxed rhythm that highlights strumming guitars, an electric keyboard and Rex’s unmistakable harmonies. The song slows almost to a standstill for the bridge, which allows Rex to flex his incredible vocal range and the orchestra to make its first appearance. The violins are so beautiful and heartfelt that it is nothing short of moving. “Never Had the Balls” launches into its peppy chorus again before the palatable elation is toned down to blend nicely into the next track. Arguably the strongest track on the album, “Pluto Projector,” encapsulates a love letter from Rex to his longtime girlfriend, Thea. It’s one of the longest compositions in “Pony,” at over four minutes, but the song doesn’t feel drawn out.

COURTESY OF REX ORANGE COUNTY

The lyrics are sublime and poetic; Rex’s aching intonations perfectly accompany it. The lyrics stray away from the ordinary, overused metaphors of mainstream pop and instead provide a deeply intimate feel. At the same time, the string orchestra flourishes slowly and crescendos into an arresting, beautiful harmony. It’s a masterful moment that showcases Rex’s lyrical prowess and the cinematic, romantic music that has propelled him to fame amongst the indie crowd. The tear-jerking “Pluto Projector,” justifiably at the center of the album, truly displays the extent of Rex’s musical talent. After such a showstopper, “Every Way” fittingly keeps it short and sweet. It’s a sorrowful ballad that reduces the intensity of the previous instrumentals to only a piano. It provides a much needed break before starting another emotionally-wrought tune, “It Gets Better.” Like “Pluto Projector,” this song is an ode to Thea. While it’s thematically similar, it’s

not lyrically redundant. Rex Orange County approaches his care for Thea in a new way; the singer-songwriter shares a raw, genuine look into the love and growth he has experienced in the past couple of years despite his personal and mental struggles. His sincere cadence blends exquisitely with the violins in the background and ends on a high note. “It’s Not The Same Anymore” wraps the album up nicely, combining the most prominent themes into a chill, but touching, final tune. In soulful vocals and honest lyrics, he confides in the listener that he understands that he “needs to get help.” Rex assures his audience that he is healing and learning — his final song ends so genuinely that it is impossible not to root for the singer. He branches out of his usual, lovestruck lyrics to encompass more adult themes, but manages to keep the heartrending romance and enthralling musical accompaniments that he has honed with his two previous albums. ■H

verdict: Despite the juvenile name, “Pony” is a mature step in Rex Orange County’s musical career. “Pony” is a powerful compilation that is sure to attract new listeners and satisfy longtime fans.

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

OFF

Record the

COURTESY OF ROSS HARRIS

Sunset Rollercoaster on Sunset Boulevard: pioneering the surf slack rock movement from the East KOBY PARK Contributing Writer

On Monday, Oct. 28th, the Roxy Theatre on Sunset Boulevard hosted some of indie, surf and bedroom pop rock’s finest lads: Los Retros and Sunset Rollercoaster. Los Retros, one of Stones Throw Records’ newest signees, is the burgeoning bedroom pop group based in Oxnard, California fronted by 19-year-old Mauri Tapia. He opened up the night with his classic 1970s to 1980s Latin American soft rock jams, with just a dash of funk. While the term bedroom pop is based loosely around the idea that these up and coming artists are independently recording in their DIY bedroom studios, Mauri and his crew have developed a unique sound that goes beyond the constraining walls of the genre. One of his notable covers, “Loop of Love,” sports a funky bass line and chord progression on piano, with an electrifying bass solo during the bridge. From funk city he pulls you right back to his quaint Oxnard living room with his most popular single, “Someone to Spend Time With.” The lazy bass line and soupy guitar licks, led by his delicate vocals, recall various big names of the indie bedroom pop genre, such as HOMESHAKE or Bane’s World. The track, with over five million streams on Spotify, managed to muster up a few shy voices scattered around the audience. While Los Retros put on a phenomenal show, it was clear that almost everyone who came wasn’t there for Mauri and his band. They all came to see Sunset Rollercoaster, the jazzy yet slacker surf rock sextet based out of Taipei, Taiwan. Lead by 32-year-old frontman Tseng Kuo-Hung, or “Kuo” for short, the band’s immaculate live performance abilities made people’s hair stand on end, immediately transporting the audience from Hollywood’s clamor and buzz to the breezy tranquility of Taiwan’s shores. Kuo’s flowery vocals accompanied Hung Li Chen’s flawless bass

COURTESY OF SUNSET ROLLERCOASTER

playing. Huang Hao-Ting’s powerful saxophone solos and keyboardist Shao Hsuan Wang sharp chord progressions made for an almost wall of sound like nature that evoked sounds of introspection that persisted throughout most of their songs. Only until their encore number, “I Know You Know I Love You,” did they tone it down to their stripped-down, slacker garage rock sound they coined in their debut album back in 2011. The encore itself was encouraged by Kuo as he sang, “If you want more, vocalize how you feel.” Kuo and his band represent something beyond just another foreign rock

band who can appeal to the West — they are pioneers of counter culture in Asia. While the guys may not come off as the most rebellious or daring, my conversation with Kuo after the show in which he gave me the extensive list of drugs he’s tried may say otherwise. Sunset Rollercoaster and Los Retros, two groups based on opposite sides of the world, were brought together under the welcoming roof of indie surf rock. The Roxy Theatre displayed a diverse array of the genre, despite over a decade of experience separating the two acts. ■H

Sports

JOSHUA WANGV/ HIGHLANDER

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

Women’s soccer fails to top UC Santa Barbara

DAMIAN GARCIA Contributing Writer

On Friday, Nov. 2, the UCR women’s soccer team (3-13-1, 1-6) traveled to the coast as they took on UC Santa Barbara (8-4-5, 4-1-2) at Harder Stadium. The match had an abundance of goals, with the Highlanders leveling the match twice. However, Santa Barbara had the last word in the end with a late goal in the 85th minute that secured a 3-2 win for the Gauchos. UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) emerged from the locker room with a fervent offensive energy. UCSB wasted no time and immediately got on the scoreboard in the eighth minute. Junior forward Isabella Viana displayed poise and won a ball in the final third of the field before quickly beating a pair of Highlander defenders. Viana finished her run with a well placed ball into the far side of the Highlander net. The Highlanders, however, were adamant about staying in the game. They displayed a similar intensity that resulted in a goal in the 33rd minute. Senior defender Amanda Roy received a through ball from junior midfielder Miah Conde. Roy, working under pressure from the opposition, rapidly kicked a shot past the rival keeper, tying up the game. The second half of the match saw both teams resurface with a strong determination to take the win away from one another. At the 60th minute, the Highlanders attempted to start a sequence of passes beginning with freshman goalkeeper Caela Kaio. The play was quickly thwarted when the anticipation of freshman Dylan Lewis

allowed her to steal the ball from a Highlander defender. Lewis, seeing the Highlander keeper was out of position, lobbed the ball over the keeper from just over 30 yards out and gave the Gauchos their second lead of the night. However, this momentary lead did not last long. Only two minutes later, Miah Conde appeared once again to feed senior defender Kieren Ritter a fast paced ball at the 62nd minute mark. Ritter found the end of the net with a precise strike and erased the Gauchos’ lead. The goal marked Miah Conde’s second assist of the night. After the second tie of the match, UCSB changed their game plan and fought for greater possession of the ball. The final 28 minutes saw a dominant performance from the Gauchos. At the 85th minute, senior forward Shaelan Murison chased after a ball that would have been a Highlander goal kick had it not been for Murison’s speed. Murison recovered the ball, shortly after dishing it off into the box to Viana. Viana held onto it long enough allowing senior midfielder Lynsee Voss make a run into the box and ground a shot just past Kaio’s left foot. Voss’ goal gave the Gauchos their third lead of the night. Only this time, UC Santa Barbara played the final minutes of the match cautiously and kept the lead at home in the end. With this latest defeat, the Highlanders will close out the season with just one conference win against UC Davis on Oct. 20 for a 25% win percentage. UCR will look to make major tactical adjustments in the coming months as they prepare for the next season. ■H

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

Volleyball’s 10-game losing streak continues after loss to Cal State Long Beach and Northridge CALLIE LAWSON-FREEMAN Contributing Writer

UCR’s volleyball team lost to Cal State Long Beach (8-15, 5-6) on Friday, Nov. 1, in their ninth straight loss of the season. The Highlanders are now 5-16 and 1-9 in Big West Conference play. “We’re a young team, we’ve been watching a lot of film and working hard at practice. We’ve been working on the duration of our focus and playing at a high level longer,” Head Coach Michelle Patton Coleman said in an interview with The Highlander. The Highlanders struggled from the start of the three set match. Trailing the first set 16-9, they rallied to bring the score to 22-17, but were unable to maintain the momentum and lost the first set 25-18. The 49ers went on to win the next two sets 25-18 and 25-16 consecutively. Long Beach State secured the win with 50 kills, 57 points, three aces, four blocks and only 11 errors, while UCR’s women fought for 30 kills, 36 points, two aces and four blocks, committing 18 errors. UCR freshman outside hitter Ashley Dittman had a standout game with eight kills, and sophomore libero Renata Bath had a season high of 14 digs. The loss dropped the Highlanders to last place standing in the Big West. The

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

team has only secured one victory since official conference play has begun. However, Patton Coleman views the competition optimistically. “The conference is really good. There’s a lot of great volleyball here on the west and we get to play here, it’s a good thing,” she said.

UCR lost their 10th straight game against Cal State Northridge (10-13, 5-6) on Saturday, Nov. 2, 3-0. Next, the Highlanders will continue the search for their second win of the season against UC Irvine. The Anteaters offer an opportunity for the Highlanders to move up in Big West rankings, as

they are currently ranked eighth in the conference with a 4-16 overall record and 1-7 in the Big West. UCR lost their 10th straight game against Cal State Northridge on Saturday, Nov. 2, 3-0. The Highlanders will play at home in Riverside on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. at the SRC Arena. ■H

Sports Men’s basketball wins exhibition against Life Pacific University 24

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019

JONATHAN FERNANDEZ Senior Staff Writer

The UC Riverside men’s basketball team played in their first exhibition of the season against Life Pacific University (LPU) on Friday, Nov. 1. The Highlanders crushed LPU in their first game against Division I competition of the preseason, winning in a landslide, 73-45. Riverside was dominant throughout, and only allowed the lead to change hands twice. UCR entered the break with an 11-point lead, 37-26, before expanding on it in the second half. The Highlanders were even more impressive in the second half of the game, outscoring the Warriors 36-19 en route to a 28-point win. UCR put forth a striking defensive effort, holding LPU to an anemic 29% shooting from the field and 27% from three. The Highlanders also did an admirable job of defending without fouling, only allowing four free throws in all 40 minutes of play. The only Warrior who broke double-figures was senior guard Angelo Sandoval, who finished the game with 10 points, one assist and one rebound. Despite scoring 37 points in the first half, the Highlanders were mediocre in the first half offensively, shooting 43% from the field and only 31% from three. However, Riverside did improve their shooting percentages across the board in the second half, shooting 50% from the field and 36% from beyond the arc. UCR ended the night shooting 46% from the field and 33% from three. As a team, UCR had a commanding showing on the glass. The Highlanders outrebounded the Warriors 45-29. This led to Riverside outscoring LPU 12-2 on second chance points, and although it wasn’t the determining factor, the way UCR dominated the glass is impressive nonetheless. The Highlanders were more aggressive and significantly better than the Warriors in the paint, outscoring LPU 34-14 inside. Riverside’s bench also provided a spark, doubling the production of the opposition’s bench, 28-14. Sophomore center Callum McCrae posted the most outstanding statline of the game, totaling a game-high 15 points and nine rebounds on 60% shooting. The only other Highlander to score in double digits was George Wilborn III, who finished the game with 11 points and four rebounds on 50% shooting. Senior guard Dikymbe Martin, who has been a starter for the majority of his three years with the program, did not play in the exhibition for unknown reasons. The Highlanders’ next preseason game will be at the University of Nebraska on Tuesday, Nov. 5. ■H

LLOYD KAO / HIGHLANDER

UCR women’s golf team finishes last in the Las Vegas Showdown

JORDAN HOM Senior Staff Writer

On Sunday, Oct. 27, the UC Riverside women’s golf team traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the Las Vegas Showdown at the Boulder Creek Golf Club Course. The tournament took place over three days, lasting until Tuesday, Oct. 29. The weather was a cool 63 degrees, giving the golfers a break from the grueling Las Vegas heat. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas

(UNLV) hosted the competing schools, which included the University of Nevada, New Mexico State University, Portland State University, Northern Arizona University, Colorado State University and the University of Idaho. The only schools from California to partake in the tournament were the University of San Francisco, Cal State Long Beach (CSULB), UC Irvine and UCR. In the three rounds played, the Highlanders shot a 312, 317 and 304

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

for a total score of 933. Among the 18 teams, UCR finished in last place and shot 54 points higher than the first place school, UNLV. Freshman Elena Saksa of UNLV and East Tennessee University junior Tereza Melecka were the top golfers of the tournament, each totaling a cumulative score of 212 in the three rounds. UCR freshman Nicole Le was the best golfer among the Highlanders, as she scored a 78 in the first two rounds and improved her score in the third

round to a 74. Le tied for 48th place with four other golfers, Nevada senior Jenny Krause, Nevada sophomore Danielle Ujimori, Nevada freshman Anitra Khoth and New Mexico State sophomore Amelia McKee. Each of the five golfers finished the tournament with a total score of 230. Le improved her total score compared to her last tournament, the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate tournament, from 252 to 230. As for the remaining Highlanders, junior Ping Huang tied for 64th place, shooting a 78, 79 and 76, for a total score of 233. Freshman Jennifer Deng and Nao Bando both tied for 70th place, with each shooting a 235. UCR freshman Mylan Hirata also participated in the tournament, her second of the season. The Las Vegas Showdown was not the first tournament of the season that the Highlanders have finished last in. They also placed at the bottom at the Golfweek Conference Challenge, which took place from Monday, Sept. 23 to Wednesday, Sept. 25. The Highlanders will have the next three months to prepare for their next tournament which will be played on Monday, Feb. 10 to Tuesday, Feb. 11. The Battle of the Rock Tournament will be held in Riverside at the Oak Quarry Golf Club. ■H