Issuu

THE HIGHLANDER

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

VOL. 68, ISSUE 09

est. 1954

AFSCME holds strike against UC outsourcing and unfair labor practices

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Senior Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) 3299 held an all day strike between the

Arts and CHASS buildings to protest outsourcing and other unfair labor practices that affect UC workers. In an interview with The Highlander, Senior Cook, AFSCME Executive Board Member and Bargaining Representative

Jesse Hernandez stated that the reason for the strike was not about healthcare or pension like it had been in previous years. This strike was focused on the six unfair labor practice charges the university is facing in regards to outsourcing. These

unfair labor practices directly affect UC workers because it “prevents them from becoming career workers for the university,” stated Hernandez. ► SEE AFSCME PAGE 4

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OPINIONS 7

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

HUMANS OF UCR

UPCOMING EVENTS: WEEK 8

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Curious about Credit? 3:00pm to 4:00pm HUB (Highlander Union Building), 260

Your First Dive into Financial Independence 5:00pm to 6:00pm Student Recreation Center (SRC), Training Room

Free HIV Testing and Remembrance Quilt Making 11:00am to 1:00pm Pentland Hills Residence Halls, Foxhole F111

ASPB Presents: Scotty’s Birthday 2019 11:30AM-1:00PM! UCR Bell Tower

Chancellor’s Campus Update 12:00pm HUB (Highlander Union Building), 302

ASPB Presents: Free Film Premiere: Frozen II 10:00pm University Village Theater

Friendsgiving 4:30pm to 6:30pm Student Recreation Center (SRC), classroom kitchen

ASPB Presents: Homecoming Bonfire 2019 6:00pm to 10:00pm Lot 19

CCC + LGBTQ+ Summit 9am HUB 302

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

“I started playing (Rainbow Six Siege) during year one season one, which was around the end of 2015. I really enjoy playing games. I owned a Nintendo 64 and my older brother played games when we were young. It became a big part of me and I grew up playing Smash and other fight games.”

Friday

Saturday

UCR Chamber Singers and Orchestra perform Haydn’s “Mass in Time of War” 3:00pm to 4:30pm University Theatre

Sunday

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Monday

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ASUCR holds special elections to fill undergraduate sustainability director vacancy

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, ASUCR held a special election to fill the undergraduate sustainability director vacancy. Olenka Graham-Castaneda, the previous undergraduate sustainability director, stepped down for reasons unknown. During Public Forum, BCOE Senator Maurice Armstrong, who was running for the position, stated, “I personally believe that someone who has sat on the Green Campus Action Plan committee in the past or currently deserves to be the undergraduate sustainability director … I think the undergraduate sustainability director position is very important but I think GCAP is even more important … I know that I am running for this position but personally I think the ideal candidate is actually Alexis Illich.” Dyanna Castaneda, the ASUCR elections director announced that three students were running for the position: Alexis Illich, Maurice Armstrong and Miranda Lara. Lara was absent during the

election for reasons unknown. Castaneda stated, “We received applications for this position and the process was very strict because this position does require at least a year of experience within ASUCR.” Executive Vice President Abigail Cortes announced that each candidate would have two minutes to give a speech before moving onto a question and answer portion between the senate and the candidate. Alexis Illich was the first candidate to give her speech. Illich began by introducing herself and stating that she has served on the GCAP committee since her junior year. She was initially the programming director for GCAP but she stated that due to circumstances, she is now the vice chair. During her time in GCAP, Illich stated that she has designed and built battery recycling towers for half the market cost, assisted in coordinating many GCAP events as well as helping in other activities and projects. She stated that the various activities she has participated in while working for GCAP proves that

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she is capable of managing her time and handling a hefty workload. “We will lay the foundation for future committees to have the blueprints to rapidly improve our sustainability sector on campus, leaving a legacy of protocols to assist for the future of our organization,” stated Illich. After her speech, President Pro Tempore Preeti Juturu asked Illich what direction she wants GCAP to take. Illich answered, “I want to organize the funds that GCAP has currently. Right now we see a lot of repeated grants being awarded which is great, but I would really like the grants to be something all students can feel comfortable applying for.” She went on to state that she would like to see a more even distribution of funds within GCAP and a more even distribution of the grants that they award. Illich stated that a $20,000 grant was awarded for a solar car project but wished to see grant money more evenly distributed. CHASS Senator Miguel Ramirez asked Illich what she believes the greatest sustainability challenges UCR is facing to be and how she plans to tackle them. Illich responded by stating, “Right now there is a huge issue with our zero waste initiative. Countries are no longer taking our trash so now we are the ones who are responsible for our trash and that is one issue I think should be tackled on campus.” She also stated that a big chunk of energy use on UCR’s campus comes from campus labs. She stated that she would like to see that energy usage decrease through their green labs initiative. BCOE Senator Maurice Armstrong then gave his speech. Armstrong stated, “Being on the GCAP committee is what got me involved in ASUCR … I think it is very sad that we lost a director and have not been able to do things such as pass grants … I think it is just important to have someone step in and continue to

do what we had been planning to do.” After his speech, Juturu reiterated her question that was asked of Illich and asked Armstrong what his vision for GCAP’s direction is. Armstrong stated, “When it comes to the grants we award, a lot of BCOE students are applying for them but I believe that we should try to extend those grants to get students from other majors and colleges to apply for those grants.” CHASS Senator Ramirez also reiterated his previous question to Armstrong and asked what he believed the biggest sustainability challenges facing UCR are and how he plans to tackle them. Armstrong stated, “There are so many small things departments and students can do to promote sustainability on campus. One small thing that every department can do is add aerators to their sinks.” Armstrong stated that aerators help waste less water while sinks are running. “When you try to completely overhaul what administration wants to do when it comes to the environment is going to be very difficult and take a lot of time. I think that using the grant money that we have now to achieve small initiatives and projects is the best plan and will get students inspired about the environment.” Cortes then asked the senate if they would like to deliberate or if they would like to go straight to casting their vote. The senate motioned to immediately cast their votes without deliberation. They cast their votes in a closed ballot. With a vote of 14-1-0, the senate voted to elect Alexis Illich as the new undergraduate sustainability director. Illich stated, “Thank you guys for listening and participating in this election. I do appreciate you guys taking the time out of your day to do this. I hope to see you guys around.” The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m. ■H

stated Hernandez. He added, “for students to show their support it really

means a lot to us. Now all we need is the support from administration.” ■H

AFSCME holds strike against UC outsourcing and unfair labor practices

► FROM AFSCME

One of the charges is about the violation of contracts. Hernandez told The Highlander that UCR has renewed contracts with outsourced vendors, some for five and up to 10 years. “UC has not been communicating, they are renewing contracts without notifying the union, which is in violation of good faith bargaining,” stated Hernandez. Hernandez stated that this struggle has been going on for the past three years and that striking is their last resort since they have not seen any improvement or negotiation. Ultimately, AFSCME is committed to securing jobs for workers on campus. “As UCR is growing and expanding our jobs are not growing and expanding,” stated Hernandez in regards to the campus expansion project. Hernandez explained that the Dundee Student Housing and Glasgow Dining Projects are Public-Private Partnerships (P3)

projects where an outside developer assumes a major share of the risks in terms of financing and construction, from design and planning to long-term maintenance. UCR then leases the building but because they do not own it, workers are confused as to who will be maintaining those buildings. “Is it going to be careers or contracted outsourced workers?” asked Hernandez. AFSCME’s goal is to get fair contracts with the university and “if they are not negotiating they need to meet in the middle,” stated Hernandez. He has seen improvement since past strikes, adding, “we’ve been so far apart for three years that every strike has got us closer and closer to finding negotiation.” At noon, student workers joined a march to showcase their support and solidarity for their fellow UC workers. “No one would have a job without students, not even Chancellor Wilcox,”

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NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

Student leaders collaborate with Riverside Farmers Market to donate fresh produce to the R’Pantry ANTONIO VELAOCHAGA Contributing Writer

As part of her senator project, ASUCR School of Public Policy Senator and President Pro Tempore Preeti Juturu is working with CALPIRG Zero Hunger Initiative Director Kate Castillo to establish a collaboration with the Riverside Farmers Market to donate excess food from the farmers market to the R’Pantry. Castillo and Juturu are working to create a food recovery program where the leftover produce from local farmers markets is donated to the R’Pantry. Juturu and Castillo are working with Oscar De Leon, the director of the Riverside Farmers Market. In an interview with The Highlander, De Leon stated that when he was initially asked to help the R’Pantry, “We were more than happy to support ... When it comes to food access we want to make it accessible for everybody.” De Leon, who organizes multiple farmers markets in the Riverside region, said that he had authorized the Riverside Farmers Market to give UCR the excess produce. De Leon stated, “We are very excited to give back to the community.” “As an R’Pantry volunteer, the items that constantly run out are fresh

produce,” said Juturu. She expressed that it is a challenge for Riverside to access affordable and fresh produce compared to other regions due to the fact that this area is in what is considered to be a food desert. A food desert is a region defined as devoid of fresh fruit, vegetables and other whole foods. Juturu stated, “Last spring, CALPIRG held an event where they provided free fruit cups to students before finals week, and all of the fruits were donated by farmers.” She said that they received a large supply of mangoes, watermelons, apples and other fresh foods that were going to be thrown out by farmers; because of this, the farmers were willing to donate them to the R’Pantry. “Our initiative is extremely simple: to collect leftover produce from farmers markets on a consistent basis and give it to R’Pantry,” said Juturu. She added that this program would consistently provide the R’Pantry with fresh produce every week. Regarding the process of advancing the initiative, Juturu stated in an email that they would send volunteers to the farmers markets to drop off donation crates, which is where farmers would leave their leftover produce. She said that when the farmers markets end, volunteers would take these crates, bring them to

COURTESY OF UC PATH

UCR, clean the produce and store them for R’Pantry distribution. Juturu said that the participating farmers are more than willing to provide donations. Juturu said that she and Castillo are going to meet with the UCR Basic Needs Coordinator Megan Harbert to discuss the logistics and plan for the initiative. Juturu stated that they are working to find a way to finance the program in regard to certain

factors, such as gas. Juturu said, “Our hope is to institutionalise this initiative so it continues on a consistent basis and expands so we can obtain produce donations from more local farmers markets.” She stated, “Considering how high the food insecurity rate is on our campus, this initiative would assist with alleviating this issue and provide students with nutritional food.” ■H

ORI Seminar highlights the gender gap in renewable energy

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Senior Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, the UCR Office of Research Integrity partnered with the Departments of Gender and Sexuality Studies and Research and Economic Development (RED) to host a seminar about the gender gap in the renewable energy field. Dr. Juliann Allison, associate professor of gender and sexuality studies, led the discussion. She mentioned her research on this topic was inspired by a question from one of her former graduate students who asked, “Have you

ever thought about gender in the sense of how women think about the future?” According to Allison, there is research and literature that states that women are more likely to be ecologically conscious and they actually underestimate their knowledge about the environment but are more likely than men to act on the knowledge that they have. Dr. Allison’s research was done in the United States and Canada but she states “the general discussion applies worldwide.” A recent survey conducted by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) found that the

COURTESY OF JULIANN EMMONS ALLISON

renewable energy field employs around 32% of women globally. According to Dr. Allison, “this number rings high for a global number but it is about right for the United States.” However, Dr. Allison continued, most of this work comes from administrative positions that are usually low level, low pay and do not provide much area for growth. Dr. Allison stated that research shows when businesses reach around 30% of female employment their revenue goes up because “women don’t take risks and they are more likely to invest in longer term thinking” and with respect to sustainability and climate change issues, they tend to favor social and environmental policies. Women tend to express greater concern about the environment and while they may be less likely to start a movement, they are more likely to take private actions and change the habits of their families, stated Dr. Allison. She said that environmental action is feminized and she added that others who have studied this topic have found that it is “middle-aged white males in particular from the United States, Britain and Australia who are predominantly driving the idea that environmental action is womanly, feminine and insufficiently masculine.” According to Dr. Allison, networking is a large part of closing the gender gap in renewable energy. Large firms and businesses like General Electric have large women’s only networking organizations but smaller companies

are still fighting to get their own. Dr. Allison stated that women do not often have access to networks, and while they cannot be barred from entering public groups they “may not be invited into those closed circles where they actually get to meet the elites” or they are often criticized for being “to ambitious, too loud and (therefore are) not accepted.” Dr. Allison and her research group focused on two organizations, Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE), which is U.S.-based, and Women in Renewable Energy (WIRE), which is based in Canada. Most of their research came from interviewing women in these two organizations and asking them about their journey to find a job in renewable energy and the struggles they may have faced getting there. Dr. Allison and her team found that 61% of women identified the environment as their primary motivation to pursue careers in renewable energy. They also found that 79% of these women experienced gender based discrimination and that “finding connections” mattered to all but one of their interviewees. Ultimately, Dr. Allison found that “men, regardless of race and ethnicity, are more likely than women to advance and to earn executive wages.” She stated that the way to close the gap is to diversify bigger renewable energy companies, create more women networking organizations like WRISE and WIRE and also educate more young girls in STEM fields. ■H

6 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

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ASUCR

ASUCR discusses making R’Gear a mandatory event for senators and lack of ASUCR turnout at AFSCME strike

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staﬀ Writer

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, President Pro Tempore Preeti Juturu discussed making the distribution of R’Gear a required event for senators to attend during their seventh meeting of the quarter. During Public Forum, Juturu stated, “Considering the fact that we allocated funds for R’Gear, it seems only appropriate and right that the senators who allocated the funds help to make sure the actual event moves forward by being at the event, working the event and being present.” She noted that with required events, senators do not have to be present the whole time if they have class, work or

conﬂicting events. Juturu stated that she thinks that it is inappropriate for them to allocate money to this event and not be present. “My executive fellows from last year sitting on the horseshoe who were there volunteering last year know exactly just how difﬁcult it was, especially considering the fact that ASUCR members themselves were not even present last year,” stated Juturu. She went on to state that she knows that, “a lot of the senators last year had even taken their R’Gear prior to the event and did not actually volunteer.” She concluded her comment by stating, “I will be making sure and constantly pushing for R’Gear to be a required event

for senators. I hope that I can gain all of your support in this.” EVP Cortes noted that senators could motion to make R’Gear a required event but she did suggest that senators hold off on doing so since the distribution of R’Gear will conﬂict with ASUCR’s regular meeting time. R’Gear will be distributed on Wednesday, Jan. 15, and distribution will occur from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. An ASUCR Senate Meeting will be taking place that same day beginning at 6:45 p.m. The senate approved the ﬁnance hearing minutes from Nov. 13 16-0-0 during Committee Reports. They also approved the outreach hearing minutes

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for Nov. 7 by a vote of 16-0-0. The meeting then moved on to Senator Reports. During Senator Reports, CHASS Senator Miguel Ramirez spoke about the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) 3299 strike that took place all day on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Ramirez stated, “I was extremely disappointed to not have seen more members of ASUCR present. The workers are extremely important for the functioning of this university and this school system … The union between students and workers is incredibly important so I was disappointed to not see more of ASUCR members present.” H The meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m. ■

Be confident .

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Opinions

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

California’s Assembly Bill 5 will need revision if state lawmakers truly hope to improve the lives of independent contractors

upporters of the rideshare i n d u s t r y gathered in Sacramento last month to advocate for a ballot measure that would seriously revise parts of California Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5), a contentious bill that seeks to reclassify what it means to be an independent contractor in California. Representatives from Uber, Lyft and DoorDash made the journey out to the state capital to show their support for the campaign due in large part to the fear that the bill will hurt the companies they work for — but they aren’t the only ones worried about the bill. Independent contractors from all across the state are calling AB 5 short sighted and dangerous, suggesting that, while the bill seems to mean well, the language of the legislature is going to require further revision if it is to serve as the next step in the process of securing stronger labor rights. AB 5, known by many as the “gig worker bill,” was signed into law on Sept. 18 by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and the fervent opposition to it seen in the capital last month should come as no surprise. The bill is ambitious to say the least, as it was written with the express intent of radically restructuring the way independent contractors are classified and hired in the state of California. The metric for deciding whether or not one is indeed an independent contractor, the ABC test, looks

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at three criteria. In order for the worker in question to be considered an independent contractor, said worker must be, first and foremost, free of control from the hiring entity they are currently working with. Compounding that, the worker must perform work that is not part of what the hiring entity typically performs. Finally, the worker must take part in some “independently established trade” that is similar to the work they are performing for the hiring entity. Workers who do not meet each of these criteria are ineligible for independent contractor status and the companies they work for are obliged to offer fulltime employment. Rideshare companies in particular fear the implementation of the ABC test, as it would effectively force them to hire the gig workers who drive for a living as full-time employees — a huge expense for rideshare companies that have been hemorrhaging money in recent years. A handful of professions including doctors, builders and lawyers are exempt from this rigorous ABC testing, but many are not. Freelance journalists are in a particularly uncomfortable position in that the language of the bill allows them to maintain their independent contractor status up until the 35th article they submit to an employer over the course of a year. With the way the bill is written, it is assumed that the publication would hire the freelancer after they reach that arbitrary 36th article.

Unfortunately, that’s just not how it works in the field of journalism. These publications already have staff writers employed, and few actually rely on outside contributors. This will leave freelancers to jump between publications to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. In short, AB 5 certainly seems to mean well in its efforts to establish a route toward employment for gig workers, but it comes off as shortsighted when applied to independent contracting as a whole. Due to the complex nature of the bill, it is impossible to either commend or condemn it wholesale. Context will always be important in situations like these. In terms of rideshare companies, it will be difficult to argue that they deserve any sort of exemption. To be sure, these companies have every reason to combat the bill. As mentioned before, companies such as Uber and Lyft are already financially unstable, and an obligation to pay their workers more will surely crumble that unstable footing. That being said, the fact that the rideshare companies have been allowed to get this far by dodging state and federal labor laws is unfair to the workers who provide the rideshare services. Drivers are absolutely integral to the rideshare business model, and the companies should be paying them and providing the benefits that such work warrants. If the drivers put in the work, it is offensive to not pay them as though they were full time.

These companies must be forced to rethink their business models if they want to survive. That being said, it would be foolish to suggest that every other independent occupation is in the same boat as the rideshare workers. Freelance journalists and other overlooked groups will surely suffer collateral damage due to the bill and they must not be forgotten. Thousands of people will be unable to make ends meet if action isn’t taken soon. In fact, some publications have already stated they will be cutting ties with California freelancers when this bill becomes law because of the complications it will surely bring. They’re able to do without freelancers, and so they will. Journalists are not the only independent contractors who will be harmed by the bill. Truckers, contracted cleaners and independent software engineers are all at risk of being classified as freelancers and thus required to work full time, which will seriously harm their respective industries. The window of opportunity to revise this bill is closing quickly. AB 5 will go into effect Jan. 1, 2020, and if nothing changes, California gig workers may be waiting at least another year until new legislation can be passed and put into motion. Because the bill has already been signed into law, the most Californians can do is advocate for revisions before the Jan. 1 deadline. The bill was amended to exempt certain professions last May, so it

is in the best interest of neglected groups to continue pushing for revisions. The situation would be helped immensely if greater specificity was included in the language of the legislation. For instance, perhaps freelance journalists would be happier if the article cap was higher than 35 pieces a year. Each profession would need different allowances, and the only way to make sure the bill isn’t harming anyone unduly is to maintain an open dialogue between workers and lawmakers. While the rideshare companies themselves might not deserve exemptions, others should follow the example their campaign has set and insist that elected officials hear their voices. The livelihoods of independent contractors are on the line. Good intentions can only get one so far, and the changes AB 5 will soon introduce may just send unintended shockwaves throughout the golden state. Change must be made. With some revision, the bill may just be the piece of legislation worker’s rights activists are looking for. Until that revision comes, however, the bill is destined to go down in history as shortsighted and ultimately harmful toward the workers the legislators claim they wish to protect. ■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.

8 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

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OPINION POLL Compiled by Lydia Tsou Staff Photographer

“Should ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft be obligated to hire workers as full time staff, or does society need “part time gigs?”

Computer Engineering

Alvaro Polanco Fifth-year

Madelyn Aguilar Physics Fourth-year

“I think they should have the obligation to hire some people as full time staff — the people who want to work full time, not just everyone. I think the people working should have the choice.”

“I don’t think ride-sharing companies should be obligated to do anything because sometimes when something is forced, like increasing regulations, it makes companies less efficient.”

PhD. Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Melanie Hennessee Computer Science Fourth-year

Osvaldo Moreno Computer Science Fourth-year

Kexin Zhou Sociology Fourth-year

“It depends on the individuals working. I don’t think the companies should be obligated to hire workers as full time staff or that would just be a taxi service.”

“I think it would be good to have both. I don’t think it should be mandatory to have full time gigs, but it would be good for people to have the option. It is nice that there is something you can do on the side, but there’s also no security in that. ”

“I think they should have both. I think as an institution, they should be able to do whatever they want, but people also need jobs. Many people rely on it as their full time job; I think it’s a good idea to have full time staff for the benefits more liabilities covered. ”

“Society is going towards more specialization, so there should be a gateway for part-time jobs and parttime-hiring companies. The problem isn’t with the system itself, but the people who execute the system. There should be more detailed, standardized rules for the individuals the executives and the drivers. ”

Minhaj Tahsin Ahmed First-year

The effort in Bolivia to oust President Evo Morales is a facist coup backed by the CIA TIMOTHY HUGHES Staff Writer

President Evo Morales and many members of his party have fled their home country of Bolivia after being forced to step down due to military pressure and public protest over an allegedly rigged election. Morales, Bolivia’s first ever indigenous president, said it was his duty to step down for the time being to restore peace in Bolivia. Many media outlets have painted this situation as a despot being ousted from power which is simply not the case. Evo Morales is a legitimately elected leader and has been completely cooperative with the investigation into the election results. The situation in Bolivia is an attempted facist military coup with racist motives backed by the U.S. — yet another effort to unseat a successful socialist leader in South America. The first grievance brought against Morales is the accusation that he attempted to overstay his presidential term limit. This argument is fallacious, as the Supreme Court of Bolivia heard Morales’ case and struck term limits from the constitution in 2017. An official that consistently wins the popular vote could remain in office indefinitely as is the case with the Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, as well as members of U.S. Congress. Regardless of his legal right to do so, Morales’ seeking of a fourth term set off political unrest in the right-wing of Bolivia. The final trigger that initiated the coup was the allegation that Morales attempted to rig the election that occurred on Oct. 20, 2019. Due to certain claimed irregularities in the reporting process of the election results, an investigation was launched by the Organization of American States (OAS), an organization that has shown clear bias against the Morales administration in the past. This argument against Morales is also fallacious, as the election reporting wasn’t really against the Bolivian standard. Morales nonetheless submitted to the investigation which alleged that there was evidence of fraud in the election. Morales was open to running a second election, but the rightwing of Bolivia saw its opening and it took it. On Sunday, Nov. 10, the head of

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Bolivia’s military called for Morales’ resignation and he complied, later stating that he was forced to for his own safety. The coup turned quickly turned violent, as Morales’ home was ransacked and his supporters were abused and humiliated by right-wing protestors. As if the political violence and military involvement aren’t enough to prove that the coup is facist, the opposition to Morales continues to provide evidence of their racist motives. Bolivian security forces have been seen breaking into homes and rounding up supporters of Morales, many of which are indigenous people. The leader of the right-wing coup, Fernando Camachohas, has been outed as being part of a facist paramilitary group, and the police and militias have been seen cutting and burning the flag of the indigenous people of Bolivia — Bolivia’s second official flag.

The racist, anti-indigenous motives of the coup are also made clear through the actions of the individual taking over in Morales’ absence. As many members of Morales’ party and chain of succession were also forced to flee the country, a Bolivian senator from the opposition party, Jeanine Chavez, stepped up and declared herself interim president despite a lack of quorum in the senate that would allow her to do so. She is a known religious conservative, once tweeting, “I dream of a Bolivia free of indigenous satanic rites, the city is not for ‘Indians,’ they better go to the highlands or El Chaco.” On Wednesday, Nov. 13 she entered the capital building of Bolivia carrying an enormous Bible, declaring that “The Bible returns to the palace.” Her racism and religious bias couldn’t be more blatant as she assumes leadership over the facist coup. President Trump has tweeted his support for the coup, but it appears

tweeting isn’t the only way the United States has backed the opposition in Bolivia. Audio has been released showing that U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio were assisting in strategizing with the Bolivian opposition to overthrow Morales long before the contested election occurred. Twitter has been flooded with what appear to be bot accounts, many with U.S. IP addresses, that do nothing but tweet support for the opposition in response to pro-Morales tweets. The U.S. has a vested interest in the massive lithium mines in Bolivia and this wouldn’t be the first time they backed a coup to overthrow a socialist leader in South America. Bolivia is in great danger of devolving into a facist military state, as has been the fate of many other Latin American countries. The racist motivations of the coup are obvious, and the United States is right there supporting the coup for its own interests. ■H

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

The F-Word: Why there’s such a negative connotation to feminism and how people are getting it all wrong

MADISON RHEINS Contributing Writer

Feminism is the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes and the organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests. With this being said, many people scoff when the word is brought up and usually associate individuals who call themselves feminists to “snowflakes” or radical extremists. This assumption is far from the truth. People need to stop being so afraid of feminism and educate themselves on the movement and why it’s so important. As if taking part in the movement isn’t enough, claiming its legitimacy is half the battle. The ideas of feminism are constantly being undermined by the #MenAreTrash movement. This logic is ludicrous and doesn’t accurately represent the majority of feminists. The #MenAreTrash trend leads people to believe that women are too pro-matriarchy and that they are just out to shame men for existing. That is not the case. The phrase “men are trash” is supposed to coerce men into defining new constructs of what it means to be a man or a woman, but there could be a better way to achieve this goal. This phrase creates too much confusion and animosity between the sexes. If feminists continue to use this phrase loosely, it could add more ammunition for misogynists to dismiss the movement as a bunch of angry women. The tarnished reputation of feminism isn’t solely the fault of its participants. Many people who aren’t well-versed on the topic have a lot of premeditated misperceptions on the characterization of

feminists. Female feminists are often seen as unattractive, unfeminine bra burners who hate sex — the list of stereotypes is continuous. What people fail to recognize is that a feminist can be a male or female of any social, racial, sexual or religous background who believes in the harmony and equality of the sexes. Male feminists shy away from the movement in fear of being shamed for not being masculine enough. However, masculinity itself is a patriarchal construct. There is no real determinant for what constitutes who is and isn’t masculine. A man who believes in the equality of the sexes is simply exercising his empathy and desire for political action alongside women. The belief that feminists are equivalent to radicalized extremists out to exterminate the male gender is an empty assumption that needs to be stomped out. While some take the movement as discrimination toward males, feminists really just want to level the playing field between the sexes. People miss the point that those influencing the negative view of feminism only represent a small portion of the movement. Feminism advocates for the equality of the sexes in addition to marginalized minorities. Feminism continues to be a steady influence in providing assistance to the LGBTQ, ethnic and disabled communities. Many people identify with these groups, so allying with feminists would add more support to their own movements. Likewise, feminists seek to establish a harmonious society amongst the sexes. Men and women should be equal in every way, and the idea that men’s rights will be compromised to achieve this goal

is wrong. For example, in an ideal world, there wouldn’t be such a thing as a “man’s job.” Feminists seek to inform women of their worth so they can be motivated to take on harder jobs and destroy the idea that this is a man’s world. In a feminist’s world, there shouldn’t be jobs associated with just men or just women. Everyone is equal. The bottom line is that feminists advocate for women’s achievement through peaceful organizations. Fake news and anti-women propaganda will sway the public into believing that violence and hate is a feminist’s aim. In fact, there are organizations peacefully demanding equality, safety and advancement for women around the world. To name a few causes, feminist groups push for the pursuit of education for women and executive

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positions for women in the workplace. In addition, there are many organizations that advocate for the safety of women in the workplace and on school campuses. They push for better sexual harassment policies and changing dress codes on school campuses that are overly sexualizing young females. Many of the aims of feminism are to achieve basic human rights for women. Society needs to flip the script on the f-word. It shouldn’t be a word that people are afraid to be associated with. Feminism is beautiful when correctly understood. If the public was properly educated on feminism, more people would come out of the shadows, and the movement would be bigger than it is today. People should be loud and proud about what they believe in H — especially when it comes to feminism. ■

Disney should keep their racist scenes off the cutting room floor for Disney Plus in the modern age

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

VICTORIA DAVY Contributing Writer

Disney’s version of Netflix was recently released to the public in the form of Disney Plus. Disney Plus has nearly every Disney movie or television show ever put to screen all on one platform, though not all in their original forms. Movies like “Fantasia,” “Lady and the Tramp” and “Dumbo” will now contain edited versions of their racist scenes and “Song of the South” will not be available at all. Although

this may seem like a progressive step toward change, it is not. By changing these scenes, Disney is essentially erasing their complicity in producing racist content. Editing the scenes out or manipulating them in some way is a way of sweeping the problem of racism under the rug. Furthermore, it denies the pervasive racism that is very much alive within the U.S. today. These movies are time capsules of the periods they were made in. Some of the elements, like the black servant centaurs

from Fantasia, depict the negative portrayal of black folks in cartoons at the time. The black servant centaurs have the stereotypical full lips and wild eyes that were common in children’s cartoons of the time, like “Looney Tunes” and “Tom and Jerry.” One can also find this racism in “Peter Pan,” in which Native Americans are reduced to stereotypes. The Native Americans have no difference in their facial appearance and their speech pattern is reduced to stereotypical choppy two word sentences. These portrayals were popular in other children’s cartoons and they reinforced how Americans would think about people of color for years to come. Editing these scenes out tells future generations that racism was never a problem, and it also denies the existence of racism to this day. Manipulating the racist parts out is a way that Disney absolves themselves of their racist actions while still making money because of it. On the other hand, these scenes are very painful and uncomfortable for many to watch. These racist stereotypes aren’t as far removed as people would like to think. Many people of color are still trying to combat racism that has been magnified because of movies and

television. Having unedited versions on a family friendly site may cause uncomfortable feelings to surface. To compromise, instead of getting rid of the scenes or sweeping them under the rug, Disney should keep them but include a warning of racial prejudice beforehand. Amazon Prime Instant video has included a warning to audiences before “Tom and Jerry” episodes to explain that there are parts throughout that are racially insensitive. Although Disney has a disclaimer in the description, people who have already seen it or small children will surely skip over the description. A video beforehand would help open discussion about the outdated ideas. It does not erase the history of racism that the cartoons hold, but it also allows people to choose if they want to continue watching. Although they may be uncomfortable to watch, it is important that these unedited scenes stay in the movies. It helps parents and guardians have the difficult conversations about race with their children. By understanding the past it changes the course of future. Disney has a responsibility to make sure that they learn from their past and not just sweep it under the rug. ■H

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

Letter to the Editor:

UCR can become a national leader against climate change

ALAN ARTEAGA

Alan Arteaga is an International Affairs major and CALPIRG intern for their 100% Renewable energy campaign. Humanity is sitting on a ticking bomb, placed by our unwillingness to veer towards renewable energy sources. With recent news reporting on numerous fires throughout the state, the Inland Empire has had its fair share, with a brush fire taking place near campus over the last weekend. These fires have a direct correlation to the climate change crisis that the Earth is undergoing. The answer to directly combat these devastating fires is by making the switch to renewable energy sources. With SB100, the whole state of California is committed to have 100% clean and renewable energy by the year 2045. But by the year 2045, we will have already seen the worst impacts of climate change. The student organization CALPIRG (California Public Interest Research Group) has lobbied to commit the entire UC-system to only use renewable energy sources by the year 2025. Of all the UC campuses only UC Berkeley has put forth a plan, setting their campus on track to meet the commitment. In the past, Chancellor Kim Wilcox has been known to endorse the UC 100% Clean and Renewable campaign but yet to make a commitment. Despite this, UC Riverside has failed to deliver a plan to meet this commitment. Putting forth a plan

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will make the campus a leading force in tackling climate change in the Inland Empire. Why not be Champions and lead the Inland Empire with clean sources? If these plans are put in motion, students and community members alike will see radical improvements in air quality and other environmental factors that would improve overall

health. If the plan that UCR puts forward is successful, then that success could become influential to other local colleges and universities to increase their environmental initiatives as well. As mentioned in the Opinions section of last week’s editorial, “The California wildfires will continue to rage … ” California

is a leader in environmental policies, so any changes made here could have an impact across the entire nation. Every effort counts when it comes to dealing with the effects of climate change, and UCR could become a leading force to prevent future wildfires and other environmental disasters. ■H

Be proud.

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

Highlander RYAN POON /HIGHLANDER

Features 12

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

FEATURES

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

Highlander Scot Fest: An annual homecoming for all BY ADRIANA MANDUJANO ANGEL, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Campus was bustling and lively on Saturday, Nov. 16 as alumni, students and families gathered around the Bell Tower to celebrate the 12th annual Highlander Scot Fest celebration. Hosted by the UCR Alumni Association (UCRAA), Scot Fest is UCR’s yearly homecoming celebration, open for all alumni, students and the local community to enjoy. Attendees were given a free shirt and a stamp sheet after checking in for the event. The stamp sheet could be filled by visiting the Fest’s various booths. You could stop by tables and learn about student organizations or play fun carnival games. Once completed, participants would be made eligible for a range of prizes from GoPros to a specialty basket full of goodies. At one booth visitors could get themselves caricatured, and many families lined up to get their enlarged faces on paper. Children walked out from the same tent with balloon animals and their face painted. I brought my younger siblings to the event and had a very good time bonding with them. They especially enjoyed playing on MeltDown, an attraction that can knock you down before your very eyes. It was a hot day, and water stations were spread around the venue for guests. Attendees could cool down by riding the zip line, or enjoy a relaxing swing ride in the air. If they had the energy for it, they could also jump around in a bounce house. At the base of the Bell Tower played the Fest’s live band, dressed in 80s garb and covering classics like Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” as well as The Village People’s

“YMCA,” the latter of which people of all ages danced along to, adding to the already lively atmosphere. Many campus organizations were set up on the sides of the concrete paths, reaching out for new members. Wendy Antonio Ramirez, a third-year double major in psychology and education tabled for Mujeres Unidas. Mujeres Unidas is a non-profit organization established at UCR that promotes inclusivity and social awareness for all their members. They offer scholarships for their members as a way of giving back all their hard work. Ramirez, who attended Scot Fest during her first year, cited her enjoyment then as a reason to come out and table for her organization. “A lot of us were able to not only table, but also enjoy the festivities,” said Ramirez. In addition to students tabling, UCPD had a booth of their own where they handed out foam Scotty paws, stress balls and much more. “I’ve watched (Scot Fest) grow over the last three years I’ve done it,” said Detective Brandon Anderson. Scot Fest was an event full of opportunities for students to interact with alumni and for alumni to be reminded of their time at UCR. Aramis Spann, class of ‘15, volunteered for the event and had done so in the past as a student six years prior. “It brings back a lot of good memories,” said Spann who plans on attending the event next year as well. ■H

JOSHUA WANG / HIGHLANDER

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

FEATURES

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

NASP holds Native Jam Night to celebrate Native American culture

By: Heewon Kim, Contributing Writer On Wednesday, Nov. 13, Native American Student Programs (NASP) held Native Jam Night, a culturally immersive event to showcase Native American culture and heritage. The annual event was held at 5 p.m. at UCR’s R’Garden. The event was not limited to students of Native American heritage; it was open to students, staff, faculty and anyone from the community that was interested in the event. As the first performance began, people slowly entered the muddy grounds of the garden. Anyone who signed into the event was able to help themselves to free tacos and refreshments before they sat. The event also had booths and tents set up if anyone was interested in learning more about NASP, Native American culture, specific programs and various opportunities on how one could contribute to the Native Ameri-

can community on campus and outside of UCR. According to Joaquin Tarango, a program coordinator of NASP, Native Jam Night was intentionally held in the R’Garden. “Holding this event out here is to also show the community what we have here. We also have our own office plot in the garden which students come and plant,” he said. Tarango later mentioned that the R’Garden isn’t a well-known place compared to other sites at UCR, nor is it visited as often as he would like, despite the efforts of individual students and various student organizations that stop by to plant various greeneries. They wanted to simultaneously publicize the R’Garden and showcase Native American culture and traditions in a modern way by incorporating singers of today’s generation. This year marks NASP’s sixth

annual Native Jam Night; the event brings the community and students together as they immerse themselves into this Native American musical event. The first performers were dressed in traditional clothing and encouraged the audience to come to the front and join in their dancing. “These people are Cahuilla bird singers, they’re singing traditional songs to bless and cleanse the area and bring everyone here in a good way,” stated Tarango. Every year NASP tries to bring out different artists with various genres of music so they can provide variety for everyone. “First off will be Levi Platero, he’s Navajo. His genre of music is blues, rock and roll and he jams out. After we will have Tall Paul, he’s hip-hop and he’s going to tell his life story and what he’s gone through as a Native American,” stated Tarango. Af-

ter the the Cahuilla bird singers laid the foundation for a traditional mood to the event’s atmosphere, Levi Platero took the stage and began his performance. The sound of various instruments and modern acoustics drew in more students and members of the community. Vincent Veerbeek, a secondyear master’s foreign exchange student, who was at the event since its start, didn’t want to miss a single moment of the Native American culture being showcased at the event. Many of the audience members appreciated how NASP provided both a traditional and modern approach to music that was performed at the event. “I’m actually here in America to study about Native American culture,” stated Veerdeek, “I believe that UCR has great programs such as these to cre-

ate a welcoming environment to celebrate different cultures.” Native Jam Night concluded at 8 p.m. as the audience members danced to the last song, ate their last taco and slowly started dispersing from the vicinity. Native Jam Night concluded the events NASP planned for Native American Heritage Month; however, NASP will be hosting other events, such as the Ms. UCR Pow Wow 2019-20 Pageant Competition. According to their site this event is “an intertribal social gathering celebrating Native American culture and traditions through singing, drumming, and dancing.” Anyone interested in getting involved with their programs and services, such as American Indian Outreach and Intertribal Peer Mentor Program, can visit H their website, nasp.ucr.edu. ■

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

RADAR

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

EVENTS THIS WEEK 11/22

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

11/21

ASPB Presents: Free Film Premiere: Frozen II 9:45 PM UV Theater

11/22

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Movie Premiere

RYAN POON/ HIGHLANDER

Radar

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

‘The World According to Jeff Goldblum:’

an unorthodox, oddball docuseries

ANNA BAIK Contributing Writer

The long-anticipated release of Disney Plus excited Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic fans alike. Starting at just $7 a month, Disney Plus has officially entered the ever growing competition between streaming services. Released on Tuesday, Nov. 12, the new streaming platform includes a slew of Disney movies and several documentaries. “The World According to Jeff Goldblum” is hosted by “Jurassic Park” actor Jeff Goldblum, who is known not just for his movies but also for his eccentric personality. The show is the first among many of the new streaming service’s original movies and TV shows. Upon the release of Disney Plus came the first episode of Goldblum’s eponymous documentary — an episode dedicated to the make and popularity of sneakers. Each episode of “The World According to Jeff Goldblum” is slated to take audiences on a journey with Goldblum. Week after week, audiences will discover the means behind conventional things, such as denim, tattoos and even ice cream. This means that Goldblum will not only be narrating the show, but experiencing much of the subject matter hands-on. This, paired with Goldblum’s quirkiness, is certainly an interesting approach for a TV show. It’s refreshing to see an original show created and produced by Disney — a normally remake-making, sequel-delivering monopoly. Unlike Netflix, Disney Plus will be releasing an episode a week, meaning audiences will have to wait to see another 30 minutes of Goldblum’s shenanigans. While it is unclear as to why Disney Plus decided to release its series this way, it can be assumed that this will create more anticipation for the episodes to come. Don’t expect to be binging any of

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Disney Plus’ original shows — you’ll have to wait. In the pilot episode, Goldblum took the audience on a journey toward learning the different cultures surrounding the sneaker business. As it turns out, sneakers are more than simply footwear, they are also a part of a much more complex and unconventional world. In this episode, Goldblum visits Adidas to learn how shoes can affect your brain, Sneakercon to witness the selling of collectors’ item sneakers, a Youtuber to learn about unboxing novelty sneakers and much more. He also explores the careers of those in each of his visits, giving proper insight and credit to people in the evolving world of sneakers. In each of his visits, Goldblum also interviews these sneaker enthusiasts, getting a personal and tangible view of sneaker obsession. In the end, it is revealed that the sneaker industry is a lot more complex than it

Verdict:

seems. Rather than being just a protective covering for bipedal mammals, sneakers have a rich history with ties to colonialism and the potential to becoming an art form. Unsurprisingly enough, the show is just as quirky as Goldblum is himself. Through the thick frames of Goldblum’s glasses, audiences will be surprised and amused by the interesting facts he brings to the table. Those unfamiliar with the “Thor: Ragnarok” star’s idiosyncrasies will find “The World According to Jeff Goldblum” a bit jarring. Goldblum spends the pilot episode rambling (and even purring!) about sneakers. Though it did make for great entertainment, I did not find much of the episode that informative. In fact, Goldblum’s eccentric personality distracted me from the topic itself. Disney Plus advertised the docuseries as one that would

uncover “deceptively familiar objects and unravel a wonderful world of astonishing connections that are both surprising and exciting.” However, no such connections were made, and if they were, they were far from “astonishing.” Rather, it was comprised of less facts and more flair. The show’s title is verbatim; it is quite literally a show about Goldblum reacting to the world. It surely is “The World According to Jeff Goldblum;” he is not the host, but rather, the main star of the show. Rather than having a more traditional host, Jeff Goldblum becomes one with the audience, providing for a more relatable narrative throughout the episode. Despite the pilot having too much Goldblum, I can see the series eventually finding its footing in the young Disney Plus world. One cannot judge the entire series based on the first

episode alone. Once the other episodes are released, I believe the show will be legitimized as a proper docuseries. The pilot succeeded in making bold strides by taking on a subject matter that only a minority of people genuinely care for by making it interesting and entertaining. Don’t let the pilot stray you away; look forward to seeing more of Goldblum’s antics in new episodes to come. While it is a bit quirky and unconventional, “The World According to Jeff Goldblum” is worth the Disney Plus purchase. Disney Plus’ “The World According to Jeff Goldblum” is an eccentric, creative docuseries that tours the means and production of ordinary products in an average person’s life through the eyes of Goldblum. It sheds light on not just the mechanism, but the people behind said ordinary products. ■H

“The World According to Jeff Goldblum” offers an unconventional approach to your conventional docuseries. While having a strange but entertaining pilot, the series has the potential to find its place in Disney Plus throughout its season.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

Pokemon

attempts to appeal to the casual consumer at the cost of tradition and nostalgia by: Jordan hom, Senior Staff Writer

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The Pokemon Company is taking the opportunity to immerse a whole new generation into the world of Pokemon by creating more mobile titles than traditional handheld devices. There can be massive beneﬁts from this decision, including bringing in thousands, or even millions of people into their ever growing fanbase. However, this idea to appeal to the casual audience will cause the quality of future mobile releases to suffer because this short-sighted monetary decision

However, the “pay-to-play” concept dilutes the overall quality of the game because users were able to buy more Pokeballs or other items to accelerate their progress. The sentiment of enduring the full Pokemon journey is lost when users can simply buy their way through the game. From the company’s perspective, it is certainly hard to step away from billions of dollars in possible revenue. As the game stands today, “Pokemon Go” still generates

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will compromise the integrity of what a Pokemon game is supposed to entail. “Pokemon Go,” the most popular mobile game that has been created by The Pokemon Company, was a massive success when it was released in 2016. At the height of its popularity, the game amassed over 500 million downloads from users worldwide. The concept of the game was familiar to fans in the sense that the player is able to capture as many Pokemon as possible, but it diverged from traditional games by making the player move around in the real world to do so. This was a unique and innovative concept that introduced real life locations into the equation. This was also the ﬁrst time that a Pokemon game introduced the “pay-toplay” concept. Users were able to purchase coins for in-game items to maximize their chances to capture as many Pokemon as possible. The introduction of in-game purchases was a colossal success for the game as “Pokemon Go” amassed an estimated $950 million in revenue in 2016 alone.

millions in earnings from their app and instore purchases. It is certainly plausible to assume that if The Pokemon Company were to release another mobile game in the future, it would make a substantial profit because players are still willing to pay to accelerate their progress. In addition, the decision to appeal to the masses over a niche market was further evident when The Pokemon Company released the film “Detective Pikachu” in May of this year. The first live-action Pokemon movie had just enough content and action to engage casual fans, but overall it failed to go in-depth with the characters and Pokemon alike. The film grossed around $430 million worldwide in profit on a $150 million budget. The reception, however, was average at best, and earned a fresh 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. A few months prior to the release of “Detective Pikachu,” Nintendo and The Pokemon Company released a game for the Nintendo Switch, “Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!” and “Pokemon: Let’s Go,

Eevee!” The games were a remake of the retro “Pokemon Yellow” game developed in 1988. The reception of “Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!” was mostly positive, as critics were enamored with the nostalgia and astonished with the amount of new gameplay that was incorporated compared to its past predecessors. Commercially, the game was a success and critics and fans alike were generally satisfied with the overall product. In North America, sales reached over 1.5 million within the first 10 days of the game’s release. Although the game was a financial success, The Pokemon Company wanted to appeal to new consumers so they simplified many aspects of the gameplay. The game suffered mechanically as certain game features, such as the removal of wild Pokemon battles and the Pokemon PC storage box, were absent. For dedicated fans, the game presented no real challenge and everything seemed too easy. The target demographic that The Pokemon Company should aim to please are dedicated consumers who have played multiple games of the franchise, instead of the casual fan who will come and go. The Pokemon anime, movies and handheld titles have driven their success over the past two decades. The company should stay within those roots to ensure that the new generation of fans will be invested and given the full Pokemon experience, something that future mobile games simply won’t be able to provide.

Companies shouldn’t just slap a label on a product or expedite the creative process for the sake of money. Doing so will ruin the integrity of the gaming experience and the company. Mobile games and other future projects, like movies, have tremendous potential to generate millions of dollars, but it would come at the expense of the loyal consumer. Pokemon Sword and Shield, a game recently released by The Pokemon Company and Game Freak on Nov. 15, was met was harsh criticism from fans because it was announced that not all Pokemon would be in the game from previous generations. Game Freak was also critiqued for subpar animations that resembled the graphics from the Pokemon Sun and Moon series. Departing from traditional handheld gaming will spark the debate of quality versus quantity. The allure of an exorbitant amount of money can be very appealing and may encourage The Pokemon Company to cut corners when developing gameplay in their next mobile game release. While they would gather interest from the casual or prospective fan, the loyal Pokemon fan would likely be dissatisﬁed with the product if it diverges from the traditional values of what a great Pokemon game should look like. Casual fans who buy their way to the top of the Pokemon charts won’t be able to experience the satisfaction of spending countless hours and earning H their way to be the next Pokemon master.■

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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Woody Allen’s filmography proves women can be powerful, three-dimensional protagonists

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

By: Robert Gold, Contributing Writer

COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

Female characters are not always illustrated with dignity and respect in Hollywood cinema. Oftentimes their character development is omitted entirely when they become pillars of conquest for their male counterparts. It is empowering when a woman is portrayed as aromantic, as it is not always imperative for a woman, or a man, to have a love interest in a film. Yet, even if that woman does indeed have a love interest it should not come at the expense of her three-dimensionalism. If women are simply guileless props to fodder the storylines of the male lead, this does nothing but tell young women that their place in life is centered around seeking out the validation from men. Woody Allen filmography portrays a wide variety of well written female characters. Allen has been making romantic comedies since 1965. With 66 films under his belt, he has always depicted women as simultaneously romantic yet powerful. Neither romance nor female dignity have

to be conceded for a film to have female empowerment. Romantic comedies often render women with negative stereotypes that do not serve them well in the real world. However, Allen has written four powerful characteristics which set his heroines apart from all others. They are intellectual, ambitious, hedonistic and cold-blooded. Women and men in Allen’s films are always upper middle class intellectuals and scholars with a sense of agency. In “Manhattan,” 18-year-old Mariel Hemingway moves to Britain to pursue her university education, leaving behind her much older male companion. The film culminates with him begging her to stay, but Hemingway decides to put herself first, possibly for the first

time in her entire life. Enthralled by the throes of an older man for the entirety of the film, she finally breaks free of her codependency, choosing career over lust and profession over pleasure. All of his heroines are ambitious with established careers or are in the process of establishing themselves. “Crisis in Six Scenes” shows Miley Cyrus as a radical Marxist revolutionary in the heat of the Vietnam War. After killing two guards in her escape from prison, she hides from the FBI and the police, getting in contact with her friends in the Black Panthers who help her make a daring escape to Cuba for political asylum. Cyrus, although not the obvious candidate to play a young fictionalized Leon Trotsky or Che Guevara-esque

caricature, shines through with a radiating performance proving once more that Allen sees potential in unrecognized actresses that other directors fail to spot. Allen’s heroines break the common tropes of how women are portrayed by being hedonistic. Usually women in Hollywood are made out to be soft, gentle and kind. There is nothing inherently wrong with being nurturing, but to attribute these qualities exclusively to women not only perpetuates negative stereotypes about men, it also limits the kinds of roles women can play. History is filled with female dictators, serial killers and crime bosses, so it is only right that Hollywood should give female actresses the chance to get their hands dirty. Having women play grittier roles does not destroy women’s reputation, it destroys the notion that women exist in a controlled paradigm. In “Blue Jasmine,” Cate Blanchett is a machiavellian spider who mooches off of everybody else around her: her boyfriend, her sister, her brother-in-law, her first husband and even her stepson. She is a calculating opportunist driven by ego with inherently self-serving qualities — a self-aggrandizing hedonist. Hedonism may seem like a negative trait in a character, but when so many heroines are written as docile one-dimensional cardboard cutouts with no dreams or aspirations of their own, Allen’s individualistic heroines are a breath

of fresh air. Allen breaks even more commonly held tropes by writing many of his characters with infatuating self-importance, unabashed egos and an unforgiving dose of cold bloodedness. In “Wonder Wheel,” Kate Winslett allows her abusive husband’s daughter from a previous marriage to get killed by the mafia. Motivated by her secret love affair with Justin Timberlake’s character, she grows weary and inextricably jealous as Timberlake takes a liking to her husband’s daughter. The plot is not an easy one to swallow as our female protagonist cheats, lies and falls accomplice to murder. Winslett steps out of the role of damsel to play a character consumed by mettle and vitriol, caught up in the aggitations of lust. Allen doesn’t write his heroines as mere sexual objects waiting around to be courted. They take control of the plot instead of waiting around for a man to make them relevant. Allen’s female characters capture the quality of so many great directors: all the grit of Quentin Tarintino’s villainesses, ambitious like Martin Scorscee’s antiheroes and the toughness of James Cameron’s action heroes. Most importantly, these protagonists don’t need men or romance to be empowered. Allen’s films are romantic comedies, but never shy away from the idea that a woman can be both sensual and threedimensional simultaneously. ■H

COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

KUCR Presents

OFF

Record the

Exploring the depths of the ‘Middle Passage.’

COURTESY OF TWITTER

CHRISTIAN VALDEZ Contributing Writer

On Friday, Nov. 8, I had the privilege of attending Immortal Technique’s “Middle Passage Tour.” This was my first time seeing the revolutionary poet live, as well as my first time attending a hip-hop concert. Immortal Technique is not a contemporary hiphop artist by any definition, and for that I am glad. He is an unapologetic voice for the oppressed of the world delivering exquisitely crafted rhymes with a power and passion rarely seen. I would describe each of his songs as an invaluable lesson, rich with histories rarely told. In order to understand the quality of his performance, one must understand how Technique defines himself. Immortal Technique is willing and ready to lay his life on the line for the cause of radical revolution. His revolutionary message is born out of a love for his people, in hopes that they can break free of the colonial and capitalist boundaries of the last 500 years. Now that there is an established understanding of Technique’s passions, one can begin their journey into his music. The evening began with rapper Sadistik, whom I would describe as more of a contemporary performer. I enjoyed his performance and I respect his ability to engage the crowd, but I didn’t really care for the sound. Sadistik loves complicated, fast-paced sixteenth note phrasing, but his enunciation faltered at times and made it difficult to understand his lyrics. His dynamics swung between imitative rock vocals and a melancholy talking tone. In

some instances, Sadistik’s delivery was reminiscent of the rapper Bones, or perhaps the rapper Pouya, in that he also had a soft and eerie coolness in his voice. During the majority of the performance he maintained a high energy and intensity in his vocal delivery. Sadistik’s music was often ephemeral, with ambient strings and synths or deeply reverberated vocal tracks. The drums were sonically fat, with a bass that was meant to be felt rather than heard. Although I wasn’t particularly pleased by Sadistik’s music, his performance was well received by the crowd. The bombastic, bellowing, bastion of rhyme and rhythm — an effigy of charisma — can be none other than Poison Pen! The second performer of the evening appeared unannounced, beats blasting, with an energy ready to move the people. He was an instant hit and his delivery was equally compelling. Paired with kick and side snare hits, sparse high hat usage and classic rhythm and blues sampling, his music is akin to Madlib- or Mobb Deep-type beats. His beats also sampled dialogue and other non-musical elements to create skits similar to some MF DOOM tracks. All of Poison Pen’s qualities culminated into a harmony of the auditory, visual and experiential senses. Both the crowd and the performer were engaged with each other, inhabiting the same heavenly plane in perfect union. Poison Pen is a clear homage to old school hiphop, yet he maintains a freshness and originality with character. His lyrical substance is informative and clever, with a methodical vocal delivery. His

tempo was relaxed but he maintained an ability to lyrically lash out at any time, controlling the flow of musical energy with ease. He guided the crowd through his narratives of revolution, love, pain and struggle. I thoroughly enjoyed Poison Pen’s performance, and I loved his beats, but I especially enjoyed his DJ. Pen’s DJ was none other than the incomparable master of the wheels of steel, DJ Static! The true definition of a disk jockey, DJ Static mixed, cut, scratched and bumped hit after hit in between set times and during a solo performance. His choice in music was impeccable, and he possessed a clear ability to simultaneously please and manipulate the crowd at will — a veteran of the hip-hop scene. Chino XL followed Poison Pen’s performance, appearing robed within the crowd. Mysteriously materializing from thin air, Chino XL began hammering a lethal club of lyrical damage. His delivery was empowered, forceful and emphatic with narratives fading between reality and illusion. Chino took his time with the set and appeared relaxed on stage. The performance felt tangible and personal, like a conversation between old friends. Chino XL’s set was thoroughly satisfying. Immortal Technique, the realest MC of the 21st century, walked on stage ready to begin his class. The audience and I, as willing students, entered into an agreement with Technique in order to learn the true workings of our collective oppressors: the imperialist nation states of all lands. He appeared

on stage donning a long braid tucked beneath a cap, wearing camo pants and a bullet proof vest. Technique emerged alongside Poison Pen, Chino XL and producer Akir. His energy on stage was enormous, with an aura that overwhelmed the crowd. During the course of his set I was taken on a vast journey through Technique’s diverse discography. There was no end to the depths of his knowledge, and his signature delivery left a permanent imprint of his lyrical ferocity. Every single rhyme was elegantly written, with carefully crafted lyrics flowing non-stop from Technique. Immortal Technique has no filter, because he summons the totality of his persona in every word. In between every song we were given freestyle after freestyle, with on the spot improvisations that held our imaginations captive. When those freestyles began the music stopped, and only Technique’s voice rang through the room, filling all the quiet places of the mind. His lyrics describe the realities of U.S. military intervention, the everyday life of the worker, of the Third World, of the American ghettos, of loss and death and especially of revolution. Every song was imbued with power, and he held the crowd in the palm of his hand from start to finish. Technique’s revolution is the people’s revolution, and it has no state or corporate sponsor. He has always been an unsigned artist that produces, promotes and sells his music on his own terms, even distributing CDs by hand in the streets of New York. Technique’s historical lessons do not run through the filter of colonialism and he unapologetically raps the history of oppressed people. This was one of the most compelling and engaging shows I have ever been to, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have seen such raw intensity live. There is no replacement for a live concert experience, and Immortal Technique is a prime example. Poison Pen, Chino X and Immortal Technique went above and beyond in their respective sets. Most importantly, their passion for music was shared by the crowd and created a beautifully communal atmosphere. Hip-hop is a rhythmic oral history, and it is a way in which knowledge and revolutionary ideals are preserved and passed on. Immortal Technique stores subversive information, which would otherwise be ignored by mass media, within his songs. This method provides a guidepost by which to fashion and preserve institutional critiques of our own if we wish to do so. ■H

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

SPORTS

Women’s basketball falls to USC in home opener CALLIE LAWSON-FREEMAN Contributing Writer

The UC Riverside women’s basketball team hosted the University of Southern California (USC) at the SRC Arena on Thursday, Nov. 14. The game resulted in a 76-59 loss for UCR. The Highlanders battled the undefeated Trojans and remained within single digits until the final quarter of the game. The Highlanders’ home-opener brings their record to 1-3 in non-conference play. The Highlanders started the game claiming an early lead, scoring nine points and holding USC to

seven until halfway through the first quarter. The Trojans had a delayed burst and took a 20-16 lead by the end of the first period. The second quarter was a contested battle. After the Trojans took a 12-point lead, the Highlanders were able to go on a 7-2 scoring run to cut the halftime deficit to seven points, and trailed 40-33 heading into the break. UCR senior forward Marina Ewodo and senior point guard Ann Jerigan both scored a three pointer in the early minutes of the third quarter. This cut the Highlanders’ deficit to only five points, 44-39. UCR started the fourth quarter behind, 56-

LEO YUE /HIGHLANDER

48, and scored the first basket of the period to get back within a six point range of USC. The Trojans finished strong with a six-point scoring run that ultimately gave them an 18-point lead. The Highlanders were unable to respond, and the game ended in a 23-point loss. Ewodo led the team in scoring and posted her first double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Junior guard Keilanei Cooper scored 11 points for the Highlanders, followed by senior guard Jannon Otto, who scored 10 points. USC’s victory was led by a breakout game for graduate transfer Aliyah Jeune. The first-year Trojan scored 27 points, followed by freshman center Asia Jackson who put up 11 points and 14 rebounds. The Trojans were extremely successful in drawing fouls and capitalizing on them, making 23 of 25 attempts from the free-throw line to secure their win. The Highlanders, had an 87% free-throw percentage but just couldn’t get to the line enough, shooting 7-for-8. Although the Trojans were credited as the nation’s best defensive rebounding team last season, they were out rebounded by the Highlanders on Thursday night. The Highlanders grabbed 38 rebounds to the Trojans’ 32. Senior forward Skyler Lewis contributed six of those rebounds and six points, while Sophomore Daphne Gnago contributed five rebounds and five points. The Highlanders also bested the Trojans in field goal percentage. The Highlanders finished the game with a 39.7% shooting percentage over USC’s 38.3% The Highlanders will host two home games next: they will go up against Utah Valley University (03) on Thursday, Nov. 21 and Weber State (0-3) on Sunday, Nov. 24. ■H

Volleyball’s struggles continue after dropping a pair of matches DAMIAN GARCIA Contributing Writer

The Highlanders (6-19, 2-12) were looking to build off of their previous win at home against UC Irvine (5-20, 2-11) this past week when they hosted the University of Hawaii (22-3,12-2) in a weekend match on Sunday, Nov. 10. Although UCR held its own in the first and third set, Big West leader Hawaii would bounce back in both sets and close the match in three sets. In comparison to their last matchup against Hawaii, UCR was initially able to keep pace with the Rainbow Warriors late into the first set. The Highlanders stuck with their opposition, battling to a 16-16 tie, but an offensive surge by Hawaii led to a 9-3 run to close out the set in their favor. UCR was unable to reestablish themselves in the second set. Hawaii emerged fiercely and took a 17-5 lead. Hawaii kept UCR in their rearview mirror and took the second set, 25-11. The third set was reminiscent of the opening contest. The teams traded points, all the way to a 13-13 tie. In a similar fashion, Hawaii was once again able to flip a switch and go on a 12-4 run. Hawaii finished the set 2517 and in turn shut out the Highlanders 3-0. UCR met UC Irvine (UCI) for the second time in 10 days on Friday, Nov. 15. This time around, the Highlanders traveled to the Anteater’s home. UCR attacked strategically in the opening set much like they did during their previous meeting with UCI. The Highlanders took a 9-6 lead due to a kill and a pair of UCI errors at the net. The troubles for UCI continued and UCR increased their lead, 19-15. Although the Anteaters began to fight back rigorously, Highlander sophomore libero Renata Bath delivered two pivotal points to clinch the set, 26-24. UCI approached the second set with a different

mentality. UCI’s freshman outside hitter Joy Umeh was the star of the set, providing two kills that gave the Anteaters a 15-8 lead. UCR was able to cut the deficit to four and bring the score to 23-19, but a pair of attack errors resulted in UCI taking the set, 25-19. In the third set, the opposition continued to clean up its offensive mistakes and worked toward a 22-17 lead over UCR. Freshman outside hitter Amarachi Osuji provided two kills for the Highlanders, diminishing the point gap to two, 22-20. Umeh once again came up big in the final moments of the set, contributing a kill and two blocks to end the set, 25-20.

Both teams went toe-to-toe in the fourth set. The two sides were tied 21-21 in the final stages of the set. Up until this point, the Highlanders appeared very disciplined on the net. Unfortunately, freshman middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu exposed the fault in UCR’s blocking from previous sets. Ofoegbu had four kills on seven swings and closed the final set 25-21 to give the victory to UCI, 3-1. The Highlanders will now close out their season with a series of home matches. UCR will host Cal Baptist University (12-15, 6-8) on Wednesday, Nov. 20 and UC Davis (15-12, 7-7) on Saturday, Nov. 23. ■H

JOSHUA WANG /HIGHLANDER

Sports 20 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

Women’s tennis concludes tournament season at CSUN fall invitational

KEVIN SANCHEZ-NERI Contributing Writer

UCR women’s tennis traveled to Northridge this past weekend to take part in the CSU Northridge (CSUN) fall invitational. The Highlanders performed modestly, picking up a handful of wins in both the singles and doubles brackets. Many Highlanders saw success in the singles side of the tournament, as junior Lauren Wolfe, junior Sara Khattab and sophomore Tammy Van won their first matches of the day. Khattab and Wolfe went on to win their second match and faced each other during the following match. Wolfe would best her fellow teammate 6-2, 6-3. Van had herself a day and earned a slew of victories in singles competition against University of Portland freshman Jana Tanevska 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 and junior Miah Webb of Marymount California University 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. She would ultimately fall to CSU Los Angeles sophomore Chelsea Ruiz 6-4, 6-2. Van also participated in doubles matches with sophomore teammate Hanh Pham. The pair took down

CSU Sacramento freshman Megan Tagaloa and sophomore Shauna Casey. They would go on to play their last match of the weekend against Ghajar and Emery of Liberty University (6-4). In the singles A flight, freshman Lindsey Gelinas was taken down by Liberty University junior Kalani Soli 6-2, 6-0. Gelinas bounced back in the consolation bracket, defeating junior Lise Sentenac of UC Santa Barbara 6-3, 4-6, 10-4. She would eventually reach the consolation bracket semifinals but came up short against sophomore Shir Azran of Fresno State 6-4, 7-5. UC Riverside junior Tia Elpusan had a similar day at the tournament, as she was moved to the consolation bracket after losing to freshman Tamara Teulf of Youngstown State 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. However, she put on an impressive performance in a come-from-behind victory against freshman Tiffany Nguyen of Liberty University 2-6, 7-5, 10-7. The Highlanders wrapped up their fall season at the CSUN invitational and will now focus on preparing for the upcoming season. ■H

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

WEDNESDAY

UPCOMING GAMES

Women’s Volleyball vs Cal Baptist University @ SRC ARENA, 7:00 P.M

T H U R S D AY

vs University of Redlands @ SRC ARENA, 4:00 P.M.

vs Utah Valley University @ SRC ARENA, 7:30 P.M.

SATURDAY

vs University of Denver @ SRC ARENA, 3:00 P.M.

S AT U R D AY

SACRAMENTO STATE final score: 62-49, loss Friday, November 15 @ 7:00 Pm Dominick Pickett: 15 points and six rebounds Callum M c Rae: 11 points and 12 rebounds

WOMEN’S Basketball

MEN’S Basketball

BASKETBALL T H U R S D AY

MEN’S Basketball

MEN’S

Women’s Volleyball vs UC Davis @ SRC ARENA, 7:00 P.M.

MEN’S

BASKETBALL vs

UNIVERSITY OF PACIFIC final score: 58-51, loss sunday, Novemeber 17 @ 3:00 P.M ZYON PULLIN: 14 points and FIVE rebounds Callum M c Rae: 8 points and 8 rebounds