THE HIGHLANDER
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, DECEMBER 03, 2019
VOL. 68, ISSUE 11
est. 1954
ASUCR and TAPS meet to discuss solutions to ongoing parking problems
Los Angeles shouldn’t criminalize the homeless, it should house them
TIMOTHY HUGHES Staff Writer
ARCHIVE/ HIGHLANDER
LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Senior Staff Writer
On Monday, Nov. 25, a rally was held outside of the parking services building located at 683 Linden St. after ASUCR president Julian Gonzalez issued a letter to the Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) Advisory
Committee highlighting concerns and issues he had with parking on campus. In the letter, Gonzalez stated that parking has and always will be an issue at UCR unless TAPS and campus leadership take the necessary steps to help alleviate these issues now. Gonzalez wrote,
“In a time where it seems as though students are continuously being left out of decisions made by our campus; we feel as though TAPS has had a play in being complicit to disregarding student voices in student issues.” On behalf of ASUCR, Gonzalez wrote, “We are asking for transparency. We
are asking for representation. We are asking for student input when making decisions that will impact students.” The rally was held in an attempt to get the TAPS Advisory Committee to listen to these concerns. ► SEE PARKING PAGE 4
With 60,000 individuals forced onto the street, Los Angeles has the largest homeless population in the country. The city has had a long and complicated relationship with its homeless community and recently, as the number of homeless in the city skyrocket, more residents are calling for something to be done. Unfortunately, in a recent poll, 65% of LA county citizens agreed that the police should have a more active role in clearing the streets of the homeless population. This position entirely lacks compassion and understanding of the housing crisis in Los Angeles — homeless people should, and can, be housed and assisted instead of criminalized. ► SEE HOMELESS PAGE 8
Read more! FEATURES: Campus Cope: Gift Giving, page 10 RADAR: “Death Stranding” Review, Page 16 Sports: Men’s basketball, Page 20 f UCR Highlander Newspaper @UCRHighlander HighlanderTV NEWS 4
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
HUMANS OF UCR
UPCOMING EVENTS: WEEK 10
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
“I’ve loved bikes as long as I can remember. I love the freedom that it granted me as a kid and how it transformed something as insignificant as commute into an adrenaline rush. Nothing beats the feeling of being able to rush though traffic
UCR Music - UCR Jazz Ensembles 8:00pm to 9:30pm Performance Lab, ARTS 166
Searching for Scholarships 1:00pm to 2:00pm HUB, 265
Therapy Fluffies 11:00am to 1:00pm Rivera & Orbach Libraries
UCR Dance: Fall 2019 Dance Showings 8:00am to 8:00pm ARTS 100, ARTS 300 and ATHD 102
CIA Information Session 2:30pm to 4:30pm Career Center, Meeting Room A & B
Squish Away Your Stress 3:00pm to 4:00pm Rivera Library
Men’s Basketball vs Cal Lutheran Holiday Sweets 7:00pm to 9:00pm 4:30pm to 6:30pm Student Recreation Center (SRC), Student Recreation Center (SRC), Arena Classroom Kitchen
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If You Give a Brain a Brownie... 3:00pm Orbach Library
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R’Finals Study Jam 4:00pm to 8:00pm Orbach Library
Saturday
Film: Amazing Grace 6:00pm to 7:30pm UCR ARTS, Culver Center of the Arts
and weave through campus for me.“
Sunday
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ASUCR and TAPS meet to discuss solutions to ongoing parking problems
► FROM PARKING
At 9 a.m. on Monday, the rally was led by CHASS Senator Aaron Sanchez, Graduate School of Education (GSOE) President John Haberstroh and Emily Thomas, the local relations coordinator for ASUCR Lobby Corps. They, along with five other ASUCR students, originally planned to rally outside of the parking services building until Irma Henderson, director for TAPS, agreed to meet with them and listen to their concerns. In the meeting, Thomas stated that she, like many students, was a commuter and voiced her concerns about TAPS’ failure to notify students about the changes that were made to parking services this year. These changes include the recent time change for gold permit holders to park in blue lots from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Emily stated that one of the main reasons she was present at the meeting was because she received “no mass email and no notification other than the signs being changed” which highlights TAPS’ failure to communicate with students. Vincent Rasso, the director for government relations for ASUCR, was also at the meeting. Rasso began by addressing the lack of students present stating, “we’re not here on behalf of any university entity … we’re just here because we have a large network, obviously meetings in the middle of the day on a Monday is not something that students are able to access.” He expressed to the TAPS committee that with “UCR being such a large population of commuter students there should be way more transparency in the decisions and
the policies that are being implemented that impact commuter students.” He stated that TAPS lacks compassion, diversity and student input. Sanchez posed a question to Henderson asking why there is no system in place for students to be made aware of changes at an administrative level. Henderson agreed and stated, “One of the biggest difficulties is overall a change in the way the campus is communicating.” She mentioned that in the past, the TAPS department was able to send mass emails to the entire student population but they are no longer allowed to do so. Since ASUCR is the only campus entity besides the chancellor who is able to do so, they suggested sending important changes through them instead. Henderson also mentioned that something she and Tara Elizabeth Pueschel, transportation demand management specialist for TAPS, have been doing every first Tuesday and Wednesday of the month for the past eight years is tabling at different locations on campus including: the patio near The Barn, Lot 30, the commuter lounge and at Glen Mor Market to talk to students. Henderson stated that typically when changes are made to parking lots, the only people that are notified are those who hold eligible permits and asked the students sending notifications of even the smallest of changes would be relevant to all students regardless of permit status. Haberstroh stated, “In the interest of transparency it should all be out there for everyone.” Henderson said she hopes to have better communication with ASUCR in the future because while TAPS “can
ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER
push information out (they) don’t know the individual questions that ASUCR may get.” Sanchez agreed stating that with more transparency, ASUCR will be able to answer more questions regarding parking so that TAPS does not have to. Another prevalent issue voiced by the members is the lack of student input there seems to be when changes are made to parking services. Henderson explained that in the decision-making process, the impact certain changes will have on permit holders is taken into consideration. She then explained how the decision-making process works and said that it starts with the TAPS Advisory Committee which currently consists of only two student representatives, the president of ASUCR and the Vice President of Internal Affairs Jocelyn Ortiz. It then moves up to TAPS associate vice chancellor, then the vice chancellor and finally, the provost. “I hate to say this but it feels like a very internal dialogue, there is not much that students can really say,” stated Sanchez.
Henderson also went on to explain the reason for permit rate changes by saying, “if the campus weren’t going to grow we wouldn’t need more parking … in order for (TAPS) to keep up and build more parking we need the funding to do so.” Another change that Henderson mentioned in the meeting was that after 6 p.m., all gold parking lots (Lots 26, 30, 32, 50 and 51) are free Monday through Friday and all day on weekends. This change began on Tuesday, Sept. 3, but Henderson told The Highlander that “what is important now is to get the information out to as many people as possible so that students can start benefitting from this.” After the meeting, Henderson told The Highlander that she hopes in the future TAPS will be able to relay information out to students better. She wrote, “We got a lot of great suggestions and support at the meeting” and she mentioned she would be emailing any changes to ASUCR, GSOE and UCR Life as well as continuing to post on the TAPS social media pages. ■H
develop descriptions and formats for their own positions so that they have a template for themselves and their successors for upcoming years. These formats and job descriptions will then be passed on to the incoming committee positions. “We will be laying the foundation for future committees to have the blueprints to rapidly improve our sustainability sector on campus,” said Illich. She added that people can expect yearly events from GCAP, such as the sustainability fair, but there will be enough room for each committee member to have their own goals and projects. She emphasized that another goal is to make sure funding is fairly distributed among all sectors (e.g., BCOE, CHASS, CNAS, SPP) of UCR. “We’re heavily funding one certain sector and what I want to do is just make sure it’s more evenly distributed and that everyone has a fair opportunity for the grants,” stated Illich. She noted that one of the sectors that she believes GCAP is funding more than others is BCOE. She mentioned, “We’ve started by organizing how we distributed out past grants, to analyze our allocation of finances, in order to fund a wider variety of projects and events on campus.” Organization within GCAP is a top priority for Illich. She said that she wants to set up presentations for the beginning of each year to be shown to both committee
members and students as a way to provide information on GCAP. These presentations would include topics such as an in-depth breakdown of GCAP or an explanation of how to plan green events. Illich stated that this would not only make GCAP more efficient and organized, but it would quickly spread GCAP’s awareness in the community. She added that it would give important GCAP instructions for committee members. Illich said that while GCAP and the Office of Sustainability work together, they are unfortunately two separate entities. Illich stated that she hoped for more collaborations between the Office of Sustainability and GCAP. A challenge Illich pointed out in her new position is the many steps that GCAP must follow to push their project ideas, regulations and events forward. She said that she and her committee will have to do an abundance of work to make sure everything runs smoothly and GCAP prospers. Now that she is no longer the vice chair, Illich said that she will have to fill the vice chair, programming director and marketing director positions in the beginning of winter quarter. She stated, “I really want to choose someone who is kind of new to it all so I can groom them to hopefully be the (sustainability) director.” ■H
New undergraduate sustainability director promises to strengthen GCAP
LEO YUE /HIGHLANDER
ANTONIO VELAOCHAGA Contributing Writer
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, ASUCR elected Alexis Illich as the new undergraduate sustainability director in a special election. She was elected vice chair of Green Campus Action Plan (GCAP) earlier this year and will take the office of GCAP Director after former Sustainability Director Olenka Graham-Castaneda resigned from the position. Illich said that her transition from vice chair to the director of GCAP was a
smooth one due to the strong support team around her. Illich stated that the help she is receiving has made her feel very fortunate. She noted that she is receiving support from ASUCR Financial Operations Manager Amy Carrizosa and former Undergraduate Sustainability Director Nicandro Mendoza. In regards to her future work as sustainability director, Illich said, “This year is just going to be a lot of setting up and managing … My goal is to restructure GCAP so that it is a well-oiled machine.” Illich gave more specific goals she hopes to accomplish this year. One goal is to have the GCAP programming directors
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NEWS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
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TAPS adds new ‘My Commute’ feature on website ANTONIO VELAOCHAGA Contributing Writer
In the early fall quarter, UCR’s Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) added a new feature on their website called “My Commute.” This feature is designed to keep commuting students aware of road closures, traffic conditions, parking, construction activity and other factors that might affect them on their way to campus. The feature recognizes the many construction operations happening on campus and notifies traveling students, faculty and staff of how this may inconvenience transportation and parking. It specifically provides the dates, locations and descriptions of affected areas. TAPS Director Irma Henderson gave her insight on the impact of the many construction operations happening at UCR. “Individually, impacts of the construction projects would be fairly negligible but with them occurring concurrently, I think everyone, students, staff and faculty, will be impacted everywhere,” said
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Henderson. “My Commute” provides links to resources and information such as lot space availability, real time Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) bus arrival, realtime freeway traffic, UCR events, web permits and commute options. The feature also has links to the campus construction activities that are currently underway. The “My Commute” feature includes
a tweet section where the TAPS Twitter account can post information and updates on things such as traffic, transportation and parking. Henderson said, “Our Twitter feed is the best place to get information on where to park when the lots start filling up.” Henderson stated that she understands people can be overwhelmed by electronic communication and social media, but TAPS is trying to make their
presence known within social media spheres for traveling students, faculty and staff. She added, “The tweet section of ‘My Commute’ was added to help people find out this information without having to scroll through their own twitter feeds.” Henderson stated, “Our whole goal with ‘My Commute’ is to provide information to people before they come to campus.” ■H
New ASUCR CNAS Senator Jaime Perez discusses his hopes and plans LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Senior Staff Writer
COURTESY OF ASUCR
During week seven, Jaime Perez was appointed as the new CNAS senator by Executive Vice President Abigail Cortes. The second CNAS senator alternate, Perez is a fourth-year biology major who says he is finally in a position where he can address concerns he has been having in regards to student life on campus. He expressed his gratitude and excitement in filling the vacancy, saying, “EVP Cortes is a person who takes her position very seriously and wants the best for our campus, so I am proud to be appointed by her … and I am happy to be part of ASUCR.” Perez told The Highlander that his main goal as senator is to maintain a safe, resourceful and comfortable environment for all students at UCR. He says as senator he will, “provide legislation ideas that keeps everyone in a comfortable space” and while he does not see any major issues at UCR he says there are areas that need improvement. Perez wrote, “I think the student body at UCR has done a good job of keeping this campus as safe and as welcoming as possible.” He added that some areas that may need improvement would be parking, student organizations and tuition. Perez would like the student body to know that he is involved in ASUCR to bring attention to any concerns students may have. He hopes to accomplish these things with the input of his colleagues and the student body and said, “I want to hear concerns or opinions left and right in H order for me to bring these concerns up to the senate.” ■
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OPINIONS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
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HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL
Lessons from the Daily Northwestern: good journalists exercise empathy while covering the full story photo here (:
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arlier this November, the Daily Northwestern, a student newspaper in Illinois, issued an apology in response to public outrage regarding a recent article of theirs that covered a protest on their school campus. The protest was held in response to an event the Northwestern College Republicans were hosting, during which former Attorney General Jeff Sessions was asked to speak. The article explains that the protestors, numbering around 150, were met with police resistance, with several protestors alleging that they were tackled by police when they attempted to enter the lecture hall Sessions was speaking in. The protestors were upset with the way the Daily Northwestern covered the event, citing the sharing of pictures taken at the protests on social media and the use of the college directory to contact protestors for interviews as an invasion of their privacy. Unfortunately, said backlash and the paper’s resulting apology may have done more harm than good. The Daily Northwestern should not have apologized for covering the protests. The frustrations protestors expressed upon seeing their
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photos posted online are valid — the violence perpetrated against them by the police was surely traumatic — but the student paper has an obligation to cover events happening on campus, and the police response to the protests made said coverage all the more important. The police must be held accountable. It would have been unprofessional for reporters not to provide all of the facts because any protest without proper media coverage is an empty gesture once everyone has gone home. Shortly after the apology was published, Troy Closson, the Northwestern Daily’s editor-in-chief, took to Twitter to elaborate on the staff ’s decision to post the apology, explaining that the reporters at the Daily Northwestern understand their rights and obligations as journalists, but they also understand the importance of empathy when covering these events. While empathy is incredibly important, it should never completely supersede accuracy and honesty. Above all else, a journalist must be accurate, and that means reporting the full story, with appropriate quotes and pictures. The media is constantly being called out for spreading fake news as of late, and oftentimes those complaints are justified. Proper journalism relies on
reporters covering every facet of the event. In their attempts to convey this sense of empathy, the Daily Northwestern may have only worsened their situation. Regrettably, photos that included the faces of student protestors were removed from the paper’s Twitter page, pacifying those upset by their posting, but also erasing important coverage of an event that involved police mistreating students. While it is understandable that protestors would wish to remain anonymous, protests are public events, and those participating should understand the risks they are undertaking when they join in. It is a photo journalist’s job to capture the emotions of these events, and any seasoned photographer in the field will stress the importance of capturing the faces in the crowd. Faces help establish the emotional connection between the reader and the protestor. There are numerous examples throughout history of causes gaining momentum because of iconic shots of protestors, with the recent media coverage of the Hong Kong protestors being the most current example. It would be all too easy for the rest of the world to forget the plight of those protesting, but photographs of people
desperately fighting for their rights possess an energy that resonates with others, and protest coverage persists to this day. Truth be told, the pictures taken by photo journalists should be the least of their worries. The reporters who attend these protests have good intentions — they want to give the protestors a platform to express their views, but there are many others in the crowd who have the same ability to take photos of the event and post them on social media. If a person is in a public space, they run the risk of being photographed. It is impossible to police everyone. It would seem that the protestors involved in the event the Daily Northwestern covered aren’t aware of the veritable paper trail their decision to attend the protest in the first place created. The article published by the Daily Northwestern explains that over 200 people RSVP’d on Facebook for the protest, which allows anyone interested in collecting a list of protestors an easy way to do so. Journalists can do their part by letting event coordinators know that they’ll be covering particularly controversial events. Forewarning should allow anybody uncomfortable with being quoted and photographed during the event the chance to avoid the press.
The clear use of press passes to increase visibility during events might also help others stay out of the photographer’s line of sight. At the end of the day, however, it is an individual’s responsibility to educate themselves on the risks they take when they attend these protests. Those who want to support a cause but don’t want to expose themselves have other options other than protest. Passionate individuals can sign petitions, donate to the cause and volunteer behind the scenes without risking their anonymity. Still, supporting a cause often comes with great risk, and those who wish to be part of the movement must accept that risk. People will be mad if journalists fail to cover their events, and they will be mad if journalists do cover the events. This is inevitable. Journalists must be empathetic when providing the coverage, but they must be sure not to sacrifice accuracy as a result because, above all, it is the media’s job to hold the world accountable, and it is impossible to do so without accuracy. ■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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OPINION POLL Compiled by Ryan Poon Senior Staff Photographer
“Does the media have an obligation to cover events if said coverage can put the event-goers at risk?”
Suchith Ullagaddi CSBA Second-Year
Rashad Tambi Electrical Eng. First-Year
Teri Del Rosario Bio-Engineering Second-year
Marcus Catapang Chemical Engineering
Fourth-year
Kelly Cai MSE First-Year
Ryan Poon Mech. Eng. Second-year
“I’m from the Bay Area and I don’t think the media has an obligation to put their journalists at risk, especially since my friend is a journalist.”
“The media should be for the people so I believe they should be covering all events to help inform others. We have a right to know so they should do their job.”
“I’m not really sure. I feel like either way could be dangerous. ”
“I mean...sometimes I see journalists get hurt during sports events, but I also like having basketball covered so I’m not too sure.”
“I don’t like the idea of people getting hurt so I don’t think the media has an obligation to cover events if people are going to be hurt.”
“I consider myself a journalist and I feel like I have the duty to report and photograph as many events as I can, no matter how dangerous.”
Los Angeles shouldn’t criminalize the homeless, it should house them
► FROM HOMELESS
The notion that homelessness should be criminalized is despicable. The most vulnerable members of the population should not be penalized for being in a position they were forced into by the current systems in place. Seeing as California has the third highest rental rates on average and the fourth highest income inequality in the nation with no meaningful rent control, it’s no surprise that people are continuously struggling to find and hold onto housing. Taking into account that many homeless people have mental health issues that could be treated if they had access to care, only a monster would enact policy lacking compassion toward those without housing. Luckily, past precedent has protected the right of homeless individuals to sleep on the streets, but with public opinion turning sour, the circumstances homeless people find themselves in may soon get much worse. LA can almost certainly solve this crisis, and they can do so with eminent domain. Eminent domain is a practice in which the government seizes a property or resource from a private owner, paying them a one time sum equal to the market price for its use. The last five-year estimate showed LA holds 93,535 housing units that have been vacant for long periods of time, far more than the estimated 60,000 homeless denizens of the city. The city can and should seize those empty units through eminent domain laws and convert them into permanent homeless shelters and affordable housing. The use of eminent domain may seem radical, but it wouldn’t be the first time the Los Angeles city government utilized the practice for humanitarian city development. In 2017 the city greenlit the use of eminent domain to take unutilized areas of south LA from a developer in favor of the creation of a mixeduse project that will include schools, a transit hub and affordable housing for a struggling community. The homeless population needs assistance similar to the help that community was given. The landlords will be fine. Los Angeles should not follow the example of its neighbor to the south, Orange County, which has continuously constrained the activities of the homeless, including arresting them for being in certain public spaces. The Orange County Supervisor has stated that the county should not be responsible for housing the homeless and has repeatedly fought for the legal ability to arrest and ship their homeless to
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Victorville. This inhuman treatment of the homeless should not be emulated anywhere else. The plight of the homeless has caught national attention as democratic candidate Bernie Sanders proposed a plan to end homelessness in America by making housing a right. Bernie’s plan includes $2.5 trillion of federal investment into the creation of 10 million affordable housing units, tackling not only housing for the homeless but also for low-income and struggling families all across the nation. Combined with his Medicare for All plan, which
guarantees free mental health care, it may be the combination needed to lift many people out of the crushing situations they are in. That being said, in the event that a candidate like Bernie is not elected, cities with high levels of homelessness like LA need to be ready and willing to invest and do the heavy lifting themselves if there is any hope of solving the housing issue. Los Angeles does not have a housing crisis — it has a moral crisis. There are far more empty rental units in LA than homeless people. The city can choose to listen
to those lacking compassion for the most downtrodden in society and make the behaviors necessary to survive as a homeless person illegal, or it can do everything in its power to pull as many of those individuals as possible out of the hopelessness the current systems have forced them into. This is a moral choice. Seeing the tents and shantytowns of this disadvantaged population should weigh heavy on one’s heart, not because they are “disgusting” or “disruptive,” but because there is so much more that can be done to help them that isn’t being done. ■H
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OPINIONS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
Carbon sequestration is the last piece of the climate puzzle
CYRUS TOSCO Contributing Writer
Last year, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 100, committing California to receiving energy from only renewable sources by 2045, effectively pushing for carbon neutrality. While the bill was a step in the right direction, it does
catastrophe. In recent years, the main solution to climate change has mostly revolved around countries going carbon neutral, with the EU and some American cities and counties making policies for carbon neutrality. CCS is the process of removing carbon dioxide from the air itself, with the intent to go
process recovers around 60% of oil and replaces it with carbon dioxide. Though it is somewhat reliable and functions as a long-term storage of carbon dioxide, it is paradoxical in the sense that it seems to promote CCS in order to receive more oil that will subsequently produce carbon dioxide; by numbers alone, it is carbon neutrality with extra
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direct air capture the most promising technology for CCS. In fact, Carbon Engineering is a company based around direct air capture, using cheap sequestered carbon dioxide to produce low carbon synthetic fuels with an extremely low emission rate. That is not to say direct air capture technology is the deus ex machina the world needs;
“IF A CLIMATE CRISIS IS TO BE AVERTED, CARBON CAPTURE AND SEQUESTRATION TECHNOLOGY NEEDS MORE ATTENTION.” not go far enough. Current projections of atmospheric carbon dioxide see concentration sailing above 410 ppm, correlating to a rise in global temperatures by more than six degrees. The fires across California and strings of Category 5 hurricanes are tell-tale signs that the climate crisis is here, and carbon neutrality will no longer suffice in preventing excessive damage due to climate change. Reducing carbon emissions is no longer a viable option; carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) must now be the main goal if the world has any hope of preventing a climate
further than just carbon neutrality. The most familiar mode of sequestration is photosynthesis, in which plants concentrate carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, but this problem goes beyond simply planting trees and hoping for the best. As of now, there are two experimental CCS procedures that show promise: enhanced oil recovery and direct air capture. Enhanced oil recovery is the paradoxical process of concentrating airborne carbon dioxide to force it into an underground oil well, where it effectively replaces the oil. The
steps. Even more tellingly, the carbon dioxide being injected is not taken from anthropogenic sources. Most is dug from naturally occurring stores of carbon dioxide. It is possible that this technology may become a decent method for CCS, but that would require the removal of oil company influence and using carbon dioxide directly sequestered from the air. That is where direct air capture comes in. Direct air capture utilizes large fans and a chemical filter to sequester carbon dioxide directly from the air for conventional use, making
it is very effective, but it is not yet profitable for this market to proliferate. But it should, especially considering atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are at the point at which planting trees is no longer an easy solution. If a climate crisis is to be averted, carbon capture and sequestration technology needs more attention. The technology exists, and the market should not be a factor when considering the state of the planet. Yes, the price tag on this technology is somewhat high, but going carbon negative is the only viable option to prevent a climate crisis. ■H
COURTESY OF PEXELS
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FEATURES Campus Cope:
FEATURES
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
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A h o l i day g u i d e to g i f t i n g By: Alexandria Esteban, Contributing Writer
It’s that time of year, folks. The time of year where everyone empties their pockets to buy gifts for friends, family and others. This is the time for you to show your loved ones how much you care about them by giving them something you know they will love. But, as students, we can’t always afford to roll out all the stops. Despite this, there are still ways to give some pretty great presents and, for everyone struggling to think about what they can buy, here are some tips:
1. Pay attention to people’s interests I like coffee!
People can be fans of anything from TV shows, movies, books, video games and more. Think about the person you are buying a gift for. Do they ever talk about how much they love Marvel superheroes? Do they ever babble on about how they ship Harry and Draco from the “Harry Potter” series? Do they walk down the street flaunting their Game of Thrones shirt? Chances are they are part of a fandom. Some places you can find good fandom-related items include Hot Topic, Comics-N-Stuff, Barnes & Noble and Comics & Anime. Pay attention to what your loved ones are currently interested in and buy something related to one of their favorite fandoms. Just be careful that you don’t buy fandom merchandise they already own. Similar to fandoms, the person you are shopping for may already have a collection of particular objects. For this holiday season, buy some new things to add to their collection. Collections are not usually as specific as fandoms and finding things to add to them can be relatively easier. Sometimes you can find collectors’ items in thrift shops, flea markets or through surfing the web. Be sure that the person is okay with receiving gifts that add to their collection though. Sometimes people’s collections are also souvenirs of places they have traveled to and they may not want to add things outside of that theme.
2. What do they need? You don’t want your present to end up sitting on a shelf collecting dust and you don’t want your present to be the victim of regifting. Ask yourself: what could the person I’m shopping for use in their lives that they don’t already have? Think about what sort of hobbies the person you are shopping for enjoys. For example, if they like to bake maybe they would appreciate a new cookie cutter set or, if they like to read, they might want to receive a new book. Make sure to check if they set up a “to be read” list on Goodreads. Not all gifts have to sparkle, sometimes practical gifts are the best way to go.
3. Be on the lookout for sales Plenty of stores and websites give discounts and rewards to holiday shoppers. This can be a helpful way to get multiple gifts. Buy one get one free types of sales can especially help you save money when getting gifts for your roommates or for your friends. This will also save you time on trying to find something different for every person on your list. But, you can still personalize these gifts by writing each person a card with a handwritten message.
4. Cards and other homemade gifts Attaching a card to any gift is an opportunity to show your loved ones how much you know and care about them. Even if you aren’t the best writer, people will appreciate your efforts. Be creative. Decorate the card by drawing something festive, attach memes, try writing a poem or fold and cut the card into a fun shape. You don’t even have to limit yourself to the boundaries of a card. Write a link in the card to a YouTube playlist with videos that will make them laugh or create a Spotify playlist that they can listen to whenever they are sad or feel like dancing.
5. Lists If you are really unsure what someone wants then ask them. This may ruin the element of surprise a little, but at least you will be certain that the person you are getting a gift for appreciates what you’ve given them. If you still want to add a little mystery element to the gift giving, ask them to write down around five things that they really want. This way, they will end up getting exactly what they wanted, but are still left wondering which item on the list you have chosen to buy. ■H
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FEATURES
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
HOLIDAY chicken pot pie Annjolie Seng-Kim , Contributing Writer
A meal that my family always has over the holidays is chicken pot pie. It’s my father’s special dish that never fails to make us feel warm inside, even when it gets cold out. It is the perfect balance of crisp and gooey. I altered some of it to make it have minimal prep time for a busy college student like many of us are. I hope you enjoy it!
ingredients • • • • • • • •
2 cans cream of potato One pre-made pie crust pack (when we use premade crusts, my family prefers Pillsbury Pie Crust) 1 can of mixed vegetables 1 cup of milk A teaspoon of salt A tablespoon of sugar A pinch of black pepper 1 pound of chicken
instructions 1. Preheat the oven. You’re going to want to bake the pie at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 2. Drain the can of mixed vegetables and add them to the bowl. 3. Add 2 cans of cream of potato, milk, salt, black pepper and sugar into the bowl of vegetables. 4. Slice the chicken into thin pieces. 5. Add the chicken to the bowl and mix. 6. Line your pan with one of the layers of pie crust for the bottom layer. You will want it to reach almost to the top of the lip of the pan. Roll out the dough if you need to. 7. Fill the pan with the filling and top with the other crust. 8. Pinch the crusts together, joining the two crusts and sealing the filling inside. 9. Poke holes with a fork to allow the inside to cook more evenly. I like to poke in two different spots for more ventilation. 10. Bake in the oven for an hour or until golden brown. 11. Enjoy! ■H COURTESY OF FOODISTA VIA FLICKR
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h T t a s y a d i l o H
The Holiday Project By: Christine Tran, Senior Staff Writer “Okay children listen up,” said Mrs. Holiday, “As you may know, Mr. Time just finished establishing his new system called ‘time.’ According to him, we have these things called ‘years’ and each year there are 12 of these things called ‘months.’”
When he opened it, there were messages from his classmates complimenting him about his art and how they would like to get to know him better. Christopher swore he saw the beginning of a smile form on Mason’s face.
She began to pass around paper and crayons. “Now your next project is to make up your own very special day where you celebrate something. They will be known as a holiday.”
The day after, Mason found a new box of his favorite brand of color pencils sitting on his desk with a bow on top. Mason didn’t realize anyone noticed he lost his old set last week.
“What are we celebrating?” questioned Hanna.
Then there was a container of freshly baked cookies on his desk the following day. Mason tried a cookie and felt a warmth that he hadn’t felt in a while. He smiled to himself and noticed Christopher grinning proudly. Mason gestured for Christopher to have some and Christopher happily took one.
Mrs. Holiday smiled, “Well, that’s for you to decide. I’m going to pair everyone up and together you can make a holiday about anything you want. Clementine, you’re with Val and Christopher, you’re with Mason … ” Christopher felt his stomach flip, Mason made him a bit nervous. He always kept to himself and never seemed to want to talk to anyone. Christopher slowly slid into the seat next to Mason. Mason glanced up briefly but returned to doodling on his paper. “Hey Mason! So what do you think our holiday should be about? I’m thinking that we could have like a tree and people would put decorations all over it. Oh and cookies! We definitely need to include cookies somehow,” Christopher rambled. “Leave me alone.” Mason got up and moved to a different desk to continue his doodling. Christopher felt himself deflate. He spent the rest of the class working by himself surrounded by the laughter of his classmates. When the bell finally rang, Christopher was relieved that he could finally go home, but something was bothering him. As the students filed out, Christopher lingered behind until it was just him and Mrs. Holiday left. “Mrs. Holiday, Mason doesn’t want to work on this project with me! He doesn’t even want to sit next to me. He hates me!” he blurted out. Mrs. Holiday simply placed her hand gently on Christopher’s shoulder, “Christopher, do you want to know why I pair you with him? Because you’re one of the most understanding and kindest children in this classroom. And Mason hasn’t been shown a lot of that in his life so far. I know right now he’s a tough nut to crack, but I believe you can do it.” Christopher left the classroom, forlorn that Mrs. Holiday wouldn’t just assign him a new partner. As he walked into the parking lot, he noticed that all his classmates had been picked up but one: Mason. Christopher’s mom waved to him and he started to jog toward her. As he passed Mason he paused, “Are your parents coming to pick you up? I can give you a ride home.” Mason didn’t look up as he replied, “They’re always late. It’s fine.” It didn’t sound like it seemed fine to Christopher, but he wasn’t sure if he should pry any further. As he walked away, he began to understand what Mrs. Holiday was talking about earlier. An idea was starting to form in Christopher’s head and he couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come. The next day when Mason arrived to school, there was a note sitting on his desk.
On the day their holiday project was due, Mason found a new sketchbook sitting on his desk. Mason audibly gasped, he never had one of his own before. His parents always refused to buy him one in the past. “I noticed that you’re always drawing on the papers Mrs. Holiday gives us, so I thought maybe you could use a place to keep all your drawings together,” Christopher said while sliding into the seat next to Mason. Mason looked at him, shocked. Christopher was the one doing all this for him while he had barely said one word to him this entire project. Mason felt guilty, but then determined to make it up to Christopher. He flipped open his sketchbook and began drawing. “What kind of tree is it?” asked Mason. Christopher looked at him confused. “The tree you said people would decorate, what would it look like? I can draw it.” Christopher sat up straighter, “Oh! Well what do you think it should look like?” Mason quickly sketched something and held it up for Christopher to see. Christopher nodded his head enthusiastically and began to list off the different types of decorations that people could put on it, with Mason drawing each item. Mason also chimed in by saying people could put presents under the tree and from there their holiday slowly but steadily came together. At the end of the day Mrs. Holiday dedicated time for everyone to talk about the holidays they created. Clementine waved around her hand wildly, “Val and me made our holiday about showing love for the people we care about. We’re calling it Valentine’s day!” Hanna shouted out, “Kayla and I are calling our holiday Hanukkah!” The classroom erupted with everyone eager to share more about their holidays. Mrs. Holiday turned to Mason and Christopher who were sitting quietly, still focused on adding details to their drawing. “Christopher, Mason,” called out Mrs. Holiday, “What is your holiday about?” “Our holiday is about showing kindness to others,” said Christopher, “But uh — we haven’t decided on a nam — ” “Christmas,” Mason spoke up, “The name of our holiday is Christmas.” Mason and Christopher grinned at each other before revealing Mason’s beautiful picture depicting the two boys hanging out around a decorated tree. ■H
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
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he Highla nder
A Pig's Christmas By: Sabrina Hunter, Contributing Writer Music twinkled through the air, snow sprinkling down onto the softly lit town. The Christmas spirit was heavy in the air. Noel trotted through the snow happily, passing by the elves’ workshop and the reindeers’ stable. Noel was the only pig in the North Pole, picked up by Santa on Christmas Eve just a year ago. Noel was happy at the North Pole and soon he became immersed in the spirit of Christmas. He was a little cold, but he stayed toasty with a custom-made hat and scarf from Mrs. Claus. However, after spending a year there, Noel wanted more than to just live at the North Pole, he wanted to be a part of the holiday. Noel trotted up to Santa’s cottage. Santa opened the door before Noel made it up to the door and said, “Noel! How’s the best pig in the North Pole doing?” Noel explained how grateful he was to be at the North Pole, but how there was a part of him missing when he was here. Everyone else had their place and he felt he wanted to help. Santa pondered, “Well if my magic can make the reindeer fly, then surely it can make a pig fly too!” Noel chortled with glee! He was going to be the pig that flew with the reindeer! He went to the stable to begin practicing. The reindeer welcomed him, but then the practice begun. They started out with a run. Of course, every reindeer had a pace that was 10 times faster than his own. Even Rudolph, the smallest reindeer of all, would outrun him. Then they put a harness on him and let him try to fly. He could not fly as high as the other reindeer, but Comet convinced him that he would just need to keep practicing. After one final test run with the sleigh, it was clear Noel was not suited to be part of that team. He was moved to the bakery with some elves, but since he did not have thumbs, the only job for him was to roll out cookie dough. He used a rolling pin, and for a minute, he thought he had a place in the North Pole — until the head baker told him that they had more than one batch of gingerbread men with hoof prints in them from Noel’s feet, and that they had to throw out too much dough because of him. In the end, it was unsanitary and not productive to have a pig in the kitchen. Noel sat sadly on the steps in front of the bakery, afraid he wouldn’t ever have a place here. Santa came to the bakery and asked, “Noel, why are you so sad? Did the bakery not go well? I thought you were doing well in there?” “Well, apparently the kitchen is no place for a pig … Maybe the North Pole is no place for a pig.”
Santa was worried, but told Noel to try out one more place … the workshop. Maybe he couldn’t make the toys, but there was something he could do. Noel showed up to the workshop the next day and took his job in the assembly line. There were several things to do in the workshop as it was a very meticulous place filled with gift wrappers, toy makers and toy decorators. However, there was no middle man, or middle pig, apparently. All the elves had to do constant back and forth between stations. This is where Noel came in to play. He had to take these really big baskets from station to station with toys or paint, whatever supplies the elves may need. Noel struggled to keep the pace that they needed, but after only a few days, Noel was one of the many unspoken heroes of Christmas. The one and only Christmas pig in the North Pole. ■H
Earthly Restorations By: Alexandria Esteban, Contributing Writer i’ve never seen snow fall but i imagine it doesn’t descend gracefully o i a s r n t r a i g h t
line.
the wind would not allow it. the wind coaxes screams urges the flakes to take the sky less taken by; assigning each a role that leads them to a happy an unhappy an ending.
North Pole
so, then, even when the sun shines out again, the wind will not weep over the lost souls on the drying wet ground it need only sigh and sigh ■H and sigh
Radar
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3 , 2019
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Scorsese delivers on ‘THE yet another crime classic with
IRISHMAN’
BY: COLIN CARNEY, SENIOR STAFF WRITER When film fans talk about the best filmmakers of all time, one name is sure to make everyone’s list: Martin Scorsese. Most known for his iconic crime films, it’s been over 10 years since his last gangster movie, 2006’s “The Departed.” Now, Scorsese has finally returned to the genre that has become synonymous with his name with Netflix’s “The Irishman.” The film features a who’s who of mob movie icons, such as Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino. More importantly, “The Irishman” marks the first time the trio has worked together on a film with Martin Scorsese. “The Irishman” is based on the 2004 narrative titled “I Heard You Paint Houses” as it follows the life of mafia hitman Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), the titular Irishman. Told in retrospect, the film accounts Sheeren’s career as he starts as a hitman for the Pennsylvania mob and moves on to be a bodyguard and confidant of the infamous Teamsters president, Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). Along the way, the film shows Frank as he juggles his responsibilities to the mob and to Hoffa as the two sides slowly become more strained over the years; the film culminates in a possible explanation to the real life mystery of what happened to Jimmy Hoffa. The greatest draw for this film is undoubtedly the cast of Hollywood legends. The film marks the first time De Niro, Pesci and Pacino have worked together on a film. Each of these three deliver exceptional performances as they convincingly embody the roles they took. De Niro shines as the film’s primary focus and narrator, Frank Sheeran. We witness
his career as a mafia hitman and as he forms strong bonds with mob boss Russel Bufalino (Pesci) and Jimmy Hoffa. De Niro beautifully conveys Frank’s inner conflict as he becomes increasingly torn between his responsibilities and friendships with Hoffa and Bufalino as the two become increasingly at odds. Furthermore, we see how big a toll Frank’s career has taken on his family life as De Niro perfectly portrays his anguish in a few moving scenes toward the end of the film. Joining De Niro as Pennsylvania crime boss Russel Bufalino is none other than Pesci. Despite De Niro being the clear lead, the first half of the film belongs to Pesci as he steals every scene he is in. His performance is so different from anything we’ve previously seen him in. He still plays a gangster, but typically he plays a murderous sociopath such as in films like “Goodfellas” and “Casino.” This time around, Pesci plays a much more subdued gangster who instead runs things from the top rather than getting his own hands dirty. He expertly convey’s Bufalino’s intelligence and beautifully plays off De Niro in the scenes they share. If Pesci dominated the first half, the second half belongs to Hoffa. Pacino is electric as Hoffa; he remarkably captures both his quiet intimate moments as well as the loud and explosive episodes both Pacino and Hoffa have become known for. When he’s on screen with De Niro or other mafiosos, Pacino controls the room as he captures Hoffa’s natural charisma. Like Pesci, he works great off his screen partners and delivers on a stand out performance in the film.
The core trio carry the film but are by no means alone in their exceptional performances. Some of the film’s supporting cast standouts include Ray Romano, who plays Bill Bufalino, Russel’s cousin and acts as an attorney for Frank and other key players in the mob and the union. The scenes he’s in, though few, are memorable and offer a few moments of humor, as would be expected from a comedy star like him. Another comedian that joined the film’s cast is Sebastian Maniscalco, who plays the hot headed mobster “Crazy” Joe Gallo. In fact, Maniscalco’s character is reminiscent of past Pesci characters as he comes across as a gangster that could go from calm and collected to crazy and murderous at the drop of a hat. He stands out in the scenes he’s given and helps flesh out the world of organized crime shown in “The Irishman.” The last supporting cast member worth drawing extra attention to is Stephen Graham as Anthony “Tony Pro” Provenzano. As a high ranking member of the Teamsters, as well as a mobster, Provenzano shared several great scenes alongside Pacino’s Hoffa, often as rivals. The shouting matches and stare downs that came about when these two shared the screen were a thrill to watch and Graham’s performance managed to hold its own opposite a legend like Pacino. Though only a few of the supporting cast are mentioned above, it is worth reiterating that every cast member is spectacular even if they appear in only one scene. When it comes to the film’s story, Scorsese and writer Steven Zaillian hit it out of the park. The film remarkably juggles the different eras of Frank
Sheeran’s life, spanning from the 1950s all the way to his death in 2003. Adopting a narrative style, common among Scorsese crime films, Frank recounts his life from a wheelchair in a retirement home. From there Scorsese beautifully juggles the different eras and makes their transitions seamless. This is further aided by the main technical draw of the film: its use of deaging technology. The main trio each plays themselves both young and old, utilizing CGI that can make them appear as they did in their 20s, 40s, 60s and so on. Only once did the effect seem jarring while De Niro was de-aged to his 20s, but that was short lived and otherwise never looked out of place for the rest of the film. Only in a few physical scenes, however, was it clear that these 40-year-old characters were played by men in their 70s. For instance, one scene had De Niro beating a guy on the street corner, and he moved like a man in his 70s, not his 40s. That said, the effects aided the storytelling, as it wasn’t necessary to switch actors between each decade, creating a nice sense of continuity between each era. “The Irishman” proves that Scorsese hasn’t lost his storytelling abilities as he delivers on an instant classic. Expert performances from its core cast as well as a remarkable supporting characters make for a welcome addition to the genre. The story is compelling and despite the daunting three and a half hour runtime, the film never becomes boring as the cast and story keeps the film engaging. Despite occasional drops in quality, the visual deaging of the core cast is remarkable as each actor truly looks younger. ■H
VERDICT: Scorsese crafts another crime classic with his latest film “The Irishman.” Phenomenal performances from both its main stars and extensive supporting cast make for a worthwhile viewing experience as they transport audiences back to the world of organized crime.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
Hideo Kojima’s cinematic vision: ‘Death Stranding’ tells a complex story of a fractured world By: Adam Alvernaz, Senior Staff Writer
After three years of much speculation and debate, gaming icon Hideo Kojima has finally delivered his newest title, “Death Stranding.” Kojima’s focus on cinema and theater in “Death Stranding” is utilized to great effect to change the landscape of what games can achieve. Despite being released to much fan praise, it was also met with some criticism by reviewers as its gameplay has been called repetitive and boring. While critics have dismissed “Death Stranding” as just another art project, it is so much more than that; playing through the 30-hour experience was unlike any other game I’ve played. The main attraction to all Hideo Kojima games is, of course, the gripping story — and “Death Stranding” is no exception. After the cataclysmic event known as the Death Stranding, the world of the living and the dead became connected. Invisible creatures known as Beached Things (BT’s), have wandered into the living world and consume people, causing massive explosions of antimatter known as Voidouts. Thanks to Bridge Baby (BB) technology that can detect BT’s, some safe overworld travel is possible. Thus, the overworld is dangerous, so only porters traverse the desolate expanse to deliver precious cargo and data. As Sam Bridges (Norman Reedus), a legendary expert porter, the player must traverse the broken lonely wasteland. Sent by President Bridget Strand (Lindsay Wagner), he must make his way to the west coast to connect the United Cities of America (UCA). Accompanied by many other characters, Sam is certainly not without help in the decaying world. Characters like Deadman (Guerillmo Del Toro), Mama (Margaret Qualley) and Fragile (Lea Seydoux) are such great side characters
that help build the world along the way. Each character brings a new edge of depth to the story and reveal interesting tidbits about the almost extinct human race. Sam is opposed by terrorist leader Higgs Monaghan (Troy Baker) who threatens to take control of BT’s and cause a human extinction. More interestingly, however, is veteran Cliff Unger (Mads Mikkleson), who appears to Sam in visions and hunts him and his BB unit. “Death Stranding”’s core gameplay involves the work of a postman, having the player bustle around the map delivering one thing after the next. Yet with the right tools and creativity, clever players will create new paths to be faster, better and more efficient in their delivery boy duties. The game allows Sam to change the landscape at his pleasing, providing him with ladders, ropes, bridges, generators, watchtowers, shelters and more. Most importantly is the Social Strand System, a term coined by Kojima Productions to describe the core gameplay. “Death Stranding”’s fixation on connectivity and an asynchronous multiplayer world is key. Players can contribute and utilize the efforts of every other porter across the world, thus giving access to each of those players’ structures, vehicles, resources and even lost cargo. When coming across other people’s structures, players can give likes to that specific player to show their thanks. Likes are also received by making structures of your own, leaving signs, providing resources to roads or even delivering lost cargo. This emphasis on connectivity invites players to be kind to others and pay their generosity forward, whether it be through likes or resources. This type of gameplay makes traversing the
wasteland of America comforting as you journey alongside every other player. The gameplay can be dull, yes, but it’s the world around the game that makes the experience well worth it. The game will only feel monotonous if players do nothing to change the world around them. This freedom highlights the enjoyment players will experience. Goodwilled porters will receive the best experience as they put in the time to assist others and change the world for the better. The quest for more likes, gear and vanity options becomes addictive and strangely therapeutic. The map is gigantic and its scale can be overwhelming at times. A wide variety of terrain challenges and weather impairments present themselves as Sam travels onward to complete his next delivery. As you gather more resources, build trucks and roads, the game opens up and allows for players to fully explore the open world map. Even after completing the game, I was still wanting to check on the UCA and deliver any outstanding orders. I definitely understand how many will be turned off to the gameplay, but the story is what ultimately kept me coming back to the desolate world. Each actor depicts their character quite well, especially in cutscenes where the full scope of their performance is portrayed. Norman Reedus is great as the hesitant but willing protagonist. Reedus lends his charisma to Sam in every scene he’s in and he adds some funny quips to break up the monotony of travel. Mads Mikkleson especially does a stellar job at portraying Cliff as his character undergoes serious development toward the end of the game. Tommie Earl Jones gives a powerful and heart wrenching performance as the mysterious Die-Hardman who leads Sam
onwards. Troy Baker’s performance was one of the best, as he portrays the maniacal terrorist Higgs to great effect. You truly believe that Baker is actually crazy during his deep soliloquies. The use of motion tracking and real time face tracking highlighted each actor’s performance to the next level. Emotions, expressions and reactions are all very realistic and cinematic due to the production of the game’s cutscenes and film aspects. The soundtrack of the game is impressive and evokes a somber feeling as players feel the loneliness of a fragmented UCA. The indie alternative rock music provided by Icelandic group, Low Roar, is a great fit for the game’s overall tones and themes. As a music buff, Hideo Kojima is no stranger to including licensed music in his titles, and for “Death Stranding” he definitely made the right pairing. Each track utilized speaks to one or more of the games motifs, and it shows in those formative moments. When progressing in the game, various tracks are played over the game that evoke a special emotion in players as they traverse through the barren, lonely wasteland of America. Notably, tracks like St. Eriksplan and Bones are such powerful and gripping musical pieces that are utilized perfectly to set the tone of the scenes they are placed in. “Death Stranding” is a different kind of game that tells a story worthy of your time. It’s a creative and intuitive project that offers players a vivid experience that can feel foreign at times. While the gameplay can feel tedious, it only gets better as players trudge onward. Overall, the game left me thinking about its world and various themes long after I had finished it. That’s more than can be said about the forgettable triple A games that get released every year. ■H
Stranding” finally shows us Hideo Kojima’s vision for a project that blends cinema and gaming. It VERDICT: “Death is a cinematic sci-fi experience that will challenge the
preconceived notion of what video games are capable of.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
17
RADAR
REPLAY Radar Replay allows the Radar writers to celebrate a certain piece of media for its impactfulness or importance. It’s here where we get the chance to discuss the significance of our favorite pop culture pieces and the value they carry today.
‘HAROLD AND MAUDE’: BREAKING AGEISM IN ROMANCE
ALEXANDRIA ESTEBAN Contributing Writer
The 70s classic film, “Harold and Maude,” explored a romantic relationship between an 18-year-old man, Harold, and a 79-year-old woman, Maude. Since its release, film critics have had varying responses to this film. Some praise the film for its fresh perspective on what love really means. Others remain offended by the movie’s blatant display of a taboo relationship. This film should be revisited for its take on what love is and for how it shows that, in spite of differences, each generation is able to learn from the other. Over the past couple of years, the advances made by the LGBT movement have paved the way toward accepting love outside of the heteronormative expectations. Yet, ageism has still brought on criticism between couples with a large age gap. Women in particular, are especially scorned in these types of relationships. Young women are called gold diggers if they start a relationship with an older man. Older women are marked as cougars whenever they are seen dating a much younger man. “Harold and Maude” challenges these ideas by showing that age doesn’t have to matter in a relationship. Society shouldn’t be allowed to judge what types of love makes a person happy. If the people in a relationship are content like Harold and Maude were, then they should be allowed to be in love without society’s disapproval. Secondly, there has been a growing division between generations with the “OK boomer” meme being one example of the older generation’s opinion being dismissed. True, times have changed and some of the ideas that the older generation carries are hurtful and outdated. This does not mean, however, that the older generation should be dismissed entirely. “Harold and Maude” shows that it is possible for two people from different generations to get along. Both of the title characters carried different views on life, but they didn’t let those differences divide them. Harold grew up in a wealthy family, but this didn’t stop him from developing an unhealthy obsession with death. This fascination led him to create various dramatic
performances of him committing suicide. Maude, though older and more experienced, never made Harold feel like his struggles were invalid or compared them to her own. She listened and showed him all that life was worth living for. In return, he accompanied her on her mission to prove that old age can’t stop a person from living each day to the fullest. “Harold and Maude” is a film that continues to challenge what love means. It shows H the positive results that come from closing the barrier between different generations. ■
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‘THE BELIEVER’ TEACHES US THAT WE CAN DEFEAT OUR ENEMIES THROUGH LOVE ROBERT GOLD Contributing Writer
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Ryan Gosling stars in 2001’s “The Believer” as Daniel Balint who, after rebelling against his ultraconservative Jewish upbringing, becomes a neo-Nazi in contemporary New York City. The character is based on the 1960s real-life member of the American Nazi Party Dan Burros. Balint joins a fascist movement and quickly rises through the ranks as his skills as an orator and his natural charisma became immediately apparent. Brilliant but beset by self-hatred and self-loathing, Balint has flashbacks to his early childhood that show him in Yeshiva school, arguing to his fellow middle school classmates that God is a bully who only asked Abraham to kill his son because he’s a jealous king obsessed with having total authoritarian control over his subjects. Burros’ militant atheism leads him down a path of fascism and Nazism. Burros, motivated by hatred towards his own Jewish heritage, shot himself in 1965 when a New York Times reporter wrote an article about his Jewish background. The reporter had intended the article to be a way out for Dan Burros, as public statements made in the past to the press had indicated how trapped Burros felt in the racist movement. The film asks a hard question: are all people deserving of a path back to redemption? Dan Burros struggles as he attempts to find his way back to Judaism. Caught in the crosshairs of his
two conflicting ideologies he performs “sieg heils” while reciting Hebrew prayers. He and his skinhead followers vandalize a synagogue, but he stops them from destroying a Torah scroll and a Tallit Katan explaining to them that it would be disrespectful to Judaism to do so; instead, he decides to take both home with him. As he continues to attend his fascist meetings, he wears the Tallit Katan underneath his clothing. He reconnects with old friends from Yeshiva, who all know about his Nazism, and they question him as to whether he would really want to kill his own people. This film, despite its controversial premise, is not an advocation that we should forgive or forget the racist things people say or do. Rather, it is a lesson that all people should keep an open dialogue even when the other side says something or does something that offends us to our very core. All people have the ability to change and evolve, to be better than the day they were before. The day that we stop believing that is the day we fully give ourselves over to violence as the only methodology. It is easy to say that forgiveness is a philosophy based on moral grounds but it’s also important to consider the strategic value of forgiveness. Turning the other cheek can be a valuable asset to defeating your enemies. In one of the final scenes of the film Ryan Gosling, having reimmersed himself into Judaism, makes a speech to a room full of wealthy fascist donors, explaining to them that the only true way to defeat one’s enemies is to love them and integrate them into society. Only when you H love your enemy have you truly defeated them. ■
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts
KUCR Presents
OFF
Record the
‘Thanks For the Dance’: a tribute to Leonard Cohen
JOSHUA MORENO Contributing Writer
The date was Oct. 21, 2016, when Leonard Cohen released his latest album “You Want it Darker.” The subject matter of the album dealt with various themes of death, peace and love as if at the age of 82, Cohen knew his mortality was nearing its end. Throughout his career as a songwriter and poet, Cohen opened doors to life’s tackles: war, depression, drug use, sexual tension, love and religion in ways that listening becomes a sort of catharsis rather than torment. “You Want it Darker” shines as a phenomenal album is in its ability to return the catharsis to its songwriter. This album is Cohen’s career tied into a beautiful bow; it provides peace to the man who would soon die on Nov. 7, 2016. It was a death that shook the world as one of Canada’s cherished sons died in his home in Los Angeles, survived by his two children and three grandchildren. Three years later, on Sept. 20, 2019, a new song “The Goal” was released with the news that a posthumous album titled “Thanks for the Dance” was in the works. The project was spearheaded by Cohen’s son, Adam Cohen, who stated the album would be comprised of songs written during the “You Want it Darker” sessions. Adam would have conversations with his father about how the instrumentation should go, but understandably, Adam would have to finish the ideas alone with the help of musicians he brought together. There was Javier Mas on Laud, Daniel Lanois on guitar and piano, Beck on guitar and Jew’s harp as well as Avi Avital on mandolin. Jennifer Warnes, Damien Rice, Leslie Feist and Silvia Perez Cruz would provide backup vocals, with Cohen singing lead. Upon first hearing the news of this album, there was a deep concern in me as “You Want it Darker” was a perfect goodbye to one of my favorite artists. Time had passed and Cohen’s legacy was solidified, so what more could be added? Yet, I knew I shouldn’t allow my fears to overcome me, especially since Cohen’s son was leading the project. Needless to say, Adam should be proud to have finished his father’s work, since this album is great. Rather than a cohesive album from
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Cohen, “Thanks for the Dance” feels more like a tribute, as these musicians used pre-recorded vocals to piece together what the album might have sounded had Cohen been alive to compose it. The tracks are mixed in that some have Cohen singing in his trademark gruff voice while others are completely spoken word. The tracks with singing provide the musicians with a melodic direction to follow while the spoken word tracks like “The Goal” have the musicians adding layers of music that follow the tone of the lyrics. The poems and lyrics from Cohen are never in question of quality as his words still strike at the heart. Cohen made his career as an incredible lyricist
and hearing him again is perhaps the wonderment of this record. While “You Want it Darker” was Cohen making peace with his mortality, “Thanks for the Dance” feels like Cohen in review. “Moving On” is Cohen coming to terms with the death of his past lover. “The Night of Santiago” is about two young lovers leading their romantic exploits. “Puppets” and “The Goal” are generally about leading a preset life that holds one back from achieving their goals. The title track is Cohen thanking his followers for their lifetime of listening and figuratively “dancing” with him despite how tiring life can be. Finally, “Listen to the Hummingbird” plays as the final track on the album and no
other song could close the album more appropriately. Cohen states, “Listen to the hummingbird whose wings you cannot see/ Listen to the hummingbird, don’t listen to me.” Where “You Want it Darker” is Cohen at peace with his mortality, this closing to the album beckons the listener to enjoy theirs. Verdict: Hearing Leonard Cohen sing and recite again reignited a splendor in my heart. Amazing musicians that pour their talents into making a faithful recreation of Cohen’s iconic sound and amazing lyricism make “Thanks for the Dance” a winner. Despite my initial reservations, I am beyond happy to have had this last dance with Leonard Cohen. ■H
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
SPORTS
19
Women’s basketball drops Third straight game against University of Arizona and Colorado State JORDAN HOM Senior Staff Writer
On Friday, Nov. 29, the Highlanders traveled to Arizona (7-0) to battle against the University of Arizona where they lost by a substantial margin. The final score was 70-27, in favor of the Arizona Wildcats. The Wildcat defense put the clamps on the Highlanders offense and made it tough for them to score. Arizona forced UC Riverside to commit turnover after turnover, leading to a season-high 29 in total. The Wildcats on the other hand only turned the ball over 12 times. Although UCR struggled offensively, shooting only 21% from the field, the Highlanders held the slight advantage on the boards as they outrebounded the Wildcats 34-31. Despite the rebounding edge, Arizona more than doubled UCR’s second chance points. The Wildcats finished the game with 19 points off of second opportunities while UCR finished with just seven. Arizona’s bench provided a spark, totaling 39 points while UCR’s only scored two. The leading scorer for the Highlanders was junior guard Jannon Otto, who finished with nine points and seven rebounds. For Arizona, junior guard Aari McDonald scored 14 points while freshman guard Mara Mote added 12 points and two steals. Arizona displayed a more balanced attack with six players scoring more than five points. UC Riverside battled against Colorado State (4-3) on Sunday, Dec. 1. The Highlanders kept the game close most of the way but Colorado prevailed in the end to win 52-40. Once again, UCR held the advantage on the boards as they out rebounded the Rams 45 to 44. While the Highlanders had the edge in defensive rebounds, the Rams grabbed more offensive rebounds.
LEO YUE /HIGHLANDER
Both teams struggled to shoot the basketball all game long as the Highlanders converted on only 24% of their shots compared to the Rams, who shot 28% from the field. This was especially evident when the two teams combined to score only eight points total in the second quarter with Colorado scoring five and UCR scoring only three points. Colorado had the upper hand over UCR with threepointers and free-throws made. The Rams converted seven three-pointers on 25% shooting compared to the Highlanders who made six on 22%. In addition, Colorado had 14 free-throw attempts and made nine, three of which were converted by sophomore guard
Tori Williams. Marina Ewodo, a senior forward from France, was the leading scorer for the Highlanders with 13 points. Ewodo also added seven rebounds to the box score. Otto contributed nine points, nine rebounds and five assists. Colorado redshirt junior forward Jamie Bonnarens scored 15 points and added three rebounds. Junior guard Megan Jacobs and graduate student forward Makenzie Ellis each scored nine points a piece for the Rams. Up next, the Highlanders will battle against Riverside rival Cal Baptist University (7-3) on Thursday, Dec. 5. ■H
Highlander Hot Take:
Russell Wilson will edge Lamar Jackson in the NFL MVP race
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DAMIAN GARCIA Contributing Writer
With 13 weeks in the books, the 2019 NFL season’s MVP race is beginning to trim down its weaker candidates. With a 9-2 record each, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson remain as the prime contenders. Both are neck and neck in touchdown passes, yards per game and have a similar quarterback rating (QBR) to name a few. Consistency will be the deciding factor in the race, and it is something that Wilson has proven
pass after pass. The Seahawks’ strong season and sustained consistency are the main reasons why Wilson will win the trophy at the end of the regular season. As the centerpieces of their respective offenses, both quarterbacks have thrown 24 touchdown passes. However, Russell Wilson has thrown two fewer interceptions compared to Lamar Jackson’s five. Wilson’s mental discipline has allowed him to commit fewer turnovers in games that have come down to the wire. He has been Seattle Head Coach Pete Carroll’s solution to five of their nine winning
games where the Seahawks won by a possession or less. In each of those five games, Wilson had a game-winning drive. His most notable game-winning drive came against their conference rivals, the San Francisco 49ers. Wilson earned his 28th career game-winning drive in overtime against one of the league’s best defenses. The highlight of the match came when Wilson made an 18-yard run on third-and-3 that allowed the Seahawks to set up a game-winning field goal. With his stellar performance, Wilson posted a QBR of 71.8, the highest of any quarterback against the 49ers this season thus far. It should then come as no surprise that Wilson has three completions with a success probability below 15%. This comes courtesy of the NFL’s NextGen Stats, which accounts for on field factors such as the football’s time in flight, parabola planes and distance of the receiver to the defender amongst other measurements. The rest of the entire league’s quarterbacks have four throws in that range of success. Four throws combined to Wilson’s own three. Once again, the near-impossible throws come in games where Pete Carroll places the weight of the game on his quarterback. Wilson has shown no sign of crumbling under pressure this season. Wilson’s fewer interceptions should not be confused with reluctance to risk and throw the ball. Wilson averages 267 yards per game and has accumulated over 500 more yards than Jackson. This is especially impressive considering the fact
that Seattle’s defense is still recovering from questionable releases and signings. The “Legion of Boom” that carried the Seahawks to the 2014 Super Bowl has now become the “Legion of Doom.” His offensive line has allowed a total of 33 sacks. Wilson has been able to consistently post impressive numbers with a mediocre offensive line. On the contrary, Lamar Jackson enjoys a bit more freedom and time as his offensive line has only allowed 20 sacks. 10 of the Baltimore Ravens wins have been by multiple possessions. Though Lamar Jackson played an important role in their wins, these wins are indicative of the caliber of the Ravens defensive roster. Through multiple offseason signings of immense quality, the Ravens secondary has come up big on forcing interceptions and recovering fumbles that lead to a greater score. This is a luxurious cushion that Russel Wilson has not had recently with the Seahawks. Prior to the start of the 2019 season, Wilson signed a four-year $140 million extension that will keep him in Seattle through the 2023 season. With this huge extension by the Seahawks management, Wilson became the highest paid player in the league. It is safe to say their investment is paying off greatly and the team is likely to make a deep playoff run come the end of the regular season. To some, Wilson’s consistency throughout his career has become the standard, yet his production is largely ignored for that very same reason. It is time that his impressive play gets recognized. ■H
SPORTS 20 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports
Men’s basketball earns fourth straight win CALLIE LAWSON-FREEMAN Contributing Writer
The UC Riverside men’s basketball team (5-2) earned their third straight win after beating Longwood University (4-3) on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the SRC Arena. The final score was 71-58, with the Highlanders coming out on top. The standout game saw four Highlanders record double figures in scoring. The Highlanders started the game hot, scoring 19 straight points within the first five minutes of action. Standing at fifth place in opponent points per game in the NCAA, the Highlanders did not shy away from showcasing their nationally ranked defense and kept Longwood scoreless for the first eight minutes of the game. In their unanswered run, Riverside converted on 8-of-12 field goal attempts and held Longwood to missing all 11 of their attempts to score. The Lancers fought hard in the last 12 minutes of the half, making four three-point shots to cut the lead and go into the second half trailing 31-25. ”I thought we started the game aggressive, and I also knew we weren’t going to keep them scoreless. They’re well coached, they shoot a lot of threes, and that’s what got them in the game,” Head Coach David Patrick said in an interview with The Highlander. Momentum carried into the second half for the Lancers as they started the period strong and took their first lead of
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the game with 12 minutes remaining. The game slowed with both teams’ defenses working hard, until the last six minutes when the Highlanders caught fire for the win after a massive dunk from junior guard George Wilborn III electrified the game. The game winning run was highlighted by sophomore guard Dragan Elkaz’s three point barrage, in which he hit three straight three-pointers as UC Riverside closed the game on a 28-16 scoring run. “In the second half, we were missing shots we were supposed to make and that’s kind of what put the game in a lull
there,” Coach Patrick said. He continued, “Hats off to them for their fight, they’re a good team that made it to the postseason last year. The good thing is we were able to fight back.” Elkaz led the game in scoring with 15 points, followed by junior guard Dominick Pickett who finished with 14. Sophomore center Callum McRae and junior guard George Wilborn III also scored in double figures. McRae put up 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds while Willborn scored 12 points as well as recording an impressive 12 rebounds. The Highlander’s winning mentality
carried into Friday, Nov. 29 when they hosted Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (2-6) at the SRC Arena. They protected their undefeated home record, beating Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 69-51 and improving their overall record to 6-2. The game was led by graduate student guard Khyber Kabellis, who contributed 11 points, five rebounds and six assists to the box score. Next, The Highlanders will take the show on the road and face Cal Baptist (34) in the Crosstown Showdown at CBU on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. ■H
WEDNESDAY
UPCOMING GAMES
4
MEN’S BASKETBALL @ Cal Baptist University 7:00 P.M.
F R I D AY
vs Cal Baptist University @ SRC ARENA, 7:00 P.M.
6
MEN’S Basketball
15
SUNDAY
@ Washington State 1:30 P.M.
M O N D AY
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vs Cal Lutheran @ SRC ARENA, 7:00 P.M.
MEN’S Basketball
16
5
T H U R S D AY
WOMEN’S Basketball
woMen’s Basketball @ #1 Oregon 11:00 A.M.
STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Callum McRae Sophomore Center New Zealand 18 points and 9 rebounds vs. Denver 13 points and 9 rebounds vs. Longwood