Issuu

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

VOL. 68, ISSUE 19

For the week of Tuesday, February 25, 2020

est. 1954

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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

HUMANS OF UCR

UPCOMING EVENTS: WEEK 8

KYLIE FRENCH | POLITICAL SCIENCE | SECOND-YEAR COMPILED BY JOSHUA WANG

Bee Your Own Boo 11:00am to 12:00pm HUB 355

GCAP Free Boba & Reusable Straws 1:00pm to 3:00pm Outside the Bear’s Den

Current Topics in Dance Research 6:30pm to 8:00pm ARTS 166

Feminist Friday: Black Feminism 101 12:00pm to 1:00pm Costo Hall 145

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

“When I was 12, I was diagnosed with Epilepsy and began to spend my time in and out of the hospital, once even taking me out of school for a period of time. It was at the hospital that I saw kids who had spent their entire lives like this, and it opened my eyes to how vastly different the disease is

CHASS Transfers F1RST: Professional Women’s Basketball vs CSUF Networking Workshop 5:00pm to 7:00pm 9:00am to 10:00am Student Recreation Center (SRC), Arena CHASS Interdisciplinary South, 1109

QTPOC Conference HUB

LinkedIn Lunch ‘N’ Learn 12:30pm to 1:30pm Career Center, Meeting rooms A & B

UCR Theatre Auditions: At The Pass, a new play by Stu Krieger 5:00pm to 9:00pm ARTS 113

Women’s Rugby 11:00am Student Recreation Center (SRC)

Faculty Speaker Series: “Paving Your Own Career Path” 3:00pm to 4:00pm HUB 260

Undocu Circle 12:00pm to 1:30pm HUB 269

Friday

for each person. My goal now is to educate others on what Epilepsy actually is, and how its severity is much different than what you see on TV — it’s not always a full convulsing seizure, but it’s not a walk in the park either. “

Saturday

Sunday

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Monday

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News 4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

ASUCR

GSOE senator publicly resigns at ASUCR meeting

Parliamentarian announces he was put on a two week leave by executive vice president

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Feb. 19, ASUCR held their seventh meeting of the quarter. At the previous week’s meeting on Feb.12, the senate did not meet quorum so all legislation, meeting minutes and allocations that were supposed to be voted on the week prior were on this week’s agenda. During Public Forum, GSOE Senator Evelin Castaneda approached the podium to make a statement. Castaneda began by stating, “I would like to begin by saying it has been a pleasure to be elected by the student body to be their representative.” She stated that she saw many things that she did not like in ASUCR. “I am tired of being part of a team that is so unprofessional and uses their elected positions to serve themselves only,” stated Castaneda.

were elected as officials to serve the student body, to help them by passing bills and voicing their concerns. But instead, you use your positions to help yourselves. Whether it be increasing your own salary, getting clout or using funds in ways that only benefit certain people. You are all selfish and fake.” After making those claims, Castaneda announced that she will be resigning as GSOE senator. Castaneda’s resignation marks the sixth resignation from ASUCR this year. She stated, “I tried really hard to stay in this position because I want to be a voice for the student body, but I simply cannot because you all silence student concerns for your own benefit.” Castaneda added that the closed session meeting called by Executive Vice President (EVP) Abigail Cortes on Feb. 5 to discuss SB-

“YOU WERE ELECTED AS OFFICIALS TO SERVE THE STUDENT BODY, TO HELP THEM BY PASSING BILLS AND VOICING THEIR CONCERNS. BUT INSTEAD, YOU USE YOUR POSITIONS TO HELP YOURSELVES. WHETHER IT BE INCREASING YOUR OWN SALARY, GETTING CLOUT OR USING FUNDS IN WAYS THAT ONLY BENEFIT CERTAIN PEOPLE. YOU ARE ALL SELFISH AND FAKE.” Castaneda claimed that she did not have any allies within ASUCR and that on many occasions, members of the senate texted her asking her to speak out against a bill because they were too afraid to do so. She claimed that members of ASUCR are “toxic” and she has been told by students that members of ASUCR pressure members of the student body to speak on their behalf. “The horseshoe should not be a place where people are afraid to voice their opinions,” said Castaneda. She added that members of ASUCR are “fake” and present one personality to the public and another during private meetings. She stated that ASUCR has made it clear that, “they do not care about students.” She claimed, “You

SR-W20-001 Divest From Companies Complicit in China’s Mass Detention, Surveillance, and Repression of the Uyghurs and in Condemnation of China was presented by Sarah Al-Khalili, a fourthyear student and president of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at UCR. This resolution would highlight that UCR conducts business with two companies, Qualcomm and Thermo Fisher Scientific, who invest in or used to invest in Uighur detention camps in China. The resolution would denounce UCR’s affiliation with these companies and call for them to cease affiliation with these companies. The resolution was passed 10-0-0. SR-W20-002 R’Web Icon Voter Initiative was presented by fourth-year public policy major Samuel Roberts. This resolution would call on ASUCR to help promote an application on R’Web that would link students to register to vote. The

W20-009 Amendments to Chapters 10, 8, 2 and 4 of the ASUCR bylaws which would increase the EVP’s stipend by $2,475 was unconstitutional. Castaneda stated that because the meeting was unconstitutional, “The EVP should be impeached but no one in the executive cabinet will tell the justices (judicial branch) because none of you care about the constitution except when it benefits you.” Castaneda also stated that during the closed session meeting, ASUCR President Julian Gonzalez acted in a rude and unprofessional manner to ASUCR Executive Director Laurie Sinclair. She stated that she “cannot believe Gonzalez still claims to be serving the student body

and the school.” She ended her statement stating, “I would like to thank the student body for electing me as their representative and I hope next year’s ASUCR is nothing like this year.” After Castaneda’s statement, ASUCR Parliamentarian Avi Idea, who was sitting in the galley with the public instead of on the horseshoe, approached the podium. Idea announced, “In lieu of recent events, EVP Cortes has decided to put me on temporary leave. If it were up to me I would be sitting up there (the horseshoe) now but it is my understanding that she thinks the difference in our methods needs some time to sit.” As Idea was in the midst of making his statement, EVP Cortes left the senate meeting and President Pro Tempore Miguel Ramirez took Cortes’ place as chair of the meeting. This marks the second week in a row that Cortes was not present for the meeting. Cortes did not provide a reason for leaving the meeting. Idea went on to state, “I am very passionate about this position and in the two weeks that I am on leave, I will be studying Robert’s Rules of Order so I am as fresh as possible when I come back.” In an interview with The Highlander, Idea stated that EVP Cortes’ reason for putting him on leave was open-ended, and “I can’t say I fully understand the rationale behind it if I’m being honest.” According to Idea, she claimed it was due to a difference in the way they wanted to run senate meetings, and that putting him on leave would give them time to review Robert’s Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure. Idea stated that he appreciates the intention behind her putting him on leave and he believes it was to ease tensions, but he disagrees that leave was altogether reasonable. “I think it’s clear we needed to decrease tensions brought on by the week 5 meeting, but I personally believe we could have just hashed out what conflicts we had and planned to communicate better so I could continue working immediately,” stated Idea. Additionally, finding a temporary parliamentarian poses its own challenge said Idea. He noted, “I saw during last

LLOYD KAO / HIGHLANDER

night’s meeting that she didn’t have an alternate in the horseshoe. They shouldn’t be conducting a senate meeting without a parliamentarian, and I felt bad because I was just sitting there in the galley, fully available to serve, but unable to per her orders.” Idea stated that he believes him and Cortes worked quite well together, and even on a personal level they got along. However, this one incident, his disagreement with Cortes’ decision to hold a closed session meeting to discuss SB-W20-009 Amendments to Chapters 10, 8, 2 and 4 of the ASUCR bylaws was severe enough to cause tension. Idea stated that the conflict was simply a disagreement about how to proceed after a rule was overlooked. He stated that she called a closed session without a vote, which he discovered was against parliamentary procedure; he confronted her and the senate in the closed session area and she refused to bring the meeting out despite knowing it was against the rule. This was their first and only conflict this year, stated Idea. Idea stated, “I want to be clear that I don’t see EVP Cortes as an enemy — but I won’t apologize for informing the public that a rule was being actively broken and speaking to my executive opinion as parliamentarian.” Idea added that, it’s not just his belief that the closed session meeting was against Robert’s Rules of Order. He stated, “It was objectively against the rules, (Robert’s Rules of Order §9, Executive Session).”

Highlights:

Sarah Al-Khalili speaks about SR-W20-001 which would call on UCR to divest from companies who invest in Uighur detention camps in China.

resolution was passed 10-0-0. SR-W20-003: PAD Resolution was presented by CHASS Senator Angelica

Garcia. This resolution was worked on with the organization Period at UCR. This resolution would work to provide more free

LLYOD KAO/ HIGHLANDER

menstrual products at UCR. The resolution passed 10-0-0. H The meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m. ■

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

Former GSOE senator speaks out on her resignation and experience in ASUCR

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Feb. 19, GSOE Senator Evelin Castaneda publicly announced that she was resigning from her position at the ASUCR meeting. In an interview with The Highlander, Castaneda further expanded on her experience in ASUCR and the reasoning behind her resignation. Castaneda’s resignation marks the sixth resignation from ASUCR this year. At the meeting, Castaneda stated that she was tired of being part of a team that is unprofessional and uses their elected positions to serve themselves. She also stated that members of ASUCR were elected as officials to serve the student body, to help them by passing bills and voicing their concerns but instead, she felt that they use their positions to help themselves whether it be by increasing their own salary, “getting clout,” or using funds in ways that only benefit certain people. Castaneda stated in an interview with The Highlander that last quarter, she was really excited to be part of a team that was passionate about advocating for student issues. She stated, “Soon after, I noticed a difference in the elected officials’ attitudes and personalities. Everytime I would communicate with them, I felt ignored. When I would ask for funds for an event or volunteers for an event, I wouldn’t hear back unless I directly messaged someone.” Castaneda stated that this quarter, she did not see ASUCR as a safe space for her anymore. “Every time I entered the office, I felt tension towards me and I felt unwelcomed. I did not want to be in a space that was pushing me out and I didn’t feel happy anymore,” stated Castaneda. One of the reasons Castaneda resigned was because she did not want to be part of a team that did not listen to her, or respect the constitution. Castaneda also elaborated on her statement she made at the ASUCR meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 19 when she called her fellow senators “fake.” She told The Highlander that when she would have conversations outside the office with senators, they seemed to agree with her in regards to legislation. However, when it came down to voting during the senate meetings, they would do the opposite, said Castaneda. Castaneda also stated at the ASUCR meeting that many senators put up a front for the public, but acted very differently behind closed doors. Castaneda told The Highlander that many senators would not voice their opinions about a bill in the senate meeting, but as soon as a discussion was closed to the public, they would become vocal about it. “This made me feel like they were scared of the students knowing their true opinions. It seemed to me that they would show different sides of themselves; one they showed to the public (concerned, hardworking) and their true selves (apathetic). They also claim to be transparent with their decisions, but then go on to make closed sessions and closed voting,” stated Castaneda. Many senators want to maintain an image to impress the executive cabinet (ECAB), stated Castaneda. She claimed that she felt like senators wanted ECAB members to see them as a friend rather than as a coworker. She said that she thinks that her fellow

GSOE senator, Evelin Castaneda, resigns from her position while describing her experience with ASUCR.

senators were afraid of how ECAB would view them if they went against something the ECAB believed in or wanted. “Because I was always vocal about my opinions from the start, many of my coworkers felt that they could have me voice their opinions instead of doing it themselves,” stated Castaneda. She believes that senators would rely on her to start uncomfortable conversations so they would then have the opportunity to speak up. She stated, “I had become known for speaking my mind, even if I went against my colleagues. I think my fellow senators recognized this and saw an opportunity to voice their concerns through me. That way, I would be the one going “against” everyone else, not them.” At the Feb. 19 ASUCR meeting, Castaneda claimed that Gonzalez acted rudely and unprofessional toward ASUCR Executive Director Laurie Sinclair during the closed session meeting called to discuss SB-W20009 Amendments to Chapters 10, 8, 2 and 4 of the ASUCR bylaws, which would increase the executive vice president’s (EVP) stipend by $2,475. In her interview with The Highlander, Castaneda stated that during the closed session, Sinclair asked EVP Abigail Cortes where in Robert’s Rules of Order it allowed her to call for a closed

session. Cortes called a closed session meeting to discuss the bill while the ASUCR Parliamentarian stated that a closed session meeting must be approved by a two-thirds vote by the senate. Despite this, Cortes still held the closed session meeting, stating that Robert’s Rules of Order allow the chair of a meeting to call a closed session without a vote. Castaneda stated that during the closed session, Cortes answered Sinclair and stated that the Constitution stated that she can hold a closed session without a vote. Castaneda stated that Sinclair was simply verifying that Cortes’ actions were constitutional, but “President Gonzalez rudely cut her off and insisted that the constitution overrides Robert’s Rules.” In regards to her overall experience in ASUCR, Castaneda stated that she is grateful students elected her to be their representative. She stated that she had the opportunity to vote on topics impacting campus such as the location of commencement and R’Gear. “I was exposed to different committees around campus and I was able to learn more about communicating and collaborating with others,” she said. She also stated that she was able to educate her peers about funding their ideas and projects through ASUCR. “However, I was pushed to resign

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because I did not feel valued. I felt that the other members saw me as an enemy rather than a colleague for voicing my opinions,” stated Castaneda. As for the future of this year’s ASUCR, Castaneda stated that after being there for almost two quarters, she does not think that they are capable of accurately voicing student concerns. She stated, “When sitting in the horseshoe, I only saw senators who cared about having a position, some who wanted a resume-builder, others who wanted more power to benefit themselves and a few that wanted to help other students.” While she does not see this year’s ASUCR being full of passionate senators who want to help the student body, she stated that she does hope that next year’s ASUCR is better. She ended the interview stating, “I hope that senators actually attend the meetings with their respective ethnic and gender programs’ directors, I hope that elected officials know how to approach Ethnic and Gender Program Directors when wanting to set up a meeting about a sensitive topic.” She believes that ASUCR can be much better than what it is now when it is full of students who are not afraid to use their voice, stand up for themselves and voice the concerns of the student body. ■H

6 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

UCR students rally in support of UC Santa Cruz cost of living adjustment strikes

PREETI JUTURU Contributing Writer

On Friday, Feb. 21 at approximately 11:30 a.m., students rallied around the UCR Bell Tower to stand in solidarity with the UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) wildcat strike and in support of “COLA,” or cost of living adjustment. Teaching assistant (TA) salaries, determined by UC-wide UAW 2865 contract negotiations, provide TAs with equal pay in every UC. In 2018, a contract was ratified with the United Automobile Workers (UAW), a union that has represented graduate students in the UC system, after graduate students in UCSC outlined the cost of living in Santa Cruz and presented that the cost of living in the Santa Cruz area exceeds what UCSC graduate students are paid. However, more than 80% of UCSC graduate students opposed the ratification of the contract. In December of 2019, many TAs withheld fall 2019 grades from undergraduates and began to strike, and UC President Janet Napolitano issued an ultimatum on Feb. 14 in response, threatening consequences for striking. UCSC Executive Vice Chancellor Lori Kletzer issued an ultimatum on Feb. 14 as well, threatening job loss. Since Feb. 10, UCSC graduate students have been on an unsanctioned, full-fledged strike. Other UC graduate students have also striked in support of UCSC students; UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) began to strike as early as January. According to Margarita Vizcarra, a second-year GSOE graduate student, the rally was held “in collaboration between independent graduate students and members from UAW 2065,” the union that represents graduate students. With the rally attracting between 80-100 undergraduate and graduate students alike, many came prepared with signs

UCR students and faculty protest against the high prices of living and in support of UC Sant Cruz.

adorning phrases such as “housing is a human right,” and throughout the rally, protesters chanted “who runs the UC? We run the UC.” A petition to “communicate opposition to the threats to graduate student strikers” addressed to Chancellor Kim Wilcox was being signed at a table set up by rally organizers. In response to the ultimatum issued by President Napolitano, Vizcarra stated that “the message also sets a precedent for graduate students on (our) campus,” and it implies that “we are disposable to the institution.” The ralliers, the majority of which were undergraduate students, stood in support of the demands of graduate students. ASUCR President Pro Tempore Miguel

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Ramirez, an attendee of the rally, stated that it “doesn’t make sense why a public institution is acting like a corrupt, private institution.” CHASS Senator Yosaline Gutierrez, another attendee of rally, stated that “my TAs have been vital to my success here at UCR. In fact, they teach my peers and I far more than my professors do, so it’s important to stand in support of them.” The rally, according to Jonathan Coch, a UAW organizer, was intentionally held on the same day that UC Santa Cruz administrations stated they would hand down discipline to strikers, as well as the same day that UCLA and UC Berkeley also hosted rallies. “We want to tell the university that we don’t want our coworkers to have action against them,” he stated. Speakers were also invited to the rally to provide their insight. Amanda Riggle, a second-year English doctoral candidate, addressed the crowd stating that “UCR knows we’re underpaid. They look the other way if we go against our contracts and get a second job, rather than paying us more.” Jared Anderson-Huxley, a third-year biology doctoral candidate, stated that some graduate students “sell their blood plasma because they can’t afford to live in Riverside.” The last speaker, Somchate Wasantwisut, a second-year chemical and environmental engineering doctoral candidate, expressed that “as an international student, my colleagues are at risk of deportation if they strike. We can’t file employment outside of our university due to our visa status.” After various chants from attendees, at approximately 12:10 p.m., protesters began to march toward Hinderaker Hall to hand Chancellor Wilcox the petition they had signed. Upon reaching Hinderaker Hall, Chancellor Kim Wilcox and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Brian Haynes stood at the steps anticipating rally participants. When handed the petition, protesters asked him what he would do to “stop disciplinary action against UCSC graduate students striking.” Wilcox responded, stating that he will “bring up these concerns

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to UCSC Chancellor Cynthia Larive again” and thanked the protesters for the petition. Cynthia Larive, the newest Chancellor of UCSC, was approved of her position on May 16, 2019 after being the provost and executive vice chancellor at UCR since 2017. When asked “do you support your students?” by one of the protesters, Chancellor Wilcox and Haynes turned away and walked back into Hinderaker Hall. In an interview with The Highlander, Chancellor Wilcox stated that “I applaud the passion that our students have for their colleagues at other campuses. This is a situation where the graduate students have organized with union leadership and bargained a contract and both sides agreed to the terms, which is being implemented. The desire now is to break that contract.” Wilcox stated that a technical discussion is underway but it’s not a simple conversation to have. He also stated that Riverside is fortunate because it doesn’t have the same housing issue. Haynes stated that “as the Chancellor mentioned, it’s a complex set of issues. We support and appreciate the passion of students here today.” In response to Chancellor Wilcox’s statements, Daniel Collister, a fifthyear mathematics doctoral and unit chair of the UAW, stated that “he gave a very tactful response (but) he didn’t answer the basic question of if he’s going to support stopping retaliation against the students at UC Santa Cruz.” The rally officially ended at approximately 1:00 p.m., after protesters wrote slogans in chalk, supporting COLA and UCSC graduate students on the ground in front of Hinderaker Hall. “We only had two days to plan the rally, starting Wednesday morning,” stated Yajaira Calderon, a first-year doctoral candidate in the Education, Society & Culture program under the Graduate School of Education. She stated, “UC Riverside is the last UC to join the COLA movement, but it’s clear that the institution paid attention to us and this is just the beginning of many more rallies to come.” ■H

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

ASUCR hosts Congressman Mark Takano to discuss public service, higher education legislation and basic needs

ANTONIO VELAOCHAGA Staff Writer

On Friday, Feb. 21, ASUCR’s External Affairs office hosted California Congressman and UCR alumni Mark Takano at Bannockburn J-102 for a discussion surrounding public service, college affordability and basic needs advocacy. ASUCR Federal Relations Director Samir AlAlami, Vice President of External Affairs Luis Huerta, Governmental Relations Director of External Affairs Vincent Rasso and Lobby Corps member Mark de Alba organized the event. The event was opened by Al-Alami, who introduced Takano. The event began with remarks by Takano and a Q&A session that focused on basic needs for college students and legislation that relates to higher education. Alba moderated the Q&A portion that took place at the end of the event. Al-Alami introduced Takano as a member of the House Education and Workforce panel and the Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee. In regards to basic needs, Takano spoke about the issues with food and housing insecurity within the college school system. Takano said that he was told by the Chancellor of Riverside Community College Wolde-Ab Issac that their student survey showed that 18 to 19% of their students are housing insecure. Takano elaborated that the survey defined housing insecurity as temporary housing which meant that in many instances, students were sleeping on someone’s couch or in their car. Takano addressed the importance of the Basic Assistance for Students In College (BASIC) Act that is currently being processed by the House of Representatives Education and Workforce Committee. He stated, “This legislation would provide grants to institutions to help conduct research in planning to reduce student food and housing insecurity.” Takano added that it would provide implementation grants to colleges to develop infrastructure for the basic needs of their students. Including free or subsidized food, temporary housing and access to more on-campus childcare. He added that it would also allow colleges to notify students about their potential eligibility and the process for applying to public assistance programs such as Calfresh SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or Height Vouchers. Takano stated that universities have a responsibility to inform their students of their eligibility to receive help from these assistance programs. “I think the BASIC Act is a major step forward in addressing the housing issue for students,” said Takano. Takano added that he and Oregon Representative Suzanne Bonamici attached a Reauthorization of the Higher Education amendment to the current College Affordability Act which required that colleges and universities inform students of their eligibility for SNAP. He mentioned that Congress also passed the new College Affordability Act (CAA) last October which lowered the cost for students and families to attend college. This amendment increased the Pell Grant to add $650 per student and Congress has created indexes that have the grant increase along with inflation.

UCR almuni, Mike Takano, speaks about public service, college affordability and basic needs advocacy. MARTIN LOPEZ/ HIGHLANDER

According to Takano, the majority of Democrats in the House of Representatives have created America’s College Promise Act, which is a federal-state partnership to make all U.S. colleges more affordable. One aspect of the amendment would make community colleges in the U.S. tuition and fee free. The CAA created an emergency grant program such as the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) that gives urgent help to students who might be food or housing insecure. Takano stated that there are too many students in the U.S. who are close to being in financial trouble and if they have a sudden emergency where they need money, then the FSEOG could help them. He mentioned that the CAA is trying to end a policy which states that the college institution cannot receive more than 90% of their funding from the federal government, and if they do, they will not be eligible for funding. Takano stated that proprietary or for-profit colleges use this policy as a loophole to gain more money from their students and disregard the education aspect of their institution. These schools that function similar to a business as they are private and profit-seeking institutions. He said that if the CAA ends this loophole, then it could shut down these for-profit schools and prevent college students from being exploited. The CAA also enhanced the debt forgiveness programs through having students work for the institutions that they are in debt to. Takano gave the example that if someone with college debt becomes a teacher in a low-income area and they teach for a certain amount of time, they can get their college debt erased. Regarding the college debt crisis, Takano said, “The support for students and families has become less and less and more burdens have been put on students and families.” He stated that he does not believe in free education. “I think you need to pay something, but no one should have burdensome amounts of debt,” said Takano. Alba asked Takano whether he supports the current

UCSC Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) student strike which is demanding higher living wages for graduate students. Takano stated that he supports the labor unions method of bargaining, but he won’t take sides in the issue. Takano was also asked by Al-Alami whether the BASIC Act would be passed by the committee at the end of the year. Takano said that he did expect the BASIC Act to be passed, but he did not know when the committee would pass it. Rasso asked Takano on his thoughts about California’s Proposition 209 which goes against affirmative action and he stated, “I think we need to take into account historic information and how we judge a students background and experience. It matters that we have diversity in higher education.” Rasso believed that the most significant issue that was acknowledged in the discussion was the UCSC COLA graduate student strike. Rasso stated in an interview with The Highlander that, “The goal of our session with Congressman Mark Takano was to establish a constituent-level relationship … It’s so important to remind and urge our elected officials of the ambition we must have in order to obtain our goals.” Al-Alami said, “I brought Takano because I wanted students to have access to their member of Congress to ask about the concerns they had as students in Riverside, and as a way to promote some of the work my students have been doing on higher education advocacy.” “As a student leader and legislative advocate, I think the event went extremely well,” said Rasso. Rasso stated, “I had hoped to enable more students to ask questions … There are several issues beyond higher education that impact our experiences … and I wish we had a larger focus on how we as students have the power to impact them.” Rasso said he wished the discussion had recognized the importance for students to vote. The Highlander emailed Luis Huerta and Mark de Alba for comments but they did not respond before time of print. The event ended at 2 p.m. ■H

MARTIN LOPEZ/ HIGHLANDER

8 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

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ASUCR International Student Committee and TedxUCR launch second annual TedxTalk

LIZBETH MARQUEZ TORRES Contributing Writer

At approximately 6:45 p.m on Thursday, Feb. 20, the Highlander Union Building (HUB) opened its doors to kick off the Global Perspectives TedxTalk presented by the ASUCR International Student Committee (ASUCR ISC) and TedxUCR. The event was sponsored by CHASS Senators Nelson Huerta and Tiffany Menendez and the Vice President of Internal Affairs Jocelyn Ortiz.The event was compiled of guest speakers and both international students and domestic students who have experienced studying abroad. ASUCR ISC and TedxUCR organized this talk in hopes of opening up “the audience’s views regarding global perspectives that come in an array of unique voices, backgrounds and cultures,” which was noted in the pamphlets being distributed to audience members as they arrived. The event officially began at 7:45 p.m. with a welcoming introduction by Channy Park, the chair director of ASUCR as well as the UCSA international student affairs officer, who was joined on stage by the President of TedxUCR, Jeff Wang. Park and Wang’s introduction ended with a welcome for their first speaker, Zehra Qazi. Qazi, a senior public policy major with an emphasis in the social, economic and international policy of the Indian and Korean Peninsulas, faced the audience which included her parents who were

sitting in the very front, expressing their support as she began to speak. She explained that her interest in studying abroad first sparked when she took a class on globalization. Although born in Pakistan, Qazi noted her ancestry derives from India and this became crucial in deciding what program she wanted to participate in and where. Ultimately, Qazi decided to study near the Indian and Korean Peninsulas, where she got lost on her first day of arrival. Qazi briefly studied and practiced the Korean language prior to her departure which became a crucial tool in her experience in a foreign country. Her message to members of the audience was that although it is possible to get around by only speaking English, she highly encourages those who plan to study abroad to learn as much of the language of that place as possible. Qazi explained that not only does knowing some of the language become extremely useful once you are there but learning another language is an experience in itself that everyone should at least try. Two other guest speakers, Chandi Solanki and Ryan Beal, also shared their experiences studying abroad. Both speakers stated that they are hoping to influence the audience to reevaluate their perspective behind the risks and fears of studying abroad. At 7:40 p.m., the first intermission occurred and the audience was invited to eat dinner that was catered by Subway. After dinner, the event shifted into discussing the experiences of international students. One of the speakers was Stephanie Chuquipul,

International students and study abroad students discuss their experiences, backgrounds and cultures.

a third-year international student from Peru majoring in economics and administrative studies. Instead of describing her experience in order to persuade the audience to go abroad like the other speakers, Chuquipul discussed mental health and its stigmas that affect all students, whether they’re international or not. She explained that although her experience in the United States has been mostly positive, she has also had to face issues, like homesickness. Chuquipul is most often reminded of this when her peers inform her that they will be going home for the weekend, something very common amongst domestic students whose families live nearby. Chuquipul stated that she unfortunately does not have the option

JOSHUA WANG/ HIGHLANDER

to go home for the weekend, but she said that she is thankful to be surrounded by a support system that has allowed her to deal with her mental health issues accordingly. She stated that she is an advocate for the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) department on campus and the R’Pantry stating that, “there is nothing wrong with asking for help.” Chuquipul’s talk was followed by four other guest speakers also drawing upon their experiences as international studies in this country. Following the second intermission that occured close to 9:00 p.m., the audience heard from David Asplund and Shoma Atsumi to discuss life after college. After a brief discussion panel, the event officially closed around 9:30 p.m. ■H

ITS to begin sending phishing email simulations this month

LAURA ANAYA-MORGA Contributing Writer

This month, UCR’s Information Technology Solutions (ITS) is set to begin sending out a series of emails to UCR faculty, staff and students that will closely mimic a phishing attack. ITS hopes that the campus community will identify the false emails, forward them to abuse@ucr. edu and if they accidentally engage with the phishing simulations they will be presented with a “learning moment” containing tips and reminders on how to avoid them in

LLYOD KAO/ HIGHLANDER

the future. When the project ends in June 2020, ITS will issue a highlevel campus “report card” on the campus’ ability to identify phishing scams. Any engagements with these phishing simulation emails will not be reported at the individual level, only on a large and anonymous scale. In a blog post posted by ITS, they wrote, “Ongoing training on how to identify and avoid phishing scams is critical to cybersecurity at UCR.” In an attempt to raise awareness for the common tactics used in

phishing emails, UCR ITS wrote that the things to look out for are: bad grammar or punctuation, strange fonts or paragraph spacing, slightly modified email addresses, forms that ask for sensitive information like usernames and passwords, links to strange websites and requests for money from what appears to be a “trusted” person. In an interview with The Highlander, Alexandra Chrystal, the communications and training manager for ITS stated, “Keeping

our campus safe from threats—both physical and cyber—is a top priority for UCR.” She mentioned that one of the divisions within ITS, the Information Security Office (ISO), is responsible for assessing UCR’s vulnerability to cyberattacks and mitigate threats by taking various security measures. She stated that with UCR being a prominent research university with thousands of students, faculty and staff, “our campus is a prime target for bad actors who wish to steal sensitive data.” In the blog post, ITS stated that over 91% of cyber attacks start with a phishing email and a critical part of campus safety is doing all we can to keep our electronic data such as research, grades and personal information away from those who should not have it. Because email is a commonplace for personal and professional information, “malicious actors often utilize email in an attempt to steal personal or private information,” they wrote. According to Chrystal, the phishing campaign is directly funded by the UC Office of the President (UCOP). “That’s in large part because the use of a phishing simulation campaign to assess a campus’ risk of cyberattack is not only common, it’s considered best practice among Information Security professionals,’’ wrote Chrystal. UCR ITS would like to thank all participants in this phishing simulation campaign stating, “Together as a campus, we can ensure that our H information remains safe and secure.” ■

Opinions

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

UCivil war: a message to the striking UCSC graduate students and the administration that opposes them

On day two of the strike, graduate students congregate at the intersection of Bay and High Streets.

he University of California (UC) system has been in a state of near-constant strife for the last month and a half. Last month saw the UC Regents attempt to further hike up student tuition, only for their meeting, during which they were meant to vote on the hike, to be postponed because they failed to post details regarding the increase 10 days before the meeting as is standard procedure. Days after this tuition hike fiasco, news broke of UC’s dwindling application rates at key UC campuses. This month, the UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) graduate student wildcat strikes seem to be coming to a head. Last December, UCSC graduate students serving as teaching assistants at the university began withholding grades and refusing to teach classes in demand of a proper living wage. Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive offered two support programs for graduate students, but the teaching assistants were still unsatisfied, culminating in a full strike on Feb. 10, and they have been picketing at the entrance of the campus ever since. Roughly 350 students have participated in the strike, with over 200 of those students being teaching assistants. Campus administrators have insisted that negotiating with the strikers would be illegal because the demonstrations were not authorized by the United Auto

Workers (UAW) Local 2865 union, the union that teaching assistants are members of. This response is woefully lacking in empathy for the financial burdens Santa Cruz graduate students are subjected to. Santa Cruz is known for its high cost of living, and, before taxes, the teaching assistants at UCSC make $2,434 nine months out of the year. Many of these graduate students spend nearly 50% of their income on rent alone. In light of this, the struggling graduate students are requesting a $1,412 a month raise. In a belittling attempt to threaten the strikers, UC president Janet Napolitano issued an open letter to UCSC faculty, staff and students, reminding the teaching assistants of their current benefits under the UAW collective bargaining agreement struck in 2018, which include a waiver of tuition and a remission of health care premium among other perks. In her letter, Napolitano insisted that these benefits should be enough, and admonished the strikers for disobeying the “no-strike” clause in their UAW contract. The UC president then went on to refuse further negotiations, insisting that those participating in the wildcat strike either return to work or face the termination of their employment at the university. Of course, had the aforementioned benefits of the UAW contract been enough, the graduate students would not be

striking in such great numbers. It is ridiculous to assume that these graduate students, who are also students in their own right and therefore laden with their own coursework and projects, would be able to properly lecture to a room full of undergraduates when they are worried about whether or not they will be able to make rent that month. It is even more ridiculous to criticize the workers for striking without the support of their union. The current UAW contract, which met virtually none of the workers’ key demands, was pushed through to approval without the support of many of the UC student workers it affects, much to the disappointment of the graduate students. Student workers have attempted to engage campus administration through official channels multiple times after the contract was agreed upon, but the administration would not budge. And then, of course, there is the general understanding that if the workers did not initiate some sort of strike the UC administrators would not give them a second thought. The administration is notorious for disregarding the plights of their students. One need only look to the aforementioned tuition hikes for evidence that they value money over all else. The strikers had no other recourse, and to suggest that they did is equal parts disrespectful and duplicitous. The UCSC graduate student

COURTESY OF JOSEPHINE JOLIFF VIA CITY UPON A HILL PRESS

workers must hold fast in their strike, and the UC administration would do well to listen. Withholding grades and refusing to teach may be some of the only forms of leverage the teaching assistants possess, but they are a powerful form of leverage. Undergraduates who need to see their grades for whatever reason, be it for an application or simply out of curiosity, can ask their TA directly. The strike isn’t meant to affect the students. The UC is the intended target, and a lack of inputted grades reflects poorly on the institution. Sure enough, the administration may very well be moved to fire the strikers as President Napolitano threatened, but doing so will have effects that cascade throughout the school. Filling 200 teaching assistant positions would not only be embarrassing, it would be hard work. Once the strikers are fired, the school would have to hire new teaching assistants in their place, which would likely take some time, possibly delaying the posting of grades even further. Assuming the firing and rehiring process went smoothly, the issues that prompted the initial strikes won’t go away. The incoming TAs will still find themselves struggling to pay rent, and there will be more strikes to come. The only real solution to this issue is the $1,412 pay raise and a revision to the current UAW contract.

The UCSC teaching assistants must take heart, stand strong and know that they are supported. On Wednesday, Feb. 19, UC Los Angeles graduate students followed in the footsteps of their UCSC kin and participated in a sick-out, and they aren’t the only UC school to do so. Graduate students at UC Davis rallied on Feb. 10 in solidarity with the UCSC workers. Of particular note is Democratic frontrunner and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders’ recent endorsement of the UCSC graduate students over Twitter, during which he urged President Napolitano to cease her threats of termination. If the administration believes that they will be able to fire the striking teaching assistants without backlash, they have quite a storm coming for them. The UCSC wildcat strikes are an inspiration to any and all who are trying to resist that bureaucracy of UC management. It should not be this difficult to secure a living wage, especially at a prestigious college like UC Santa Cruz. A compromise can and must be reached, and the UCSC students must not let the administration crush their spirit. They have the support of their fellow students and workers behind them. ■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.

10 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

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OPINION POLL Compiled by Lydia Tsou Staff Photographer

“Do you support graduate student strikes happening at UCSC? Why or why not?”

Bryant Palomino

Klarissa Quintana Biochemistry Third-year

Kody Romo Sociology Second-year

Dianna Barahona Carrillo Soc. and Ethnic Studies

Eric Pacheco Sociology Fourth-year

Alex Lin Biology Fourth-year

Electrical Engineering

“Yes I do agree with the graduate students. Their benefit has to outweigh what they’re putting in. It’s not worth the effort if they don’t get enough out of it. ”

“Yes I support it because it’s unfair that the rent is so high and their wage doesn’t cover that. They would need to find other jobs to cover the cost. ”

“Yes I do, because any worker in the teaching realm is underpaid, so we’re discouraged to go onto higher education to attain those jobs, because they’re underpaid and not able to earn a living wage.”

“I support the strikes because there’s a societal structure and expectancy within the UC system where they don’t pay enough for a living wage. It’s unethical. They need to pay living wages.”

“Yes I support them. If the university is not providing the means for graduate students to live, I think that’s an obvious reason for the students to go on strike.”

“Yeah I do support it. Grad students had their fair share of loans they had to get through. It’s just more struggle and more debt they have to go through to get to the end.”

Fourth-year

Third-year

Market Street’s ban of private cars will reduce the number of accidents on the road and allow for people to travel more eff iciently

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Market Street, San Francisco.

JORDAN HOM Senior Staff Writer

The ban of private cars on San Francisco’s Market Street will have an enormous, positive impact on the city and the surrounding areas. Uber and Lyft drivers and people driving rental and private vehicles will no longer be able to travel through Market Street. The only vehicles that will be permitted are historic street cars, buses, electric scooters and cycles. San Francisco is the latest major city to adopt a ban on certain vehicles. New York City, Seattle, Denver, Minneapolis and Los Angeles have in some capacity enacted methods to ban private vehicles or promote the uses of public transit. Critics argue that the ban will be ineffective and inefficient, due to traffic being diverted to the surrounding streets. However, the benefits of placing restrictions on the number and types of cars allowed to enter a very populated street like Market Street will positively impact the community and the environment regardless of the short-term problems that may arise. One such benefit will be increased ridership on public transportation in

San Francisco such as the Bay Area Rapid Transit line (BART) or public buses. With more people riding the bus or the BART, the congestion of traffic will be less severe and more people will be able to travel around the city within the hour. According to a Twitter graphic from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), people driving in private cars can transport around 6001600 people per hour. However, with less cars on the road and more bikes and buses, that number substantially increases to about 10,000 to 25,000 people per hour, which is much more efficient. Additionally, it is environmentally sustainable to reduce the number of cars on the road because the amount of air pollution and smog will be reduced. According to the National Express Transit, buses emit 20% less carbon monoxide, 10% as much hydrocarbons and 75% as much nitrogen oxides per passenger mile than an automobile with a single occupant. Residents would also be saving billions of gallons of gasoline due to public transit being more fuel efficient. Furthermore, reducing the amount

of vehicles on Market Street will significantly cut down the number of traffic accidents, as Market Street is known to be one of the most dangerous streets in San Francisco. Many pedestrians and cyclists fear being struck by a vehicle while traveling

through a crowded street. From 20102016 alone, 5,846 pedestrians were involved in a traffic accident and over 130 people have died as a result. In a booming city like San Francisco with its massively growing population, decreasing the number of people that end up in the emergency room will be greatly beneficial to the community. Lastly, being a resident of San Francisco is already quite expensive as is. Those who own and operate an automobile on a regular basis have to pay for gasoline, maintenance, insurance and parking permits for residential or work spaces. While using public transportation might be slightly more time consuming than driving a private car, the cost benefit will outweigh any added time saved by driving one’s personal vehicle. While there certainly would be inconveniences in regards to banning private vehicles on a busy street like Market Street, the benefits of doing so outweigh the negatives. More people will be able to travel in an efficient manner and with more riders on public transit, the roads will be safer and less H pedestrian accidents will occur. ■

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

Billionaire baloney: Bezos’ philanthropy is a meager substitute for real action

TIMOTHY HUGHES Staﬀ Writer

Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon and richest man in the world, has recently committed to using $10 billion of his personal fortune to ﬁght climate change. Considering Bezos’ relative silence on the issue in the past and the ongoing critique that he and other billionaires are not giving enough, this is a change that has been welcomed by many. Unfortunately, Bezos’ philanthropy, like all billionaire philanthropy, isn’t enough. Bezos and billionaires like him are a direct cause of many of the world’s problems, including climate change. The remediation he proposes is welcome, but empty. Jeff Bezos is worth approximately $130 billion with a yearly income close to $40 billion. The $10 billion investment he proposes only amounts to 7.7% of his net worth. Obviously, he could be doing more. Bezos could give away 90% of his wealth and still be left with more money than he could spend in a lifetime, assuming he doesn’t decide to create a personal army or purchase a country, which he very well could do. Aside from the U.S. and China, Bezos’ wealth is greater than

many countries’ yearly defense spending. Bezos’ wealth is greater than the GDP of 129 countries, including Morocco and Ecuador. His net worth is twice the GDP of Myanmar. The UN estimates it would take $30 billion yearly to provide food security to every man, woman and child on the planet, effectively ending world hunger. Bezos could pull this off on his yearly income alone, with $10 billion to spare. Again, $10 billion is more than any individual could reasonably spend in a year. The department of Housing and Urban Development estimates it would take a one-time investment of $20 billion to end homelessness in the United States. Clearly, the wealth Jeff Bezos hoards is a force to be reckoned with. Like all billionaires, he could accomplish so much and yet he continues to amass wealth. He must do more, or he must be made to do more. The ostensible charity Bezos partakes in is also suspect. As the Amazon Employees for Climate Justice group said in response to Bezos’ new philanthropic effort, Amazon has threatened to ﬁre employees for speaking out about the company’s role in creating the climate crisis. Bezos funds climate denying think tanks and pollutes

the air with the exhaust of jet planes and trucks carrying his cargo. His newest venture is nothing more than a vanity project for the same person who recently bought the most expensive mansion ever sold in California. One might argue that billionaires earned their money through hard work and should be allowed to do with it what they want without criticism. Truthfully, a person can only amass wealth greater than a billion dollars if they exploit the labor and resources of others. The average Amazon worker in Los Angeles, the city in which Bezos lives, makes $28,000 a year. Not only is this almost 1.5 million times less than Bezos makes in a year, it is $30,000 less than the low-income line of the city. To argue that Bezos works over a million times harder than a factory worker or a delivery driver is ridiculous, and to believe that he has any right to exploit working people on the merits of him owning the company is to ignore the true barbarity of the situation. Surely Bezos could afford to pay his workers more and give them better working conditions while still having massive wealth. Instead, he chooses to enrich himself at their expense. He adds to his nearly limitless fortune on

the backs of their starvation. Not only are American workers abused under the rule of billionaires, workers worldwide live in slavery to produce for them, the environment is degraded and our planet is made uninhabitable by their actions. The globalization of companies for proﬁt causes massive greenhouse gas emissions due to travel, unnecessary plundering of the planet’s resources and relocation or elimination of billions of animals. The world’s richest 10% are responsible for more than half of global emissions. The innocent pay the true price while the rich further line their pockets with blood money. Bezos’ $10 billion to ﬁght climate change is worth nothing in the face of the damage he and his kind have done to their workers and to the environment. That which he is giving back is dwarfed by the harm he has done. The world’s problems cannot be solved with the pocket change of those who created them. They must give more. They must cease exploiting workers and the world we live on. If not willingly, then by taxes or by other mechanisms. These parasites to society must not be allowed to become more powerful — they are too dangerous. ■H

Highlander Write-Offs Are billionaires obliged to donate their wealth to charity?

Jeff Bezos and climate change activist, Christiana Figueres, discuss the Climate Pledge at the National Press Club in Washington.

COURTESY OF JEFF BEZOS VIA INSTAGRAM

Demanding more donations from billionaires will only lead to increased inequality

CHRISTINE TRAN Senior Staﬀ Writer

Currently, the U.S. is the home to a couple of the most prominent billionaires who are known to participate in philanthrocapitalism — Mark Zuckerburg, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, to name a few. This isn’t a new concept. Time and time again, billionaires have generously donated a small portion of their fortune to something they consider a good cause. While some argue that billionaires should escalate their efforts, a closer look reveals how current billionaire philanthropy is as much a business as the companies that created their fortunes in the ﬁrst place. Billionaires should not be forced to give away a larger percentage of their money because it boosts their power to push forward their own agendas while simultaneously maintaining a positive public image to cover up that their companies contribute to the issues they claim to ﬁght. When the public pressures billionaires to give up more of their fortune, it is encouraging them to make use of the loopholes they have developed. Billionaires have long since turned charity donations into a method to avoid taxes. When donating large sums of money, they

direct their money to donor advised funds, which allows them access to tax breaks and control over how the money is invested. Billionaires can also choose to donate in stocks and that way they will receive even more tax breaks while avoiding the capital gains tax that comes with selling a stock. So even though their donations are to their own benefit, their perception in the public eye continues to improve. An example of the philanthrocapitalism that continues to trouble our society is Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Dominating the headlines in December of 2015, Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan published a letter that made it seem like the two would be donating 99% of their shares in Facebook toward promoting equality. Yet, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the channel the money is funneled through, is not a nonprofit foundation but rather a limited liability company (LLC). The Zuckerberg Chan Initiative, unlike actual charitable organizations, has the right to invest in other companies, make political donations, has no transparency requirements and can avoid income taxes all while Zuckerberg maintains control over where the money goes. What isn’t advertised is the influence philanthrocapitalism affords billionaires

when they donate to the public. Once again, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has made headlines with the creation of the Bezos Earth fund on Monday, Feb. 17. The fund will disperse $10 billion to organizations working to combat climate change. None of this changes the fact that Amazon is one of the largest carbon emitters in the world. In 2018 alone, the company emitted 44.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents into the atmosphere, an amount that is roughly equal to the annual emissions of the country of Norway. As seemingly generous as Bezos’ donation is, it is currently not clear if Bezos’ $10 billion commitment includes fighting against the fossil fuel industry, which Amazon considers an important customer. Back in September of 2019, when he announced his plan for Amazon to reduce its carbon footprint, Bezos said that divisions of Amazon would continue to work with oil and gas providers. It is unnerving that the man who is the originator of all these problems is also one of the only people who can fund the fight against climate change. Along with that, Bezos’ donation of $10 billion means he gets to decide what issues and projects are prioritized and there is little chance that Bezos will choose to commit the money to causes that will hurt his own profits.

One can contend that despite certain hiccups, there is still money going to people in need, but billionaires understand that it is all about how they word their promises. In August 2010, Warren Buffet and Bill and Melinda Gates created the Giving Pledge, an invitation for billionaires to publicly commit to giving away most of their wealth during their lifetime. While in theory this idea sounds beneﬁcial, nowhere in the pledge does it specify where to or how soon billionaires need to give away their wealth. Therefore, billionaires can promise to donate to public health programs like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation or simply to their alma mater. The Giving Pledge is also not legally binding so there are no repercussions for unfulﬁlled commitments. This is another empty promise made to boost billionaires’ images while they continue to do nothing. The public needs to be cautious when encouraging billionaire philanthropy because, like with everything else they do, they turned the gift of giving back into a business. When society allows themselves to be continually funded by the bank accounts of billionaires, people are at the mercy of their whims. Forcing billionaires to funnel more of their fortunes back into the people only tightens the grip they have over the average person. ■H

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

Assembly Bill 2149 should be passed to prevent delivery app companies from taking advantage of restaurants ESTHER CHOI Contributing Writer

California restaurants are on the verge of experiencing a change in operations with the proposal of California Assembly Bill 2149 (AB 2149), also known as the Fair Food Delivery Act. AB 2149. AB 2149 was proposed by California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez this month and would require food delivery apps to not only share customer information with restaurants but reach an agreement with said restaurants before adding them onto the app. The current tech-driven society, which calls for more comfort and convenience, is driving out restaurants. In this modern world comprised of advanced technological innovations, restaurants are placed at a significant disadvantage. They are easy targets for big corporations and businesses. Restaurants, regardless of their size, are experiencing a decrease in both overall profit and patrons. This can be attributed to the fact that delivery apps are taking commissions from the restaurants, which adds up over time, ultimately reducing the overall profit of the restaurant. In addition, they do not share customer data with restaurants. Customer data is crucial to restaurants because it helps them easily accommodate and change some aspects of their restaurant to satisfy customers. AB 2149 will positively affect profits earned by restaurants because the new bill allows restaurants to make adjustments based on customers’ needs. The new bill will increase overall profits for restaurants. The founder of the restuarant Mulberry & Vine, Michelle Gautheir, explained to the New Yorker that, “We know for a fact that as delivery increases, our profitability decreases.” For each delivery order, Mulberry & Vine third party platforms receive between 20 to 40% of the revenues. The restaurant’s overall profit margin has shrunk by a third, and Gauthier believes this is because of an increase in delivery orders.

Food delivery apps like Uber Eats pose a threat to restraunts, often reducing their overall revenue.

If usage of these delivery apps continue at current rates, analysts at Morgan Stanley believe delivery transactions could make up 40% of all restaurant sales, which is damaging to the restaurants they work with. Delivery apps also pose challenges for restaurants in ways that are indirectly related to profit. For instance, Joe Hargrave, a co-owner of Tacolicious, stated that his restaurant can’t afford to ignore delivery apps. They attract customers to the restaurant, but their usage results in a whole new set of challenges for business owners. Restaurants must now answer questions like where they will store the compostable trays, how the food will travel and how far it will go before it spoils. The lack of communication between customers and the restaurants is another major challenge for owners. Communication is one of the core aspects of a restaurant’s business because it develops the relationship between

customer and establishment. Currently, restaurants have limited or no information of customers’ needs and preferences if said customer orders using the app, because the app companies are not sharing that valuable information with owners. This issue would be solved under AB 2149 as delivery apps would be obligated to share information with the restaurants, ultimately increasing their profits if they do decide to opt in with the apps. The information includes customers’ email addresses, demographics and reviews for particular dishes. Another problem restaurants face is the fact that they are not given the option to opt out of delivery apps because they are not notified when they are added onto the platform. The decision to add restuarants is at the discretion of the app companies. With the new bill in place, app companies will have to ask permission from restaurants before they add them onto the delivery list.

COMICS TALL TAIL #36 BY: JUSTUS ROSS

COURTESY OF FRANKLIN HEIJNEN VIA FLICKR

Big delivery app companies are sure to oppose the assembly bill because it will affect their profits. Companies like GrubHub maintain that the revenue they bring restaurants is “incremental.” They also argue that delivery orders are a form of marketing, exposing potential new customers who might convert to lucrative in-restaurant patrons. These arguments made by GrubHub can not be deemed completely wrong, but it would be right to say that their “incremental” argument is invalid if it starts to negatively affect restaurants. Delivery apps pose a serious threat to restaurants. They take advantage of these businesses by keeping customer information to themselves and adding restaurants onto their delivery app list without permission. This results in lower profits for restaurants and eventually drives them out of the market. If Assembly Bill 2149 is passed, restaurants will soon earn higher profits. ■H

FEATURES 14

FEATURES

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

a i g l a t s No ght Ni

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brings back the blasts from the past By: Alexandria Esteban Contributing Writer

JOSHUA WANG/ HIGHLANDER

ASPB and HUB Programs collaborated on their first Nostalgia Night on Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in HUB 302. According to Special Events Director Jessica Schneider, a third-year business major, the purpose of this event was to “celebrate the 2000s in a fun way; to remember the past while entering the new decade.” When asked how the idea of Nostalgia Night was formed, Schneider stated that “as the new year entered the new decade, everyone was talking about it in social media … so we decided to just remember our past and our childhood, as we entered the new decade, and have a throwback event.” The students who attended seemed to agree and eagerly awaited the start of the throwback event. Before the doors even opened, the line to check into the event was so long it stretched from the third floor of the HUB to the Coffee Bean. Many people came to the event wearing butterfly clips, scrunchies, plaid, denim and other hot styles from the early 2000s. Seeing so many old trends sparked people’s own personal memories. Dashia Saunderlin, a fourth-year media and cultural studies major, claimed that the “lights at the event made it seem like my middle school dance.” Cayla Newnan, a second-year media and cultural studies and creative writing major, compared the event to “a Bat Mitzvah or a school carnival” and claimed that “it definitely made me nostalgic.” There was no shortage of activities to take part in that night. A playlist full of throwback music videos were shown on two big projection screens as students danced

JOSHUA WANG/ HIGHLANDER

and sang along to songs such as “Beautiful Girls” by Sean Kingston and “Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj. Saunderlin said “I really enjoyed the music the most because it just gave me that nostalgic feeling.” In the back of the room were two arcade machines, Pac-Man and Dance Dance Revolution. There were also a variety of board games laid out on tables, such as Jenga and Taboo. These multiplayer games gave many people a chance to play against one another; the lines to play these games were not very long, however, as they were outshone by the other activities the event had to offer. Different tables featured old school arts and crafts projects that many students hadn’t seen in a while. People could create lanyards, friendship bracelets and keychains made out of melted beads. There were also the highly advertised fanny packs that students could decorate however they pleased using the stencils and fabric markers that were supplied. The atmosphere was lively as people chatted with their friends while working on their respective art projects. However, one issue made itself apparent as the night went on: venue space. Yoselin Zavala, a fourth-year media and cultural studies and gender and sexuality major, said that she and her friends “were able to get fanny packs, but we were a little confused as to which tables were for decorating them or for other activities that were going on.” It was difﬁcult to tell what each line was for, especially near the DIY stations where students were clumped around the tables trying to get

different supplies. Schneider expressed her concerns and hopes they can “organize the lines to be less congested” in future events. Aside from the games and crafts, there was also a fortune teller. Throughout the night, she read students’ futures using her deck of tarot cards. Across from the fortune teller table was a photo booth. Unlike most photo booths, this one had a camera that snapped multiple pictures at high speed, turning the memory into a flipbook. Lastly, the event featured some beloved snacks, such as Lunchables, Crustables, Gushers and Fruit Roll-Ups. There were even some retro drinks, such as Kool-Aid and Hi-C, that students could enjoy. The snacks were then placed in a paper bag which made the snacks look like a packed school lunch. Each attendee was allowed to take one large snack, two small snacks and a drink. While the snacks matched the theme of the event, it didn’t serve to fill the stomachs of its attendees. Newnan stated that she “wished there was maybe some real food beyond Lunchables. I felt pretty hungry and dissatisfied.” Despite this, the snacks were very popular and gone before the end of the event, but this did not stop the party-like environment. Nostalgia Night succeeded in bringing back the things that UCR students cherished in the past. ASPB will be hosting Soundclash on Thursday, Feb. 27 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the HUB Plaza. They will also be hosting a panel for transgender rights activist Angelica Ross in HUB 302 on Friday, Feb. 28, opening the doors at 6 p.m. ■H

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HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

FEATURES

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

cAMPUS SPOTLIGHT:

PODER

Co-chair of PODER wishes to uplift the voices and aid in the struggles of the undocumented, through her story MARK BERTUMEN Senior Staff Writer

the language barrier. “I encountered racist, xenophobic teachers who tried pushing me down just because of it (language barrier),” she said. In eighth grade Gonzalez tutored a classmate that berated her for her efforts; “‘Why are you working so hard if you won’t be able to go to college?’” she remembered him saying.

here … as you can see that classmate was wrong,” she reflected. The Providing Opportunities, Both USP and PODER provide Dreams, and Education in Riverside assistance to UCR’s undocumented (PODER) organization was community. As for PODER, “we established in 2008 “to educate the hold three main events for outside UCR and Riverside community about and campus community,” Gonzalez state and federal legislations affecting said, one each quarter. “Every fall undocumented students,” says its quarter we hold a conference for online mission statement. Tania both high school and community I found my community college students to learn about the Gonzalez, a third-year Spanish and education major and co-outreach here, found people who resources at UCR, from the centers chair for PODER, has been a part understood what I was to the scholarships they can apply of the organization since her first going through; now I’ve for,” she explained. year at UCR; like many others she During winter quarter, PODER got friends and people has worked through strife to stand who can help me through holds their Immigrant Awareness where she is on campus today. As a tough times. I’m happy to Week, which transpires during part of PODER, she said that they be here, I found a place I February. Last Tuesday, Feb. 18, “advocate for the undocumented feel that I belong in USP they held their “History of the students here on campus and in the Undocu Movement in the IE” and in PODER.” Riverside community.” panel, discussing how immigration Gonzalez wants UCR’s When high school came around, laws have changed in the U.S. On undocumented population to Gonzalez found initial difficulty Thursday, Feb. 20, the “Undocu know that they are not alone. Last in applying for college: “In junior Womxn Resilience” panel showcased Wednesday, Feb. 19, Gonzalez and year I started thinking more about three woman navigating life and three other undocumented students the question, and I tried talking to college as undocumented. opened up about their status and their my counselors but they didn’t know In the spring PODER will hold its story navigating undocumentation, how to help me, they didn’t have the annual banquet fundraiser, where the wishing to promote solidarity among resources to.” money will be used for scholarships; all in the same situation. She then took matters into her own last year’s goal of $10,000 was The event was hosted as part hands, with the support of her parents exceeded by about $2,000, which of PODER’s annual Immigration despite neither of them having gone Gonzalez attributes to “our president Awareness Week at the Bell Tower. to college. “Senior year, I found out at the time, Wendy (Guzman), who The event, “Coming Out of the I could get financial aid through the I believe put a lot of hard work into Shadows,” takes after a decade-old California Dream Act. I actually got the event, alongside our other board demonstration; “It began in Chicago help from Cal State San Bernardino members.” She also mentioned the in March of 2010,” she said, “when a to fill out the application alongside outreach beyond the campus at the group of undocumented students came college applications, and now I’m time to local politicians, professors out ‘undocumented and unafraid.’” She was referring to the slogan that over a thousand people sported as they marched through the streets in that month of March, proclaiming their status in solidarity to remove the stigma attached to their undocumentation at the city’s Federal Plaza. It’s this kind of voice that Gonzalez encourages undocumented people at large to have, which she herself exercises by lobbying for change. “It’s not like since we can’t vote, we don’t have a voice in the Capitol. (The people in there are) still your representatives and they should be listening,” she stated. The Undocumented Student Programs (USP) center at Costo Hall 224 was created in 2015 as a resource center for undocumented students, be it printing and stapling or even scholarship opportunities. “The founders of PODER and the people working in the organization were actually those who fought for that center to be created,” Gonzalez added. She also noted that the center has recently gained immigration attorney Karina Gutierrez. At the Bell Tower, Gonzalez shared her life story as undocumented students passed by. She entered the U.S. on a visa at the age of five with her younger brother and parents, and talked about the struggles she faced throughout school because of

and parents. Moving forward, USP and PODER hope to raise more funds to assist UCR’s undocumented community, which is now more attainable thanks to last year’s voting season. “For USP and PODER, there’s the Highlander Referendum that passed last year; the last time it was passed USP wasn’t included in the Referendum because it was fairly new, but now that’s no longer a problem,” Gonzalez noted. PODER is also looking to raise interactions with other campus undocumented programs; on Saturday, Feb. 22, a fundraiser was held alongside Cal Poly Pomona’s “Demanda Estudiantil Para la Igualda Educacional,” or Student Demand for Educational Equality, at the Icetown Riverside skating rink. “It’s sort of a half-social, half-fundraising event,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez ended the conversation on how she wants undocumented students to feel when they get involved with USP and PODER: “I want them to feel welcome. This (campus) is a safe space for us; this is where I found my community, and I want any new members to feel the same, to feel that the people in this place are like their second family.” PODER meets every Tuesday from 5 to 6 p.m. at HUB 260. More information on their resources, alongside USP’s, can be found at usp. ucr.edu. ■H

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

Campus Cope: managing self-care, whether too much or too little SABRINA HUNTER Contributing Writer

As we near the end of the quarter, stress is once again at an extreme high. Finals are rapidly approaching and students are looking to find ways to relieve the stress that comes with it. This stress relief is often found in various forms of self-care, which can be a healthy thing for a college student if it is balanced well with work and studies. However, some students indulge in selfcare to the extent that they are no longer productive and end up procrastinating and leave their work unfinished. If you or a loved one identify as one of these people, here are some tips on coping with the impulse of overindulging and, on the other side of the spectrum, the neglect from cutting yourself off from self-care.

making a schedule One way to deal with too much self-

care is to manage your time with a planner. Many students have a planner with its main use being for assignments, as staying aware of your weekly tasks can help buffer procrastination. In addition to having assignments and tests in your planner, you should use it to plan your leisure time as well. If your schedule allows for a large break, you’ll be inclined to use it to get work done, instead of delaying it. You will be able to know exactly how much

time you have for each responsibility. For those students who can’t stick to a physical planner, there are apps for your phone or a calendar that work just as well, and you can set reminders which may help you stick to your plan better than a paper planner would. The notifications from your planner will remind you that your break time is over and that you need to get back to work.

Reward Yourself For many students, once they start

to relax, it can be hard to motivate yourself to get back to work. One way to combat this is by giving yourself a reward whenever you finish a task. For example, if you have a thousand word essay due, after half of the essay you earned an episode of your show, or up to the commercial break of that show. This works with music, snacks, naps or any reward that will motivate you to finish that small task. As long as the reward is not too big for the corresponding task, you can use this technique to inspire yourself to work. This means if your assignment is due soon, your rewards have to be shorter or smaller. You can not reward yourself for merely five minutes of work with a two-hour movie, otherwise there is no real amount of productivity. Selfcare makes for an excellent reward to a long study session.

ARCHIVE / HIGHLANDER

Mini Multitasking Depending on what you do for self-care

you can try multitasking your work and leisure! This one is a little harder because if you try certain things you may get distracted from your work. However, some people use face masks to unwind. If this is the case, you can do facemasks and work at the same time. Some people also take baths to destress, which is a good time to catch up on reading for your classes but still have it be enjoyable. Some people also work out as

a form of stress relief and self-care. If those people need to study, one way to approach it is to record your professor’s lectures (with their permission) and listen to the lecture while you work out rather than music. Try to stick with simple objectives to multitask with or you will not actually be doing well in either. Self-care is important for the health of students in a world of stress. Just be sure not to overindulge yourselves in it too much, or it could become an issue. Good luck Highlanders! ■H

Your ad here. Contact highlanderadrep@ucr.edu for more information.

Radar ‘THE SLOW RUSH’ HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

shows Kevin Parker’s sentiments on his fame By: James Jones, Contributing Writer

Time is something that everyone wishes they had more of, whether that means more time to hang out or more time to make things right. This is something that Tame Impala’s long awaited album, “The Slow Rush,” will have the listener wishing for. “The Slow Rush” is the five year follow up to the band’s polarizing classic “Currents.” The album not only reached major heights in the alternative scene, but was also popular amongst hip-hop fans. Kevin Parker and the band have come together once again to create an album that uses funky tunes and good bass to depict all the concepts and aspects of time itself. Past memories, nostalgia and uncertainty about the future are evident throughout the album in an optimistic and interesting fashion. Standout tracks such as “It Might be Time” and “Posthumous Forgiveness” dive deep into Parker’s mindset as he sings about getting older, not being as fun as he once was. Moving on in “It Might Be Time,” Parker shares a heartfelt conversation he wishes he had with his father talking about his success, music and ultimately forgiving his father for all the things that happened while he was growing up. The production fails to disappoint as the band’s trademark funky grooves are still as present as ever; in some instances, the album’s chord progressions and melodies are reminiscent of old Stevie Wonder albums. Warbly psychedelia and hypnotic electric bumps toss the listener into a slew of new and deeply fascinating sounds. Parker’s use of the synth and ambitious chords allow for the concept of the album to flourish beautifully. Songs like “Breathe Deeper” leave you drifting in a sea of chord progressions and funky synths. As aforementioned, the production from Parker and the crew are second to none; the grooves are still alive and well. Although the production and instrumentation are great, I felt the album lacked ambition. Yet, overall it had a great culmination of similar topics pertaining to the essence of time. Time heals wounds, mends relationships and helps a person grow internally which is highlighted

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throughout the album greatly. Tracks such as the single “Borderlines” where Parker sings about his success and where he is now in his journey as a big name artist speaks to being on the edge of a new world and a new place in the band’s career. It’s apparent that Parker is concerned about his future in a way that I think most people are when venturing into new aspects of life. There are many moments in the album that have an upbeat groove to it; yet, the album isn’t as upbeat and fast-paced as the previous album. Songs like “Is It True” speaks on young love and the spontaneity of a relationship, along with its uncertainty, which is displayed through funky drums and groovy synths. Looking past the album, I really enjoyed the cover which shows a room being filled with sand, symbolizing the sands of time.

The cover makes even more sense after a few listens. Time is a slow rush, an oxymoron that depicts time in the simplest way possible. It passes slowly in the moment, but it also moves faster than anyone is really ready for. Aside from its shortcomings, the essence of time is captured beautifully throughout the album with standouts such as “Instant Destiny” that speaks on being in love and being fearless with the future. The album aims to show how fast time passes as it pertains to relationships and experiences throughout our daily lives. This is apparent in the first song “One More Year,” where Parker sings about where the band was a year ago compared to where they are now. The album has a lot of optimism for the future which I found to be a nice sentiment. It’s clear that Parker is in

a place where he isn’t trying to take his stardom too seriously; rather he’s enjoying the time he has now and soaking everything in. Overall I felt the album had a lot of great elements to it, but it does have its moments of falling short. The album ventures into a few new sounds but lacked some ambition as compared to the band’s previous work. This album was a little too slow for me personally with little takeaway, but I still found it enjoyable to listen to. There are many good moments within the album that I think anyone could find something to love about it. For the Tame Impala fan, you may be optimistic at Parker and the crew’s new venture into uncharted territory. However, if you were more fond of “Currents” and were hoping for upbeat funky grooves all the way through then this won’t be the album you were hoping for. ■H

VERDICT:

All in all, “The Slow Rush” is an introspective perspective on time, nostalgia, love and not taking one moment for granted because life is short and in a lot of cases, a slow rush. Parker puts his past experiences, doubts and concerns about the future on display on this project. It is definitely worth the listen.

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

WINTER SOU

delivers sultry vocal

After weeks of anticipation, students lined up in front of the SRC for ASPB’s 10th annual Winter Soulstice, the premiere Rhythm and Blues (R&B) concert on campus. Doors were to open at 6:00 p.m. and performances ofﬁcially began at 7:00 PM. While waiting in line, Riverside’s capricious weather struck, with light to medium rains pouring down on the waiting students. However, ASPB staff did not allow entry into the venue until around 6:30 p.m. The now wet and agitated students were then let through security and into the building. Upon entry, attendees were greeted by a large Urban Decay booth as well as a table offering merchandise of the artist UMI. At the Urban Decay booth, students lined up to receive a bag with a miniature version of Urban Decay’s bestselling setting spray. Students could also spin a wheel to win various promotional items that were printed with the Urban Decay logo decal and were able to take photos at a photo booth.

TROI IRONS

The concert opened with Troi Irons, an indie and alternative up and coming artist based in Los Angeles. Equipped with a single electric guitar, she performed dark and melancholic songs. Her eclectic musical style didn’t captivate the audience at ﬁrst, as many attendees were unfamiliar with her work. Throughout her set, however, the crowd began to warm up to her alternative rock-inspired music. The absence of a musical accompaniment stripped her songs down of their gritty feel, appealing to a larger audience who may not resonate with punk and edgier composition of music. With passionate vocals, a clear technical understanding of music and cinematic tunes, her musical talent shined and impressed the audience, especially because she performed solo. Overall, her musical and emotional presence were prominent and held the audience hostage to her smooth vocals and hypnotising guitar riffs.

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

Then transitioning to the midliner, UMI, the audience began to get restless as there was a large time delay for the artist to arrive on stage. While the crowd awaited the next performance, the musicians on stage, acting as her musical accompaniment for the night, appeared confused; there was much disorganization amidst the staff and concert hosts. After much waiting, the audience was ultimately greeted by UMI, a lo-fi R&B artist hailing from Seattle and currently a student at the University of Southern California. UMI, with her full female musical accompaniment, started off her set with deep breathing and meditation. As she progressed through her set, her performances represented the duality and blend of musical genres, gaining inspiration from neo-soul music and lo-fi alternative music. With her delicate vocals permeating the air and intermingling with the hum of the synth organs in the background, her peaceful and profound music was felt by the audience deeply. With a calm yet energetic stage presence, UMI performed music ranging from cover songs to works reminiscent of ‘90s Japanese soft-pop. As a whole, the anticipation for her set was justified, with an extremely talented musical accompaniment and peaceful vibes all around making up for the stage delay.

SARA BERNAL / HIGHLANDER

LYDIA TSOU/ HIGHLANDER

UMI

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ULSTICE

ls and smooth tunes

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

PREETI JUTURU CONTRIBUTING WRITER

KIANA LEDE

Entering the second half of the concert, direct support artist Kiana Lede arrived with a full musical accompaniment. Lede, a contemporary R&B artist native to Arizona, was highly anticipated by the crowd. The audience followed each note she sang, every beat that was dropped and every guitar string strung. With luxurious, sensual and sultry vocals, she truly embodied the intent of Winter Soulstice: drawing inspiration from contemporary R&B and alternative music. The crowd was emotionally vulnerable and moved by her beautiful tunes. However, technicality wise, the sound balance between the bass and the vocals was extremely off, especially closer to the stage. With an abundance of microphone feedback and reverb, as well as a painfully intense bass, the set was not as enjoyable as it could have been. Due to this imbalance, it was difﬁcult to hear the annunciation of her words and led to disengagement from the audience.

LYDIA TSOU / HIGHLANDER

MARTIN LOPEZ / HIGHLANDER

BRENT FAIYAZ Lastly, headliner Brent Faiyaz, a jazz-inspired R&B artist hailing from Maryland, was greeted by the cheerful and excited screams of his fans. With clean vocals taking inspiration from jazz, funk, indie and hip-hop, his intimate and enchanting songs took a hold on the crowd. With smooth guitar riffs, deep keyboard chords and a steady drum beat, the composition was fulﬁlling and penetrated the hearts and souls of the audience. However, the sound balance was not ﬁxed after Kiana Lede’s performance, furthering the auditory discomfort from earlier. At one point, the intensity of the bass became almost overwhelming; his set dragged on, eventually losing the full engagement of the crowd. Throughout his set, the crowd awaited his performance of “Poison,” his most popular song. Yet, to their dismay, he ended his set abruptly and did not perform the song. The audience was then asked to leave the venue immediately and workers of the event were strict on making students exit the gymnasium as soon as possible. This year’s Winter Soulstice was impressive as per usual, with high production value, incredible talent and an opportunity for students to relax and enjoy music at the convenience of their own university. However, considering that it was the 10th anniversary of the event, many attendees expected grandiose and engaging performances per set, which was not consistently the case. ■H

LYDIA TSOU/ HIGHLANDER

SARA BERNAL/ HIGHLANDER

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/arts

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.

RADAR

REPLAY

‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’ is as relevant today as it was decades ago MARC A. ARTEAGA, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

If there is any important album known for being a complete failure when it was initially released, it’s The Velvet Underground’s debut album. When it was first released on March 12,1967, many record stores prohibited the sale of the LP and radio stations across the nation banned its playback. “The Velvet Underground & Nico” was so controversial from a commercial standpoint for two main reasons: its sound content and its lyrical content. For the time it was released, it was extremely experimental in comparison to the music that was being played in 1967; this period is characterized by the strong advancement of pop music after all. Many songs on this album feature extensive tracks of harsh sounding instruments. Pop music on the other hand is generally characterized by songs that range from two and a half to four minutes and feature a melody that is easy for a listener to fall in love with from the first time they hear it. From a lyrical perspective, pop music tends to feature relatable themes along the lines of being in love or having fun. “The Velvet Underground & Nico” does not adhere to this songwriting style. This album deals with many issues that musicians had not sung about previously. It mostly features lyrics that discuss the intense realities of drug abuse and being sexually deviant. Although not every

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song on the album is directly about the two mentioned ideas, they are prominent throughout the album. It is for that reason it was blacklisted among many music outlets. Take the song “Run Run Run,” for instance. It talks about four characters that all put themselves in dangerous situations in order to find drugs. “I’m Waiting for

the Man” is similar to the previous track, in that it mentions someone going to a derelict part of a city in order to buy drugs. Perhaps the most impactful song that effectively tells a story is the seventh track, titled “Heroin.” It is a seven minute long monologue featuring someone openly explaining their relationship with the narcotic. The soothing sound of a viola

becomes abrasive to the listener’s ears as the singer explains that heroin allows them to disregard stark reality so easily in a time when the country was becoming split over various issues. Then again, even today the country is polarized on the account of many subjects, some even centered around drugs. “There She Goes” is an account between the lack of a relationship between a prostitute and her client. Details of violence from a man to the woman can be heard in this. The song “Venus In Furs” is based on a short novel with the same name. It is a causal account of someone with a desire for a partner to engage in sadomasochistic behavior with. Promiscuous behavior at the time was considered far more shameful that it is today, the publication of non-traditional media like this to a wide audience can be attributed to the evolution of people’s ideas. While there are endless songs today that are thematically similar to this album, I will argue that few are so honest and create such convincing stories. Even though this was released over half a century ago, many of the emotions portrayed in this album are relatable to listeners today. It is for this reason that the album that was an utter failure has become an icon. It serves as a piece of history that reflects a generation’s outlook on the nation and it can even apply mirror the attitudes of people now. ■H

‘Low Roar’: the brilliance of Iceland’s folk rock self-titled album ADAM ALVERNAZ Senior Staff Writer

In early 2002, Ryan Karazija would start the formation of indie rock group, Audrye Sessions, performing around coffeehouses in Livermore, Calif. For the next eight years, the band would continue to refine their sound by releasing multiple EPs in the rock and pop genre. During the mid 2000’s the band rose to prominence; the group was featured in multiple video games and TV shows. Yet, the band soon relocated in late 2010 to Reykjavik, Iceland and renamed themselves to Low Roar. Their breakout album of the same name was released on Nov. 1, 2011 and would shape their sound for years to come. This new album came to audiences within a new genre and special type of mixing that creates enveloping soundscapes for listeners to get lost in. While each track utilizes this in some form, the specific sounds can either be high pitched synthesizer noise or a low rumble drum beat. Either way, these backdrops to the production are instrumental in complementing Karazija’s voice. Each track gives a new unique ambient feel that tells a story to the listener. The soulful lyrics by vocalist Karazija brings a close intimate experience as he recounts a myriad of tales that showcase raw

emotion and beautiful imagery. Some of the group’s best songs appear on the album with many fan favorites such as “Give Up” and “Just a Habit” that offer a deep perspective into Karazija’s psyche. Some songs, like “Puzzle,” pay homage to the bands roots with its interesting dreamlike pop. Each track’s production is filled with an air of distress and pain that is carried throughout the album itself. The lyrics reflect this mood as the wistful words melt into the backdrop of the sounds and instrumentals. Since their sound is unapologetically depressing, many tracks will leave listeners with a tinge of hopefulness. It’s from this sombre catharsis that listeners will be calmed and soothed by the elegance displayed in their sound. This is especially true for this initial album as the sole producer is none other than Karazija himself. With a limited budget, he faced multiple financial hardships in order to continue supporting his family with his music. This gives the album a hint of authenticity as each track symbolizes his plight from moving halfway across the world to continue his labor of love. The band has recently risen to prominence again thanks to their inclusion in the video game, “Death Stranding.” Produced by legendary game designer, Hideo Kojima, the

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folk rock group’s strong sound complimented the game’s more somber and downtrodden feel. Low Roar’s iconic and distinctive music is something not many bands are able to find. They have a special type of voice that gives them a very interesting authenticity to the instrumentals, lyrics and production.

While their self-titled album was just the first of many, it truly paved the way for many more. Each subsequent release builds on the very essence of the band’s sound that’s portrayed so well in this album. Replay “Low Roar,” it’s melancholic vibes will soothe and relax listeners as Karazija’s lyrics will H leave audiences relating in some way.■

Sports

VICTOR LEI / HIGHLANDER

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

H I Garchives HLANDER Highlander Archives allow the sports writers to revisit a certain moment in sports history. Here we get the opportunity to examine the memorable or most impactful moments in sports history and understand why we should revisit the significance of those events.

Philip Rivers leaves behind a legacy for an embattled LA Chargers franchise

KEVIN SANCHEZ-NERI Contributing Writer

Two weeks ago, the LA Chargers announced they will not resign QB Philip Rivers, who will become a free agent next month. Rivers was drafted fourth overall by the New York Giants in 2004 before they swapped for Eli Manning, who was drafted first overall by the San Diego Chargers. Manning had made it clear prior to the draft he would not play for San Diego, forcing the blockbuster trade on draft day. Despite showing tremendous accuracy during his college days, questions about his side-arm throwing motion kept his career prospects in doubt. Nevertheless, Rivers went on to have a prolific career with the Chargers, making the Pro Bowl eight times and leading his team to 11 playoff appearances, the first of which occurred after Rivers’ first season as a starter. Rivers’ career was not a flawless one though, especially in his last few seasons with the Chargers. Tight window throws into double and triple coverages marred his final season with LA and ultimately sealed his fate with the team. Despite playing with slight overconfidence at times, no one will question Rivers’ durability and toughness. He’s currently second all-time in career consecutive starts and first among active quarterbacks. Additionally, Rivers did not miss a single snap over the span of 16 consecutive seasons. In Rivers’ sophomore season as a starter, the Chargers finished 11-5 and won their first two playoff games, making the American Football Conference (AFC) championship game in what is perhaps his most iconic and legacy-cementing performance. After going down with

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a knee injury in just the first quarter of the game, Rivers would return to the field with a knee-brace, and powered through the rest of the game throwing for 211 yards on 37 attempts. With Hall of Famer Ladanian Tomlinson also out for the game, the Chargers would fall to the New England Patriots, 21-12. It would later be revealed that Rivers was playing on a partially torn ACL, an injury which required surgery. As an Alabama native, Rivers inherited a football bloodline. His father and brother both played college football, with his father, Steve, landing a head coaching job for Decatur High School. Rivers would go on to establish himself among the top-ranked quarterbacks in the state and received offers from Auburn and Alabama. Wanting to get as much playing time as possible, Rivers would defer to North Carolina State, where he was projected to start in his first year. After sitting behind Drew Brees for the duration of his first two seasons, Rivers took over at the start of the 200607 season. In a post-game press conference, after the last game of the season, Rivers got candid with reporters as he reflected on his long-tenured career with the Chargers, “Shoot, I couldn’t have tried any harder.” Emotional and teary-eyed, Rivers saw the writing on the wall as he was vocal about wanting to continue playing, even if it meant playing for a different team after 16 years with the Chargers. Rivers will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at some point in his life. Although his chances of being a firstballot inductee are low, there is no doubt in the minds of those who have played with him that he has a spot in the Hall reserved among his fellow teammates, H Ladanian Tomlinson and Junior Seau. ■

A drought in the third quarter against Cal Poly SLO leads to seventh conference loss DAMIAN GARCIA Staﬀ Writer

The SRC Arena in Riverside was the site of UC Riverside’s (8-18, 4-8) second season clash against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO). Their previous meeting favored Cal Poly SLO (7-20, 4-9) as they earned a victory at home, 75-70. In a game where the Highlanders were seemingly in control, a late Mustang comeback changed the final outcome. In this revenge inspired match on Thursday, Feb. 21, sophomore forward Daphne Gnago flipped a switch to set her team-high points tally. Gnago scored 14 of her total 15 points in the second half along with two assists. Gnago also demonstrated defensive poise with six rebounds and two steals that contributed pivotal points on the scoreboard. The first half saw the Highlanders’ offense fight point-for-point. At the half of the game, the Highlanders were down

just one at 31-30. The narrative changed once the teams reemerged from the locker room. Although UCR was able to tactically create shooting opportunities, they were not able to convert from the floor. In total, the Highlanders shot 4-of-13 from the field, and 0-for-3 from beyond the arc to uncharacteristically shoot a dismal 30%. The Mustangs displayed a polar opposite side of offense. Shooting 7-of14 from the floor and capitalizing on a pair of free-throws that proved crucial, Cal Poly outscored UC Riverside by six to gain a 47-40 lead heading into the final quarter. A late fourth quarter spark nearly inspired a comeback. The Highlanders outscored their opponents 8-2, cutting the deficit to six in the final minutes of the match. With 2:31 left on the clock, UCR missed a pair of shot attempts in tandem with a paramount turnover. Cal Poly SLO was able to put up another four points,

sealing their victory in the end 62-52. Along with Gnago, senior guard Jannon Otto also posted double digits with 11 points. Senior forward Marina Ewodo contributed eight points, four assists and seven rebounds in the paint. In an interview with The Highlander, Seyram Bell, the head coach of the women’s basketball team elaborated on Ewodo’s role as a person foremost and player from Pau, France. “I’m big on bringing people that fit in as athletes and people. You can be an exceptionally good player but if you’re not a good person, it doesn’t mesh well with the vibe that we have here,” stated Bell. The Highlanders return home on Thursday, Feb. 27 as they take on the Cal State Fullerton Titans (14-10, 6-5). The Highlanders have won two of their last three meetings with the Titans. In their most recent meeting on Feb. 8, the Highlanders fell 71-61 to the Titans in their home. ■H

MEN’S BASEBALL vs

CAL BAPTIST UNIVERSITY final score: 7-4 FRIDAY, FEB 21 Win: Pitcher Cole Percival (1-0) Junior Right Fielder Dylan Orick led the Highlanders with five RBIs

MEN’S BASEBALL

GAME 2 VS. CAL BAPTIST UNIVERSITY Postponed (rain) Game will be rescheduled on Monday, Feb. 24 @ 6 pm

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

SPORTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

Men’s tennis dominates east coast trip with final shutout win against Holy Cross University CALLIE LAWSON-FREEMAN Staff Writer

The UC Riverside men’s tennis team dominated their four-day east coast campaign as they won every match that they participated in. The Highlanders improved their season record to 10-5 overall and established a six-game winning streak. The trip consisted of five matches across Maryland, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts between Thursday, Feb. 14 to Sunday, Feb. 17. The Highlanders beat Coppin State, Siena College, Saint Francis College, Quinnipiac University and finished the trip with a third shutout win at Holy Cross University. The Highlanders started their trip with a 7-0 shutout victory against Coppin State (0-3) in Watkins Park, Maryland. There, they almost went undefeated in singles, losing only one set out of the five played on Friday, Feb. 14. On Saturday, Feb. 15, the Highlanders traveled to Loudinville, New York to defeat Siena College (4-6) with another 7-0 shutout victory. Senior Gilbert Chung, senior Nabil Abdallah and freshman brothers Jayson and Micheal Blando secured the doubles points in flights two and three. Blando and freshman Nikita Horunzhy won their matches to sweep the singles matches as well. On Sunday, Feb. 16 the Highlanders only finished with one doubles loss to Saint Francis College (5-7) in Brooklyn, New York and bounced back with a total sweep of singles. Freshman Daniel Velek won

the No. 4 singles match, dominating every set. The final score was 6-1, continuing a perfect winning streak for the trip. On the same day, the Highlanders continued their travels to Hamden, Connecticut and defeated Quinnipiac University (1-5) 4-3. They secured the win through establishing an early lead, going 4-0 in singles. The Highlanders traveled to Worcester, Massachusetts for the final match of the trip against Holy Cross University (5-4) on Monday, Feb. 17. The Highlanders received standout performances from Velek and sophomore Andreas Whelan-Merediz who earned the 6-0 win on the doubles side. The sibling duo of Jayson and Micheal Blando fought for the number two spot with a 6-3 win that helped the Highlanders sweep the doubles. Chung ended the trip with an impressive 5-0 singles record. “In order to have success on the road, it has to be a great team effort. Different guys need to step up at different times, and that’s what we got. Obviously, a couple of guys did go 5-0 in singles (Chung and Velek) so they led the pack, but again, it was a great team effort that made us go 5-0 on a rather brutal schedule on the road,” Head Coach Mattias Johansson said in an interview with The Highlander. This road trip showed growth for the team after their early season Arizona trip where the athletes struggled with the tough travel schedule and back-to-back matches. “This is new territory for UCR men’s tennis since we have never been undefeated on a long road swing before. Hopefully it gave

us a lot of self confidence and a continued willingness to work hard at practice” he said. “As soon as you become comfortable with the level you perform at, it may go south very quickly, so stay humble with increased confidence and just practice hard and refocus on the task ahead. Obviously

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

the guys want to keep the winning streak going and perform well at R House,” Johansson added. After a short break, the Highlanders will continue the action on Tuesday, March 3 against Villanova University (3-2) at the SRC Arena in Riverside, Calif. ■H

Men’s basketball goes 1-1 on the week after nail biting loss against Hawaii and 61-48 win over Cal Poly SLO

JORDAN HOM Senior Staff Writer

On Thursday, Feb. 20, the Highlanders (14-14, 4-8) hosted the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (15-10) on their home court in Riverside. UC Riverside battled until the end, but their efforts were not enough as they lost their fifth straight game by a final score of 56-55. UC Riverside got off to a fast start in the first few minutes of the game. Led by junior guard Dominick Pickett, the Highlanders scored 10 points within the span of four minutes with Hawaii only putting up two. However, after a substitution by Hawaii Head Coach Eran Ganot, the momentum of the first half shifted in the direction of Hawaii. Freshman guard Justin Webster of Hawaii took charge of the game as he scored 18 points in the first half. The second half saw UC Riverside turn up the intensity on both ends of the court. Despite being down 37-23 at the start of the half, the Highlanders didn’t let the score affect their effort and energy level as they

slowly chipped away the lead. Consecutive baskets from junior forward Arinze Chidom, graduate student guard Khyber Kabellis and Pickett gave the Highlanders momentum and with around eight minutes left in the game, the Highlanders took a five-point lead. From this point in the game, a backand-forth battle ensued, with Hawaii senior guard Eddie Stansberry knocking down five free throws to tie the game. With just under two minutes remaining, the Highlanders held a two-point lead. With a minute and two seconds remaining on the game clock, a fastbreak foul by UCR sophomore forward Angus McWilliam on Hawaii junior guard Drew Buggs led to a trip to the free-throw line in which Buggs converted on his two attempts. Buggs’ made free throws brought the game to a one-point deficit for Hawaii. On the following possession, with 30 seconds left on the game clock, Pickett attempted a jumper but the shot fell short, leading to a defensive rebound by Buggs. Hawaii senior forward Zigmars Raimo

drove toward the basket for a layup but his attempt was off. However, sophomore center Dawson Carper was in position for the putback and Hawaii took back the lead. After a final timeout by UCR, the Highlanders had one last chance to secure the win. Pickett and McWilliam both attempted last second jump shots but both players missed their attempts. The Highlanders were unable to hold on and Hawaii took the ballgame 56-55. “This (loss) one is gonna hurt. They all hurt but this one hurts more because we did so well to get back up and we just made some questionable decisions at the end. But hats off to them because they are a good team,” Head Coach David Patrick said in a post-game interview. McRae led the way for the Highlanders with 16 points and nine rebounds. Pickett was the only other Highlander in double figures as he finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Patrick stated, “I think (McRae) got the message at half time. In the first half, he was avoiding contact and looking for

VICTOR LEI / HIGHLANDER

double teams and they weren’t coming. In the second half, he took his poise and read his reads on the offensive end and delivered.” As a team, the Highlanders outrebounded the Rainbow Wahine by three rebounds. They grabbed 39 total rebounds compared to the 36 that Hawaii had. The Highlanders also held the edge in steals and blocks as they got seven steals and five blocks compared to zero steals and four blocks from Hawaii. The Highlanders played their second game of the week on Saturday, Feb. 22, against the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs (7-20, 4-9). Despite being on the road, Riverside got the victory 61-48 and ended their five-game losing streak. In 31 minutes of action, junior guard George Willborn III scored 17 points and grabbed four rebounds. Chidom added 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Up next, the Highlanders will battle against UC Santa Barbara (17-9, 6-5) on Thursday, Feb. 27, at the SRC Arena in Riverside. ■H

SPORTS 24

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

Softball loses five straight in Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

CHRISTINE TRAN Senior Staff Writer

On Thursday, Feb. 20, UC Riverside’s softball team (6-9) completed their first day in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic (MNCC) in Cathedral City, Calif. The Highlanders faced off against the University of Mexico (UNM) Lobos (6-7) and the Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars (7-5). In the first game on Thursday, UCR put up a fight but eventually

fell short to the Lobos 6-3. Their loss was followed hours later with another tough game against the Cougars where the Highlanders lost 5-2. Thursday’s double-header started off as a pitcher’s duel, with both teams going scoreless for the ﬁrst two innings. At the beginning, UCR and UNM were evenly matched, with each school having two runners left on base in the ﬁrst inning and no runners left on base during the second inning. UNM broke the tie at the bottom of the

third inning when senior shortstop Cameryn O’Grady hit a double that brought freshman infielder Racheal Hathoot across the plate. Their scoring streak continued with an RBI double from junior outfielder Andrea Howard with her and O’Grady scoring to bring the Lobos ahead 3-0. At the top of the fourth inning, the Highlanders scored their first run of the game. Sophomore outfielder Nadia Witt hit an RBI double to left field which allowed senior catcher Kayla Curtan to

score. With two runners on base, it looked like UCR was in position to even the score. However, sophomore outfielder Sami Demyon grounded out to end the inning. UNM responded to UCR scoring with a run of their own during the bottom of the fourth inning. The Highlanders continued to push back and tallied two runs after a two-run single by Curtan shrunk the lead to one run at 4-3. Despite their efforts, UCR fell further behind when the Lobos scored twice in the sixth to secure the win, 6-3. UCR’s Witt finished with two runs and Curtan led the team in RBI with two. Sophomore pitcher Chrys Hildebrand’s record fell to 0-1 after pitching two innings and allowing three runs. For UNM, junior right fielder Taryn Young had two runs and hits. In the second game against BYU, the Highlanders got off to a shaky start. Right off the bat, the Cougars’ senior outfielder Rylee Jensen-McFarland scored off an error in the bottom of the first inning. BYU continued to dominate UCR into the third inning after freshman first baseman Huntyr Ava hit a two-run home run to add to the lead. The Highlanders answered back in the top of the fourth inning

tuesday

3:00 Pm vs. UNLV

Home game

THURSDAY

Home game

feb 27 Feb 28 feb 28

men’s basketball

Home game

8:00 Pm vs. UC SANTA BARBARA

FRIDAY

9:00 Am vs. UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA

Home game

men’s tennis

Home game

FRIDAY

SOFTBALL

11:30 Am vs. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA

THURSDAY

5:00 Pm vs. CAL STATE FULLERTON

f the o e t e

Feb 25 Women’s BASKETBALL feb 27

baseball

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UPCOMING GAMES

when senior pitcher Melanie Olmos scored on a single to center field by freshman shortstop Marissa Burk. At the bottom of the fourth, BYU’s Jensen-McFarland stepped up to bat and hit a two-run home run to sufficiently put the game out of reach. UCR continued their efforts with Witt scoring for the Highlanders during the sixth, but in the end the win went to BYU, 5-2. Senior third baseman Emma Ramelot led the team with two hits and one RBI with Olmos contributing two hits as well. Jensen-McFarland and Ava led the Cougars with two runs and two RBIs each. The Highlander softball team continued to play in the MNCC on Friday, Feb. 21, and Saturday, Feb 22. On Friday, UCR lost consecutively to Mississippi State University Bulldogs (12-3) by a final score of 6-3 and 12-6 against the University of Utah Utes (102). On Saturday, UCR finished the tournament with another loss, 8-5, versus the Oregon State University Beavers (9-5). The Highlanders are scheduled to play in the Amy S. Harrison Classic where their first match is against the University of Montana Grizzlies (5-7) on Friday, Feb. 28 at 9 a.m., here in Riverside at the H Amy S. Harrison softball field. ■

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

Daniel Velek men’s tennis Freshman

Won #4 singles in straight sets against Saint Francis College Terriers