Vol. 71, Issue 29

T he h ighlander

RADAR

Remembering the life and impact of the Queen of Rock ‘n’

Roll, Tina Turner

KIMBERLY BEJEC Assistant Radar Editor

THE RECENT DEATH OF THE LEGENDARY SINGER HAS FANS LOOKING BACK ON HER INSPIRATIONAL AND EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND CAREER.

After the news broke that the soul and rock powerhouse, Tina Turner, passed away peacefully on May 24, 2023, fans quickly remembered her life and career. Turner was known widely for her eccentric stage presence, powerful vocals and for changing the rock ‘n’ roll game. From growing into fame with her thenhusband Ike Turner to blossoming in her solo career, her story is one that will be remembered.

Born as Anna Mae Bullock in Tennessee, the singer has come so far, especially from living with poor living standards. She later relocated to St. Louis in her teen years and began singing in her church’s choir. During her time in St. Louis, she frequently visited Club Manhattan where she met Ike Turner and his band, the Kings of Rhythm. It was then that she began singing alongside the band while still attending high school. She later married Ike and renamed their ensemble the Ike and Tina Turner Revue.

Popularity quickly rose for the group, especially with Tina at the forefront of the group as her versatile voice and energetic dancing were spellbinding. The group produced plenty of famous tracks such as “A Fool in Love,” “Proud Mary” and “River Deep - Mountain High.” Additionally, the group was known for their unstoppable power and fun live performances influenced by the genres of jazz, rock and soul. Despite the success of the group, there were tumultuous times behind the scenes. Ike was a very demanding and complex perfectionist, wanting many things out of Tina that pushed her past her breaking point. Tina would later reveal in an interview with People magazine that Ike was mentally and physically abusive toward her, pushing her to attempt suicide several times. The couple was married for 16 years until Tina decided she had enough, and left him with barely enough money to survive on her own. Through

► SEE TURNER PAGE 14

UCR EcoCAR Club wins two awards at EcoCAR EV Challenge Y1 Competition in Orlando, Florida

PROFESSOR HEEJUNG JUNG AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER TRANG BUI PROVIDE EXCLUSIVE INSIGHT.

ABHIJIT REGE

Contributing Writer

TheEcoCARatUCRteamattendedtheEcoCAR EV Challenge Y1 Competition in Orlando, Florida that took place from May 21st to May 26th, 2023. The team was able to bring home two prestigious awards: the Spirit of the Challenge Award, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the Spirit of Communications Award.

The Spirit of Communications Award recognizes an individual that has made an outstanding effort in the area of Communications and exemplifies leadership and sportsmanship within their actions. The Spirit of the Challenge Award, named in honor of Ron Stence, a long-time competition sponsor and organizer, is given to the team that exhibits the following characteristics: exceptional perseverance in the face of adversity, maintaining a positive attitude throughout the competition despite significant challenges and obstacles, and pursuing exceptionally high technical standards for their team that best represent the Spirit of the EcoCAR competition. The Comms Manager,Trang Bui, was chosen to represent the Communications subteam in the Y1 EcoCARStudentLeadershipCouncil,consistingof six representatives, one for each subteam. They are

the voice of the student body, gathering feedback and ideas from students and proposing initiatives to improve the competition and overall experience in EcoCAR. Both awards were nominated to us by other teams. It means we have made a very good impression and built strong relationships as a completely new team to this 30+ year competition series. It shows our drive, dedication and willingness to learn in the Challenge and sets us up as a promising contender for the years to come.

Professor Heejung and Trang provided insight through their respective interviews. These accolades are a testament to the hard work, determination, and sportsmanship demonstrated by their team throughout the past year. Their success in this competition would not have been possible without the dedication and contributions of each individual.

► SEE ECOCAR PAGE 5

OPINIONS

SENNA OMAR Managing Editor

Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, announced his campaign for president this past Wednesday in an audio chitchat via Twitter. Standing by his side was Republican mega-donor David Sack and the world’s worst billionaire, Elon Musk. Launching his campaign with embarrassing technical difficulties, reflective of Twitter’s failing infrastructure since the termination of half their staff, DeSantis declared war on “wokeness.”

In order to run for president, Florida law historically required that one cannot currently hold any political offices. However, after signing SB 7050 into law, Ron Desantis has given himself the green light to run for president while still holding his position as Florida governor. Republican supporters of the “resign to run” measure emphasized that the law only clarifies what is already considered allowed, while Democrats argue that DeSantis is giving himself a soft place to land when he loses the presidential election.

The law also makes unnecessary changes to voter registration policies, further restricting the voting rights of Floridian communities of color. The legislation calls for the reduction of time as third-party voter registration organizations have to file voter registration applications and a 2-day reduction to the vote-by-mail request period. Republicans claim that this is simple election reform to maintain the “Florida gold standard.” However, the passage of SB 7050 is proof of a long-standing Republican goal to undermine the fairness of American elections and skew results to favor Republican candidates.

DeSantis is spearheading the battle against wokeness in his home state of Florida, instituting extreme limitations on public school education, an abortion ban and some of America’s cruelest anti-trans policies. His Republican supporters seem to be ideologically aligned, with 55%

► SEE DESANTIS PAGE 7

Ron DeSantis’ embarrassing beginning to his presidential campaign

FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS ANNOUNCES HIS RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

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Traditions and Logistics: UCR 2023 Commencement

ALL TO KNOW ABOUT UC RIVERSIDE’S 69TH COMMENCEMENT.

The 2022-2023 school year marks UC Riverside’s 69th commencement. With various activities for seniors to complete such as submitting their graduation application, attending sendoff, decorating their caps and gowns and much more. All of this information can be found on UCR’s commencement website, with detailed information regarding each step in the process.

Starting on June 2, the schedule of ceremonies begins. First is the School of Medicine Commencement and the Hippocratic Oath Ceremony for students receiving their MD, the following day is the Graduate Division Hooding Ceremony for all PHD and MFA degree candidates. June 20 is the graduation ceremonies for both Master’s and Bachelor’s degree candidates in CNAS and BCOE split up over three time slots. June 21 is the graduation ceremony for Master’s and Bachelor’s degree candidates in CHASS, the candidates got to choose one of three time slots through their Intent to Participate form. Finally, June 22 is the graduation ceremony for the School of Education, School of Public Policy and the School of Business for their Master’s and Bachelor’s degree candidates and Teacher Credential Candidates, it is split up over two time slots.

There are a few traditions and symbols to look forward to during graduation this year. The UCR Pipe Band will play a wide variety of music on their bagpipes and drums. Depending on the school they are graduating from and their major, each

graduate will wear a special color on their tassel, hood, or trimmings to represent their discipline. The Seal of the University of California that has been designed and used since 1910 which incorporates symbols to represent the university. The Chancellor’s Medal which is worn as part of the chancellor’s regalia during ceremonial observances. The UC Riverside Mace which was designed with important aspects of UCR’s history in mind such as the Citrus Experiment Station, the mottos of both the UC system and the University and UCR’s founding year. And finally the Alma Mater which is performed during the commencement ceremony.

There are a few additional facts to keep in mind when preparing to attend the ceremony. All the ceremonies will be located at Toyota Arena except for the School of Medicine Commencement and the Graduate Division Hooding Ceremony. The purpose of hosting graduation at Toyota Arena is to provide “an indoor, air-conditioned venue with increased seating capacity and improved sightlines and security.” Seating arrangements at the venue is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Parking at Toyota Arena is $10 per vehicle.

More information about commencement can be found on the UCR Commencement 2023 FAQs webpage.

ASUCR discusses STEM High School and SoTA

THE 8TH SENATE MEETING OF THE SPRING QUARTER COVERED NEW LEGISLATION AND CONCERNS RAISED BY THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY.

MATA ELANGOVAN

News Editor

The eighth Senate Meeting of the Spring Quarter was called to order at 7:16 p.m. All senators were present except for PPT Richardson, CHASS Senator Mido, CHASS Senator Bui, CHASS Senator Yang, CHASS Senator Lu, CNAS Senator Cheng and BCOE Senator Au. All ECAB members were present as well except for President Assaf, VP of Campus Internal Affairs Nassar, VP of External Affairs Hearns, Elections Director Trinh and International Student Director Nguyen.

After the approval of the agenda and previous week’s meeting minutes, the Senate opened the podium for public forum. The former Model UN Director Michael Khvat came up to the podium to voice concerns about sustainability in UCR. He pointed out that the older buildings like Olmstead and Sproul fail to meet sustainability standards and proposed that they consider upgrading the buildings with motion sensors and lighting alternatives to save energy. VP of Sustainability Martinez said she would be reaching out to Khvat.

Victoria Nguyen announced that she will be the new EVP for the 2023-2024 school year. Ángel Rentería from the VPEA Office asked for a friendly amendment to the civic engagement director position from a 9-month period to a 12-month period on the budget.

During the Ex-Officio Reports, both State of the Association and Judicial gave updates. President Assaf’s statement was presented by Chief of Staff Cooper who reported that the R’Gear distribution and End Overdose events were successful. Other events currently being worked are another alumni panel, a Senior BBQ at the Barn with merch for seniors, and a financial literacy workshop. EVP Usmani reported that one-on-

ones and recaps with senators have been conducted, and the senator banquet has been planned.

VPEA Hearns has met with legislators to speak on behalf of affordable housing and disability justice and is completing the transition of powers. VP of Sustainability Martinez passed one large scale initiative and multiple green grants, held tabling and is also working on a transition of powers. Marketing and Promo Director Nguyen announced that the last giveaway of the year will be tote bags and stress balls near finals week. Personnel Director Ahluwalia reported that the Menstrual Product Resolution was passed. First Time Student Director Nguyen is working on a point-to-point shuttle program from 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, every half hour in front of Winston Chung Hall, driven by UCR students to drive students who live in a 30-minute radius back home. Their committee is holding a goodie bag event with stress relievers for finals with the first hour reserved for first years. Elections Director Trinh stated that she will be working with PPT Richardson in regards to legislation and that she will be sharing and posting applications for elections director soon. International Student Director Nguyen reported on keeping in contact with her committee and planning her transition of power. PPT Richardson reported having held 9 LRC meetings since the start of the quarter and that the third wave of AAP has rolled out. For Judicial, it was reported that the last meeting will be next week and that the results for new positions will be released during next week’s meeting. VPDEI applications will open soon. Continued online. ■ H

Free menstrual products to be added in all bathrooms on campus

ANDREA MARIE LOMELI Contributing Writer

According to BMC Women’s Health, 1 in 10 college students face challenges affording menstrual hygiene products such as panty liners, pads and tampons. California Assembly Bill 367 states that access to menstrual products is a “basic human right” that is vital for good health, dignity and engagement of Californians in political, social and economic life. The Assembly bill also states that California is a state that promotes gender equity for not only women, but transgender men, nonbinary and gender nonconforming people that menstruate and experience adversity from poor access to menstrual products as well. Additionally, the Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021, requires community colleges and California State University system to provide free menstrual products at locations on campus.

Period poverty is a public health crisis that is defi ned as a lack of access to menstrual tools, hygiene facilities and education. Period poverty is significantly more common in individuals with low income. Organizations on campus such as The Well, Women’s Resource Center, Student Health Services, the LGBTQ resource center and Never Ending Cycle have been focused on eliminating period poverty and promoting menstrual hygiene. The Well is a health promotion department at UCR that provides quality health resources such as wellness kits and

sexual health products, as well as a supportive space for students. They currently provide free menstrual products including pads, tampons and menstrual cups for UCR students. Student Health Services also currently provides pregnancy tests, emergency contraceptives, condoms, birth control and medication abortion. Never Ending Cycle at UCR provides underprivileged women with menstrual products and educates students on women’s menstrual health.

Senator and incoming Vice President of Internal Affairs, Ruhi Barman has been engaging with students and faculty to advocate for campus and student needs. Alongside many committee members at ASUCR, the goal of increasing easy accessibility of menstrual products works towards supporting menstrual equity at University of California, Riverside. During the Senate meeting on May 31, a menstrual product resolution was passed that implements menstrual products in all bathrooms on campus. Barman says that they are currently working on getting funding for a pilot program in the upcoming year. This program is dedicated to launching their goal of hygiene products that are free of cost and a call for UCR to follow.

SENATE PASSES MENSTRUAL PRODUCT RESOLUTION THAT IMPLEMENTS MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS IN ALL BATHROOMS ON

Remembering Ernie Garcia, UCR’s first Hispanic graduate

EMYR ORTIZ Assistant News Editor

Dr. Ernest “Ernie” F. Garcia, longtime educator and arts advocate, and UCR’s fi rst Hispanic graduate, passed away April 5th. He was 93 years old.

Garcia, the youngest of four children, grew up in Colton, the son of Mexican immigrants. Growing up in the 1930s and 40s, he found one of his fi rst jobs as an orange and potato picker, where he demonstrated a strong work ethic. Eventually, “he was able to pick and fi ll 100 boxes of oranges a day,” according to UC News. After attending Colton High School, Garcia embarked on a path of higher education where he obtained an associates degree from San Bernardino Valley College. However, having enlisted as a reserve with the U.S. Air National Guard, Garcia’s higher education was briefly interrupted in the early 1950s due to world affairs. With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, Garcia was deployed to Japan, where he served as a staff sergeant in charge of supplies, according to UC News.

However, when he returned to the U.S., he quickly dived back into his education by enrolling in the newly inaugurated UC Riverside in 1954. Garcia was part of UCR’s very fi rst graduating class. In his time at Riverside, he was elected to ASB and quickly took interest in the selection of UCR’s new mascot. Garcia suggested the coatimundi, a relative of racoons, writing in a memory book that, “I thought we should have a catchy and unusual mascot that would make [UCR] known immediately!” As Garcia already had multiple years of college under his belt from a different institution, his time at UCR was short, and he graduated in 1955 with a degree in social sciences.

After graduating UCR, Garcia pursued a career in education, obtaining a master’s degree in School Administration and Curriculum from the University of Redlands, and became an educator in the Rialto Unified School District, according to the San Bernardino Valley College Foundation. In 1966, he completed a doctorate

at UCLA in Instructional Technology. Afterwards, he became a professor at the University of Redlands and, a year later, at California State University, San Bernardino. At CSU San Bernardino, Garcia was named dean of the School of Education in 1979, a position he held until retirement in 1990. In 1994, UCR included him in its “40 Alumni Who Make a Difference” list, and Dr. Ernest Garcia Elementary School in Colton is named after him, according to UC News. In the San Bernardino Sun, those that knew him expressed the great impact he had made on the community. According to Syeda Jafri, a spokeswoman for Rialto Unified, “still today, his influence reaches far and wide in the Inland Empire.”

Garcia’s impact is still felt in his contributions to the arts. Early in his life, Garcia expressed a passion for the arts, creating art from discarded items he found in the local dump. In adulthood, he continued this passion, singing in various chorales and choirs in the Inland Empire, and acting in multiple plays, according to the San Bernardino Sun. In addition to partaking in the arts himself, he has helped support them. He served on the board of the San Bernardino Symphony and National Orange Show, and was president of San Bernardino Valley Concert Association (SBVCA). When involved in the SBVCA, Garcia helped advocate for the renovation of a vacant adobe building to be used as a cultural hub. In 2013, the SBVCA dedicated the building in downtown San Bernardino as the Garcia Center for the Arts, in honor of Garcia and his wife. Events at the center have ranged from opportunities for children to dance ballet with professional dancers to political cartooning workshops, according to The Press-Enterprise.

Garcia is survived by his wife of 70 years, Dorothy Garcia, three sons, and 5 grandchildren. ■ H

CAMPUS.

Following up on Robotic Sleeves and other BCOE research projects

PROFESSOR JUN SHENG PROVIDED MORE INSIGHT ON THE ROBOTIC SLEEVES PROJECT VIA AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW.

ABHIJIT REGE

Contributing Writer

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), have continued their efforts to enhance the independence of children with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities through the development of a soft robotic sleeve. This sleeve aims to assist with arm movements, enabling wearers to perform tasks independently. This project is concurrently operating among many other projects in the Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE).

Assistant Professor Jonathan Realmuto, of UCR’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, serves as the project’s principal investigator and works with co-principal investigator Jun Sheng, a UCR assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering, as well as co-principal investigator and clinical partner Terry Sanger, a pediatric neurologist and computational neuroscientist at Children’s Hospital in Orange County and professor at UCI. In an exclusive interview with The Highlander, Professor Sheng shed light on his role in the project and the exciting developments taking place.

When asked about his perspective on the project, Professor Sheng emphasized three main aspects: the soft robot mechanism, the new hardware and software and the new human-robot interface. He expressed a particular interest in the development of the hardware, which serves as the foundation for the robots and detailed how his expertise lies in incorporating materials into soft robot techniques and exploring the possibilities of new hardware designs.

Regarding software development, Professor Sheng highlighted his experience with soft robots and his knowledge of materials. Developing software for this project involves controlling the damping and stiffness of the shape metal alloys and fabric sleeves for their prototypes. The team is also working on increasing the impedance of the soft robots by changing the temperature of smart materials. Through a series of experiments, they aim to categorize and optimize the performance of these soft robots.

Professor Sheng explained that the experiments involve integrating alloys onto the sleeves in various geometric forms, such as wires and springs. They examine the effect of smart materials on impedance and conduct multiple tests using motors to mimic human movement. The team employs a trial-and-error approach, making adjustments based on the results obtained. Students interested in getting involved in the project can contribute to these experiments by assisting with data collection, analysis, and testing.

In terms of future plans, Professor Sheng revealed that hardware development for the project is a priority. The goal is to have the hardware ready by the end of the year and begin tests without active control, focusing on biomimic control on human subjects. The team intends to run iterative designs to improve the hardware based on testing results. However, currently, they can only adjust damping and not stiffness. In the next year, they aim to incorporate biomimic control and simulation platforms to simulate general tasks.

For students interested in joining the project, Professor Sheng mentioned opportunities for involvement. Currently, the team consists of one PhD student working on the hardware, focusing on stiffness, while another PhD student works on damping. The collaboration with Professor Realmuto’s lab allows for an undergraduate student to

participate in the project for six months. Professor Sheng welcomes more students to join the project and encourages them to reach out through his email and visit their website for further information.

Professor Sheng expressed his future aspirations, including delving deeper into surgical robot advancements. He encouraged the UCR community to stay engaged and informed about the ongoing projects and emphasized the importance of collaboration between different disciplines to tackle complex challenges in healthcare and robotics.

Apart from the robot sleeves project, Professor Sheng briefly mentioned another project he is involved in, which focuses on developing surgical robots for brain tumor removal. This project, funded by the Cancer Research Committee (CRCC), aims to improve the efficacy of therapy through stem cell research and precise cell delivery to different locations. It showcases Professor Sheng’s broad expertise and commitment to advancing the field of robotics.

In a prior interview, Professor Realmuto elaborated on some of the projects that are still in the works. There is a separate project focused on developing soft robot structures for individuals with lower limb disabilities that can facilitate the transition from a sitting to a standing position and assist with postural stability. The project also involves collaboration with Professor Sheng, alongside Professor Erfan Nozari of the BCOE Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Professor David Rosenbaum from the Psychology department. They are joined by Jerry Lob at USC in an ongoing collaboration to build an artificial spinal control system.

The objective with this project is to align this system with the concept of using soft actuators that possess properties similar to biological muscles. By leveraging the understanding of spinal control mechanisms and integrating principles from biology, researchers aim to develop a soft robotic actuator that can mimic the automated functions of muscles controlled by the spinal cord. Despite the potential of this lower limb soft robotic actuator project, it has yet to secure funding. However, there is optimism surrounding the project, as a proposal is currently pending. Realmuto expressed that he is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to advance this project and explore the applications of a super spinal soft robotic actuator.

For students and researchers at UCR who are passionate about robotics, Professor Jun Sheng’s projects provide opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge research and make an impact in the field. Whether it’s through developing soft robot mechanisms, exploring new hardware and software, or collaborating on surgical robot advancements, there are numerous possibilities for students to get involved and shape the future of robotics in healthcare.

To learn more about the project or to get involved with development, feel free to contact Professor Realmuto via his email address, jrealmuto@ucr.edu or Professor Sheng via his email address, junsheng@engr.ucr.edu.

■ H

UCR EcoCAR Club wins two awards at EcoCAR EV Challenge Y1 Competition in Orlando, Florida

PROFESSOR HEEJUNG JUNG AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER TRANG BUI PROVIDE EXCLUSIVE INSIGHT.

ABHIJIT REGE

Contributing Writer

The EcoCAR at UCR team recently attended the EcoCAR EV Challenge Year 1 Competition in Orlando, Florida that took place from May 21 to May 26, 2023. The team was able to celebrate after earning two prestigious awards: the Spirit of Communications Award and the Spirit of the Challenge Award, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Both awards were nominated to them by other teams reflecting the positive impression they made in the competition and the strong relationships built despite being a completely new team to a 30+ year competition series.

The Spirit of Communications Award aims to recognize an individual that has made an outstanding effort in the area of Communications and exemplifies leadership and sportsmanship within their actions. The Spirit of the Challenge Award, named in honor of Ron Stence, a long-time competition sponsor and organizer, is given to the team that exhibits the following characteristics: exceptional perseverance in the face of adversity, maintaining a positive attitude throughout the competition despite significant challenges and obstacles and pursuing exceptionally high technical standards for their team that best represent the Spirit of the EcoCAR competition.

In an official post on LinkedIn, the club’s page extended a special thank you to their esteemed faculty members: Professors Matthew Barth, Heejung Jung and Guoyuan Wu, for invaluable guidance and support and to their team leads Jacqueline Garrido, Saswat Priyadarshi Nayak, Ali Gobulukoglu, Zhengwei Bai, Dylan Stubo and Trang Bui for their leadership and commitment. Professor Heejung Jung and Communications Manager Trang Bui, who notably earned the Spirit of Communications Award, provided insight on the project and their accolades through their respective interviews.

Bui elaborated on how the EcoCAR EV Challenge (EcoCAR) is the latest Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (AVTC) series and challenges 15 North American universities to engineer a next generation battery electric vehicle (BEV) that utilizes automation and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity to implement energy efficient customer-pleasing features, and meet the decarbonization needs of the automotive industry. The 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ was the vehicle selected for the EcoCAR EV Challenge.

The DOE, General Motors (GM) and MathWorks announced the 15 North American Universities and UC Riverside was selected to be part of this leading automotive

engineering competition. Bui explained that the project provides hands-on, real-world experience in STEM that prepares students for future careers in automotive research and development, develops a diverse clean energy workforce, gives students access to industry tools and training. Professor Jung elaborated on working with GM as a sponsor and explained how modifications to the car must be consulted and approved by them.

Many challenges were faced through the development process and competition. Bui explained that being a first year team brought challenges, “From setting up a team, operations, relationships and identifying resources, to getting used to the deliverables and the work culture.” But he explained how valuable the experience was, “The knowledge gained was invaluable: we were exposed to high-level industry standards, gained lots of mentorship and connected with other prestigious universities, sponsors and organizers in the competition.”

As the team moves forward into the next phase of the competition, they are actively seeking students to join as members and leads in six subteams. These subteams include Project Management (PM), Communications (Comms), Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV), Propulsion Controls and Modeling (PCM) and System Design and Integration (SDI). Students interested in being part of the UCR EcoCAR team for the Year 2 competition have the opportunity to contribute their skills and expertise to a multidisciplinary project that promotes sustainable transportation. Students can work on designing the body structure, motor selection and control, system integration, connected and autonomous driving (CAV) and much more.

Incentives of being a part of the project includes opportunities for Engineering students to earn credit in their undergraduate Senior Design and Research. In addition, through the DOE and the Argonne National Laboratory, UC Riverside is able to provide student minigrants, with a value of $2,000, to active members of the UCR EcoCAR Team. A limited number of EcoCAR mini-grants are made available each quarter of the year (Fall, Winter and Spring).

Continued online.

OpiniOns THE HIGHLANDER

EDITORIAL

The protection of confidential sources and information by reporters is one of journalism’s most essential tools and should not be threatened

Ishani Desai, a journalist covering Kern County courts and public safety for the Bakersfield Californian, was found in contempt on May 24 after refusing to hand over her unpublished notes of a jailhouse interview to a defendant in criminal proceedings. Desai and her attorney have asserted that the threshold requiring a reporter to turn over privileged work in accordance with California shield law has not been met. Desai’s stand is a meaningful act in establishing the credibility and independence of the fourth estate at a time when the media is struggling to maintain the trust of the public.

California shield law protects reporters from being subpoenaed in civil and criminal cases, except in the case of a subpoena by the defense. There is a precise bar for when a reporter is compelled to turn over privileged information, but in this case, it has not been clearly ascertained. Desai has been reporting on this criminal case involving two separate defendants since 2022. Defendant Sebastian Parra agreed to an interview with Desai, and after the article was published, Defendant Robert Roberts’ Deputy Public Defender subpoenaed the notes of that interview.

Desai indicated that while the court’s decision was one she understood, it set too broad a precedent and compromised her journalistic integrity. While this was a necessary stand, her refusal to turn over interview notes is only a small piece of the decades-long struggle between the press and government institutions over the idea of a free press. The Espionage Act of 1917, in combination with the events of Sept. 11, provided a galvanizing point for the targeting of protected sources and the intimidation of the media. The Department of Justice prosecuted a record-breaking eight journalism-related cases under the Espionage Act during the Obama administration. The rise in

the criminalization of journalism is a national issue that did not start and will not end with Ishani Desai. This latest attempt by the courts to control the work of reporters does not inspire confidence that the media is not controlled by government institutions.

Information collected from protected sources should be considered on par with privileged attorney-client communications, which allows attorneys to effectively represent their clients. Trust is an essential tool for journalists, and the holding of any journalist in contempt for refusing to reveal sources or confidential information is an attack on the foundation of a free and independent press. Sources are left with a situation in which they cannot trust a reporter to respect confidentiality and the very real possibility of criminal prosecution.

Furthermore, the inclusion of journalists in court proceedings at all creates a compromise for legitimate journalists. Asking reporters to participate in trials is ethically murky at best. Journalism is about what is fundamentally true based on all of the available facts, while, in comparison, the U.S. and California legal systems represent an approximation of justice, at best. They should not and cannot be allowed to do so at the expense of journalistic integrity. The law and what is right are not synonymous, and Desai’s noncompliance with the law represents exactly where those values are misaligned.

This case is both about journalists having the right to do their jobs as much as it is about building trust between the media and the public. Journalists should not be forced to choose between justice and integrity, especially when the institutions that demand this ethical compromise fall short of their own standards.

The 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.

LEGAL DEMANDS TO TURN OVER A REPORTER’S NOTES ENDANGER THE CONCEPTS OF A FREE PRESS AND INTEGRITY.

Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign is off to an embarassing start

SENNA OMAR Managing Editor

FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS ANNOUNCES HIS RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, announced his campaign for president this past Wednesday in an audio chit-chat via Twitter. Standing by his side was Republican mega-donor David Sack and the world’s worst billionaire, Elon Musk. Launching his campaign with embarrassing technical difficulties, reflective of Twitter’s failing infrastructure since the termination of half their staff, DeSantis declared war on “wokeness.”

In order to run for president, Florida law historically required that one cannot currently hold any political offices. However, after signing SB 7050 into law, Ron Desantis has given himself the green light to run for president while still holding his position as Florida governor. Republican supporters of the “resign to run” measure emphasized that the law only clarifies what is already considered allowed, while Democrats argue that DeSantis is giving himself a soft place to land when he loses the presidential election.

The law also makes unnecessary changes to voter registration policies, further restricting the voting rights of Floridian communities of color. The legislation calls for the reduction of time as third-party voter registration organizations have to file voter registration applications and a 2-day reduction to the voteby-mail request period. Republicans claim that this is simple election reform to maintain the “Florida gold standard.” However, the passage of SB 7050 is proof of a long-standing Republican goal to undermine the fairness of American elections and skew results to favor Republican candidates.

DeSantis is spearheading the battle against wokeness in his home state of Florida, instituting extreme limitations on public school education, an abortion ban and some of America’s cruelest anti-trans policies. His Republican supporters seem to be ideologically aligned, with 55% prioritizing “fighting woke ideology in our schools and business” above health care and social security reform.

Echoing ideals often found in dark corners of far-right internet echo chambers, DeSantis claimed that “The work mind virus is basically a form of cultural Marxism.” DeSantis also proved his fundamental understanding of the word “elites,” not using it to describe wealth or social status, but rather he defines it as “those who share the ideology and outlook of the ruling class, which one can demonstrate by ‘virtue signaling.’” He holds the belief that men like Clarence Thomas, and his moral support billionaire, Elon Musk, are not members of the elites despite being some of the richest, most powerful people in the world.

Governor DeSantis has crafted Florida into a place “where woke goes to die,” creating a state that falls short in every other field that matters to constituents. Although DeSantis boasted that Florida was “number one in net in-migration, number one in new business formations, number one in education, 50-year low crime rate and one of the lowest tax and debt per capita rates in America” on his campaign website, he neglected to mention the many areas where Flordia fails.

The state’s “regressive tax structure” leaves Florida’s tax burden mostly on the shoulders of poor and middle-class Americans; with no income taxes and extremely low corporate tax rates, Florida is a safe-haven state for the rich, privileged and elite.

Ranking consistently at the bottom for healthcare, school funding and elder care and in the highest percentiles for teen birth, infant mortality and disease, Florida is not the beacon of American excellence. Beneath Ron DeSantis, the war on wokeness and attack on political elites is a presidential campaign that hurts working-class Americans and serves the wealthiest people in the world, such as the two billionaires he had by his side while announcing his candidacy.

Uncomfortable treating a patient because of your religion? Pick a different career.

YSABEL NAKASONE

Opinions Editor

FLORIDA HAS LEGALIZED

Florida Governor Ron Desantis signed four medicalrelated bills this May, one of which will pave the way for medical discrimination on the basis of sexuality and gender. Senate Bill 1580, which is ridiculously named the Physician’s Freedom of Speech despite applying to far more than speech, puts limits on medical boards, which now cannot hold practitioners accountable for refusing care to individuals on moral or religious grounds. SB 1580 represents a degradation of the Hippocratic Oath and undermines the medical profession.

This law has unprecedented implications for patients and could create dangerous gaps in available healthcare. This law allows doctors to do things like refuse to prescribe contraceptives or offer gender-affirming care based on religious beliefs. Religion has no place in medicine, science, or politics. Doctors do not get to play God and decide that their beliefs should govern a person’s medical care. They do not get to deny people what is unambiguously — at least if they have a semblance of humanity — an inalienable right simply because they have decided they cannot meet the standards of a career they chose to do.

This will further erode trust in medical practitioners by patients as the quality of their care is completely compromised. In Florida, patients will have to automatically question whether or not they will receive unbiased

and sound treatment. The ACLU condemned this bill in the strongest terms, with their legislative director and senior policy counsel in Florida calling the bill “a statesanctioned license to discriminate in the provision of any healthcare service… Medical standards — not ethical, moral, or religious beliefs — should guide medical treatment and health care services.”

This bill already lies in conflict with federal law and international medical rules. The 1986 Federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act outlines that physicians cannot deny emergency care based on an ability to pay in Medicare-participating emergency departments. There is a reasonable worry that this new law will be used to deny care to patients who cannot meet the financial obligations of medical care. These practitioners, under Florida law, cannot even be reported for their actions.

While this might be starting in Florida, it will not stop at state borders. This will lay the framework for other states to create laws that expand the viability of medical discrimination. It will have a domino effect and engage more states in what is a horrific human rights violation. Federal agencies need to take action, condemning these laws and cutting off funding to medical institutions which allow a flagrant violation of basic decency. ■ H

MEDICAL DISCRIMINATION AND OBSCENELY VIOLATED MEDICAL ETHICS WITH THE PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 1580.

Rebuttal: Face it, Biden is the Democrats’ best hope at keeping the White House in 2024

TOMAS ALVES Distribution Manager

A few weeks ago, President Joe Biden announced his bid for reelection in the upcoming 2024 Presidential election. While the political landscape for Democrats still looks incomplete, it seems as though Biden will remain the Democrats’ best selling point.

Biden’s approval rating among Americans is at a mere 40%, only three percentage points off of the lowest approval rating of his presidency. While presidents do naturally lack popularity throughout the course of their presidency, these numbers stand exceptionally low in comparison to Biden’s predecessors. Of recent Presidents who launched their reelection campaigns, including Obama, Reagan, Clinton and Trump, who retained similar approval ratings, three secured reelection. Even with Biden’s fairly successful Presidency, it seems a majority of Americans are unwilling to look past Biden’s age when judging the slate of candidates.

According to reports by NPR and Reuters, 6 in 10 Americans say their main concerns and disapproval of Biden originate from the President’s declining mental fitness and age. While this widespread unpopularity might be concerning for the president’s reelection campaign, the general public is not positioned to compare him with the Republican party’s nominee as a field of candidates are still forming. Thus, a falling-in-line effect might occur across party lines, boosting Biden’s popularity if given the Democratic nomination. While Americans, especially Democrats,

consider age to be a main issue in the ensuing election, Biden may remind his constituents to, “compare him to the alternative, not the almighty.”

From the current running democratic hopefuls, Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., there seems to be no candidate possessing an adequate political track record to rival Biden. This might be why the Democratic National Committee is considering the possibility of skipping televised primary debates, in order to put their full support behind the incumbent. Contrary to critics of Biden’s reelection, Williamson and RFK Jr. don’t stand a chance at splitting the Democratic vote in the primaries. While Biden might create some concerns amongst American voters about his ability to govern, it will be hard to surmount a campaign against him based solely on his age.

With the so-far weak field of democratic candidates ill-suited to challenge Biden, it seems as though Democrats are already looking to the 2024 general election to stack Biden’s resume against a possible Republican nominee. In this sense, Democrats are focused on making the case for unity — even as ideologically diverse as they are. Democrats are strategically employing the incumbency playbook as they did with Clinton and Obama in order to avoid any possible party fractures. Ultimately, Biden’s reelection campaign is far from splitting the democrat vote, instead Democrats are falling in line early to avert another 2016 election disaster.

EVEN WITH WIDESPREAD AMERICAN CONCERN ABOUT BIDEN’S AGE, HE IS STILL THE DEMOCRATS’ BEST CHANCE AT KEEPING CONTROL OF THE WHITE HOUSE FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

Age is a double standard when it comes to women in U.S.

CECILE DIROLL Assistant Opinions Editor

Calls for the resignation of California Senator Dianne Feinstein, age 89, have swept the U.S. Senate due to her multiple months’ absence due to shingles. Entering the Senate floor two weeks ago in a wheelchair, Senator Feinstein’s return to Washington weighs heavily on Democrats as her vote is essential to President Biden’s upcoming confirmation hearings of judicial nominees. However, Senator Feinstein’s age was a matter of public concern for many years before she showed signs of cognitive difficulties. While gender is not the determining factor related to demands for Senator Feinstein to resign, it plays a clear role in the resignation of many high-profile female politicians at an advanced age.

Pressure to step down is not a new phenomenon for female politicians, as many of the most influential political leaders have been called to resign earlier than their male counterparts — even from their own parties. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who served on the Supreme Court for 27 years, was pressured to resign in 2016 while President Obama was still in office and could appoint a successor. Despite her long-standing battle with cancer, Justice Ginsburg believed she could continue fighting and had more to contribute to the Court. Though calls for her resignation were more about saving a seat for a liberal-leaning judge, Justice Ginsburg’s stance to continue serving was hard-fought partly because of her gender.

Nancy Pelosi, former Democrat Speaker of the House who led her party for two decades, was also pushed to step down from her leadership role last year. However, she became the target of immense hatred from the far right that culminated in a violent attack on her husband, Paul Pelosi, by a right-wing conspiracy theorist. Pelosi’s decision to resign last year and make room for a “new generation” of leaders is honorable, but the forcing of her hand through violence and death threats is an unfair and reprehensible experience that marks an increasingly disturbing political landscape.

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, in contrast, continues to hold his position despite being just two years younger than Pelosi and suffering from his own health problems. Unlike Pelosi, McConnell also intends to hold his seat until the end of his term in 2027, when he will be 85. Strom Thurmond, the longest-

serving senator in U.S. history, worked in Congress for 48 years until his death in 2003 at the age of 100. Fewer calls for the resignation of male politicians at an older age and in worse conditions show how gender creates different types of attention for politicians.

Additionally, President Joe Biden, who is already the oldest president in U.S. history at the age of 80, announced in April he will run for the 2024 presidential election, which would make him 86 if he is reelected. His opponent, former president Donald Trump, age 76, also announced he will be seeking reelection after his doctors proclaimed the former president has “incredible genes” and “could live up to 200 years old if he changed his diet.” Questions about President Biden and former President Trump’s advanced age and health have been raised, but public pressure to step down from their roles or not seek reelection has not materialized as intensely as it does for women in top leadership positions.

Many of the politicians in federal level seats are at an advanced age as the current Congress consists of the “second-oldest Senate and the third-oldest House of Representatives” since 1789. The average age in the federal government continues to tick upward, strengthening a system of seniority. America’s gerontocracy is concerning because younger generations do not have the opportunity to hold leadership roles, creating a gap between representatives and the public. Older government representatives should, of their own volition, choose to step down from their roles to make room for the younger generation, not be forced.

It is obvious Senator Feinstein should resign, not because of her age, but due to her frail condition. But the harsh treatment she and other female political figures experience at an advanced age, when they reach the top of government, is sexist and wrong, as many other male politicians remain in office at older ages and in worse conditions. There is a double standard in how ageism is used for men and women holding higher governmental offices, especially in the intensity of calls for their resignation. Perhaps, rather than analyzing every politician’s age, the broken seniority system in Washington’s political elite should be reevaluated so more representatives of all ages can hold leadership roles. ■ H

SENATOR FEINSTEIN SHOULD STEP DOWN, BUT THE INTENSITY OF CALLS FOR HER RESIGNATION SIGNIFIES AN UNFAIR TREND MANY HIGH-PROFILE WOMEN FACE AT AN ADVANCED AGE.

Think of that special someone…

YSABEL NAKASONE Opinions Editor

Pisces(February19 -March20):Page of Swords

Taurus(April20-May 20):QueenofCups

Aquarius(January20-February18): TheMoon

Tothisperson,youare amoral touchstone. Theytrustyoutotellthemthetruth,andthelasttimeyouspoketheywerelookingforyourintegrity.Inyour presence,theyare relaxedand soothed.

Capricorn (December 22January 19): Four of Cups You, unfortunately, did not make an impression on this person. The ideas you have concocted about them are merely a fantasy. Don’t allow yourself to feed into the delusion of their attention and focus on someone who wants your attention.

Thispersonisinyour life for their own gainandwhenyou talk,theyarecollectinginformation.Alot ofthisrelationshipis fake and is often talkingaboutyoubehind yourback.Theyare playingbothsidesof aconflictyouarein.

Lasttimeyouranintothis person,theywerepicking They’veuponyouremotions. beenveryoblivi-ousinthepast,butnow they’rethinkingabout wholeyourinteractionsina newlight.Despite this,theyaren’tsurewhat todogoingforwardand aregoingtotakeyour lead.

AprilAries(March21Pentacles19):Aceofplanted.Aseedhasbeen Thelasttimelikeyousawthem,theyfeltsomethingtheywerenoticing theyhadn’tthebefore.Thismightbe relationshipturningpointinyour youhavebeenhopingfor.

up to you.

and they want to open

someone to be trusted

felt dependability. You exude an aura of

they saw you, they

safe and secure. When

the start of something

Ten of Cups marks

Cups

June 20): Ten of

Gemini (May 21

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above them, but

a position puts you

their age or maybe

own inadequacies. They might feel that

and deal with their

for them to feel big

feel small in order

They need you to

look up to them.

feels you should

down on you and

This person looks

(NovemberSagittarius 22December 21): Emperor

NovemberScorpio(October23Cups21):AceofThedream scenariosyouryouhavefantasizedinmanifestingheadareactually intoreality.notice.Youarecatchingtheir Theyseeasourceofpositivityandhealing inyou.

Earth Signs

Libra(September23October22):Hanged Man

Thelasttimeyoutalked wasveryneutral.They you,feltfriendlytowards Don’tbutnothingspecial. politetrytoreadinto behaviorand decodetinysignsoftheir affectionbecausethey’re not there.

CourtesyofPexels

Earth signs are steady. They are the unmoving ground beneath your feet and the people you can count on. A person is only as good as their word, and Earth signs keep their promises in spades. Earth signs are inherently logical and goal-oriented. It can be their weakness to miss intricacies along the way because they focus on the end product. Surprisingly, earth signs are sometimes seen as materialistic. However, they also put a high value on security,

Virgo(August23 -September22): Hierophant Thispersonwantsto separatethemselves fromyou.When youlastspoke,they weretryingtocreate distance.Theydidn’t sayitdirectly,butyou weren’t sure how to read the interaction.

Leo(July23-August22):SevenofWands

Cancer (June 21July 22): Five of Swords You just had a ght with this person. It might have been loud and angry or it might have been about the things that went unsaid. ey are thinking about you now, wondering how to put things back together.

Thispersonadmiresyouandlooksupto you.Thelasttimeyousawthem,theywantedtolearnfromyou.Youmightbefeelingalotofpressuretobearole model,buttheyjust wanttobereal.

What were they thinking the last time they saw you?

A Royal Night indeed: The 2nd Annual Black Opulence Ball

LAURYN DINGLE

Contributing Writer

On May 20, African Student Programs hosted its 2nd Annual Black Opulence Ball at the HUB. Dinner and an awards show was held that night. Its goal was to recognize achievements that were made by Black scholars and alumni on campus this school year. Prior to the event, nominations for students and their organizations were made. The theme was A Royal Night, and the colors of the decorations and outfits included lavender and white or cream.

Last year was the first year that African Student Programs (ASP) held this annual event. Selom Gbewonyo, an alumni from the Class of 2022 and previous student staff, initiated the event after many students of the high school graduating classes of 2020 and 2021 missed their own prom due to the pandemic.

This year at the event there was a special student performance by Sahayla Vann, known by her stage name, Hayla V. She sang “Mood Swings” and an unreleased track “You Got It.” Dinner included tasty Italian cuisine along with dessert. Throughout the night, guests had the opportunity to take photos in the new 360 spin photo booth. At the end of the night students went on the dance floor to show off their skills in step dancing. DJ Dash, Los Angeles based disk jockey, did

Awards were given out to students, alumni, clubs and organizations who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to the Black scholars and community on campus. The first award for Outstanding Community Service went to the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) club. I asked Kennedy Lincoln, the President of NSBE, what specific community service has NSBE done for Black scholars as far as outreach and community service. Lincoln expressed that there are several outreach programs NSBE has spearheaded. “We have the Passing the Torch Peer Mentoring Program that was established by Jordan Edwards, a current member and NSBE advisor. This program allows for Black freshman and transfer students to be mentored by Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) upperclassmen. Secondly, we have collaborated with The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) promoting STEM to high school students.”

I talked to an African Student Program student staff member, Chianne Carrier, who organized and hosted the event this year. I asked her why this event was so important for her and what she loved most about it.

Carrier stressed that “most seniors and juniors didn’t get the full high school experience, specifically the opportunity to celebrate all their accomplishments. I was excited [to attend] this year since I couldn’t attend last year. Giving back to the community when COVID put the world on hold was important to me. And seeing everyone having fun and dressing up made the scholars feel honored, celebrated and seen.”

Overall, it sounds like the Black Opulence Ball will continue to happen and thrive for years to come. It is important that it is continued in order to recognize Black individuals and their organizations for all of their hard work on campus, as this can often go unnoticed on campus with over 20,000+ students.

African Student Programs hosts its 2nd Annual Black Opulence Ball after many students missed their own prom due to the pandemic.

Campus Cope: How to break through finals week anxieties

APPROACHING FINALS WEEK? LEARN WAYS YOU CAN EASE YOUR ANXIETY AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

MARIBEL GAMEZ-REYES

Asisstant Features Editor

While hot, vibrant summer days are in close reach, walks on the beach, hometown visits, planned vacations and more summer activities are still a ways away as we head into finals week. As you prepare for lots of studying and late nights, don’t forget to acknowledge your mental health and overall wellbeing during this time. After all, if you’re feeling your best, high chances are that you’ll perform your best in any of your upcoming exams.

While we all dread exam season and the anxiety that arises from it, try to approach testing in a positive way. Why suffer when you can make the best out of the ending of the quarter? Here’s a run-through of factors that should be emphasized to ensure your success and health during this time.

RelaxingfromStudySessions

Test Preparation

Turning to your syllabus as a guide is vital. First, determine what format your final is in. Is it an exam, final paper or final project? Based on this, plan your approach and keep in mind a strategy that is best suited for you to understand the material, not just memorize it.

Cramming a lot of material into one study session shouldn’t be a strategy to consider at any point. Rereading notes and looking at lecture slides can be helpful in reviewing but might not be effective if done wrong. You might be thinking, how is there any way of that being ineffective if you are familiarizing yourself with the material? If you are only familiarizing yourself with the material, you are likely to later forget it. Familiarizing yourself with and knowing the essence of what you’re reading versus understanding how to describe it and apply it to exam questions or essay prompts is distinctively different. Your objective is to learn, understand, reflect and apply!

Having a Positive Mental Attitude

Studying and preparing for exams shouldn’t have to feel excruciating or tormenting. Excessive worrying and ruminating on exams will only heighten your anxiety. There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of pre-test jitters, but it shouldn’t overwhelm you in a negative way. Aim to keep your stress to a manageable amount, where it can help you prepare for facing your exams by planning accordingly.

On this note, prioritize treating yourself as well. If you’re stuck sitting at a desk for long periods of time trying to meet all your academic obligations, change up the scenery. There are no rules, and the world is your oyster! I know, embarrassingly “cliché, but true. You can reserve a room at Orbach or Rivera Library if you are seeking a quiet and isolated space, or perhaps you want a public setting which you can find at the Student Success Center. There are many other locations available on and off campus which are also great places to study!

Taketimetostepbackand decompress.Thiscanlookdifferentlyforeveryone,rangingfrom staying-inorgoing-out.Hereareacouplewaysyou canmaketimeforyourselfand thethingsyouenjoy:meditation ortherapeuticreadingcanhelp youimmerseyourselfintothe spiritualsideofyourlife,reflect onthepresentandgrowconscious ofyourselfwithoutdistractions. Goingonaself-caredatecanhelp youprioritizeyourselfwithout theconstantdemandandcompetitionforyourattention;thisdate canbeanythingfromeatingata restaurantyouloveorgoingto seeamoviewithallyourfavorite snacksinhand.Enduringaworkoutcanbringgreatbenefitstoyour bodyandbrainandhelpyoufeel accomplished.Thereareavariety ofhikingtrailsatourdisposalthat youcanchoosefromthankstothe convenienceofourUniversity’s location.Anotherplacetolookfor workoutopportunitiesisthrough theStudentRecreationCenter Websitewhichoffersfreegroup fitnessclassessuchas“PilatesFusion”and“CycleBurn.”

Regardlessifit’syourfirstor lasttimeexperiencingthestress thatcomeswithfinalsweek,know it’sgoingtobeokay.It’sanormal partofthecollectivehuman experienceasacollegestudent.If approachedstrategicallyandwith someofthefactorsmentioned aboveinmind,youcanalleviate thenegativeeffectsofanxietyand constructlong-termhabitsforyour healthandsuccess.

Make your studying setup an aesthetic moment if it brings you joy. “Romanticizing” studying can mean looking after yourself and your best interests. Whether that means accessorizing, organizing, or being creative with your approach…. do it! Some comforting items I’ve found helpful and anxiety reducing are a nice pair of headphones, blue light glasses, and a laptop stand. These items are crucial to reduce eye strain, prevent back pain, and block out any unwanted background noise.

Healthy Day-to-Day Habits

Similarly to studying daily, healthy habits ought to be implemented into your lifestyle not just as a “day before final” kind of action. Keeping up with yourself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually is a must as an individual, student or not. Feeling like you have to be productive 24/7 will only lead to your own deterioration. There are enough gaps in the day for you to live life as well.

Experts report that you should be getting at least seven hours of sleep each night. Committing to an all-nighter won’t increase your chances of doing better on an exam; if anything it will only guarantee that your mental capacity and energy are depleted prior to the exam. Nutrition also goes hand-in-hand with sleep when it comes to the functionality of your brain. You want to make sure to have nutritious meals planned out for your day. There’s no need to over complicate your meals; keep it simple and target your macronutrients and micronutrient intake for the day!

RadaR

10 Anticipated Films of 2023

The imminence of summer kicks off a string of releases until the end of the year.

LUKE LIAO Contributing Writer

10. “The Killer”

The Netflix-backed neo-noir thriller finds Michael Fassbender playing a methodical assassin prowling and waiting for his next target. However, the assassin’s steely facade is crumbling under pressure and his own moral conscience. At the helm is David Fincher, adapting the French graphic novel. “The Killer” marks a return to crime thrillers, the genre that Fincher is synonymous with. Some of Fincher’s frequent collaborators — such as composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt — are also back.

9. “Cobweb”

The first of many Cannes Film Festival debuts on this list is about a director struggling to finish his film “Cobweb.” Amidst creative obstacles from his crew and media censorship in 1970s South Korea, the director seeks to reshoot an alternative ending that came to him in a dream. The comedy-drama film fluctuates between on-set disorder and delirious dream sequences. It is directed by Kim Jee-woon and led by Song Kang-ho.

8. “Barbie”

The subject of much attention and anticipation, Greta Gerwig’s film takes on the famed fashion doll. Co-writers Gerwig and Noah Baumbach have approached the story as a false utopia where Barbie has to venture outside her profusely pink world into the “Real World.” All signs and trailers point toward satire, playing off the love and criticism of the Mattel doll. The film boasts a star-studded cast and an acclaimed crew with Margot Robbie in the lead as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken.

7. “Poor Things”

Yorgos Lanthimos reunites with Emma Stone in a Frankenstein-esque fantasy comedy. Stone plays a young woman who is brought back to life by a scientist. Curious for more life, she escapes with a lewd lawyer. The film is based on Alasdair Gray’s novel about Victorian era gender roles, inequalities and

hypocrisy. A brief teaser promises art design straight out of a trip and Lantimos’ signature deadpan diction. Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe and Ramy Youssef star in supporting roles.

6. “Anatomy of a Fall”

Justine Triet’s newest film is about a writer who has to prove her innocence after her husband dies under suspectful circumstances. As the trial unravels the mystery, so does the tumultuous relationship between husband and wife. The courtroom drama’s perversity and shrouded usage of perspective have drawn comparisons to Hitchcock. Sandra Hüeller, who also stars in film number two on this list, was praised for her lead performance. The film was awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or.

5. “May December”

A couple with a twenty-year age gap is put under pressure when an actress presses the wife for an upcoming role. Their relationship becomes a sex scandal and major tabloid exposé. What unfolds is a playful and debauched story of doppelgangers and repressed emotions. Julianne Moore and Charles Melton play the couple while Natalie Portman stars as the actress. The film looks to continue the themes of power dynamics and societal norms which have been largely examined by director Todd Haynes.

4. “Perfect Days”

Hirayama is a man who cleans toilets in Tokyo and finds beauty in the normality of his simple life; he enjoys his routine life filled with an appreciation for art. When several happenings occur, more is revealed about Hirayama’s past. Koji Yakusho won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his soulful portrayal of Hirayama. Direction by Wim Wenders and a performance by Yakusho mark an exciting convergence of Western and Eastern filmmaking. Wenders is a major figure in German independent cinema and Yakusho has given celebrated performances in both Japanese and American films.

3. “The Zone of Interest”

Jonathan Glazer’s film is about an Auschwitz commandant and his wife’s quest to build their dream life next to a concentration camp. The drama was praised for its apathetic examination of evil and the Holocaust by intentionally presenting these horrors outside the frame. “The Zone of Interest” will be Glazer’s fourth feature in a filmography characterized by singularity and much discourse. His last film, 2013’s “Under the Skin,” deconstructed its genre in a novel way and is a personal all timer.

2. “Killers of the Flower Moon” Martin Scorsese’s three-and-a-half-hour epic details the series of Osage County murders and the FBI’s subsequent investigation. It is based on the novel “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,” an intensely researched novel scaling a devastating period of American greed. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro. The three received acclaim for their performances as key players in what was described as the Reign of Terror. “Killers of the Flower Moon,” in many ways, aligns with Scorsese’s most recent projects that confront sobering topics such as persecution in “Silence” and betrayal and morality in “The Irishman.”

1. “How Do You Live?”

Prolific animator-director Hayao Miyazaki returns, loosely adapting the titular coming-of-age novel. The film is seven years in the making and is characterized as a “big fantastical film.” Although 2013’s “The Wind Rises,” marked a deviation from Miyazaki’s typical fantasy-stomping grounds and the last time he directed, his return will more than likely continue the trend of caliber animation. The Japanese filmmaker is remarkably consistent with his approach to handdrawn animation and storytelling. As Miyazaki fluctuates in and out of retirement and his output decreases, there is an even greater understanding of the craft and rarity his projects entail.

As the year progresses and more films are given confirmed releases, a more complete list takes shape. While dates always shift and many films are left unconfirmed, these are ten to look forward to in 2023.

Honorable Mentions: “The Peasants,” “Past Lives,” “Maestro,” “Drive-Away Dolls,” and “Dune: Part Two.”

COURTESY

‘Victim/Suspect’ unveils a troubling police process that treats sexual assault victims as suspects

This Netflix documentary follows one journalist in her years-long investigation, compiling sexual assault cases where survivors were arrested on charges of false reporting.

MARIBEL GAMEZ-REYES Assistant Features Editor

Content warning: This article discusses sexual assault and police misconduct.

The highly anticipated crime documentary “Victim/ Suspect” was released May 23 on Netflix. Director Nancy Schwartzman, incites a heart-rending and insightful film project that is challenging yet necessary to view. Compelling the audience to remain engaged and refrain from averting their gaze, the documentary chronicles Investigative Journalist Rachel De Leon’s four-year investigation into the appalling pattern that began when she stumbled upon a story of a young woman being arrested for the false report of rape in 2018.

While there are many documentaries revolving cases and investigations, “Victim/Suspect” is one of few to shine light into the systematic scrutiny of victims that have experienced sexual assault. Working at the Center of Investigative Reporting in Oakland at the time, the documentary captures Leon’s findings in real-time videography. It takes the viewer through her exhaustive and extensive research as the undeniable trend of police intimidation, sexism, outdated and restrictive police tactics and non-regulating police departments becomes apparent.

At a first look, the documentary presents the story in a professional manner, having a purposely thought out display of audio recordings from interviews, disturbing interrogation room footage and requesting FOIAs of a few selected counties. It also provides firsthand accounts of survivors and their family, meeting with experts and an interview with the only police official willing to talk after three years: the lead

detective of the opening case. Taking a journalistic approach not only allowed for the survivors to share their story without the doubt of officers and their manipulating and suggestive tactics to elicit a confession, but was also a setup to look at the broad problem. Local and nationwide systematic policing policies teach officials handling sexual assault cases to treat their victims like suspects, which harmfully impacts victims lives and places other women at risk by letting their assailant walk free.

As a female college student, the documentary, more specifically the cases involved, elicited empathy and outrage for how the police handled their investigations. Falling victim to police processes, it’s disappointing to know that victims did everything right, from going to get a rape kit to reporting what had happened to them. Furthermore, there are also controversial police tactics that are designed to elicit confessions such as the “Reid” or “Ruse” technique. A combination of these trainings and skepticism from the person interrogating shifts the objectives of the investigation. Instead of believing the victim, the goal is now to apply pressure and rely on the reporting victim to retract their allegations. The striking audacity proceeding this is the law enforcement then proceeding to then charge the victim with false reporting leaves the audience in disbelief.

The right to privacy as a victim is taken, with many of the survivors in the documentary experiencing the police posting an article about their false reporting arrest on social media platforms. With that information being plastered everywhere, journalists and reporters pick up this “claimed to be true” information and

VERDICT:

republish it without their own investigation. The Criminal Justice System is responsible and, instead, should be releasing reliable information after a thorough investigation.

As the scope extends outward, what she finds only further supports her investigation and provides a much broader picture of the vital point. A pattern emerges from looking at a collective of false reporting cases, such as the distinct parallels. While the victim is held in interrogation for hours the alleged assailant is briefly talked to or not at all. In the early cases reviewed, many times the police would lie about having evidence that conflicted with the story of the victim, with a badgering of questions on what seemed to no end, this often lead to them being cajoled into recanting. There was visible bias involving the investigating officers, that was reflected in the gaps and inconsistencies in their investigation.

With many crime documentaries being released, and media obsession with the “Gone Girl Effect,” this documentary doesn’t lose sight of the mission that the #MeToo movement started a decade ago. While the documentary allowed for survivors to tell their stories, it also proves the injustice that many young women face when reporting to the authorities. The justified rage and frustration felt when seeing the actions of systems that are meant to protect us, protect abusers is horrifying to spectate. Uniquely, focusing on a collective instead of just one case, Leon takes transparent measures through her research, interviews and efforts to engage with key authorities, despite encountering resistance from police departments. ■ H

WITH THERE BEING MANY TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARIES IN OUR SPHERE, THE IMPACT OF “SUSPECT/VICTIM” IS UNKNOWN. HOWEVER, THERE ARE EDUCATIONAL TAKEAWAYS AND MUCH NEEDED REMINDERS OF THE ISSUES AT HAND THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE AWARE OF.

Palestinian identity song ‘Ana Dammi Falastini’ removed from all streaming platforms

Attacks on Palestinian identity and censorship are all too common.

SENNA OMAR

Managing Editor

Palestinian artist Mohammed Assaf’s song “Ana Dammi Falastini” has been removed from all streaming platforms on false allegations that it “incites against Israel.”

First emerging into the spotlight in 2013 after becoming the first Palestinian to win “Arab Idol,” Assaf is no stranger to clashes with the false state of Israel. In 2020, the Gaza native was banned from entering parts of his occupied homeland, including Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, after a video surfaced where he advocated for the “struggle against Israel.” In response Assaf stated that they could ban him from entering, but they “won’t stop me from loving my country.”

Released in 2015, his song “Ana Dammi Falastini,” which translates to “My blood is Palestinian,” makes no reference to Israel and is merely an expression of Palestinian patriotism. The banning of the Palestinian identity song demonstrates the terrifying trend of censoring Palestinian voices and the Israeli attempt to erase Palestinian identity.

Assaf, in an interview with “Al-Araby Al-Jadeed,” stated “I received an official email about it, on the

pretext that the song incites the Zionist enemy, which makes me more honored that my songs express the Palestinian people’s resistance to the Occupation.”

Streaming platforms removed the song, alongside the whole “Muntasib Alqamah Amshi” album, after a petition circulated by pro-Zionist group We Believe in Israel (WBII) received a mere 4,000 signatures. The petition advocated for the removal of “violent extremist anti-Semitic content,” and yet “Ani Dammi Falastini” was targeted. Assaf notes that the song’s removal echoes attitudes of hostility towards Palestinian freedom and justice for Palestine.

The ecision to remove the song actually came from Assaf’s label, MBC Platinum Records, who declined to comment on the transgression. Spotify higher-ups claim to “support Mohammed Assaf,” and plan on returning the song to the streaming platform in the future.

The censorship of the song seemed to have the opposite of the intended effect, only increasing Palestinian pride. Assaf claimed that even if they erase the song from every platform, its words echo in the hearts and memories of every Palestinian. The 33-year-

old singer felt honored by the accusation against the song, only increasing “belonging to my homeland, Palestine and my just cause.”

Many citizens took to social media to express their outrage regarding the removal of the Palestinian heritage song. Users noted that the song is simply a celebration of the deep rooted Palestinian heritage that is constantly taken from them. From the forced explosion to their homeland, to attacks on their culture and life, Palestinians are constantly the victims of unjustified hate.

Removal of the singer’s number one song is Israel’s latest attempt at erasing Palestinian identity. Zionaset feel threatened by the everyday life of Palestians, proved by their 56 year long occupation, attack and ethnic cleansing of Palestine.

Assaf, much like all Palestinians, simply longs for home. He has every intention of continuing to be a thorn in the side of Israel occupiers until Palestine is free. ■ H

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Breaking all of the rules once more, ‘Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse’ innovates the contemporary American animation scene

Sony Pictures’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ pushes the creative limits of animation, while enhancing its rich storytelling with a more mature thematic impetus.

BRENDAN VO Radar Editor

When traversing through the world of Disney and Pixar, one can observe the hallmarks and staples of contemporary American animation; a blend of hyperrealism and just enough cartoonish elements to project a three dimensional fantasy. This formula has proven its effectiveness with hits like Disney’s “Frozen 2” and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4.” However, the algorithmic aesthetic of this animation style has become a bit exhausted leaving avid movie fans wanting more.

Surging back onto the scene, the newest addition to the “Spider-Man” franchise once again redefines what it means to be an animated movie. Theatrically released as of June 2, Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” performs electrically, enhanced in every way from its 2018 iteration, “Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse.” With its trademark impetus of its comic book aesthetic, the story’s darker and grittier tone and theme allows not only for the stellar animation and artistry to shine, but also its drama to be powerfully compelling.

The narrative of the new “Spider-Man” movie is beautifully complicated, tackling the timeless tale of the relationship between power and responsibility presented as a coming-of-age film. Voiced by Hailee Steinfield, Gwen Stacy is instantly established as a central character: the Spider-Woman of her universe. Her story intertwines with Miles, voiced by Shameik Moore, as they share their struggles in keeping their identities from their parents and balancing their day to day lives while fighting crime as adolescent heroes. She also wrestles with her strict cop father,

creating a linkage with Miles Morale’s narrative insofar as he has his own overbearing police captain dad.

It is then unfortunate as her narrative arc loses its spotlight when the story shifts to its multiversal plot line. While the film does this to advance its more mature motifs, it comes at the cost of how the first film captured its more grounded and personal conflicts. However, through it all, Gwen’s character is pushed forward as she takes a strong and forthright approach to being Miles’ love interest.

The theme of “taking control of your story” is imbued upon Miles’ storyline compellingly. Early in the film, his school guidance counselor attempts to reshape his narrative as a prodigy that ascended despite his marginalized background for college applications. This would further be mirrored in his conflicts with the brooding, adult Spider-Man, Miguel O’Hara, voiced by a serious Oscar Isaac, who tells Miles that his story, as a Spider-Man, has already been tragically laid out. The story of “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” then, transforms itself into a sensational, striking coming-of-age, hinging on Miles’ and Gwen’s indomitable, free and young will to challenge the jaded, adult SpiderPeople.

What truly drives the show and the absolute highlight of “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is its dazzling animation. The film shares the same aesthetic, with the philosophy of treating its animation as if it is a moving comic. This pays homage to its origin in source material, while also developing its unique style with dotted imagery, contrasting bright colors and

rapidly jazzy transitions.

As “Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse” broke out every aesthetic norm of its animated counterparts, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” reinvents the tradition by concentrating its vivid and imaginative energy into the individual characters.

Vibrant visuals and dizzying art is exuded between every individual Spider-Man and Spider-Woman and their fighting styles. Where Miles’ creativity and impromptu acrobatics are met with splashing and free flowing artistic spirit, Gwen’s graceful and flying web slinging contrasts her partner. And both of the protagonists clash with the intimidatingly, physical brute force behind Miguel’s Spider-Man. Every personality shines uniquely, embodying the narrative’s distinctly crafted characters by giving them their own respective, rhythmic visual portrayals. And with that, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” again ambitiously reaches to push the limits on the American animation industry.

With all these amazing qualities, what the film unfortunately lacks is a cohesive soundtrack. Feeling as though the narrative seems hinged at large on its visuals, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” sports only a few original songs. Where “Sunflower” and “Scared of the Dark” kept a consistent flow within the emotions of Miles’ hero journey, the soundtrack for the newest “Spider-Man” film often feels shallow and one-noted, especially when presented at each character’s highest and lowest moments. ■ H

VERDICT:

NO ANIMATED MOVIE FAN CAN AFFORD TO MISS “SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE,” A BOMBASTICALLY EXHILARATING SEQUEL THAT UPS THE ANTE FOR AMERICAN ANIMATION. DESPITE A STEP BACK WITH ITS SOUNDTRACK, “SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE” JUMPS LEAPS AND BOUNDS WITH ITS ANIMATION AND COMPELLING NARRATIVE.

KIMBERLY BEJEC

Assistant Radar Editor

After the news broke that the soul and rock powerhouse, Tina Turner, passed away peacefully on May 24, 2023, fans quickly remembered her life and career. Turner was known widely for her eccentric stage presence, powerful vocals and for changing the rock ‘n’ roll game. From growing into fame with her then-husband Ike Turner to blossoming in her solo career, her story is one that will be remembered.

Born as Anna Mae Bullock in Tennessee, the singer has come so far, especially from living with poor living standards. She later relocated to St. Louis in her teen years and began singing in her church’s choir. During her time in St. Louis, she frequently visited Club Manhattan where she met Ike Turner and his band, the Kings of Rhythm. It was then that she began singing alongside the band while still attending high school. She later married Ike and renamed their ensemble the Ike and Tina Turner Revue.

Popularity quickly rose for the group, especially with Tina at the forefront of the group as her versatile voice and energetic dancing were spellbinding. The group produced plenty of famous tracks such as “A Fool in Love,” “Proud Mary” and “River Deep - Mountain High.” Additionally, the group was known for their unstoppable power and fun live performances influenced by the genres of jazz, rock and soul.

Despite the success of the group, there were tumultuous times behind the scenes. Ike was a very demanding and complex perfectionist, wanting many things out of Tina that pushed her past her breaking point. Tina would later reveal in an interview with People magazine that Ike was mentally and physically abusive toward her, pushing her to attempt suicide several times. The couple was married for 16 years until Tina decided she had enough, and left him with barely enough money to survive on her own. Through the divorce, Tina allowed

Ike to take everything from the cash to ownership of the Ike and Tina Revue songs, except for her name. She got control of her name “Tina Turner” and was now free to do what she wanted with her name, life and career.

At the start of her solo career, Tina struggled to break through with big hits. She first started out performing residency shows in Las Vegas and snagging TV slots, desperate to make any sort of income. However, Tina was able to burst back into the music industry when her first solo album “Private Dancer” was released. This gained Tina plenty of success and popularity as it gained her four Grammy awards and sold millions of copies worldwide. From this album, one of her most popular anthems “What’s Love Got to Do With It” was released and reached number one on the U.S. charts. During this time, Tina was making a name for herself with her energetic performances, powerful voice and signature look. Gone was the look from her Ike and Tina Revue days, as she became known for performing in dazzling short dresses and skirts alongside her iconic spiky, punk mullet.

Following her massive success, Tina was filling stadiums and becoming a well-known name in the rock ‘n’ roll community. Although she was changing the game and making a name for herself, she still would get asked questions about her traumatic past marriage to Ike. It was then she decided to publish her autobiography “I, Tina” alongside the help of Kurt Loder. Following the autobiography, it was later adapted into a film, “What’s Love Got to Do with It” with Angela Bassett playing Tina. These two pieces of work were done in an attempt to silence the never-ending questions about her past, as well as be able to tell her own story through her words. Between this time, Tina also released her second solo album, “Break Every Rule” which also gained success with one of her hits, “Typical Male” hitting number two on the U.S. charts.

In 1991, Tina was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, alongside Ike who was unable to attend due to serving time for drug possession. In 2008 and 2009, Tina had her final tour called “Tina! 50th Anniversary Tour” and announced she would be retiring from the music industry. Despite the famed entertainer’s retirement, she had made a significant impact on the rock and roll scene, becoming a name that was widely known.

In 2013, Tina announced her engagement to the German record executive and her longtime partner, Erwin Bach. They then got married that July in Switzerland where the singer later resided for the rest of her life. With Bach, she was finally able to feel happiness with a partner that also loves her. Tina’s retirement did not last long, however, since in 2018 she released her second memoir, “My Love Story.” She and her husband also produced a Broadway musical based on her life called “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.” In 2021, an HBO special biographical documentary “Tina” told her story through old and new interviews, as well as old footage.

On May 24, 2023, a representative announced that the singer had died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Switzerland at age 83. Tina had been dealing with serious health issues starting in her 70s when she was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. Besides dealing with cancer in the 2010s, she had a stroke and a kidney transplant with her husband as the donor.

Despite all the hardships Tina dealt with in her life and career, she was still able to accomplish many things. Tina not only changed the rock and roll game but also was a major influence on famous artists such as Beyonce and Mick Jagger. She also was one of the first celebrities to speak out against domestic abuse. This opened the door for women to speak out as she became a symbol of courage for them. Tina Turner was an icon whose legacy will live on and be remembered for many years.

Remembering the life and impact of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner.

The recent death of the legendary singer has fans looking back on her inspirational and extraordinary life and career.

SportS

Brenny’s must-watch sports movies

BRENDA JOVEL Editor-in-Chief

Sports movies come and go — there are icons and there are jokes. Here are a couple of famous sports films that will keep you entertained for hours.

Honorable Mention: “Holes”

10. “Million Dollar Baby”

Emotionally moving at times, director Clint Eastwood brings life to Maggie Fitzgerald, a female boxer who convinces Eastwood’s headstrong character, Frankie Dunn, to train her. Hilary Swank illustrates Maggie’s motivation and desire to become a great boxer not only for herself but for her family as well. The unlikely duo forms a tight-knit bond throughout the film, eventually leading to the film’s mosttalked-about scene where Maggie is euthanized after becoming disabled, ending her boxing career. Many have argued that the scene portrays disability in a negative light that can only be resolved by death — a fair argument, as Maggie falls into depression and pleads for her life to end. Though a great sports movie with invigorating elements, the discussion of disability deserves to be talked about.

9. “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story”

Before frowning upon this pick, this film is a classic watch with brilliant comedic performances by Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Missi Pyle, Stephen Root and Justin Long. Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, the story follows Peter La Fleur (Vince Vaughn) and his failing business, Average Joe’s Gym. In an effort to keep his gym from falling to White Goodman’s (Ben Stiller) Globo-Gym, Peter enters a dodgeball contest with his friends to win the cash prize. Though there are plenty of funny moments, the story also aims to showcase how Average Joes can truly become the heroes of their story. As Patches O’Houlihan said, “Remember the 5 D’s of dodgeball, duck, dip, dive and dodge.”

8. “Friday Night Lights”

This 2004 film by director Peter Berg is set in a small town in Texas where the high school football team is praised as their most important group in the state. When Boobie Miles (Derek Luke), the team’s best tailback, is injured during the first game of the season, the town is sent into distress. New coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) takes the stage, setting aflame hope in the team players and town as he attempts to bring back the spirit that kept the football team alive. Thornton’s easy-going manner translates well into the honorary narrative that allows the film to prosper as a drama.

7. “Everest”

Though mountaineering, also known as mountain

climbing, is not seen as a sport in popular media, it is nevertheless a sport. “Everest” by director Baltasar Kormákur follows the real-life story of eight climbers who died on the deadly path of Mount Everest during a storm. Led by expedition leaders Rob Hall (Jason Clarke) and Scott Fischer (Jake Gyllenhaal), the treacherous journey upon the world’s deadliest mountain is tense, fearsome and emotive in its gutwrenching performances. The pacing for the overall plot is slow, but watching the film will keep you on the edge of your seat.

6. “Ip Man”

Loosely based on the real-life Ip Man, director Wilson Yip brings to light the story of this Hong Kong Cantonese martial artist. The story depicts his life trajectory as being one of the first teachers of Chinese martial art of Wing Chun and Bruce Lee’s teacher while having the Japanese invasion of China as the narrative’s backdrop. Born from a wealthy family, Donnie Yen takes on the heroic role of his character as a man with loyalty to protecting the ones he loves. It’s an exhilarating story where fighting sequences are shown through intricate martial arts moves, most notably the fight scene between Donnie Yen and Fan Siu-Wong.

5. “King Richard”

Director Reinaldo Marcus Green explores the lives of Venus and Serena Williams in this moving story. Their father, Richard Williams, played by Will Smith, is determined to make his daughters worldfamous tennis players from Compton, California. Training them diligently, Smith emphasizes Williams’ goal through his emotional performance to get his daughters into the sports world. The family’s motivation is never once downtrodden, even in their hardest moments such as the scene where Williams is beaten up by a group of gangsters who continuously harass his daughters for playing on the courts. Heartwrenching and motivational in all elements, the film captures the essence of the Williams family.

4. “I, Tonya”

Margot Robbie revitalizes the eye-twitching reallife story of Tonya Harding. Known as the first female figure skater to complete a triple axle in 1991, Harding was disqualified and stripped of her Olympic titles in 1994 after conspiring with her husband to break her rival’s, Nancy Kerrigan, knee that prevented her from going into the Olympics. The film relies heavily on Harding’s side of the story as director Craig Gillespie focuses on her abusive relationship with her mother and her husband, Jeff Gillooly. Robbie encapsulates the emotional distress Harding felt during her skating years. With a brilliant rough edge in her performance,

Robbie captures Harding’s most vulnerable moments, most notably her recreation of Harding’s 1994 Olympic performance where the skater unfortunately suffered a meltdown on ice.

3. “Rocky”

This classic boxing film follows Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), an unrecognized boxer in Philadelphia that is given the opportunity to fight against world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Trained by the fiery Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), the two aim to improve Rocky in the boxing field and make him known as the best boxer of all time. Even if Rocky technically loses against Apollo, the fight is a landmark in sports cinematic history as Rocky establishes himself as a bold character. It is a film for the ages that has spurred plenty of sequels, including genius spin-offs like “Creed.”

2. “42”

The inspirational story of Jackie Robinson, the first African American baseball player to play in the Major League, was brought to the big screen by director Brian Helgeland in 2013. Portrayed by the late actor Chadwick Boseman, the story follows Robinson’s youth to adult years as his desire to become a famous baseball player leads him to be signed by Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford), the then-manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Now in the big leagues, Robinson faces racism from the press and even teammates, ostracizing him as he attempts to uphold his proud position. Chadwick’s heartfelt depiction of the baseball player highlights his growing relationships on the sports field. It is a film that will last forever in the hearts of sports fans of the iconic baseball player.

1. “Creed”

There is no argument with this as number one. “Creed” follows the story of Adonis Johnson (Michael Jordan). Son of boxing champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), Adonis takes on the boxing arena with the help of the infamous boxer, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), his father’s long-time rival turned into friend. Nostalgic in its performances of returning actors, “Creed” is the perfect formula for what a sports movie should be. Slightly mirroring the first “Rocky” film, Adonis’ character arc is satisfactory in his journey of exploring his inner demons all while maintaining blooming relationships. As the final boxing match ensues, Jordan excellently incorporates emotion into every punch he throws against his rival, “Pretty” Ricky Conlan (Tony Bellew). Grab your popcorn and enjoy “Creed” — it is worth the watch. ■ H

It’s time to turn on your TV and watch these thrilling sports films.

Highlander Hot Take:

HANSEL CHU Sports Editor

On May 6, 2023, Bronny James, son of NBA superstar LeBron James, made national headlines as he finally made his decision to commit to the University of Southern California to pursue his collegiate basketball career. Bronny had a multitude of options to choose from such as the University of Oregon and Ohio State University, or he could’ve gone into the NBA G-League. The decision to join USC would pair Bronny with the number one prospect in this year’s class, Isaiah Collier. With a mix of other great collegiate players such as Boogie Ellis, DJ Rodman, Joshua Morgan and Kobe Johnson, this Trojan basketball team is going to be exciting to watch in next year’s college basketball season. However, this team will not win the national championship in March despite having such an electric roster.

The hype surrounding next year’s USC basketball team reminds me a lot of the 2017 UCLA basketball team with Lonzo Ball. Coming out of high school, Lonzo Ball was the fourth ranked player in the nation and the trio of him and his brothers cracked national headlines for almost every game they played. Lonzo and his brothers went a perfect 35-0 in Lonzo’s senior year and won the California state championship. Lonzo committed to play for UCLA after his high school career was over and the hype for UCLA’s upcoming season was unmatched. UCLA finished with a 29-4 record that year and were ranked eighth in the nation. However, the Bruins lost in the round of 16 in the March Madness tournament to the University of Kentucky, which ended their season.

The hype for Bronny James coming out of high school is arguably more than the hype Lonzo Ball had. On paper, next year’s USC basketball team is more stacked than the 2017 UCLA basketball team. Boogie Ellis

was named PAC-12 All-First team the season prior. DJ Rodman, son of former NBA player Dennis Rodman, is a great 3 and D player. Joshua Morgan led the PAC-12 in blocks last year and Kobe Johnson is regarded as one of the best defenders in the PAC-12. With the additions of Isaiah Collier and Bronny James, this roster from top to bottom looks very wellrounded. The coverage on this team is going to be immense and rightfully so as electric highlights are bound to happen with this loaded roster, and the coverage on Bronny James has always been extremely high since his middle school days.

Despite all the hype the upcoming Trojan team is getting, I do not think they are going to win the national championship in March. The teams that win the national championship usually have a roster consisting of collegiate players that have been in the program for over two to three years or have played in college for a significant amount of time and hit the transfer portal. Although USC does have players that have played in college for over two, three years, Isaiah Collier and Bronny James are only first years and their inexperience will be shown during the March Madness tournament. Also, history has shown that the winner of each national championship for the past 40 years has been on the eastern side of the United States.

Even if this upcoming USC team does not win the national championship, they are primed to have an all-time exciting season. Season tickets have already been sold out and attendance for the games will be through the roof. With how stacked this roster is as well as some household names, highlights will be flying left and right and this upcoming college season will definitely be a thrilling one.

The new look USC men’s basketball is going to be exciting, but they are not going to win a national championship

■ H

COURTESY OF LEE TRAN

THE ADDITIONS OF ISAIAH COLLIER AND BRONNY JAMES IS GOING TO MAKE THIS TROJAN BASKETBALL TEAM ELECTRIC, BUT THE TEAM IS TOO YOUNG TO WIN THE MARCH MADNESS TOURNAMENT.

COURTESY OF USC ATHLETICS