Volume 72, Issue 01

T he h ighlander

RADAR

Block Party 2023 featured impressive performances that satisfied the crowd

CELEBRATING ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY, THIS YEAR’S BLOCK PARTY HELD AN IMPRESSIVE AND ENERGETIC ATMOSPHERE TO KICK OFF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

The annual Block Party of 2023 was met with much anticipation, evident from student responses to ASPB’s first Instagram post revealing the hyped lineup. With DJ Lex hosting, the featured artists were R&B talents Jordan Ward and Tinashe, the fiery EDM artist Knock2 and the headliner Ski Mask the Slump God, the master of rap ridiculousness. The popular beginning-of-school event is most known for its electric atmosphere of the students in the crowds. Added features included food trucks, attractions, photo opportunities and much more.

This year, Block Party celebrated its 25th anniversary with a well-received setlist and plenty of hype from students. The excitement for the event stemmed from the successful marketing on social media. The decision to riff off of the incredibly successful “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” was genius, with the event’s advertising art centered around dynamic warm color palettes and impressive hexagonal designs. While Block Party had plenty of success, especially with its choice of artists and crowd control, it did face minor complications as well.

► CONTINUED ON BLOCK PARTY PAGE 11

BRENDAN VO AND KIMBERLY BEJEC Radar Editor and Assistant Radar Editor

HIGHLANDER STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Brenda Jovel editorinchief @highlandernews.org

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OPINIONS EDITOR

Ysabel Nakasone opinions@highlandernews.org

FEATURES EDITOR

Natalie Dahl features@highlandernews.org

RADAR EDITOR

Brendan Vo radar@highlandernews.org

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Networking Your Way to a Job 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Virtual Event

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Blackbox Opening Night 8 p.m. University eater

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IRENE TU / THE HIGHLANDER

CONTACT US

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Men’s Soccer at UCSB 12 a.m.

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“Nature Oasis” turns 60

UCR’S BOTANIC GARDENS CELEBRATES ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY AND

SHARES PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

When the first seedlings were planted in what was then known as the “Life Sciences Experimental Area,” the UCR Botanic Gardens was 37 acres of untamed hillside. Today, the garden’s 40 acres are home to geographical collections of plants from South Africa to Australia, more than 300 varieties of roses, and more. As the Gardens celebrate their 60th anniversary, there are many milestones to look back on, as well as plans for the future.

While the official founding date for the Gardens is 1963, the idea originated as early as 1954. Early faculty, some of whom were unfamiliar with the Western plants being taught in classes, sought an area to learn about local flora. According to Dr. Jodie Holt, director of the Gardens since 2016, “[the faculty] wanted to put in the garden for research …so they could teach students about the California Flora [and] so they could learn about the flora. Some of them came from the Midwest and the East, and they didn’t even know the California plants.” Therefore, when the first plantings were made in 1963, they consisted of “native California trees and shrubs so that the new faculty could study them and teach [them to] students.”

Over time, the Gardens have expanded beyond the scope of its initial plantings. In the 1960s, under director Dr. George Gillet, the “Life Sciences Experimental Area” became known as the UCR Botanic Gardens as the main driveway, multiple bridges and the turtle pond were built. In the 1970s, director Dr. Louis Erickson brought the total area of the Gardens to 40 acres with the installation of the subtropical fruit orchard, which consists of nearly 3 acres of citrus, guavas, sapotes, avocados, macadamias and more. In the time since, the Gardens have continued to grow, developing over 4 miles of trails which traverse multiple specialty gardens and geographic collections. With over 3,500 plant species, the gardens showcase Mediterranean climates and arid lands from across the world.

With the growth of the Gardens’ collections and facilities, have come a broadening in its mission. Director Holt states, “Over the years, the idea of this garden as a research and teaching garden for UCR stayed as its fundamental mission. But then, we’ve had five directors before me. As the garden grew, each one began to realize that this could be a public garden for the community.” For Director Holt, this developing emphasis on community experience and engagement means providing the Gardens as a resource for the surrounding area. “Our vision is that this is a nature oasis for [the] whole Inland Empire, where people can come and learn, enjoy and just get away from the urban environment. And that’s really what people say when they visit. That this garden is such an oasis in this area of millions of people.”

As the Gardens’ 60th anniversary reflects on past milestones, the current director also has an eye on future projects. The Gardens management have been working on making the irrigation system more water efficient, cleaning up the fruit orchard to make it accessible to tour groups and developing an interpretive sign program to augment the educational experience in the garden further. Two especially large projects that Director Holt envisions for the future have to do with Garden facilities. “We have a great, big, very famous historic dome building. It has just fallen into ruin and has to be removed; [it] can’t be repaired,” Director Holt explains. “We’ve already worked with architects and have a design concept. All we need to do is fundraise with our campus fundraising team to try to get that built.” The second project Director Holt hopes to move forward with is a plan for a new Welcome Center for the Gardens. “What I want to do is work with our campus architects to come up with a concept for replacing [the Botanic Gardens Conference Room] with a two or three-story Welcome Center entrance building that has a meeting room, gift shop, coffee shop [and] that would really draw more people in from campus and make us reach another level in our ability to engage with the public,” says Director Holt.

For the average community member, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the “oasis” offered by the Botanic Gardens. As Director Holt explains, “We have outreach workshops and events that everybody’s welcome to join. And many UCR classes bring their labs here [and] bring their classes here,” as well as RCC classes and local K-12 schools. The Botanic Gardens also offers docent guided tours or multiple virtual tours that can either augment your in-person learning experience or can be taken from home. And there is always the opportunity to explore the gardens at one’s own pace, taking in the aromas of the herb garden or watching fluttering wings in the butterfly garden. Admission to the Gardens is free, though non-student adults are asked to donate if they are able to.

The Botanic Gardens celebrated their 60th anniversary last week with events every weekday, including house plant giveaways. However, plenty of opportunities remain to catch events and engage at the Botanic Gardens. “After the great response to this week, during Welcome Week, we are going to plan more events for students because their turnout this week has just been overwhelming to me,” says Direct Holt. Furthermore, the Botanic Gardens would love to hear from students on the best way to engage with them. “We are so happy to have engaged more students this week. And would love to know more about how we could offer more benefits for students. We’d love your ideas.” For more information about the UCR Botanic Gardens, visit https://gardens.ucr.edu/

UCR’s New School of Medicine

THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NOW.

MATA ELANGOVAN

News Editor

According to the University of California Riverside’s (UCR) School of Medicine (SOM) site, The original School of Medicine Education Building was built in 2012, enrolling its first class of just 50 students in 2013 and having 40 graduate and receive their degrees in 2017. Before the program existed, UCR and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) had a collaborative program in which students would begin their medical education at UCR and then transfer to UCLA to finish their clinical training and earn their M.D.

From its admittal of the first class, the SOM has received full accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, made appearances in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of graduate schools, conducted various studies across a broad spectrum of topics and served the people of the Inland Empire.

Now, UCR’s SOM serves to “educate and retain a diverse physician and research workforce needed to address the underserved patient care needs of the region,” as well as to develop “a platform for expanded biomedical, translational, clinical and population-based research programs to advance knowledge in the medical sciences,” and “improve the health of the people of Inland Southern California.” They operate on the core values of inclusion, integrity, innovation, excellence, accountability and respect.

UCR’s SOM now ranks number 5 in the nation overall for diversity, with 37% of its students coming from underrepresented communities. The Thomas Haider Program is

a unique opportunity that allows only 24 UCR undergraduate students to secure a place in the SOM, built upon the original program collaboration between UCR and UCLA, allowing them entry into the SOM so long as they fulfill the requirements of attending UCR for six consecutive quarters and graduate from UCR with a bachelor ’s degree.

In the spring of 2019, state legislators approved $108 million to construct the School of Medicine Education Building II (SOM II) out of the California state budget. With the construction of the new building, UCR SOM will be able to double its enrollment to 500. Construction for the SOM II began on October 21, 2021, and was finished and celebrated on September 26, 2023, the same time the school celebrated its 10th anniversary.

The SOM II was allocated about 95 thousand square feet, with 55 thousand square feet used for the structure itself. It includes three lecture halls that can seat 140 each, a large courtyard, smaller instructional spaces, the creation of the Active Learning Center, student lounges and much more. The building was built to meet industry energy efficiency and sustainability standards, boasting a 200-kilowatt solar array on its roof.

Now that the ribbon-cutting ceremony has passed and the doors are open for SOM students, staff will begin to populate the rooms by October 6th, and classes will begin for the students later in October after the finals.

MATA ELANGOVAN / THE HIGHLANDER

MATA ELANGOVAN / THE HIGHLANDER

OpiniOns

Diversity in college enrollment means nothing when a degree isn’t a certainty

Enrollment of Latine students at colleges has made leaps and bounds in the last 20 years, with numbers doubling. However, Latine and African-American students remain the least likely to be enrolled or obtain a bachelor’s degree, listing financial constraints as the main reason. A D.C.-based nonprofit, Excelencia in Education, recently released a report noting that despite these increases in enrollment, graduation rates remain stagnant and unsatisfactory. Enrollment numbers that universities roll out to tout their student diversity fail to mean anything if those students are not getting the degree they pay crushing amounts of money for.

The education gap between Latine and white students is still incredibly significant, with 28% of Latine adults over 25 having an associate’s degree or higher, while that number is 48% for white adults. While it’s no small feat that universities are accepting a more diverse body of students, the lack of student retention is unacceptable. It doesn’t matter if enrollment is increasing when these students are not receiving the support they need to obtain a degree. Furthermore, with the Supreme Court overturning affirmative action, diversity in enrollment will decline and further expand the education gap.

Universities need to further prioritize the retention of students and the growth of resources that aid those students most in danger of having to leave before obtaining a degree. Higher education institutions should seek to hold themselves to a higher standard. Unfortunately, this isn’t a problem that has a one-size-fits-all solution. Each university faces its own challenges and needs to allocate resources differently to address housing shortages, food insecurity, educational needs and a myriad of other factors which inhibit graduation rates

In reports from 2014 to 2017, the UC system itself has an overall 85% graduation rate within six years. Looking at Latine students within those same cohorts, there’s a 63% rate of graduation within six years, which is not significantly different from the 70% rate of graduation for four-year UC students.

UC Riverside reports that, based on data from students who started at the university in 2014, 73.7% of Latine students graduated within six years. Despite this, there’s still plenty of

room for improvement and further investment in decreasing the education gap at UCs. California State Universities continue to accept higher portions of Latine students and remain the main California colleges supplying bachelor’s degrees to those same populations.

Part of this problem needs to be addressed prior to college admissions. Offering students the educational resources they need in primary and secondary school, as well as increasing awareness about financial resources is essential. Academic resources and college preparation programming need to be more widely available to students.

California also needs to allocate more financial aid to Dreamer students. The California Student Aid Commission released a report stating that a mere 14% of undocumented students actually receive financial aid from the state and public universities. A lack of resources provided to Dreamers is partially to blame, with over 427,000 undocumented students enrolled in higher education across the country. Legislation requiring a Dreamer resource liaison was signed in California in 2019, but for most campuses, a center designated to addressing the unique and complex needs of Dreamers is a pipe dream.

Furthermore, the decolonization of education and educational institutions — particularly college universities — needs to be addressed. In a 2023 journal article on the education gap, the authors note a common misconception that places blame on ethnic minorities through the term “achievement gap” versus understanding that these differences in degree attainment boil down to institutionalized racism. The idea of an achievement gap simply gives voice to the hateful idea that historically marginalized groups are inherently “below the standard of modernity and Western culture” rather than noticing how societally ingrained views cause the academic “deficiencies” of marginalized students.

Addressing the education gap is a long-term project that will require the full-time commitment and efforts of universities, legislators, activists, educators and students. Students are fighting every day for an education they should have a right to and there’s no end in sight.

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.

THE EDUCATION GAP BETWEEN LATINE AND WHITE STUDENTS IS ANOTHER CRY FOR ACTION TO ADDRESS RACIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

A lax dress code in the senate only hurts public image

THE SENATE’S REQUEST FOR A CASUAL DRESS CODE RISKS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S IMAGE AT A TIME WHEN PUBLIC TRUST AND SUPPORT IS TEETERING.

CECILE DIROLL Assistant Opinions Editor

Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced early last week that the Senate’s traditional dress code will no longer be enforced. Though an unwritten policy, the dress code enforces professional business attire — suits and ties for men and dresses and pantsuits for women. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman has become the face of the dress code change as he often dons casual clothing, gym shorts and sweatshirts while voting on legislation from the Senate doorway. However, as public trust in government wavers, Congress in particular, the new dress code raises concerns about how it will affect the Senate’s image of formality and respectability.

This isn’t the first modification to the dress code the Senate has seen. As a more diverse body of individuals have taken up government positions, more inclusive and equitable adjustments to the formal dress code have been implemented. In the 1990s, the Senate allowed women to wear pants rather than skirts or dresses. Additionally, in 2019, “sleeveless dresses” for women were permitted on the Senate floor. The dress code has also been changed for religious reasons on Capitol Hill. When the first Muslim congress member took office in 2019, a new measure was voted upon to allow “religious headwear” in the House — repealing a previous ban on hats and other headgear. Since the traditional dress code was written with the exclusive existence of male politicians, it can alienate and discriminate against minority groups. Flexibility with the dress code rules is necessary in terms of inclusivity and equitability for all members.

However, adjusting the Senate dress code rules is different than loosening them. Though the new change comes after the pandemic when many U.S. businesses allowed more casual attire in the workplace, lowering the standard of dress actually increases gender inequity. In the Senate, professional business attire — homogenous suits and ties — was a neutral form of clothing fashioned for male politicians. Yet, women’s appearance is vastly different from men’s since every fashion choice impacts how others view and treat them.

Democratic U.S. representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received much attention for her bold red lipstick in a 2018 debate against former U.S. representative Joe Crowley. How women present themselves matters as it affects their personal autonomy and power. Seeing Senator Susan Collins wearing a T-shirt and yoga pants will not be viewed or

A new generation must demand climate reform

TOMAS ALVES Distribution Manager

treated the same way as Senator Fetterman sporting a hoodie and baggy jeans. Lowering the standard of dress only exacerbates gender disparity of appearance in politics and creates yet another window to target female legislators’ autonomy.

Additionally, the new dress code would only apply to senators. The staffers — a younger, more diverse group of color who are paid less — will still be required to wear business attire on the Senate floor. This exacerbates class segregation by allowing senators privileges not extended to the workers that make their jobs possible, which surely is not something a democratic government should be practicing.

With the frustration over how long Congress took to agree on a federal budget and the near government shutdown, image is more important than ever. Lower standards of dress jeopardize the institution as a whole by rendering it frivolous. Like many professions, uniforms are a social marker of training, status, community and code of conduct. Clothing has the power to not only represent the identity of a person, but also the reputation of an organization. The Senate’s so-to-speak “uniforms” are business attire as they allow an identifiable and respectable image for all members.

While it was a wise decision to reverse the relaxed dress code, the resolution still does not “specify what women have to wear on the Senate floor.” Therefore, flexibility towards the dress code in the future to promote inclusivity and equity is important — especially in one of America’s most powerful institutions.

AS THE CLIMATE CRISIS WORSENS, THE NEWEST GENERATION OF POLITICALLY ACTIVE YOUNG PEOPLE MUST UNDERSTAND THEIR CRITICAL ROLE IN DRIVING CHANGE.

During this past July, a new record was set for the world’s hottest July. Of course, the climate battle is considered existential and prioritized by young climate activists who fear a future mired in inaction. Still, even as we near these critical junctures of irreparable damage to our ecosystems, it seems the words of reputable scientists continue to be drowned out and unheeded. Thus, the role of environmental activism in pressuring governments and shifting national agendas is paramount.

Social activists demanding political change is a battle-tested phenomenon that supports widespread national changes. Tactics of organizing movements united around a single cause, such as the Civil Rights Movement, with one goal were effective when pushing for massive political change. But, while these movements set an invaluable example for social revolution, there fails to exist an international instance of the same widespread sociopolitical change.

A world order in which all countries are united in addressing climate change is hardly naïve to wonder about. As idealistic as it sounds, the nature of the current world order, where nations are rewarded for acting in their own self-interest, presents a surfeit of obstacles that disincentivizes any one charismatic leader from approaching it. The complex international system needs a serious, constant and measurable commitment from every major actor on the global stage.

The United Nations is the only set of institutions attended by almost every nation in the world. This global institution intertwines the world’s best intentions with the everyday work of diplomacy and humanitarianism. Yet, as large of an outreach and outlet as it might be, even young people recognize that it is far from capable of achieving the lofty goals the world must achieve. The United Nations’ main weakness is that it lacks the mandate to affect change among its Member Nations. Without the power to demand that Member States enforce any resolutions passed by the General Assembly, global

frameworks regularly face the excruciating process of ratification in each Member State. In a critique of the current status quo, any reform to the United Nations requires consensus of all Member States. With admiration for the success of nonviolent protest throughout the course of history, Climate Change can only be sustainably solved through widespread cultural upheaval and social activism.

While the most recent demonstrators of environmental activism have resorted to extreme demonstrations by vandalizing buildings of major corporations and interrupting major sporting events, this only hinders the climate movement. It gives the opportunity for climate-deniers or opponents of climate activism to delegitimize the global efforts by labeling climate activists as extremists. Moments where beloved international icons like the Mona Lisa or the Trevi Fountain are defamed, undeniably generate publicity but paint the efforts of climate activists everywhere in a bad light. Instead of relying on wrecking or defacing infrastructure, climate activists should display a sense of urgency without committing crimes and convince people from all backgrounds to become responsible stakeholders.

Even though the international community agreed to the Sustainable Development Goals and made commitments to change, the low probability of a reformed United Nations means that environmental activism has a special role to play in achieving the world’s goals.

Realistically, in the context of political polarization, a hypothetical international climate activist movement would face major challenges from legislatures and special interests around the world as it demands major shifts in our way of life. However, the justice that climate activists seek is one that secures the future ahead based on a moral imperative includes and implicates everyone.

COURTESY OF GOVERNOR TOM WOLF VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY 2.0

The Roman Empire was not the Mojo Dojo Casa House of the first century

YSABEL NAKASONE Opinions Editor

A new TikTok trend is taking up space in the mainstream media as there appears to be a malespecific obsession with the Roman Empire. Women have been asking their fathers, boyfriends, husbands and friends how often they think about the Roman Empire and the answers have been shockingly frequent. While their culture resulted in revered works of art and technological advancements that have a stronghold in modern life, there is a question of why Rome takes up so much space in the minds of men. This glorification of the Roman Empire is largely due to an inaccurate portrayal of Roman culture and a hostile, misogynistic takeover that needs to be corrected.

Western society has undoubtedly highlighted the importance of Roman history in tandem with ideas of masculinity and power. This view has been criticized by historians who have pointed out, among other things, the diversity in gender expression and the role of women in Roman society.

On a darker note, the rewriting of Roman history has served to appreciate white supremacy and a completely false narrative of a diverse Mediterranean culture. Specifically, it is concerning that a whitewashed version of Rome is utilized to denigrate the contributions of diverse communities to the existence of contemporary “western civilization” and claim all

modern success or advances for white men.

There’s nothing wrong with being interested in ancient Roman history or history in general, except when it’s a ballad of lies being used to glorify patriarchal values. If this trend has any concrete effect, it should inspire a dedication to learning about the more complex intricacies of history. Rome, like many Western societies, was built on the oppression of women and those histories are lost in the shuffle of ideas like conquest, imperialism and militarism.

This is not to say that every man in those TikTok videos that say they think about the Roman Empire every day harbors blatantly sexist and hateful ideology in their mind. However, these men have been misled and deserve to be educated. The trend also further serves to cut women out of a sphere of learning and information. It points out the failures of educational institutions to highlight women’s history.

A 2017 study on K-12 education indicates that when studying historical figures, one woman is mentioned for every three men.

Women are a footnote in textbooks, in history and in life. This time, it isn’t a matter of making space for women to exist, it’s about acknowledging their existence in the first place.

THE MEDIA INACCURACIES PORTRAYING THE ROMAN EMPIRE CREATE A TOOL THAT SUPPORTS MISOGYNISTIC AND WHITE SUPREMACIST VALUES.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

COURTESY OF PEXELS

Freshman year: one for the books?

YSABEL NAKASONE Opinions Editor

You’reintheprocess ofcuttingofffrom yourpast.There’s somebaggagefollowingyouaround andyouneedto cut it off immediately.Whetherit’s an ex-best friend or anexwhodefinitely should be obsessed withyou,it’sonly goingtodragyou backwards.

Taurus(April20-May 20):QueenofCups ofTaurus,inashockingturn emotionalevents,youcanexpect stabilitythis isyear.Trustme,everyone are.justassurprisedasyou Don’tletitgotoyour head.

Aries.aboutapartnership, It’sunclearifthisunificationwilllastmonthsbeyondthenextnine ofyourlife,butofyouwillinvestpiecesvival.yourselfintoitssurThisrelationshipcouldevenbe describedascodependent.

AprilAries(March2119):TwoofCupsbeYourfreshmanyearwill

Capricorn (December 22January 19): Nine of Swords You’reafraid,Capricorn.That’sunderstandable.Takecomfortinthefactthatthisisamarathon,notasprint.

It won’t get that scary for another year at

least.

school, and you

like you’re in high

ously, you still look

you look older. Seri-

that you think makes

and the new haircut

work long distance

school relationship you’re trying to make

thing. That high

and I mean every-

It’s time to reevaluate everything, Gemini…

Cups

June 20): Four of

Gemini (May 21 -

long as you can.

second out for as

second decision comes, stretch that

time for that split

there. When the

trust and go from

you know you can

practical Lean on the people

pressure on you.

about the and there’s a lot of

Queen of Pentacles This year right now

NovemberScorpio(October2321):QueenofSwords goingScorpio,beingdirectis tobeastapleinyourfirstyear.Alotofcircumspectpeoplearegoingtobe andround-beabout,andyouneedto don’tstraightforwardifyou bywanttobefooled them.

Earth Signs

Virgo(August23September22):Aceof Swords

Leo(July23-August 22):TenofSwords

Virgo,aseriesof eventsaregoingto bringyouclarity.Right now,yourjudgment iscloudedandyou’re doingthingsthatwould have even the most deluluofpeopleunable tojustifyit.Maybe listentoyourfriends whentheytellyouto stopchasingafterthat fratboy.

Cancer (June 21July 22): Four of Wands is year will be about building harmonious connections on campus while holding onto the ones at home. You’ll be the one going home every weekend because you miss your mom even though you were complaining about your family for months before you moved out.

You’regoingtobethe freshmanwhoisthedrama,andeveryoneinyourhallisgoingtobehangingontoeveryword.Holdyourheaduphighanddon’tletgoofyourdignity.Painfulendingsarenecessaryandwillbuildupyourtoleranceforthreemore yearsofcollege.

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 prod-

This one’s for the freshies…

Campus Cope: Scotty Sponsored Sob Sesh

SENNA OMAR Managing Editor

THE PERFECT PLACES TO CRY ON CAMPUS.

Everybody cries sometimes. Here are the best places to shed a few tears on campus.

The privacy of your own home

If you live on campus, an empty apartment or dorm is a rare occurrence. While all your roommates are engaging in their daily adventures, in that one-hour time slot where no one’s home — but technically, you have class — take this as an opportunity to have an emotional outburst. Nothing beats a good tear-shedding in an unmade bed with a half-folded pile of clothes and the sound of Lana Del Ray blasting while you rehash every terrible thing that’s ever happened to you in your whole life.

Glen Mor Mural

UCR has deceived the student population into believing that multiple students came together to create a mural on the grounds of Glen Mor. As a Glen Mor resident, I personally have never seen this mural, nor have I encountered or interacted with any other Glen Mor resident or student who has witnessed the famed mural. Any brave soul strong enough to embark on the treacherous quest through Glen Mor village to find the mythic mural deserves a peaceful cry in this unknown land. After witnessing the beauty of this mural that no one has ever seen, any nomad would simply buckle to their knees sobbing, basking in its glory. This invisible mural will offer the perfect space for anyone willing to go on an adventure to cry about.

Rivera Library (not Orbach)

If you can sob softly, the library is the place to cry. The night always starts well at the library. You come in motivated, ready to work and tackle all the assignments you procrastinated on till the last possible second. The hours progress, but the assignment doesn’t. Chained to the table until all is complete, you can’t help but shed a few tears into the textbook you opened for the first time today, the night before the midterm, worth 50% of your grade. As you’re hidden in the endless stacks of books, away from polite society, forgetting how the sun feels against your skin, let the tears spill into the textbooks.

Lot 30

Picture this: you wake up late in a panic for that 8:00 a.m. lecture you cannot miss because attendance is 30% of the grade, it’s 6:50 a.m., and the commute to school is 40 minutes. Immediately, you hop out of bed, rush to get dressed, drive on the dreaded 60 freeway through the morning traffic, and arrive at campus with 10 minutes to spare. It is 7:50 in the morning, and now you are aimlessly driving around Lot 30, trying to find a single open parking space and nothing. The clock is ticking. All the spots are still full. You can’t park in another lot cause TAPS doesn’t sleep and will give you a ticket. The only option is to ditch the 8:00 a.m., turn on the hazard lights, and cry in the middle of Lot 30. Parking is hard.

The back row of the lecture for that one class you really hate

There are some classes you want to take, and then there are those classes you HAVE to take. Sometimes, the courses you have to take end up taking the most out of you. As you weave through the herds of lost freshmen, dreading every last step made towards this mandatory degree requirement, grab a little beverage before delaying the journey. You walk into class 10 minutes late with a coffee; everyone’s eyes follow as you hide in the back corner of the lecture hall. The slides are not visible at all, and all the professors’ words make sense individually, but together, they are incoherent to your uneducated mind. As you and everyone else around you struggle to grasp an ounce of the information spewed during this lecture, it is time to sob into your laptop.

Glasgow

Dining Hall

For some, the dining hall is where they grab mediocre pasta dinner and breakfast with their roommates; however, for UCR Dining Services employees, working a shift at Glasgow Dining Hall is a living nightmare. Searching for a place to cry while lost in the backrooms of the dining hall, well, look no further! The dish room is the right place to break down emotionally. Not only will no one be able to hear your sobbing over the deafening sound of the Industrial dishwasher and bustling kitchen environment, but once your secret sob session is complete, you can blame the red, puffy eyes on the chemicals from the kitchen.

Enjoy your Scotty-sponsored sob sessions. Happy crying campers!

COURTESY OF PEXELS

COURTESY OF PEXELS

Favorite UCR Classes

SIX UCR STUDENTS SHARE THEIR FAVORITE CLASSES TAKEN ON CAMPUS.

NATALIE DAHL Features Editor

Dustin Le, 4th year, History Major

My favorite class this quarter is History 139, African History in Fiction, Film and Science Fiction, taught by professor Ademide Adelusi-Adeluyi. She offers a modern perspective on history writing. We’ve looked at a lot of media that covers African stories to analyze how history is seen and actively being written all around the world.

Aaron Nissanka, 3rd year, Economics Major

My favorite class recently has been my Scriptwriting class. It’s the most relaxing class I have had, and I love going to the class just because of Professor Bucklin and my TA, Karly, alone. They’re both the sweetest and most respectful people I’ve had recently. I always love going into conversations with them about any type of movie or show. Despite going into Economics and Computer Science, watching movies and discussing them/getting to learn how to write a script has always been a hobby for me and it helps me relax especially with the type of movies they give out. I loved the movies they gave out and do deep dives in, especially going into the directors and actors of these films, and the behind the scenes of them. It gives me more appreciation for those films and movies in general. This class also helped give me more content for my Letterboxd.

Emmari Pureza, 3rd year, Biology Major

My favorite class was Chemistry 08LB with Kevin Kou. He is a really good teacher who puts things into simple, understandable terms and makes Organic Chemistry really enjoyable. He was super accessible and helpful during office hours and always took the time to properly answer any questions students asked him. He also offered async options and recorded lectures, which made reviewing material easy. He genuinely wants you to succeed in his class and in your college career!

Hong-An Trang, C/O 2023, Education, Society and Human Development Major

I loved taking Education 179A, Language Development in Content Areas, with Aya Shhub. It was the first education class I took that focused on methods and teaching strategies rather than theory. I could clearly see myself applying what I was learning to my future classroom and it made me excited for my career!

Rhea Judge, 3rd year, Pre-Business Major

My favorite class that I’ve taken at UCR so far is Economics 003 with Corey Joab. Not only is the professor super understanding, but he makes it so that the class accommodates people who commute or can’t make it to class sometimes. He communicates well with students and I never found myself lost with the material he was teaching or what was going on during each week. He makes it so that every student can succeed in his class and overall the class is extremely enjoyable.

R’Traditions: Embark on the Ultimate Highlander Journey: Conquer 54 UCR Traditions for the Complete Campus Experience!

MARIBEL GAMEZ-REYES

Assistant Features Editor

SHOWCASE SCHOOL SPIRIT AS A HIGHLANDER TRADITIONS KEEPER!

Are you ready to immerse yourself in the campus life at UCR? Brace yourself for an exhilarating adventure as you set out to complete at least 54 predetermined UCR traditions meticulously designed to encompass every facet of university life. These traditions are your key to becoming a true Highlander, fostering personal growth and forging unforgettable memories.

Spanning eight captivating categories, including Academic/Professional Development, Ethnic & Gender Programs Events, Cornerstones, Explore Campus! Explore Riverside!

Residential Life Support, UCR’s Athletic Teams and UCR Pride, each tradition is a stepping stone toward a more enriched and well-rounded college experience.

If this piques your interest, head to UCR Student Life and look at the drop-down menu under the “Being a Highlander” tab for the following steps to earning your Highlander Traditions Keeper Medal.

It’s a great way to become involved on campus and explore beyond your daily routine. Completing UCR’s traditions allows you to venture into exciting events and discover incredible opportunities on campus while getting to know the vibrant city of Riverside. But the journey doesn’t end there; it’s also a fantastic chance to connect with fellow Highlanders and share your experiences. To start, create an Instagram account dedicated to your journey, follow ‘UCR Student Life’ and document your traditional achievements with descriptions.

Ensure you register via HighlanderLink for official credit and submit each tradition before the established deadline to receive a medal to wear at graduation. Seize this opportunity to enrich your college experience, celebrate traditions and contribute to UCR’s legacy, all while exploring the dynamic world within and beyond the campus. ■ H

IRENE TU / THE HIGHLANDER

EMYR ORTIZ / THE HIGHLANDER

RadaR

Block Party 2023

BRENDAN VO AND KIMBERLY BEJEC Radar Editor and Assistant Radar Editor

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this year’s Block Party held an impressive and energetic atmosphere to kick off the school year.

Line

Unsurprisingly, students had started lining up to the event early with the eager front attendees being there at least 4 hours before the event opened its doors at 4:00 p.m. The line snaked around the courtyard between the Student Success Center and the Humanities and Social Sciences building. Despite fears of front-cutting from other students, this was avoided for the most part. With plenty of security guards placed throughout the line and ASPB members walking around to keep it checked, it would’ve been difficult for anyone to cut the line.

By 3:44 pm the line moved up to the security check and final preparations were made to open the doors. Despite a late start, the line moved smoothly in, with security and ASPB swiftly moving the waiting crowd into the venue starting at 4:22 p.m. Students did not have to endure any unnecessary wait due to this efficient movement.

Merchandise

At the start of the event, students excitedly rushed over to merchandising to obtain free shirts and hoodies sporting the event art and lineup. Located by the Bell Tower, the line got longer as more students started entering the venue. Snaking around established stations and all the way to the stairs of the Bell Tower from the lawn, the line grew to a devastating 30 to 45-minute wait for exclusive Block Party merchandise. While students waited in line, some ASPB staff members were passing out snacks from one of their sponsors, Takis, for them to snack on.

After about an hour since letting the students into the event, the booth ran out of merchandise, and students still waiting were forced to disperse from the line. This left many disappointed and frustrated despite some coming to the event hours early and still being unable to beat the rush of others fiending for the merchandise. As mentioned by disappointed students of the incident, the line was hectic and “all over the place.” Sanya Aul, a first-year biology major, discussed how much she wished to have gotten something since she and her friends were standing for about half an

hour in line. She suggested that ASPB can maybe let people know how many items they have left so that it doesn’t keep people waiting in line. Another idea that could assist in that endeavor would be using a clicker to count where the line should end.

Amenities

Alongside the quest for merchandise, other amenities that attracted concert goers were the food and attractions. The notable food trucks consistently holding large lines were Cali Caribbean, Seoulmates and Burning Buns. Another fun attraction at the start was a giveaway station hosted by DoorDash where students could win prizes.

Whilst students were enjoying amenities, DJ Lex set the ambiance with RnB classics like “Get You” by Daniel Caesar and “Nights Like This” by Kehlani feat. Ty Dolla $ign. She also played recent hits such as “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” by PinkPantheress and Ice Spice and “Super Shy” by NewJeans. DJ Lex then handed the stage to the first performer, Jordan Ward.

Artist Performances

Starting off the event, Jordan Ward struggled to find the energy in his performance; his R&B music was met with a cold audience. With his many attempts to raise the energy of the concert, the nature of Ward’s songs worked against him as the nature of his music felt more sentimental and mellow. His best tracks, “WHITE CROCS” by him and Ryan Trey, and his ending song “FAMJAM4000,” were not enough to get any rise out of the disinterested, dead crowd. Although, admittedly, during a majority of his set, students were either still barely entering or exploring the venue, resulting in a comparatively smaller crowd. Regardless of these setbacks, Ward gave a great performance showing comfortability with his warm audience interactions and his ability to smoothly dance and move around the stage, showing confident stage presence.

The next artist, however, lifted the crowd up from the cold lull as Knock2 lit fire under them with his thrilling performance. Preluded by DJ Lex’s own EDM mix, Knock2 came in hard with his signature bass house hits, reenergizing the audience. His pieces like “MAKE U SWEAT!” and “gettin’ hot,” were all head-bangers, whipping UCR students into jumping frenzies. Harmoniously, Knock2 would incorporate his softer, remixed songs to allow listeners to breathe before again electrifying them with hard transitions back into his EDM. He surprised fans by not only dropping his Fred again x SHM remix but also bringing ISOxo out during his set. The crowd was a big fan of Knock2 as it got them jamming to the music and hype for the best type of energy.

What did occasionally break the energy was when Knock2 had to stop his performance multiple times to warn the crowd of pushing each other, even stating, “Yo, the energy is too f***ing crazy.” While Knock2’s set did run longer than usual, he still managed to steal the show by keeping the energy up and playing music that got people jumping and headbanging. ASPB also started to hand out light sticks to the crowd to throw at beat drops and transitions.

Verdict:

When asked about their favorite set, fourth-year Taylor Cabael alongside his three friends all said Knock2. He explained how Knock2 “creating his own brand by himself kind of creates almost like this environment of people and a lot of those people end up having such a good community… [simply] enjoying his music. It makes it really good.”

Tinashe was another one of the big names for Block Party as people were excited to see her perform. She was an intimate pick for the lineup, and her performance was a sensually choreographed R&B showcase with her slower songs swaying the crowd. With her more poplike songs like “2 On” and “X,” Tinashe delivered a solid show. She put on a great performance by interacting with the crowd, as well as incorporating her talented dance moves alongside her more upbeat songs. Unfortunately, her mic was cut off which ended her set abruptly. However, during the time she was on stage and her mic was off, she continued to impress the crowd with her dance moves and put on an exciting performance.

Headlining the entire concert was the crazy uncle of rap, Ski Mask the Slump God. Preluded by DJ Scheme, Ski performed his best hits in Stokely like “Faucet Failure” and “Nuketown.” Ski started off his set with a bang that instantly got the crowd vibing to his music. With his songs imbued with his dizzying flow of absurd rhymes, Ski was able to emanate constant energy. And it definitely helped that the audience knew and sang his songs, revealing and solidifying him as a crowd favorite alongside Knock2. The UCR crowd even got to enjoy a few unreleased tracks from his upcoming album.

His performance was unfortunately thorned by his need to constantly remind the audience to stop pushing their peers to the front and crushing one another. Additionally, Ski would fail an attempt to jump into the crowd for them to catch him during “Nuketown,” leading to DJ Scheme yelling at the audience and a lengthy rescue mission for the rapper.

A solemn highlight of Ski’s performance was his dedicated songs to the late XXXTentacion and Juice WRLD. Ski would perform his close friends’ songs like “Jocelyn Flores” and “SAD!” by XXXTentacion and “Legends” by Juice WRLD with Ski pointing to the sky while performing “SAD!”

Reception from Interviews

All together, students seemed to have a great experience at the 2023 Block Party. The event for Rachit Shah, a 4th-year political science major, marks the 3rd Block Party that he has been to and he states “With this Block party, I knew a couple of names like Ski Mask and Tinashe and I was really excited to see them. It was a good experience and I reconnected with a lot of my friends from last year.” 1st-year music major Gavin Maneon gave a confident yes when asked if his first Block Party met his expectations and said, “It was fun, it was exciting. It’s my first time doing a concert-related event.” ■ H

featured impressive performances that satisfied the crowd and kept the energy high

Barring some minor setbacks, the 25th Block party was a great start to the new school year. With new and continuing students leaving with good experiences, UCR students should look forward to the next events.

Writers and Actors in Hollywood on strike to protect their creative ingenuity

The protection of artists is crucial in the age of A.I.

ISABELLA DAY

Contributing Writer

After months of marching in the streets, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached a tentative deal to end their 150-day strike. At a time during which A.I. software has become so advanced, the careers and livelihoods of writers and actors have been recently threatened and the strike represents more than just unfair wages.

The demands of the writers are nothing outlandish. In simplified terms, the WGA has asked for and struck a deal outlining an increase in healthcare and pension funds, a strict set of guidelines concerning the use of A.I. and an increase in the minimum compensation for writers’ work. Actors share similar grievances as they are also demanding increased minimum pay rates, increased streaming residuals (meaning actors can be paid and live off of money earned when their TV shows or films are streamed), an overall improvement in working conditions and protection against A.I. being used to generate performances.

Many who have stood on the sidelines watching these artists march on the picket line have expressed their frustration that actors and writers would even have to protest such things when A-list actors get paid millions of dollars. The truth of the matter is that the WGA and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) are much larger than most people realize. A-List actors and writers make up an incredibly minuscule percentage of these unions. And while they may get paid millions of dollars, they aren’t making those millions on acting alone. Many of the most famous actors have their own

production companies where A-listers then sign on to these projects as both actors and producers to make the big bucks. The majority of artists that constitute the WGA and SAG don’t have that luxury and have to work more than one job in order to survive because the dedication and payment they receive for their work are simply not enough.

Many of the big streaming services and corporations the WGA and SAG are going after include Amazon/MGM, Apple, NBCUniversal, Disney/ABC/Fox, Netflix, Warner Brother, Paramount/CBS and Sony, which has resulted in many highly anticipated shows and movies to postpone their release by a whole year. While this is hardly a disastrous consequence of the strike, the strike has been a more serious threat to smaller businesses that are reliant on production to stay in business. Catering companies that supply craft services and feed the cast and crew, costume designers and cleaning companies who work hard to supply the actors with tailored and clean clothes every single day on shoot days — all of these people who go unnoticed but play a fundamental role in ensuring productions run smoothly are the people who are harmed the most by the strike.

It’s time that writers, actors and those who work behind the scenes to make movies as magical as they are are fairly compensated and given the credit they rightfully deserve for their dedication to their craft.■ H

Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’ review: An explicable

Wes Anderson delivers

story.

LUKE LIAO

Contributing Writer

The last time Wes Anderson brought Roald Dahl’s work to the big screen was in 2009 with “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and the result was an autumnal stop-motion delicacy. 15 years later, the director returns with “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” a Netflix-backed short film that will be subsequently followed by three other Dahl adaptations. Adapted from the sevenstory garland, the tale tells the story of Henry Sugar (Benedict Cumberbatch) who reads and is inspired by a report of a man who can see without his eyes.

What is evident straightway is that this film is a word-for-word adaptation. Characters speak directly to us reciting the text, hilariously referring to themselves in the third person. Dialogue flies and sentences continue without rest. To further this idea of artifice, a stage-like presentation is enacted — and the film leans into it completely. Motile sets lock in and out, characters undergo costume and make-up transformations and stagehands zip around the set. It’s a flamboyant choice that sustains until the credits roll.

Anderson has a myriad of mannerisms, so while the most evident is the previously stated imagistic style, another less-discussed trademark is his affinity for nested stories. “Henry Sugar” couldn’t be more consistent, taking the notion twofold and unraveling it as a story-within-a-story-within-a-story-withina-story. It could easily be bothersome or result in diluted threads, but the film’s brevity and matter-of-

factness use this to keep the narrative eventful.

Once Henry masters some mystical abilities, the socialite turns to gambling, quickly running the tables and winning a ludicrous amount of cash. It’s a moment of elation and the fruits of his three-year practice. We know this because Henry tells us, but the tonality of his words and expressions don’t seem to be on the same page.

This cut-and-dry verbalism is the film’s main detractor, as it increasingly has been in Anderson’s recent releases. We understand that it’s used to convey a very “literal” effect in this instance, but the clockwork delivery really does the actors no favors. It leaves the performances, and characters by extension, feeling flat and more like chessmen.

So although it is not without its faults and may not push the envelope, “Henry Sugar” remains a delightful treat. Alongside Cumberbatch, performances from Dev Patel and Ben Kingsley are all welcome additions. One can only hope they become regulars on Anderson’s ever-expanding head count. The script also makes sure to retain the mischief and youthful ingenuity of the original story. And despite concerning adult characters, something relatively uncharacteristic of Dahl, his good-hearted message remains universal.■ H

and corporate greed.

‘The

act of magic

a fantastical and theatrical fable — wholly faithful to Roald Dahl’s

Verdict:

“The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” is a nimble pick-me-up, featuring the director’s painterly adeptness and dialogic ineptness.

Need to get into the fall feel?

REBECCA SUN Contributing Writer

Here are four books to cozy up with this fall season!

For most of us who reside in Southern California, a true fall season is practically nonexistent. We might yearn for chilly weather and more colorful trees, but the forecast is usually on the warmer side. Although we might not get a true autumnal experience, we can always turn to books to get into the fall spirit! “Poetry is moments of instance,” he conveyed to listeners, his navigation of memory not only serving to hold a moment in time but in a reader’s mind, enveloping them in the memory itself.

Book Rec #1: “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt Starting off strong, this cult classic has grown in popularity with the rise of the online dark academia aesthetic. Narrator Richard Papin and five other clever students study classics at a liberal arts college. Under the guidance of their professor, they test the bounds of morality and eventually end up murdering one of their classmates (no, that’s not a spoiler, as the book opens up with the details surrounding the death). Told in two parts, this book is beautifully written with dense and intentional prose. It will have you gripped with how insane and intricate the minds of the characters and plot are. This book encapsulates feelings of loneliness and obsession while simultaneously revealing the dangers of academic elitism.

Book Rec #2: “These Violent Delights” by Chloe Gong

Transport yourself to 1920s Shanghai in this young adult fantasy retelling of “Romeo and Juliet” with forbidden love, family feuds and invisible monsters. We are introduced to two rival families and their teenage heirs, Juliette and Roma, as they fight against and alongside each other against a mysterious illness that threatens both of them in the divided city. For those who enjoy history, the worldbuilding and historical detail that went into writing about colonial China is fascinating, showing the intensive research done on Gong’s part. Besides the adventures and romance, its underlying themes are inherently anti-imperialist as we see the conditions brought on by the settlement of Europeans.

Book Rec #3: “The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” by Grady Hendrix

If you need a light horror novel, look no further than this one. Our female protagonist, Patricia, is like any other Southern housewife. Except, when she’s not cooking and cleaning, she runs a horror book club with other women. Things go haywire when a mysterious man moves into their town: missing children and mysterious deaths lead Patricia to suspect he is a vampire coming after everybody. Although this is a story about the bravery of mothers willing to do anything to protect their children, it was also hilarious seeing the ways she and another character would work together to take down a single vampire in their small suburban town.

Book Rec #4: “Pumpkin Heads” by Rainbow Rowell, Faith Erin Hicks

Lastly, I have to recommend this comic that literally takes place on a pumpkin patch on Halloween night — because who doesn’t like a wholesome young adult graphic novel? Our best friend duo in the story come together every September to work on their community pumpkin patch, but this year is their last and they plan on enjoying it to the fullest. This is a cute fall story involving two best friends trying out all the fall festivities. With its cute illustrations, it will definitely get you in the seasonal mood.

SportS

Highlander Spotlight: Key dates and events for the 2023-2024 UCR Athletics season

Sports Editor

WITH THE INCREASING SUCCESS OF UCR ATHLETICS AS A WHOLE THIS PAST YEAR, HERE ARE SOME KEY DATES AND EVENTS THAT YOU SHOULD MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR.

Last year was a year to remember for UC Riverside athletics. It seemed like just yesterday when UCR was about to lose its athletics program due to lack of donations and funds. Although the program struggled to win games early on, Athletic Director Wesley Mallette has planted the athletic program onto a path of success. Last season was just a preview for what’s to come for UCR Athletics as UC Riverside saw many individual and team records broken just this past year. With the increasing rise of sports here at UC Riverside, here are some key dates and events to mark on your calendar.

The UC Riverside men’s soccer team made history last season as they finished first in the Big West Conference and defeated UC Santa Barbara to claim the school’s first ever Big West Conference Championship. The next time Highlanders can watch the reigning Big West champions will be on Wednesday, October 4, at 7:00 p.m. against Sacramento State. Senior night for men’s soccer will be against Cal State Northridge on Saturday, October 28, at 7:00 p.m. For women’s soccer, their next home game will be on Saturday, October 8, at 2:00 p.m. against Cal State Bakersfield. Senior night for women’s soccer will be against Long Beach State on Thursday, October 19, at 7:30 p.m.

Men’s basketball also made history last year, breaking the school’s single-season win record with 22 wins. Led by the reigning Coach of the Year, Mike Magpayo, who received a deserving five-year extension this summer, the Highlanders are looking to build off

of their record-breaking season. They will kick off their season at home on Tuesday, November 7, against UC Merced at 7:00 p.m. The Crosstown Showdown against Cal Baptist University will be at the SRC Arena this year on Saturday, December 16, at 5:00 p.m. The first home conference game will be on Saturday, December 30, at 5:00 p.m. against UC Santa Barbara. Senior night for the Highlanders will be on Thursday, March 7, at 7:00 p.m. against Cal State Fullerton.

Women’s basketball will kick off their season on the road against Southern Methodist University on Monday, November 6, time to be announced. The first home game for the Highlanders will be on Saturday, November 18, at 6:00 p.m. against Antelope Valley. UCR will match up against two PAC-12 teams early on their schedule with a match against UCLA on Thursday, November 9, and against USC on Sunday, December 10, times to be determined and all on the road. UC Riverside will open up their conference slate with a battle at home against the last year’s top-seed UC Irvine on Thursday, December 28, at 6:00 p.m. Senior night for women’s basketball will be on Saturday, March 9, at 6:00 p.m. against UCSB.

With the spring sports soon to release their schedules for their seasons, Highlander students should come out and support their fellow Highlander athletes as they continue to build off of their winning seasons and strive to win another championship for UC Riverside. ■ H

Damian Lillard Trade means the NBA now has to run through Milwaukee

KIANOOSH NOOSHI Assistant Sports Editor

THE BUCKS PROVIDED GIANNIS WITH A DREAM SECOND STAR AS THEY LOOK TO MAXIMIZE THEIR FRANCHISE PLAYER’S POTENTIAL.

In absolutely incredible fashion on Wednesday, All-NBA point guard Damian Lillard was traded from the Portland Trailblazers to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal, which sees Lillard partner Giannis Antetokounmpo in the hopes of securing an NBA championship. The full trade was Lillard to the Bucks, Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara and a 2029 first-round draft pick to the Blazers, and Grayson Allen, Jusuf Nurkić, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson to the Phoenix Suns. The Blazers also received the rights to swap first-round draft picks with Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030.

This trade is a beneficial one for each team. The Bucks get their undisputed second superstar while still keeping Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. Phoenix traded away center Deandre Ayton but was able to receive Jusuf Nurkic, who is a big man with much better defense than Ayton, as well as much needed depth and shooting off the bench. Finally, Portland is now able to restart their rebuild with number three overall pick and young guard Scoot Henderson.

The trade comes as a surprise, as Milwaukee was never included in conversations in possible destinations for Lillard. Lillard made the league aware that his preferred destination was the Miami Heat, but the two teams were not able to make a deal happen before Milwaukee stepped in. The Blazers flipped acquired guard Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics for Malcolm Brogdon and two first round picks in order to fully start their rebuild in the post-Lillard era.

The duo of Lillard and Giannis looks to be the best duo in the league. Unlike other superstar pairings like that of Luka

Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas, Lillard and Giannis have complementary play styles, which the Bucks hope can maximize both of their play styles. In also keeping the rest of their core intact, the Bucks appear to field the best starting five in the league. Their likely five of Lillard, Beasley, Middleton, Antetokounmpo and Lopez provides them with both offensive and defensive prowess as well as great shooting. Bobby Portis and Jae Crowder as the first two names off the bench also provides the Bucks with tenacity in the second unit.

The league has been put on notice as the only team which looks to be able to compete with the Bucks at this stage is the Denver Nuggets in the opposing Western Conference. A Bucks-Nuggets finals matchup is many peoples’ pick for the finals, barring any serious injuries to the stars on both sides.

It is also important to note that superstar trades like this have not had a great trend of working out for the team acquiring the superstar. The last team to have acquired a superstar and won the championship was the Los Angeles Lakers and they have struggled ever since their championship. Other teams such as the Mavericks, Nets, Sixers and Suns thus far have not been able to create any success with their superstars and the Nets have even started a rebuild in hopes of replicating the Nuggets in their success. For the Bucks to buck the trend there needs to be good chemistry between Dame and Giannis with minimal injuries to the stars and their depth. If they can manage their players well then there is no doubt that the Bucks will be Vegas’ favorite to win the Larry O’Brien trophy next season. ■ H

COURTESY OF CAROL MUNRO VIA FLICKER UNDER CC BY-NC 2.0

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