FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
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UCR receives thousands to assist undocumented students
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UC responds to boycott of Israeli academic institutions MICHAEL RIOS Senior Staff Writer
VINCENT TA / HIGHLANDER Benjamin Wood stands at the Bell Tower, protesting Napolitano’s visit, claiming that her allocation of funds to undocumented students doesn’t repay any debt, since she deported millions of undocumented immigrants during her term as Secretary of Homeland Security. SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer
U
C Riverside will receive a one-time allocation of $512,000 from the University Office of the President (UCOP) to support undocumented students, according to campus officials. Back in Oct. 2013, UC President Janet Napolitano began a systemwide visit to each of the 10 UC campuses amid controversy over past immigration policies enacted under her watch as former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and governor of Arizona. Just days before her visit to UCR on Nov. 4, Napolitano made a promise to allocate $5 million to provide financial aid and student services for UC students who do not have U.S. citizenship. Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Jim Sandoval stated that 1 percent of all undergraduates and graduates — approximately 210 students — make up this demographic at UC Riverside. He adds that currently all undocumented UCR students can qualify under AB 130 and AB 131, also known as the California DREAM Act, which was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2011. The former allows these
students to apply for scholarships and awards, while the latter allows them to participate in state financial aid programs such as Cal Grants. “As far as the financial aid that’s made available, it’s going to help out in an area that is in need,” Sandoval said. “But it doesn’t provide them with funding in the form of federal work study or federal loans and so what this (funding) will do is provide undocumented students with an opportunity to secure much (assistance) for those purposes as well.” Each UC will receive exactly $250,000 for student services, while the remaining funds will be distributed through financial aid, based on the number of undocumented students on each campus. For instance, campuses with larger populations of undocumented students will receive more funding than other ones. In return, universities will be required to send in an expenditure plan, which will detail how the funds will be allocated on each respective campus, according to ASUCR President Sai Patadia. “I plan to meet with a representative of the undocumented student population at UCR to understand what kind of academic and social support would
most beneficial, and will strive to ensure that is where the allocation is implemented,” Patadia remarked. “This is a positive step to alleviate some challenges our undocumented student population encounters at UCR.” Sandoval added that he has and will continue to hold frequent meetings with student advocates in order to find the best approach for distributing the overall funds. “This allocation is a great first step,” said Ana Coria, a UCR undergraduate and president of the Providing Opportunities Dreams Education in Riverside (PODER), a student organization which provides financial assistance and campus resources for university students and members of the Riverside community who are undocumented. “Although some undocumented students have access to financial aid from the (California) DREAM Act, there’s still a gap,” Coria expressed. “Part of the requirements from the allocation, is that each university must incorporate undocumented students’ input in regards to the allocation of funds.” Coria expressed gratitude to the campus student affairs office for holding ongoing dialogue about ways to H further assist undocumented students. ■
The American Studies Association (ASA), an organization devoted to the studies of American culture and history, recently announced the endorsement of a resolution to boycott Israeli academic institutions. The resolution, whose passage was announced on Dec. 16, 2013, has spawned some criticism by a handful of universities across the nation — including the University of California — who have rejected the boycott, fearing that the resolution could subvert academic speech and exchange by scholars. The ASA cites Israel’s alleged denial of Palestinian basic rights as the motivating factor behind the boycott. The association claims that Israel’s occupation of Palestine has had a negative impact on the educational opportunities and human rights of Palestinians and calls for a boycott of Israeli institutions that are “complicit in discrimination and occupation.” The ASA says it is targeting institutions, not individual scholars and claims that it is in solidarity with students and scholars who are allegedly being deprived of academic freedoms by Israeli occupation. “Whereas there is no effective or substantive academic freedom for Palestinian students and scholars under conditions of Israeli occupation … It is resolved that the American Studies Association (ASA) endorses and will honor the call of Palestinian civil society for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions,” reads part of the resolution. ► SEE BOYCOTT, PAGE 6
INSIDE: The new 91 freeway may still pull in the same traffic as it does now. OPINIONS
PAGE 9
Head still pounding post-New Year’s? Check out some hangover tips in this week’s 21 and Over Club.
PAGE 17
FEATURES
Take some tunes down memory lane with Away From the Sprawl’s top albums of 2013. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 21
NFL Wildcard weekend wowed fans, but proved to be all about luck. PAGE 23
SPORTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
PAGE 2
STAFF
PAGE 8 PLEASE RECYCLE AFTER READING
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NEWS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
HIGHLANDER
Riverside city council approves freeze on housing expansion SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer
Riverside homeowners will have to wait until Nov. 4, 2014 if they are interested in adding extra rooms to existing singlefamily residences, according to city council members, who unanimously voted to extend a temporary housing moratorium for an additional 10 months and 15 days. Riverside’s Community Development Deputy Director Emilio Ramirez reported that the temporary prohibition of building permits seeks to address issues surrounding the Riverside housing zone. “Overconcentration and overcrowding has led to excessive burdens — e.g. loud or unruly gatherings or parties, dumping, littering, loitering, vandalism, uncontrolled parking and traffic speed,” Ramirez said. Local officials report that the extension aims to address “structural issues” around Riverside housing, which have watered down residential living conditions and endangered public health, safety and welfare. Members of UCR’s student government argued that the moratorium only served as “stall tactics” for the implementation of previously passed city ordinances, which they believe discriminate against student renters living
around UC Riverside. Back in Nov. 2013, the moratorium was first implemented for 45 days. During that time period, 138 codeviolation cases in single-family households occurred, according to Ramirez. Passage of the moratorium extension was also contingent on the implementation of a citywide study, which seeks to regulate zoning permits for the addition of new rooms around university neighborhoods. ASUCR Senator Abraham Galvan urged the city council to vote against the moratorium extension, which he reasoned targeted student groups who lived off-campus. “I think the fact that the moratorium is only around the UCR neighborhood makes it very clear,” he said. “(The moratorium is) preventing homeowners seeking to legally modify their homes that accommodate these students, these tenants, from doing so.” Galvan added that as a result, homeowners may seek to illegally modify their homes and provide poor accommodations for future student tenants. He said, “(Students) have only recently been involved in the conversation,” and that the need to extend the moratorium was superfluous. ASUCR Vice President of External Affairs Kareem Aref
also took to the podium and asked the city council, “What is the end goal here?” He cited a number of examples where single families may hold outdoor gatherings, which can lead to congested parking and loud disturbances — also considered to be codeviolation cases. When asked about the moratorium extension, Aref said it was “pointless,” despite holding a neutral stance on the matter. “The point I wanted to make is that their actions as of late are more stall tactics instead of addressing the issue,” he said in an email interview. “The desired outcome is muddled at best at this point and these discussions are filled more with rhetoric then solutions.” The Highlander contacted the Riverside Development Committee, the city department responsible for implementing housing zoning codes, but no response was provided. Emilio also announced the continuing efforts of the University Working Group, a collaboration between the city, members of ASUCR and University Housing Association. The group seeks to develop a proposal for an overlay zone with a defined purpose of adding more requirements for single-family homes around UC Riverside. University Housing Association
Photo of the Week
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Graphic by BRANDY COATS A moratorium still stands, halting further housing expansion in Riverside.
Chair Gurumantra Khalsa said, “So now it comes time to actually study how we’re going to create the zoning language that defines our rooms (and) our properties; they’re all a little different.” Khalsa applauded the university’s outreach efforts to off-campus students, which he says has been lacking in the past. He says a “blanket solution” holds no water, but hopes the moratorium extension will offer time to find concrete solutions that will improve the quality of life within the neighborhood. City council member Andy Melendrez said the moratorium
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Quotebook “The problem with these types of ordinances is the impact cannot easily be measured, especially not in such a short time frame.”
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aims to prevent investors from cutting up rooms in single-family households, which undermines the ability for families to make long-term real estate purchases in the region. “What the focus is, is really the quality of life and ... to prevent overcrowding in the households and when you have less room then you have a lower quality of life,” said Melendrez. City council member Mike Gardner also explained, “It is important for people to understand that the moratorium is not against renting rooms or building houses. It is only against adding more bedrooms to an existing home.” ■H
8
Career Station 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. HUB Mall
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Masaru Ohme-Tagaki Seminar 12:10 p.m. - 1 p.m. Genomics Auditorium 1102A
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-ASUCR Senator Abraham Galvan on the extension of the housing moratorium
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NEWS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
HIGHLANDER
Three more contract deals struck between the UC and unions MICHAEL RIOS Senior Staff Writer
The University of California announced that it had reached deals with multiple labor groups in December, ending months and even years of negotiations between all parties. In a press release, the UC announced it had struck a contract deal with the American Federation of Teachers, which will cover more than 3,000 UC lecturers. The two-year contract, which was tentatively agreed upon on Dec. 12, 2013, will provide a 3.5 percent wage increase, continues retirement benefits and a $135 increase in funding for professional development per full-time equivalent lecturer each year. “Our lecturers play a key role in our instructional mission, and we are delighted to have this agreement in place,” said Dwaine B. Duckett, UC Vice President of Human Resources, after the deal. Three days later, the UC also announced an additional agreement with two labor groups who are both represented by the University Professional
and Technical Employees union (UPTECWA). The first: a deal with health care employees. The contract will include wage increases for medical care workers and student health center employees as well as changes in health and pension benefits. The last deal made was an agreement that covers research and technical employees. That contract includes a 4 percent wage increase upon ratification, an additional 3 percent increase in Oct. 2014, 2015 and 2016, as well as a modified version of 2013’s pension tier system and revised eligibility rules for retiree health care. “It has been a long road and we are pleased that we have been able to work through the issues and negotiate fair terms for our hard-working employees,” said Duckett in a press release. Both of the latter contracts expire in 2017. Since November, the UC has negotiated agreements with six labor groups. It previously struck deals with university librarians, nurses and police ■H officers.
According to deals struck between the UC and various unions, wages for university workers are slated to increase.
Graphic by BRANDY COATS
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COMPILED BY SANDY VAN, senior staff writer & MICHAEL RIOS, senior staff writer
CHANCELLOR DESMOND-HELLMANN IS LEAVING UC SAN FRANCISCO
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons UCSF Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann has stepped down to take on the position of CEO at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The UC Office of the President (UCOP) announced that UC San Francisco Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann will step down from her position to serve as the CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She will succeed Jeff Raikes, who is retiring from his position as the foundation’s CEO after five years. “I am honored by the opportunity that Bill and Melinda have extended to me. I’m excited to join such a dynamic and ambitious organization, with such a clear and focused mission — improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable,” DesmondHellmann said in a press release. To find a new successor for the San Francisco Bay campus, UC President Janet Napolitano will organize a search committee early this month. But for the time being, the president has tapped
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
UCSF School of Medicine Dean Sam Hawgood for the position of interim chancellor. He must first gain prior confirmation by the UC Board of Regents before he can begin an official term. The UC President will choose a prospective candidate for the chancellorship, but they must still receive confirmation from the regents prior to starting an official appointment. The next regents meeting will take place Jan. 21-23 at the UCSF Mission Bay. “I am determined to do all in my power as president to ensure that UCSF keeps climbing upward on its trajectory of greatness,” Napolitano stated in a press release. “In the end, the mission is what must remain paramount, whoever its steward might be.” Desmond-Hellmann will depart on March 31, 2014, after serving since May 3, 2009.
UC RIVERSIDE FOUNDER DIES AT THE AGE OF 104 UCR announced last month that Judge John Gabbert, one of the founders of the university, passed away in his Riverside home on Dec. 9, 2013. Gabbert was an instrumental figure in turning the UC Citrus Experiment Station into the UC campus that stands today. A founder of the Citizen’s University Committee (CUC), Gabbert and the CUC lobbied members of the Strayer Committee — a group vested with the power to make recommendations about the establishment of new state campuses — to start the University of California, Riverside. By 1954, the goal was realized. Gabbert was born in Oxnard, Calif., but spent a great fraction of his life in Riverside. In 1949 he was appointed as a judge on the Riverside County Superior Court. In 1970, then-Gov. Ronald Reagan appointed him to the California Court of Appeals, Fourth District. After helping found UC Riverside, he went on to become a founding member of the UC Riverside Foundation Board of Trustees in 1980, and served on the board for 18 years. Gabbert also went on to serve as an adjunct professor in the university’s political science department. Gabbert is survived by his daughters Sarah and Katherine, his son Scott and his C o u r t e s y o f UCR T o d a y grandchildren. Judge John Gabbert was one of the founders of UCR.
UCR SUFFERS MENINGITIS SCARE On Dec. 9, 2013, UC Riverside officials alerted the community that a UCR staff member had been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. But after careful review by the Riverside County Department of Public Health, the original diagnosis was overruled and it was determined that the UC Riverside staff member
did not have bacterial meningitis. A statement released by the university says that the staff member, whose identity has not been revealed due to privacy laws, was recovering well under doctors’ care. The university is still urging students to take precautions. More information about the
disease was posted on the university’s website, detailing the symptoms of meningitis. The disease is a serious condition that can be fatal in some cases. In November 2013, a UC Santa Barbara student was diagnosed with the illness and had to have both his feet amputated from tissue damage.
UC PRESIDENT NAPOLITANO TO HEAD U.S. DELEGATION IN 2014 WINTER OLYMPICS
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons President Barack Obama has appointed UC President Janet Napolitano as the U.S. delegate to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
On Dec. 17, 2013, President Barack Obama selected UC President Janet Napolitano to lead the United States delegation during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. “I look forward to being in Sochi to support our Olympic athletes and celebrate their accomplishments,” Napolitano said in a press
release. “It is an honor to represent our country in the company of individuals who have excelled in life and sport.” Drawing millions of spectators from across the globe, the international sporting event will take place on Feb. 7, 2014. Napolitano also led the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada in 2010.
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NEWS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
► BOYCOTT FROM PAGE 1
David Lloyd, an English professor at UC Riverside, was one of the ASA members who participated in drafting and proposing the resolution. He recently spoke with the Highlander and offered a statement regarding the resolution’s passage. “The main aim of those who advocate for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel ... encourage a broadly based civil society movement,” he said. “The ASA resolution may represent a tipping point in that process, as discussion not only of boycott, but also of the realities of daily life for Palestinians under Israeli occupation and colonial settlement, becomes more normal and acceptable publicly.” Lloyd is just a handful of UC professors who have publicly endorsed the boycott. Other UC members who publicly supported the resolution include UCR English professor Fred Moten and distinguished professor of history at UCLA Robin D.G. Kelly. But not everyone is celebrating the resolution’s passage. To date, an estimated 100 universities across the nation have rejected it, claiming it has the power to potentially curtail the freedom of teachers to work with other academic colleagues, and some have called the resolution an example of an unfair double standard against Israel. UC President Janet Napolitano was one of many university leaders to respond to the boycott. In a press release, Napolitano condemned it, stating, “An academic boycott goes against the spirit of the University of California, which has long championed open dialogue and collaboration with international scholars.” The Highlander also contacted the UCR chancellor’s office for further comment on the matter. A statement from the university read: “Janet Napolitano’s statements represent the UC administration.” The Highlander also contacted Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at UCR — a student organization devoted to
creating a forum for Palestinian independence and basic human rights — for further input on the issue. An SJP representative released the following statement: “Collaboration with international scholars is meaningless if that collaboration does not contextualize the positions of power that both institutions hold within the world, and disregards their respective complicity in human rights violations. In regards to open dialogue, a boycott is a form of nonverbal dialogue that should be respected by anyone who claims to promote higher education for all.” In defense of the resolution, Lloyd also argued that the boycott does not target individual scholars, and actually recognizes their academic freedom. “President Napolitano, as well as all the similar statements I have read, wittingly or unwittingly misrepresents the boycott and its aims,” he stated. Lloyd went on to add that he isn’t surprised that academic institutions’ leaders would choose to condemn the boycott. “In the 1980s, then-UC President David Gardner also condemned the divestment movement against South Africa, now virtually universally recognized to have been a just cause and an effective if partial measure against apartheid,” he explained. “It is precisely because neither academic institutions’ leadership nor political leaders will shift on such issues without facing public pressure that the boycott movement is conceived as a broadly based civil society movement.” The Highlander attempted to contact additional sources for more input and information on the subject, but no responses have been provided as of presstime. The resolution was conceived by the ASA International Committee in 2006, in response to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and Gaza, according to the ASA’s website. In 2012, a resolution was finally drafted and submitted to the association’s executive committee. By Dec. 2013, the resolution was passed with 66 percent of the voting members endorsing it. ■H
Issue 11 corrections and clarifications: The Highlander incorrectly included the following information in the news article entitled, “Senators divest from fossil fuel industry.” President of Sustainable UCR Jasmine Kavezade was incorrectly credited for the following statement: “Why is the university ... investing in something that’s killing the future?” Another member of the same organization, Francisco IIabaca, was incorrectly credited as saying, “I won’t say that this is the wrong decision, but it’s a troubling decision because looking at a market, you can’t just take out $7.1 billion out of a market without bringing the whole thing down.” The fossil fuel divestment resolution was introduced by Nilan Gunewardena, and not the United States Student Association. The resolution urges the UC General Endowment Fund, not the UC, to slowly divest from the top 200 fossil fuel companies.
HIGHLANDER
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons The American Studies Association has decided to support the boycott of Israeli academic institutions as part of a broader divestment movement.
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NEWS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
7
World’s oldest diamonds are fake, according to UCR researchers
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons UCR geologists Dr. Larissa Dobrzhinetskaya and Dr. Harry Green have discovered that diamonds previously found in zircon crystals were actually from a synthetic diamond paste. SANDY VAN Senior Staff Writer
Nearly half a decade ago, geologists believed that they had discovered petite gems inside zircon crystals from Western Australia’s Jack Hills, which were considered to be the world’s oldest diamonds. The minerals were considered to be 4.3 billion years old, suggesting that the primordial earth cooled at a much earlier rate, in order to create a thick, continental crust under which diamonds could be formed. It was only in late December that UCR geologists Dr. Larissa Dobrzhinetskaya and Dr. Harry Green discovered that the gems were actually leftover fragments of a synthetic diamond paste, which became embedded within hair-width cracks of the crystals during a laboratory polishing. Through the use of a high-resolution electron microscope, the university researchers found that the diamonds had sharp “square” corners, instead of bumpy ones like real diamonds. “Our technique shows us that this diamond is not natural; this diamond is a laboratory
contamination,” Dobrzhinetskaya said. “(Because) natural diamonds never, never occur in such a form.” “In indigenous diamonds that we have discovered in zircons, the diamond and zircon commonly have extremely convoluted boundaries reflecting that they grew simultaneously, with the larger zircon crystals surrounding the diamonds and entrapping them,” expressed Green. He also said the original authors of two Jack Hills zircon papers, published in 2007 and 2008, were “irresponsible” for using only diamond paste to prepare the minerals without applying alternative laboratory procedures on other zircon rocks. “Moreover, because they found these diamonds in different age sectors of different zircons, the diamond incorporation had to either have happened during specimen preparation (contamination) or there had to have been several repeated incorporations spanning a period of hundreds of millions of years,” said Green. The latter would require the occurrence of major geological events, which Green says there is no evidence of, especially in all other Jack Hill zircons studied by other scientists.
“Back then, we were convinced that the diamonds are real due to apparently clear evidence,” said Thorsten Geisler-Wierwille, co-author of the 2007 study. “We agree with the final conclusion of Dobrzhinetskaya and co-workers.” David Oglesby, a university geophysicist, also gave his two cents about the recent discovery made by his fellow colleagues, whom he has known for over a decade. “Both Harry Green and Larissa Dobrzhinetskaya are top-notch, world-class scientists and teachers, and we are extremely lucky to have them in our UCR family,” he said. “(Their research) is a fascinating discovery, and a true cautionary tale in science. It shows just how carefully all of us must be in our experimental design. It also is a reminder that science is a self-correcting system of knowledge.” The UCR scientists were joined by Richard Wirth at the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam in Germany for their research, which was published online in the journal of Earth and Planetary Science Letters on Feb. 1, 2014. The world’s oldest diamonds are now believed to be 3.2 ■H billion years old, instead.
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
.. OPINIONS .. OPINIONS
7 HIGHLANDER
HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL
THE UC SYSTEM SHOULD FOLLOW ITS OWN MISSION STATEMENT
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rade school has taught us valuable skills for us to obtain information faster and reiterate what we know on a test. These skills were ingrained in us as children so that we could take on the next level of education with a little more ease. After continuous memorization, papers and exams, the idea of progressing to the next level has become a routine and set goal for each year of our education. However, there comes a time when we are released from this dome of continuous memorization of scholastic material and sent off to utilize the skills that we were taught and had permeated in our minds. The goals we had in school seem to disappear as the sudden reality creeps over our heads that the information we learned has no effect on society if we don’t know how to utilize it. Let’s recall the mission statement of the University of California with its promise to provide “education for professional careers, grounded in understanding of relevant sciences, literature and research methods, (which) provides individuals with the tools to continue intellectual development over a lifetime and to contribute to the needs of a changing society.” Funnily enough, most students seem to not really see the implementation of this mission statement as they quickly try to absorb as much information as they can in 10 weeks to reach the next set of units in order to graduate. The childhood mentality is encroaching upon us again as we ask ourselves why we need this class that we are taking. Or even why we sometimes need to learn subjects that have nothing to do with our major. The difficulty with this may even possibly lie with the fact that professors aren’t even required to have an education in teaching education. This isn’t a call for professors to revisit education themselves but to integrate their own research skills into the curriculum. The UC system prides itself on the advanced research that takes place to provide a better society in various fields of health, intellect and technology. So it’s only practical the more professors,
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
beyond the subjects of science, integrate their research skills within the curriculum of the class. In a Stanford University design class, students are encouraged to learn beyond the book and actually intertwine common knowledge, daily observations and simple solutions to everyday problems. Students continuously observe an everyday issue that people may face in various environments such as a ramen restaurant or even a barber shop. For instance, in the ramen restaurant a student observed the way in which individuals ate ramen and from there created a straw which enabled customers to eat their ramen simultaneously with the broth. This is an example of students designing a product to simplify the lifestyle of that environment which usually is followed by the student actually starting up a company with their new invention. The idea is brilliant: Create solutions for small everyday problems. However, this isn’t the entire goal of the class. The drive to make life simpler by modifying daily tasks provides the stepping stone for students to obtain the confidence needed in order to tackle larger issues that impede the world, ranging from the shortage of organ donors to numerous amount of infant deaths. UC Riverside should implement classes like this not only to teach students direct ways to start organizations or companies that can create jobs to improve living conditions, but it can create an innovative way of creating a pathway to help with larger societal issues. Classes like this can bring in a different audience to UC Riverside and, in turn, create a learning environment that actually follows through with the mission of the UC educational system. If structured similarly to the Stanford design class, students can obtain the practical skills of research and the ability to use the information that a student learns in class in the real world. Students would be graduating with the knowledge of how to begin a project and improve from that point. The class would fundamentally use the research skills that professors are familiar with to guide students in their own simple
projects. Ultimately, classes could be a means to find the reason as to why each class is vital for their graduation. The class would ultimately teach skills that would allow us to take the knowledge we have accumulated over the years and create change within our society. The UC mission statement, after all, claims that it provides a “unique environment in which leading scholars and promising students strive together to expand fundamental knowledge of human nature, society, and the natural world.” But this elicits a question: Do 10 weeks of midterms and lectures actually create the drive to “expand fundamental knowledge” of these areas? One of the founders of Stanford, David Kelley states: “An important element of the school is having students start small,” to gain what he refers to as “creative confidence” after each successful project, moving toward larger world problems that seem impenetrable. The proposed class does not have to deal with just design, but it could provide the push needed to allow students to learn more about their effect in the world and the vitality of the information being taught in class. It’s difficult to tailor each class this way, but what makes the process easier is that professors themselves can offer research projects that can be used as models for the students. UC professors should be required to have students perform research projects in courses in every college so the skills of application are practiced. This proposed class would be a form of encouragement for professors to teach the skills they are so familiar in using to all subjects. This is tremendous leap forward as far as promoting students to understand that they are capable of tackling and solving these larger issues, and maybe this method of practicality is something that can trickle down into other disciplines — and other ■H school levels. Highlander editorials reflect the majority view of the Highlander Editorial Board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Associated Students of UCR or the University of California system.
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OPINIONS
HIGHLANDER
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
9
91 Freeway expansion could lead to more congestion
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS The 91 Freeway’s constant congestion problems are currently being addressed with a four-year-long expansion project. But will a simple expansion solve the 91’s underlying traffic issues? COLIN MARKOVICH Senior Staff Writer
An old saying goes something like this: “Be careful what you wish for — it might just come true.” The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) would do well to keep that phrase in mind as it begins construction on a four-year-long mega-project to expand the 91 Freeway, a major thoroughfare for residents of the Inland Empire. UCR students are intimately familiar with one of Southern California’s most characteristic of characteristics (no, not the smog): the traffic. Probably every student at UCR has at least one story of being hamstrung by the Inland Empire’s notorious levels of congestion en route to class, or worse, a final. The 91 Freeway in particular is one of the worst offenders, waylaying eastbound commuters from Corona and Arlington with an average of eight hours of congestion every single day. Even the RCTC had to admit that traveling the 13 miles from Corona to Riverside is the second-worst commute in the entire United States. So let’s expand the freeway, the thinking goes. It’s an obvious solution to do away with the frustration caused by automotive gridlock. Build more lanes to decrease the congestion. With three shiny new lanes, the 91 becomes a sleek model of commuting efficiency. Pretty soon, people look forward to driving on the 91 instead of fearing it. More
and more people begin to use it due to the quick commute. the 91 Freeway becomes immensely popular, and more commuters rely on it to get to work or school. Cars begin to crowd the lanes. Horns blare. Bumper-to-bumper traffic ensues. And just like that, the 91 Freeway is back to where it started. Be careful what you wish for. This isn’t a dystopian fantasy. It’s actually an economic concept called induced demand, and its effects have been chronicled in numerous studies. Basically, it means that people take more of a good because more of the good is made available. In the case of our own lovable stretch of asphalt and concrete, people avoid the 91 Freeway precisely because of its reputation for long commutes. But when the number of lanes increases, more space is made available for more people. Those people — people who wouldn’t otherwise be driving on the 91 — then drive up the onramp and clog the freeway. What’s more, research has found that transportation agencies all too often do not account for the effect of induced demand in their planning. If the RCTC does not account for induced demand, the expansion project is all but doomed to failure. Fortunately, the RCTC has somewhat acknowledged this inevitability. Two of the three new lanes will be toll lanes, which will help filter out the Sunday drivers from the people who actually need to use the 91, and help prevent congestion from
What’s more, research has found that transportation agencies all too often do not account for the effect of induced demand in their planning.
increasing drastically. But the linchpin of a workable plan has to include other forms of transportation, especially busing and light rail. If the RCTC wants the the 91 Freeway expansion to proceed without incident and provide enough new space for new commuters, legitimate alternatives to using the freeway must be present to decrease the pressure on the freeway system and divert it elsewhere. Part of the agency’s plans call for expanded service and additional routes for both as the project nears completion. That’s great, and it addresses two parts of the puzzle: accessibility and timeliness. But there’s one piece that’s missing so far, and that’s the most important one — cost. Simply put, bus and rail fares need to be cheaper for residents to consider them as alternatives to driving. Right now, a round-trip from Corona to UCR and back is $3.00 per day. If you have to commute every day, that’s nearly $100 per month. That amount is almost the same as simply buying gasoline to fuel your car, and taking a car offers the personal space and flexibility a bus can’t. UCR students already enjoy the boon of free RTA bus fares — that privilege should be extended to the poorest members of the Inland Empire’s community. Bus fares in general should be toned down to make it an attractive option to commuters of all stripes. The city and county already contribute into the RTA and Metrolink systems but need to do more. Really, there’s no question that traffic in
the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area is bad. But if expanding the 91 Freeway is the answer, it would’ve been a long time ago, and four years of construction would be a small price to pay for future convenience. The reality is more complex. Yes, let’s expand the 91, and create 16,000 jobs to boot. But unless we just want the expansion project to be a victim of its own success, we need to include alternative means of transportation in the solution as well. The RCTC has encouraged commuters to use public transit — but only during the construction phases. The implication that we can stop using the bus and rail systems once construction is completed is a surefire way to end up right back at square one. Inland Empire commuters are locked in a prison of freeways. The Riverside County Transportation Commission’s answer is a long, expensive project that doesn’t break commuters out of the gridlock prison — it just makes the prison bigger. We must remember that freeways, buses, cars, bicycles and trains are all means to an end; namely, transportation from one place to another. All of those must be incorporated to achieve a solution that reduces congestion and improves traffic times for everyone. That will be the only way to break down the bars of the jail commuters are confined in. Students, start your engines now — you might need the head start if you want to get H to class on time for the next four years. ■
... unless we just want the expansion project to be a victim of its own success, we need to include alternative means of transportation in the solution as well.
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Critics of the 91 Freeway’s expansion project believe that the expansion, although beneficial at first glance, won’t actually address the constant, long-term traffic problems plaguing the freeway.
10
OPINIONS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
Tips to uphold your New Year’s resolution
HIGHLANDER
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: In response to UC President Janet Napolitano’s condemnation of the American Studies Association’s endorsement to boycott Israeli academic organizations from Students for Justice in Palestine
Graphic by BRANDY COATS Proposing drastic changes to one’s life in the form of a New Year’s resolution often does nothing more than overwhelm the proposer and produce underwhelming results. JENY ORTEZ Contributing Writer
Every year, decisions to improve ourselves begin at the stroke of midnight each New Year’s Day. Whether it’s to be more frugal, get in shape or be charitable, it’s always easier to procrastinate by saying, “I’ll start next year.” But does that time ever come? Surprisingly, according to a study, only 8 percent of the people who make New Year’s resolutions actually complete them, leaving the rest of the New Year’s aspirations to last only for a couple of weeks. The low success rate of the people who aspire to better themselves is quite depressing. While setting goals for self-improvement shows admirable characteristics, most people do not follow through with their resolutions. Some lose motivation while others give up during the process of achieving them. Part of the problem is the type of goals that are being set. Life-altering goals require full commitment and this is where most people fail. Peter Kinderman of the University of Liverpool argues that the hype surrounding the New Year is what makes people overambitious. The “new year, new me” mentality takes over and creates overconfidence in people who want to change. Using the new year as an excuse to make changes may not be enough. If changes need to be made, a new year is not a necessary component to take action. If a goal is significant enough, someone should be excited to start pursuing it as soon as possible rather than putting it off for later. All that is needed are achievable goals that have been broken down into doable steps.
Students may strive for better grades or to participate in more school activities. For students attending school in a quarter system, renewing and setting new goals can be easier. Looking back at the beginning of a quarter and reevaluating oneself at the end can be effective when setting goals. A student wouldn’t have to wait for the New Year mentality. Instead, he or she can think of the next quarter as a “fresh start.” Having more “fresh starts” in a year can open the doors to more possibilities. Not being able to reach goals the first time doesn’t mean failure; it just calls for a new plan. Goals can be a matter of trial and error and with three opportunities to start anew, it is more likely to succeed. With any goal, it is important to work on it throughout the whole year and not just at the beginning. Changing the approach to goalsetting can help resolve the problem of unachievable goals. For instance, psychologist Lynn Bufka argues that setting small goals throughout the year is more effective than setting one huge goal for the entire year. Students may want to increase their grade point average and make it onto the Chancellor’s list. Instead of concentrating on the whole year, focusing on one quarter at a time makes it a manageable goal. Shortterm goals tend to be achievable which makes them easier to uphold because they can be less intimidating than large life-altering goals. Failing to reach resolutions in an unreasonable amount
While setting goals for selfimprovement shows admirable characteristics, most people do not follow through with their resolutions.
of time can be discouraging, resulting in failure to follow through. The feeling of accomplishment of completing shortterm goals every few months can help motivate a person to maintain their New Year’s resolution. Planning is essential to reaching New Year’s resolutions. Without a plan, goals are just dreams. Goals become attainable when there is a stepby-step process to follow, which helps keep track of what needs to be done to accomplish those goals. The plan created to reach a goal should be realistic and while it may be challenging, it should also be fun. It is more likely to give up on a boring plan than one that is enjoyable and having a plan is the first step toward reaching long-term changes. For those seeking higher grades, studying an hour more than usual each day would put them on the right path to getting better grades. To the people who want to pursue a healthier lifestyle but can’t fit the gym into their schedule, doing 10 minutes of exercise before going to bed would be a great way to kickstart their goals. For those who have failed at the same New Year’s resolution year after year, a fresh new plan can be what makes their goal possible to achieve. Since most people fail at reaching their New Year’s resolutions year after year, they can be perceived to be a waste of time. New Year’s resolutions can be success stories when the right approach is taken. While a new year is not essential to achieving goals, in order to accomplish resolutions, it is important to have a plan and follow through. A lifestyle change is difficult and takes time to accomplish but with the right ■H plan, it is possible.
A lifestyle change is difficult and takes time to accomplish but with the right plan, it is possible.
The American Studies Association, a congregation of professors and students dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of American culture and history, voted with an overwhelming majority last month to endorse the academic boycott of the state of Israel. Last week, UC president Janet Napolitano joined a small group of university heads who have rejected the call, saying it “goes against the spirit of the UC, which has long championed open dialogue and collaboration with international scholars.” It’s to our deepest disappointment that Napolitano can so easily allow herself to forget about the values that the University of California was founded on, as the nation’s first and largest public university system: access to higher education for all, to promote the selfdetermination and progress of American students from every racial, gender and socioeconomic background. As members of a university system founded on those values, we should be at the forefront of expanding that access nationally and globally. The boycott of Israeli academic institutions — which are directly complicit in human rights violations, as institutions of the Israeli government — is a nonverbal statement against the crimes they commit against students within Israel and the Palestinian territories. When Palestinian students in the territories are unable to access their own education due to forced closures, roadblocks and spontaneous flying checkpoints by the Israeli government, it is the duty of all educational institutions to speak against it. The responsibility lies not only on the shoulders of Israeli academic institutions, but academic institutions all over the world, including the ones we attend. The call to BDS — the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement — is one made by Palestinians on the ground of occupation itself. It is not a conception of the American academics who endorsed the ASA vote, nor one of the students calling on their universities to divest from companies complicit in human rights violations internationally. We as American students and professionals are not in the position to decide the best solution to the occupation, as we are not living under the active occupation. If we choose to act for what’s best for those living under occupation, we must set aside our self-perceived sense of superiority and heed whatever call to action they make to us as we stand in solidarity, rather than continue to be apologists of an occupation that the overwhelming majority of the rest of the world considers illegal and a complete violation of basic human rights. Janet Napolitano’s statement against the academic boycott proves her priorities not to be with maintaining the UC value of educational access for all otherwise disenfranchised people internationally, but rather with the government position from which she came. As South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Our institution of the University of California must cease its devotion to this concept of “neutrality,” because it does not foster means for progress; it simply maintains the status quo while allowing us to feel good about ourselves as we turn a blind eye to our complicity in global oppression. For those interested in more information about the BDS call, Students for Justice in Palestine meets weekly on Wednesdays at 4:00pm. Please contact ucr.sjp@gmail.com for more information about our meetings and mission statement. The Highlander accepts letters from the campus community. They should be 600-800 words in length and include the author’s name and contact information. Contact opinions editor Colette King at opinions@ highlandernews.org for more information.
The opinions expressed in the Opinions section belong solely to their authors and do not represent the Highlander Editorial Board or the University of California, Riverside.
. FEATURES .
HIGHLANDER
Restaurant Review:
Elias
PITA T
The chicken shwarma wrap, one of the more popular dishes at Elias Pita, brings popular Middle Eastern food to the city of Riverside.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
15
By Michael Rios, Senior Staff Writer Photos by Cameron Yong
RATING: ★★★★☆
he slogan written on the menus and business cards of Elias Pita confidently states that the restaurant serves the “Best Middle Eastern Food” around. One might think it’s quite a bold statement to make considering the many options of Middle Eastern food in Riverside these days, but after getting a taste of the absolutely addicting hummus and mouth-watering kebab this restaurant offers, you’ll be pretty hard-pressed to argue against its self-assured slogan. Elias Pita, located on the corner of University and Cranford, has simple enough decor: It’s a well-lit, well-kept 20-foot-square eatery complete with five dining tables and black-and-white photos of Middle Eastern landmarks covering the cream-beige walls. But what makes the place truly stand out as soon as you step foot inside is the service. Ahmad Kamani, the new manager of the restaurant greets his customers with a welcoming smile and calm demeanor. “Marhaba,” he saluted me in Arabic before taking my order. The choices on the menu ranged from the very appetizing shawarmas to the very affordable (and healthy) salads. And after quickly browsing the options, I went with a small plate of hummus with pita bread as an appetizer, an entree of kufta kebab for the main course and a piece of baklava for dessert. I was a little surprised that it took no more than five minutes for my appetizers to arrive. But don’t be fooled; despite its short arrival time, you could tell the cooks actually prepared the dish with delicacy. It wasn’t just a small bowl of hummus that was handed to me; instead, the hummus, with its creamy texture, was served on a plate and formed into a ring that surrounded a dip of sweet yet tangy sauce, all peppered with red, spicy powder. And when combined with the soft and warm texture of pita bread that came with it, it created a sharp but sweet flavor. I was pleasantly surprised by its quality and this course set the precedent for the rest of the meal. When the entree arrived shortly afterward, I was almost worried that I wouldn’t be able to finish it all. After all, the appetizer was a pretty loaded meal and this next dish was twice as big. But I dug in. And my goodness, was that some
tasty kebab! The sliced meat was served on top of rice, which was accompanied by a salad composed of lettuce, cucumbers, green chili peppers, grilled onions and tomatoes. Granted, the salad on its own was probably the least appetizing of the entree — I had to pour Tahini sauce just to give it an extra kick — but as a whole, the different flavors of the dish complemented each other to near perfection. The kebab, with its crispy outer layer, had the right amount of that smoky flavor one often looks for in meat, but its succulent insides also gave it a juicy taste. If you like to try different things with your food, I’d recommend wrapping the meat on some pita bread and mixing it with the rice, the Tahini and even bits and pieces of the salad. It makes for one heck of a wrap. The baklava that concluded my meal was oddly shaped at first glance, as it was my first encounter with the pastry, but I was amazed by its sweet taste. Its base almost felt like a graham cracker and it was layered with thin sheets of phyllo dough, nuts and green honeyed sauce. What’s great about the pastry is its strange aftereffect: It seemed like the taste of the sugary sauce never ceased to end after each bite. I honestly felt like I could chew on the pastry for an hour and still taste its candied flavor after every bite. Simply put, it did what any good dessert should do: It made me long for more after I finished it. Aside from the friendly service and greattasting food, another plus about this restaurant is that its prices are quite affordable — especially for college students trying to get the biggest bang for their buck. My entree could have easily been priced at $20 due to its quality and quantity, but only cost me $11.95. The hummus — my personal favorite dish — was only $2.95 while the baklava was priced at $1.50. And, oh yeah, there’s also a discount for students who show their school IDs at the counter. So, hey, there’s an added bonus! The ambiance, the service, the prices and especially the food make this a great restaurant for customers looking for quality meals that won’t hurt their wallets. Give it a shot. You’ll leave the place with a desire to go back as soon ■H as possible.
FEATURES
HIGHLANDER
21CLUB
and OVER
The first few pages of 365 have now been written. Some use a pen to remember the permanent memories. Others use a pencil to sketch pieces of foggy memories back together. Whether 2013 ended with a party with Uncle Frank and Auntie Anne or with our old friends, Jack Daniel and Captain Morgan, the first day of 2014 is usually spent with ibuprofen and a pillow. On Jan. 1, one may regret that last Jack and Coke he chugged, yet he’ll still toast with one more drink than last year come the next New Year’s Eve. But as we get older — and we like to think wiser — remedies are passed through the grapevine to help us get through unofficial Hangover Day. Avoid, lessen and end the hangover with these tips on drinks, food and morning after routines to keep you strong and stable to take on the day and year. Now, it doesn’t take a three-hour lecture in the UNLH to understand the easiest way to avoid a hangover. But, having an alcohol-free celebration is like having cellphone service in the HUB: hopeful and disappointing. The next best option is wise drinking. Just like all of our favorite treats, it is better to consume in moderation. Set a small drink maximum for your favorite drinks. This system gives one a chance to mix it up without the worry of going overboard. With that said, stay away from sugary drinks. The mixed drinks such as Coke and Rum, Whiskey Sours and Smirnoff Ice will have the worst effect. Because of the sugar content in the liquor, the drink will settle in the stomach and cause headaches, nausea, and possible vomiting. Wine and champagne have the most debilitating effects and hit consumers like a semi-truck. Champagne should never be consumed in large amounts … so I would just leave room for that one toast at midnight. Also, before the night of drinking, two ibuprofens are a great way to avoid the mid-party headaches and sore feet rather than just taking that extra shot of tequila. (Please remember, never take medication while drinking!) Many know to drink plenty of water during and after drinking the good stuff. And if one decides to play around in the liquor library, it’s always good to keep in the back of your mind: “beer before liquor, never been sicker. Liquor before beer, have no fear.” But it’s not always about the type of
drinks that enter the system: It’s also about the food. I remember the show “Grounded for Life” and the episode called “St. Patrick’s Day.” Irish men in the family and the preparations for St. Patrick’s Day — or more specifically, the crazy night of. The dad explained that they have to eat solids, like bread, so when they vomit, it is easy clean up. I start to gag whenever I think about it, but I have to admit, it’s not a bad idea! The go-to-food while drinking, however, is greasy food, most commonly Mexican food. Now, as a Hispanic, I know the Mexican soup, menudo, is not only a remedy for the flu but also a hangover. Second-year Mary Hansen, and a majority of students, say that the best food to eat while and after drinking is Mexican food. “Believe it or not, it soaks up the alcohol. Just don’t eat a lot if that will make you sick,” fourth-year Dani Eaves answers as I question if the greasy food will make one nauseous. “The greasier the better,” fourth-year Karla Lara adds, “my personal favorite is an Italian Sausage Melt from Getaway” for the next day. All these precautions sound great. But what if that one Screwdriver did you dirty, and it still feels like you got a T.K.O. from Mike Tyson himself? Many suggest to keep drinking. A Bloody Mary sitting on the nightstand as the morning greeting couldn’t hurt, especially if you’re one for spicy. Another home remedy was given by third-year Rodney Recinos, “Make a mixture of tomato juice, lemon, and a beer with some tapatio.” If a spicy kick isn’t your thing or the sight of beer bottles is giving you war flashbacks, there’s another option. “Oranges and Pedialyte,” fourthyear Deztini Malik says, as she craves anything healthy. (If you just cringed with the thought of drinking Pedialyte, you’re not alone, but apparently grape is “not that bad”). Others may want to take the approach of anything bland and hearty such as a plain baked potato, like fourthyear Rennae Ybarra does. “Works every time.” Whether you take a trip to the greasy spoon, get the extra drink to go for the morning after, or grab something healthy, as long as you replenish your body and eat, the hangover is like last year’s news. Always drink responsibly and stay safe ■H … 2014 just started!
Coutesy of Flickr
After another alcohol-filled New Year’s Eve, many celebrators wake up w ith an all-too-unpleasant reminder of the new year.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
HANGOVER HELP
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By: Maxine Arellano, Staff Writer
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
R adar ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Events this week Tuesday | 1/07 Wednesday | 1/08
Friday | 1/10
Open Mic @ Back to the Grind, 7 p.m. Family Life Show @ Blood-Orange Infoshop, 7 p.m. God Loves Uganda screening @ Culver Center, 7 p.m.
COURTESY OF COLUMBIA RECORDS
20
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
HIGHLANDER
MOVIE REVIEW COMING OUT SOON:
THE LEGEND OF HERCULES
THE ROCKET
JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT
RIDE ALONG
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE MARKED ONES
RATING: ★★☆☆☆
BY: YASMIN KLEINBART, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
From haunted houses to witches, the creators of the “Paranormal Activity” series never know when to throw in the towel. Demonic presences in WASPy suburban neighborhoods get really old after four movies. However, in “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones,” Christopher Landon, the writer and director for the previous films, decided to introduce some diversity and change the setting to a workingclass neighborhood in Oxnard, Calif. with a Latino protagonist. Despite the change of scenery, the scares are still the same, and the only new element is so ridiculous that the next “Paranormal Activity” film will have a hard time trying to tie everything together. Instead of haunted houses, this spin-off focuses on the series’ mythology. Following the death of their mysterious neighbor, Jesse (Andrew Jacobs) and his friends Hector (Jorge Diaz) and Marisol (Gabrielle Walsh) break into her apartment and find evidence of satanic worship — something familiar to the prior titles in the “Paranormal Activity” franchise. Unlike the first four films, which utilized the concept of supernatural presences stalking the inhabitants of the household, this movie features tangible effects as Jesse gets an animal-like bite mark on his arm and develops strange powers from it. He’s able to do levitation tricks and throw bullies long distances like Superman. He is the luckiest kid in the world, until the powers start growing more malevolent and change him for the worst. The “Paranormal Activity” crew has perfected the art of scaring audiences with no background noise at all. This was their signature move in their past four films and it’s their signature move in this one. However, at this point, it’s nothing new and almost predictable — such as a demonic figure suddenly appearing out of nowhere or behind the protagonist. It’s been done over and over again but the cheap scares still manage to affect everyone. The one scene that did work was when Jesse and Hector break into his neighbor’s apartment and find some surprising terrors behind a hidden door. Other than that, the scares were extremely similar to the rest of the franchise — and any other found-footage film, for that matter. The format is still exactly the same as the previous films. However, instead of planted cameras, “The Marked Ones” is less static, entirely captured by Hector using a camcorder that was supposedly given to Jesse as a high school graduation present. However, it feels like it was shot by a fiveyear-old. The footage was shaky and barely focused on the subject at hand, instead switching from the protagonists’ reactions to the scary events, which didn’t give
the audience a chance to grasp what was going on. Jesse and Hector have perfect chemistry with each other, while Marisol seems like the third wheel. Hector is seen as the comic relief in the first half with his vulgar language and his “Jackass” antics, attempting to mimic Jesse’s levitation tricks and failing miserably. His humor makes the film a bit lighter than the others. Marisol is easily forgettable as the token female protagonist who simply follows Hector and Jesse around. I have to wonder why this was specifically titled “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones,” and not just “Paranormal Activity 5.” While it looks like it’s a separate film, the director adds some clues that tie the previous films to this one. The teenage daughter
from the second film, Ali (Molly Ephraim), as well as the videotapes that documented the events of the third film, all make important cameos. These hints combine with the last big cameo, Katie (Katie Featherston) — the infamous female character from the first film — and provide an ending that is so unexpected that it is ridiculous. It would have been preferable if “The Marked Ones” was just a separate spin-off rather than a sequel. It would have felt less cheesy and forced if they didn’t end the film trying to connect the whole series. If fans of the “Paranormal Activity” franchise were hoping to get closure from this film, they will be sorely disappointed. It will take another 10 films to get to the bottom of this H never-ending well of questions. ■
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
HIGHLANDER
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
21
Best
Albums of 2013
By Jake Rich
I
Senior Staff Writer
t was the year we were all thankful to be alive. 2013 happened as a direct result of the world not ending on Dec. 21, 2012. Even after surviving the apocalypse, paranoia crept even higher. Whether it was the still-uncertain economy, or serious online privacy concerns raised by Edward Snowden’s NSA leak, 2013 marked a year in which the average citizen was anything but certain. But thanks to a plethora of fantastic artists releasing new music this year, this cultural zeitgeist was adequately captured in more ways than one. And as a disclaimer, this is my list — this isn’t “Pitchfork” or “Rolling Stone,” who have an army of writers listening to almost every record out there, but my list of what I thought was the best. I don’t claim to have listened to every single record out there. To my knowledge, however, these were the best records released in 2013. Enjoy and debate as you will.
“Trouble will find me” The national
“Makthaverskan II” Makthaverskan
Though mostly unheralded in the press, these Swedish indie-punkers brought their unique brand of Cure-esque, jangly guitar to the forefront in 2013. Along with incredibly powerful vocals from lead singer Maja Milner, “Makthaverskan II” keeps an energy that never lets up after the opening song “Antabus.” Milner belts out the prettiest “fuck you” you’ll hear all year. Angst will be fulfilled after listening to this album.
7 6
On her sixth solo album, Case’s song topics range as much as her musical style — from motherhood and past relationships to gender roles, from acoustic to rock to a cappella. Case offers herself up completely with deep introspections that are at the same time relatable, while the blending styles compliment each other rather than conflict.
“Fade” Yo La Tengo
“Reflektor” Arcade Fire
When it was first rumored that Arcade Fire was bringing LCD Soundsystem dance guru James Murphy to help produce their album, something big and different was expected from the band. What resulted was unlike anything they had ever done before, yet definitively Arcade Fire — the sweeping anthems and personal lyrics were there, but accompanying them was a more electronic base with danceable songs. Combine that with elements of Haitian music, and Arcade Fire produced their most ambitious and diverse album to date, all while grappling with the difficult concept of love in the Internet — ahem, reflective — age.
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Beginning with the album’s mysterious announcement at Coachella, “Random Access Memories” was destined to become huge whether it was truly good or not. But Daft Punk delivered in the biggest way, reinventing their sound and bringing in a huge list of critically acclaimed collaborators, including Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams and Panda Bear to form the slickest and most tightly produced record of the year. Featuring a loose theme of sentient robots learning what it means to be human and dance, Daft Punk brought the top of their game with sharp disco hooks and a pop masterpiece that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
“The Worse things get, the harder I fight, the harder I fight, the More I Love you” - Neko Case
Vampire Weekend’s third album is best encapsulated in the title of song “Don’t Lie,” which serves as a double meaning to be honest with one’s self and also active in your life. On “Modern Vampires,” Vampire Weekend grows up while still retaining their youthful energy. Ezra Koenig elegantly tackles some of life’s bigger ideas — the loss of youth, religion and relationships — without ever offering a solution, because there really are none. Combine this with the sterling, evocative production of Rostam Batmanglij and Ariel Rechtshaid, and Vampire Weekend has tapped in perfectly to the youth of modern America — a culture of uncertainty, full of unbelievers who need to learn to trust each other to get by.
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It is very easy to fall into cliched territory when introspection and deep thoughts are brought into music, but on their sixth full-length album, the National take one of the most realistic looks into the darkness of the human mind out there. There’s no hiding behind real problems in Matt Berninger’s lyrics, which range from fatherhood to depression and more. The music is once again perfectly on key to encapsulate his lyrics, evoking complex emotions with hazy guitars and strong drumming — perfect for late nights in bed when you’re pondering what life is all about. On another note, this album may contain the weirdest metaphor in a 2013 song as Berninger sings, “You didn’t see me I was falling apart / I was a white girl in a crowd of white girls in the park.”
“Random Access Memories” Daft Punk
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“Modern vampires of the City” Vampire Weekend
The opening quartet of songs on this album seamlessly fading together is some of the most lush and beautiful music put out all year. Add in Dylan references in a song like “Master Hunter” and a Joni Mitchell-esque voice, and you find that the 23-year-old Marling has some of the most clever and pointed songwriting currently out there. At such a young age, it truly leaves you wondering where Marling will go from here.
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“‘Cause this is it for all we know / So say goodnight to me / And lose no more time, no time / Resisting the flow.” These lines from “Ohm,” the opening song to the indie rock veterans’ 13th album, encompass the major theme of “Fade”: Just because you’re growing old doesn’t mean your passion and creativity and life have to go down, too. Husband and wife Ira Kaplan (56) and Georgia Hubley (54) croon over fuzzed-out guitars that bring at once a sense of calm and understanding, reminding you not to rush, and to enjoy life as much as you can at any age.
“Once I was an Eagle” Laura Maring
“Tape Deck Heart” Frank Turner
On “Tape Deck Heart,” Turner trades most of his optimism for bitter heartbreak songs. The album is littered with despair and nostalgia for youth and past relationships. Turner’s urgency can truly be felt on this album, as his blend of folk, punk and rock combined with witty songwriting continues to shine. As for his happy moments, the anthem dedicated to a good punk rock show, “Four Simple Words,” may be one of the best songs Turner has ever written. ► SEE BEST ALBUMS, PAGE 22
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
HIGHLANDER
MUSIC REVIEWS BEYONCE // BEYONCE
RATING: ★★★★★ BY: NEILL CHUA, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Beyonce Giselle Knowles has come an extremely long way since 90s R&B girl group, Destiny’s Child. After a 10-year solo career and 17 Grammys, and in the midst of the mid-December holiday craze, Beyonce surprised the world by dropping her selftitled fifth album, “Beyonce.” With absolutely no public promotion surrounding the album, Beyonce is a master at the humblebrag. She is probably the only person — I mean, queen of pop and R&B — who is able to drop a successful product into the crowded music marketplace without any sort of elaborate promotional campaigns like those held by Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Beyonce calls herself a “modern-day feminist.” This sentiment shows as “Beyonce” clearly explores far darker themes than her previous albums. As a “visual album,” Beyonce states that to fully comprehend the work, one must watch all the accompanying music videos. A majority of the music videos, like “Pretty Hurts” and “Flawless,” were like artful short films. Others, such as “Jealous,” seemed extraneous and unnecessary. The first song, “Pretty Hurts,” is a heart-wrenchingly beautiful piece that expresses Beyonce’s
feminist side as she explores how our modern culture views women through our twisted standards of beauty. The opening sequence starts with Beyonce staring straight at the camera, as if the audience could tell her the secret to achieving true beauty in our subjective society. It jumps to her standing on stage at a beauty pageant, which is probably one of the most judgmental spotlights. The music cuts in as Beyonce recites, “Mama said, ‘You’re a pretty girl / What’s in your head, it doesn’t matter,’” stating that everyone thinks poorly of themselves, but it’s only in their heads. Beyonce continues to explain our culture of ridiculous standards when she states that, “Vogue says thinner is better,” and that “Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever’s worse / Perfection is a disease of a nation.” Beyonce ends this piece by asking her fans, “When you’re alone all by yourself / Reflection stares right into you / Are you happy with yourself?” Beyonce continues to explain the issues women face on a daily basis in our misogynistic society in “Jealous.” She beckons for her man when she croons, “I cooked this meal for you naked / So where the hell you at … I wish you were me / So you could feel this feeling.” Beyonce wishes her
Courtesy of Columbia Records significant other would be able to step into her shoes to see what it’s like to be a woman in our world. To further this point, Beyonce sings, “Sometimes I want to walk in your shoes / Do the type of things that I never ever do,” where she explains that she wants to be able to do the same things and have the same freedoms many men are unequally afforded in relationships when compared to women. The climax of the album is “Flawless.” Beyonce opens by telling her listeners to “Bow down bitches,” as she sets the spotlight on spoken word artist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who speaks on our perverse society and the need for feminism. Adichie states that, “We say to girls: You can have ambition, but not too much / You should aim to be successful, but not too successful / Otherwise, you will threaten the man,” harkening back to the motto, “Behind every great man, there is a great woman.” Adichie critiques the idea that girls can be great, but they will always be behind a man, never able to aspire for more. The truth of our sexist society is continually exposed in Adichie’s monologue, especially when she states that we “teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings in the way that boys are.” She exposes the one-sidedness of
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► BEST ALBUMS FROM PAGE 21
“We the Common” - Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
Singer-songwriter Thao Nguyen brings an unusual swagger to her quavery voice on her fifth album with her funky-yet-folky back-up band, the Get Down Stay Down. Saxophones are as plentiful as banjos, and when Nguyen belts it out as she does on the title track, you really don’t have a choice to do anything but get down — and stay there. A guest spot by Joanna Newsom on “Kindness Be Conceived” brings Nguyen even more credibility in the folk scene.
our civilization, where women are supposed to be prudish and have as few sexual partners as possible, whereas men are deemed heroes at times for having as many partners as possible. Aside from the element of surprise, “Beyonce” provides a true musical experience from the beginning of the album all the way to the end. It is an expansive record that lyrically and thematically ties together, unlike many contemporary artists who don’t create records with the
Top 25 songs
1. “Four Simple Words” -Frank Turner 2. “Step” -Vampire Weekend 3. “Afterlife” -Arcade Fire 4. “Sea of Love” -The National 5. “R U Mine?” -Arctic Monkeys 6. “Touch” -Daft Punk feat. Paul Williams 7. “The Wire” -Haim 8. “Nearly Midnight, Honolulu” -Neko Case 9. “Pink Rabbits” -The National 10. “Outshine” -Makthaverskan
whole album in mind, and instead produce only a small handful of quality songs on the track listing. Beyonce’s trademark vocals are perfectly executed, especially when she sings a short acapella sequence in the middle of “Pretty Hurts” after she is asked to showcase her talents at the beauty pageant. And above all, her agenda to highlight the cultural inequalities imposed upon women in our society is strongly heard — and seen — throughout the album. ■H
11. “Ohm” -Yo La Tengo 12. “I Was An Eagle” -Laura Marling 13. “Don’t Lie” -Vampire Weekend 14. “Man” -Neko Case 15. “Asleep” -Makthaverskan 16. “Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)” -Arcade Fire 17. “Follow Follow” -Tunng 18. “We the Common (For Valerie Bolden)” -Thao and The Get Down Stay Down 19. “Mercy” -TV on the Radio 20. “Gun” -CHVRCHES 21. “Fugitive Air” -Of Montreal 22. “Appreciate” -Paul McCartney 23. “Bad Habit” -Foals 24. “Anymore” -Frank Turner H 25. “San Francisco” -Foxygen ■
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SPORTS
HIGHLANDER
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
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NFL Wildcard weekend: The Colts receive just a little luck CODY NGUYEN Senior Staff Writer
The NFL playoffs are in full swing — and with the conclusion of Wild Card weekend, just four games reminded us of why we love this sport so dearly. Every year, the NFL playoffs have delivered some of the most astonishing displays of any professional sport that leave you glued to your seat from start to finish. Every year, there’s always that one game. That one game that renders your personal lexicon to just one word: wow. That one game that you’ll take with you to the grave, etched in your memory as much as your own name. That one game that you’re thinking about right now. This year, that game came early. Whether it was the playoff jitters, bad play or an act of God, Andrew Luck and the Colts found themselves facing a huge 38-10 deficit to the Kansas City Chiefs at halftime. Though a team with a penchant for come-from-behind wins, this was enough of a hole to make even the most die-hard of Colts fans concede defeat. After all, how can you really say that they had a chance with a straight face after seeing
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
An dre w Lu ck ( No. 1 2 ) l e d th e C olt s to an improb abl e w in ov e r th e Kan a s Cit y C hi e f s ov e r Wi l d c ard w e ek e n d .
their franchise quarterback singlehandedly turn the ball over three times? One Robert Mathis sackfumble (surprise, surprise), an Andrew Luck fumblerooski, a pair of T.Y. Hilton touchdowns later, and with some bad clock management by Andy Reid, the stars seemingly aligned in Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts capitalized on an absolute meltdown by Kansas City on the way to completing the second-largest comeback in NFL playoff history. Maybe the Colts got lucky on
Saturday (no pun intended), but as the cliche goes, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. In fact, looking back, many of the recent Super Bowl champions picked up more than a few strokes of good fortune on their way to a Lombardi Trophy. The Baltimore Ravens emerged victorious from the quarterfinals last year in Denver thanks in part to a miracle Hail Mary that sent a surefire Broncos victory to overtime. The New York Giants snuck into the postseason by a hair in 2011, just to name a couple.
Historically, momentum has also been a huge determining factor for playoff success. Indy won each of its last three regular season games by a margin of 16 or more points, and after Saturday’s huge win, it’s safe to say that the Colts have all the momentum in the world. Throughout most of the regular season, the Colts have been seen as an enigma of sorts, pulling off impressive victories over the likes of Denver and Seattle in one week, but getting steamrolled by seemingly inferior competition such as
St. Louis and Buffalo the next. However, what we’ve seen of Andrew Luck’s squad in the past few weeks looks like a team that has it figured out, a team with an identity and championship swagger. Are the Indianapolis Colts the team that everyone slept on coming into this year’s playoffs? Over the last few years, we’ve seen teams embark on epic playoff runs that take the entire NFL contingent by storm. Call it luck, but sometimes, that’s all it takes to create something ■H special.
Highlanders’ offensive struggles continue in 74-42 loss to Kansas State MELISA BIVIAN Contributing Writer DEC. 28 2013
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Aztecs 58 - Highlanders 57
While students were enjoying the holiday festivities, the women’s basketball team exchanged their jovial hats for work helmets as they competed in the San Diego Surf and Slam Tournament at the Viejas Arena in San Diego, Calif. The club’s opening game against San Diego State University was an intense display of basketball as the team came shy one point from the victory at 58-57. UCR came out strong as the first period of the night began. After the Aztecs hit the first bucket of the game, the Highlanders used an 11-2 run over the first six minutes to race to an 11-4 lead. As the clock continued to unwind, UCR scored 10 of the next 14 points to further push the advantage, 21-8. Center Natasha Hadley converted on three key layups while Annelise Ito also contributed, knocking down a pair of shots. With 4:19 remaining, the Highlanders took the largest lead of the game, 3117. The Aztecs finally came back to life as the period came to an end, cutting down the lead to only eight points, 33-25. Coming into the second half, the Highlanders led the game for the first two minutes, but the Aztecs were determined to turn the scoreboard around and tied the game at the 12:38 mark, 3838. The game was tied three times
throughout the night, until Aztec Ariell Bostick’s three-pointer put them on top at the 1:16 mark, 55-52. With six seconds to go, Simone DeCoud sought to tie the game, but her three-point attempt was off the mark. Akilah Martin was able to make a layup with two seconds remaining, which put them one point away. The Highlanders couldn’t commit a foul in the waning seconds as the Aztecs pulled away with the win, 58-57. DeCoud led the Highlanders with 14 points, while Hadley and Martin both added 13 points. Ariell Bostick led the Aztecs, tallying 12 points for the night. UCR was outrebounded 42 to 37, and had 14 turnovers compared to the Aztecs’ 11. The Highlanders were without their leading scorer Brittany Crain, who missed the game due to injury. DEC. 30 2013
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Wildcats 74 - Highlanders 42
Looking to avoid a sixth consecutive loss, the Highlanders (4-9) faced the Kansas State Wildcats Monday afternoon in their last game of the San Diego Tournament. Playing without leading scorer Brittany Crain for the second straight game, UC Riverside struggled to produce consistent offense as they lost, 7442. As the first period began, Kansas State had the hot hand as they took an 11-0 lead. Firing on
VINCENT TA / Highlander The Highlanders were without sophomore Brittany Crain (No. 23) for two games over the week.
all cylinders, the team hit four-ofsix from the field including three consecutive treys. Almost five minutes into the contest, Natasha Hadley’s jumper finally put UCR on the board, but the Wildcats were quick in responding. Missing jumpers, turning over the ball, and fouling cost the Highlanders as the Wildcats led the game by 22 points at the half, 43-21. Kansas State hit eight-of-13 three-pointers compared to the Highlanders’ one-of-three three-pointers, while outshooting UCR 46.7 percent to 31.8 percent. Hadley was the bright spot for Riverside, hitting three-of-six shots for six points
and three rebounds. Trying to turn the game around, UCR went into the second period with hopes of stopping the Kansas State offense but struggled on both ends of the court. The Wildcats were able to connect with their first two shots of the period. The Highlanders quickly responded as they cut the margin to 47-27, making six straight points with 14:12 to go. Kansas State wouldn’t let UCR get closer than that, however, as they led by 36 points at the 3:47 mark. The period came to an end as Hadley missed the last jumper of the night, closing the game, 74-42.
Once again, Annelise Ito scored double digits and led the Highlanders with 15 points. Hadley added 10 points and six rebounds. Wildcat guard Leticia Romero had a career-high 16 points to go along with a teamand game-high 10 assists. Riverside only made one threepointer on the night (1-9) while shooting below 30 percent from the field (16-56). Hoping to end its six-game losing streak, UCR now prepares to face the Cal State Fullerton Titans on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Student Recreation ■H Center Arena.
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
. SPORTS .
HIGHLANDER
Winter recap: Men’s basketball searches for form before Big West play STEVEN CAHILL Contributing Writer
Coming out of a tough patch of games in December where the club lost five of seven games, the UC Riverside men’s basketball team started the new year in competitive fashion, almost doubling the point total of their opponent, Iowa’s Waldorf University, in a 85-43 blowout on Jan. 2. Their next game saw the team recover from a 16-point second half deficit only to come up short in a 7672 defeat to North Texas. December was filled with ups and downs for the ball club. Five of seven games were decided by a single digit differential, and a majority of those were within five points. The break saw big performances from the team’s two dominant frontcourt players, Chris Patton and Taylor Johns, who are both number one and two on the team in terms of points and rebounds per game. On Dec. 2, in a game against Loyola Marymount, Johns scored a teamhigh 22 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked three shots. Patton had a similar game on Dec. 16 at Northern Colorado, pouring in 17 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Unfortunately, both games resulted in losses determined by less than five points. Nick Gruninger had one of the most memorable moments of the season on Dec. 22, going coast-to-coast and making a layup with only 2.6 seconds left in the game to lift the Highlanders to a one-point victory, 57-56, over the University of Illinois at Chicago. Riverside went into their first game of 2014 with a record of 5-9. In their first game of the new year, the Highlanders decisively defeated
CAMERON YONG / HIGHLANDER Sophomore Steven Jones (No. 10) tries to outmaneuver the opponent while Senior Lucas Devenny (No. 21) rolls to the basket.
Waldorf University 85-43 on Jan. 2. The Warriors, who participate in the less competitive National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, came out of the gates strong, tallying the first five points of the game, but UC Riverside exploded to outscore them 32-15 over the remainder of the half. The team shot over 40 percent from the field for the period to take a 32-20 lead at the half. The Warriors cut the lead to 10 points with the opening jumper of the second half, 3222, but that’s as close as they would get for the game as the Highlanders ran away with the contest, making 60.6 percent of their shots for the half,
en route to a 85-43 victory. Four Highlanders scored in double figures, something that had only happened twice earlier in the season. Perhaps more important than the scoring in this game was the defense by UCR. They held Waldorf to 27 percent shooting while amassing 10 steals and seven blocks. Key defensive stoppers included Johns, who led the team with four blocks and three steals, and Austin Quick, who had 13 points, including three threepointers, to go along with his three steals. Two days later, UCR suffered a 76-72 loss to North Texas on Jan. 4, despite recovering from a 16-point
Chris Harriel (No. 15) sw iftly weaves through defenders in the exhibition game agaisnt Pomona-Pitzer.
second-half deficit. The Highlanders opened the game aggressively as they drew 16 fouls on the Mean Green in the first half, which translated into 10 points at the line for Riverside. The Mean Green’s bench, however, proved to be the difference as they shot 10for-15 from the field, helping North Texas to a 33-27 lead at the half. North Texas used an early 16-4 run in the second to lead 53-37 with 12:33 to go. Riverside, however, showed resiliency as they came back from the deficit to eventually tie the game at 58-58 with 7:08 on clock. Steven Thorton started the run with a three-pointer while fresh-
man Sam Finley closed it off, scoring the next seven points for UCR. The two teams continued to battle for the win as the lead remained at a singlepoint differential. Guard Nick Gruninger sank a three-pointer with 23 seconds left in the game to bring UCR to within one point, but Riverside couldn’t come away with the game as they fell 76-72. Thornton and Finley each scored 18 points for the Highlanders. UCR was outscored 42-17 in bench points for the night. UC Riverside next faces the Cal State Fullerton Titans in its Big West Conference opener at Fullerton on Thurs■H day, Jan. 9.
CAMERON YONG/ HIGHLANDER