FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
Highlander University
Volume 61
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C a l i f o r n i a , R ive r s i d e
Issue 16
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UC employees protest against new pension plan New employees will be required to contribute 7 percent of their paychecks to retirement funds. S a n dy V a n SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Crime at UCR
Chief of Police gives the Highlander an inside look into UCPD and their approach to crime prevention Features, Page 10
L e e n a B u t t /HIGHLANDER
I n re s p o n s e t o re c e n t c r i m e w a v e s , U C P D a n d R i v e r s i d e P D h a v e i n c re a s e d t h e i r p a t ro l s o n L i n d e n S t re e t .
Nearly 30 student, staff and service workers gathered around the Bell Tower on Jan. 31 in protest of the anticipated UC two-tier pension plan effective July 1. Demonstrators voiced their opposition to changes to retiree benefits by marching around the Bell Tower, giving passionate speeches, scrawling chalk phrases on the ground and putting on dance performances to mobilize passing pedestrians. With UC administration in the midst of collective bargaining negotiations, systemwide demonstrations occurred at all 10 campuses on Thursday, according to a press release by organizers AFSCME 3299, UC’s Service and Patient Technical Workers union, which represents over 22,000 workers systemwide. On the same day, the AFSCME’s contract with the UC system ended, yet nego-
UCI 11 file appeal more than a year after ruling Michael R ios
SE N IOR STA F F W R I T E R
Matthew Ward CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The UC Irvine 11 filed an appeal Jan. 23, months after being convicted of misdemeanor charges for disrupting an Israeli diplomat’s speech in Irvine. A California state law prohibits the willful disturbance of meetings, which led to the original charges against the 11 students. With the exception of one person, the group of Muslim students filed a 77-page appeal against the 2011 ruling, which was viewed as unconstitutional and built on the premise of a “vague” state law. Affiliated UC Riverside students Khalid Gahgat Akari, Taher Mutaz Herzallah and Shaheen Waleed Nassar were all convicted in September 2011 along with seven other students from UC Irvine. The convicted students were sentenced to three years of probation. The probation would be cut to just
one year, however, if each of the group members completed 56 hours of community service. The one group member not found guilty during the trial was UC Irvine student Hakim Nasreddine. Nasreddine had his cased dismissed by settling to serve 40 hours of community service at the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa. The case’s contested ruling further fueled the question of whether Oren’s right to free speech was infringed upon or if the actions of the students were protected under the First Amendment. The law prohibits citizens from disturbing lawful assemblies, but the defendants argue that the conviction against the students “makes completely lawful political speech a criminal act, and the First Amendment was never intended to allow that.” Lisa Jaskol, another of the group’s lawyers, said that UC Irvine has UCI 11 CONT’D ON PAGE 5
tiations over retiree benefits and wages continue. “This is really about UC not getting its priorities straight,” said AFSCME 3299 Executive Director Liz Perlman. “Enough is enough. We want to see UC take care of the people that do the work.” Starting Juwly 2013, the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) will consist of two-tier workers: current and longterm employees vs. new employees hired after that date. Current and long-term employees must contribute 6.5 percent of wages—an increase of 1.5 percent from 2012—and new employees will pay 7 percent into their pension plan. Approximately half of all current employees fall under changes to new retiree benefits. Dianne Klein, a UC spokesperson, referred to the increase in employee contributions as a means to sustain systemwide pensions. The UC faces a $24 billion unfunded pension and health care liability, seeking financial stability through PROTESTS CONT’D ON PAGE 2
INSIDE: Highlander Showdown: Two opposing views on the debate over marijuana legalization.
OPINIONS
PAGE 9
Pinterest-inspired arts and crafts events bring DIY creativity to UCR. FEATURES
PAGE 12
Niki and the Dove and Vacationer set a chill, offbeat vibe at the Barn. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 17
Track and field sets new records in Mountain T’s invitational in Flagstaff, Arizona.
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SPORTS
C o u rt e s y
o f g aw k e r . c o m
The UCI 11, consisting of UCR and UCI students, was convicted in 2011 for heckling an Israeli ambassador.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PAGE 2
STAFF
PAGE 6
PLEASE RECYCLE AFTER READING
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
NEWS
HIGHLANDER
W e s l e y N g /H i g hl a n d e r AFSCME 3299, UC’s Service and Patient Technical Union, demonstrated in front of the Bell Tower against the 2013 UC two-tier plan, which requires new employees to contribute 7 percent to their pension.
PROTESTS FROM PAGE 1
increased employee contributions. Concerns have arisen over workers with different contribution levels, which creates a skewed sense of UC prioritization to tier one over secondary tier workers. “We’re not just here for the workers, we’re here for the students... we also want to get an economical range pay, we want to be in the same pay range as the other colleges,” said UCR union leader Leo Tolliver about the immersing wage inequality as a divisive factor throughout the 10 campuses. Many protesters felt stymied by the UC’s lack of support for low wage workers, who often endure poor work conditions despite stacking workloads, increasing student en-
rollment and expanding class sizes. To prop up spirits, short speeches and dance performances occasionally took place during the demonstration. The protesters marched around the Bell Tower and chanted phrases such as “Si se puede,” “Whose university? Our university” and “Power to the people.” Second-year political science major Mary Ramos participated in the demonstration through her involvement in labor union organizations at UCR. “It’s unfair because it is their rights as worker to get better pay [equivalent to other campuses],” said Ramos. “Just to keep in mind that the workers are the ones who make the universities function properly and without them, the university wouldn’t be as well-rounded as it is.” ■H
V i n c e n t T a /H i g hl a n d e r Students and workers march to Hinderaker Hall. In an effort to get their message ‘to the top,’ the students made some noise to get the administrators’ attention.
Photo of the Week
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How to Shoot An Iraqi: US Drone Strikes and Wafaa Bilal’s Queer Calculus of Pain Dance 280 4:10 p.m. – 5:10 p.m
Writers Week at UCR 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. INTS 1128
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How to Build Your Linked-In Profile 10 a.m. – 11 a.m HUB 269
Writers Week at UCR 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. INTS 1128
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Organic Living 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. HUB 260
Writers Week at UCR 1 p.m. - 8 p.m. INTS 1128
Citrus Trees in the Garden 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. UC Riverside Extension Center
Writers Week at UCR 2 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. INTS 1128
Serve Smiles to Senior Citizens 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. HUB 248
Men’s Basketball vs. Cal State Fullerton 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Jinyoung Ko
Malin Dahlström of Niki and the Dove passionately singing a song at last Wednesday’s Barn Series event. The band Vacationer opened.
Quotebook “We’re just as human as the people that we serve.” - CHIEF MIKE LANE,
Upcoming Events
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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
February
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Friday
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Saturday
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Monday
Pan African Film Festival fieldtrip via African Student Programs 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Los Angeles Careers for Humanities Majors 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. HUB 355
The John & Betty Moore Science as a Way of Knowing Lecture 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. UC Riverside Extension Center
RIVERSIDE UCPD,
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NEWS
HIGHLANDER
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
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Economics professor to head UCR School of Public Policy Sean Frede SENIOR STAFF WRITER
UCR Professor of Economics Anil Deololikar began his term as the founding dean of the School of Public Policy (SPP) on Feb. 1. Under his guidance, Deolilikar seeks to address issues that are unique to the Riverside campus and community. The Inland Empire is seen as a petri-dish for the advancement of regional policy-making, with an emphasis on environmental quality and population growth. The Highlander sat down with Deololikar on Jan. 29 to discuss the ways he plans to carve a niche for the SPP. While other graduate programs focus on one area such as environmental or social policies, Deololikar stated, “Just focusing on environmental policies in isolation of demographic or immigration policies is not going to give you enough leverage. Focusing on the interconnectedness of both of these thematic areas and of regions will be our goal.” Deololikar praised the term “think globally, act locally,” but
also examined how city problems may occur on a statewide level. He discussed how smog in Riverside comes from Los Angeles traffic and how there is an immense reliance on Northern California for an adequate water supply. Enrolled graduate students will be given the opportunity to specialize in the policy problems that are applicable to the surrounding region. “Many of these policy challenges that our region faces are not very different from the challenges that are being faced by rapidly growing countries like Brazil and China,” he said. Deololikar believes that this focus will provide a larger branch of education for incoming graduate students. While many problems come from larger areas, UCR’s SPP will also focus on the local level to assist not only UCR, but the Inland Empire as a whole. Deololikar plans to devise a structure for the policies already intact in the region. “They [UCR] haven’t been able to take the policy dimensions of their research and work with
local policy makers and...translate into policy. We’re going to promote a dialogue between UCR researchers and the Inland Empire policy makers,” he said. Members of the economics department expressed support for Deolilikar’s newly-appointed position and future endeavors. David Farris, professor of economics commented, “Anil is the perfect person to lead this exciting initiative at UCR. He has been intimately involved in the planning phase for the public policy school, and has all the right credentials to carry it to the next stage: excellent administrative skills, a fabulous record of high-profile publications in the policy area and great connections across the departments and colleges of UCR.” “From political science, economics, environmental sciences, philosophy, medical and history, we really have an opportunity to carve out a very interdisciplinary program. We have a real opportunity to do something different, innovative and new,” said Deololikar. ■H
W e s l e y N g /HIGHLANDER U C R P ro f e s s o r o f E c o n o m i c s A n i l D e o l o l i k a r l a y s o u t t h e g ro u n d w o r k a s t h e f o u n d i n g d e a n o f t h e S c h o o l o f P u b l i c P o l i c y.
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NEWS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
HIGHLANDER
ASUCR SENATE UPDATE
Senate announces town hall meeting, regent application deadline HIGHLIGHTS: CALPIRG campus organizer Morgan Culbertson wants to write a resolution in support of overturning the resolution for Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission ruling. “It has created a culture for people to say it’s easier to be silent than louder,” she said. The 2nd Annual Amazing College Race will be held on March 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. in Downtown Riverside. Hosted by the College Council of Riverside (CCOR), the scavenger hunt allows college students to compete for scholarship money. Students may register on the city of Riverside homepage by filling out an online application. L i n C h a i /H i g hl a n d e r Pictured center, ASUCR Elections Director Harmony Chai reports on promotional giveaways for the upcoming spring elections.
S a n dy V a n SENIOR STAFF WRITER
On Jan. 30, ASUCR senators reconvened for their weekly meeting to discuss painting the “C” green, promoting a dance marathon and an upcoming town hall meeting to help find UCR’s next chancellor. Representatives of the Student Alumni Association (SAA) Jane Kim and Viry Melendez publicized the six-hour event, Dance Marathon, with a message of nurturing a “campus of philanthropy” among future alumni. The Dance Marathon will be cosponsored by SAA and the Golden Key International Honour Society from 6 p.m. to midnight on Feb. 23 in the Student Recreation Center. The event will raise money for Guardian Scholars—a network of resources that offer emotional and financial assistance to emancipated foster youth here at UCR. “For 70 percent of teens who report that they want to attend a university, less than 4
percent actually graduate from a university,” said Kim. In hopes of promoting sustainability measures, ASUCR senators will be painting the “C” green from April 16 to 27 during Earth Week. With approval from Chancellor Conoley and John Cook, the director of sustainability, the ivy-colored monument will be turned back to yellow by the end of the week. The “C,” located on the Box Springs Mountains, falls under the ownership of ASUCR. On Feb. 22, members of the chancellor search committee will gather input about UCR’s next chancellor during a town hall meeting on campus. Appointed in Dec. 2012, a search committee is on the hunt to find UCR’s next permanent chancellor. The 17-member advisory group consists of student representatives, staff and regents. “Students are invited to give their ideas about what they want to see in a new chancellor,” stated ASUCR President Liam Dow. ■H
BCOE introduces online master’s program Michael Rios SENIOR STAFF WRITER
To expand UC Riverside’s growing graduate division, the Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) is launching an online master of science program (MSOL) fall 2013. Announced on Jan. 28, the graduate program is aimed at improving the technical skills of professional engineers as opposed to the traditional researchbased curriculum. Kambiz Vafai, the director of the program, expressed enthusiasm about the potential for an online degree. “The MSOL program is unique among competing programs in offering a wellbalanced blend of core engineering management and specialization courses together with design experience,” Vafai said. Interactive courses are videotaped in-person and made available online for repeated views. Vafai em-
phasized that an online program provides greater academic flexibility for graduate students who face busier work schedules. Students will also have the benefit of participating in online discussions with fellow classmates and professors. The discussion boards offer students the option of collaborating with another person, asking questions or for help. Another benefit is that physical attendance is not mandatory, except for the examination period, when students are required to attend the nearest campus. This would cut down living expenses for on-campus residents and help commuters save gas. Students also have the option of receiving their degree during a commencement ceremony. The degree is a two-year, nine-course program that consists of 36 units. The total estimated cost for com-
pletion of the degree will be $30,000. Students concentrating in bioengineering will be the first group admitted to the program. The nine courses required to graduate have already been established. The admission process is more competitive compared to traditional graduate school programs. Unlike most master ’s programs, admission for the MSOL will require proof of significant professional engineering experience and certifications by a prospective student. The criterias for admissions also include a bachelor ’s degree and ongoing employment in their field of study. “The Master of Science in Engineering Online program is flexible and multidisciplinary and enables the participants to concentrate in depth on specific areas, which are most beneficial to them,” Vafai said. ■H
During to rising concerns over public safety, Vice President of Internal Affairs Kevin Jo is pushing for greater collaboration between the Women’s Resource Center, ASUCR and UCPD to keep students safe. Senators are in the planning process for a professor research symposium, which will be held on March 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. in HUB 302. Professors and students will be given the opportunity to showcase their scientific research to the campus. The lineup for the HEAT music festival will be announced at the FUSE event on Feb. 6 from 7 to 10 p.m. located in the Highlander Union Plaza. On the same day, student DJs will compete for a contract to perform at HEAT. Tickets for the HEAT music festival will begin being distributed to students on Feb. 7. The Student Lobby Conference applications are due on Feb. 6. Taking place from March 2 to 5, the conference provides workshops for UC students to effectively lobby legislators, hear inspirational speakers and march to the Capitol. The deadline for student regent applications is Feb. 28. There has not been a student regent from UCR since 1999. As a student representative of the UC system, a new student regent will be appointed by mid-May 2014. President Dow suggested the online sales of amusement park and movie theater tickets, once sold by the former Exchange store. Senators have begun preparing for spring elections, which will take place from April 15 to 19.
KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND PHOTOSHOP OR ILLUSTRATOR?
The Highlander is looking for a graphic designer! General meetings on Mondays at 5:15PM at Hub 101
NEWS
HIGHLANDER
NEWS IN BRIEF COMPILED BY AROOBA CHAUDHRY,
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
contributing writer
SRC EXPANSION LEADS TO ALTERNATIVE PARKING LOT ACCESS Alternate parking options will be made available to students in order to alleviate ongoing traffic caused by the expansion of the UCR Student Recreation Center (SRC). From the beginning of February to March 11, the south portion of parking lot 25 will be closed for maintenance. The center will only be accessible from the side of Aberdeen and Inverness
(A&I) Drive and not from Linden Avenue. Before 4 p.m. on weekdays, students with Gold permits can park in Lot 26, Blue and Red permits can park in Lot 24 and Pay-BySpace permits in the A&I horseshoe. The same parking lots are also accessible after 4 p.m. on weekends. On Jan. 21, the con struction fence was moved north, leaving only a five-
foot wide pathway along the south side of the building for pedestrians to enter the Recreation Center. Construction crews are now excavating holes in Lot 25, which will impede the entrance to the SRC from Linden Avenue. The SRC expansion will be completed by winter quarter of 2015 to accommo date UCR’s student popu lation of over 21,000. ■H
C o u rt e s y
of campusmap.ucr.edu
Due to the expansion of the SRC, parking lot 25 will be temporarily closed in the beginning of February 2013.
UCI 11 FROM PAGE 1
rules that allow peaceful protests of speakers on the campus, claiming that the students had a right to do what they did. The defendants also used a 1970 California statute as defense. That statute required prosecutors to prove that the group “substantially impaired the conduct of the meeting.” The defendants claim the 2011 trial failed to prove that. The lawyers also claimed that the protest of Oren’s speech never substantially shut down the meeting. Oren was actually able to finish after the group’s disruption. Given the circumstances, the
WRITE FOR THE HIGHLANDER Meetings on Mondays at 5:15pm at HUB 101
defendants felt that they were “bullied” by the court. On the other hand, the prosecution points out that the very disruption of Ambassador Oren’s speech violates the First Amendment. Dan Wagner of the prosecution expressed that the actions of the students were “not the type of behavior or conduct that is protected by the First Amendment.” The California Supreme Court has already ruled the prosecution’s claim of the students’ violation of the state law of disturbing meetings constitutional. The ruling left Wagner feeling confident that the appeal will not H change the original conviction. ■
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36TH ANNUAL WRITER’S WEEK BEGINS IN FEBRUARY UC Riverside’s creative writing department presents the 36th annual Writer’s Week, the longest-running literary event in Southern California, which will take place from Feb. 4 to 8. The weeklong event brings together an assortment of aspiring writers, known authors and other and will be located in the CHASS Interdisciplinary Building South, Screen Room 1128. An event on Monday and Friday will take place at the University Village (UV) and Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts, respectively. The event is directed by UCR Creative Writing Professor Tom Lutz, who is also editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Review of Books (LARB)—a non-profit, literary and cultural arts magazine. On Monday, Davan Marahaj, the Los Angeles Times editor, will deliver the 45th Hays Press-Enterprise Lecture. The annual series was started in 1966 by the late Howard H. Hays, former editor of the Press-Enterprise newspaper. The lecture will address the battle to save
journalism and will take place at 7 p.m. in the UV. The events was also made possible by support from the UCR College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences and the L.A. Review of Books. English graduate student and University Writing Program instructor Daniel Ante-Contreras expressed optimism about the event. “One of the best ways to improve your own writing and thinking is to experience the writing and thinking of others— to share in that community of ideas,” he said. “An event like this can expose students to new ways of thinking and writing, two processes which are strongly connected, while also giving them an opportunity to explore and be involved in UCR’s very diverse and robust intellectual community.” The event will also consist of panel discussions and readings by award-winning authors Jamaica Kincaid, Jayne Anne Phillips, David Shields and Juan Felipe Herrera, a creative writing professor at UCR and current H California poet laureate. ■
C o u rt e s y o f e r a m u s li m . c o m Israeli ambassador Michael Oren’s speech was disrupted by a group of Muslim students also known as the UCI 11.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
. OPINIONS .
HIGHLANDER
HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL
UCPD AND RIVERSIDE MUST DO MORE TO PREVENT CAMPUS CRIME
HIGHLANDER STAFF Editor-in-Chief
Managing Editor
Chris LoCascio
Kevin Keckeisen
News Editor
Asst. News Editor
Sandy Van
Michael Rios
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editorinchief @highlandernews.org
news@highlandernews.org
Opinions Editor
Colin Markovich
opinions@highlandernews.org Asst. A&E Editor
A&E Editor
Grace Kang
Rebecca Paredes
Features Editor
Asst. Features Editor
Toni Louie
Alexander Suffolk
Sports Editor
Asst. Sports Editor
Kendall Peterson
Darren Bueno
Photography Editor
Asst. Photo Editor
Wesley Ng
Leena Butt
radar@highlandernews.org
features@highlandernews.org
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L i n C h a i /HIGHLANDER The intersection of Linden and Rustin is just one place that UCPD and the city of Riverside should focus on in the fight against crime.
W
e students have gotten somewhat accustomed to the idea that Riverside isn’t the safest place after dark. Once the clock chimes four, many of us run out to our cars in Lot 30 or Lot 26 while there’s still daylight and repark in a closer parking lot so we won’t have to walk too far after dark. The campus escort service gets frequent use from students worried about the crime in the area. And those of us who don’t live in the dorms try to limit our time on campus to the daylight hours so we don’t have to trek through unlit streets at night to find our way home. Still, even knowing this, we all got a good shock when, on Jan. 16, we received a mass e-mail from the University of California Police Department (UCPD) detailing five acts of crime that occurred all within the span of a single hour. And there have been even more crimes since then, including one on Jan. 24, where a victim was robbed in broad daylight. Previously, crimes were perceived as incidental occurrences; people just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But now they have become more pervasive. In all of 2012, 31 cases of crime were reported by UCPD via UCR’s system of mass e-mailing. But in just this first month of 2013, there have already been eight crimes reported through the same system. It’s only February, but if this rate of eight crimes per month continues, UCPD will have alerted the campus community to 96 crimes at the end of the year, more than triple last year. And it’s not just around UCR. Even though the east section of the city of Riverside tends to have greater crime rates, the city as a whole is experiencing above-average crime. In November 2012, the most recent month for which crime statistics are available, there were 1,032 property crimes reported. Earlier that year, in January 2012, there were only 807. In the entire year of 2011, 9,794 violent or property crimes were reported. One year later, that number stands at 11,053— not including December, whose crime statistics haven’t been released yet. Living in Riverside and UCR itself has undoubtedly made people more aware of crime and has encouraged them to take steps to protect themselves and their property. But this increase in crime is nonetheless disconcerting. Students rely
on assurances of safe travel when they pack up at the end of class and head home for the day, or when they decide to chill at a restaurant after a day’s work. If that cannot be guaranteed, our attendance at late-night classes or events would be only a shadow of what it could be. This would have implications for the Riverside economy, driven as it is by students deciding to brave the outdoors and shop or go out to eat. In addition, latenight classes could see greater attrition rates, as students decide the costs of walking down Linden at night outweigh the benefits of attending lecture. None of these would be positives for the campus community or the Riverside community at large. Thankfully, UCPD is taking steps to improve the crime situation at UCR. Their response to the five crimes on Jan. 16 was swift, and three alleged perpetrators have already been taken into custody. And the three suspects from the Jan. 24 crime were recently arrested as well. Every crime is different, but UCPD has generally been quick to respond to reports of crime and has maintained a willingness to keep students informed by sending out e-mails to the campus community whenever a crime has occurred. A quick and effective reaction to crime is great, but prevention of crime in the first place should always be the number one goal. Studies have shown the action that results in the greatest decrease in crime rates is increasing police presence in an area. So UCPD’s goal of increasing its visibility around campus and in the city is strongly welcomed. In particular, UCPD should focus on Blaine Street, Linden Street and Rustin Avenue. Instituting a vanpool or system like it would also be beneficial to the campus community. Many students live in offcampus housing close enough to walk to campus during daylight hours. But at night, the roads becomes more treacherous. A vanpool system would allow those students who lack a car or prefer to travel on foot the opportunity to continue to walk to campus while ensuring the return trip home at night is not a problem. In addition to the new actions UCPD is thinking about making, they also need to make students more aware of the resources already at their disposal. For instance, the blue poles on campus are designed for
emergency calls to be made by wouldbe victims. But there are too few of these emergency poles placed around campus to be truly effective. If a student were confronted around campus today, he’d be lucky to be within eyeshot of one. For the system to work the way it’s intended, the number of poles on and around campus needs to be substantially increased. UCPD doesn’t have sole jurisdiction over the Riverside campus—there are things that need to be done by the city of Riverside as well. One of the easiest methods to deter crime is to place more streetlights in areas with high crime rates. Criminals are less likely to assault victims or steal property in well-lit neighborhoods, but the streetlights near campus are few and far between. Simply increasing the light in the area would go a long way toward fixing an untenable problem. The city should also consider instituting cameras around the campus community. But if Riverside pursues implementation, they must do so with students’ privacy in mind. So far, reports indicate their effect on crime is mixed at best. Without any substantial evidence either way, more research needs to be done before anybody commits to purchasing and installing the expensive pieces of technology. Even if they are found to lower crime, Riverside must implement them in a way that does not compromise the privacy of students. UCPD can start implementing some of these solutions, like increasing their visibility around campus, right away. Others, like the vanpool system, will take more time. But in the long run, putting these new measures in place should decrease the abhorrently high crime rate. The recent crimes on Jan. 16 and Jan. 24 have propelled the issue of campus safety back to the top of the list of priorities. UCPD should take this high-profile opportunity to undertake actions that will stop the ever-expanding crime rate from growing even further. Otherwise, it will be a squandered chance to improve the safety conditions around UCR. And students will continue to fear walking the streets at night. ■H Highlander editorials reflect the majority view of the Highlander Editorial Board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Associated Students of UCR or the University of California system.
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OPINIONS
HIGHLANDER
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
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North Korea: a country filled with empty threats J o s h ua W a g o n b l a s t STAFF WRITER
I recently watched a documentary on the freelance journalism website VICE about the country of North Korea and how its economy, military and overall welfare fared when compared with the rest of the world. On one level, it was a tragic perspective on a bleak nation with an unknowingly oppressed people. But it also brought up the recent developments between it and the United States, where hostilities are rising and serious action must be taken: North Korean dictator Kim Jongun has declared his intentions to retaliate against the United Nations-approved sanctions imposed on the impoverished state. Are the injunctions even necessary? Should the United States try to negotiate with North Korea? If the country reacts violently, would they actually have the power to do so? If there was a strike against South Korea or even the United States, how would the American government handle it? North Korea has been persistent in continuing their missile testing despite longstanding sanctions, including a prohibition on international transactions and banning nuclear technology for transfer. The expansion of the sanctions does not seem unreasonable, considering the constant threats from Kim Jong-Il. The restrictions are one necessary ingredient that helps prevent the country from more dangerous technological pursuits and prove to the North Korean government that the world is serious about keeping its destructive pursuits at bay. Even with the sanctions in place, North Korea has still threatened the safety of other nations. Establishing diplomatic relations sounds reasonable and there should definitely be some sort of truce. But negotiations have come to no avail. The Six Party Talks in 2007 looked promising, and North Korea agreed to shut down its Yongbyon nuclear reactor in exchange for economic assistance. But the country broke its promise and continued its nuclear testing. Clearly something more effective should be implemented. Some politicians, including former President Jimmy Carter and President Barack Obama, have visited the country or the border-
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has proven to be unwilling to pursue policies of demilitarization.
ing demilitarized zone and tried to formulate peaceful policies despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations. But it just does not seem to be working. North Korea is a stubborn country that will not be cooperating in peace talks anytime soon. In their eyes, South Korea and the United States are still enemies who fought against North Korea during the Korean War. Since they have not made serious attempts to resolve conflict, more intimidating actions are vital.
“Kim Jong-un has not only threatened the wellbeing of other populations, but has violated human rights” The sanctions are a good idea but only provide minimal help, and negotiations always seem to fall through. North Korea could just be ignored, but that would be unrealistic because it officially declared having nuclear weapons in February 2005. And after multiple rocket launch failures, the impoverished country was finally able to bask in the glory of launching a satellite into orbit last December. Right now, the nation is not fully capable of manu-
facturing extremely dangerous nuclear devices or rockets, and the U.S. must ensure the situation stays that way. The reality is that North Korea is much too impoverished to actually be able to put together an actual menacing collection of missiles and nuclear weapons. Take for example the United States, the first country to develop nuclear weapons. The U.S. has invested trillions in an armory full of nuclear weapons, just in case. The country of North Korea can barely launch a satellite into space. On top of that, the country has spent $1.3 billion on their rocket program even though the nation alone is worth a mere $40 billion. North Korea hardly seems to have the capability to follow through with any threat because of the number of sanctions imposed. This is why more economic restrictions are necessary, such as completely abolishing any foreign aid and cutting off the possibility for imports and exports to cross its borders. North Korea should not be allowed the possibility to build an arsenal even close to what the United States has and further proliferate nuclear weapons throughout the world. For now, sanctions are necessary in order to keep North Korea on a level where it will be unable to pursue serious militaristic action. The sanctions have helped with subduing eco-
nomic growth and China has recently threatened to cut off aid. One of the first steps should be to convince China to cut off its aid to North Korea immediately, along with prohibiting any trade with any country. It would be nice for the country to be
“Even with the sanctions in place, North Korea has still threatened the safety of other nations.” able to come to a real negotiation with the United States, South Korea or the UN, but this does not seem to be a viable solution because they do not follow through with their agreements. A close eye needs to be kept on this dictatorship. There currently is a stalemate, and there needs to be a resolution. North Korea has intentions to develop weapons of mass destruction and to use them against the U.S. and other countries, even though it is not currently possible. However, if the country ever did have an opportunity to execute a violent attack, then there should be U.S. and UN military intervention. The involvement of armed forces should be seriously considered, but only as a last resort. A better idea would be to station more of
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of
The Huffington Post
the U.S. military around the North Korean border. This would intimidate the country and hinder their militaristic pursuits before an attack is possible. Starting a war with North Korea could be considered a bit rash, but could be necessary later on. The government constantly threatens other countries, refuses to keep their word on peaceful negotiations and consistently pursues the development of nuclear weapons for the sole reason of using them against their “enemies.” Kim Jong-un should be the last successor to the dictator throne, and hopefully he will be. Kim Jong-un has not only threatened the well-being of other populations, but has violated human rights. He has ordered the murder of defectors, sent people to political prison camps and conducted public executions. The North Korean leaders have acted indecently toward other countries as well as toward their own people. Although some North Korean citizens will be negatively impacted, it is important to increase sanctions so as to one day put a stop to the government’s retaliatory threats. Sanctions and peace talks have made minimal steps towards alleviating the situation, but with increased border patrol, an agreement to cut off aid and aggressive sanctions, outright warfare can be put on the backburner. ■H
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
OPINIONS
HIGHLANDER
Asking for your facebook password is too close for comfort Colette King CONTRIBUTING WRITER
This is it. You finally have the interview. It’s been years of education and waiting to step into the workforce. You have reviewed your résumé until your trash can is overflowing with rough drafts. Hours have been spent in front of the mirror acting out your flattering facial expressions, graceful entrance and memorized interview skills. That outfit of slacks and a blazer you keep in the back of your closet finally sees light for the first time. You take a deep breath, enter the interview room and give your best performance. Everything is perfect, they laugh at your overly rehearsed jokes, they smile at your charisma, and most importantly you can tell they want you as their employee. And then they ask for your Facebook password. Wait a minute, that’s a little weird. There is a reason you have a password on your account; it’s to keep your information in your control and to keep your personal life, well, personal. Despite the well-known stereotype that Facebook is the best stalking tool on the Internet, it doesn’t provide an invitation for employers to go deeper than what is readily apparent and view what you want to keep away from the public. But this is exactly what some businesses have been doing. A March 2012 report by ABC World News in March 2012 unnervingly reveals “some [employers] have demanded applicants hand over their passwords so they can view individual’s
restricted profiles.” Demanded? That’s a strong word. Why did these firms feel so confident in demanding such indisputably personal information? Because they had the upper hand. They knew that during the current economic recession, countless individuals were seeking any job they could get their hands on. There are more job applicants than open positions, and employers know they have the luxury of replacing them whenever they want during this current economic downturn. This treatment from firms is wrong. They are getting access to the same information your own Facebook friends have, except through force instead of receiving permission to view your information. Sure, by all means employers should be able to look applicants up on Facebook. What’s public on the Internet is up for grabs. The same goes for permanent records or the opinions from past employers, but there is no reason to go deeper than that. What an employee decides to keep private is his or her business. What is different here is the goal. They are requesting more than just a quick peek at your social networking profile— they’re opening an investigation into your personal life. Much of people’s information on Facebook can reveal their uninhibited side, which is enough to cause us a little anxiety when we see a Facebook request from a family member or professor. If we feel anxious showing our Facebook page to someone we know, what
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about a corporation we’ve barely met for the first time? Facebook isn’t designed to be a part of a job application. If there is a password, there is a reason, and that’s to decide who sees what. In addition, going into personal information allows employers to judge—not like they don’t already—based on personal views such as politics, religion and sexual orientation. Information otherwise illegal for employers to request in a traditional interview can potentially become available via your Facebook password. Employers getting ahold of this information could skew their decision based on the religion you follow, or the political party
you vote for, as represented in your Facebook profile. And even though it’s illegal, they could just claim they rejected you for a different reason. In the United States Constitution, there is no direct statement on the right to privacy; however, as stated by www.usconstitution. net, the “Supreme Court decisions over the years have established the right to privacy as a basic human right, and as such is protected by virtue of the 9th Amendment.” Just like any other right protected by the Constitution and Bill of Rights, privacy is a right that needs to be respected. Employers have abused the recession as a means to pressure
life is unbearable
By Grace Kang
Two weeks later...
of
Abovethecrowd.com
Companies seeking employees’ passwords are invading their privacy and should be barred from doing so.
I LOVE UCR! Authentic Scottish Bear
their employees and future employees to give up their privacy in order to obtain a position in a firm. Fortunately, new laws in the states of California and Illinois have recently been enacted prohibiting employers from demanding access to workers’ passwordprotected social networking accounts. The government must step in because these laws help alleviate stress from the application process. More importantly, it protects the right to have a personal life without the fear of it affecting your career in the future. Ultimately, our lives are our own, and employers shouldn’t be allowed to force their way in. ■H
OPINIONS
HIGHLANDER
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
9
On June 6th, the Supreme Court refused to strike down a California law that offers state residents reduced tuition rates at California colleges.
HIGHLANDER SHOWDOWN: WRITE TO THE DEATH
Should marijuana be legalized in the United States? Marijuana legalization the right way to go Alexandria Camarella CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In Mendocino County, California, the local government is in a legal battle with federal prosecutors who demand the county hand over records of medical marijuana growers participating in a program regulating their businesses under state law. Ever since California legalized marijuana for medical purposes in November 1996 under Proposition 215, the law has been in constant conflict with the United States government’s rejection of marijuana as a legal drug. Proposition 215, the California Compassionate Use Act, makes it legal for patients and their primary caregivers to possess and cultivate marijuana for personal medical use with the approval of a California-licensed physician. Mendocino County is one of a few counties in California growing this drug and, by doing so, is going against the federal government’s ruling of marijuana as an illegal substance. The legalization of marijuana has been a long-standing debate and has been going on for over several decades. But even though its benefits are well-known and it is already used legally as a recreational and medical drug in a number of states, marijuana is unfortunately still not legal at the federal level. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, Melinda Haag, warned against a proposal by Oakland to license industrial cultivation of marijuana, saying the federal government will “enforce the [Controlled Substances Act] vigorously against individuals and organizations that participate in unlawful manufacturing and distribution activity involving marijuana, even if such activities are permitted under state law.” Recently, county attorneys contacted a federal judge in San Francisco to stop a federal subpoena demanding information on marijuana growers. So what precedent does this send to individuals living in California? Do they follow the state’s ruling or the federal law? Even though these local marijuana growers in Mendocino county did everything legally in the state, Drug Enforcement Administration agents still raided several farms after the law was passed. Despite the raids, however, county officials planned to continue the program as planned—so far generating an estimated $600,000. Some marijuana advocacy groups warn compliance with the subpoena would reveal confidential medical information, bank records and go against the state’s attempts to regulate marijuana efficiently. “The program drew a clear line between those who were doing everything to be compliant with local and state laws and people who were outlaws,” County Supervisor John McCowen said in the LA Times. “The marijuana industry was completely out of control, and the permit program was an effort to bring order out of chaos, and it was working.” Opponents stress that the long-term and abusive use of marijuana are harmful to a person’s health. But while marijuana can be an addictive substance and potentially harmful, so are many other legal drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol. Just in 2011, 28.6 million individuals aged 12 or older had been caught driving under the influence of alcohol at least once in the past year and an estimated 56.8
million Americans aged 12 or older were current cigarette smokers in the past month. These drugs are allowed by the FDA—why not marijuana? Despite what some say about the drug being used in an abusive manner, marijuana has had proven positive medical benefits for illnesses, such as cancer, AIDS and glaucoma. Studies show marijuana is also one of America’s top-selling agricultural products and is already a $14 billion industry in California. If marijuana could be regulated, it would earn the state a significant sum of money— definitely pulling the state out of debt. The legalization of marijuana would save the government about $8 billion annually in government spending on enforcement, including the FBI and on U.S.-Mexico border security. The crime and violence in this area would also decrease because most of the conflict is derived from illegal sales of marijuana. The legalization of this drug would end much of this criminal behavior. The San Francisco Chronicle states, “National statistics show 872,000 arrests last year related to marijuana, 775,000 of them for possession, not sale or manufacturing—
Let’s legalize marijuana, but not now Colin Markovich SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Laws that allow the medical use of marijuana have expanded to include 18 states, including California. And two states—Washington and Colorado—have now taken the next step and declared recreational use of marijuana legal. Before long, marijuana will doubtlessly be legal across the United States. But has anybody stopped to think about the aftermath of legalization? After all, once it’s legal, a myriad of new laws will have to be crafted to regulate its sale, control its use and establish penalties for misuse of the newly-legal drug. So let’s set aside the screaming over declining moral values and giddiness over increased tax revenue and ask the most pertinent question of them all: is legalization actually feasible?
C o u rt e s y o f N at g e o t v . c o m With more states legalizing marijuana use, debate has been sparked over national legalization.
sparking some critics to suggest that the resources of the criminal justice system, including the crowded state prisons and courts, might be better used elsewhere.” As more states enact laws permitting medical marijuana use, the more people will be going against federal law. Many resources are being directed to regulate marijuana, but the federal government should focus more attention on serious crimes that pose a greater threat. With the legalization of marijuana, the federal government would be able to put a tax on the drug that will pull the economy up from the recession and create more jobs for its cultivation and regulation. The people of Mendocino County are only trying to follow their state’s laws and avoid trouble, but they are still subject to punishment from the federal government. The federal government needs to settle the marijuana legalization problem before the awkward clash between state and national laws gets any worse. As of now, the people of Mendocino County and countless others who are in the same situation are still breaking the federal law and will be subjected to punishment if marijuana is not legalized nationally. ■H
First, let’s take a deep breath, clear our heads and review the facts. Marijuana is a drug that can heighten sensory perception and relieve chronic pain. But it also decreases motor control, impairs short-term memory and can corrupt decision-making skills. It is also addictive, with users who decide to quit smoking marijuana reporting increased anxiety and aggression. So far, it sounds very similar to a drug like alcohol. So why not legalize it and regulate it the same way alcohol is regulated? Here is where we run into snags. As proponents of marijuana legalization loudly proclaim, alcohol is ejected by the body relatively quickly, but marijuana can be detected for weeks after use. If one were to be pulled over for driving while drinking, the police officer could administer a breathalyzer test, determine the subject’s guilt and then let him on his way or take him in for arrest. But if you’re pulled over and the police officer finds you positive for marijuana use, there’s no way to tell if
you were high now, two hours ago or a week ago. What is even more problematic is this: there is currently no way to detect exactly how stoned someone is while driving. Just like drinking a single can of beer is usually not enough to render you unable to drive, eating a small amount of pot brownies may not be enough to impair your driving ability. But without a device able to establish exactly how much of the drug is in your body, the police may simply choose to err on the side of caution, and pull you in for arrest. There are some encouraging signs, but without further developments in detection technology, the police will have to resort to arresting people who may not even be dangerously high. Smoking marijuana also poses significant health risks, not just to smokers, but to people who are exposed to smoke. Tobacco has been regulated to prevent people from bearing the brunt of the clouds of smoke in public areas and marijuana can be regulated likewise. However, marijuana smoke is much more dangerous than tobacco smoke. Not only does it emit particulate matter that can accumulate in the lungs at a rate three times that of tobacco smoke, but it has also been found to produce significantly higher amounts of carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) than tobacco smoke. Even if current tobacco restrictions are replicated for marijuana smoke, that may not be enough to protect our lungs from harm. Before we legalize marijuana, we need to know how much harm we may be placed in. If it is made legal without proof of the consequences, we could unwittingly cause greater health risks for the generations to follow. As one parent said in an interview with a local ABC station, “I’ve got a 7-monthold daughter, and I just don’t want her going to kindergarten and having to walk through a waft of pot smoke.” And beyond the health risks, what will happen to the marijuana-growing business? Now, most marijuana dispensaries are small businesses, run by only a few people in a small building in the corner of town. But once marijuana is made legal throughout the country, growing marijuana on a much larger scale will become more profitable. This will allow corporations devoted to the mass production and sale of marijuana to emerge and steamroll any local small business competition. The void filled by the new Wal-Marijuana would corner the market, leaving people whose livelihood depended on the success of their small business scraping by on a minimum wage job. Marijuana should eventually be legalized. Allowing it to be sold and consumed legally could potentially cripple the large Mexican drug cartels while providing a major boost to an economy that is in desperate need of an adrenaline shot. But just because something is good in principle doesn’t mean that it should be immediately followed. The most important part of any idea is how it will be implemented. And right now, there are too many questions to warrant legalization. ■H
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.
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. FEATURES .
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
HIGHLANDER
UCPD ride-along:
Chief of Police discusses crimes, safety and assault weapons on campus By Michael Rios, Senior Staff Writer Crimes on campus—it’s a phrase that UC Riverside students have become all too familiar with. Property thefts, violent robberies and even rapes have all been reported by UCR students in the past few years. Amidst the recent talk of campus crimes and public safety, Riverside UCPD Chief of Police Mike Lane offered me an exclusive ride-along through the campus community to talk about the recent robberies that affected the university, the duties of a UCPD officer and the measures the department is taking to prevent further crimes. Since taking the position in 2006, Lane says the job has shown him just about everything one can imagine: robberies, domestic disturbances and assaults. We were instantly made aware of how potentially serious these crimes could be as soon as we stepped into the vehicle. “Typically on ride-alongs, what I tell folks is that if [I] get out of the car, just stay in the car,” he said. “If something goes wrong with me and you see me go down or something like that, just run. Don’t get back into this vehicle, just run... But you’ll be fine,” he reassured. “This car you’re in right now is called the mobile command post,” he explained as we stepped in the vehicle. The car lived up to its name. The first things that caught my eyes were a scanner, a computer and a rifle that rested just inches from the front seats. In the back of the vehicle sat a storage box containing maps, shells and radio communication devices. A few minutes into the ride-along, we drove past Big Springs Road and near one of the five areas where a series of armed robberies took place just a month ago. On Jan. 16, 2013, five robberies occurred on and off campus within a onehour time span. The UCPD and the Riverside PD collaborated in an investigation that led to the eventual arrest of three suspects. Lane stated that the crimes were carefully planned but were foiled all because one of the victims was wise enough to jot down the license plate of the getaway vehicle. “There was one very smart-thinking student who got a partial plate with a description, which was huge,” he said. Just days after the robberies, the UCPD and the RPD managed to arrest Xavier Vining, Doneal Lewis Cephus and Markeith Shavers, the three suspects involved in the robberies. Lane shared his thoughts on the many solutions to fixing crime rates in schools that have been discussed nationally, as well as by the Highlander Editorial Board in this week’s editorial. When asked about the NRA’s proposed idea of allowing assault weapons on campus, Lane stated, “Let me put it to you this way: it’s one thing to buy a weapon and understand
how to use it and manipulate it. It’s another thing to actually apply how you’re going to use it. Because once you pull that weapon out, you really got to start considering the fact that, you know, that round is a laser: it will keep going.” We also discussed the NRA’s proposal to allow faculty and staff to carry weapons on school grounds. Lane was opposed to the idea. When asked if he thinks that police officers are the ones who should deal with violent crimes on campus, he said, “I think so because that’s what we’re trained to do.” Just as he mentioned training, Lane drove us past the Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, a police academy just miles off campus. The academy itself resembles a military boot camp. The facility features a shooting rage, an obstacle course and a field for officers to run and exercise. “This is where we train,” he said. “One of the reasons I showed you this is because a lot of people think we’re a campus security. We’re law enforcement officers... It’s not all about learning how to take people in custody and running and doing pushups. It’s also about learning about probable cause, use of force, how to testify in court [and] ways to resolve a conflict.” Despite his belief that officers are responsible for resolving violent and dangerous conflicts, Lane went on to say that students should also play a role when it comes to preventing crimes in the first place. “Safety is everybody’s responsibility,” he said. According to him, 85 to 90 percent of crimes at UCR are property thefts. He advised that students should keep their valuable possessions put away and attended to, especially when walking alone at night. As we made our way back to UCR, we drove past Linden Avenue. As most UCR students know, the street is notorious for armed robberies and assaults. One of the five robberies on Jan. 16 took place on that street. On Jan. 24, 2013, another nearcampus robbery occurred in that same area. The three suspects involved in that robbery were recently arrested as well. Lane further discussed potential solutions to lower crime rates in such areas of notoriety. He mentioned the possibility of stationing more officers in areas of high crime rates and even adding more security cameras on and near the university. He explained that his department has an ongoing conversation with the city and their camera systems. His plan is to make the use of cameras “more robust.” The best way to do that would be to add more, he said. Another idea is to have a shuttle or van service. With these services, students would be provided with rides to get from one part of campus to another. It would
L e e n a B u t t /HIGHLANDER C l o c k w i s e f ro m t o p : A R i v e r s i d e P D c a r d r i v e s d o w n L i n d e n S t re e t ; R i v e r s i d e U C P D C h i e f o f P o l i c e M i k e L a n e a d v i s e s s t u d e n t s t o b e v i g i l a n t a n d e x e rc i s e c a u t i o n e v e n during the day; UCPD vehicles parked in a lot behind the station.
be an alternative to walking alone in the streets at night when robberies are most common. There are concerns over implementing such a system, however. One of the factors they must take into account is determining who will provide the rides and if the students will even use the services. “With each and every one of these [potential solutions], we got to look at how sustainable they are,” Lane said.
When the ride-along just about ended, Lane emphasized that another potential solution for students is to take advantage of the services already provided at UCR. These services include the Campus Safety Escort Service, the emergency call boxes and even the police department itself. “Our response times to this campus are pretty quick,” he reassured. “We’re right here.” ■H
FEATURES
HIGHLANDER
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE! A consistent thrashing of the trends, tropes, and traditions of the silly little world we live in.
SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL COMMENTARY by Alexander Suffolk, Senior Staff Writer Unless you live under a rock, you might have heard that Edgar Allen Poe beat a gold miner during this year’s World Cup. But who actually cares about basketball, am I right? We all know the real attraction is the thirty-second ads that pop up throughout the game and tell us to buy things. So to all of my readers that are uninformed mole people (which is probably 78 percent of you), I will break down some of the more noticeable examples of commercialism that I witnessed. Wonderful Pistachio’s Get Crackin’ AKA Psy Has America by the Nuts
The commercial begins with a pistachio bumping to the beginning beat of “Gangnam Style,” which I’m sure even you mole people got sick of three weeks ago. Then, and I kid you not, Psy bursts through the shell in an explosion of green smoke and begins to dance with women in large pistachio suits. And as he sings, the chorus of “Op, op, op, oppan Gangnam Style,” is replaced with “Crack, crack, crack, crackin’ Gangnam Style,” and it is so hilariously dubbed I could have sworn someone just remixed Liam Neeson from “Clash of the Titans.”
TAKE PICTURES? Be a Photographer for the Highlander! Meetings on Mondays at 5:15pm at HUB 101
subject matter. Just remember that by buying Beck’s beer, you are now supporting an alternate reality where Nemo is dead. Old Spice’s “Irresistible” AKA Wolf Shoulders
“Hey guys, let’s get the Gundam style dude. Isn’t he just NUTS?! GET IT?!”- The pitch for this commercial. Beck’s Sapphire AKA Finding Nemo Noire
This commercial involves a black fish singing to a black bottle of beer in dark waters. Now it can be just dismissed as a strange attempt to be artsy, but I think this is a much darker story. I think this very well could be an alternate ending to Pixar’s “Finding Nemo.” Think about it, what if Nemo was never found? It isn’t too far off to assume that Marlin would resort alcoholism to numb the crippling sensation of loss. Soon he would get to the point where he would show his love for his new addiction through song, and the whole art style would darken with the
Here we open up with a lavish party and an elegant lady narrating her encounter with a man she met. She goes on to talk about how there was a “je ne sais quoi” that she couldn’t pinpoint, proving her effectively blind, considering that there is the two angry wolves perched on his shoulders. The man takes her onto his lap and then into his car, driving off into the unknown while he sprays Old Spice right into the wolves’ eyes and our narrator tells us how she “never had a chance.” So according to Old Spice, their newest fragrance will cause you to grow vestigial canines that produce a musk that women can not refuse. After all, nothing says “romance” like slobber and cologne you bought from Target.
Bonus points for ripping off James Bond.
Hyundai’s “Team” AKA Bear Wrestling
This commercial was mostly uninteresting but you need to see it for one thing, and one thing only.
And nothing else needs to be said. There were other advertisements that interrupted plastic behemoths crashing into each other, but none of them were nearly as interesting. A majoritZy of them were left unfinished, telling viewers to complete the puzzle with the common internet spell of hashtag. And all you really need to know about them is that America really wants you to buy cars. Just buy more and more cars and then drive them around until next year’s game, when even newer models are released. Then you’ll be able to buy those too. ■H
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
FEATURES
HIGHLANDER
comes to UC Riverside By Raven Morris, Contributing Writer // Photos by Daming Ye
L
ooking for a new do-it-yourself project to start this week? First, check out the thousands of DIY boards found on Pinterest. It’s a social networking site that takes the concept of pinning your interests to a virtual level. The content and categorization of users’ pinboards are totally up to the individual. With the ability to follow any number of boards on an increasingly wide range of topics, users have access to thousands of DIY arts and crafts ideas, landscaping photos, recipes and more. The topics are virtually endless. Pinterest is great for online interaction, but why not bring some of the DIY ideas to life? On Tuesday, Jan. 29 and Jan. 31 the Student Wellness Partners hosted two arts and crafts events featuring some fun and easy ideas found on Pinterest. From 3-5 p.m. in HUB 248, free crafts materials were laid out for students to enjoy. Among some of the activities
were making scarves, armbands and bookmarkers. With a stressful midterm season ahead, students were welcomed to enjoy time away from their hectic schedules and find some peace of mind in a creative and relaxed atmosphere. Both of these events were a part of The Well’s midterm stress relief series aimed at giving students a well-deserved break during the chaos of test time. The student volunteers hosting the event included Ingrid Arteaga, who showed participants how to create friendship bracelets and properly cut scarves out of shirts, an idea found on Pinterest. As the events carried on and the evening progressed, students arrived before and after classes to listen to soft music and utilize the art supplies provided. Arteaga commented on the site, saying, “On Pinterest, you can connect with people and ideas from different places, most you’ve never met before.” Not only is Pinterest good for
providing access to crafty ideas, but also for connecting your interests and identifying with other people from any number of creative backgrounds. Participant Christina Tjandra, who is also a user of the site, appreciates it for its approach. “I like how Pinterest isn’t about who you’re following, but about your own interests,” said Tjandra. Until August of last year, the site had an air of exclusivity, when users were only able to join the site through request or invitation by a current user. Pinterest was conceptualized by Ben Silbermann in 2009 and launched in March of 2010. Following this change, Pinterest made its debut on Android and IPad devices, proving the company to be a fighting contender in the world of image-based networking. This particular mode of networking has become popular with sites and apps like Tumblr and Instagram. Similar to these examples, Pinterest allows their users to upload personal images
Freshman Andy Ye draws with a crayon.
or ideas and share them with their followers. What makes the site unique is that users can also pin images or blog posts from an internet site using the “Pin It” tab installed after sign-up. From beauty and fashion to cooking and crafts, Pinterest is a hub for anyone to share their ideas on their own terms. Sites like Pinterest and similarly, Instagram or Tumblr, make it easy for users to create unique spheres of interest by digitally interacting with others. The series of Pinterest events were an easy way to bring a specific digital interaction to life. Pinterest and sites like it are great for creative expression, boredom, laughs and even news. However, reblogging and repinning are no replacement for the real thing. When discussing the topic of users on image-based networking site, Tjandra said, “You can’t use them if you don’t have selfcontrol.” Organizations like The Well are constantly finding ways to bring students together through H relevant and creative events. ■
Several students participated by making their own DIY projects.
Sophomore Ingrid Arteaga is working on her knot keychain.
HIGHLANDER
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
R adar ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT @ hi g hl a n d e r r a d a r
Events this week Wednesday | 2/6
Thursday | 2/7
Friday | 2/8
Lunar New Year Celebration @ Bell Tower, 6 p.m.
FUSE: HEAT Music Festival launch party @ HUB Plaza, 7 p.m.
Riverside Arts Walk @ Downtown Riverside, 6 p.m.
“The Flat” film screening @ Culver Center, 7 p.m.
Niki
and the
Dove
p e r f o r m at t h e
Barn
Tuesday | 2/5
J i n y o u n g K o /H i g hl a n d e r
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
HIGHLANDER
BOOK REVIEWS THE SEVENTH VICTIM // MARY BURTON RATING: ★★★☆☆
What ignites a serial killer’s white-hot insanity? Is it the simmer of anticipation, bided time and fevered obsession? Mary Burton’s “The Seventh Victim” explores this concept through the terrifying exploits of an unknown assailant. He preys on young blonde women standing at the peak of their lives, and photographer Lara Church is the one that got away…for now. That sounds like a fantastic hook in concept, but in practice “The Seventh Victim” just barely misses its mark. It’s good, but not great. We begin from the perspective of an unnamed killer, crouched over Lara’s unconscious body on the side of an interstate highway. He’s ready to strangle her to death, but a passing motorist foils his plans. Of a string of six sexual assaults and murders at the hands of the
BY: REBECCA PAREDES, SENIOR STAFF WRITER infamous Seattle Strangler (whose name may or may not sound like a pro wrestling maneuver), Lara is the only victim to escape.
“But for all its merits, the plot loses its credibility toward its end.” This is still the case seven years after the attack, as we shift to Austin, Texas. Lara has lived a nomadic life throughout the country, trying to escape her traumatic past, but when the Strangler returns—this time in San Antonio—Texas Ranger James Beck takes on the case. His life is intertwined with Lara’s from the get-go, and
SPOILER ALERT
what ensues is a high intensity plot to stop the killer before he can return to Lara and finish the job. Beck is a standout character; he is a gruff, steakloving manly man who lives for his job. His no-nonsense dialogue and steady character development, which we see through his relationship with Lara and his grandfather, make him believable, likeable and safe. On the other hand, Lara is a weary shadow of her former self; since Seattle, she has crafted a tough veneer of sarcasm and self-defense, and her first meeting with Beck features a showdown between his gun and her rifle. Their character strengths play into one of the best aspects about this novel: the romance between Lara and Beck. Burton crafts enough sexual tension to blue-ball a porn star, but their relationship develops slowly without overshadowing the overarching mystery surrounding the Strangler’s identity. Sex is easy, but good writing is Burton’s overall goal. And in many ways that goal is met. Burton excels in creating palpable tension set against a backdrop of cowboy hats and Texan toughness, which we really see when the Strangler reenters Lara’s life and begins edging closer into her life and home. During our brief snapshots into the mind of the killer, a few choice elements, such as the red journals he maintains to chronicle each of his kill, add to the novel’s moments of unease. But for all its merits, the plot loses its credibility toward its end. Burton was already walking a thin line by giving Lara amnesia. She has not been able to remember any details about her attack since Seattle and struggles to recall what she had seen that had caused such lasting trauma. I gave Lara the benefit of doubt, but when she is suddenly able to remember key facts during
her first hypnosis session with Beck in the room, things fell apart for me. It was too easy and I didn’t buy it. And when Beck and Lara finally hook up, Lara’s sudden sexual ease doesn’t feel true to a traumatized victim of violent rape and assault. Craft-wise, I feel that Burton should not have made Lara’s first encounter with Beck so eerily perfect. During their sex scene, Beck seems to reflect this sense of disquiet when he asks if Lara is sure she wants to take things to the bedroom. “Oh, so sure,” she tells Beck, shrugging off her bra with ease. Given the fact that their sex scene arrives after a particularly traumatic episode for Lara, the scene feels incongruent and untrue to her character. Similarly, the addition of a second murderer in the novel’s last 50 pages feels rushed,
Courtesy of Zebra Books
as though Burton wanted to put as many twists into the end of the book as possible. Clocking in at 416 pages, I think that Burton could have afforded at least another few pages into developing the second murderer in place of some excessively on-the-nose dialogue between Beck and his fellow Rangers. After Lara is attacked for the third time (Or was it the fourth? Fifth? I lost count. She was having a bad day), the violence feels totally absurd. I know that Burton is a strong writer; the intricacy of her latest novel proves it. But the second half of the story reads like an early draft that still needs some solid development, and until then, I’m placing the book on the backburner. Overall, “The Seventh Victim” is a good weekend read, but it won’t blow your mind. ■H
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MOVIE REVIEWS COMING OUT THIS WEEK:
IDENTITY THIEF
SAFE HAVEN
SIDE EFFECTS
WARM BODIES RATING: ★★☆☆☆ Touted by critics and audiences everywhere as the “Romeo and Juliet” of zombie stories, “Warm Bodies” is a creepy, unique premise for a twist on the undead genre. It is a satisfyingly typical love story—adapted from Isaac Marion’s novel of the same name—between the blonde and living Julie (Teresa Palmer) and an unusual zombie named R (Nicholas Hoult). Sometime after the apocalypse, humans live behind a high-walled fortress in a city, guarded by civilians trained to be soldiers. Julie and a group of youths are sent beyond the fortification to retrieve medication when they run into R’s ever-hungry pack of undead. Here, there is a distinction made between two types of zombies: corpses, which is what R and his friends fall under, and the Bonies—vicious skeletal zombies who are described as corpses that have lost all hope of turning back. Director Jonathan Levine (“50/50,” “The Wackness”) is known for his work with unconventional romances, and he manages to turn this movie into an unexpectedly sweet and playful romancehorror. There is believable chemistry between Hoult and Palmer; however, it is Hoult who pulls off the truly impressive
BY: DIANA S. HUANG, SENIOR STAFF WRITER
performance as a corpse who slowly returns to life after eating and absorbing the brains of Perry (Dave Franco), Julie’s boyfriend. It’s certainly a disgusting habit, but the zombies feel most alive when they’re chomping on human brains (also known as “the best part”); it’s an experience akin to getting high. This flesh-eating is a good reminder that despite the story’s romance and humor, it’s still very much about death and doing whatever it takes to stay alive. As
the other corpses sense R’s slow transformation due to his affections for Julie, they, too, begin to feel their hearts slowly beat again. This angers the Bonies, who despise the scent of hope and life, and are bent on wiping out both humans and corpses once and for all. Hoult’s wide-eyed, boyish demeanor makes him perfect for the role of the naïve and sentimental R. We soon realize that he has the ability to form coherent thoughts, but lacks
Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
the ability to vocalize them until he starts developing feelings for Julie. R’s internal monologues never fail to earn chuckles from the audience, as Hoult’s deadpan voiceovers capture the genuine confusion and determination of a dead boy struggling to impress his crush without scaring her off. On the other hand, we have Teresa Palmer in her first starring role, and while there is strength in the emotions conveyed through her facial expressions, her deliveries are unfortunately flat, much like Kristen Stewart’s. This imbalance in her acting makes Julie a heroine who is difficult to identify with, much less cheer on, especially since Hoult steals every scene they both share. Levine plays to the film’s strengths and its target audience by setting R’s charming, endearing and often cheesy internal monologue to a hip, modern soundtrack comprised of artists ranging from Guns N’ Roses and Bruce Springsteen to Bon Iver and The National. However, I found the second half of the movie to be dissatisfying and lackluster. Julie is a little too quick to forgive R for devouring her boyfriend’s brain, and the great potential for emotional confrontation within that conflict is quickly swept under the
rug. The montage of the girls applying makeup on R’s face and bathing him was unnecessary and dumbed down the content of the film, crossing the line from romantic horror into simple teenage romcom. Analeigh Tipton (“Crazy, Stupid, Love”) is cast as the formulaic “funny best friend” of the lead actress, but her portrayal of Nora isn’t nearly as forgettable or disappointing as John Malkovich’s General Grigio, Julie’s tough, unforgiving father. Malkovich is wasted on “Warm Bodies,” as it appears that Levine has no idea how to utilize the actor ’s trademark drawl or biting sarcasm and wit. Instead, General Grigio’s character is reduced to nothing more than an angry man who is quick to shoot and slow to reason. It’s hard to ignore the glaring faults within “Warm Bodies.” The story, while solid and intriguing in the beginning, melts into a puddle of predictability and fails to deliver by its end. Nevertheless, despite these shortcomings, it’s commendable that Levine doesn’t waste any effort in trying to make “Warm Bodies” into something other than what it is—a clichéd, cheesy take on zombie romance. And it’s infinitely better to be a successful cliché rather than a pretentious load of crock. ■H
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BULLET TO THE HEAD RATING: ★★☆☆☆
BY: JAKE SHUM, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
When I walked into the theater to see “Bullet to the Head,” I expected just another B grade, comic-book-to-film adaptation about vigilantism, and I wasn’t far off the mark. With a lead duo of Sylvester Stallone and Sung Kang, I had no idea what was in store as far as acting is concerned. It seemed that the apex of the movie would probably be its action scenes, especially given Stallone’s reputation. Director Walter Hill takes on this cinematic retelling of Alex Nolent’s graphic novel “Du Plomb Dans La Tête.” Jimmy Bobo (Stallone) is a skilled, deadly hitman whose partner Louis Blanchard (Jon Seda) is murdered after their most recent job dispatching a corrupt policeman named Hank Greely (Holt McCallany). He is forced to team up with a Taylor Kwon (Sung Kang), who is in New Orleans for the investigation on Greely’s death, when the young detective gets too close to the truth behind villainous lawyer Robert Morel’s (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) shady dealings. They embark on an undertaking for retribution and justice. In short, this movie is boring. There is little done by the filmmakers to keep the viewer surprised and on the edge of their seat. Every last significant moment pertaining to the plot is basically announced loud and clear in the preceding scenes. I found myself unraveling the greater part of the story within the first 30 minutes, which says a lot about the movie’s oversimplified narrative. Moving deeper into the plotline, it’s difficult to shake a feeling of déjà vu; it’s almost as if this monstrosity was stitched together from a
combination of old cop and toughguy films—and poorly, I might add. Stallone’s demeanor heavily reminded me of his prime, and how it’s been 30 years since then. Paired with a sci-fi director whose prime in cinematography was also in the 80s, “Bullet to the Head” definitely carries an air of the outdated, or at the very least, something that’s been done before. Characterization is seemingly absent from the film, and as a result its characters remain strangers to the audience by the end. The writers go into virtually zero detail
when it comes to revealing who these people are. Jimmy Bobo’s moral code and its sharp contrast to Kwon’s is briefly glossed over, but they are almost entirely aligned according to the overused model of tough guy and cop, respectively; there is little more to be seen there. Even one of the primary antagonists, Keegan (Jason Momoa), is written almost to the tee of a typical crime movie villain: an unrelenting killing machine, with a bloodlust that outweighs material greed. Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of “Bullet to the Head” is
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
what should have been its most important asset—acting. With a superstar like Sylvester Stallone, good acting should be a given. However, after sitting through Stallone’s poorly articulated oneliners, one after another, in union with Sung Kang’s overall mediocre performance onscreen, I gave up on the acting and hoped that the action would at least be up to par, which it surprisingly is towards the conclusion of the film. “Bullet to the Head” can be represented by its box-office success, or lack thereof. On opening
night, it earned a measly $1.7 million in comparison to Schwarzenegger’s most recent flop “The Last Stand,” which still made $7.2 million the weekend of its nationwide release. This raises the question: Why is “Bullet to the Head” so far behind other action movies in ticket sales? Simply put: it stinks. It’s more than apparent that Stallone is past his golden age, and it’s starting to look the same for Sung Kang. My advice: if you want to see a Stallone movie, save yourself the heartbreak and cash, and rent “Rambo” instead. ■H
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WINTER CONCERT SERIES IGNITES:
Niki and the Dove featuring Vacationer
By Jacqueline Balderrama, Staff Writer // Photos by Jinyoung Ko
T
he Barn was alive and kicking on Wednesday night, Jan. 30, with artists Niki & The Dove and Vacationer. As the launching show for this year’s Winter Concert Series, it wasn’t surprising that the audience stood before the stage in anticipation for over half an hour before the performance began. Dimmed lights and background music set the tone for a night of chill music and spectacle. Merchandise tables selling VACA, Niki & The Dove T-shirts and free posters transformed the Barn’s ordinary look. The atmosphere was animated to say the least. Vacationer took the opening act as pioneers in their genre of dreamy, contemporary Nu-hula. Self-proclaimed “relaxation specialists,” Kenny Vasoli (vocalist, bass), Greg Altman (guitar),
Michael Millin (vibraphone, keyboard) and Ryan Zimmaro (drums), invited the crowd to chill, as their loose yet buoyant harmonies, infused by controller melodies, had the mood instantly rippling with nods from the audience. Vasoli—vocalist of poppunk band The Starting Line and rock band Person L—jokingly asked if the conservative town from “Footloose” was based on Riverside when he noted a lack of people dancing. His smooth, high voice and falsetto complemented the more upbeat songs, including top hits “Good As New” and “Trip.” If the arrangements hadn’t set the mood for everyone, the visual projections playing to each song did the trick. Clips from breathtaking, tropical scenes reflected the vacation theme of escaping life’s struggles in search of freedom in each track on the set list.
This multimedia addition amplified an environment of relaxation and discovery; both the band and crowd seemed to be riding a wave as they swayed to the music. The final song was both a farewell and a transition into the main performance when Malin Dahlström, the lead singer of Niki & The Dove, stepped onstage for a duet with Vasoli. Her outfit of vibrant blue, animal print and face paint should have prepared us for their unconventional performance, but there would still be surprises to come. After a brief intermission, Swedish pop duo Niki & The Dove—Dahlström (vocals) and Gustaf Karlöf (keyboards)— took the stage. Since the debut of their critically acclaimed single “DJ, Ease My Mind” (2010) and their debut album “Instinct” (2012), the Stockholm-based artists have
established themselves as up-and-coming indietronica artists. In a recent interview with the Press-Enterprise, Dahlström said, “We try to let the song take you on a path that you don’t really have control over.” Their electropop melodies and eccentric dance movements heightened the vibe. Aside from their bright, offbeat electro-sounds soaring over a dark, buzzing bass, the duo was highly experimental in their presentation. Dahlström put on a floral headdress and danced with fans as she sang, often holding two microphones and making bird shapes with her hands. She later shook a tambourine to the closing song, “The Drummer,” as the rings on her hands lit up in neon colors. Gustav created a remarkable variety of sounds and percussions on the keyboard, flourishing a slapstick clapper
as the energetic crowd jumped up and down, raising up their hands and posters. Despite their small team, Niki & The Dove were dramatic—almost to the point of excess—in their variety of sound, but the audience was willing to take that leap into uncharted sonic waves. The pair of musical acts proved to be a complementary package. It’s thrilling to know that UCR was the last stop on their joint tour. Their sincerity and appreciation for the crowd made the intimate setting at the Barn all the more appealing. High energy levels and an open-minded atmosphere were the perfect reception for these de-stressing harmonies and exploratory talents. Now that the first performance of the Winter Concert Series has concluded, it will be interesting to see what artists are lined up for the rest of the season. ■H
Clockwise from top: Malin Dahlström enjoys switching between the two or even using both microphones at the same time; Kenny Vasoli, the lead singer of Vactioner, jamming. Dahlström dancing.
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HIGHLANDER
MUSIC REVIEWS HEARTTHROB // TEGAN & SARA RATING: ★★★☆☆
BY: JAKE RICH, SENIOR STAFF WRITER Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records
It’s not like Tegan and Sara did something wrong, or composed an album of terrible songs, but the twin sisters’ latest effort isn’t quite that good either. Quite frankly, it’s just bland. “Heartthrob” features 10 (12, if you purchase the iTunes deluxe edition) tracks that blend together very easily. A few tracks stand out here and there, but the duo has moved onto a more electronically driven record that makes for a rather underwhelming experience. The album starts out strongly with the lead single “Closer.” Over an infectious dance beat, the twins sing, “It’s not just all physical / I’m the type that will get oh so critical / So, let’s make things physical / I won’t treat you like you’re oh so typical.” From there, things get jumbled. “Goodbye, Goodbye” and “Drove Me Wild” are just a couple pieces from a trove of songs that sound vastly similar; they are full of clichés revolving around love and analogous synthesizers. In the former they warble, “Does your heart ache / When you get around me? / Does your heart break / When you think about me?” as though they were 16-yearold girls rather than 33-yearold women. The same goes for
the latter in the lyrics: “When I picture you I think of your smile / And it drives me wild.” In contrast, the songs that stand out positively on the album include “How Come You Don’t want Me?” and “Now I’m All Messed up.” The first follows a mid-tempo beat for most of its duration with quick synths and stop-and-start vocals, whereas “Now I’m All Messed Up” is a slower ballad-esque song, which touches on the more complicated elements of love. Tegan and Sara harmonize, “Now I’m all messed up / Sick inside wondering who / Whose life you’re making worthwhile;” they also touch on internal conflict in the lyrics: “Go, go if you want to,” which is shadowed by “Please stay,” chanted in the background. The album overall is a major shift for Tegan and Sara; the sisters have dabbled with electronic sounds in the past, but quirky folk-rock was their main element. This record should play well as a whole on the dance floor, but most of the poignant and introspective lyrics present in past albums are nowhere to be seen. “Heartthrob” has its moments, and it’s not a failure… it’s just a disappointment. ■H
PASSIONE // ANDREA BOCELLI RATING: ★★★☆☆
BY: JILLIAN RAUSA, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Renowned vocalist Celine Dion once said, “If God could sing, He would sound like Andrea Bocelli.” “Passione,” the latest addition to Bocelli’s internationally recognized repertoire, further proves his complete grasp of classical opera. The 7-years-delayed continuation of “Amore,” this album is scattered with six different languages of love and passion. Bocelli’s powerful and effortless voice marries with these classical songs into an intoxicating work of art that can be appreciated, even if the listener doesn’t possess a hint of knowledge in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Neapolitan or French. There is a certain inflection in his singing that truly evokes the emotion in each refrain. “Era già tutto previsto” is arguably one of the best songs on the album, not merely on account of vocal prowess, but because of his ability to make the audience feel the emotion behind every word. Grammy Award-winning music producer David Foster makes sure to enhance the dynamism and affection behind Bocelli’s boldly angelic voice, which is complemented by the mezzo piano accompaniment of a 63-piece orchestra. The subtle guitar and trumpet
Courtesy of Universal Records solos enrich each song in a distinctive way; ergo, “Passione” is a beautiful album that is more than just Andrea Bocelli showcasing his talent. It is a remarkable arrangement that prolongs the life of the slowly dying genre of classical opera. In order to pique the interest of a broader audience, Bocelli has begun to collaborate with numerous contemporary artists, amongst whom are Sarah Brightman and Celine Dion. His project is continued in this album with classics featuring popular artists such as Jennifer Lopez and Nelly Furtado. Amidst the timeless love songs “Anema e core” (English title: “How Wonderful to Know”) and “Love in Portofino,” Bocelli ties in a handful of more current numbers. “Sarà Settembre” is the Italian rendition of Neil Diamond’s 1979 hit “September Morn.” This crossover of past and present continues to bolster the operatic art in this generation of technology. “Passione” is altogether a harmonious compilation of love songs. However, not even “God” is perfect. “Garota De Ipanema” and “Love Me Tender” bring a levity that is unsuited to Bocelli’s gifted tenor. His
vocal sound adds unwanted strength to the album, which causes an awkward hiccup for the listener. Bocelli even attempts a virtual duet of “La vie en rose” with Edith Piaf, but it falls short of expectation. As always, his voice is pure
and sharp, but there is only so much technology can do to re-master Piaf ’s original recording from 1945. The significant contrast in clarity takes away from one of the most paramount love ballads. Andrea Bocelli’s singing tends to appeal to an older
audience, but the degree of crossover may entice younger listeners to explore a new—or rather old—genre of music. All the same, hardcore fans of opera will not be pleased by the new mellow tunes, which contradict his signature style. ■H
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
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Away from the Sprawl by Jake Rich, Senior Staff Writer
SAY “YES” TO NO; SAY NO TO THE GRAMMYS
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Now that the Coachella lineup madness has died down a bit, it’s time to turn my attention to an up-and-coming band. This week’s spotlight is on the Echo Parkbased indie band NO. They have released only one EP (“Don’t Worry, You’ll Be Here Forever”) to date, in addition to a single, but they have already shown great potential. Self-described as “post-hymnal anthematic,” NO falls somewhere between the anthemic qualities of Coldplay and the dreary vocals of The Smiths, while bearing similar sounds to The National. I recommend the entire record, but the songs “Another Life,” “There’s a Glow” and “Stay With Me,” are particularly strong. Despite the series of despondentsounding synths and vocals, the band somehow makes the songs uplifting through strong backups and emotional content. NO will reportedly be releasing a new album in the near future, so keep an eye out. For a free download of their EP, visit their Bandcamp. In other news, the Grammys (a.k.a. everyone’s favorite dog and pony show) will be happening Sunday, Feb. 10. Now, this year definitely features some deserving nominees; among them are Mumford and Sons, Jack White, fun. and Frank Ocean. But one must question the cred-
ibility of voters who would nominate the previously listed artists, and also decide to nominate the tween summer hit, “Call Me Maybe,” for Song of the Year. Listen, I hear you: it’s definitely catchy, but catchy can’t be the sole factor in being nominated for a “prestigious” music award. The same goes for “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson. Correlation does not imply causation, and just because a song is popular does not necessarily mean it’s great. Even Passion Pit’s “Take a Walk,” (which can thank Taco Bell commercials for its popularity—oh look, it’s popular! Shiny things are nice!) is not innovative in and of itself, but it is far more stimulating and unique than Clarkson’s and Jepsen’s drab (ahem, catchy) pop tracks. It seems as though one half of the voters has their heads on straight, while the other half is caught in the glam of shiny Billboard numbers that blind their senses to any truly unique music. That being said, this was a good year. In my opinion, fun.’s “Some Nights” should win Album of the Year, but I would be happy to see any of the category’s nominees win. As for n o m u s ic f o r m e . b a n dc a m p . c o m , fa m o u s - wa ll pa p e r s . c o m Song of the Year? Hopefully what doesn’t The band NO produces worthwhile indie tracks, while tween hit “Call Me kill these voters’ credibility makes them Maybe” gets nominated for a Grammy. H stronger—they could certainly use it. ■
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SPORTS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
HIGHLANDER
Men’s golf finishes 12th at Arizona Intercollegiate K e n da l l P e t e r s o n SENIOR STAFF WRITER
KENDALL PETERSON
KENDALL’S FASTBALL Waiting for Rose’s return Everyone has been waiting for the return of Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls. I’ve been desperately hoping for his return this year. It looks like we will get just that. Wednesday, Jan. 30, Tom Thibodeau, the head coach of the Bulls, told reporters that Rose has been cleared for full contact and he has been practicing for a couple days. It is exciting to finally see the man who has become an icon in the NBA for his humility and his love for the game. Rose’s return will be special, not only for myself, but for all the Bulls fans and for everyone that loves to see the toughness that Rose brings to the Bulls. The 2010-11 MVP might take a little while to acclimate to the game speed because of his eight-month break from basketball. However, the Chicago Bulls have been holding down the fort. There have been some games that they shouldn’t have lost and could have used Rose’s scoring ability to pull themselves out of the mud. But all the games that they have played without Rose has made the team come together as a unit. The players who have gotten more playing time because of Rose’s absence, such as Jimmy Butler, have shown what they can do. They have been playing team ball and not relying on one man to score all of their points. When Rose returns sometime after the Feb. 17 All-Star Game, the team will become a threat because Rose will help the the team’s offense if it becomes stagnant. Without their MVP, the Bulls are 29-18, first in the Central Division and third in the Eastern Conference. Tom Thibodeau has shown his coaching ability and has shown that the Bulls can win with whoever is on the court. They have beaten the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks but have played down to some of their competitions, like losing to the Charlotte Bobcats. Adrian Peterson from the Minnesota Vikings bounced back after he tore his ACL last year and had a heck of a season. With that said, Rose has the potential to come back just as strong or better. The Chicago Bulls will be a threat and contend for the title when he returns. So here’s hoping Rose can maintain his ■H health.
The UC Riverside men’s golf team finished 12th out of 15 teams in the Arizona Intercollegiate at the Vistoso Golf Club Jan. 28-29. The Highlanders shot 308 in the first-round and finished the second-round with 302, dropping them to the bottom in 15th. A strong push in the third-round with 290 and the team was able to move up three spots for a 12th place finish with the combined score of 900. Highlander David Gazzolo finished three above par (+3) with a score of 74. In rounds 13, 14 and 16 Gazzolo recording a bogey. Christian Rajcic for UCR finished the tournament one under par (-1) with a score 70. Rajcic got off to a great start in round 14 by chipping in an eagle. UCR Ryan Smith started off well by hitting his first birdie at the 18th hole and picked up his game in holes one through nine when he fired five more birdies in rounds two, four, five, six and seven. Smith was five under par (-5) after the seventh hole but two double bogeys at the end pushed Smith’s score to even par (E) with the score of 71. Highlander Jason Semthiti was consistent throughout the tournament and stayed even par (E). However, two double bogeys by Semthiti ended up being too much for the Highlander. He was unable to dig out of the hole as he finished eight over par (+8) with a score of 79. Bradley Fox started off the tournament well but shot a couple bogeys and a double bogey. Fox was able to gather himself when he responded with a birdie in round seven and then again in round 10 to put himself three over par (+3). However, Fox would later shoot a bogey in round 12 and he finished the tournament four over par (+4) with a 75 total score. With their performance, the Highlanders’ demonstrated their willingness to compete even when things don’t go their way. Coach Eric Riehle was asked about
M ich a e l T r i a s /H i g hl a n d e r
Senior Matt Fitzgerald drives the ball off the tee.
the team’s play at the Arizona Intercollegiate. “The positives from this early season spring event is that throughout the tournament we were able to improve both individual and team rounds while moving up the leaderboard,” said Coach Riehle. “In one of our toughest fields of the year we were able to record some quality wins over key opponents, including Pac-12 member University of Utah,” Coach Riehle continued. On his plans are for the team’s next match, Coach Riehle said, “I’m looking forward to our upcoming events. We will be spending
MEN’S GOLF RESULTS 2013 Arizona Intercollegiate Rank Team/Player Name
Rnd 1
Rnd 2
12 39th 39th 52nd 80th 85th
308 74 78 78 80 83
302 74 75 75 80 77
th
UCR David Gazzolo Christian Rajcic Ryan Smith Bradley Fox Jason Semthiti
Rnd 3 Total
290 74 71 71 75 79
290 222 222 224 235 239
time working on individual weaknesses that we noticed at Arizona, with a main team focus on short game.” “The next three courses that we are playing will
be difficult setups that demand toughness around the greens,” Coach Riehle said. Riverside’s next match is Feb. 8 at home against Western Illinois. ■H
SPORTS
HIGHLANDER
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
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Track and field continues winning ways at Mountain T’s Invitational Darren Bueno STAFF WRITER
Sophomore Ted Hooper had one of the best individual performances in his UCR career with a win in the men’s long jump, breaking a 12 year school record, as the UC Riverside track and field squads found success in an array of events at the Mountain T’s Invitational in Flagstaff, Arizona over the weekend. Hooper claimed the indoor school record in men’s long jump with a leap of 7.11m (23’ 4.00”), topping Nate Irvin’s mark set over a decade ago. Ryan Swafford also etched his name into the history
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books as he engineered a runnerup finish in the men’s triple jump with a distance of 15.76m (51’ 8.50”). The former All-American Swafford broke his own program record set last week at the UW Invitational, improving his jump by nearly a foot. His leap is currently tied for seventh best in the nation. Sprinter Briana Kennedy Feldhaus eclipsed the women’s 60 meter record as her time of 8.66 erased the previous benchmark by .13 seconds. “We expect to see our team step up and compete at whatever competition environment we are in,” said Associate Head Coach Nate Browne. “Some meets are a very high level and we like to see our athletes believe they belong— because they do.” Continuing the trend of top finishes, freshman Breana Jemison won the open section of women’s shot put with a toss of 13.21m (43’ 4.25”) while compatriot Jazmine Lewis seized fourth place throwing for a distance of 11.71m (38’ 5.00”). Déjà Watkins set a new lifetime best in the women’s weight throw latching on to third place with a clearance of 17.13m (56’ 2.50”). Amber Wright led seven Highlanders in the women’s 200m sprint earning a seventh place finish with a time of 25.41. Other respectable performance on the women’s side came from Lewis, who lowered her lifetime best in the 60m hurdles (9.19). Next was the women’s 4x400m relay team, who came in third (3:51) trailing the leader by just 2.45 seconds. Finally, the women’s 60m trio
MICHAEL RIOS
RIO-SIDE Kobe’s playmaking will earn him MVP
K e vi n D i n h /H i g hl a n d e r
Junior Mia Enciso-Rodriguez practices for the UW Invitational held in January.
of Wright, Noelle Abboud and Nechelle Reyes, all of whom nabbed a new indoor lifetime best. On the men’s side, Travis Smith claimed the number one spot in the men’s shot put with a hurl of 18.23m (59’ 9.75”), marking his second consecutive win of the season. Carl Nahigan notched a fourth place finish in the men’s weight throw with a measurement of 15.64m (51’ 3.75”), edging out teammates Chima Ikeme (14.57m) and Uchenna Oniah (14.08m). In the 400 meters for the UCR men, Michael Koger gutted out a fourth place finish with a commendable time of 48.93. The team of Michael Pare, Dylan Gates, BJ Smith and Koger motored to a second place finish with a time of 3:19.11, falling four
tenths of a second short of the top prize. When asked about what will be the key to his team’s success this season, Browne honed in on the importance of personal disposition. “The x factor has been and will continue to be what decisions the athletes make when they are away from the track. Anyone can work out hard at practice and compete hard at meets. But if the rest of their life and decision making isn’t in alignment with what they want to get accomplished they will fall short on their personal goals and our team goals.” The track and field team hopes to showcase its championship pedigree as they hit the road at the Husky Classic Feb. 9 in Seattle, ■H WA.
The Lakers are winning? I guess it’s time to jump back on that bandwagon. The Los Angeles Lakers have found themselves in a bit of a winning streak since Kobe started doing what he never does—passing the ball. It’s been unreal seeing his Stockton-esque play-making as of late. The man has averaged nearly a triple-double each and every night since that victory against Utah over a week ago. His numbers are starting to look even more impressive than LeBron’s. Quite frankly, Kobe’s statistics alone should put him back into the MVP debate. The fact that Kobe’s Lakers have actually been winning should definitely increase his chances of winning his second trophy. Granted, the Lakers have gone against subpar competition as of late, but the win streak is still impressive. The defense has been on lockdown, the offense is finally flowing correctly and they somehow managed to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. What’s also interesting is the fact that Kobe managed to change his game this late in his career. He’s been in the league for 17 years and now he somehow changed his game from a scorer to a passer. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Not even Michael Jordan managed to pull that off. For all the Kobe haters who won’t even consider putting Bryant in the same breath of Jordan, think about this: At age 34, Bryant is averaging 5.4 assists per game; at age 34, Jordan averaged just 3.5 assists per game. The advantage here goes to Kobe. When the season started back in October, no one could have predicted that the success of this team would have rested on Bryant’s passing ability. On the contrary, most pundits believed that Bryant should just stick to scoring the ball now that Steve Nash is on this team. But Bryant has taken the opposite approach. He has changed for the better of the team. He has become the selfless player fans have dreamed of for ages. That’s an invaluable quality that’s hard to find in any athlete. Kobe, if you keep this up, you will earn your second ■H MVP award.
SPORTS
HIGHLANDER
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
23
Men’s tennis unable to win a match, score a point during Las Vegas road trip Jayvee Valencia CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Feb. 1, 2013 Aggies 4 - Highlanders 0
UC Riverside men’s tennis lost 4-0 to New Mexico State University in their first game in Las Vegas. The Aggies won the doubles matches handedly, winning 8-2. The Highlanders lost the singles matches in straight sets in games three to five. Kevin Griffin and Marcus Vinzcarra lost in the first doubles match 8-2 to New Mexico State’s Luis Ramirez and Marc Westgate. Highlander ’s duo of Luis Gastao and Simon Peters lost the third game with the same result 8-2 to Daniel Fernandez and Paul Denele. Calvin Ngo lost two sets (6-3) (6-3) in the third game against Daniel Hernandez. Kevin Griffin lost two sets (6-1) (6-3) to Paul Denele. Kelly Dickson lost in two straight sets with the scores (6-2) (6-2) against Patrick Pfister. Julian Ruffin, Luis Gastao and Marcus Vizcarra’s singles matches were not finished due to the point system of the tournament
format. Julian Ruffin and Calvin Ngo’s doubles match also ended unfinished. Feb. 2, 2013 Golden Eagles 4 - Highlanders 0
On the second day of the tournament in Las Vegas, the UCR men’s tennis team lost 4-0 against USM from the Conference USA. In the doubles matches, Griffin and Vizcarra were defeated by Southern Mississippi’s tandem of Frost and and Goodwin 8-1 in game one. UCR’s tandem of Ruffin and Ngo had a valiant effort in game two but fell 8-4 against Valverde and Belloso for USM. Game three for Roberts and Peters never finished because Mississippi had already gained enough points to end the match. In singles action, the Highlanders lost games one, two and four. Jimmy Roberts lost to Matt Frost for Southern Miss (6-1) (6-2). Julian Ruffin lost (6-1) 6-2) to USM’s Andrew Goodwin. Calvin Ngo was defeated (63) (6-3) to Vasco Valverde for Southern Miss. Feb. 3, 2013
Rebels 7 - Highlanders 0
Luis Gastao, Simon Peters and Peter Vizcarra’s matches
A r chiv e /HIGHLANDER Highlander Austin Andre returns a serve in a match against the University of California, San Diego.
for the Highlanders ended unfinished because USM gained enough points to end the singles competition. Three games in Las Vegas resulted with a 0-3 shutout weekend for the UC Riverside men’s tennis team after another loss 0-7 against the University of Nevada Las Vegas out of the Mountain West. In doubles action, Kevin Griffin and Marcus Vizcarra were defeated 8-1 against Schoeman and Matias. The
tandem of Simon Peters and Jimmy Roberts lost 8-3 to Berman and DiLaura. Julian Ruffin and Calvin Ngo’s match against Johannes Markel and Tamas Batyi ended unfinished. All singles matches were completed as the Highlanders were defeated in all six contests. Jimmy Roberts lost (6-1) (6-2) to Ace Matias. Julian Ruffin was defeated (6-4), (6-1) vs Tamas Batyi. Luis Gastao fell (6-2) (6-2) to Gilad
Berman. Calvin Ngo was ousted (6-1) (6-2) against Johannes Markel. Kevin Griffin forced a tiebreaker but lost (1-6) (63) (1-0) vs Carlos Di Laura. Kelly Dickson was defeated in two sets (6-4) (6-2) against Willie Sublette. Coming back to Riverside, the men’s tennis team look to avenge those losses as they play Riverside Community College at 7 p.m at Andulka Park for their first home game. ■H
24
. SPORTS .
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
HIGHLANDER
Men’s basketball loses two in a row at home against Hawaii, Northridge C o dy N g u y e n STAFF WRITER
Jan. 31, 2013 Rainbow Warriors 72 Highlanders 68
The UC Riverside men’s basketball team hosted Hawai’i for a Big West showdown on Jan. 31, but UCR let their lead slip out of their hands as the Rainbow warriors prevailed on top 72-68. On a special night with the Highlanders set to honor their program’s all-time leading scorer Larry Cunningham at halftime, it was only fitting that they were absolutely on fire offensively in the first half. It became almost automatic to see a Highlander find the bottom of the net from anywhere on the court thanks to the best ball movement they have shown all season. UCR shot a very efficient 53.6 percent, including 54.5 percent from beyond the arc in the first half. After the break, the Highlanders extended their lead to 43-33 after an electrifying dunk by Chris Harriel that sent the Rec Center crowd into a frenzy. However, an 8-0 Hawaii run cut the lead to 43-41. The Highlanders snatched the momentum right out of the Rainbow Warriors’ hands by extending the lead. With 9:59 remaining, Austin Quick nailed a deep three from the right corner to give the Highlanders a 6251 lead. With the Highlanders primed to snap a two-game losing streak, it seemed as if a wooden board was placed on top of the bucket. Hawaii embarked on a furious rally in the final five minutes that resulted in a 67-67 tie with 3:32 to go. A minute later, Hawaii took their first lead of the night on a pair of free throws by Vander Joaquim. Later a layup by Isaac Fotu extended the lead to 7167. The Highlanders would make
zero out of five baskets, as well as commit two turnovers down that critical stretch as they fell apart at the end for a tough loss. In a season of missed opportunities, tough losses and disappointments, Austin Quick’s words after the game couldn’t ring any truer. He said, “Winning’s hard.” Feb. 2, 2013 Matadors 69 - Highlanders 53
After the morale-draining loss against Hawaii, the UC Riverside men’s basketball team came out flat against the Northridge Matadors, who they previously upset on the road just one month ago, losing 5369. Chris Harriel scored the game’s first six points with two threepointers to help create an early 10-5 lead for the Highlanders. A lead that would last exactly two minutes and 15 seconds before Northridge’s Tre Hale-Edmerson nailed a jumper to give the Matadors a lead that they would never relinquish for the remaining 32 minutes of the match. At halftime, the Matadors had built a 21-28 lead thanks in part to a sputtering Highlander offense that had been so potent in recent games. By the second half, it became obvious that Northridge was hell-bent on revenge for the excruciating defeat they suffered at the hands of the Highlanders on Jan. 3. The Matadors extended their lead to as high as 18 points with 7:56 in the second half. The Highlanders could not rally back and Northridge would exact their sweet revenge by blowing out Riverside at home. The Highlanders hope to end their three-game homestand with at least one win as they take on the Cal State Fullerton Titans Feb. 9. The game will be televised on FOX Prime Ticket. ■H
T s u n g S u /HIGHLANDER
Steven Jones drives from the top of the key and passes to Taylor Jons for a three.
MEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS BIG WEST GAMES Team
W
L
PCT.
Long Beach State Pacific Hawai’i UC Irvine Cal Poly UC Davis Cal State Fullerton UC Santa Barbara Cal State Northridge UC Riverside
9 7 7 6 5 4 4 3 3 2
1 2 4 4 5 5 6 7 8 8
.900 .778 .636 .600 .500 .444 .400 .300 .273 .200
ALL GAMES
W
L
PCT.
13 13 13 12 9 8 11 7 12 5
8 8 9 11 11 12 11 14 11 17
.619 .619 .591 .522 .450 .400 .500 .333 .522 .277
Women’s basketball beats UC Santa Barbara, loses against Cal Poly Matthew Guerrero CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jan. 31, 2013 Highlanders 45 - Gauchos 42
UC Riverside won its sixth game in a row Thursday, Jan. 31 against UC Santa Barbara, 45-42. The game was filled with good defense and poor offensive execution. Natasha Hadley came up big with 20 points as the Highlanders improved their record to 10-9 on the season and 6-1 on the road. The Highlanders shot just 29.8 percent from the field, while Santa Barbara shot 32.7 percent. Hadley shot 50 percent from the field, going 8-16. Second in line was Leah Washington who shot just 33 percent. Destini Mason shot 60 percent for UC Santa Barbara in 21 minutes, going three of five from the field. UC Riverside began the game slow allowing an 11-5 run that was capped off by Gaucho’s Melissa Zornig three-pointer. The Highlander’s defense seemed to show signs of the inconsistency that has plagued them all season long. Hadley would score the next four points on back-to-back jump-
T s u n g S u /HIGHLANDER
Chelsea Jacoby splits the Pacific defender Shanice Butler and her teammate for a lay-up. ers and a layup that tied the game 10 point lead. The Gauchos would Cal Poly and Riverside’s defense at 11. Moments later, UCSB would eventually cut the Highlanders lead was trampled 56-79. use a Mason jumper to decrease to two, but a few clutch free throws The Mustangs were red hot the deficit to 14-17. The game by Tre’Shonti Nottingham sealed a from the three point area hitting would go scoreless the next three close defensive minded win for the 57.1 percent. Mustang Ariana Elminutes. Riverside would then go Highlanders. egado scored five three-pointers on an 8-2 run to end the first quarfor Cal Poly. She led a trio of high Feb. 2, 2013 ter. flying scorers for the Mustangs Mustangs 79 - Highlanders 56 The second half was all Rivwith 19 points. Tre’Shonti Noterside as a couple of Hadley free tingham led the Highlanders with throws and a layup with about five The UC Riverside women’s 18 points and a team high four minutes left to go gave Riverside a basketball went on the road against three-pointers.
Elegado nailed two of her three-pointers in the first seven minutes of the game as the Mustangs came roaring out of the gates in the first half. The Mustangs went on a 16-6 run that was capped by a Molly Schlemer layup. The first half would not be kind to the Highlanders as the Mustangs would use three-pointers and stingy defense to take a 27 point, 45-18 lead to end the half. Riverside made just nine of its shots in the first half, compared to 18 for the Mustangs, but they wouldn’t come out entirely anemic in the second half. Riverside made 16 shots in the second half, shooting close to 50 percent, including four made three-pointers. Nottingham scored 14 of her 18 points in the second half, making all four of the team’s three-point shots. Schlemer added 10 points for the Mustangs in the second half. Riverside would only cut the lead to 18, before ballooning the lead back up to 32 with seven and a half minutes left to go and sealing the game. Riverside dropped it’s record back to .500 at 10-10 while Cal Poly improved to 12-8. They will play Cal State Fullerton Feb. 9 at Fullerton. ■H