The Highlander
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
For the week of Monday, May 3, 2021
VOL. 69, ISSUE 25
est. 1954
SPORTS
UCR baseball sweeps doubleheader match-up against UC San Diego after tough loss in first game in weekend series
THE OSCARS SUCCEED IN DIVERSITY BUT FALL UTTERLY FLAT IN ENTERTAINMENT.
HIGHLANDERS SHUT DOWN TRITON ADVANCES IN A SHOW OF FORCE. KYLE PENIX Contributing Writer
game 1 UCR’s baseball team won both of their games against UC San Diego on Saturday, May 1. The Highlanders bounced back from a tough Game 1 loss on Friday, April 30, to lead the four-game weekend series, 2-1. Strong offensive production and consistent pitching led to the final scores of the two games 13-3 and 11-6 for UCR. Unlike the previous game, UCSD failed to score with their first time at bat in the opening inning. Instead, UCR scored in the bottom of the first inning from a single hit to right field by redshirt junior Dylan Orick that brought redshirt senior Tyler Bohall to home. UCR didn’t hold on to its early lead for long as UCSD responded in the top of the second inning with two runs to take the lead, 1-2. It remained close between the two teams through the fourth inning as neither led by more than one point. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Highlanders mounted an incredible 8-run campaign to the surprise of the previously leading Tritons. UCR’s redshirt junior Cole Pofek went to bat first and hit his ► SEE BASEBALL PAGE 11
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RADAR
A live audience at the 93rd Academy Awards is unable to bring it back to life — or relevancy
COLIN CARNEY Radar Editor
As everyone is already painfully aware of at this point, 2020 was a depressing year that changed how we all consumed entertainment media. Streaming became the primary source of escapist entertainment as theaters closed down. As that year’s awards season loomed, audiences were given empty auditoriums with Zoom acceptance speeches. Comedy attempted to alleviate any awkwardness but mostly fell flat as a result. With the COVID-19 vaccine becoming more widely circulated, this year’s Academy Awards was able to be held indoors with a live audience, albeit greatly reduced. Unfortunately, a live audience hardly made the show any more lively.
Rather than the traditional Dolby Theater, the 93rd Academy Awards took place in a much smaller venue to accommodate for a much smaller audience. This year, Los Angeles Union Station housed the honored guests of the film industry for another hostless Oscars ceremony. The last time the Oscars had a host was with Jimmy Kimmel in 2018, and 2021 is the latest attempt at a hostless ceremony. Though it is true that the Oscars have been steadily losing audiences for years now, ditching hosts has been the wrong move. Forfeiting a steady presence through the night’s proceedings in exchange for a hodgepodge of loosely aligned performances and sporadic
interruptions by different minihosts has resulted in a disjointed and unengaging event these past few years. To make matters worse, this year, the Oscars practically ditched all of its fun interruptions: no performances, no comedic interruptions and no thematic throughline. This year’s Academy Awards opened with a brief opening monologue from Regina King, who provided an enjoyable yet unremarkable start to the night’s proceedings. What followed was a repetitive formula of providing a new presenter for every two awards with forgettable acceptance speeches in between. Only once did the show provide a break from the ► SEE OSCARS PAGE 9
NEWS
ASUCR initiative asks that graduating students be allowed to bring guests to in-person commencement ceremony
ASUCR AND THE COMMENCEMENT TASK FORCE IS COLLECTING SIGNATURES OF 2020 AND 2021 SPRING GRADUATES TO PUSH FOR BRINGING GUESTS ALONG TO THE CEREMONY.
DAVINA GARCIA Assistant News Editor
UCR is currently allowing for spring 2020 and 2021 graduates to participate in an in-person commencement ceremony if they so choose. However, in an effort to continue adhering to COVID-19 regulations, UCR has mandated that there is to be no guests allowed on campus during the graduation event. After hearing many students expressing disappointment over the no guest policy, CHASS Senator Alyssa Marchan reported back to ASUCR and the Commencement Task Force members. In response, many rallied
together and took the initiative to create surveys and draft legislation that would allow the Commencement Task Force to see tangible data concerning student sentiments over the graduation ceremony. “As an undergraduate representative on that task force, I knew I had to empower their voices through my efforts,” Marchan stated. Marchan is confident that the new legislation, paired with continuous efforts from ASUCR graduating seniors and CTF members, will make all the difference. She stressed that it is not only the legislation that matters, as that exists only to provide
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Upcoming Events: Week 6
Humans of UCR RUDOLF RIGOR | NEUROSCIENCE | FOURTH-YEAR COMPILED BY THE HIGHLANDER STAFF
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Coffee With CAPS 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Virtual Event
Monday
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Gluteus Max Out 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Virtual Event
Patriotism, Black Lives Matter and Protest 12 p.m. Virtual Event
Climate Action Leadership Series (CALS) 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Virtual Event
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GSOE Endowed Colliquium 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Virtual Event
Dance Squad - Kids 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Virtual Event
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CSP’s Cafecito Hour 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Virtual Event
Active Minds: Body Positivity 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Virtual Event
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CAPS’ Mindfulness Workshop 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Virtual Event
Highlander Days Virtual Open House: Transfers 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Virtual Event
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Disruptive Education Symposium 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Virtual Event
Tuesday
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“In retrospect, it’s tough to be in the position I’m in right now — about to graduate yet at the same time, not being able to experience my last year at UCR. At the end of it all, I’m thankful for what UCR had to offer me during
Friday
my time in my undergrad. It’s unfortunate that I could not live through the experiences that UCR had in store for my fourth and final year here. I’m grateful of where I’m at.”
Saturday
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NEWS
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MONDAY, MAY 3, 2021
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ASUCR
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Hundreds of students rally in support of guests at UCR’s 2021 commencement ceremonies #LETUCRWALK HAS SPREAD WIDELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA
LAURA ANAYA-MORGA News Editor
ASUCR held its sixth meeting of the quarter on Wednesday, April 28 where they discussed legislation related to UCR’s admission requirements, student advocacy for an inperson commencement and period product availability. Senate interns Ridwan Syed, David Kiroloss and Joshua Moran authored senate resolution SR-S21-003 Proposition to Make Highlander Orientation More Accessible. Kiroloss explained that the resolution was inspired after an experience Syed had before attending UCR. UCR admission requirements state that in order to be admitted as a freshman or transfer student, the individual must attend one full session of Highlander Orientation. Being that he was in India at the time, Syed had to fly to Riverside with his family in order to be able to attend his Highlander Orientation session, a trip that cost him thousands of dollars. The resolution states that with the rising price of tuition, housing, textbooks and food across the UC system and the rising cost to attend college nationwide, an inperson Highlander Orientation should not be mandatory. The resolution states that an inperson orientation is very cost-inefficient for out-of-state students, international students,
low-income students, students with disabilities, studentparents and students from other nontraditional backgrounds. The resolution was passed with a vote of 14-0-0. Next, the ASUCR Student Voice Committee amended the Student Voice Chapter bylaw in the ASUCR constitution. The amendment made slight adjustments to the legislation and clarified the wording along with typos. Additionally, the amendment clarifies the tasks and duties of the committee. The amendments in SB-S21004 were approved unanimously with a vote of 14-0-0. SR-S21-007 PAD Resolution was authored by former ASUCR President Semi Cole and members of PERIOD.@ UCR, an organization that celebrates and promotes menstrual hygiene through education service and advocacy. The resolution demands that campus administration provide menstrual products in female and all-gender restrooms in facilities throughout campus, including residential halls, campus apartments and libraries in order to best support student success — and to provide them free of cost. During the meeting, members of PERIOD.@UCR stated that this legislation is especially important as the campus transitions back to inperson classes. SR-S21-007 was approved with a vote of 14-0-0.
SR-S21-008 was authored by CHASS Senator Juan Morales, Senate Intern Angelina Chavez and CHASS Senator Alyssa Marchan, and it outlines students’ support for an in-person commencement with guests attendees. Per UCR’s commencement update, graduates will have the opportunity to walk across a stage in their graduation regalia while the ceremony is broadcast live, but no guests will be allowed at the ceremony. Various campuses across the UC system, including UC Davis, UC San Diego and UC Irvine have announced their plans to host limited scale, in-person commencement ceremonies with the presence of two guests. Hundreds of students signed on in solidarity with the resolution, and it passed through the senate unanimously with a vote of 140-0. “This resolution really resonates with a lot of our students who, for many different reasons, would love to have their family members present,” stated Morales. ASUCR representatives will continue to advocate for the attendance of guests at UCR commencement ceremonies and will work with the Commencement Task Force to ensure that student voices are H being heard. ■
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NEWS
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UCR researchers seek to study the negative impacts of remote learning THE PARENT EXPERIENCES OF REMOTE LEARNING STUDY FOCUSES ON FAMILIES OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WITHIN THE INLAND EMPIRE. DAVINA GARCIA Assistant News Editor
A team of researchers at UCR have been awarded a grant by the National Institutes of Health and UCR’s Center for Health Disparities Research for their study, titled Parent Experiences of Remote Learning. This study is centered around the experiences of families with parents and school-aged children within the Inland Empire. Jan Blacher, distinguished research professor in UCR’s Graduate School of Education, director of the SEARCH Family Autism Resource Center and one of the project leaders, spoke to The Highlander about
the importance of this particular research endeavor. She explained that though the negative impacts of school closures have likely been felt by all families, the effects may be much more far reaching among vulnerable populations, especially among young children who are dependent upon their caregivers, children with special education needs who have had their support services reduced and racial minority children. “For the richly diverse communities of the Inland Empire, pre-existing socioeconomic and health disparities likely exacerbated the consequences of school closures,” Blacher explained. Dr. Richard J. Lee, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry in the School of Medicine and another project leader, also spoke to the importance of this study centering around
the Inland Empire population. “According to data from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Riverside County had only 18 child psychiatrists practicing in a county with over 600,000 youth,” stated Lee. According to both Blacher and Lee, the research that has already been conducted on COVID-19 has not placed any focus on the ways in which remote learning has contributed to health issues and disparities. With the PERL study, the research team hopes to gain insight into “parent-identified needs for information, resources and support that may be utilized to foster family well-being.” This study is reportedly unique from other surveys that have been conducted in relation to the pandemic, firstly, in that the target population
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includes factors such as economic, race and ethnicity, children in K-12 and academic diversity. Secondly, the study is longitudinal with data collected from multiple points so as to gather descriptive data beyond a one-time point. Finally, they are focused on family resilience in addition to stressors, in the hopes of creating a more holistic picture of parental well being. Blacher concluded by stressing that all participating families will be informed of the significance of their role in this research study. For the duration,
they will be asked for objective parental reports of remote learning experiences using their own words; this level of agency is meant to establish a greater sense of empowerment and agency for these families. With these endeavors, she stated that the final product of the study will result in the community being more informed by trusted voices on “ways in which family resilience can be built in the face of COVID-19 H challenges.”■
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► FROM GUESTS
concrete evidence that other colleges are allowing at least two guests to be present at their commencement ceremonies — the subsequent action is just as important. “The actions of adding signatures, gaining statistics through survey responses and listening to students’ accounts about the reason for guests is all the data that would help us get our point across during the Commencement Task Force meetings,” she explained, adding that this is especially important. Sophia Pelayo, a fourth-year business economics major, initially expressed disappointment over the graduation restrictions, explaining how important it is that her Mexican immigrant parents see her graduate from a prestigious university. “Many of us are vaccinated, much like myself, and deserve for our families to see our greatest accomplishment,” she stated. Pelayo had not been planning to participate in the in-person ceremony, but this new graduation initiative has given her and her family new hope. Another student, Shellsea Melara, a
fourth-year liberal studies major, shared similar feelings of disappointment. “I feel really sad about how my last year turned out, but I will take what I can get and make the best out of it,” she stated. Melara had actually been planning on participating in the ceremony regardless of the guest restrictions, but she also expressed a renewed sense of excitement over the possibility of being able to bring and celebrate with her parents. Marchan reiterated that this guest initiative is exceedingly important for any student, especially considering those who are first-generation college students or even the many who are learning remotely and must decide whether or not to travel and participate during the inperson ceremony. She is also personally affected by this situation, explaining that she would love for her own son to be able to see her walk the stage and receive recognition for the work that she has accomplished during her four years at UCR. “Commencement is about sharing that moment, your four years of hard work and accomplishments, with those who supported you through the H entire journey,” Marchan concluded. ■
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Opinions
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OPINIONS
MONDAY, MAY 3, 2021
THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL
It’s time for California to assume a firm stance on climate change readiness
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“REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE” IS AN OUTDATED RHETORIC — REAL PROGRESS MUST BE MADE AND THE RIGHT PEOPLE NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
ll too often, countless stories are published that highlight the extreme dangers of climate change. In California, residents have experienced the harmful side effects of global warming in the form of intense wildfires and persistent droughts. As the environment worsens, we must take a more robust approach to handling and educating citizens on the repercussions of climate change. And even more importantly, the state and federal governments must enact more effective policies that hold major corporations accountable for their massive greenhouse gas emissions. We must modify the way we educate individuals on disaster preparedness so that it encompases all the dangers posed by climate change. Only through this will individuals have an extensive knowledge on the implications of global warming and how to mitigate it. Our education system must work rigorously to make sure that disaster readiness is incorporated more extensively in school curriculums. Introducing climate change and expanding more on its effects at an earlier age will be beneficial in getting more young people motivated to find viable solutions to this issue. The reality of climate change needs to be widely discussed not only on the scientific aspects of the environment, but also on its effects on our communities and infrastructure. Making sure people are aware of what could happen if we’re not careful with our planet on a more personal level is the best way to
ensure readiness. Classrooms touch very lightly on climate change, or not at all, and fail to highlight the severity of the issue. If we don’t include education on how climate change intimately affects communities — specifically low-income communities — then the ignorance surrounding climate change will continue indefinitely. Not only that, but a more honest approach in introducing global warming will encourage younger generations to speak out against the crisis. In addition to a more informative education, people need to be aware of what they can do to reduce harmful emissions. Climate change is happening rapidly, and even without the occurrence of daily disasters, the effects are still present. Big corporations and a divided government are causing the most impactful harm to the environment, so the public needs to hold these individuals accountable. Everyone has a voice and the ability to advocate for legislation that supports cleaner energy solutions. Writing letters and urging local, state and federal governments are all necessary to get the message across that something must be done on a larger scale. There are only so many eco-friendly lifestyle choices that an individual can make, but it’s likely that these will barely make a dent in reducing the world’s carbon footprint. In order to make real progress, initiatives have to come from the government and industries. For instance, the UC pledged to make the switch to 100% clean energy by 2025, which is a
fantastic step in the right direction, and other large parties should emulate this. The federal and state governments should also be actively funding projects and pushing for legislation that directly solves this crisis. Funds need to be extracted from the government, factories and oil wells so that we can reduce waste and set money aside for cleaner energy initiatives. Creating incentive programs for counties, such as recycling efforts with hefty grants or clean-up initiatives, would be largely successful in getting everyone involved. Furthermore, there must be harsher policies placed on large corporations in order to restrict them from destroying the environment any more than they already have for the sake of making money. In the end, such a large issue should not be a burden placed on the everyday citizen. This is why people must continue to hold their government officials and corporations accountable for their actions. Although it’s important that everyone does their part, it’s ridiculous to ignore the fact that major corporations have been getting away with harming the environment for this long simply because the government hasn’t found the changing environment pressing enough to initiate comprehensive legislation. The complacency must stop here. There needs to be continuous light shed on the urgency and pressure that should be imposed upon these industries. By focusing on long term prevention, we will be better off when dealing with spontaneous incidents when they
do occur. It’s best that we continue to modify infrastructure in order to handle the changing environment whilst still making sure that we address why the environment is changing in the first place. If we continuously neglect addressing the root of the problem, mere crisis management will not do anyone justice. We must be ready and come up with clear plans on how to address the long term effects of climate change. While making an everyday, conscious effort to recycle and reduce emissions in our own lives would make some progress, in the grand scheme of things, we cannot continue to ignore the role corporations play in harming the environment. It is not our sole responsibility alone to make sure something as huge as the environment will not continue changing. Rather, it is the job of industries and governments to modify their means of production in order to make the biggest difference. Through more thorough education and accountability, it’s likely that we are well on our way to mitigating climate change. However, we must always be aware of who has the biggest impact and responsibility in changing for the H better. ■
The Highlander editorials reflect the majority view of the Highlander Editorial Board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Associated Students of UCR or the University of California system.
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OPINIONS
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The pandemic has been no pleasure cruise, but now is not the time for luxury liners to reopen
DESPITE THE APPROACHING SPRING AND SUMMER SEASONS, CRUISE LINERS ARE BETTER OFF LISTENING TO THE CDC AS THE PANDEMIC STARTS TO WANE. EVELYN HOMAN Assistant Opinions Editor
As movie theaters, amusement parks and other entertainment attractions slowly begin to reopen their doors to the public, cruise liners are wanting a piece of the pie, especially with spring and summer approaching. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, however, has warned them against doing so, as cruises were one of the first main indicators last year of exactly how contagious COVID-19 was. Cruise liners are butting heads against this ruling, though they have reason to, as an average of about 160,000 people’s jobs rely on cruise liners being able to run. However, this is the one entertainment business that will have to
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hang on for a positive CDC ruling before being allowed to run, considering the conditions on cruise ships. Though cruise liners could utilize other entertainment companies’ methods of safe reopening, such as limited capacities and heavily sanitizing everything, the fact remains that a ship is not the same as a theme park. Being out on the ocean in a single boat with what still would be a fair amount of people significantly increases the risk of spreading the virus, even if attendees are vaccinated. Especially given that we seem to be helping the pandemic’s numbers slow, to open cruises up with reckless abandon could spell trouble for a
recovering world. The outrage of cruise liners against the CDC is absolutely justified, as the biggest money-making seasons are right around the corner, and if the CDC continues to deem them unsafe to run, they will miss out on another year of profits. And even though cruise liners are trying to keep employees in business by having them stay on the ships to maintain them, it’s not hard to deny that most of them are still worth billions of dollars and could reasonably survive another season of not being open for the sake of public safety. Although protocols could be implemented that could make cruise travel more COVID-19 safe, the fact of the matter remains that as a whole, ships are simply too close-quartered to really ensure that another breakout won’t occur. Only when the CDC gives the green light to cruises should they be allowed to reopen with as many COVID-19 prevention measures as they wish. Working in close quarters especially, it might be wise to implement set mealtimes for different groups, organize safe activities and follow all COVID-19 safety guidelines. Again, however, we cannot even begin to consider these things until the CDC gives the go-ahead. Yes, it is frustrating for cruise companies that are chomping at the bit to reopen. But for the sake of safety, such an activity cannot allow itself to occur until it is wholly safe to do so. The liners must not go against what is recommended by the CDC if they wish to keep tourists safe and help the pandemic as a whole H cool down. ■
Despite criticism, the US is doing quite well regarding pandemic response and vaccine rollout ABHIJIT REGE Staff Writer
Joe Biden’s presidency gave way to many substantial changes in the United States’ COVID-19 response. Thanks to the rapid vaccine distribution, we have seen the country slowly but surely return to a sense of normalcy and even preparing for a full reopening. Unfortunately, there have still been slight surges in COVID-19 cases across the country, which has caused some to criticize the U.S. for its handling of the pandemic. Although some countries are fairing more successfully than the U.S., other countries are unfortunately doing much worse. The U.S. had a rough start in 2020 with the Trump presidency having carried out one of the worst responses to COVID-19 seen in the world. Despite the evidence detailing the danger and infectiousness of the virus, President Trump continued until the final days of his presidency to deny the virus’s severity and block measures which would have prevented further spread of the virus. As a result of his mishandling, more than 573,000 deaths occurred as a result of COVID-19 in the country. Trump’s denial, in addition to poor communication and enforcement of COVID-19 guidelines by the federal government, led to a delay in widespread mask usage in the country. We also cannot ignore the failure of the American healthcare system for being unable to provide ample care and medical supplies, exposing our inability to tackle a pandemic. Despite these setbacks, Biden’s presidency allowed for the passage of his $1.9 trillion stimulus proposal, which not only promised an effective
vaccine rollout, but more money to support struggling citizens. Vaccine distribution had been slow at first, but at time of writing, as much as 40% of the country has received at least one dose of vaccination, well surpassing Biden’s goal of reaching 100 million doses within his first 100 days in office. Of course, there were a few bumps in the road, namely involving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine dilemma being the most recent case. Production of the vaccine was halted temporarily as a result of rare blood clotting, though this was only seen in a few people out of millions of doses. And while this did raise some doubt regarding the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, the overall effort has thankfully remained strong. However, with reopening, we have unfortunately witnessed a surge of cases again as well as the arrival of new variants. The U.S.’s overall response may appear to be lacking compared to the rest of the world, but this might not be the case. While some countries such as South Korea and China may have achieved firm control over the virus, other more underdeveloped countries have not been as successful. India has fared quite terribly with the pandemic, facing an extremely deadly wave of cases. While the official death toll is estimated at about 200,000, experts say that the number could be six times higher. The country is under extreme duress as a result of a shortage in vaccines and oxygen supplies, leading some to purchase oxygen by the canister in order to provide for their loved ones. Vaccines have also become difficult to obtain and administer due to hospitals overflowing with cases, leaving less than 10% of India’s population vaccinated. Originally, India’s response to
the pandemic was much stronger due to strict lockdown measures, which allowed the country to begin reopening at the beginning of new year. Though initially contained, a resurgence began with new variants, which are harder to test due to a shortage in testing supplies. Other countries in South Asia face horrifyingly similar circumstances Canada’s shortcomings also come as a surprise because despite their praised response to the disease in 2020, the vaccine rollout has been unfortunately slow. Much of this is due to a lack of supply of vaccines coupled with no domestic production, as imports are back loaded and delayed. While Canada’s healthcare system has received extensive kudos, the decentralized system has run into problems with the rollout. Due to their system, different regions of the country utilize different healthcare systems, complicating distribution. The pandemic response by the U.S. has been considered to be one of the best in the world, despite the setbacks faced during the pandemic’s initial handling and vaccine distribution. However, first world countries, such as the United States and Canada, have continued to face issues with surges in cases and new variants, proving how contagious and dangerous the virus can be. Other countries have not fared as well, and India’s current COVID-19 surge sheds light on the dire circumstances faced by the third world countries, where shortages in supplies and overflowing hospitals are too common. Only time will tell whose response was the most successful, while worldwide cooperation and communication currently maintain H lifelines for many countries in crisis.■
THE US VACCINE ROLLOUT HAS BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL IN COMPARISON TO OTHER UNFORTUNATE COUNTRIES.
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OPINIONS
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MONDAY, MAY 3, 2021
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Letter to the Editor
Eliminating plastic pollution Dear Editor: Global climate change is changing the future of our planet. Although our technological advancements have allowed us to mass produce, our consumptions of single use plastics continue to threaten our biodiversity and sustainable way of life. According to the center for Biological Diversity, at current rates, plastic is expected to outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050. During the summer when families love to spend their time at the beach, it is heartbreaking to see the large amounts of plastic buried in the
sand or in the ocean. Our sea life depends on our ability to act now. As a society we must put an end to global plastic pollution and urge policy makers to take accountability. As an intern for CALPIRG students, I have come to understand the importance of student activism to show support for the elimination of plastic pollution.
MAYRA BARAJAS FOURTH-YEAR PUBLIC POLICY MAJOR AND SPANISH MINOR. CALPIRG STUDENTS INTERN WORKING ON CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION AND PLASTIC POLLUTION ELIMINATION.
Mayra Barajas H University of California Riverside student ■
OP-ED
No, not everyone who supports Palestine is an anti-Semite THE MOVEMENT TOWARD PALESTINIAN LIBERATION IS DIFFICULT WHEN ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS IT IS LABELED ANTISEMITIC. THE AUTHOR IS A PALESTINIAN ACTIVIST AND STUDENT LEADER AT UC RIVERSIDE. THEY HAVE OPTED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
In late February, “Saturday Night Live” cast member Michael Che came under fire for a joke where he alluded to the alleged apartheid occurring in Palestine. He said, “Israel is reporting they vaccinated half their population… and I am going to guess it is the Jewish half.” He was deemed an anti-Semite for bringing attention to the reality that Israelis have yet to extend vaccinations to Palestinians. In response, many prominent members of the Jewish community claimed that this joke was anti-Semitic, including Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, who said the joke “leaned into anti-Semitic tropes.” Behind this joke is the harsh reality that Palestinians are being left out of the vaccine rollout as little to no Palestinians have received vaccinations, despite Israel’s widely celebrated vaccine rollout. Despite the legitimacy behind his joke, Che has permanently been labeled an anti-Semite. He is certainly not the first celebrity given this label; in fact, many celebrities have earned this label for the mere mention of Palestine. Celebrities are not the only people who face repercussions for openly supporting Palestine; the association between supporters of Palestine and antiSemitism exists by design. Anti-Zionism, which opposes the movement to develop a Jewish state on Palestinian land, is often conflated with anti-Semitism, which is “hostility and prejudice directed against Jewish people.” The conflation of antiZionism with anti-Semitism is harmful because it works to silence Palestinian activists in their movement to bring awareness to the occupation. In her research article “The AntiZionism, Anti-Semitism, AntiRacism Controversy Revisited — Controversially?,” Islah Jad explores the root of the association between
anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. She discusses how the Israeli state has intentionally encouraged the attachment between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism to mask the movement to expose and dismantle the practices and policies of the Israeli state that harm Palestinians. The Israeli government has sunk millions of dollars into this effort; this includes $72 million dollars to suppress the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement which is influenced by the movement to end apartheid in South Africa. Multiple U.S. states, including Texas, have passed anti-boycott laws to penalize companies that cut ties with Israel, arguing that supporting these boycotts is anti-Semitic. Applying the “anti-Semitic” label to any form of Palestinian activism censors any and all criticism of the state of Israel. College students who engage in pro-Palestinian activism have been among those most affected by this censorship. On December 11, 2019, Donald Trump signed an executive order called “Executive Order on Combating Anti-Semitism” in response to instances of anti-Semitism on college campuses. While this executive order was developed under the guise of creating a hatefree learning environment for Jewish students, it ultimately served to limit free speech. This executive order adopted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, which classifies the labeling the state of Israel as racist an anti-Semitic act and threatened to defund any institution that allowed any criticism of the state of Israel on their campus. This is one of the only instances where criticism of a foreign government is classified as hatred or discrimination. While some may argue that this executive order was necessary to create a better learning environment for Jewish students, some found it to be a misguided political stunt. Jeremy Ben-Ami, who is the president of a Jewish advocacy group called J-Street, said the executive order has a “chilling effect on free speech and to crack down on campus critics of Israel” rather than fight anti-Semitism. Others pointed to previous antiSemitic statements made by the former president and his refusal to denounce white nationalist Nazi groups, which undermine his legitimacy and sincerity to genuinely decrease anti-Semitism on
college campuses. Long before this executive order was signed, college students involved in organizations that support Palestinian liberation such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) have faced major repercussions. In 2011, 10 university students from UC Irvine and UC Riverside were convicted for one misdemeanor count of disturbing a meeting for their part in a protest against a screening of Beneath the Helmet, a documentary about the lives of recruits in the Israeli Defense Forces, which they believed to be pro-Israeli propaganda. Universities such as Northeastern and Fordham have both suspended their campus SJPs to silence Palestinian activism. However, the most major repercussions these students have faced is their placement on the Canary Mission website. Canary Mission is a blacklist of pro-Palestinian activists that features students, faculty and individuals who speak out in favor of Palestine. Canary Mission regularly updates their website with personal information of those they feature — including the contact information for their employers, schools and close family members. People featured have struggled to find work, have received death threats and have had to wipe themselves from the internet to avoid scrutiny. In my personal experience with Palestinian advocacy on a college campus, I have faced similar obstacles with free speech. In January of this year, a student organization called “Students Supporting Israel” authored a resolution called “Resolution Against Anti-Semitism.” Akin to Donald Trump’s executive order, this resolution would ask UC Riverside
to formally adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism and effectively suspend Students for Justice in Palestine and any other Palestinian activism on campus. A group of pro-Palestinian activists led the charge to explain the ramifications of this resolution to each ASUCR senator who would be voting. The component of the resolution that would limit the free speech of pro-Palestinian activists is not written in plain text; it was hidden in a hyperlink the sponsor of the resolution did not care to review. After an in-depth explanation of the obscured implications of this resolution, the sponsor and senate voted to table the resolution indefinitely. This situation signalled the major issue with the association of antiZionism with anti-Semitism — it plays on people’s desire to oppose hatred and bias in all forms. It masks a movement that aims to bring awareness to the Israeli occupation of Palestine and falsely paints it as a hateful movement against the Jewish community. The false equation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism is not a movement to shield the Jewish community from facing hatred; it is one that aims to suppress the Palestinian community from bringing awareness to hardship and trauma that they face from the occupation. Most importantly, it hinders the freedom of speech of millions of Americans, an action that goes against H our most fundamental right. ■ AN OP-ED IS A WRITTEN PROSE PIECE THAT EXPRESSES THE OPINION OF AN AUTHOR NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE PUBLICATION’S EDITORIAL BOARD. TO SUBMIT AN OP-ED TO THE HIGHLANDER, EMAIL OPINIONS@HIGHLANDERNEWS.ORG
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Features MONDAY, MAY 3, 2021
FEATURES
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‘Steven Universe’ cartoonist Melanie Gillman helps draw a path toward broader representation
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GILLMAN, A RENOWNED CARTOONIST, LEADS A LECTURE ON QUEER REPRESENTATION IN COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS.
ALEXANDRIA ESTEBAN Assistant Features Editor
Melanie Gillman, an American cartoonist, shared their secrets to success within the comic book industry in an event presented by Stonewall Hall and the LGBT Resource Center. Gilllman is the creator of “As the Crow Flies,” winner of the 2018 Stonewall Honor Award, and “Stage Dreams.” They’ve also worked on comics for popular brands, such as “Care Bears” and “Steven Universe,” and they
they’re passionate about. Gillman cautioned that being a comic artist isn’t always an easy or reliable job. In their experience, they had to take some freelance projects and balance a few steadier jobs in order to create the projects they were passionate about. During the Q&A portion, Evelyn Everheart questioned Gillman on what to do when the passion for a project has simmered away. Gillman revealed that burnout was a common thing for creators to feel. They suggested taking time away from the comic and returning to it at a later time with a fresh pair of eyes. The event concluded with a drawing exercise where Gillman challenged the audience to brainstorm ideas for a comic that portrays queer joy and/or gender euphoria. There was no time to share any of the comic ideas from this exercise, but it was a creative way to involve the audience and encourage them to create a story they’d enjoy. Overall, this event cast a light on the ups and downs of the comic book industry and the value of seeing more queer representation by queer creators. If you’re interested in more events hosted by the LGBT Resource Center, be sure to check out H their social media pages for updates. ■
BY: ADRIANA MANDUJANO ANGEL, FEATURES EDITOR
As summer approaches, I find myself craving my favorite summer fruit: watermelon. Watermelons are deliciously sweet and can be served in a variety of ways that best suit your taste: from watermelon juice to watermelon popsicles or diced watermelon served with Tajin. Here are three easy recipes for enjoying watermelon:
The first is the simplest form of enjoying watermelon but equally as delicious and satisfying. time: 5-7 minutes
Begin by cutting the watermelon into slices. Take each watermelon slice and sprinkle Tajin on top. Add as much or as little as you’d like. Cut the lime into fourths and squeeze onto the watermelon slice. Enjoy!
“The vast majority of comics that would’ve been available for me as a young person weren’t really up my alley.” The popularization of webcomics revolutionized the comic industry for aspiring artists. Having an online platform has made it easier for creators to share their work to a large audience without facing the gatekeeping issues that surround publishing companies. As a result, more queer people have taken to posting queer comics online. According to Gillman, “there was a level of realism and honesty” that accompanied these webcomics that depicted self-representation. Gillman stated that comics are “one of the most direct ways to see through another person’s eyes” because it allows people to see someone else’s direct translation of the world. Having queer people share their stories can help educate others on the LGBT experience and help break harmful stereotypes. At the end of the presentation, Gillman turned to the aspiring artists in the crowd to share some tips on pursuing self-publishing opportunities and remaining persistent about creating works that
Watermelon your way: Three refreshing recipes that are perfect for hot summer days
THE HIGHLANDER OFFERS RECIPES THAT ARE QUICK AND EASY TO PREPARE MEALS FOR YOUR DAILY CONSUMPTION.
Preparation Servings: 5 1 watermelon Tajin seasoning 1 lime
are a senior lecturer in the Comics Master of Fine Arts Program at the California College of the Arts. At the start of the event, it was announced that the LGBT Resource Center would be mailing everyone who attended free copies of “Nonbinary,” a minicomic created by Gillman that discusses the process of coming out and living as a nonbinary person. Gillman started the meeting by interacting with viewers and asking them what comics they are currently interested in. Many people called attention to queer graphic novels such as “Kiss Number 8” by Colleen A.F. Venable and “The Prince and the Dressmaker” by Jen Wang. I recommended some of my favorite webcomics, such as “Heartstopper” by Alice Oserman, “Temperature of Love” by NWarrior and “Miracle Simulator” by Misersdream. Throughout the event, Gillman shared a few PowerPoint slides to help tell the story of their experiences working on comics. At a young age, Gillman was fascinated by comics and graphic novels but saw that there was a lack of queer representation being produced by the bigger comic book companies. Gillman claimed,
The second watermelon recipe is my favorite. On a hot day, I find myself craving a watermelon agua fresca, and I have found a recipe that quenches my thirst.
Preparation time: 1015 minutes Servings: 4 1 seedless watermelon Ice cubes Lime Mint leaves Start by dicing up your watermelon into cubes. The size does not really matter so long as it is able to fit in a blender. Once cut, place the watermelon cubes into a blender. Make sure to add some water to make blending easy. Cut up your lime and add half a limes worth of juice into the blender. Blend for approximately 1-2 minutes or until the consistency is liquid-like. In a cup, add some ice cubes and pour some of your freshly made watermelon agua fresca into it. Garnish with a mint leaf and enjoy! Optional: If you’d prefer your drink a little sweeter, add a tablespoon of sugar and stir.
The third utilizes leftover watermelon agua fresca for a cool snack. Watermelon popsicles are easy to make and make the best summer treats.
Preparation time: 10-15 minutes Freeze time: 4-5 hours Servings: 6, depending on mold Watermelon juice Tajin seasoning Repeat the steps in the watermelon agua fresca recipe to get your watermelon base. In a popsicle mold, add your watermelon juice mixture and throw in some watermelon pieces as needed. If you’d like your popsicles to be a little spicy, sprinkle some Tajin seasoning to the mold prior to pouring in the waterlemon base. Top off your popsicle mold, and leave it in the freezer for 4-5 hours. Once frozen, take out the molds and H enjoy! ■
Radar
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
MONDAY, MAY 3, 2021
9
‘Shadow and Bone’’s lexplores the fantastical elements of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse
REBECCA SALINAS Contributing Writer
Book enthusiasts have been celebrating since the television show “Shadow and Bone” came out on April 23 on Netflix. It is based on the very popular young adult fantasy novels by Leigh Bardugo known as the “Grishaverse.” The show has been in the works since 2019, and from that time, fans have been promoting it through book communities on social media. Fans have been passionate, going to various Zoom interviews to meet the cast and find out details of production to know what to expect. Now that “Shadow and Bone” has been released, they no longer have to wait. The show focuses on Alina Starkov, played by Jessie Mei Li, as she is plucked out of obscurity after her powers as a “sun summoner” are discovered. Before Alina, “sun summoners” were a legend, an idea of a person who could summon light and would be the cure to destroy the fold, a dark shadow area in the land where monsters live. Alina finds herself joining the Grisha, a group of people with special abilities to control elements. While the Grisha live a higher life than the commoners at the Little Palace, Alina does not want to live with them. She longs to be with her best friend Mal (Archie Renaux) but has to be trained under the powerful General Kirigan (Ben Barnes). This storyline is based off of the original “Shadow and Bone” book; however, the series focuses on all of the Grishaverse. This has caused characters from
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formula for an oddly executed game involving songs from film history. The result of this utilitarian take on the ceremony was a boring and uninspired television event that hardly justified a three-hour time slot. In essence, the Oscars were a banquet for Hollywood rather than the entertaining awards ceremony of past years. The one area where the 2021 Academy Awards did shine, however, was in its nominees and winners. This year was perhaps the most diverse year for the Academy Awards, an admittedly low bar to be sure. The nominees this year featured countless people of color, and the winners were no different. Chloé Zhao became the first woman of color to win best director for her work on “Nomadland.” Additionally, acting awards like best supporting actor went to Daniel Kaluuya for his performance in “Judas and the Black Messiah,” and
NETFLIX MANAGES TO ADAPT THE BELOVED BOOK INTO A TELEVISION SERIES THAT DESERVES ALL THE POPULARITY.
another book in the series, “Six of Crows,” to be featured, like Kaz Brekker, Inej Ghafa and Jesper Fahey, played respectively by Freddy Carter, Amita Suman and Kit Young. The show separates these characters into two groups with storylines that tend to overlap, but each story remains somewhat faithful to the books. The show has surprisingly improved the story from the original “Shadow and Bone” book. In the books, Mal is seen as a terrible friend to Alina since he is largely absent while she searches for him and his help. This may be due to the fact that the book is only in Alina’s perspective, which Bardugo has admitted was limiting to the story overall. In the show, however, Mal is seen as a loyal friend who risks everything to be with Alina. General Kirigan is also changed; in the book, the character is not seen in a very sympathetic light. In the show, characteristics like his bitterness for people who are not Grisha and his desire to give Grisha power
stem from his survival against past persecution. While some other minor storylines related to minor characters were changed too, it does not take away or change their overarching stories. On the other hand, the storyline between Kaz, Inej and Jesper has completely changed from the story of “Six of Crows.” The changes have been so substantial that while the storyline from the book could be used for a later season, the characteristics of the three characters in the series have changed. Their missions come off as a bit clumsy as the group tries to earn a million kruger, the currency from the country they’re from. Repeatedly, the characters find themselves going through various stumbles, causing the likelihood of them getting the money to lessen. They constantly lose resources, easily get attacked and are frightened by powerful people. Though, it must be said that the
show should not be completely compared to the books. The show has become its own story. The books Bardugo wrote are merely the inspiration for what is shown on the screen. “Shadow and Bone” explores the universe Bardugo created and is cinematic in the best sense. The world the characters live in, though fantastical, seems somewhat familiar to our own, perhaps only distant in time. This is because the sets were inspired by Tsar Russia. By contrasting that decor with the powers the Grisha have and the monsters in that world, the action in the show becomes something viewers can process and accept, not making them question what the world of “Shadow and Bone” is like. This causes the viewer to be drawn into the world. When any of the characters are facing a threat, the viewer feels as if they are there with the character H experiencing it. ■
best supporting actress went to Yuh-Jung Youn for her role in “Minari,” both in recognition of their outstanding performances. These were but a few of the diverse Oscar winners of the night. Chloé Zhao was not the only Oscar first that night, as Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson became the first Black women to win best makeup and hairstyling for their work on “Ma Rainy’s Black Bottom.” For the duration of the ceremony, proceedings occurred rather expectedly. As previously mentioned, the show failed to keep the audience’s attention despite groundbreaking nominations and wins. However, the biggest surprise and disappointment occurred at the show’s finale where tradition was ditched for an uninspired ending. Rather than keeping with tradition and anticipation for best picture, the 93rd Academy Awards announced the best picture winner before best actress and then finally
best actor. Many suspected this was to end on a high note as the expected best actor winner was the late Chadwick Boseman for his stunning performance in “Ma Rainy’s Black Bottom.” That excitement was short-lived as last year’s best actor winner, Joaquin Phoenix, announced that the absent Anthony Hopkins, who gave an outstanding performance in “The Father,” won best actor. This unexpected announcement was followed by an abrupt ending as the Academy accepted the Oscar on Hopkin’s behalf and subsequently ended the show, and the tens of viewers sat stunned. All in all, the 93rd Academy Awards were a boring slog of a show. Filled with inspiring nominations and spectacular wins, the show’s format failed to entertain and justify prolonged viewing. Granted the circumstances surrounding the pandemic limited attendance and made grand performances a logistical nightmare, if the
Academy chooses to continue their hostless trend, the future of the show will likely continue to be a downward trend of decreasing H viewership. ■
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VERDICT:
“Shadow and Bone” is a must-watch show. The story it portrays, while different from the original, will manage to draw both fans of the book and new viewers alike by immersing them in the characters’ world, making viewers feel invested in the show’s action.
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10 MONDAY, MAY 3, 2021
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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‘Invincible’ is action-packed and violently fun THE SHOW’S AMAZING FIRST SEASON KNOWS HOW TO BALANCE GORE AND HUMOR BUT FALLS UNDER TROPES COMMON TO ITS GENRE. MARGARITA MANZO Contributing Writer
“Invincible” aired its first three episodes on Amazon Prime on March 27, but it had a history before hitting the streaming service. “Invincible” began as a comic book in 2003, written by Robert Kirkman with art by Ryan Ottley. Following the comic’s conclusion in 2018, Kirkman and Ottley co-created the animated adaptation of their work. “Invincible” follows 17-year-old Mark Grayson, played by Steven Yeun, who inherits his abilities from his father Omni-Man, played by J.K. Simmons. With his newly acquired abilities, Mark is determined to follow in his father’s footsteps as Earth’s greatest superhero, while still keeping his normal teenage life. The characters around him represent that conflict Mark faces. His draw toward heroism is nurtured by his father OmniMan and the Teen Team: Robot (Zachery Quinto), Atom Eve (Gillian Jacobs), Rex Splode (Jason Mantzoukas) and Dupli-Kate (Melise). His mother, Debbie Grayson (Sandra Oh), and his love interest, Amber Benett (Zazie Beetz), both represent his normal human life that he was raised in. The seaon’s overall tone is both dark
and funny, with the opposing tones balancing each other in order to produce the biggest impact. The show’s tone shifts from Mark awkwardly asking a girl out to having to suit up and fight an alien voiced by Seth Rogan. Then, he and the audience are suddenly thrown into a gorey bloodbath of citizens getting mangled and blown to bloody mushy bits by alien invaders. Unlike most shows, “Invincible” uses gore as a tool as opposed to a cheap shock factor. One of the first major gore scenes is when Mark gets into his first fight as Invincible, which is treated as a serious thing. The audience and him are in shock of how traumatizing and real being a hero can be; the heroic battle music suddenly fades as he witnesses his first deaths; the only sounds that remain are the background noise of the battle and Mark’s panicking thoughts. The only cons for the season would be problems that aren’t exclusive to just “Invincible,” but rather with the superhero genre itself. There are characters that don’t bother hiding their identities as superheroes, like Atom Eve or OmniMan, yet never get spotted in their civilian lives. Despite establishing that their real identities are supposed to be a secret, they are seen using their abilities, like flight, in the open while in civilian identities. The audience is supposed to believe that somehow no one is supposed to know or recognize who the heroes are. In episode two, they try to explain it away with a throwaway line where Atom
RADAR REPLAY THE NETFLIX TELEVISION SERIES DELIVERS AN INSIGHTFUL AND EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR
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Eve is talking to Mark while they both learn who the other is as civilians. She says, “It’s a psychology thing. If you don’t expect to see a superhero in your school, you don’t see one.” The other main issue is William (Andrew Ranells), Mark’s best friend who is stifled in the stereotypical gay best friend trope. He doesn’t have much of a personality other than being the guy whose life revolves around helping Mark get a girlfriend, making sarcastic quippy comments and being gay. However, the show doesn’t subject its minority characters into their respective stereotypes, like Dupli-Kate and Black Samson (Khary Payton); it simply doesn’t give its characters much of a personality. Based on the first season, the writers failed with William’s character as he is the only known queer chracter on “Invincible,” and despite having some time focused on him, his character still couldn’t be expanded upon. “Invincible” is a welcomed addition to the superhero genre that expertly juggles its darker themes alongside its humor and violence. The violence and gore of the show never come across as gratuitous, but rather help elevate the show as it compliments the storytelling. The writing is superb despite some minority characters being relegated to tedious stereotypes. All in all, “Invincible” offers plenty for fans to watch and enjoy and will have audiences clamoring for its confirmed second and third season on H Amazon Prime. ■
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VERDICT:
“Invincible” succeeds in balancing dark themes, gore and humor in a way that many shows have not managed to achieve. Just prepare yourself to eye roll through tropes.
‘Mindhunter’: An enthralling true crime classic
KEVIN SANCHEZ NERI Assistant Radar Editor
True crime is one of those genres that has evolved significantly since it gained popularity in the 1990s. A superficial fascination with violent crime has morphed over time into a fascination with the person who did it. One of the problems that has always plagued the validity of giving serial killers detailed coverage in documentaries is that it often feels pointless, and we as viewers can’t help but feel icky by the time the credits roll. That is why “Mindhunter” offers fans of true crime a refreshing change of pace by presenting a nuanced perspective on the motives of a violent individual without forcing it’s viewers to empathize with deviancy. The Netflix series follows FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as they aim to learn more about the behavior of a serial killer but are met with a wall of skepticism from those who believe violent individuals are simply born that way, a widely accepted belief in 1970s America. Their research eventually gains steam and is legitimized with the assistance of Wendy Carr (Anna Torv), a renowned psychologist who aids them in launching a research project aimed at interviewing imprisoned serial killers. What follows is a series of character studies, each taking place in the typical environment of a dimly lit room perfectly suited for interrogation, yet the conversations taking place often take harrowing turns and build up a sense of dreadful mystery. The team seeks something that goes
beyond simply understanding a killer’s motivations, and in the process, offers a subtle warning against reducing someone’s aberrant behavior. Although Agent Holden’s optimism erodes with every interview he conducts, he is still willing to do the dirty work of “hearing out” a serial killer if it means getting information. Agent Tench struggles with the idea of empathizing with a killer, even under false pretenses, while Dr. Carr works to keep their research grounded in methodology and steps in to conduct the interviews after Ford and Tench are called on to assist in murders that are taking place in Atlanta. The most impressive aspect about this series is that some of it’s most jarring moments are conveyed through spoken word. After getting a sense of the morbidity being talked about, we become more intensely drawn to what is going on. Ed Kemper (Cameron Britton), who is surprisingly cordial and even helpful to the investigation, becomes gradually imposing, creating a power struggle with agent Ford’s attempts to divulge information. The series contains its fair share of shocking revelations, but the generous pacing of the series allows us to process these revelations without feeling emotionally out of touch. The theme of righteousness is presented as an idea that creates a massive burden, especially in the context of homicidal investigations. We know and understand that an individual who commits murder deserves some form of punishment, and when the only way to prevent gruesome crimes from happening is by understanding the mind of a killer, and
the series does a great job of getting us to more fully understand that crime cannot be relegated to “falling through the cracks.” We find evidence to support the idea that criminality is, more often than not, a response to a broken society that prioritizes incarceration over rehabilitation. Agent Ford is initially conveyed to us as idealistic, stoic in his approach and determined to do good. He prefers a “no body bags” approach instead of the FBI’s complacency with minimal casualties. As he confronts the reality of how perverse the human being can be, his stoicism is visibly degraded. It is through his optimism that many of us can relate and through his adamance for simply listening instead of dominating. By the same token, we are manipulated into thinking that will be enough to get someone to open up, and it just might. But the baggage we find along the way can be enough to overwhelm our desire to help. If you enjoy true crime that is nuanced and offers perspective without the gratuitous violence, this expertly crafted series might just suit those needs. It’s shot in a wide lense, which gives the series a cinematic feel to it, and the looming sense of anxiety is perfectly accompanied by a harrowing soundtrack. It’s an all around well put together series with a captivating narrative that is portrayed through conflicted characters and a stunning performance by Cameron Britton. Even for casual fans of the genre, this series is a must-see character study that actually brings something to the table when it H comes to the topic of true crime.■
SPORTS
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Sports
MONDAY, MAY 3, 2021
11
UCR softball sweeps doubleheader game against Cal State Northridge AMIDST A SHAKY START, THE HIGHLANDERS MADE A STEADY PROGRESS TOWARD VICTORY.
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KEVIN CONTRERAS Assistant Sports Editor
game 1 The UC Riverside softball team won the first doubleheader game with a score of 2-1 against California State University Northridge thanks to an outstanding pitching game from pitcher Chrys Hildebrand. The Highlanders had been struggling all year, but a favorable matchup against the struggling Matadors boosted their chances of winning. Both teams started out slow, as neither team seemed to get a hit in. It wasn’t until the bottom of the third inning when designated player Briza Blanco hit a single up the middle that started to get things rolling for the Highlanders. Moments later, a single up the middle from right fielder Leah Brito and an error from CSUN led to the first score of the game for UCR. In the top of the sixth inning, an error from shortstop Marissa Burk led to a score
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first homerun ball of the season rightcenter of the field over the fence to get the momentum started. Moments later, Bohall earned a triple-base hit and recorded an RBI to bring home redshirt junior Ethan Payne to give UCR the lead again, 4-3. Despite UCSD’s two pitching changes, the Highlanders continued to play aggressively to eventually conclude the fifth inning up 10-3. In the top of the sixth inning, UCSD struggled at bat and quickly returned to the dugout, scoreless. UCR went back to the plate and scored two more runs to extend their lead to 12-3. UCSD changed pitchers an additional two times, but it wasn’t enough to stop redshirt junior Nathan Webb from hitting an early homerun, which allowed Orick to score again for the Highlanders. At the conclusion of the seventh inning, the Highlanders would eventually lead 13-3, resulting in the NCAA mercy rule to take effect because of the tenpoint deficit, therefore ending the game. The majority of the starting Highlanders reached at least one base in the contest. Redshirt sophomore pitcher Tyler Frazier had a solid performance, four strikeouts, zero walks and only one hit in his 6.0 I.P.
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for the Matadors and tied the game 1-1. However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Burk redeemed herself as she bombed a solo home run to put the Highlanders back up 2-1. In the top of the seventh inning, a flyout, strikeout and popout sealed the game for the Highlanders as they won with the score of 2-1 in the first game of the doubleheader. Hildebrand pitched an outstanding game; in seven innings, she had 10 strikeouts, allowed only two hits and had a 0.00 ERA. “Chrys is working really hard in practice … We are seeing that consistency show up in the games,” said Head Coach Nikki Palmer. Burk led the offense with a home run, and Blanco chipped in with two hits.
game 2 The UC Riverside softball team swept the doubleheader games against CSUN with a win 3-2 in their second game. Coming off
game 2 In the second game of the Saturday doubleheader against UCSD, the Highlanders again put on another strong performance to win, 11-6. The momentum continued from the previous blowout game and put UCR on a twogame winning streak for the four-game series. Relieving redshirt sophomore Tyler Frazier, redshirt sophomore pitcher Taylor Juline took over the mound for the Highlanders. Beginning similarly to Game 2, UCSD failed to score with their opportunity at the plate in the top half of the first inning. UCR wasted little time and scored two runs late in the bottom half of the first inning to take an early lead. A single-hit up center-field from Webb sent Orick and redshirt sophomore Ely Stuart to home base. Shortly afterwards in the top half of the third inning, Juline pitched a solid 1-2-3 inning, effectively preventing any UCSD players from reaching a base. The Highlanders kept their foot on the gas offensively and went up to 5-0 to conclude the third inning. Late in the top of the fourth inning, UCSD’s redshirt junior Tate Soderstrom scored a homerun and sent Senior Everett Lau home, reducing the Triton deficit to 2-5. UCR responded with two runs combined in the fourth and fifth innings, while also holding UCSD to no score.
of a great first game in the doubleheader, the Highlanders carried that momentum into their second win. In the bottom of the second inning, catcher Kennedi Sorenson hit a double into left field. Moments later, first baseman Gianna Araki moonballed a home run down centerfield to put the Highlanders up 2-0 to open up the game. In the top of the third inning, the Matadors occupied third base and threatened to score. A hit from left fielder Savannah Favre sent shortstop Aaliyah Swan racing toward home base. However, a great catch and throw from the shortstop Marissa Burk to catcher Sorenson tagged Swan before she could touch home, which prevented CSUN from scoring. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Araki stole third base and looked to reach home base. A sacrifice flyout from designated player Briza Blanco allowed Araki to reach home and extend the UCR lead 3-0. Pitcher Katie Babarick continued to have a great game and pitched a shutout until the seventh
The Highlanders got a scare in the top of the sixth inning as the Tritons attempted to mount their own comeback campaign. The Tritons scored three home runs to edge closer, 5-7, which prompted a visit to the mound by UCR to strategize. The Highlanders managed to end UCSD’s hot-streak and returned on offense to score another 3 runs to extend their lead to 10-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning. For the remainder of the ball game, both teams kept each other in check as neither scored more than one point in the final three innings. UCR substituted player field positions and changed pitchers once in the top of the seventh inning. UCSD also switched out another pitcher in the bottom of the seventh inning to try to get back into the game. However, once again, it wasn’t enough to fully cool the Highlanders. The ninth and final inning concluded on a double-play by the Highlanders to send the Tritons back to the dugout. Juline finished the game with five strikeouts and zero walks in 6.0 I.P. Webb led the team with six RBI’s and one HR. Orick led in runs and 2B hits. The Highlanders will return to the Riverside Sports Complex again on Sunday, May 2 for the four-game series finale against UC San Diego. They’ll take on California State University Long Beach for another four-game series next week at home from Friday, May 7, at 6 H p.m to Sunday, May 9, at 1 p.m. ■
inning, in which the Matadors made one last push to win the game. In the top of the seventh inning, a single down the middle by Favre gave CSUN its first run of the game. Moments later, a sacrifice flyout from center fielder Jaymi Steward inched the Matadors closer 2-3. However, a popout from right fielder Sami Garcia sealed the game for the Matadors and gave the Highlanders the victory 3-2. “It’s obvious to see that we are growing every game … The hard work they are putting in a practice is starting to pay off,” said Palmer. Barbarick had a great pitching game; in 6.2 innings pitched, she had four strikeouts and had a 1.05 ERA. Araki led the Highlander offense with one home run and a 2 RBI. The Highlanders look to continue their win streak at UC San Diego next Saturday, May 1 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and next H Sunday, May 2, at 1 p.m. ■
COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS
COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS