Volume 70 Issue 03

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, October 19, 2021

VOL. 70, ISSUE 03

est. 1954

A FULL REOPENING AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ARE SOON TO COME.

NEWS

The Barn reopens its patio for service AMARAY ALVAREZ Assistant News Editor

As of Oct. 4, the beloved campus restaurant and bar, The Barn, has reopened after being closed since late 2021. Currently, only the patio is open to the public on Monday through Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., but students are eager to return and experience its charm.

The Barn, a UCR landmark established in 1917, was previously closed for a twoyear renovation but reopened during the summer of 2021. During this opening, the restaurant saw success in their new venue and revised menu.

The Barn was forced to shut down again in December due to the rise in COVID cases and state restrictions, additional issues of restaurants on campus being understaffed caused The Barn to be closed until now. Currently, 10 student staff members are working at The Barn, but more are needed to fully open it.

“During the start of the quarter, I was working at Glasgow to help support them,” stated Barn manager Julie Zeno.

Keeping Glasgow, UCR’s newest residential dining restaurant, staffed has been the main priority of dining services since school started. Lothian’s dining hall was also closed to support Glasgow.

The limited staff, however, has not caused The Barn to lose out on clientele.

Although it has only been open for two weeks, the restaurant has seen the venue busy during its Thursday and Friday evenings.

“I think it’s great that we have a place on campus where we can go to destress for a bit with friends. It adds variety and a change of scenery to UCR,” expressed fourth-year mechanical engineering major Samantha Macuxtle.

One misconception students may have of The Barn is that they need to be 21 or older to visit since alcohol is served on the premises. Students, faculty and community members of all ages are welcomed. Appetizers and soda are also served for those not of legal drinking age.

Alcoholic drinks are served in a black cup, while non-alcoholic ones are served in a red cup to distinguish the difference.

One stark feature of the restaurant is their citrus beer collection that is unique to the campus. These beers change seasonally and are infused with citrus grown at UCR. They are produced in partnership with Ironfire Brewing in Temecula. Beer, wine and other cocktails are also served at The Barn.

Students who previously socialized at

NEWS “Stop Redlining”: UCR members rally against proposed budget cut CAMPUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANT ACCOUNTABILITY FROM UC PRESIDENT DRAKE. HANNA RUTQVST Contributing Writer

On Wednesday, Oct.13 at 11 a.m., a rally was held on campus in response to UC President Drake imposing a budget cut on UCR by 8.2%. The rally gathered at the Bell Tower and marched throughout campus with about 50 attendees calling for the UC system to stop “redlining” UCR. ASUCR-External announced in an Instagram post that they were “demanding President Drake stop redlining UCR and give our campus the proper and equitable funding required to support our faculty, students and growing community.”

“Redlining” is defined as denying funds or loans to a certain person or group because they are considered a financial risk. To the members of the rally, however, it’s discrimination based on many factors

— race, location and social status.

The rally started with speeches by a lecturer, an undergraduate student and Somchate Wasantwisut, a Ph.D. candidate and member of the UAW 2865 Academic Student Employee union. The speeches condemned the deprioritization of UCR by the university system. The crowd then marched to Hinderaker Hall and continued off-campus, shouting chants like, “They say cutback, we say fight back.”

Micahrae Osteria, a fourth-year media and cultural studies major, was tabling for the Letters 2 Strangers club when the crowd accumulated. “There is actually a big group of them,” she said, referring to the rally organizers and attendees. “And they were very transparent about the issue, asking everyone if they know about the budget cuts and what ‘redlining’ is.”

Last spring quarter, the department along with other UCR faculty, students and workers had discovered the system-wide funding formula proposed by UC President

The Barn may recall attending concerts or other live events there. Due to COVID, there have not been any performances since the renovation, but events are expected to return soon.

“Our goal is to have live entertainment throughout the week,” stated Zeno excitedly.

The UCR Dining Services website describes the new Barn as being able to offer “a great music experience paired with an excellent menu.” They refer to the services of The Barn as “dining, drinks and distractions.”

To help welcome students, ample heaters are placed throughout the patio along with various games groups can play together, like corn hole, during this period before live entertainment starts up again.

The Barn patio may only be open for the time being, but as staffing issues resolve, it plans to reopen the rest of its venue in phases. The first phase has proven to be successful as students and community members have long-awaited for the restaurant to reopen and provide a hang out bar on campus. In the coming months, The Barn is expected to once again fully reopen and reclaim its stellar H reputation. ■

COURTESY OF UCR

RADAR Complete discography for late singer Aaliyah added to streaming platforms 20 YEARS AFTER HER UNTIMELY DEATH, AALIYAH’S TIMELESS RECORDS HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM THE VAULT AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR LISTENERS TO STREAM FOR THE FIRST TIME. ELIAS ALMAREZ-HERRERA Contributing Writer

After shooting the music video for the final single “Rock the Boat” off of Detroit singer Aaliyah’s 2001 self-titled album, she and eight other passengers boarded a plane from the Bahamas Islands back to the United States. The plane, overloaded with weight from passengers and technical equipment, caused the engine to fail and catch fire, subsequently killing each person on board, including the rising star.

Aaliyah’s first album “Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number” released in 1994 was majorly produced and penned by then R&B sensation, Robert Kelly. Between the ages of 12 and 14 years old, she worked closely with Kelly to record the full-length

► SEE REDLINING PAGE 4

project. She was thrust into early stardom with three entries on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts: “Back & Forth,” “At Your Best (You Are Love)” and the album’s namesake “Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number.” Her vocal range, textured falsettos and groovy backing instrumentals showcased Aaliyah’s “jazz personality” and “street mentality.”

However, controversy surrounded the young singer as speculation grew surrounding the relationship between her and her mentor, R. Kelly. Interviewers would follow up questions about Aaliyah’s time in high school with “Are you two dating?” In October 2021, R. Kelly was found guilty on nine counts of racketeering and sex trafficking. It has since come to light through key witness testimony that Kelly obtained forged identification for Aaliyah, 15, so the two could become married. The testimony also alleged that the young singer was seized by Kelly’s ► SEE AALIYAH PAGE 10

f UCR Highlander Newspaper @UCRHighlander HighlanderTV NEWS 3

OPINIONS 5

FEATURES 8

RADAR 10

SPORTS 12

KUCR 88.3 FM

2

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org

Upcoming Events:

19

Hiking How To: Trip Planning for San Jacinto Peak and More 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Virtual Event

Free Chair Massage 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

SRC, Fitwell Studio

Life After College: Understanding the Homebuying Process 5:30 p.m.

Virtual Event

Dance Fusion 6:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.

SRC, MPR E

21

Worldfest Culture & Conversation 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Bell Tower

Argentine Tango 8:45 p.m. to 10 p.m.

SRC, MPR E

22

(UResearch) Leadership and Public Service Internships 11 a.m.

Virtual Event

Staff Assembly Book Club 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Virtual Event

23

Conference on Teaching and Learning 2021: Teaching Under the Umbrella of Today’s Climate 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Virtual Event

Standard First Aid w/CPR/AED/Adult/ Pediatric 9 p.m. to 1 p.m.

SRC Conference Room

The Carpentries’ Hacky Hours 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Virtual Event

Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

SRC, South Pool

Tuesday

20

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

ARCHIVE / THE HIGHLANDER

CONTACT US

HIGHLANDER STAFF Editor-in-Chief

Madison Rheins

Managing Editor

Fatema Shalabi

editorinchief @highlandernews.org

managingeditor @highlandernews.org

News Editor

Asst. News Editor

Abhijit Rege

news@highlandernews.org Opinions editor Evelyn Homan opinions@highlandernews.org Features Editor

Ashely Chen

Amaray Alvarez

aalva283@ucr.edu

Asst. Opinions Editor David Moreno dmore018@ucr.edu Asst. Features Editor

features@highlandernews.org Radar Editor

Kyle Penix

radar@highlandernews.org Sports Editor Kevin Contreras sports@highlandernews.org Production Manager

Amanda Joy Teano productionmanager @highlandernews.org

Asst. Radar Editor Sam Lao slao006@ucr.edu Asst. Sports Editor Hansel Chu hchu039@ucr.edu Art Director

Brinly Den

highlander.art. director@gmail.com

Production Assistants

Photography Editor

Ryan Poon

photo@highlandernews.org

Asst. Photo Editor Leo Yue lyue003@ucr.edu

Staff Photographers

Video Editor

Cesar Hernandez

Asst. Video Editor

video.highlander@gmail.com Business Manager

Dorian Dabbs

highlanderads@gmail.com Marketing Coordinator

Keani Lei Lee

marketing.highlander@gmail.com

Asst. Business Manager Nimrat Dhaliwal ndhal006@ucr.edu Copy Editor Siddhant Gupta copyeditor.highlander@ gmail.com

Highlander 101 Highlander Union Building Riverside, CA 92521 www.highlandernews.org editorinchief@highlandernews.org TIP LINE: (951) 827-2105 Help the Highlander stay on top of what is happening on campus and in the general UCR community. Call this number and leave a message for the Editorial Board with your tip. Be sure to include your full name, relation to UCR, and a number or email address where you can be reached for more details.

Editorial Office: (951) 827-3617

Business Office: (951) 827-3457

Classifieds & Billing: (951) 827-5039

Fax: (951) 827-7049

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Highlander accepts letters from the campus community. They must be 600-800 words at length and include the author’s name and contact information.

Topics should be UCR-centric and/or pertain to our generation of students. Contact Opinions Editor Samuel Harrison at opinions@highlandernews.org by Wednesday if interested in writing a letter and submit the completed letter by Saturday at noon. Letters can and will be rejected if it does not meet requirements.

LEGAL The Highlander is published and copyrighted by the Highlander for the students, faculty and staff of UCR. All rights are reserved. Reprinting of any material in this publication without the written permission of the Highlander is strictly prohibited. Readers are allowed one free copy of the newspaper. For additional copies or for subscription information, please contact the Highlander.

The Highlander fully supports the University of California’s policy on non-discrimination. The student media reserve the right to reject or modify advertising whose content discriminates on the basis of ancestry, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, age, sex or sexual orientation.

The Highlander has a media grievance procedure for resolving complaints against it. All inserts that are printed in the Highlander are independently paid publications and do not reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the staff or The University of California or the Associated Students of UCR.

24 Sunday

25 Monday

Multimedia

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS Advertising Information Please submit Classifed ads by calling 951-827-3457 or by emailing Highlanderads@ucr.edu Payment Visa and Mastercard Make checks payable to The Highlander Newspaper No refunds Rates Classified: $2 per line; 17 characters (spaces, dashes, etc.)

THEHIGHLANDERUCR

f

THE HIGHLANDER @HIGHLANDERUCR HighlanderTV KUCR 88.3 FM

News

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

ASUCR

ASUCR’s third senate meeting marked by a visit from the chancellor, vice chancellor and provost ABHIJIT REGE News Editor

The Associated Students of UCR’s second meeting was called to order on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021 at 6:31 p.m. in the ASUCR Senate Chamber. All Senators were present, including senators Vasquez, Alva, Garcia and Martinez. Motions were then passed to modify the senate meeting minutes to add Green Campus Action Plan, the Finance Committee and the previous week’s meeting minutes to the agenda.

Following this, Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Brian Hayes and Provost Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth Watkins took the stand, introduced themselves and began to speak, primarily addressing the re-opening of campus and their goal to ease restrictions in order to return to normalcy.

In addition, many changes were also noted by the chancellor and provost, including the start of the Campus Finance Committee and the Safety Task Force, as well as the reopening of the HUB. The vice chancellor also acknowledged his appreciation for the improvements to technology on campus.

Senators were then welcomed to ask any questions they may have for the chancellor or provost. CHASS senator and president pro-tempore, Orlando Cabalo, inquired about the R’Garden and whether or not operations will continue after 2022.

Their response to his question included a reassurance that the R’Garden will remain open for the coming future due to being an invaluable part of the campus, despite changes to funding overtime.

3

Their discussion of funding also had them touching upon the Redlining protest that occurred earlier that day The chancellor voiced his support of the protest and stated that he will look into the details of the budget. He also explained that these budget cuts were due to the state having funding challenges and that all universities dealt with these budget cuts due to losses in revenue. “Part of the job is to make as much money as we can,” stated Chancellor Wilcox as he explained how real progress can be made through restoring funding.

The next question that was asked brought discussions on academic success and mental health and asked how students would be supported with the return to in-person learning. Chancellor Wilcox responded by assuring that students would be supported throughout the transition and many changes have been already implemented. Funding was increased for undergraduate programs and technology, and proposals have been made for specific programs that will benefit students.

CNAS senator Rachel Paredes then asked her question, concerning online learning and students who are unable to come to campus due to the housing shortage. Primarily, she inquired about the implementation of remote learning.

The chancellor and provost explained that they decided to leave these decisions up to the faculty. However, they believe that there should be more flexibility with the availability of remote learning and hope to see further implementation soon.

The final question was asked by School

of Public Policy senator Arleth Flores Aparcio, where she asked if there will be a system to alert students about a spread or outbreak of COVID-19. Chancellor Wilcox began his reply by acknowledging the recent news that 95% of students have been vaccinated. He explained that there’s already a system in place to alert faculty, where if someone tests positive, Environmental Safety handles this by closing and cleaning any classrooms where the sick student or staff member may have been in. According to the chancellor, contact tracing is also considered to be ineffective in preventing a spread as catching up to the spread is difficult. Vice Chancellor Hayes chimed in as well to emphasize the importance of the Daily Wellness Check and urged students to complete it on a daily basis before arriving on campus. Provost Watkins hoped that students would be honest by not coming to campus if they felt sick and stated that there would not be any consequences for being unable to attend class. This forum was then

CHANCELLOR WILCOX, VICE CHANCELLOR HAYES, AND PROVOST WATKINS ANSWER SENATORS’ IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.

ARCHIVE / THE HIGHLANDER

concluded by Provost Watkins thanking the UCR School of Medicine for taking serious steps to make campus safe for students and along with Chancellor Wilcox and Vice Chancellor Hayes, thanking the Senators for their time and ambition.

In addition, a report was made by the California Public Interest Research Group describing their activities for the past couple years. Campus organizer Isaac Lee began to detail CALPIRG’s mission for social change and their collaboration with ASUCR for their transition to clean energy. ASUCR President William Wang appreciated CALPIRG’s efforts through a shoutout.

After this report, a Public Forum was held where each senator was allowed three minutes to give a report for their respective committees. Several pieces of legislation were reviewed by the ASUCR body, and all bills and resolutions were approved with a vote of 14-0-0. The meeting was H then adjourned at 8:12 p.m. ■

OverFlow Farms ‘Serve Day’ in collaboration with LoveRiverside

THE SERVE DAY WAS WHOLE VOLUNTEER TEAM EFFORT THAT BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER

ABHIJIT REGE / THE HIGHLANDER

ABHIJIT REGE News Editor

Non-profit organization, OverFlow Farms, held their first Citywide Annual “Serve Day” on Oct. 9, 2021, in collaboration with fellow non-profit, LoveRiverside. With sponsors including Aetna, New York Life, the Inland Empire Health Plan and more, the serve day saw a variety of service projects available for volunteers including a vegetable harvest and mural painting project. An assortment of cooked corn, onions and jalapenos from the harvest along with plenty of other

amenities were all available to be eaten by volunteers and guests.

Along with the harvest, the main attraction of the serve day was the Mural Project, intended mostly for younger volunteers. Clarissa Cervantes, a Riverside resident, small business owner, muralist and council member for Ward 2, led the painting of the mural. An experienced muralist of over six years, Cervantes aimed to depict the farm’s cornfields but with a more imaginative theme: a fairy garden.

The serve day’s project was the first mural with many more to come in the future and Cervantes hopes that these projects will be able to bring the people of their community together and to heal and empower them through the medium of art.

Fred Stover and Rick Sanchez, partnered together to start OverFlow Farms, with Stover as president and Sanchez as treasurer. Stover had conducted philanthropic operations for over five years already, but only on a s mall scale. It wasn’t until late in 2019 when he approached Sanchez with the idea of starting a non-profit organization and farm.

The name OverFlow has a significance to UCR. Sanchez has served as a college minister for 14 years at the Riverside County Church Christ. During his tenure, the OverFlow club was founded on

campus by his church students, and he served as their club advisor. The club was run by UCR students and ran for seven years as they conducted various service projects, such as helping the homeless through care packages, projects for Habitat for Humanity and other philanthropic interests in the community. When Stover wanted to partner with Sanchez and start the organization, they needed a name and settled upon using the club’s name.

Unfortunately, UCR’s Overflow club had shut down as a result of the COVID pandemic. Due to the transition to remote learning, many members of the club returned to their homes outside of the Inland Empire, and all activities had to be shut down due COVID restrictions. In addition, the sheer length of the pandemic saw many members of the club graduating in 2020 or 2021. Though the club may be defunct at UCR, at the time this piece was published, the club has expanded to Riverside City College and is developing rapidly, and Sanchez hopes to revive the club soon for the Highlanders.

Overflow Farms has succeeded in place of the club and continues to thrive through the efforts of students from UCR and RCC. The farm began operation in the beginning of 2020 and ran for a year in Jurupa on a small patch of land on the back of Mount

Rubidoux. After a year, on Jan. 24, 2021, the non-profit was able to act upon their original plan of expanding the farm on the Riverside Community Church grounds, taking up two acres of land.

Marci Coffey of the Inland Empire Health Plan, a sponsor of the event, described how OverFlow, in collaboration with other organizations, is able to ship three million pounds of fresh produce each year to local food banks, agencies and pantries. With a mission to “heal and inspire the human spirit,” both OverFlow Farms and LoveRiverside have served as IEHP’s two strongest partners, sharing similar values and a goal to serve the underprivileged in the Inland Empire.

On Oct. 14, 2021, OverFlow Farms received formal recognition from the California Legislation and the Office of the Mayor, acknowledging the non-profit’s contributions and impact on the community of Riverside and the Inland Empire.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about OverFlow Farms, you can visit their website at overflowfarms. org, or contact Rick Sanchez directly at info@overflowfarms.org or 951-902-5261.

You can also visit loveriverside.org to learn more about LoveRiverside and their H service days.■

4 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

NEWS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news UCR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES THIRSTS FOR BLOOD — IN EXCHANGE FOR CITATIONS.

Transportation Services resurrects Donations for Citations HARU CHANG Contributing Writer

CHRISTIAN FLORES / THE HIGHLANDER

► FROM REDLINING

Drake. While other campuses are imposed a cut of around 2-3%, the Riverside campus would receive an 8.2% cut.

The issue is especially heightened by the fact that President Drake received a raise to $890,000 salary. This is noted on some of the protest signs titled “MISSING” with a photo of President Drake’s face, signifying that he is out of touch and nowhere to be found regarding this issue.

The budget cut is deemed to affect everyone in the university, and Chancellor Wilcox is in solidarity against it. In June, a petition demanding a visit from President Drake to discuss a reworking of the proposed budget garnered over 500 signatures from UCR members.

In response, the administration sent over Letitia Siles, leader of Labor Relations of the UC system, to discuss the contract. According to Wasantwisut, Siles said she sympathizes with the students on the cost they put up with while achieving higher education, and she herself doesn’t know why UCR is receiving a cut. Labor Relations suspects it’s an issue with this campus’s contract, which Wasantwisut interprets as putting some of the blame on UCR itself.

“We had nothing to do with it,” said Wasantwisut. “They kind of side-tracked and tried to calm things down.” The UC administration’s response of “calming things down” with UCR instead of addressing the situation was what led to the final rally. “That is why we are taking it to the next step — their unwillingness to move the ball forward and resolve this issue.”

This is not the first time UCR has suffered lower funds compared to other campuses. “This is on top of decades of underfunding for our campus. Other campuses get around $11,000 per student, but we get around $8,000,” said Wasantwisut.

There are several theories as to why the Riverside campus does not receive the same financial support as other UCs. One includes racism and classism. “We’re one of the most diverse campuses, and historically we’ve been receiving less funding than the other UCs,” said Aaron Goodwin, a teaching assistant for mathematics. “Our diversity is not just racial and ethnic. It’s also about social mobility. We have students who are single parents, Pell Grant recipients, etc.”

One may argue that graduate and medical schools are more expensive and “important” to run, but this leads back to Goodwin’s statement that UCR is a “social mobility” campus — meaning that a significant portion of students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and their education grants the ability to mobilize themselves and their families out of poverty.

This, to Goodwin and Wasantwisut, is what makes UCR so important to society.

It has been made clear that UCR is in need of abundant funding. One main reason is that, in coping with limited budget, the university is understaffing T.A.s and underpaying certain lecturers. “My T.A. sections are overcrowded,” said Goodwin, who is teaching calculus and precalculus to four classrooms of at least 25 students each. “My students need a lot of individual attention so we need smaller class sizes.” This amount of work would normally be divided among a few T.A.s instead of one. Other UCs cap the T.A.s at 50 students, while this is not being done at UCR. The UCR administration has also been underpaying lecturers through a loophole known as the “adjunct professor” title. Originally meant as an entrance position for new professors, lecturers under this title have one-year contracts that must be renewed and are paid only for lecturing work. Once a lecturer has earned the full-time professor position, they enter a continuing contract and are paid for academic activities outside of lecturing as well, such as conducting their own research, mentoring students and writing letters of recommendation.

This generally takes six years to earn.

Under financial pressure, however, the university has taken advantage of this position and lecturers who qualify as full-time professors find themselves still paid as adjuncts.

UC lecturers have a low rate of retention.

According to a CalMatters analysis, “About a quarter or more of lecturers working one year disappeared from UC employment rolls the following year annually between 2015 and 2020.”

These lecturers are currently paid $57,000 annually, which is considered low-income in six of the nine UC locations. This unfair treatment and lack of pay is discouraging to them.

“We’re out here trying to protect job security for pre-contributing lecturers. We don’t want to strike but we will if we have to,” stressed UCR political science lecturer, Jeremy Busacca.

Because adjunct professors and lecturers are abundant and are heavily scrutinized for their performance, this is a good reminder for UCR students to answer course evaluations.

The lecturers are currently in a period of mediation with the UC system. In their contract, they are demanding reasonable workload standards, transparency, consistent appointment standards and fair compensation.

The bottom line is that it all affects the students.

Not only do they need individual attention, but they need to develop relationships with professors. More information on how to support these UC faculty, along with testimonials and an H online petition, can be found at weteachuc.org. ■

Just in time for Halloween, Transportation Services is partnering with LifeStream Blood Bank to bring back their Donations for Citations Program on Oct. 28 and 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Donors will receive full credit toward a parking violation up to $75 for every pint donated. This program not only offers UCR students, faculty and staff an alternative to paying their citation fee, but it also presents an opportunity to provide lifesaving blood products for a non-profit organization that serves more than 80 Southern California hospitals and medical facilities.

According to Transportation Services, there has been an unusually high number of citations in the fall quarter as people are new to campus and are not familiar with the parking rules.

The program is available to any one that can donate blood.

Donors have the option to pay off their own citation, credit the donation to a friend or credit a donation to a random citation that will be distributed through a raffle. Participants can also donate blood at any official blood bank between Oct. 23 and 31 and take the receipt to them by Nov. 1 to receive credit.

“In my experience, parking citations are often distributed on a whim, and when you try to appeal a citation, Transportation Services can

be very unforgiving,” states fourth-year biology major, Jasmine Nguyen, who has been using UCR parking spaces in order to participate in on-campus activities for about a year before COVID. “However, I think it’s a very good program and it gives UCR students an opportunity to pay off at least one of their citations. I think that Transportation Services can do more by allowing people to exchange community service hours to receive credit to pay off citations.”

LifeStream Blood Bank is a local, nonprofit blood bank that serves more than 80 Southern California hospitals and medical facilities in six counties. In order to ensure the health and wellness of the community, LifeStream provides each blood donor a mini physical prior to the donation and information on maintaining a healthy diet. All blood donors are required to be at least 15 years old, weigh at least 115 pounds for donors ages 15-18, be in general good health, free of infection or illness, not at risk of Hepatitis or AIDS and are required to wear a face covering during the appointment due to COVID restrictions. Blood donations are expected to take about an hour so participants are advised to schedule their appointment accordingly.

UCR students, faculty and staff can schedule their blood donation appointment at H lstream.org/UCRTAPS.■

COURTESY OF MIKE BARTOSZEK VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-ND 2.0

Opinions

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

5

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

The UC’s unstable working environment for lecturers harms campus communities at every level LECTURERS AND TEACHING ASSISTANTS ARE SOME OF THE MOST PERSONABLE AND MEANINGFUL PEOPLE ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUS, AND THEIR JOB STABILITY SHOULD REFLECT THIS.

UC

colleges are some of the most difficult to get into, and for lecturers, they are becoming all the more difficult to stay in. In a move that seems to be based in good intentions, the UC functions on a socalled “churn” that is meant to bring in different people with different perspectives. This churn is not nearly as helpful as this optimistic spin makes it out to be. In reality, this overturn of professors every three years has insidious consequences for these faculty and the students they teach alike. By refusing to renew these lecturers’ contracts, the UC is promoting an unstable job environment, in addition to making it more difficult for students and faculty to connect across the board.

Lecturers are often some of the most passionate people when it comes to academia. They must cover a lot of bases: they advise, organize, educate and often are working side jobs in order to continue to support their jobs because lecturing alone doesn’t pay the bills. They are usually some of the most personable of faculty as well, being inviting and invigorated with their passion for their subject. All good lecturers take the time and energy to make sure their students feel as excited about the subject as they are, and this energy positively influences students. Everyone at some point has had a class that they have loved going to simply because their lecturer is so exuberant when it comes to teaching,

no matter how mundane the topic really is. For the UC to so casually lay these enthusiastic scholars off because they want new people to come in is incredibly depressing.

While new perspectives are always welcome, three years is barely enough time for lecturers to really get their bearings in their environment.

This rapid turnover also makes connecting with students much more difficult. Some lecturers feel it is unprofessional to follow students on social media, and they are completely in their right to do so. However, once the UC decides that they don’t need a lecturer’s perspective anymore and doesn’t renew their contract, these lecturers lose their university emails and become lost in the shuffle where students will likely have difficulty finding them. This is especially harmful for students who like to talk to faculty to establish important relationships that could give them incredible insight into their own major or for those who wish to request a letter of recommendation from a specific lecturer. The UC is cutting these ties without thinking of the consequences for both lecturers and students, making it all the more difficult for students to walk through college without a faculty support system and forcing lecturers to leave students they care about behind.

Furthermore, not only are students missing out on opportunities, but lecturers are as well. If the goal of a lecturer is to gain tenure at the university where they teach,

the UC system cuts them off in their path two years before they can qualify. To lay them off or force them to work numerous side jobs just to stay afloat while they look for another position they’re passionate about, just two years before they could have guaranteed job security, is ridiculous. They aren’t even paid well in the time that they serve as lecturers, and being paid so little while being asked to do so much can cause burnout and a loss of that passion that makes them such wonderful educators.

Furthermore, professors who are already tenured often don’t have the personability that many lecturers do. While there are many professors who do genuinely care about their students and want them to succeed, there are plenty who are stuffy, unapproachable and too busy with their research to make meaningful connections with students. Approaching a professor is far more daunting for students, especially if said professor is secluded in their ivory tower refusing to acknowledge the students they are supposed to help.

Lecturers often have a friendliness and approachability that tenured professors may not have. To keep universities as places of passionate academia, tenured professors should have yearly evaluations with a heavy emphasis on student feedback that is truly constructive rather than rants over a bad grade. A lecturer

with a great passion for what they teach and a compassion for students is more fitting for tenure than a professor who has had tenure for so long that they are out of touch with the modern student.

The UC needs to reevaluate its faculty turnover and recognize that these valuable educators are simply not expendable. The system has plenty of funds that could be used to keep these lecturers where they want to be — in classrooms and making a living wage doing what they love.

UC campuses all across California will benefit from this, in addition to a reevaluation of who is tenured.

The UC can no longer behave like it’s a corporation where you are kicked out after a few years in favor of new hires. Higher education should not be a process where young scholars are pushed in and out with a revolving faculty that is suffering from the lack of job security. The UC needs to take responsibility and actually care for their workers and students by giving steady jobs to the passionate academics that deserve H them the most. ■

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.

6 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

OPINIONS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

THE DAMAGES FROM THIS OIL SPILL ALONG WITH OFFSHORE DRILLING ARE CAUSING IMMENSE HARM TO MARINE LIFE IN THE AREA, AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

The Orange County oil spill is a danger to marine life that needs to be dealt with AYLIN MORENO Contributing Writer

The oil spill devastating marine life on the Orange County coast has become a centerpoint of ecological activists throughout the United States. Sadly, this is another tragic oil spill with the all-toofamiliar story of offshore drilling done in a cheap and careless way. Caution was thrown to the wind in order to achieve higher profits, and as always, the ocean’s ecosystem is now paying the price. These companies should be heavily restricted in their search for oil to help protect the fragile ecosystem of our oceans and coasts, and alternative fuels must be considered to prevent future spills.

144,000 gallons of oil were spilled from Amplify Energy, and the resulting damage has closed off miles of Huntington and Laguna Beach. The clean up efforts from both the government agencies and the energy company will have to be hasty and well executed if the wetlands have any chance to return to a semi-healthy state.

The state of the ecosystem will depend solely on the continuous purging of the oil from the beaches and water. Fortunately, there are penalties for the procrastination of cleanup efforts. For every day the clean up is not addressed, the discharger is fined up to $25,000.

There has been a ceaseless pattern of offshore drilling at the forefront of ecological disasters. It is the contemptuous and careless attitude of companies like Amplify Energy that lead to these events.

There has been a pattern of negligence recorded since the 1969 oil well blowout in Santa Barbara, California. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there have been 44 oil spills accounting for over 420,000 gallons of oil staining the waters of our oceans.

Every step of offshore drilling is harmful to the environment and the creatures that dwell among it. Surveyors must use seismic activity in order to “responsibly” gauge the surroundings for a development program. Unfortunately, these seismic blasts disturb marine life in destructive ways. For instance, many breeding lagoons for gray whales can be disturbed and lead to dwindling numbers in births. Research from Duke University’s Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab has drawn from over 20 years of data relaying information on seismic airguns in the water. According to these studies, as many as 138,000 whales and dolphins have been injured in the prospect for oil. Drilling and searching for these fossil fuels is detrimental to ocean habitats.

The research speaks for itself when considering marine life.

In this case, the perpetrator is Amplify Energy. However, there are a few companies who should be held accountable for offshore drilling projects that have either gone wrong or have left devastating effects on the environment from just looking for oil. Although Amplify Energy is possibly facing a class-action lawsuit in light of these events, it is being filed by a Southern California resident rather than the state.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

These spills are the sole responsibility of these negligent, unchecked corporations that only have profit in mind. In response to this disaster, Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to address the spill and its clean up efforts. The state has moved to use workers from the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response to start cleanup efforts, but the damage is already being done.

When oil is introduced to the ocean, its toxicity has disastrous effects on the plants, animals and overall habitat of that ecosystem. Some examples on the NOAA website are how oil can coat the wings of a bird and render it flightless and how fouling can cause hypothermia in sea otters if it coats their fur as it strips away the insulating properties of sea mammals on their coats if introduced. These kinds of

human interventions can often impact their chances of survivability.

Oil spills are incredibly dangerous to not just marine life and flora, but to people as well. It is hard to find volunteer work that is more hands-on; however, there are a great number of things you can do to help.

There is a volunteer helpline available run by the British multinational oil and gas company to help pre-clean beaches for professionals to more efficiently assist animals and habitat. There is also the route of administrative work or maintaining equipment. If you can’t help out in person, there are options to donate to an Oil Spill Emergency Response Fund through the Bolsa Chica charity. This is the only earth we have, and it’s our job to ensure we pass it down better than we found it to the next H generation. ■

Governor Newsom stabs California farmers in the back

SENNA OMAR Contributing Writer

COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-SA 2.0

On Sept. 22, 2021, California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have allowed farmers to vote by mail in union elections. Had it gone through, this bill would have been a massive advancement in the voting rights of farmers. Often, farmers find it difficult to vote because most don’t have a permanent address. This bill would have allowed farmers to vote by mail by dropping their ballot at the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board office. By vetoing this bill, Newsom is proving that despite his past progressive policies, in reality he does not care about working-class California farmers.

Still, when farmers are looking for support from the government, Gavin Newsom is nowhere to be found. During the recall elections, hundreds and thousands of farmers went from door to door trying to rally support for Newsom. The United Farmer Workers even encouraged farmers to show their support. Newsom supported vote-by-mail only when it was beneficial for his political power.

In his rejection, Gov. Newsom stated, “The labor force is invaluable to the prosperity of our state and the very fabric of our society.” With this one line, Newsom revealed that all his “profarmer” legislation was performative and advocated solely to gain the support of California farmers during the recall

election. It’s odd how Gov. Newsom, who spends so much time claiming to be profarmwork, has not spent any time speaking to growers and hearing their concerns and how he could better aid California farmers and expand their voting rights. Voting is a fundamental right guaranteed to all within the constitution. For Newsom to reject the requests of farmers to perform this civic duty is a violation of his oath to the people of California.

Following Newsom’s vetoing of the bill, farmers gathered to protest this grave act of injustice. These farmers gathered outside The French Laundry, an expensive restaurant where the governor was seen dining at during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Protesters marched for five miles, carrying flags and posters in favor of their cause. Unfortunately, by denying this bill, Newsom promoted the false narrative that Democrats are elitist and genuinely do not care for the working class.

Kent Wong, the director of labor at UCLA, said, “The tragedy is there are fewer farmworkers under union contract today than there were when Cesar Chavez was alive.” In the 1970s, almost 40,000 California farmworkers were covered by collective bargaining; that number has severely decreased since then. Anti-union activities have dramatically increased, keeping the cash with the big farming companies and away from the farmers.

On June 23, 2020, the Supreme Court even ruled that farm owners are allowed to limit union activity on their farms, making it much harder for American farmers to receive overtime pay, disability, medical benefits and workers’ compensation.

NEWSOM VETOED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE MADE IT EASIER FOR FARMERS TO VOTE, FOLLOWING THEIR EXTREME SUPPORT DURING THE RECALL ELECTION.

California is one of the few states that still allow farmers to unionize, but their living and working conditions are still dismal. From the extremely long working hours with little breaks to the terrible wages, farmers are one of the most exploited worker groups. Two-thirds of U.S. produce is produced in California.

Yet, according to the UCLA labor center project director, Gaspar Rivera-Salgado, “Even if you work full time on a farm, farmers will never be above the poverty line because of how low the wages are.”

If Gov. Newsom truly cared for the rights of America’s food growers, he would have implemented pro-farmer legislation at the start of his governing term.

Farmers are indeed some of America’s most essential workers and the backbone of the California economy. These workers deserve the same rights guaranteed to all laborers in the United States. Without them, there would quite literally be no food. We must hold the government accountable when it is pushing out legislation harmful to America’s working class, especially H farmers. ■

OPINIONS

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

7

Dollar Tree’s new inflated prices will be detrimental to low income communities RISING INFLATION RATES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE AIMING TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR LOWINCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO SURVIVE. DAVID MORENO Assistant Opinions Editor

Recently, the discount store Dollar Tree announced that they would be raising most of their traditional onedollar price tags by a quarter or two.

Dollar Tree marking up their prices is only a small indication of a larger problem in the United States. The pandemic has hit the economy in multiple ways, from supply shortages to mass unemployment rates, but to raise prices in ultra-discount stores is going to be a great risk for lowerincome households. Families across the country rely on stores like Dollar Tree to shop for basic needs, like food or school supplies. The new inflation in prices, no matter how small, has very real potential to be detrimental to low income communities across the nation.

Lower-income families rely on stores like Dollar Tree to provide basic essentials at an affordable price.

Inflation in this country is at an all time high, with reports of it reaching 42% in July, the highest it’s been in three decades. The groups who suffer the most are the ones also facing the highest unemployment rates. The price of everything is skyrocketing in this country, from housing to a gallon of milk at the grocery store. Low-income neighborhoods are feeling the effects of this current inflation at staggering rates. Dollar Tree has been slowly raising their prices from $1 to $1.50 and will start to introduce $5 sections in select stores. These sections have been labeled “Dollar Tree Plus” and will contain a variety of new items. These new sections are ultimately going to alienate shoppers who frequently visit the discount franchise.

Individuals who directly benefit from Dollar Tree’s original prices are going to be hung out to dry by the company’s

COURTESY OF MIKE MOZART VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY 2.0

new policies. Inflation in this pandemic has hit many sectors of the economy, housing being a major one. In California, it has been reported that over some 744,000 California households still owed an average of $3,500 in back rent.

These communities are struggling to get back on their feet, and the financial strain that the last four years have put on lower-income families gets worse every year. Housing and unemployment due the COVID-19 pandemic have set these households back months in debts they owe. Low-income communities are having to deal with these struggles at a higher rate, leaving them vulnerable and many even facing homelessness.

These communities need urgent help if they are going to survive this current

economic crisis. We need to be paying more attention to the needs of the people within these groups so we can better assist them. These individuals need better access to public benefit programs like food stamps and rent relief programs. Low-income communities need to be supported. After all, they are the backbone to our country’s economy. Furthermore, companies like Dollar Tree, which have served these marginalized neighborhoods for years, need to stick to their promises of providing essentials at low cost.

By marking up their prices, they are essentially betraying the trust of the customer base which has kept them in H business since their stores first opened. ■

Come to The Highlander's

WEE K LY W RI TE R' S ME E T I N G EVERY MONDAY 5:15PM @THE HIGHLANDER NEWSPAPER OFFICE, HUB101 ANYONE INTERESTED IN BEING APART OF THE HIGHLANDER NEWSPAPER, FEEL FREE TO COME !

8

Features TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

A

FEATURES

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

By: Madison Rheins, Editor-in-chief

midst the insanely hot Riverside weather, it may seem difficult to get into the fall spirit. However, without fail, local campus coffee joints and smoothie bars are always serving up their own version of fallin a cup. So even if the heat can’t be beat, these pumpkin spice beverages are a sure proof way to kickstart the holiday season.

To start off my morning, I decided to try The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf’s version of a pumpkin spice latte. Conveniently placed on campus at the HUB, this is the closest location for any student craving the coveted fall beverage. I ordered a small size with easy ice and substituted the dairy for oat milk through the app, which allows you skip the line and modify your drink to your liking.

Priced at $5.30, this drink is a bit expensive if you want to try the dairy alternatives, but the location on campus makes up for this in the long run — especially if you need caffeine in a pinch before running to class.

The drink itself was creamy and sweet with a good balance of flavor. There was no

overwhelming bitterness from the espresso, leaving room for the spiciness of the cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin blend to really shine through. This is especially pleasing for those who aren’t huge fans of coffee but still need a pick me up to help them begin their day. And even if this is not you, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf lets you lighten your beverage to fit your preference for sweetness.

Later in the afternoon, I felt the caffeine from the morning slowly wear off. So, I decided to make my next stop at Starbucks for another boost of energy. And while the Market at Glen Mor has a Starbucks inside of the facility, it is still a bit far from the rest of the campus, meaning that students without a car would have to travel a longer distance on foot. However, compared to the other Starbucks locations on Blaine Street and University Avenue, this is still the most ideal spot for those who can’t travel long distances off-campus.

I decided to order a small iced pumpkin spice latte with almond milk priced at $5.55 in order to compare with the latte I had previously.

Unfortunately, while I wish I could have had a similar experience to that morning, that was not the case. I felt that the espresso flavor was far too overpowering in the drink, which caused me to miss any sort of pumpkin spice taste that was supposed to be present. However, similar to The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Starbucks lets you modify the flavoring of your drink.

So in the future and for anyone interested in trying their version of this fall classic, I would opt for a modification especially for those who prefer a more balanced taste.

Toward the end of my day, I was looking for a healthier option to have after

my workout. Fortunately down Canyon Crest Drive, Nekter Juice Bar is serving up a seasonal pumpkin spice smoothie! And although this location requires you to drive off-campus, it’s perfect for those who want a healthy alternative, but don’t want to sacrifice partaking in the fall festivities.

I placed my order for a small pumpkin spice smoothie and substituted the bananas for mangos. Priced at $6.85 — the most expensive beverage of the day — I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious this drink was.

Consisting of house-made cashew milk, dates, pure pumpkin puree, bananas, nutmeg and cinnamon, I thought this fall drink was the most traditional tasting and refreshing. I was also thoroughly impressed with their ability to offer an alternative to bananas due to my allergy and was shocked at how little the mango affected the overall taste of the smoothie. This is definitely something students should try before the season ends, because it is truly worth every sip.

Of course, while it may not feel like fall here in Riverside, I highly recommend visiting any of these establishments and splurging on an autumn beverage to put you in the right frame of mind for the H season. ■

FEATURES

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

9

Getting into the spooky season spirit RIVERSIDE HAS PLENTY OF FALL ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN, AND HERE ARE JUST A FEW! SENNA OMAR Contributing Writer

It’s spooky season, and throughout Riverside and on campus, there are plenty of Halloween activities for students to participate in.

To start off, from Oct. 24 to Oct. 31, UCR’s Student Recreation Center will host a “Scream

Week” filled with Halloween-themed workouts and activities. During this week, the SRC will be hosting zombiethemed dance classes, a floating pumpkin patch, a costume-themed basketball game, a Halloween movie night and a haunted house.

On Oct. 26, R’Garden will be holding its fall harvest festival. This event is open to the general public and will include activities such as games, pumpkin patches, trick or treating, music and more. The gardening club is also selling pumpkins now until Nov. 2 for $5 each.

To order a pumpkin, all you have to do is Venmo “Gardeningclub” your full name, phone number and how many pumpkins you

would like to purchase. The R’Garden and Gardening Club are constantly posting fall activities on their Instagram pages, so be sure to look out for them.

Starting Oct.19 to 26, the Highlander Union Building will be hosting a virtual “Hub Halloween Showcase.” To participate in this event, all you have to do is follow “ucrhub_programs” on Instagram and share what you plan on doing to get into the Halloween spirit on your Instagram story. By tagging the HUB programs account, you are entering a giveaway to win a Halloween-themed prize.

Every year, UCR hosts its annual staff Halloween contest. This contest is reserved for people employed at UCR and is open from Oct. 1 to Nov. 1. Contestants can participate in eight categories: scariest costume, best theme, best solo costume, people’s choice, staff assembly’s choice, best Halloween decorations, best family costume and best pet costume. All photo submissions can include a maximum of 20 people and are due by 5 p.m. on Nov. 1 and should be emailed to staffassembly@ucr.edu.

There are plenty of Halloween

Campus Tips for dealing with test anxiety Cope: SENNA OMAR Contributing Writer

As midterm season approaches, it can be easy to fall into a spiral of test-taking anxiety. Since classes have been online for almost two years, going back to in-person exams can be incredibly nerve-racking.

Here are some tips to dealing with testing anxiety:

Practice makes Perfect To prevent last-minute stress before any exam, you should start preparing for exams at least a week in advance. Not only will you be learning the information, but you will also be allowing yourself to ruminate on the information over an extended period of time. Feeling confident about your preparation will help you to succeed during your exam.

Manifest Success If there’s a will, there’s a way! Before exams, it is imperative that you imagine success rather than failure. Going in with this image of passing makes you more likely to feel confident with your studying and comprehension of the material.

Avoid Negative Self-Talk Your attitude is the most important thing during an exam. Suppose you go in with the mentality that you will fail. In this case, you are dooming yourself for a future of failure. However, if you take an exam believing in your ability to pass,

you will increase your chances of success on an exam.

Put Things into perspective Tests do not define you! Before going into an exam, it’s essential to ensure that you do not let your test scores define you. Keeping this mindset will help you to decrease your anxiety and stress before testing. Tests are not a measure of individual successes, and you shouldn’t sacrifice mental health for the sake of an exam.

will also feel highly motivated to do well on future tests.

it does not have to be perfect Perfection is emotionally draining and almost impossible to achieve. Getting a perfect score or doing perfect on an exam is too high of an expectation to put on yourself. Perfection is not the goal: doing your best is. When attempting to achieve perfection, you are setting yourself up for failed expectations.

activities to choose from off of campus.

The city of Riverside is hosting the Riverside Halloween Festival on Oct.16 from 2-10 p.m. This event will occur at White Park and has a general admission fee of $10. There will be art and food vendors, live entertainment, a pumpkin patch and even a costume contest with a grand prize of $200 for the winner.

The California Riverside ballet will host its 30th annual Ghost Walk from Oct. 22 to 23 at White Park. The tickets range from $15 to $25 per person and will feature performers from surrounding Riverside high schools. The celebration will feature a walking tour of the spooky side of Riverside, along with live performances, food vendors, pumpkin patches and a kids’ carnival.

There are so many Halloween activities for students, faculty and the whole riverside community to be involved in. As Halloween gets closer, be sure to be on the lookout for more H Halloween-themed activities near you. ■

TEST ANXIETY IS TOUGH TO OVERCOME. HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH IT! watch the clock One of the biggest reasons for testing stress is a lack of time. While taking your exams, make sure to watch the clock and be aware of how much time you need to complete each part. Only you know the pace at which you work. By watching the clock, you are keeping yourself on pace and ensuring you will not be in a rush H during the last five minutes of the exam. ■

dress for success Before going into any exam, make sure that you feel and look the part of a test taker. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to put on a suit to do well. Simply do not take tests in your pajamas, and make sure you are in the right mindset to do well.

Make sure you are comfortable in the environment you are testing or studying and come prepared for the exam. Dressing for success will make you more likely to succeed.

Reward yourself While studying for an exam, it can be easy to lose yourself in the material. It is essential to reward yourself as a means of keeping your motivation up. Exam season can be overwhelming on both your mind and body; treat yourself after exams! Not only will you feel rejuvenated, but you

JOSHUA WANG / THE HIGHLANDER

10

Radar TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

Young Thug does not disappoint with his second epic, ‘Punk’

EXAMINING THE NEWEST STAR-STUDDED RELEASE OF ATLANTA RAP LEGEND YOUNG THUG.

JORDAN DURRELL Contributing Writer

The most influential rapper of the last decade released his second studio album, “Punk,” at 12 a.m. PST. on Friday, Oct. 15. The title, cover art and overall album promotion were true to Young Thug’s leftfield approach to music. From gleefully destroying a Rolls Royce with his disciple, Gunna, to reinventing Octavio Ocampo’s “Forever Always” piece, it was evident that Young Thug wanted to grab our attention ahead of the release of this project. Being such an established artist with so much respect in the game, it would be easy for Thug to try to recreate what’s worked for him in the past; but Thug has once again pushed himself to reinvent music. While this is by no means a punk album sonically, if any rap artist evokes the non-conformist and eccentric values of the punk subculture, it is Young Thug. Compared to Thug’s debut studio album released in 2019, “So Much Fun,” the subject matter and tone are drastically different.

He opens the album with an unorthodox but extraordinarily raw and vulnerable song, “Die Slow,” that details many of the traumatic experiences he faced in his childhood. The song deals with a series of heart-rending subjects touched on throughout the album: death, imprisonment, family and pain. By

VERDICT:

being so unabashedly honest from the beginning, this track sets the tone for the type of album Thug wanted to put out.

“Punk” plays as a very balanced project all the way through, with enticing features from major artists spread evenly throughout. The first exciting feature comes from J. Cole on the track titled “Stressed.” Cole, who is no stranger to introspective rap, delivered a great verse where he opens up about his views on money and acknowledges familial responsibilities. Another brilliant guest appearance came from Future in track six, “Peepin Out The Window.” Future simply floated on this mellow and melodic beat managing to add some bars briefly addressing police brutality and parenting.

The festivities continued with more visits from chart-topping artists. Two of rap’s most significant icons, Drake and Travis Scott, joined the mix in “Bubbly,” an energetic tune that helps balance out the frequent sad acoustic guitar samples that make up a good portion of the album. Not to mention equally strong showings from Gunna, Post Malone, A$AP Rocky and Doja Cat. One of the most admirable things about this project is the performances from the late hip-hop superstars Juice WRLD and Mac Miller. Many members of the rap community have expressed their sorrow and astonishment over the loss of these

COURTESY OF FRANK SCHWICHTENBERG VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS UNDER CC-BY-SA 4.0

two artists. As an OG in the game, it was beautiful to see Young Thug give us a chance to hear their voices again.

Juice’s verse comes on one of the more fun songs on the album, “Rich N***a Sh*t,” in which Juice switches his flow a few times and chronicles his fast lifestyle.

The golden voice of Mac Miller closes out the album with a memorable verse over a calming acoustic sample that is sure to cause the eyes to well up.

The 20-track album has its lackluster moments as Thug venture’s into more poppy hooks and melodies in the second

half of the tracklist. Songs like “Hate The Game” and “Love You More” featuring Nate Reuss, former lead singer of poprock band Fun, aren’t terrible by any stretch. However, these tracks start to drag a little and really feel like the last songs of a lengthy album. These tracks also highlight some of the not-so-great aspects of “Punk.” The beat production was honestly dull in a lot of songs, and that was only saved by unique vocal ability, entertaining voice inflections and H well-executed features. ■

A rap career isn’t commonly known for longevity and graceful aging. Young Thug defies a lot of stereotypes about rappers in this album by delivering a maturely nuanced and complete work filled with entertaining features and jolts of hype upbeat records in between for us to enjoy.

► FROM AALIYAH

team, who had arranged an abortion to conceal the effects of his abuse. Three decades later, he is expected to serve time in prison for the heinous acts he committed involving countless minors. Aaliyah was just one of those children. Yet, the political landscape almost 30 years prior placed the blame on his victims.

The docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly’’ brought Aaliyah’s name back into public consciousness for the first time in a big way. For many years, her freshman album was the only work available for streaming online. As the music industry progressed from monitoring physical record sales through compact disc purchases and radio play into the modern age of music consumption, various artists’ work were lost in translation.

After her death, the entirety of the catalogue including “One in a Million” from 1996, self-titled “Aaliyah” in 2001, along with posthumous releases like “I Care 4 U” in 2002 and “Ultimate Aaliyah” in 2005 under Blackground Records, were locked away in the vault. Physical copies of these titles became collectors items with prices marked as such on sites like eBay. Her legacy was largely associated with her freshman effort as the rest of her work vanished, until this summer, on Aug. 8, when it was announced that the rollout of her entire discography was finally in the works. Each album was to be periodically released onto Spotify, iTunes, YouTube and more.

First came the singer’s sophomore feat, “One in a Million,” which featured notable

production by Timbaland. From the aching ballad in “The One I Gave My Heart To’’ to the funk bassline infused “If Your Girl Only Knew,” Aaliyah displays great versatility and her signature forward sound when it comes to music. The title track, “One in a Million” featuring Missy Elliott, is one of the singer’s most iconic songs. The drum pattern and lyrics have been interpolated and sampled numerous times as a sign of respect for the late singer by hip-hop acts through the years. “Got to Give it Up” is a cover of Marvin Gaye’s hit of the same name, and pairs the singer with emcee Slick Rick for a fun, upbeat collaboration.

Aaliyah was only 16 years old when this album was released, yet she displays great vocal maturity in comparison to her first record.

Aaliyah was invited onto the soundtrack of the film “Dr. Doolittle” starring comedian Eddie Murphy for “Are You That Somebody.” She also became the youngest singer at the time to perform live at the 1997 Academy Awards ceremony with “Journey to the Past” from the animated film “Anastasia”, which was nominated for best original song. Aaliyah starred in two feature length films including “Romeo Must Die” from 2000, a romance-action flick where she played alongside martial artist, Jet Li. Her involvement with the soundtracking for this film landed Aaliyah her first No. 1 record on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Try Again”.

The release of 2001’s “Aaliyah” marked the superstar’s return to music, this time in collaboration with the late Static Major for much of the songwriting and vocal

arrangements. On “Loose Rap,” she describes that her return will be marked by something new; this time it’s not “just rhythm and blues.” “What If” is an angsty, metal and blues track inspired by the likes of rock band Nine Inch Nails and pushed Aaliyah’s sound beyond the standards of her previous work. “Never No More” lyrically tackles domestic violence with theatrical backing vocals from Static Major that enhance the heavy hitting emotion by Aaliyah.

On Oct. 8, the compilation albums released after the singer’s untimely death, “I Care 4 U” and “Ultimate Aaliyah” completed the rollout of her catalogue.

With every song released by the late singer, and each video reuploaded with higher resolution than was available in the late ’90s and 2000s, longtime fans can finally access hours of timeless content from the creative. Her work is now fully accessible for new fans to discover the legacy she too soon left behind.

Aaliyah’s tragic death shocked the world. At just 22 years old, Aaliyah worked to become an international sensation. She landed a role in the second installment of the “Matrix” trilogy, one she never got the chance to fulfill. Her bold style facilitated streetwear into mainstream fashion. Her music and vocal capabilities live up to the moniker bestowed upon her as the “Princess of R&B” all these years later. Her story carries depth. It tells of the dangers women and girls experience of sexualization at the intersection of capitalism and patriarchy. It tells of triumph. She lent her voice as the unambiguously Black girl from Detroit

who suffered from abuse and trauma in the music industry, which could not overshadow the tremendous talent she possessed. From “We Need A Resolution,” to “Heartbroken,” to “Four Page Letter” and to “Back in One Piece” featuring the late rapper DMX, Aaliyah’s catalogue is staple. Her legacy cannot be understated.

H Her work cannot be erased.■

COURTESY OF MIKA-PHOTOGRAPHY VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS UNDER CC-BY-3.0

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

movie theaters

survive the postpandemic era?

Movie theater owners everywhere mourned as they realized their business model was incompatible with the pandemic, forcing them to close down for what was close to a year and a half. People adapted to the circumstances by watching newlyreleased films on streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Disney+, a practical way of enjoying new releases while also staying safe. Without movie theaters, these entertainment giants have found new ways to turn a profit through streaming, with one of the most recent being charging premiums to view new releases early.

Streaming services have proven they can still make money on new releases without including movie theaters in the equation.

Movie theaters could become a relic of the past.

It’s important to first dispel the common misconception that theaters exist solely to watch movies. A similar misconception can be found for those who think restaurants exist only for people to go eat. In reality, people go to restaurants for the experience!

It’s nice to dress up with friends and family and to sit down and have someone wait on you while engaging in pleasant conversation. Restaurants are simple and enjoyable. The same goes for movie theaters, where it’s the experience that draws people in and has them coming back time and time again.

Theaters allow moviegoers to give themselves over to the viewing experience wholeheartedly. In our daily lives, we pepper our tasks with frequent phone breaks and never immerse ourselves fully in whatever we’re doing. In contrast, movie theaters ask that you silence and put away your phone for the duration of the film, and fellow moviegoers are quick to enforce that rule because they don’t want your phone messing up their viewing experience. In the movie theater, you can’t pause the movie once the film starts rolling, and if you insist on leaving to use the bathroom, you run the risk of missing the best part! The dimmed lights, wall-sized screen and reverberating speakers allow you to put your thoughts on hold and immerse yourself in the story.

People jabbering excitedly as they

leave the theater, friends buying extralarge popcorn to share and kids running around enacting scenes they just saw are all part of what makes the movie theater experience stand out — all of which you witness before you’ve even stepped into your showing. The buzz of excitement in a packed theater is tangible, and hearing the crowd laugh and gasp as they learn the story alongside you is a comforting feeling. You can go with friends, family or even by yourself. But you know that while you sit in that room, everyone else watching is on the same page. You will all leave with similar feelings of elation, grief, contentment or inspiration.

During the pandemic, the health threat behind enjoying communal experiences was a real thing. It made sense for movie theaters to shut down and people to social distance for a time. However, in the U.S., COVID vaccines have been made widely available to most sectors of the adult population. The growing comfort people have in beginning to share spaces is reflected in box office ticket sales, with films such as “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “Venom: Let there be Carnage” grossing big numbers on their opening weekends.

People love stories, but what they love more is the experience of being immersed in a story which can only happen in a theatre. Long before the pandemic, people asked if live action Broadway productions would cease to exist with the advent of film. Today in 2021, people still spend up to hundreds of dollars to go watch and listen to their favorite Broadway shows performed live. Movie theaters are an extension of the very human inclination we have to gather together and be entertained.

It’s the reason people go to sports events, concerts, comedy shows, meet and greets and more. Technology has certainly stretched the limits of where we can absorb all this content without ever leaving our homes, but technology has not reached the point where we can be fully immersed into the stories unfolding in front of us.

Maybe that’s where the future’s heading with virtual reality goggles and sensory suits, but until then, I’ll see you guys at the H movies. ■

11

THE NEWLY CASTED HAMILTON MUSICAL IN LOS ANGELES IS WORTH THE WATCH.

THEATERS MAKE A COMEBACK FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION.

Will

ISAAC CUNALATA Contributing Writer

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

‘

Take a break:

Hamilton is in LA! ’

COURTESY OF PETE SOUZA VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS UNDER PUBLIC DOMAIN

AYLIN MORENO Contributing Writer

Addressing all Hamilfans: “Hamilton’’ has finally come to grace us in our corner of the country on Hollywood Boulevard with a newly-casted performance that has many critics raving. One of the few silver linings of COVID was the addition of “Hamilton” to Disney+. Through the haze of binges on different streaming platforms, “Hamilton’’ has definitely become a favorite amongst musical lovers and new fans of the theater arts scene. The weekend that the musical came to our screens, Disney+ saw a 74% increase in the number of downloads of their app. The original cast was considerably brilliant, and it left many viewers of this performance endeared to these particular actors. Lin-Manuel Miranda became the face of the play he wrote to exemplify hiphop and to narrate through the eyes of an immigrant.

The Disney+ version conveys a beautifully composed narrative of Alexander Hamilton and his ambitions to become a person of importance while simultaneously creating a patriotic effort to help the nation find its footing. Every step of the way is one to ogle at with the choreography, singing and overall talents of the cast and crew, with some of the greatest achievements being the use of dancing to convey different actions in the show. For example, there were several parts in the musical that used choreography to metaphorically indicate a bullet. The dancer not only portrayed its path, but also gave the viewer a sense of time and how it slowed down in the face of whatever the characters were facing in the moment.

Overall, the musical is one to put on your list if it’s something you have not seen already.

The newly-casted “Hamilton” is nothing to sneer at, however. Nicholas Christopher, the newly-casted Aaron Burr, gives his character a burst of life with added sarcastic diction and a clear hesitance in body language that translates to the overall theme of Burr’s purpose in Hamilton’s story. This is to say that his performance, while different from Leslie Odom Jr. ‘s on Disney+, was refreshing and fun to watch. Many of the newly-casted

VERDICT:

members brought different dimensions of the popular characters to life with their interpretations of the role.

Another formidable execution was that of the character Peggy Schuyler. Actress, Taylor Iman Jones brought a child-like silliness to the character that gave the moments she shone on stage comic relief for the viewer. Her voice was unmatched and showcased the youthful energy of Peggy.

In several of her moments on stage, she led her excitement with small juvenile dances and excited expressions that emphasized the age difference between her and her sisters. The last honorable mention goes to Jamael Westman and his powerhouse of a voice for the legendary “Hamilton.” He held a candle to Lin Manuel’s performance in giving the character just as much gusto and translating his ambition to the audience. Every song was stronger than the one before, and he never faltered in his performance as the founding father.

While we all hold the Disney+ version near and dear to our hearts, there is a lot to be experienced in seeing this show in person. It’s difficult to make time for a three-hour musical in our everyday lives, and it does not register as clearly when you realize these actors are dancing and singing for all three hours straight. The performance shakes you to the core when the synchronous dancers continue their energy from start to end in order to portray the fullest experience of the musical. Every aspect is different from every side of the theater — the way the stage moves, the dramatic lighting and even the way the actors have been blocked on the stage.

This theater production is already running and will continue to show through to Jan. 2, 2022. The tickets are starting at just $49, and considering the intimacy of the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, every seat is a great seat. The theater itself is a beautiful venue with a great staff. There is also merchandise available once you are checked in, including shirts, buttons, mugs, bags and more. Watching this in person will definitely give you a different experience than watching it through the screen at home as well as serve to fuel your need for “Hamilton” content as we move H forward into our academics here at UCR.■

The new cast of “Hamilton” has given this classical and fan-favorite Broadway show a new energy!

Especially with in-person Broadway shows returning, we are able to watch “Hamilton” live as it carries the excitement that it brings to the public.

COURTESY OF STAN LIM VIA UCR

12

Sports TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021

SPORTS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

JOSHUA WANG / THE HIGHLANDER

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

JOSHUA WANG / THE HIGHLANDER

UC Riverside women’s volleyball falls Highlander men’s soccer score big short against UC Santa Barbara win over the Matadors VALIANT EFFORT THROUGH THREE SETS WAS NOT ENOUGH AS THE HIGHLANDERS GO ON A SEVEN-GAME SKID.

THIS MOST RECENT WIN PLACES UCR IN THIRD PLACE IN THE BIG WEST CONFERENCE.

HANSEL CHU Assistant Sports Editor

KEVIN CONTRERAS Sports Editor

The UC Riverside women’s volleyball team suffered another defeat against UC Santa Barbara on Thursday night at the SRC Arena. Coming off of their sixth straight loss in conference play last week, the Highlanders had a tough task ahead as they faced undefeated UC Santa Barbara.

UCR gave the Gauchos a run for their money, but after three tough sets, UCSB swept them 3-0 in set play.

UCSB started the first set with an early 8-3 lead over UCR, which included five kills from the Gauchos. However, the Highlanders settled into the game and brought the score to 13-12 in the set, which included six kills, five of them coming from junior outside hitter Amarachi Osuji.

Santa Barbara would extend their lead in the first set up to 19-14, which included three kills and three attack errors from the Highlanders. Moments later, back to back kills from freshman outside hitter Michelle Ohwobete gave the Gauchos the win in the first set, 25-20.

In the second set, UCSB again went up early 8-4 after UCR won the first two rallies, which included six kills from the Gauchos. The Highlanders would rally and tied the set up 11-11, which included two kills each from sophomore outside hitter Deja Bickers and sophomore middle blocker Emily Casner. A service error from UCSB gave UCR the lead in the set.

Both teams continued to exchange rallies as they fought to get to 25 points. An ace

from the Gauchos and an attack error from the Highlanders put Santa Barbara up 2018 in the second set. UCSB would pull away in the end as three kills from senior middle blocker Rowan Ennis, a kill from freshman outside hitter Abrielle Bross and an attack error from the Highlanders would give the Gauchos the win in the second set 25-19.

The third set was dominated by UCSB as UCR couldn’t keep up with the attacks from the Gauchos. An early 14-7 lead in the third set from Santa Barbara included nine kills and three aces. UCSB would go up by as much as 17-9. However, the Highlanders made a quick turnaround and climbed back in the set 18-14, which included a kill each from Osuji and senior setter Dejah Dade. Once again, the Gauchos pulled away in the set as four kills, an ace and two attack errors from the Highlanders gave UCSB the win in the third set, 25-17, and the game.

Santa Barbara dominated the kill game as they out killed the Highlanders 49-29.

UCSB also had six aces compared to the three aces from UCR. The Highlanders did have 41 digs compared to the 35 from the Gauchos, but UCSB countered that with 11 total blocks while Riverside only had four total blocks. Osuji led the Highlanders with 13 kills and Dade had an efficient two kills in three attempts.

The Highlanders drop to 4-13 and will take on Cal State Northridge on Saturday, H Oct. 16, at the SRC Arena. ■

Tension ran high on Wednesday night, Oct. 13 as UC Riverside’s men’s soccer faced off against the Cal State University, Northridge team in an effort to advance in the Big West Conference. Despite a few technical challenges in their offense, UCR’s defense managed to hold tight enough to gather a victory at the end of the night.

“It wasn’t our best performance from an attacking and possession standpoint.

Sometimes, that happens, and we have to focus on other aspects of the game. That’s what we did tonight,” said head coach Tim Cupello.

The Highlanders kicked off the game which quickly became rocky with a few fouls being called early in the game, interrupting play. Both teams struggled to settle into the game and create opportunities for themselves. CSUN took five total shots in the first half, and UCR took four. Both teams struggled to find their rhythm in the first half of the game, and seven fouls were called in favor of the Highlanders and four against.

In the second half, CSUN initiated the gameplay and quickly launched offensively in search of the back of the Highlanders net. UCR’s defense held strong as they managed to ward off the attacks. Soon after, UCR went on an attack of their own, which came to a head in the 47th minute.

A free kick in favor of the Highlanders put them in a position to score. Junior

midfielder Oscar Penate had the ball on the left side of the field near the opposing team’s goal area, where he completed a lob pass toward the opposite side of the field.

Senior midfielder Adolfo Magana leaped into the air and managed to kick the ball towards the goal with an amazing bicycle kick, putting the Highlanders up 1-0.

“We stayed unified and worked for one another. Each guy wanted to make sure he made the effort for his teammate — that’s what earned us the result tonight,” continued Coach Cupello.

UCR’s defence really showed throughout the entirety of the game, managing to hold off the constant attacks from CSUN. The Matadors had a total of 16 shots as opposed to the Highlanders’ nine. The Matadors also had seven more corner kicks than UCR. Stil, even with the constant attacks, UCR managed to gather the win.

“We will focus on staying true to our philosophy and sharpening up our approach for the next match,” said Coach Cupello. “We know it will be a difficult one, so our focus and mental strength will need to be at a high level.”

The Highlanders returned to the pitch to face the Cal State Fullerton Titans and tied 1-1. This leaves UCR in fourth place in the Big West with a record of 3-2-1. The men’s soccer team returns to Riverside for another match on Wednesday, Oct. 20 H against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. ■