The Highlander
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For the week of Tuesday, January 11, 2022
VOL. 70, ISSUE 11
est. 1954
‘Harry Potter’
RADAR
MARKING THE 20-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST FILM’S PREMIERE, THE CAST REUNITES FOR A REUNION SPECIAL.
The reunion rings in the new year with nostalgia
family, even to the point where my siblings and I would memorize the lines together. This is why the film franchise and the cast as a whole are so special to so many of us, which also explains the global excitement to watch the HBO special. A large portion of the special focuses on the fact that the “Harry Potter” series is essentially a coming of age story, where we watch the characters grow in a continuously darkening world at the hands of Voldemort and his followers, the death eaters. The world of “Harry Potter” is anything but ordinary, but what all children and adults can relate to is its coming of age aspect where all throughout, we see the characters navigate through life obstacles that we can connect with in a world that we can mentally escape to. “Stories give us a place we can go where we can rest and feel held,” explains Emma Watson as she discusses why the series is so special amongst fans whose identities can often
FATEMA SHALABI Managing Editor
Fans of the “Harry Potter” film franchise, based on the books by J.K. Rowling, weren’t only counting down the seconds left to start the new year on Dec. 31. Instead, fans around the world also counted down the seconds left for the premiere of “Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts” on HBO Max at 12 a.m. Both the books and the eight-film series have grown to hold a unique position amongst the entertainment world by continuing to have a special place in so many hearts around the globe. Though many can argue that this franchise is just that: a franchise, so many adults, just like myself, grew up with “Harry Potter” in their households. Even though I was a little too young to remember the monumental book releases, watching the movies became a large part of my childhood and
OPINIONS Americans aren’t willing to do the hard work of maintaining democracy YSABEL NAKASONE Contributing Writer
The Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol seemed like an event that should have been a tipping point for the country. It should have been an earth-shattering moment that encouraged the public to condemn white supremacy. It is a day that should and will be marked in history books along with the British burning and encroachment of the U.S. Capitol in 1814. This isn’t the first time though in the last 200 years that the Capitol has been attacked in some capacity, but the violent altercations of the last two centuries have not risen to the level of terrorism
as the Jan. 6 attack. Instead of rallying together against the misinformation that led to this event, the country is digging its heels in. Americans across the board are losing faith in the Great American Experiment with more than 60% of Americans believing their democracy is failing. The country’s lack of a collective condemnatory response to an act of violent terrorism is plainly indicative of a deteriorating democracy. The attack itself was an obvious sign that American democracy is decaying. Those who attacked the Capitol did so as the results of the 2020 presidential election were ► SEE DEMOCRACY PAGE 5
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MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER THE VIOLENT INSURGENCE OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS IN THE U.S. CAPITOL, THE COUNTRY’S DEMOCRATIC VALUES ARE BEING TRAMPLED ON AS AMERICANS FAIL TO UPHOLD THEM.
OTHER NOTABLE CHANGES INCLUDE MODIFICATIONS TO THE DINING HOURS.
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UCR Dining announces that Glen Mor Market’s Savor will be moved to the Lothian Dining Hall ABHIJIT REGE News Editor
Effective Jan. 2, 2022, UCR Housing, Dining and Hospitality Services have announced that the restaurant, Savor, has been moved from the Glen Mor Market to Lothian’s Dining Hall for the winter quarter. This change comes in order to accomodate the winter season, and the cold weather that comes with it, by allowing Lothian residents to dine indoors.
However, UCR Dining is unable to open the Lothian restaurant due to the widespread, persistent issue of a shortage in staff, especially for the culinary team in the kitchen. The Lothian Dining Hall had been closed until further notice since UCR Housing, Dining and Hospitality Services’ announcement on Sept. 24. COVID restrictions and precautions, as well as mass unemployment during the
pandemic, have contributed to a nationwide shortage in labor. The recent wave of the new Omicron variant may cause further trouble to an already exacerbated issue. Modified hours of operation also accompany this change and will be in place from Jan. 3 to 16. The Glasgow Residential Restaurant and Savor at Lothian will be open exclusively for meal plan holders. Modified hours of operation ► SEE DINING PAGE 3
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022
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The ninth ASUCR meeting saw the approval of three new associate justice members AMARAY ALVAREZ Assistant News Editor
On Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 the Associated Students of UCR called to order their ninth meeting remotely as a result of the rising COVID-19 cases. All senators were present, excluding CNASS Senator Catelin La and CHASS Senators Angelina Chavez, Christian Martinez and Hoang Vu. Motions to approve the current meeting’s agenda were called for by Executive Vice President Mufida Assaf with the removal of the Finance and Legislative Review Committee reports that were left on the agenda from the previous meeting. The removal of the committee reports was first motioned by Senator Victoria Nguyen then seconded by Senator Garcia. The agenda was approved first by Senator Tammar Akel and second by Senator Nguyen. New Business was reviewed and saw the judicial nominations of three students. Second-year computer science major Fadi Zaki, second-year political science major Alexandra Arias and third-year sociology
THE FIRST MEETING OF THE WINTER SESSION OCCURRED REMOTELY DUE TO CLASSES BEING HELD ONLINE FOR THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE QUARTER. major Audrey Tang were all given time to plead their cases as to why they should be selected. Senators Cabalo and Akel both spoke in favor of the candidates. The candidates also responded to questions on how they would enforce punishment regarding senators unknowingly breaking election rules. All three candidates were approved and voted in as associate justices. There were no Executive Office reports as no members from the Executive Cabinet were present. Ethnic and Gender Programs followed with nothing to report as well. No further comments or announcements were made. H The meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.■ ARCHIVE / THE HIGHLANDER
► FROM DINING
also accompany this change and will be in place from Jan. 3 to 16. The Glasgow Residential Restaurant and Savor at Lothian will be open exclusively for meal plan holders. The Glasgow restaurant will open to students from Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for breakfast, 10:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for dinner. For weekend diners, brunch will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., while dinner will be served at 5:00 p.m. till 9:00 p.m. Savor at Lothian will operate on Mondays to Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m and on Sundays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Saturdays. Other locations on campus
will remain open with limited operating hours as well. The Market at Glen Mor and the Starbucks will continue to operate along with both Scotty’s in the HUB and Glasgow. Restaurants in the HUB that will also remain open are the Habit Burger, Panda Express, Chronic Tacos and the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. However, restaurants in the HUB and the Glen Mor Starbucks will operate with limited hours, with Panda Express and Chronic Tacos closing at 3:00 p.m., CB&T closing at 4:00 p.m. and Habit Burger and Starbucks closing at 5:00 p.m. UCR Dining is still continuing to hire staff for their residence halls and restaurants. Students interested in pursuing an on-campus job can look into filling a dining service position at dining.ucr.edu/ H employment. ■ COURTESY OF UCRIVERSIDEOFFICIAL VIA INSTAGRAM
Opinions
6 TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022
OPINIONS
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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL LOW L A L STIL ACKS. S W R A UN L H THE C G T TRIC THROUG S S ’ A I L FORN S TO FAL I L A C GUN FOR
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California’s faulty gun law can’t solve the issue surrounding gun violence
alifornia has some of the strictest gun laws in the United States. Motivated over the years by incidents across the country, California has worked to clamp down on guns in an attempt to ensure that no tragedies occur. However, one of these gun laws written over 20 years ago operates on the simple statement that “dangerous people should not own guns,” but in today’s world, it is failing to fulfill this promise. The law compiled a database of people who owned guns who were now considered too dangerous to own them. However, this has been almost impossible to enforce since it was written. Though this law was once considered groundbreaking, it needs to be fixed in order for it to work the way it’s meant to, and possibly shift how we look at guns overall. While this gun law seems like a basic, obvious goal that anyone regardless of political stance could potentially agree with, the fact is that it’s so nebulous that it’s no wonder it hasn’t been able to be enforced. Defining a “dangerous person” is in and of itself a difficult task. Operating off a legal basis, it would seem obvious that convicted sex offenders, criminals and those on parole should not have access to firearms, but the fact is that this very system is hard to enforce anyway. Criminals all over California still have firearms in excess, and just because someone hands some firearms over doesn’t mean that they aren’t concealing others in the home. It’s for this same unfortunate reason that America could never really do a fullout buyback of guns from everyone who is currently in possession of one. Police would need a warrant to thoroughly search every single house, which requires a judge and plenty of legal work anyway. Though this gun law has resulted in a database of those deemed “dangerous”
and the firearms they may possess, we can never know for certain if a dangerous person does or doesn’t have more guns on hand. Not to mention that guns can still be obtained illegally, because those who intend to do harm will find any way to do so.
“
...just because someone hands some firearms over doesn’t mean that they aren’t concealing others in the home.
”
Though a law like this seems like it could do wonders in the face of American gun violence, gun laws do nothing if they aren’t enforced. Indeed, the very basis that there are military-grade firearms for sale that can be stockpiled by anyone is a problem in and of itself. There’s no clear caliber by which to confirm that a person is “too dangerous,” and to simply say that only criminals should only be banned from buying guns fails to mention that most mass shootings are perpetrated by those who have no criminal record, thereby making traditional background checks essentially useless. Though in theory this law is great, what should be focused on instead is how to ensure these guns don’t end up being weaseled away by people who might want to cause harm. The debate surrounding background checks for guns is something that could be argued over for ages. But there might just be a compromise. Many people use
guns recreationally, such as for hunting or for keeping their property safe if they live in a rural area. If gun laws are tightened so that people don’t have 50 AK-47s in their home and instead have a couple of hunting rifles for recreation or actual protection, then we could see a potential decrease in mass shootings. Though shootings can still happen, removing military-grade weapons from the civilian market and ensuring that the only guns that can be purchased are for the intended purpose of the gun, it could prevent damages as we know them and if nothing else, keep “dangerous people” from getting their hands on more guns. No one likes to talk about gun laws and gun control in the United States. It’s a sticky topic that is nuanced in a way that most people don’t care to admit. Gun issues in the United States are not as black and white as we would like them to be, and an all-out gun ban would be impossible, from the fact that it would be impossible to enforce to the potential to start an all-out civil war. It is fine to be concerned about the right to protect oneself, but the founders of the United States did not know that people armed with assault rifles would be killing innocent people in schools, grocery stores and public plazas 200 years after the Second Amendment was written. It is hard to reach across the aisle on this issue, but one thing is true: no one needs to stockpile assault rifles, and anyone with a gun in any circumstance has the H potential to be dangerous at any time.■
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
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022
7
Twitter was right to ban Marjorie Taylor Greene for spreading COVID lies COVID MISINFORMATION IS DANGEROUS, AND ITS PROPONENTS SHOULD FACE CONSEQUENCES FOR ENGAGING IN IT.
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► FROM DEMOCRACY
being certified in an effort to overturn a legitimate, democratic process. The attackers were encouraged to commit such an atrocious effort by what is referred to as the “Big Lie.” The “Big Lie” is former President Donald Trump’s unfounded claim that he did win the 2020 election. This claim is taking up space in the political conversation with only a mere 55% of Americans accepting President Joe Biden as the legitimate winner of the 2020 election, revealing the weakening of democratic norms and faith in democratic processes. Furthermore, the growing division and polarization of political parties goes beyond the importance of loyal opposition. Senator Ted Cruz stating that if the Republican party takes back control of the House, they will work to impeach President Biden “whether it’s justified or not,” suggests further erosion of respect for the democratic principles laid out in our Constitution. Impeachment is a measure reserved to hold a president accountable for especially heinous acts, such as treason or other high crimes, and to weaponize it solely on the basis of disagreement goes against an act this country was founded on protecting: dissent. What is especially alarming is the very obvious rise of hate and division among racial lines, specifically in the form of white supremacists. Attorney General, Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified in May 2021 that white supremacist groups currently represent the largest terror threat to the United
HARRY STOLTZ Contributing Writer
On Sunday, Jan. 2, Twitter permanently suspended the personal account of Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene for violation of the site’s COVID misinformation policies. Over the course of the pandemic, Greene has repeatedly pushed dangerous conspiracies regarding the efficacy of vaccines and downplayed the dangers of the coronavirus on Twitter. As a private entity, the website has every right to, and should, crack down on this kind of rhetoric. COVID-19 lies aren’t Greene’s first foray into far-right conspiracy theories. In 2017, Greene suggested that there were possible links between Hillary Clinton and a fictitious sex trafficking ring involving underage children and human sacrifice. Greene also supported the theory that Former President Barack Obama was secretly muslim, the government staged multiple mass-shootings, 9/11 was an inside job and that Jewish space lasers caused California wildfires in 2018. Greene was elected with a long history of supporting antisemetic, white supremacist and QAnon conspiracy theories. Leading up to, and since her election to Congress in 2020, Greene has shifted most of her conspiracism to the pandemic. “Vaccines are failing and do not reduce the spread of the virus & neither do masks,” wrote the congresswoman last
August. This is, of course, false and very dangerous. According to peer-reviewed data published on the CDC website, “COVID-19 vaccines can reduce the risk of people spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.” Additionally, N95 masks can actually delay the spread of coronavirus by up to 100x in some cases. Cloth and surgical masks are less effective, but still delay spread significantly. As an elected official, Greene has a moral obligation to advocate for mask use — not reject it. Leading up to her ban from Twitter, Congresswoman Greene was previously suspended four times for spreading misinformation on COVID that broke the site’s terms of service. Greene is only the latest elected Republican to face backlash for using Twitter to spread dangerous speech. Last year, President Trump was famously kicked off the platform for inciting the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol building. According to Twitter, Greene’s tweets broke the site’s COVID-19 misleading information policy. From Twitter: “Content that is demonstrably false or misleading and may lead to significant risk of harm (such as increased exposure to the virus, or adverse effects on public health systems) may not be shared on Twitter.” Dangerous medical misinformation shouldn’t be normalized, and Twitter’s decision to permanently suspend the Congresswoman was the H right call. ■
States. It’s entirely believable that these groups will attempt to subvert future elections through hateful rhetoric and violent action. During the 2020 election, there were armed protestors outside of voting centers. Experts worry that this type of action is being normalized, and therefore violence is also being normalized. This worry is not unfounded with a poll released in December by the Washington Post and the University of Maryland stating that 40% of Republicans, 41% of independents and 23% of Democrats believe that violence against the government can sometimes be justified. It has been more than a year since the attack, and the Jan. 6 committee is expected to release its findings this summer. Members have hinted at possible accusations of criminal culpability to the former president which may be sent to the Department of Justice. Former President Trump has utterly failed to do the bare minimum and sufficiently condemn the attackers. It would be a mistake to assume that he will ever be a voice of reason. His voice will likely continue to polarize this country and possibly incite further violence if he takes back the spotlight in 2024 as he runs for reelection. The people of this country are losing their ability to find common ground between political parties in the fundamental values this country was founded on. They are losing their common identity as Americans, which may be the very thing this country needs H to uphold its democratic ideals.■ COURTESY OF THOMAS HAWK VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-NC 2.0
Features 6 TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022
FEATURES
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CAMPUS COPE:
Keeping yourself healthy during unprecedented times ASHLEY CHEN Features Editor
SCARED OF GETTING SICK? HERE ARE A FEW TRICKS TO KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY.
As rainy weather arises and the chilly winter season settles in, many students struggle to prevent themselves from catching the cold or flu. With the ongoing COVID variants, like the Delta variant and the newly detected Omicron virus, it’s hard finding ways to keep your body healthy to fight off these viruses while trying to maintain a successful academic year. Here are a few tips to keep your body healthy during the winter season.
Take a moment to stretch or workout Although classes are expected to eventually return to being in person, some classes have switched their lectures and discussions back to remote learning. With some students having multiple classes online, it’s easy to just stay in bed and sign-in to your lectures right before class starts. Taking five minutes of your day to stretch and walk around your room can help your body and mind become more active and motivated.
Take vitamin C Taking vitamin C is found to have beneficial health effects in those who are diagnosed with severe illnesses or infections. Eating lots of citrus fruits, tomatoes and potatoes can help improve your immune system. You can find vitamin C caplets at your local pharmacy.
Continue to maintain social distance With the recent surge of COVID cases and newly discovered viruses, students should take precaution by socially distancing themselves from those who may be sick. Staying at least 6 feet away can help reduce your chances of getting sick.
Drink hot tea As the weather begins to fall below 50 degrees, it’s hard to get up from your warm and cozy bed. Having a nice cup of hot tea with lemon first thing in the morning can help start off your day. Drinking a cup of hot tea can help prepare your body and mind for the materials you are about to learn in class. For those who have multiple classes a day, taking five minutes of your morning to drink tea will improve your wellbeing before attending your classes.
Manage your time School can be stressful sometimes, especially during midterms and finals season. By having an agenda or calendar, you can manage your time for homework, classes, on-campus and off-campus activities, work and personal time. Although this could be overwhelming to try, it’s a good start to managing your everyday activity and goals. A Google calendar is also helpful for those who are always H on-the-go. ■
How to overcome the winter quarter slump SENNA OMAR Assistant Features Editor
It is officially winter quarter, and as the weather gets colder, the overwhelming urge to snuggle up in bed with a warm beverage and an endless supply of feelgood movies begins to grow. Here is some advice to keep you from falling into the winter quarter slump.
Take a Break
After coming back from the relaxation of winter break, it is really easy to get overwhelmed with school work. Instead of spending countless hours stressing about all of your assignments, take an hour to relax or pretend you are still on break. Just remember that everything is better in moderation, and eventually, you do have to get back to work. Your productivity will increase exponentially after giving your brain a moment to recharge.
Write a Bucket List
Since the year just started, try creating a bucket list for 2022, complete with everything you would like to do this year. Give yourself something non-academic related to look forward to and to work toward. Sometimes, stress gets in the way of our ability to enjoy life. Remember that you are still young and should be enjoying your life while working hard in school.
Join a new club/organization Sometimes, when you’re too focused on school and assignments, hobbies tend to fall on the backburner. This quarter, join a club or campus organization purely for your enjoyment. If you love sports, join a club team; if dance is your passion, try joining one of UCR’s many dance clubs. You can find all clubs and organizations on HighlanderLink.
Start a Planner
It is much easier to keep up with all your tasks and due dates when everything is in one place. Not only will a planner keep you organized and on top of all your assignments, but it will also provide you with an incentive to get your work done with the satisfaction of crossing it off your to-do list.
New Year New Music
WINTER QUARTER CAN FEEL SLOW AND OVERWHELMING, HERE A GUIDE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING VICTIM TO THE WINTER QUARTER SLUMP.
To ring in the new year, create new playlists with all those unique songs you discovered over break. Start with a study playlist to help you focus on doing well this quarter, maybe a workout playlist to keep up with those new year resolutions and then just a random H one that you can listen to every day. ■
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The exhaustive and ongoing pattern of reboots The exhaustive and ongoing pattern of reboots The exhaustive and ongoing pattern of reboots The exhaustive and ongoing pattern of reboots The exhaustive and ongoing pattern of reboots The exhaustive and ongoing pattern of reboots SEVERAL REVIVALS FOR ICONIC MOVIES AND TV SHOWS HAVE APPEARED IN THE LAST YEAR, WITH MANY REVOLVING AROUND THE SAME STORY CONCEPT AND ORIGINAL CHARACTERS.
BRENDA JOVEL Assistant Radar Editor
One thing can be said about reboots: they won’t always feel the same as the originals. There are cases where cast members will bring life to a character they once played years ago that always manages to cause an uproar of excitement. On the other hand, there are also instances where vital characters no longer return to the reboot that may result in fans feeling indifferent toward it. When reboots for shows or movies happen, there is this idea that they are meant to continue the legacy of their respective original hits. They can also serve as a piece of homage to honor these once beloved characters or the general plot that these originally brought. Such can be seen in the “Gossip Girl” reboot where we don’t see original cast members reprise their iconic character roles, but rather a fresh set of new faces that continue the alluring mystery of being monitored online. It would have been a good idea to end “Gossip Girl” when its final episode aired back in 2012 rather than prolonging the same concept with different characters. The reboot revolves around the same idea that made the original show feel so unique, yet many are still investing their time and energy into essentially watching a rehash of the original story. The same can be said about the upcoming reboot for the film “Scream,” which will premiere on Jan. 14, 2022. Branded as a teen slasher film in the ’90s, “Scream” has created a gateway for various sequels over the span of a 25-year legacy. The 2022 reboot is technically a sequel to “Scream 4,” yet it doesn’t take place within the same timeframe. Having a killer stalker terrorizing a young group of friends
while also going on a murderous hunting spree seems to somehow still excite fans who have been following the cult classic for years. But when does it end, and how are we not bored of the same concept being played out multiple times? The reason why people appear to still enjoy the same movie over the years seems to be because of its return of classic characters. For example, Neve Campbell who played “Scream” queen Sidney Prescott in 1996 returns to the upcoming reboot, as well as her fellow co-stars, Courtney Cox and David Arquette. When you put original characters into a revival, it’s sure to stir up nostalgia from fans of different generations. It’s hard to resist the curiosity over where these characters are in their lives in our modern age. That’s why people continue to become tied to reboots of classics because we can’t let go of characters who have become iconic over the years. Reboots haven’t solely been limited to movies. “iCarly,” the well-known comedy sitcom on Nickelodeon, had what we thought would be its final episode on Nov. 23, 2012. Saying goodbye to Carly Shay (Miranda Cosgrove), Sam Puckett (Jeannette McCurdy) and Freddie Benson (Nathan Kress), who lit up our screens during the weekdays after elementary school, was heartbreaking. Anyone born in the early 2000s watched these characters grow up as they navigated the intimidating world of teenagers while somehow always finding themselves in bizarre situations. When the series finale aired, it felt like the door was closed forever for diehard fans, but turning to the present-day, that doesn’t seem to be the case. It was announced in early December 2020 that the hit sitcom would be back with its original cast. Many were excited to see how
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these characters ended up since the last time we saw them — nearly 10 years ago! The reboot would be streamed on Paramount+ instead of airing on live television and would not in fact include all of its original cast members. From the originals, Jeanette McCurdy was the only one who didn’t make it to the reboot. Reasons such as McCurdy’s busy schedule had prevented her from joining her old castmates. Knowing this, it did cause uncertainty whether the reboot would live up to the original show. New characters such as Carly’s new roommate Harper (Laci Mosley) and Freddie’s stepdaughter Milicent (Jaidyn Triplett) were introduced. These new characters bring a breath of fresh air to the show, yet it’s impossible to forget Sam Puckett’s legacy. She juxtaposed Carly’s character so well that that became the factor for peak comedy when the original show aired. Seeing the reboot without Sam’s tough personality and closeknit friendship with Carly feels strange, but maybe change is what the revival needed to be successful as its counterpart and appeal to its new modern audience. These reboots do serve a purpose in that they allow generations of fans to feel as if they are still growing up with their favorite characters. The original movies and shows may have ended years ago, but these reboots give us another chance to see how these characters turned out. Revivals make these characters feel more relatable since they are navigating the adult world as fans are most likely doing themselves. Although some reboots have failed to live up to the legacy that their respective movie or show once brought, they are still widely anticipated and intriguing to the public eye. It’s no wonder why many H classics aren’t left alone to revel in their glory.■
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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‘The Witcher’ SEASON 2: was it worth the wait?
AFTER NEARLY TWO YEARS, “THE WITCHER” HAS RETURNED FOR A SECOND SEASON, CAPTIVATING FANS YET AGAIN.
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SAMUEL LAO Radar Editor
Oftentimes, we sadly have to see shows we love and want more of get thrown into the gutter, never to return for another season. Stephen Surjik’s adaptation of season two finally came to light after many fans thought that COVID-19 would derail further production of the show. Season one of “The Witcher” saw a lot of praise as it garnered a 91% approval rating from fans, who loved the mix of a fantasy world set in medieval times. The show revolves around the famous witcher, Geralt of Rivia, who travels the continent slaying monsters for coin, the one true purpose of a witcher. Geralt is one of many witchers, a collective of mutated orphans who are trained as highly dangerous monster slayers. The witchers tend to stay out of the affairs of humans and their wars, only looking to make money from villagers plagued by monsters. To give a quick recap of the first season, we see the nation of Nilfgaard contest the powerhouse nation of Cintra, with many deeming it a lost cause and a waste of a war. To the astonishment of many, Cintra fell in
VERDICT:
a grave loss, and everyone was murdered in a mass genocide. To her luck, Princess Cirilla of Cintra was able to escape, with many sacrificing their lives for her. As her grandmother, and caretaker, is about to pass, she tells Ciri to find Geralt of Rivia, thus intertwining the paths of our main characters. In season one, we also follow the path of Yennefer of Vengerberg, who is a lowly farm girl sold to the mages of Aretuza. Here, we see her come into her own, struck with an infatuation for power and willing to do anything to get it. Yennefer and Geralt briefly cross paths, and even fall in love, but that doesn’t last for long as they are pulled into opposite directions. Season one ends with Ciri eventually finding Geralt and with a huge battle at the kingdom of Sodden where fans were left questioning whether Yennefer survived or not. After two long years, fans of the popular show were finally able to feel excited as “The Witcher” was announced for release in December 2021. Currently, the show sits in the No. 2 spot on Netflix’s top 10, and it seems like it will remain for quite some time. Season two is filled with many answers to the questions that fans had at the end of season one, but more
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importantly, our main characters are now together, which makes for a more conjoined story. In all of season one, viewers were forced to handle many different story arcs at many different points of time, only having everything make sense at the end of the season. This type of story writing is definitely one that obviously had many people intrigued, but Surjik definitely understood that season one was only really a build-up for something bigger in season two. With our main characters more focused on one common goal, instead of various individual goals, the story is much more interesting and easier to follow along. Like season one, season two is still full of monsters, battles, political warfare and everything else that made fans fall in love with the show in the first place. At eight one-hour episodes, this show is obviously something that can be deemed “bingeworthy,” and with the cliffhangers that end each episode, binging the show is really the only way to go. Season two most definitely ends in a way that leaves the door open for a third season, and with the attention that “The Witcher” has received in the past, a third season will be almost guaranteed.
After watching season two of “The Witcher,” it’s safe to say that this is most definitely a worthy season that fans need to watch. For those looking for a new show to get into, “The Witcher” is the perfect one to start on.
THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022
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COURTESY OF HBOMAX ► FROM HARRY POTTER
Though the special marks 20 years since the start of the film series, it also marks a little over a decade since the cast last met for the filming of the last movie, and the cast’s excitement to reunite added an extra pinch of wholesomeness for the already thrilled fans. The special, which runs for a little under two hours, is organized into segments, where couples of movies are talked about in order with different sections in between. However, this organization does not make the reunion feel staged at all. While reminiscing about memories during the filming of the series, the actors and the behind-the-scenes cast genuinely seem happy to reunite, making the special feel natural and not like another reunion or reboot aimed at simply making money. Among the actors to return are those who play the
golden trio: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), alongside others like Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) and several others also appearing. The discussions amongst the actors present a strong balance between conversations about the bonds they shared behind the scenes, like how they used to fall asleep on each other’s shoulders during long filming days, and about the filming of some of the most loved scenes by fans, like the scene where Harry and Hermione dance in the “Deathly Hallows: Part 1.” Fans were also interested to learn that Fiennes had to undergo three hours of makeup to transition into the character of Voldemort and that Helena Bonham Carter kept a movie prop: Bellatrix’s fake teeth. A moment that had fans in tears is when the special pays tribute to cast members who have passed away,
amongst them being Richard Harris (Albus Dumbledore in the first two movies), Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy) and Alan Rickman (Severus Snape). Though this tribute is emotional to watch, there is undoubtedly a sense of appreciation that can not be explained better than through the words of Robbie Coltrane, where he says, “The legacy of the movies… is that my children’s generation will show them to their children. So you could be watching it in 50 year’s time, easy. I’ll not be here, sadly, but Hagrid will.” The special concludes with parallelism to this thought with lines from perhaps the most pivotal moment in the whole series where audience members watch Snape’s memories in “Deathly Hallows: Part 2”: “‘After all this H time?’ ‘Always.’” ■ THE SPECIAL IS AVAILABLE TO STREAM EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO MAX.
VERDICT:
“Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts” is a wonderful watch to ring in the new year after a difficult year of 2021. It’s a special experience that is a testament to the fact that the franchise is as strong as ever and will last for generations to come. COURTESY OF HBOMAX
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae
COURTESY OF THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON
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‘Heaux Tales’ is an exemplary concept album in contemporary music ELIAS ALMAREZ-HERRERA Contributing Writer
After a slew of record breaking songs: “Bust Your Windows” (2008), “Need U Bad” (2008), “Holding You Down (Goin’ in Circles)” (2010) “Let it Burn” (2015) and wide recognition throughout award seasons with Grammy nominations including best new Artist and R&B vocal performance, Jazmine Sullivan went silent. She encountered writer’s block and became unable to rely on the gift of song as she once could before the pressures that came with the whole world knowing her name. “Gotta stop getting f— up / What did I have in my cup? / I don’t know where I woke up.” These opening lines in “Bodies (Intro)” perfectly set the stage for the exploration of substance abuse, regrettable decisions and introspection in “Heaux Tales” (2021). In the digital streaming age of music which emphasizes viral moments and short-lived popularity on social media platforms like TikTok, Jazmine Sullivan’s return to music was nothing short of refreshing. Her experience developing as an artist since the early 2000s is apparent in the cohesion of “Heaux Tales.” The concept album is a phenomenon popularized post1940s and refers to a full body of work containing songs that build upon one another to tell a complete story. While Sullivan lends an eclectic array of powerhouse vocalizations to each of the eight songs on the 14-track extended play, the diverse narratives within
THE END OF JAZMINE SULLIVAN’S FIVE-YEAR HIATUS FROM THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WAS MARKED WITH CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR PLATFORMING DISCUSSIONS ON FEMALE IDENTITY AND SEXUAL LIBERTY.
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the album take center spotlight. A cast of Black women from walks of life make up the spoken interludes and act as the binding force for the entire project. “Rashida’s Tale,” “Ari’s Tale,” “Donna’s Tale” and so on display vulnerability, offering insight on the varying phases of each woman’s sexual experiences. These pieces of spoken word work in tandem with the lyrical content sung by Jazmine Sullivan and the featured artists, culminating to tell many stories simultaneously, all in a 32-minute runtime. The messaging is contradictory at times. A perspective of shame and regret shared in the aforementioned “Bodies (Intro)” persists in the leading single “Lost Ones,” wherein Sullivan commands deep sorrow vocally over a lost love. Humanity rings clear through the emotions she describes, using sex and substances to fill the void. Tracks like “Put It Down” and “Price Tags” act as an antithesis for this outlook on sexual acts, expressing euphoria both in lyrical content and production. “On It” contrasts sensuality and gospel-influenced riffing to encapsulate the spirituality of love-making. At no point does the concept come off gimmicky or play on harmful tropes. “Heaux Tales’’ is a fully realized project, part of an ongoing movement to create space for Black women’s expressions of grief, mistakes, ups, downs and most importantly, expressions of self. “Pick Up Your Feelings,” among many others on the album, points to the humanity of Black
women, like Sullivan herself, who deserve space to describe the authenticity of their experiences. Amongst the pressures from industry executives and prospective romantic partners alike, Black women are far too often typecast into constrictive boxes. Jazmine Sullivan’s work is expansive and speaks to a wideranging audience, creating space for fluctuation outside of those labels. “Heaux Tales” has already aged finely since its release in January of last year. It will continue to act as a time capsule, the catalyst for normalizing women’s agency over their bodies and sexuality in the 2020s, regardless if it is recognized by the Recording Academy or not at the 64th Annual Grammy Ceremony. In her acceptance speech for album of the year at the 2021 Soul Train Awards, Sullizan gracefully stated, “I feel uncomfortable with people seeing me. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t hide anymore. Usually, if I wasn’t feeling my best, I probably wouldn’t have showed up, and I don’t want to do that anymore. H You have to love yourself.” ■
VERDICT: “Heaux Tales” is a liberating listen for anyone who has faced inwards to understand and unlearn the deep seeded reasoning behind their desires and habitual sexual behavior.
THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports
SPORTS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022
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Tough week for UC Riverside’s women’s basketball team as they suffer back-to-back losses
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KEVIN CONTRERAS Sports Editor
UCR’s women’s basketball team returned to the court this past week to face off against two major opponents. After about a 3-week hiatus, the women’s team was eager to resume game play again. Coach Nicole Powell and her team fought bravely in their new year debut but unfortunately suffered back-to-back losses. On Jan. 6, the Highlanders lost against UC San Diego 57-60 in a last minute slip up. Desperate to come back, the Highlanders traveled to Irvine for the Big West season opener on Jan. 8.
Both teams quickly tapped into their competitive spirit immediately after tip off. The Irvine Anteaters were the first to score, with Hunter Hernandez opening up the scoreboard. A minute later, sophomore guard India Aikins came into the paint off of a fast break to even out the score. Both teams went back and forth again. UCR Riverside quickly found themselves in the lead after a free throw from junior forward Anna Blount put them up 5-4. Both teams, eager to claim the lead for themselves, traded baskets, tying at 7 points with just over five minutes left in the first quarter. Irvine began going ahead, but
the Highlanders quickly put themselves back into it. Both teams tied again at 13 with over a minute to go, but the Anteaters managed a quick 5-0 run. The Highlanders ended the first quarter down 13-18. The Highlanders came into the second quarter with a newfound intensity, quickly going on a 6-0 run putting them up 1918. The Highlanders wanted to get back in the lead, but the small deficit from the first quarter seemed to be too deep. Senior guard Keilani Cooper and Aikins managed to add a combined total of 6 more points to the Highlander score. Both teams scored 12 points in the second half, but the 5-point deficit remained the same as UCR went into halftime down 25-30. After a tough first half, UC Riverside went into the second half with that same Highlander vigor, going on a 5-0 to tie the score at 30. The Anteaters did not retreat, scoring some shots of their own. Both teams tied again at 32 with 6:32 left on the clock. Irvine then began to break away again, going on a 7-0 run which put up 39-32. Despite that, UCR did not relent, going on a 7-2 run of their own, landing them at 39-41 with just over two minutes left in the third quarter. Irvine managed to find another lead again, reaching 44 points, but UCR was right behind them, ending the quarter down by one, 43-44. Once again, UCR found themselves going on the offensive at the beginning of the final quarter, going on a 4-0 run which put them up 47-44 within the first two minutes. The Anteaters responded to that with an 8-0 run of their own, 52-47. UCR
HIGHLANDERS FACED OFF AGAINST UC SAN DIEGO AND UC IRVINE BUT CAME SHY OF VICTORY.
attempted to keep the Anteaters at bay scoring 4 points to put them down by one, 52-51 with over two minutes left on the clock. The Anteater offense proved too much for the Highlanders going on another impressive 7-0 run, putting them up 59-51 with 17 seconds left in the game. The Highlanders tried to muster up the necessary 8 points to tie and head into over time but were unable, losing the game 5953. The Highlander stars in this game were Cooper and Aikins, scoring 14 and 12 points respectively. The unfortunate thorn in the Highlander team’s side was the amount of turnovers which allowed Irvine to score as many points as they did. UCR’s offense still was able to shine through in small moments, managing to score a total of 24 points from within the paint. The Highlanders resume game play on H Jan. 13, against Cal Poly in the SRC Arena.■
UC Riverside men’s basketball team squeaks out win against UC San Diego HANSEL CHU Assistant Sports Editor
HIGHLANDERS DOMINATE THE GLASS IN THEIR FIRST GAME BACK SINCE A BRIEF HIATUS.
The UC Riverside men’s basketball team defeated UC San Diego, 59-51, at the SRC Arena on Thursday night. It was the first game for the Highlanders since Dec. 12, as UCR had their next four games canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. The Highlanders were without their star point guard, Zyon Pullin, but a great team effort by UC Riverside was enough for them to get the victory over the Tritons and remain undefeated at home this season. UCR jumped out to an early 8-0 start in the opening minutes of the game. A tough layup plus the foul by junior forward J.P. Moorman II extended the Highlander lead to 11-3 within the first five minutes of the game. A couple of possessions later, sophomore guard Wil Tattersal finished a layup plus the foul to give UC Riverside a 16-5 lead. However, a five-minute scoring drought from the Highlanders allowed the Tritons to climb back into the game. A 6-0 run from UCSD brought the score to 16-11 before a 3-pointer from redshirt junior guard Flynn Cameron pushed back the lead to 8 points, 19-11. Backto-back triples from UCSD closed the margin to a one-score game, 19-16 with 6:50 left in the first half. Both teams continued to trade baskets to close out the first half. The Tritons started to catch fire as they continued to hit three after
three. A 3-pointer from freshman forward Francis Nwaokorie brought the Highlander lead down to 1 point, 23-22 with 5:35 left in the half. The Highlanders struggled to hit shots consistently after the hot start, and as the first-half buzzer sounded, they found themselves only up by one, 27-26. At the halftime mark, UCR shot 46.2% from the field but only hit one-eleventh from 3-point range. Even though the Highlanders led the rebounding margin 24-13, they also turned the ball over nine times compared to three from UCSD, which led to more possessions for the Tritons. In the second half, both teams battled to secure a hold on the game. A layup from Nwaokorie gave UC San Diego their first lead of the game. UC Riverside responded by going on a quick 5-0 run led by an and-one layup from Moorman II to give UCR the lead 33-28. However, the Tritons went on a 7-0 run of their own to retake the lead led by the reigning Player of the Week, Toni Rocak. Nearing the halfway point of the second half, the Highlanders started to gain control of the game as a 9-0 run gave UC Riverside a 47-38 lead. A couple of minutes later, a corner triple from Cameron gave UCR their first double-digit lead since the opening minutes of the game, 54-43, with 6:10 left in the game. However, the Tritons would not go away, as back-to-back triples from redshirt junior forward Matt Gray brought UCSD within five, 54-49.
With 44.6 seconds left in the game, Moorman II iced the game with a spin move into a jump hook to give the Highlanders a 58-51 lead. The Tritons tried to make one last effort to make a comeback into the game, but a costly turnover from redshirt sophomore guard Jace Roquemore put the game away for UCR, as UC Riverside won 59-51. Cameron led all scorers with 13 points, while graduate student guard Dominick Pickett and redshirt junior
center Callum McRae both had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. UC Riverside dominated the glass with 51 rebounds compared to the 24 from UC San Diego, which proved to be a huge turning point for the Highlanders in this close game. The Highlanders open up Big West Conference play with a win and improve their record to 7-4 (1-0). They will have a big matchup at home against UC Irvine on Saturday night, Jan. 8, at 5 p.m.
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