The Highlander
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
For the week of Tuesday, April 19, 2022
VOL. 70, ISSUE 23
est. 1954
Block Party was spotlighted as ASPB’s big return to hosting large events, and its lackluster atmosphere left many disappointed
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NEWS
Dining announces the opening of Bytes and the Market at North District THE CAMPUS’ FAVORITE MINI COFFEE BAR BYTES REOPENS IN WINSTON CHUNG HALL, ALONG WITH THE GRAND OPENING OF THE NEWEST CONVENIENCE STORE MARKET AT NORTH DISTRICT.
HANNA RUTQVIST Contributing Writer
On Monday, April 4, dining locations Bytes in Winston Chung Hall and the newly built Market at North District officially opened for business. On the day of, UCR Dining posted the Market’s opening on Instagram, granting the first 200 of its visitors a free ice cream bar. Bytes opened accordingly with UCR’s 2021-2022 Dining Hours poster, which advertised the initial date of April 4, 2022. Though the COVID-19 pandemic forced on-campus businesses to close for a couple years, this quickly turned into a chance to revamp UCR’s dining experience. The Market at North Disctrict’s establishment follows that of the Barn and Glasgow Dining Hall. Though operations such as Lothian’s dining hall and Glen Mor’s Scotty’s remain closed, the reopening of Bytes shows hope that the original UCR dining scene is getting back on its feet. Bytes is a grab-and-go cafe situated in Winston Chung Hall that offers a handful of Starbucks drinks as well as warm lunch and snack items. “You can find all your Starbucks favorites such as your caramel macchiatos, your matcha lattes, your pink drinks and refreshers,” says Bytes manager, Jonathan Rubio Fonseca. Ideally, students and faculty members passing through the Engineering building would grab a quick “byte” and go on to their next class or such. Students who are in their third year or above will likely remember this iconic pick-me-up spot. Fonseca saw to it that Bytes not
only returns to its former glory, but also undergoes opportunistic revisions. “We just have a bit of a condensed menu of our food items. Slowly but surely we’re going to start re-adding new things,” shared Fonseca. “But what’s exciting about starting with a smaller menu is that we might be able to reinvent our menu. We want to bring Bytes to what it was before, but we also want to reinvigorate and reimagine.” Fonseca wants a Bytes that fits more of the current trends and is reflective of what its customers likely want to see. One customer mentioned that they miss the peppermint syrup that was available beforehand, to which Fonseca promised he would look into bringing it back by the week after. The Market at North District is also seeking suggestions on what the student body would like to see sold. Paying a visit, one can see a post-it note collection on the glass of the soon-to-be hot foods bar, where the manager invites all to write what they’d love to see at the new market. There were quite a few requests for Dippin’ Dots, as well as items that ranged from mochi ice cream to Lactaid. That being said, the Market already has ambitious plans of its own. Megan Tran, a third-year Business Administration major who works at the Market, shared in regards to this: “It’s going to have a bit of Glen Mor in it with its hot foods section, a bit of Starbucks with its smoothie, coffee and pastry station and there will be a softserve station. It’s definitely going to have a little bit of what everyone really enjoys.” Of course most of its customer base is the residents of the North District apartments.
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“It’s more convenient for them to come down here rather than go to Scotty’s,” says Tran. Campus-wide students, however, are encouraged to venture over and take a look at what they have or are pending to offer. Through the help of student workers, Bytes and the Market managed to dodge the campus-wide worker shortage that affects bigger dining industries and forced Lothian’s dining to remain closed. However, the challenge they encounter now is getting the word out to students that they are open for business. “We’ve been closed for so long during the pandemic, so only third or fourth-years knew what Bytes was,” said Fonseca. “For a lot of people coming back, Bytes lost its image.” On the upside, this is the first time in a couple of years that UCR retains a lot of residents, so Fonseca is seeing a lot more
visitors due to more classes being in-person. Tran also believes that very little media work is being done to promote the Market’s presence on campus. “It didn’t have a very big opening reveal compared to how everyone was anticipating it,” she said. “It sort of just opened, and we were doing business as usual.” Tran hopes that more awareness will come out soon. Bytes current hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday while the Market at North District is open 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information on UCR dining services and updates to the establishments, check out its website and their Instagram @ucrdining. Be sure to check back as they are constantly H expanding with new food options. ■
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News
NEWS
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022
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A Recap of Legislative and Executive Elections Convention CANDIDATES WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH VOTERS AND DISCUSS THEIR PLATFORMS.
ABHIJIT REGE News Editor
A Candidates Convention was held for both Legislative Candidates and Executive Candidates on April 7, 2022 and April 14, 2022 respectively. Both conventions were held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the HUB Plaza and gave ample opportunity for voters to meet the candidates for a variety of positions in the Associated Students of UCR and learn about their platform and their experiences. Those who attended the event and met with five or more candidates were able to receive a free prize, which included a tote bag, notebook, water bottle or free pizza. The Legislative Elections Convention saw a number of candidates running for CHASS and CNAS senator. Shuhkan Shah, a first-year biology major at UCR, is running to be a CNAS senator. She hopes to advocate for ethnic, gender and disability inclusivity and aims to spread awareness through increased accessibility and hopes to implement training programs to promote inclusivity. Shah hopes to be a purposeful leader, stating, “I don’t want to be a leader that says things to say things. I want everything I do to have a purpose and actually fulfill all of my promises.” First-year biology major and candidate for CNAS senator, Abby Choy, based her platform on increasing accessibility and basic needs. Choy explained, “I want to build more solidarity behind labor unions
and fight for the rights of student workers. I also want to improve post-graduate opportunities and options in CNAS.” Ruhi Barman, another candidate for CHASS senator, based her platform on increasing sustainability on campus, having served as a senate intern and fellow under the VP of Sustainability. She has been working towards the reopening of campus and hopes to support “getting back into the swing of things.” She also hopes to tackle the issue of registration and hopes to utilize registration to remedy and address this issue as many CHASS students often struggle, especially due to small class sizes. Candidates for CHASS senator, Ahman Greene, Hemant Hari, Nathan Moreno and Brandon Huang also supported and implemented this latter issue of registration into their platforms as well. Greene noted the tense nature of attaining classes for registration, how some are disadvantaged when it comes to choosing classes and that some that are necessary or desired are often filled before a student’s registration window even opens. Garrett Sakomizu, a first-year microbiology major and candidate for CNAS Senators, also hopes to improve registration through legislation, especially in regards to prerequisites and corequisites, and hopes that everyone can graduate on time with these changes. He also hopes to improve sustainability, reusable dining containers and hopes that rather than having
them be disposable and biodegradable, they can be reused for subsequent meals. In the Executive Elections Convention, a large number of candidates for the Executive Cabinet showed up to address voters and display their platform. Christian Martinez, a current CHASS senator and candidate for VP of Finance, advocates for the cancellation of student debt. He wants to spread awareness of funding for a variety of campus organizations and with his platform, emphasize mental health and financial awareness. Lina Nguy runs in opposition and aims to increase organizational and outreach funding to properly provide the resources needed for students. Catelin La will tackle issues of awareness and fight for students as Executive Vice President through unity, commitment and resilience. She aims to work closely with the Ethnic and Gender Programs on campus to ensure that students have access to the resources necessary to feel supported and included. Myra Usmani, as a current CNAS senator, hopes to bring the perspective of health and safety to the EVP office and aims to improve campus engagement and involvement through working closely with students. She hopes to improve programs and resources such as CAPS and UC SHIPP and hopes to expand the senate internship program. Victoria Nguyen, a current CHASS senator, hopes to close the gap between students and administration as well as
between students and the resources they need. She hopes to amplify the voices of marginalized students and will use her experiences to improve efficiency and transparency in ASUCR. Wallace Fang, the current Marketing and Promotions Director, based his platform on the concept of “Unity through Diversity” and hopes to build this through the Ethnic and Gender Committee. Fang believes that his qualifications and skills in marketing and promoting make him an ideal candidate. Fang explained as well that, “As EVP, I have no agenda towards anything whatsoever and I hope to get whatever students want to have addressed on the agenda during senate meetings. Peace and Love is what I’m about.” Rachel Paredes hopes to utilize the position of Executive President to better address students’ concerns and bring them directly to administration as well as to improve transparency. She will implement policies to track resolutions passed and bring those up to the appropriate administration officials. Sean R. Nguyen’s platform is “We are UCR.” His primary goals are to increase events and programming, garner connections with students to ensure that undergraduate input is taken into account and expand the programs he’s a part of. Current Executive Vice President, Mufida Assaf, will utilize her thorough experience
Read the full article at highlandernews.org/news! ■ H
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NEWS
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UCR Botanical Garden workers demand fair minimum wage ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO BE DISMISSIVE OF THE WORKERS’ CONCERNS. HARU CHANG Staff Writer
The UCR Botanical Gardens’ workers are demanding that they be compensated fairly for their jobs that require vigorous physical labor. Workers have scheduled multiple meetings with UCR administration and were met with abrupt cancellations due to scheduling conflicts. Student workers have attempted to meet with administration on the days of Feb. 11 and April 15. “It feels like we’ve consistently been brushed off. We had a meeting and presented facts and data with our argument to which they just responded, ‘We’ll see what we can do,’ only to be ignored and have our meeting canceled,” expressed Joseph Segovia, a third-year math major and Botanical Garden worker. The workers at the Botanic Gardens are primarily concerned with securing a wage increase so that they can make a living wage. Botanical Garden workers are especially concerned that lower-income students are being paid below what they need to survive. The Botanic Gardens receives 60% of its overall budget through CNAS and UCR; this suggests that possible increases in this funding stream can be affected through the continued overall growth of the undergraduate population at UCR. As the campus grows in population, CNAS would have a larger budget, which can directly relate to increased budget funding directed toward the Botanic Gardens. Ultimately, this increase in tuition-paying students within the next 15 years bolsters the Botanic Gardens’ initiative to maintain a strong long term financial plan, while also allowing for student-workers to be paid a higher wage. Wages initially increased for some workers in September from $14 to $15; however when minimum wage increased
to $15 an hour in January, wages did not rise. Inflation has taken a harsh toll on many students who are paying high prices for gas, food and other living expenses. With the recent rise in the minimum wage, and in order to keep the garden competitive with other jobs, the UCR Botanical Garden workers are asking for a raise to $17 an hour. A higher wage would encourage students to keep a physically demanding job as opposed to moving to less demanding and better paying campus sectors. As the newest version of UCR HR’s Student On-Campus Employment Guidelines outlines, there are three main sectors of how much student-workers are allowed to be brought into regarding wages: minimum $15, midpoint $17 and maximum $19. While for less demanding labor it may make more sense for a wage of $15 an hour, the UCR HR department outlines that work which requires prior experience and that has strenuous working conditions “should be considered in assessing an appropriate rate of compensation for student-workers.” The latter point is most relevant to studentworkers at the Botanic Gardens. Working conditions at the gardens have been described by former student-workers as “the hardest job on campus.” In addition to this, student-workers at the Botanic Gardens are expected to operate equipment, conduct tasks and work in an environment which can easily result in injury. In January, one student-worker was injured by a cactus after being told to lift a long heavy wooden pallet that was possibly 150lbs with four other individuals. This work was conducted without any proper safety equipment and was carried for over 100 yards and down a steep maindrive
Model United Nations at UCR brings home awards from New York THE AWARD DISTINGUISHES THE CLUB AS BEING A PART OF THE TOP 5% OF SCHOOLS. FATEMA SHALABI Managing Editor
Early this month from April 2 to April 6, representatives from UCR’s Model United Nations club made their way to the big city to attend a conference hosted by the National Model United Nations. UCR MUN was one of several hundred organizations to attend, yet the club distinguished itself and UCR amongst the crowd by winning the top award of outstanding delegation for the 2022 New York conference, an award granted to only the top 5% of schools. Third-year political science major and the president of the club, Cecila Lopez Gonzalez, discussed the significance of the club as a whole in representing UCR. “UCR MUN signifies our university’s focus to bring a spotlight on international issues that are ongoing while promoting a professional environment for students to get involved with like-minded individuals,” she explained. “Our main goal … is promoting students’ speech delivery, writing and networking skills all while discussing global issues by simulating the United Nations.”
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slope. On occasion, student workers have been asked to water in wooden enclosures, which the university has deemed structurally insecure and a safety hazard: a safety violation and an Occupational Safety and Health Administration violation. With these points in mind, it is critical that student-workers at the Botanic Gardens be compensated at a higher rate since they have more workplace hazards, learn to operate possibly injurious equipment and work in rapidly fluctuating weather environments. Since the workers have begun contacting management about the need for fair compensation, workers have been subjected to illegal worker intimidation by their outdoor manager. Student workers have been told that if workers get a higher wage, then they will have to “let someone go.” In the early months of the campaign, the manager would single out workers who work with labor unions and would speak to workers individually. It was common for the manager to try to dissuade workers from joining a union: disparaging labor unions
and workers. Lastly, the manager attempted to undercut workers’ right to workers’ compensation by talking about workers who applied for compensation being blacklisted from employment. Workers feel that this general attitude and illegal worker intimidation has created a hostile work environment at the gardens. “We’ve been lied to about the whole CNAS situation in terms of where our paycheck comes from and illegal worker intimidation has been enacted to instill fear in us students in an attempt to prevent us from unionizing and taking action to create a better work environment, not only for current workers but many future student workers to come,” says Robert Munoz, a second-year business and economics major who works at the gardens. Student-workers are fully prepared to form a union if the university does not provide a living wage. Students can support the UCR Botanical Garden workers by signing their petition for a living wage. The petition has already gathered over 100 H signatures. ■
ASUCR ASUCR’s 21st meeting saw the approval of one piece of legislation THREE SENATOR REPORTS WERE GIVEN DURING THE MEETING.
Gonzalez also emphasized the accomplishment of taking home the outstanding delegation award, highlighting that UCR MUN “performed better than 95% of other schools,” including schools where MUN is held as a class rather than as an extracurricular activity. Amongst the schools to attend included both national and international ones from countries like Egypt, Germany, Italy and more. Along with this award, two students, fourth-year political science and international affairs major Maher Oueida and first-year anthropology major Michael Khvat, also took home a committee award and delivered a speech to the large audience of around 2,000. “I was extremely proud to represent UCR. While the international community present at this conference may not have been familiar with us before … the overall delegation … has definitely landed us on the radar for future conferences,” Oueida, who is also the vice president of the club, explained. Students eager to learn more about the club can find them on H Instagram @UCRMUN. ■
AMARAY ALVAREZ Assistant News Editor
The Associated Students of UCR’s 21st meeting took place Wednesday, April 13, both in person and through Zoom at the ASUCR Senate Chambers. All members of the senate were present, excluding CHASS senators Christian Torres and Blanca Alba who were excused. Motions to approve the current meeting’s agenda were called for by Executive Vice President Mufida Assaf. The previous meeting’s minutes were then opened. Motions to approve the previous meeting’s minutes were called by senator Victoria Nguyen and seconded by senator Dorothy Doronilla. Both the meeting agenda and previous meeting minutes passed with a vote count of 14-0-0. During the public forum, Senate Chief Justice Mohammad Almouzzan spoke announcing the internship program that the judiciary has created. The interns that have been selected will then be on track to join the judicial branch after their internship. Almouzzan also reported that judicial’s law week has been postponed to Week 8 and encouraged everyone to vote during next week’s ASUCR election.
Committee Reports followed with the introduction of one piece of legislation for review. SR-S22002 ASUCR Senate Resolution Accommodations for Ramadan on Campus was introduced by President Pro Tem Orlando Cabalo and passed to Chief Justice Mohammad Almouzzan. Almouzzan stated that this referendum would provide accommodations for Muslim students observing Ramadan and other religious events on campus. Senator Aalani Richardson motioned first to approve the resolution and senator Nguyen seconded. The resolution passed with a vote count of 14-0-0. No one spoke during public comment, and senate reports took place. Senator Doronilla reported that the R’Professional Closet is looking to hire more staff and that the International Student Committee has created an Instagram page to help reach more students. Doronilla is also planning a town hall and has met with her interns. Senator Usmani reported next stating that she has met with the Transfer and Non-Traditional Committee as well as the Ethnic and Gender Programs Committee.
There will also be an alumni relations event at the end of the quarter. Senator Hoang Vu reported last that he had a meeting with academic freedom about lifting the mask mandate. Roundtable and announcements then occurred. Senator Nguyen announced that the Womens Resource Center is writing letters this week for incarcerated survivors of sexual assult. Senator David Kiroloss announced that the Veterans Resource Center would be having an arts and craft event that Friday. Senator Richardson announced that African Student Programs would be having elections this month and encouraged the senate to participate. Senator Doronila spoke last, announcing that GPhi is holding a philanthropy event at the SRC, which will be a volleyball tournament for girls on the run. Motions to adjourn the meeting were called for by senator Richardson and seconded by senator Christopher Kent. The meeting was H adjourned at 6:51 p.m.■
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Opinions
OPINIONS
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022
5
THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL
College student government should work for the students, but ultimately ignores their needs Student government election season is always obvious, as brightly colored posters are plastered up all throughout the campus. Candidates come up with snappy slogans and promise to do everything they can to make the campus a better place. However, much like the real political sphere, not much happens — the government fades into silence and relative obscurity, and students’ lives at large are not impacted at all until the next election season. In theory, student government on college campuses should be something incredible. It should be a way for students to be able to voice their opinions and concerns to the administration. It should be a place where our future leaders get to practice listening to the people and acting on their promises to make the university a better place. Too often though, what the student body gets is a popularity contest and no significant change. There is a fundamental purpose to student government existing, but it seems that time and time again, student government fails to actually accomplish anything. It is a great place to refine leadership and to voice concerns, but a host of issues prevent any benefit from coming to pass. It must be noted first and foremost that this is not solely on the shoulders of student government as an institution. All universities have administrations that are acting in the interests of the university at large, or even a system at large if the university belongs to one, like the Ivy League or UC. This
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means that even though it should have an impact, student governments and other student-run organizations do not really have much power in terms of getting admin to act. This is unfortunate, as the student body in every avenue should be able to have a platform to speak out for change in the college they spend so much money to attend. Student government especially should be a direct line between students and admin so changes can be made, but the fact that admin will likely act in the interests of business, not much can be done. However, there are still issues at a student level that prevent student governments from being the most functional systems they could be. Though extensive experience can be exclusionary, especially in a political environment that is not as nearly volatile as the one we face in our countries at large, a certain list of requirements should apply for candidates to be eligible to run. Qualifications for leadership positions cannot be understated; having rigid requirements in place for what is expected of student government candidates and leaders will prevent any potential wrongdoing or laziness. The titles within student government should be more than just a popularity contest or a way for select groups of students to gain power and influence. These positions should be campaigned for by qualified students who genuinely care and want to make a difference. Having a strong student
government could allow for the stagnation between admin and students to actually occur; to have a group of passionate students who genuinely voice concerns, student government may no longer be seen as a joke to admin. Overall, student government is a great idea in theory that has not to date worked so well in practice. Though it’s easy to be cynical and say that a corrupt or stagnant student government prepares us for the disappointment of our governments in the real world, the student body of universities across America deserve to have candidates that represent the interests of the whole, not just the individual hoping for a line on their resume. Student bodies deserve to speak out when student governments are not working the way they should and make reforms so that even more change can occur, bettering the college experience H for everyone. ■
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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COLLEGE GOVERNMENTS SHOULD BE A VOICE FOR THE STUDENT BODY, NOT JUST THOSE WHO WANT A LEADERSHIP POSITION ON THEIR RESUME.
6 TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022
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ALLOWING UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS TO RECEIVE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IS ONLY THE START TO SOLVING A MORE COMPLEX ISSUE.
COURTESY OF PEXELS
Assembly Bill 2847 is promising, but undocumented workers in the state of California have earned the right to ask for more. DAVID MORENO Assistant Opinions Editor
Assembly Bill 2847, introduced by California lawmaker Eduardo Garcia, has the potential to change the lives of millions of undocumented workers in the state. The bill would ensure that undocumented workers would receive unemployment benefits if they lost their jobs for any reason. It’s estimated that undocumented workers contribute $3.7 billion in annual state and local tax revenues. These workers are a key demographic for the state, and many became our essential workers throughout the pandemic. It’s time that we give these workers more stability financially, ensuring them the protection they rightfully deserve. Assembly Bills like 2847 are beacons of hope, but without proper structure and support from lawmakers we might never see them go into action. We must make sure these bills and others like them are being enacted and pushed with all the support they need. The bill is estimated to cost $597 million dollars, plus administrative costs. AB 2847 will ensure that undocumented workers receive $300 weekly payments for up to 20 weeks if needed. Considering how much this workforce contributes to the economy alone, this estimate shouldn’t be a problem. The price
tag of this AB 2847 might scare some people, but it’s a small one to pay in order to help this community. Many would argue that their tax dollars shouldnt be used to fund these types of projects. But funding social welfare programs like this one will ensure that undocumnented workers are well taken care of. Allowing them to access benefits that millions of people in the state already have access to. Americans need to stop viewing immigrants who come into this country as lazy people. These workers are the reason why you have food on your tablet. These hard working people deserve to have the same safety net as any other worker in this country. In the state of California, out of the 2 million undocumented individuals currently residing here, 1.1 million actively participate in the workforce. Throughout the pandemic, these workers didn’t have the same luxury of simply being able to work from home. Stimulus checks were not sent to their homes, and if they missed work due to becoming ill they ran the risk of being fired. At the heart of the pandemic nobody stopped to applaud them when entering a field to labor all day under the sun. Immigrants made up nearly 60% of coronavirus-related deaths in California’s industries with the highest rate of pandemic-related deaths. A community which has
often been described at the backbone of the California economy, has gone ignored and mistreated for far too long. AB 2847 is one many first steps in the right direction towards helping this community who is still currently suffering. Nonetheless, AB 2847 is only a small fraction of the work that needs to be done to better support these communities. We need to start deconstructing the negative stereotype that undocumented workers don’t contribute to the workforce. Stereotypes like the ones pushed by former President Trump, are a key component as to why many Americans view undocumented workers in such a bad light. Legislation that aims to help these communities is always going to hit roadblocks because of these preconceived notions. California lawmakers need to ensure that when drafting legislation that aims to help undocumented workers they have the support they need from their constituents to pass these bills. Undocumented workers continue to work under harsh conditions, many of them doing it with a heart full of pride. Neglecting them from receiving these benefits is a great disservice, that will ultimately result in more H suffering. ■
Treat all refugees like the Ukrainian refugees HARRY STOLTZ Staff Writer
The last couple weeks have been anything but normal as the world has been exposed to the horrors of Russia’s gruesome invasion of Ukraine. Europe hasn’t seen open conflict to this degree since World War II, and nuclear tensions are returning to Cold War levels. Another deviation from the norm: Europe is finally accepting refugees with open arms. While countries like Poland are opening their borders and accepting Ukrainian refugees, this is a sharp deviation from precedent. Since 2011, Syria has been torn apart by a violent civil war. As a result, an estimated 13.2 million Syrians have become displaced, of which 6.7 million have fled the country. Instead of accepting the refugees with open arms, Europe has stalled and has only let 1.1 million into their borders over the past decade. Germany alone holds an exceptional 59% of this refugee population. Similarly, the crisis in Ukraine has suddenly created upwards of 7 million displaced people, both
internally and externally. Within the span of two months, 4.1 million refugees have been accepted into neighboring countries. On paper, these two refugee groups are strikingly similar. Both are fleeing appalling political violence, so it’s inexcusable that Europe is treating these crises so differently. So far, Poland has welcomed over 2.5 million displaced Ukrainians over their shared borders. This is a sharp departure from the country’s hardline stance on Syrian refugees. For years, countries like Poland have bemoaned allowing refugees into their borders, citing anything from lack of space to concerns about cultural differences. Europe’s eagerness to accept millions of Ukrainians undermines points about space, leaving only arbitrary cultural acceptance. It’s no secret that a significant amount of people in Western countries hold animus towards Muslims in the Middle East and beyond. According to polling conducted by the Pew Research Center, European views towards Muslims can vary drastically from country to country, with the UK being the least islamophobic
country in Europe at 18%, with Slovakia topping the list at 77%. Poland ranks high as well, with 66% unfavorability towards Muslims. These statistics help explain why countries like Poland might have opposition to allowing refugees from Syria, but not those from Ukraine’s predominantly Orthodox Christian population. This religious difference is arbitrary and has no grounds in the moral value of helping these two groups of refugees. Europe should look inwards on the question of refugees. It’s easy for Europeans to understand why displaced Ukrainians deserve a home abroad, and they should continue to support refugees from Ukraine. Hopefully, the crisis can act as a means for otherwise immigration-opposed Europeans to empathize with foreigners from non-European countries. Countries like those in Europe, and even the United States, need to apply even-handed standards based on morality – not exclusionary cultural signifiers – when considering H refugees. ■
THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE HAS EXPOSED THE RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA THAT BLINDS COUNTRIES WHEN CONSIDERING WHO COUNTS AS REFUGEES.
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PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT ELECTION RESULTS BE CERTIFIED BY AN INITIAL HAND COUNT PRESENTS A NEW WAY TO PUSH VOTER SUPPRESSION.
YSABEL NAKASONE Staff Writer
OPINIONS
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Legislation demanding a hand count for US elections is reminiscent of Jim Crow Laws
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For those who paid attention to the news in the last 365 days and even for those who didn’t, it’s hard to forget about the violence that took over the news cycle on Jan. 6, a day that is seared into this country’s national memory. The attack on the U.S. Capitol emerged for a number of reasons, although it was no coincidence that it occured as the House was certifying the 2020 presidential election results. The assertion that the 2020 election was stolen by President Biden physically endangered U.S. representatives and staff within the Capitol as well as the principles and ideals which American elections were derived from. This assertion has led to a small, but forceful, movement of GOP lawmakers who want to return to hand-counting ballots in a thinly veiled attempt to open the door to manipulation by bad actors. It’s worth remembering that there is little
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to no evidence of election irregularities or any major intervening forces which tipped the election in President Biden’s favor. A report by AP found less than 475 possible instances of fraud out of over 25 million votes, an amount which would not have changed the results of the election. This hasn’t stopped allies of former President Trump from pushing conspiracy theories about the manipulation of voting machines. In at least six states, Republican lawmakers have been introducing legislation demanding that election ballots be counted by hand. Typically they are counted by electronic tabulators. None of these statewide bills have been passed or even received widespread support. However, there is growing demand for Republicans to get behind this legislation. It’s important to be clear that this is an idea bathed in lunacy, and those who are proposing it have really outdone themselves in terms of absurdity. Experts, which are
people who actually know what they’re talking about, have said that hand-counting ballots is so blatantly illogical that its implementation would lead to incredible disarray by slowing or even halting election certifications. It would allow the probable outcome of boundless human error. Furthermore, it would create exactly the problem it is supposedly preventing which is election manipulation. It’s clear that this legislation is not at all about preventing said manipulation. Tactics like these are rooted in the same rhetoric that enforced Jim Crow laws. The voter fraud conspiracy, which is behind this hand-counting motion, is built on racist ideologies that have been around for quite a long time. By harping on the nearly nonexistent threat of voter fraud, legislators have managed to severely restrict voting rights, specifically through the passage of laws in 19 states. Pending before 27 state legislatures are approximately 250 restrict ive voting bills this year. This current idea is clearly one in a long line of attempts to subvert the security of the voting process. It may seem trivial to be talking about such a small movement of legislation, but the greater picture is the overall impediments that have been created in the once revered American voting process through the usage of small minded, supremacist and bigoted beliefs. This movement, which is promoting greater mistrust in the institutions which
run American elections, is allowing baseless accusations about the validity and legitimacy of the 2020 election to flourish. This legislation is made further pointless as there is already a government agency which has methods for checking ballots by hand. The Election Assistance Commission conducts an audit of the voting ballots by using a sample to ensure the voting machines are correct. This does not prevent the same kind of issues as an initial hand count and ensures the authenticity of the election results. It would be naive to think that the proposed legislation is truly aiming to prevent the intervention of bad actors in the U.S. election progress. The concept of voter suppression is not a term Americans are unfamiliar with as many lawmakers have waged war on the voting rights of racial minorities. This is another, albeit muted, attempt at impacting those rights. Voter suppression has evolved over time to just barely skirt voting rights laws in order to specifically inhibit the voice of communities of color. This attempt does not feel like a more advanced version of voter suppression, but rather a devolved version. Still, beware the ways one’s rights are restricted. As said by civil rights advocate, Reverend William Barber II, “Jim Crow did not retire: he went to law school and launched a second career. Meet James H Crow, Esquire.”■
A senior take on the freshman herd mentality and the perfect college experience
COLLEGE IS THE PERFECT TIME TO BRANCH OUT, SO YOU SHOULDN’T GET STUCK TRYING TO IMPRESS OTHER PEOPLE. DAVID MORENO Assistant Opinions Editor
College can be a very polarizing time for students as stepping into a new environment is always intimidating. The “college experience” is unique in the fact that it’s been painted by the mainstream media as a time of pure recklessness in a young person’s life. Oftentimes, college students are depicted as “party animals” who care more about getting wasted on a friday night than doing their assigned readings. While this depiction of college students was more popular in the media in the early 2000s, it still holds some form of influence till this day. I would argue that it’s why social organizations like Greek life are still relevant and thriving in almost all universities today. For some students, this part of college life is critical to a successful overall college experience. It’s safe to say that anyone who calls themselves “popular” in college is most likely the complete opposite. The term “popular” should be reserved to high schoolers and playground hierarchies amongst third graders. Regardless, most college freshmen still cling to this general mindset around popularity to some degree. Some would argue that the quickest way to advance your social life in college is by joining Greek life. In many ways, it provides students with all the resources
they need to expand their social life. Already an exclusionary and highly selective system, merely being let in can be a real ego booster for some people. Greek life is such an exclusionary system that it would seem that its “high regard” is only respected by its members alone. This is why “popular” can’t be used in this particular context. If I had to list the name of every major Greek life president on campus, I would be screwed. Instead, these types of organizations all offer students a very similar thing — a sense of identity. It doesn’t matter that it comes at the cost of a fee each quarter. Don’t get me wrong — not all aspects of Greek life are inherently bad. A sense of community can oftentimes be hard to find on such a big campus, so it makes sense why these organizations can be so appealing to first year students. Furthermore, peer pressure as a concept is mainly reserved for those targeted ads trying to get teens to stop vaping. But I believe that almost every college student at some point has felt pressured into having a more active social life. We can also credit this to our generation’s overwhelming social media addiction. Anyone with a Wi-Fi connection and decent photography skills can make their life on social media seem 10 times more interesting. If we have to blame anyone for this problem, it should
be ourselves for caring so much in the first place. I remember what it was like being 18 in college, constantly being overwhelmed with trying to have the best possible college experience. As a senior looking back, I wish I could tell myself to not care as much. This, of course, is easier said than done, because it’s hard especially at such a young age to fight off the feeling of missing out. I wasted most of my weekends in freshman year in crowded fraternity houses. I was never really having fun at these parties either, but it’s what I thought I had to do in order to have fun. There’s a million ways to get involved
on campus. If you wanna party with 18-year-olds for the rest of your college career, join Greek life. The key to having a successful college experience is finding the little things that make you happy. So take it from someone who’s probably been there and done that, don’t do anything for H anyone but yourself. ■
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Block Party was spotlighted as ASPB’s big return to hosting large events, and its lackluster atmosphere left many disappointed THIS YEAR’S BLOCK PARTY LEFT MANY STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED WITH HOW THE EVENT WAS ORGANIZED. On Wednesday, April 13, the Associated Student Program Board hosted their annual Block Party event for the first time since the fall of 2019. In past years, Block Party was a night concert series that was typically held during the first week of the fall quarter. This year, ASPB marketed the event as a reimagined version of the iconic event. Instead of having headliners, Block Party was shaped to be more of a parking lot day carnival. The event was marketed as having carnival rides, inflatable attractions, tarot card readers and more. A serious departure from block parties of the past, this year’s event didn’t live up to the expectations in many ways. Although Block Party was scheduled to start at 11 a.m., many students began lining up for wristbands an hour before. Wristband distribution, however, did not begin until around 11:30 a.m. In order for students to participate in activities or receive Block party merchandise, a wristband was required, which resulted in everyone being subjected to this initial line. With several students wanting to attend the event, a long line formed, causing people to wait anywhere between one to two hours to receive one. After receiving a wristband, students were then free to participate in the events provided. Throughout the HUB Lawn, a ferris wheel, zipper ride and a large slide had been set up to create the carnival-like atmosphere. Other activities included caricature artists, fortune tellers, photo booths, a
puppy petting zoo and inflatable attractions. A DJ was present the first couple of hours of Block Party, but no other performers followed once his set had finished. The music made the event feel more active, and when stopped, it created a more quiet atmosphere. Free food was also advertised beginning at 2 p.m. There were two vendors present: a vegan food truck and a taquero. It is unclear how many people were able to receive food, but students who got in line by 2:10 were told there were no more food tickets available. It would have seemed that if you wanted to receive free food you needed to skip out on waiting in line for almost everything else. Also not present throughout the fairgrounds were hydration stations for students to get water. Most left disappointed and went to buy food throughout the HUB instead. Overall, this year’s Block Party fell short of expectations. A new name for the event may have provided attendees with more satisfaction as it was unlike any previous Block Party. While ASPB did transform central campus and provide students with an exciting event, it felt more like a super-sized Wednesday club day and nooner. It would be in the best interest of ASPB to host a traditional Block Party next school year and rehost this carnival as a separate event in the winter or spring quarter. With not enough attractions or food and many students eager to participate in the fun, long lines became what most people saw and took away from the event.
By: David Moreno, Assistant Opinions Editor & Amaray Alvarez, Assistant News Editor
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FEATURES
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022
CLUB SPOTLIGHT Highlander Business Society is ready to talk business THIS CLUB IS READY TO TAKE YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL. ASHLEY CHEN Features Editor
As we kick off the spring quarter in person, many new on-campus organizations are on the hunt to recruit potential new members. One of these organizations is the Highlander Business Society. HBS is the newest on-campus business organization dedicated to helping students pursue a career in business. Members are able to attend meetings, workshops and socials in order to build on their resumes and connect with other like-minded individuals. The organization’s goal is to create a community of individuals who are driven to nurture the next generation of business leaders. “I love how HBS cultivates a supporting community with highly driven peers that provides students with the necessary resources and guidance to be successful in the business world. If anyone is feeling lost or doesn’t know how to start their career, HBS is the
perfect place to help you,” stated fourthyear co-president, Emily Sim. In HBS, members will be able to work in all corners of business, some of which include Business Consulting, Marketing, Finance and and Management. Some of these members have previously worked with 3 of the 4 biggest accounting firms including Target, Wish, Amazon, Deloitte, PwC, Salesforce, Ernst & Young and Twitter. Not only is HBS dedicated towards empowering personal and professional growth, but the organization has contributed to the UCR community in many ways. They have previously held many fundraising events, assembled COVID-19 care packages for the Path of Life Organization in Riverside and participated in UCR’s Involvement Fair. For more information on what HBS has to offer and upcoming meetings and events, visit their Instagram page H @hbsucr! ■
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Taking a SHARPer look at UCR’s relief project
SHARP, A CLUB ON CAMPUS AT UCR HELPS TO SUPPORT RIVERSIDE HOMELESS POPULATION THROUGH CARE PACKAGES.
SENNA OMAR Assistant Features Editor
This past Monday, the Student Homelessness Aid Relief Project, also known as SHARP, partnered with 909DT to host their first in-person meeting of the quarter. SHARP, established in 2003, has been actively helping the community by providing meals, clothing and hygiene kits to the Riverside homeless population. SHARP encourages students to take initiative and get involved in the Riverside community, doing R’Part to create a better and brighter tomorrow. Second-year English major, Sofia Luis-Brown, SHARP’s Director of Internal Affairs, stated that she joined SHARP because she “wanted to find ways to be more involved on campus and make more friends.” She went on to explain, “SHARP seemed like a really good fit for me, and I love the work they do for the Riverside community. Since I am a second-year, last year because of ARCHIVE / THE HIGHLANDER
COVID and everything being online, I was not able to get super involved in campus organizations, so I decided to go to SHARP meetings and even snagged a spot on the board.” SHARP hosts bi-weekly meetings on Monday from 7:00pm to 8:00pm in the Student Success Center multipurpose room. At these meetings, students package and distribute peanut butter sandwiches, sack lunches, dog food, hygiene kits and any other supplies that the homeless may need. In addition, SHARP often collaborates with both on and off campus organizations to participate in food drives, soup kitchens and any other community service projects. For more information on SHARP and their upcoming projects and events follow @sharpUCR on Instagram where they will be posting future meeting dates and aid projects. If you have any questions or concerns, you can email the club at sharpucr@ H gmail.com. ■
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Studies of the Star Cross and the Oddity breathe new life back into the Barn BY: YSABEL NAKASONE, CONTRIBUTING WRITER BRINGING BACK LIVE, IN-PERSON CONCERTS ALONG WITH A NEW MENU TO THE BARN WAS THE BEST WAY TO BRING SOME FUN NORMALCY BACK TO CAMPUS. The Barn was in full swing on Thursday night with a roster of great music, good food, fun games and incredible vibes. The Oddity, the self-proclaimed “Edgiest Band in Southern California,” performed first, setting the mood with some original songs and covers. Band members, vocalist and guitarist Melanie Reynolds, drummer Justin Strickland and guitarist Anthony Juarez killed it as they performed a variety of songs bringing their rock reputation and contrasting moments of mellow aura to the stage. Studies of the Star Cross followed up, bringing enthusiastic energy and an unignorable stage presence. Frontwoman Hannah Giles opened the set with a sensory shock, commanding the attention of the room as they dove into the music. The night was lighthearted and worth the crick in my neck from all the head bopping. With a new menu boasting a creamy white cheddar mac and cheese and mouthwatering salty pretzels, the Barn is taking the quarter by storm. For those over 21, the Barn’s signature citrus beers received widespread praise while those who haven’t quite hit that age benchmark could enjoy
the sugary sweet refreshment of a virgin margarita. After the Barn’s fairly lowkey presence on campus this year and the success of the performances by Chola Orange and Kiki Diago in March, the kick off of the April concert series was a great way to call attention back to their many features as it just coincided with the lifting of the oncampus mask mandate. In addition to the music and food, attendants enjoyed outdoor games with beanbags and life-size Connect 4 to create a whimsical atmosphere alongside the intensity of the music that filled the lateafternoon air. It was a night with something for everyone to partake in. After a long winter quarter filled with disappointments related to remote school and events, it was undeniably fun to get back into the groove of things. The outdoor event brought back the parts of pre-pandemic life that people might have missed the most. It was a night not to be missed. I would urge anyone who couldn’t attend to make their way down to the Barn this quarter and mark down the Oddity’s H return on April 28 in their calendar. ■
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LOOKING FOR A SIMPLE WAY TO SPICE UP YOUR PALETTE? LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THIS EGG SALAD RECIPE. VERY ADDICTING!
Abhi’s Mama’s special Indian egg salad / Bhaji recipe BY: ABHIJIT REGE, NEWS EDITOR Looking for a simple way to remind yourself of mom’s cooking? Try making this traditional Indian meal, a recipe that is both easy to make and delicious. Head to your local Indian grocery store and get cooking.
START TO FINISH: 40 MINUTES SERVING SIZE: 4 INGREDIENTS: 4 eggs 1 onion 3 roma tomatoes ½ tablespoon of mustard seeds A pinch of Asafoetida (Hing) ½ teaspoon turmeric powder ¾ teaspoon red chili powder ½ teaspoon of Garam Masala ½ bowl of cilantro 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil ½ teaspoon of salt
DIRECTIONS: Heat your pan on medium or high on the stove. Dice tomatoes, onions, cilantro and keep the spices near you. Make sure the pan is hot enough, and add oil to it. Add in 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds and diced onions, and spread until it appears more transparent and clear. Once transparent, shake the bottle of Asafoetida (Hing) 3 to 4 times before adding a pinch of it in. Move and saute the onions around in the pan. Put in 3/4 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon of paprika if available. Stir and saute further, and mix in the roma tomatoes, 1/2 a bowl of cilantro and a 1/2 teaspoon of Garam Masala. Stir and saute further. Then place the pan’s lid on and let it sizzle. Add ½ teaspoon of salt and mix, and then taste it to make sure it’s relatively salty. You want to make sure that it’s not too salty, if it’s not salty enough you can always add more. Break 4 eggs onto the top of the mixture and replace the lid. Store on medium heat.. In 2 to 3 minutes, lift the lid and stir until it appears fully mixed. Then let the pan rest and simmer for a few minutes. You’ve successfully H made an egg salad! Serve and enjoy hot! ■
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022
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Marvel shows a darker side of its universe with new miniseries, ‘Moon Knight’ THE SHOW FOLLOWS A NEW SUPERHERO WITH A PLOT LINE THAT IS SURE TO KEEP THE SUSPENSE AND EXCITEMENT ALIVE FOR THE AUDIENCE.
KIMBERLY BEJEC Staff Writer
With Marvel in Phase Four of its cinematic universe, they have been introducing new characters based on the Marvel Comics. At the D23 convention in 2019, it was announced that a series based on “Moon Knight” would be released on the Disney+ streaming platform. “Moon Knight” premiered on March 30 and is set to release every Wednesday until its final sixth episode. The show features a kind-hearted British man, Steven Grant (Oscar Issac), as he struggles with a sleeping disorder and random distorted memories. One day, he wakes up in a mysterious location and blacks out several times, only to find himself with bloodied hands. He soon discovers that he has dissociative identity disorder. One of his identities, an American mercenary named Marc Spectator, also happens to serve as an avatar for an Egyptian god. Issac’s acting truly shines in this miniseries as he effectively portrays two very different personalities. Issac has gotten praise for acting he has done in showing the difference between Marc and Steven through his facial expressions. Between Steven’s kinder and sometimes timid expressions and Marc’s hard, tough look, Issac is exceptional in showing both. The audience is able to get a better experience out of watching the show through Issac’s acting. The plotline of the show is one of the main highlights. With every scene that is jam-packed with mystery, suspense and action, the audience is kept at the edge of their seats. In the first episode, there is the mystery of what is going on with Steven and his random blackouts.
While the mysteries are revealed as the show continues on, there are still more questions that the audience can ask. There is so much to absorb in each episode, which is what has kept the audience interested and anxious for the next episode. In films and shows, a main component is the visual cinematography to attain a visually appealing look. “Moon Knight” excels in this factor, giving beautiful shots throughout the show. A constant shot that has been shown throughout the show so far is the use of mirrors and reflections. It’s an excellent shot showcasing the differing identities of Steven and Marc. It reminds the audience of the other identity, demonstrating how they are still present despite not having control of the body. The clever use of reflections represents the struggle between Steven and Marc and each one trying to triumph over the other. An interesting aspect about some of the reflections is how they are not as clear or are clouded, showing Steven’s internal conflict. As opposed to the past Marvel shows, “Moon Knight” takes on a darker tone. It portrays a more psychological horror than its typical superhero shows and films. This helps to build the mystery behind the double life Marc has been living that Steven is unaware of. Additionally, dealing with more violent action scenes and serious topics such as DID and sleeping disorders gives the show a darker tone. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe moves along with Phase Four, they are trying to switch and appeal to a more mature audience. The soundtrack for the show heightens the show and its themes. Songs such as “A Man Without Love” and “Day ‘N’ Nite” are brilliant song choices to match the
show’s plot. Weaved throughout the show, the songs can pass over the audience’s heads. However, by listening to the lyrics and how it connects to the story, they demonstrate how ideal the song choices are. While the first two episodes focus on exposition and introducing the plot and characters, it sets up what audiences will be looking forward to in the future episode. The third episode sees the show and its characters rushing to Egypt on a hunt for another Egyptian god. It sheds light on the Egyptian gods and the supernatural world. With introducing a new superhero, fans look at the suit, fighting style and backstory. None of these factors disappoint as each shines in the show. Marc’s white suit is representative of mummy wraps with a hooded mask, moon-shaped cape, moon assets and glowing eyes. However, Steven’s version of the suit is similar to the hood mask, but in a more formal attire. This is representative of the differing styles between the two. The fighting style is intense and violent, showing how H ruthless Marc’s Moon Knight can be. ■
VERDICT:
“Moon Knight” is a thrilling show with plenty of aspects that highlight the overall viewing experience. Issac does a wonderful job in portraying the white knight, as well as two vastly different personalities.
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Sports
SPORTS
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Highlander softball find a victory during 3-game victory against the University of Hawaii KEVIN CONTRERAS Sports Editor
UCR’s Highlanders continue their 2022 softball season, playing a quick 3-game series against the visiting Rainbow Wahine. The Highlanders performance thus far this season has been a steady improvement from last year, as they currently sit in sixth place in the Big West season. The Highlanders lost to Hawaii in the opening matchup on Friday night, 0-2. On Saturday afternoon the next day, the team managed a victory to set the series even. The Highlanders started off the game strong, with their first points coming in during the first inning. Junior infielder Lauryn Garewal was up to bat first, hitting a solid single down left field. Senior outfielder Haylee Kela, confidently stepped up to the plate next. After a few pitches from the Hawaiian defense, Kela batted an impressive homer over center field, bringing herself and Garewal home to put UCR on the scoreboard 2-0. The Rainbow Warriors were eager to stay in the game, managing an impressive run in the third inning courtesy of senior outfielder Britnee Rossi. Rossi homered down centerfield, leaving them behind 2-1. Hawaii carried that momentum, as well as their impressive batting ability,
into the fourth inning where they managed to tie the game. Sophomore utility player Ka‘ena Keliinoi was first up to bat and hit a remarkable homer allowing her to take a lap around the baseball diamond and tie the game at 2. Both teams were unable to convert runs in the fifth inning, but tensions returned in the sixth inning as UCR found themselves with an opportunity to break the tie. Junior Briza Blanco pinch hit for freshman Taylor Burdette. Blanco walked to first, but was soon replaced by Burdette who committed a pinch run on behalf of Blanco. Senior Outfielder Nadia Witt then came on to bring Burdette home with a momentous triple down center field, allowing Burdette to score and put UCR in the lead 3-1. In the final seventh inning, Hawaii tried to tie the game but was unable to make it past first base, marking the Highlander victory. Game 3 of the 3 game series happened immediately after game 2 where the Highlanders closed out the series with an unfortunate 7-1 score. This upcoming weekend, the UCR softball returns to the road for another 3-game series this time against the Cal H State Northridge matadors. ■
RIVERSIDE’S IMPRESSIVE BATTING LEADS TO THE EVENTUAL GAME WINNING RUN IN BOTTOM OF THE 6TH.
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The NBA Play-In Tournament is a great addition to the NBA Postseason THE THRILLING WIN-OR-GO-HOME FORMAT BRINGS A NEW LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT THAT BUILDS ANTICIPATION FOR THE PLAYOFFS. HANSEL CHU Assistant Sports Editor
The NBA Play-In Tournament was introduced by the commissioner Adam Silver in 2020, where the 7th to 10th seeded teams from both conferences play in a win-or-go-home format to decide who gets a bid to the playoffs. In the Play-In Tournament, the 7th and 8th seeded teams play each other for the rights for the 7th seed. The 9th and 10th seeded teams play each other to keep their playoff hopes alive.Then, the winner of the 9th/10th seeded game will take on the loser of the 7th/8th seed game for the rights of the 8th seed. Although some people will criticize the Play-In Tournament because it might be unfair to the higher ranked teams to have to play extra games or because the lower seeded teams do not deserve to have a chance for the playoffs, the Play-In Tournament brings a whole new level of excitement and anticipation for the playoffs. In the past two years, the Play-In Tournament has given fans countless games that have gone down to the
wire. For example, last season’s games between the Lakers and Warriors and between the Warriors and Grizzlies had many fans on the edge of their seats, hoping their teams would have a chance to get to the playoffs. In this year’s tournament, the Cavaliers versus Hawks game and the Clippers vs Pelicans game all had thrilling finishes which left fans eager for the playoffs to start. The PlayIn Tournament is like an appetizer for the playoffs. If the appetizer is satisfying and good, people will be eager for their main course because of how good the appetizer is. Just like an appetizer, the intensity and quality of the Play-In Tournament serves as a preview of the greatness that is bound to happen in the playoffs. The Play-In Tournament also gives younger and lesser-known teams playoff experience. Younger teams usually find themselves in the lower half of the standings, which makes it hard for them to gain playoff exposure because of how tight and competitive the NBA is nowadays. The Play-In Tournament solves that issue by putting these younger and inexperienced players into playoff situations and atmospheres. This exposure can greatly develop younger teams as they will be more ready and experienced when it comes to clutch situations and pressure. A great example of this is the Memphis Grizzlies. Last
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year, the Grizzlies were in the Play-In Tournament as the 9th seed and were able to defeat the Spurs and the Warriors in some tightly contested matches to get into the playoffs. This season, the Grizzlies made an enormous leap and finished with the second best record in the entire NBA. A big reason for their rapid improvement was mainly because of the experience that they received from the Play-In Tournament a season ago. Although the Play-In Tournament does bring some criticism from fans regarding the fairness of standings and
the quality of teams, logically speaking, the 7th and 8th seeded teams should be able to make it to the playoffs, and they can prove to be deserving of a playoff bid by beating the lesser opponent in the 9th or the 10th seeded teams. The Play-In Tournament brings more entertainment and excitement to the fans and raises the stakes a lot higher for teams that are on the border of the playoff standings. The NBA should continue to implement the Play-In Tournament as it adds a little bit of a March Madness feeling that many H fans love to experience. ■