The Highlander
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
For the week of Tuesday, May 24, 2022
VOL. 70, ISSUE 28
est. 1954
THE PROTEST GARNERED ABOUT 30 PARTICIPANTS WHO MARCHED FROM THE BELL TOWER TO HINDERAKER HALL.
NEWS
Student workers hold a protest in solidarity with student’s attempts to unionize AMARAY ALVAREZ Assistant News Editor
Student workers at UC Riverside held a protest on Wednesday May 18 at the university’s Bell Tower in solidarity of student’s attempts to unionize. The protest was organized and supported by students from the UCR Botanical Gardens, R’Garden, 28ers organization, United Student Labor Action Coalition and the Graduate Student Union to name a few. Student workers at UCR have been attempting to unionize and secure a raise to make a livable wage but have been unsuccessful in coming to any agreements with administration. In a recent meeting between the Botanical Garden workers AMARAY ALVAREZ / THE HIGHLANDER and UCR’s Human Resources department, the student workers were told that they
should not be able to make a livable wage. Other organizations like the R’Garden were present to support their fellow student workers while also advocating for more funding towards the R’Garden. The campus is currently refusing to pay their student workers a livable wage while not giving adequate funding to resources that help combat food insecurity. During the protest about 30 students gathered at the Bell Tower holding signs with the phrases, “student workers deserve dignity” and “back R’workers.” The back and forth chant, “when I say union, you say power” could also be heard being repeated over the megaphone by UCR graduate student Christian Valdez. Valdez currently aids the R’Garden and has been at the forefront of advocating for more funding. “Both
the Botanical Garden workers and the R’Garden workers have been communicating with the school but they have ignored our emails,” stated Valdez. Last year Valdez and other members of the R’Garden met with UCR Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox and Vice Chancellor Brian L. Haynes to discuss implementing a $10 student referendum. This referendum would assist the R’Garden in hiring more student workers and expanding so that more food can be produced and redistributed to the campus community. They were told that no new referendums would be considered yet an athletics referendum was then allowed to be presented and voted on by the student body. Valdez and the other students feel they were lied to and ► SEE UNIONIZE PAGE 3
‘MR. MORALE AND THE BIG STEPPERS’ IS AN HONEST, MULTI-ENDED REVELATION OF LAMAR, INCLUDING THE WAYS HE MAY NOT ALWAYS LIVE UP TO THE PEDESTAL HIS FANS PUT HIM ON.
RADAR
Kendrick doesn’t exemplify a savior, but the fact that we desire one HANNA RUTQVIST Contributing Writer
“Heavy is the head that chose to wear the crown.” This is a repeated adage in the track “Crown” from the double-length album “Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers” released on May 13. In the five year period since the release of “DAMN.,” rapper Kendrick Lamar reverted back to sequestration as is usual for the massively popular artist. Seeking honesty with one’s mental health was a topical reason for his hiatus, as he mentions outreach for therapy in his opener song. Thus this new album is an accumulation of his self-discovery since we last heard from him. Surrounding the theme of the “Crown,” the album cover shows Lamar posing with his family, holding one of his children while wearing a silver crown of thorns. He’s comparing himself to Christ — but not in self-proclamation. One of Lamar’s earliest teases on the album was revealed on his Oklahoma-based fanpage, Oklama. A statement on the page reads, “As I continue to pursue my life’s calling. There’s beauty in completion. And always faith in the unknown.” He also mentions this being his final project under Top Dawg Entertainment, a label that for so long coincided with his name. Hence we must pay particular attention to
“completion;” this being his final contribution to Top Dawg before the unforeseeable future, Lamar decides to present a complete selfimpression that leaves no stone unturned. Kendrick opens up about his history of cheating, hypocrisies in his personal values and times when ignorance got the better of him. But as we applaud his choice of honest revelation, we must also be sensitive about these parts of him that are unfashionable — and take care not to immediately defend his faults, as in actuality that ruins that point of the album. However, there was controversy with the song “Auntie Diaries,” in which he talks about his experience in learning of his ► SEE KENDRICK PAGE 14
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► FROM UNIONIZE
have been unsuccessful in communicating with administration further. After organizing near the Bell Tower, the protesters then paraded around the HUB continuing their chants while urging other students to join and support them. The protest reorganized in front of Hinderaker Hall where more students spoke about how this lack of support and funding from the school is affecting them. Graduate student Hannah O’Brien spoke about her experience with trying to form the Graduate Student Union and being food insecure. “Unions save lives. I know several people who have gone hungry. Students deserve to eat, live and thrive. The R’Pantry, R’Garden, livable wages and unions are critical,” she stated. The protest then moved inside Hinderaker Hall with students marching up to the office of Chancellor Wilcox. The protesters were told that neither Wilcox nor Haynes were present on campus. Instead Gerry Bomotti, the Vice Chancellor of Planning, Budget and Administration, came out of his office to speak to the crowd. Halfway through the conversation with Bomotti, pizza was brought up by the protest organizers and passed around to the participants. The pizza was provided with no cost to attendees to reinforce their message that students should be able to access food if they are in need of
NEWS
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
assistance. Bomotti was responsive to the protesters and listened to several of them speak on why they felt the need to organize. Valdez asked why the R’Garden has not been provided with more funding so that it can expand and hire staff. It currently has one staff member and eight acres of land that can be used for produce. Those who currently work there are mainly volunteers. The R’Garden hopes to increase the garden to having 10 acres of arable land. It was also mentioned that UCR benefits greatly from the Botanical Gardens and R’Garden through the recognition they receive. The university has been recognized for these programs through awards for sustainability, social mobility and others yet both programs are currently underfunded. Bomotti agreed to continue this conversation and that he would look through the budget to see what additional funding could be allocated to the R’Garden. The protesters then marched out of Hinderaker Hall and considered the protest successful although Wilcox and Haynes were not present to hear their concerns. The R’Garden and Botanical Garden workers hope to continue this conversation with administration and no longer be ignored. Those wanting to support the Botanical Garden student workers can do so by signing their petition H at change.org. ■ AMARAY ALVAREZ / THE HIGHLANDER
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NEWS
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Rally held to voice disappointments with Title IX office’s handling of sexual assault HANNA RUTQVIST Contributing Writer
On Thursday, May 19, student union associates and allies stood in front of Skye Hall to protest UCR’s Title IX unresponsiveness with investigating sexual assault cases. The rally was also a space to offer support to assault victims. The event was organized by Ph.D. student and political science T.A. Morrey, with help from UAW 2865 student union, the Graduate Student Association and undergraduate allies. The rally was mainly aimed at Title IX director Kiersten Boyce, who was present at the event. After Boyce departed, rally-goers marched into Skye Hall in an attempt to confront her at her front door. In an effort to raise awareness, victims sacrificed their confidentiality as they publicly shared stories including rape, stealthing and persistant transgressions of privacy from strangers. There were also experiences of racially-motivated transgressions that victims felt the office had ignored. “We’re here to hear about the failings of this Title IX office,” Morrey stated in a speech, “I’m going to get my doctorate from here, and will likely be a professor. And I will continue to do everything in my power to make sure admin doesn’t get away with this on campus anymore.” Participants chanted, “Kiersten Boyce has got to go,” signaling their belief that the Director had done such a poor job overseeing assault cases that she must be replaced. Boyce stood opposite the rally and listened to concerns, along with compliance investigator Preet Nekand and HUB Director Brendan O’Brien. Kat, a victim of rape involving a fraternity student at UCR, unapologetically shared her story to the administration,
deemphasizing “trigger warnings” and considerations towards Boyce. “I want you to feel uncomfortable,” she said. Another victim, Catherine, spoke about a stealthing incident she experienced— defined as when a man discreetly removes the condom during penetrative sex, without the partner’s consent or knowledge. California just became the first state to make this act illegal in October 2021. Navigating an act that just crossed the gray area of legality, they stated it was difficult receiving validation from the office, and so decided to come forward to police stations instead. According to her, the police cared more about this case than UCR’s Title IX office, as they made more substantial efforts in investigation. Victims were constantly met with the dead-ends of “We don’t handle that here,” or “If it’s not in the policy then it’s not violence.” When that same case is considered seriously by police departments, however, that delegitimizes the office’s discretion in identifying worthy cases. Inaction is especially dangerous as retaliation from perpetrators often occurs once they learn their victim is trying to speak out against them. One victim shared that their perpetrator began spreading rumors about them and attempted to twist the narrative, saying that she was the assaulter and he was the victim. “If a woman brings up a problem, we are somehow unstable,” shared the speaker. It was also pointed out that retaliation crosses the bylaws set by Title IX, adding another point of reason for the office to respond. Other than direct retaliation, victims shared experiences of constantly looking over their shoulder, worried that they’ll run into their perpetrator on campus. As their perpetrator roams free and protected by the university, it comes at a cost to the victim’s safety in higher education and will forever
affect their experience at UCR. One speaker, Kay, made sure that male victims were seen and felt validated. They state that even if women are more likely to be victims, this still happens to men and their participation in these organizations is important. That being said, certain demographics see their cases more likely to be turned away — black women and LGBTQ members. “I’ve had four students disclose to me that they were going through the Title IX process. Three of them were black women,” shared Morrey, “There’s also an issue with queer women’s experiences. Bisexual women are the demographic most affected by sexual violence.” While acknowledging that white women still face obstacles to their justice, Morrey states that they are more likely to receive respect than women of color. Ralliers also accused the office of turning away cases of vandalism involving swastikas and the n-word, as it is also the designated overseer of racial harassment cases. Morrey pointed out the hypocrisy in policy that you can write the n-word on a white board as a non-black student, but can’t use chalk on campus grounds. Protestors do not believe Boyce and faculty members attended to listen or empathize. “The Director of the HUB came to me and said that he was here to make sure that if we go inside the building, nothing dangerous happens and ‘to keep the peace’,” said Morrey. Some were visibly typing on their phones as victims shared accounts, to which one speaker told them, “Please do not text as we are speaking. That is incredibly rude.” Morrey wants UCR students to know that the union is forming a sexual assault support group of their own, and anyone interested in reaching out can email her at H mlied002@ucr.edu.■
ALLIES AND SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON UCR CAMPUS BANDED TOGETHER TO EXPRESS DISAPPROVAL OF THE TITLE IX DIRECTOR’S DISMISSAL RATE OF CASES.
COURTESY OF JOHN BURNETT
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NEWS
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
ASUCR
ASUCR’s 26th meeting sees the approval of two pieces of resolution AMARAY ALVAREZ Assistant News Editor
The Associated Students of UCR’s 26th meeting of the school year took place on Wednesday, May 18, both in person and through Zoom at the ASUCR Senate Chambers. All members of the senate were present, excluding CNAS senator Tammar Akel, CNAS senator Catelin La and BCOE senator David Kiroloss, who were excused. Motions to approve the current meeting’s agenda were called for by Executive Vice President Mufida Assaf. A motion to add SB-S22-002 Ethnic and Gender Advisory Committee to the agenda was called for by Vice President Assaf. Motions to approve the agenda were called for by senator Victoria Nguyen and seconded by senator Lauren Garcia. The previous meeting’s minutes were then opened. Motions to approve the previous meeting’s minutes were called by senator Richardson and seconded by senator Christian Martinez. Both the meeting agenda and previous meeting minutes passed with a vote count of 11-0-0. During the public forum, Vice Chief Justice Fadi Zaki spoke on behalf of a new application called
Nexxus that was created by a current fourth-year computer science student. Nexxus takes resources from across several websites, like Rate My Professor and Highlander Link and puts them together in one app. Nexxus is aimed towards first-year students but can be utilized by anyone. Executive Office Reports occurred next. Vice President of Internal Affairs Arshneel Kaur spoke asking for a chief of staff ratification. Kaur requested that Hannah O’Brien become the new chief of staff for the office of Vice President of Internal Affairs. The motion to ratify O’Brien was called for by senator Martinez and seconded by senator Dorothy Doronila. It passed with a vote count of 12-0-0. Committee reports followed with the presentation of two pieces of legislation to be considered by the senate. SR-S22-005 Mandatory Undocumented Ally Training was read first by senator Myra Usmani. This legislation plans to create a safe space for undocumented students on-campus by providing traning about the needs and concerns that the community endures. Motions to approve this legislation were called for by senator Doronila and seconded by senator Martinez. It passed with a vote count of 12-0-0.
ARCHIVE / THE HIGHLANDER
FOUR SPECIAL ELECTIONS TOOK PLACE AFTER THE SENATE MEETING SB-S22-001 Preventing Financial Impropriety Act - ASUCR Gift Card Eligibility was then read by President Pro-Tempore Orlando Cabalo. This legislation would limit the amount that an elected official from ASUCR could win at one of the events or giveaways they are hosting. It aims to ensure financial transparency for future administration within ASUCR. The proposed legislation was introduced with a $25 gift limit but was then discussed by the senate and changed to $0. The senate believes that they should not benefit from free gifts provided at their events as the money for them comes from student fees. Motion to approve SBS22-001 with the following amendment was called for by PPT. Cabalo and seconded by senator Garcia. The motion passed with a vote count of 12-0-1. No one spoke during public comment and senator reports followed. Senator Nguyen presented first stating that she has recently met with all of her committees as well as with the new Human Resources Director for UCR. The First-time College Student Committee is also hosting a luau and there will be a CHASS Town Hall in the following week. Senator Cristian Torres announced that the CHASS Town Hall will be taking place next week and he has met with Dean Williams to discuss what will be discussed during the town hall. Torres also plans to meet with LGBT office and discuss what plans they have for the upcoming pride month. Senator Vivek Patel spoke last, presenting that he has been working with senators and members of ASUCR on legislation surrounding the election requirements and campaign reimbursements for the next year. Patel is also planning a CNAS Town Hall meeting. During Roundtable and announcements senator Amy Do spoke and announced that she is creating legislation to help stop the demolition of UCR’s oldest building. Senator Doronila announced that the school of education would be having their town hall the following day. PPT Cabalo thanked all the elected officials who donated their budgets to the basic needs fund. Senator Nguyen asked the senate for volunteers to help during the First-time College Student Committee Event. Senator Patel then asked for a moment of silence for the victims of the hate crime and mass shooting that took place in Buffalo. All 10 names of the victims were then read and the senate chamber was quiet for a few seconds. EVP Assaf spoke last, announcing that the following Monday, the School of Public Policy would be hosting an event. The meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m. Following the senate meeting, a special elections meeting took place for the positions of SOE senator elect, PPT, First-time College Student Director and Transfer Student Director for the next school year. The elections resulted in Leanne Alkatat being approved as SOE senator elect, Aalani Richardson being elected as PPT, Victoria Nguyen elected as First-time College Student Director and Dionne H Shelton elected as Transfer Student Director. ■
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Opinions
6 TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS UNDER CC-BY-SA 4.0
Mexican journalists are being murdered while trying to uncover and end corruption in the state
J
ELEVEN MEXICAN JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN 2022 ALONE.
ournalists play a pivotal role in upholding democracy and informing the public. In the United States, journalists are sometimes critiqued or threatened by those with opposing views but these threats rarely turn deadly. In other countries, like Mexico, being a journalist is far more dangerous. Individuals or groups who oppose the information being uncovered have turned to violence so that certain stories are not heard by the public. In the month of May, three Mexican journalists have already been murdered. The body of Luis Enrique Ramírez Ramos, a journalist who worked at the news outlet Fuentes Fidedignas, was found on the highway after he was kidnapped while Sheila Johana García Olivera and Yesenia Mollinedo Falconi, journalists from the news outlet El Veraz, were shot while sitting in their car. These recent murders bring the total death count of journalists in Mexico to 11 this year. The alarming rise of crimes being committed against journalists exposes a larger conversation about the suppression of free speech and the government’s corruption in Mexico. This issue of the press being in danger due to their profession has been a problem for several years in Mexico, as well as other countries. The government and other groups in these areas are often involved in criminal activity that allow for deceit and attacks on the press. In the U.S. many people take
for granted the freedom of speech we have. Here, journalists are able to investigate and not fear that they may lose their life. While there are other intimidation tactics that occur, journalists must remain unbiased and serve as an informant to the public. There are safeguards to protect journalists here that other countries do not afford. Some may then question whether the job is worth the risk of potential death and constant fear. Most of the time, the journalists in Mexico do understand the risk, but believe that the pros outweigh the cons of the job. The country has been largely corrupt for the past few decades where the cartels and narcos have been allowed to control the government. Journalists in Mexico who investigate these issues want to see a positive change occur so that future journalists don’t have to be afraid of publishing these stories. Information is the most powerful tool in the world and the media is at the forefront of helping end corruption. To make this a reality, some are willing to die for the cause. Killing a journalist, however, should not then kill the story that they were working on. Without journalism, democracy dies and no one is there to hold the government accountable. This constant attack on the media should push other journalists in countries where they are protected to advocate for their colleagues. Having this fear suppresses the truth and may discourage others from going into journalism. Furthermore, journalists may also be afraid to travel to countries that
persecute them. This uptake of Mexican journalists being murdered should be big news, but it has not been covered widely by the U.S. media. With the recent death of Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian journalist who was shot by Isreali forces, this should be considered an epidemic. Not covering these stories makes the public more reluctant to help in Mexico because they don’t know what is truly going on. Journalism is an honorable profession that is crucial to upholding democracy. Having access to information shouldn’t be a privilege for developed countries only. All countries should be able to question their governments without fear, yet the world is far from this vision. This is why it is important for the media to be protected from those in power. Fellow journalists should not be afraid to speak up and report on these murders. Journalism is necessary and gives people access to speak on topics that need to be shared throughout their H communities and around the world. ■
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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TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
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Citizen journalists have no right to identify themselves as journalists YSABEL NAKASONE Staff Writer
Journalism is the hallmark of a genuine democracy and is absolutely essential to maintaining a well informed electorate. These ideals are threatened by the emergence of so-called “citizen journalism.” Citizen journalism is an avenue of information which lacks professionalism and accountability, severely limiting its value as a source of news. The premise that a person without any formal training can use modern technology and the internet to produce work and call it journalism, is a farce. There can be a conglomeration of traditional and citizen journalism, as there was on Sept. 11, 2001 when ordinary citizens on the ground photographed the events of that day. Citizen journalism on its own, however, not only has no value, but it is a detriment to the United States’ moral fiber. For the purposes of this article, citizen journalism can be defined as independently under-generated content on mediums like blogs and social media. It refers to any information which is put into the public sphere with complete anonymity or a larger body of people verifying the information. This took off through the internet, as it became incredibly easy to put unverified information out into the world with no
SINCE THE ADVENT OF THE INTERNET, USER-GENERATED CONTENT IS GROWING EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO VALUE IN THE FLOW OF UNVERIFIED INFORMATION.
tangible consequences. Journalists are human and therefore flawed, but with traditional journalism, a writer must accept other perspectives as a body of people edit and check their work. They are held accountable by their editors and colleagues. Publishing a completely false story would be the end of a mainstream journalists’ career. Even if a story is published anonymously to the public, someone behind the scenes is aware of who is behind the information and who is responsible for its veracity. Citizen journalists are not held to the same code of ethics, and for that reason, cannot be called journalists. True journalism means corroboration. The dangers of citizen investigation has
COURTESY OF PEXELS
already been proven after the horrifying events that followed the already horrifying Boston Marathon bombing. Sunil Tripathi, a student at Brown University struggling with depression, went missing in March of 2013. After the bombing in April 2013, the FBI released photographs of the suspects and information speculating that the image resembled Tripathi led to Reddit users asserting that Tripathi was the suspect. The Facebook page set up by the Tripathi family to find their son was hit with a smear campaign of hateful anti-Muslim rhetoric despite the fact that the Tripathis were not Muslim. The Tripathi family was harassed by the media only to find out that their son had committed suicide a month prior to the bombings. The uncontrolled
flow of information led to heinous events which have since been apologized for. This information was uncorroborated and repeatedly denied by law enforcement, but the unverified accusations remain connected to Sunil Tripathi’s legacy today. Those who perpetrated this lie cannot be held accountable for their extreme lack of judgment and how it affected the lives of others like a mainstream journalist can. Even if a completely independent writer is putting out accurate information, there is no way to trust it when a reader knows that falsities will be met with zero accountability. There is no value to an unverified story because there is no trust. It only contributes a large moral defect to a citizenry. To claim that these actions qualify as journalism would be a grievous error and is nothing H short of journalistic malpractice. ■
MY COLLEGE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN SHAPED BY MY IMMIGRATION STATUS EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY.
R’Perspective:
The undocumented student experience deserves a proper highlight — here’s mine DAVID MORENO Assistant Opinions Editor
When I was fourteen years old, I fully believed that I would never make it out of the Central Valley. I was blinded by a generational cycle of poverty that was reinforced by endless fields of agricultural crops. The very same food that you eat without a second thought holds my people captive. I can see the consequences in the palms of my grandmother’s hands, which have been dulled by decades of working harvest periods. When I look at my mother I see how the long summer days in packing houses aged her. Their shared pain of hard labor echoes a greater burden of survival. It’s one thing to come from a family of immigrants — it’s a completely different thing to be one yourself. I was a sophomore in high school when I enrolled in my first college class. At the age of fifteen, I became the first person in my family to attend college. Unlike some of my other classmates, I wasn’t fortunate enough to receive DACA protection, missing the original deadline for proof of residency in the United States
COURTESY OF PEXELS
by just a few months. Under this circumstance, I was fully under the impression I would never be able to attend a four-year university after high school. So when I was presented with the opportunity to get an associates degree while still in high school, I did it without hesitation. I didn’t consider the idea of going to a university until the summer before my senior year. I came to the realization that if I didn’t at least try, I would spend the rest of my life selling my labor for profit. Fresh out of high school with an associate’s degree I couldn’t use, I applied as a transfer student to a short list of universities across the state. I had toured UCR during my senior year and fell in love with the campus. I was fortunate to receive not only an acceptance but enough money in financial aid to attend. I was privileged to have the resources and the support from my family to make the transition to Riverside. It wasn’t until I stepped foot on campus that I realized just how different my experience was going to be. While the rest of my peers worried about securing summer internships and work experience,
I had to help my parents deal with immigration lawyers. My first two years of college were tainted by the overwhelming feeling that I didn’t belong. During my first year at UCR, my mother was denied residency in the country and was sentenced by a judge to stay in Mexico. I was home for spring break when we got the news, and within a week I was back on campus. With the burden of success heavier than ever, I had no room to make mistakes. To say that the years that followed were hard would be an understatement. My identity as a college student has never come first. Before anything else I am an immigrant, and this reality was never as prominent as it was during that time period. I never disclosed my immigration status to anyone, out of fear that someone might use it against me. This underlying fear would be the same reason that for the entirety of my sophomore year I would be too scared to leave campus. Being an undocumented student has never been an easy task, in fact it’s almost impossible. My educational career hit many bumps in the road, and by the end of my sophomore year I was on the verge of dropping out. The stress
of family problems and a lack of self-discipline when it came to school work was the perfect storm of terrible events. That all changed at the start of my junior year, when I came to the conclusion that I was done living out of fear. I took all the bad things that happened to me and used them as motivation to push myself to achieve more. Flash forward two years later, and I am only a few weeks away from attending graduation — a testament that I was eventually able to overcome all of my personal and academic hardships. I was able to find internships that catered to undocumented students like myself. Slowly but surely, I was able to fill my resume with experiences and I didn’t allow myself to limit my potential. I worked long hours with the rest of my peers without the same benefits of financial compensation, but I never allowed that to discourage me. I want my experience to serve as a reminder to anyone who finds themselves in my position, that anything is possible. We may be locked to our identity as undocumented students, but we shouldn’t let it limit us — we H belong here. ■
8 TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
OPINIONS
THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae
ICE has been tapping the personal information of millions of Americans
DAVID MORENO Assistant Opinions Editor
The Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, has a long history of abusing its power. The U.S government sanction department has been terrorizing people along the southern border for decades. Throughout the Trump presidency, the department has found itself at the forefront of a racist, anti-immigrant movement being pushed by the far right. In the eyes of many Americans, ICE was the only way to keep our borders safe from “criminals.” It would seem that this particular government agency has taken its role beyond what it was originally intended to be. ICE in recent years has become an agency obsessed with prying into the lives of millions of Americans with the justification of finding a select few breaking the law. ICE has gathered the personal information of millions of Americans, regardless of their immigration status. A report published citing hundreds of Freedom of Information acts shows that ICE has driver’s license data for three in four adults living in the U.S. They have scanned at least one in three of all adults’ driver’s licenses with face recognition technology. They can also track the movement of vehicles in cities that are home to nearly three in four adults; and can locate three in four adults through their utility records. Even in states like California where legislation has been passed to protect utility
information from immigration officials, ICE managed to weasel its way around the law. Despite efforts from California lawmakers to protect immigrants in the state, it’s been reported that ICE has access to more than half of California’s residents’ utility information. For a state that considers itself a “sanctuary state”, these numbers are very disappointing. The government agency has reportedly spent 2.8 billion dollars on surveillance, data collection and data-sharing incentives between the years of 2008 and 2021. The fact that these government agencies are allowed to spend taxpayer money to gather the personal information of millions of Americans is preposterous. Especially when you consider how much the Republican party backs ICE, the party notoriously known to criticize when taxpayer money is misused. ICE has embarked on a modern day witch hunt for immigrants across the country. In doing so, they have completely disregarded laws and protections that have been put in place by lawmakers to protect the rights of immigrants. The agency, which was originally formed as a result of the Sept.11 attacks and to protect the country from terrorist attacks, has taken a much darker form. The border agency has long surpassed its work along our U.S. borders making their presence known in several cities across the country. You wouldn’t expect to see a TSA agent outside your local grocery store, and the same should
THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS IS IN DIRE NEED OF REFORM.
be said for ICE agents. Yet time after time, ICE has continued to receive support from elected officials. Take for example the Biden Administration, which continuously fails to deliver on proper reform for the government agency. The use of ICE can be traced back to every single presidential administration within the past two decades. Former President Obama famously deported over 3 million people during his presidency. When you take all this into consideration, it makes it hard to believe that any administration, regardless of party association, will do anything productive to stop ICE. At the heart of this issue is the real lives of millions of immigrants that have to deal with ICE on a regular basis. The hundreds of families currently in detention camps run by this agency, and the hundreds more that will eventually find themselves in the same position. What ICE is currently doing should be considered a humanitarian issue. No individual should be condemned to being one singular thing. Americans need to wake up and realize that their taxpayer money is being used to fund this gang of thugs. In reality, ICE is a coalition of overly patronized individuals who are dead set on a mission fueled by ignorance and hate. Allowing them to continue to operate as freely as they currently do will only result in H more abuses of power down the line. ■
COURTESY OF MUSSI KATZ VIA FLICKR UNDER CC0
Harvard releases reports acknowledging its ties to slavery and its plans for reparations THE UNIVERSITY COMMITS $100 MILLION TO ACTIVELY ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF SLAVERY THAT BENEFITTED HARVARD.
HARU CHANG Staff Writer
Harvard’s Presidential Commission on the Legacy of Slavery formally acknowledges that slavery was undeniably integral to shaping Harvard University. The university now joins a consortium of more than 80 institutions of higher education called University Studying Slavery, engaged in investigating histories tied to slavery and making efforts to redress the affected communities. The report, however, avoided addressing the distribution of the direct financial reparations for the descendants of enslaved people. Preceding this report in 2016, the university’s 28th president, Drew Gilpin Faust, publicly acknowledged that “Harvard was directly complicit in America’s system of racial bondage from the College’s earliest days in the 17th century until slavery in Massachusetts ended in 1783.” This report builds on the preliminary investigation of the researcher Caitlin Glante De Angelis. From the university’s founding in 1636, until the Masachusetts Supreme Judicial Court found slavery unlawful in 1783, the report identified more than 70 Black and Indigenous people enslaved by Havard faculty, staff
and leaders. Throughout this period, and even into the 19th century, the university benefitted from its extensive ties to slavery. The university profited from its own financial investments in Caribbean sugar planters, rum distillers, plantation suppliers and its investments in cotton manufacturing. Early Harvard benefactors accumulated their wealth through slavery: slave trading, labor of enslaved people on plantations throughout the American South and Caribbean Islands and the Northern textile manufacturing industries that interacted with institutions of slavery through the cotton trade. The involvement of these benefactors were critical in the university’s early development, and their contributions are memorialized throughout the campus landscape giving physical evidence of Harvard’s roots in slavery and reminders
COURTESY OF HARVARD VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY 2.0
of the history that the university must reckon with. While more white Northerners turned against slavery with the advent of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and the rise of abolitionist sentiment in the Commonwealth, Harvard proved unwilling to participate in antislavery efforts. Many of its leaders subscribed to scientific theories and practices rooted in racial hierarchy, eugenics, racial exclusion and discrimination. It would legitimize racist views among generations of scientists, medical researchers and political leaders to produce devastating consequences. Some of its most prominent voices sought to suppress antislavery sentiment. Harvard provided an intellectual framework to justify the exclusion and marginalization of Black and Indigenous people that would endure into the 20th century. The Committee on Harvard
and the Legacy of Slavery offerred several recommendations that would guide the process of reckoning and repair. These were to engage and support descendants’ communities by leveraging Harvard’s excellence in education; honor enslaved people through memorialization, research, curriculum and knowledge dissemination; develop enduring partnerships with Black colleges and universities; identify, engage and support direct descendants; establish an endowed legacy of slavery funds to supprt the university’s reparative efforts; ensure institutional accountability. Institutions can and do change, as the attitudes of the people inside them evolve. From a college defined by its exclusive enrollment of white men from elite backgrounds, Harvard has become an institution that seeks
to educate students regardless of gender, race, nationality or economic status. Influenced by changing socio-political paradigms, institutions like Harvard are now reckoning with this past and seeking to make amends for these wrongs. Much remains to be done as institutions like Harvard attempt to rectify the consequences of disenfranchisement that has accumulated for current generations. Reparations, of course, should include restoring a balance from within affected communities and empowering autonomous healing through arts, culture, language, education, emotional and mental health services. It must also include pressure on state accountability as well as community-driven responses. Colleges that have committed to these efforts make available meaningful redistribution of resources that were robbed from Black and Indigenous communities. The institution’s active investment in redress is an important step that holds promise for a more comprehensive effort not only to diversity and providing accessibility to higher education, but also settling the dilemma of global U.S. state violence, injustice and racial atrocities H while repairing histories of harm. ■
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OPINIONS
Investing in cryptocurrency is a trap that will ruin your future
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
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THE LATEST DROP IN BITCOIN HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT SUCH A VOLATILE MARKET COULD WREAK HAVOC ON YOUR SAVINGS.
MADISON RHEINS Editor-in-Chief
Everywhere you look, there seems to be an enormous amount of ads persuading people to invest in cryptocurrency. With the growing popularity of this market, many are starting to take the risk of investing their retirement savings into Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Even companies such as Fidelity are allowing their patrons to invest their 401ks into crypto if their employers see fit. However, the crypto market is a volatile one and the criticism against investing in it is valid. Since cryptocurrency is still a new concept for most people, companies take advantage of this by marketing themselves as an easy and safe way to grow one’s assets. Apps like Robinhood encourage their users to put their money into Bitcoin or Dogecoin with the reassurance that their money is in a safe place. However, too many people are getting excited about this without even knowing much about it. In fact, cryptocurrency is not a hedge against inflation. As we’ve seen in the recent drop in Bitcoin, as the market plummets, it has dragged cryptocurrency down with it. Although many people believed that Bitcoin would be a hedge against inflation, its stock sunk alongside the rest of the market — stripping people of their assets. Bitcoin in the last several weeks has lost almost a quarter of its value and if you had invested a quarter of your 401k into Bitcoin, then a quarter of your worth was just wiped out. People are left in a very vulnerable position when they invest their money into cryptocurrency. There’s no way of predicting how the market will affect crypto, so if one were to pick the wrong cryptocurrency to invest in, it could have an adverse effect on their retirement. It’s a tragedy
COURTESY OF PEXELS
for many who invested into crypto with the hopes of growing their future savings only to find much of it cleaned out after the recent drop in Bitcoin. Cryptocurrency is also inaccessible to the everyday investor. There is a high cost of entry as it relies so heavily on technology and not everyone has the same access to technology to mine and use Bitcoin. Cryptocurrency is geared toward more affluent investors whereas those who make less, know less about investing into crypto. On the other hand, crypto companies are trying very hard to market themselves as something easily accessible and understandable to the everyday investor —but people should not fall for this trap. There are much safer ways to invest your money for the future that don’t involve cryptocurrency. Investing your retirement money in traditional index
mutual funds such as the SMP500 offers a broad diversification of companies. When someone invests in Bitcoin or Dogecoin, their assets are in danger because they are all in one place which makes the risk of losing your money much higher. However, when your risk is spread out amongst 500 companies there is less of a chance that a sudden drop in the market will affect your assets. Selecting mutual funds that offer diversification helps to mitigate the risk that comes with investing. It is clear that cryptocurrency is not a safe vessel for your retirement savings. Learning this sooner rather than later will save you from making the same mistakes as many others have when investing in H crypto. ■
Google searches on sterilization have skyrocketed since Roe v. Wade THE LEAKED DRAFT OPINION HAS RESULTED IN AN INCREASED INTEREST IN STERILIZATION KAYLA BATCHELOR Contributing Writer
COURTESY OF PEXELS
The leaked draft opinion on the overturning of Roe v. Wade has already sparked panic across the country, with thousands protesting in different states. Consequently, the ban on contraceptives in states such as Louisiana incited another level of uncertainty for those who look to birth control for alternate reasons such as period regulation or acne treatment. An interesting chain reaction to this plethora of changes for reproductive rights, however, is the rapid increase in Google searches for vasectomies or general sterilization procedures across the country. Certain states showed significant trends in the frequency of these search terms, with predominantly red states such as Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Florida showing a 99% increase in these searches. This may not even directly align with the draft opinion, yet the potential for trigger bans in at least half of the United States leave even more room for unsafe abortions to take place. Most birth control options such as the pill, patch, depo shot and IUD also have a chance of failing, with sterilization options such as vasectomies, tubal ligations and even hysterectomies being one of the few effective ways to fully prevent pregnancy. The concept of looking into sterilization procedures, let alone being childfree, is something that is widely criticized by people of different generations. However, many decide to be against having children due to the ongoing issues with climate change, inflation, socioeconomic factors and the general state of the world. People from the Gen
Z and Millennial generations are actively taking the physical and emotional strain of giving birth and raising a child into account. Another possibility to consider involves whether or not uterus owners can carry a fetus without longterm risks. People deemed healthy are susceptible to complications that could result in deciding between life and death. Looking into sterilization procedures stops the potential problems at the source and prevents that decision. Unfortunately, it is difficult to look for doctors who do tubal ligations and any sterilization procedures for healthy uterus owners. Doctors may argue that the risks of the procedure are too great, or turn people away due to their age. With the idea of having children being prevalent and ingrained into societal standards, there is heavy judgment toward people who decide not to have kids. Being turned away from medical professionals, however, is a traumatizing and exhausting cycle for people who strive to have that body autonomy. With this in mind, people find that vasectomies are easier to attain, resulting in the increased interest seen currently. Being childfree and having an abortion might be considered selfish, and people will continue to critique those who do not conform to the cisgender, heteropatriarchal status quo that comes with living in countries such as the U.S. What is important to recognize is that not every person intends to become a parent or feels ready to take on the financial burden of raising a child just yet. This is why it is crucial to not only promote educational conversations about contraceptives, but also to approach the general topic with a level of acceptance to those who are not in the H position to introduce a child into their lives. ■
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Features TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
FEATURES
THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae
Change shouldn’t be feared Be prepared for twists and turns that will guide you.
By: Ysabel Nakasone, Staff Writer Aries (March 21-April 19): Six of Pentacles
Leo (July 23-August 22): Death
The Six of Pentacles predicts prosperity this week, but at a cost. Be careful that the price of your success is something you are definitely willing to pay. Know that the strings attached might not even be as worrisome as you think. You have good judgment, Aries. Continue to be your honest and direct self if you want people to be upfront with you too.
Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21): Ace of Swords
The death card is a deeply misunderstood one. This should tell you to expect a major transformation in your life, perhaps the death of a pattern or frequently occuring event in your life. It means that you are shifting as a person and you shouldn’t be afraid of that change. Accept your personal growth and allow cleansing forces into your life.
Sagittarius, you’ve had a breakthrough. Something important has just become clear and it’s helping you see beyond the immediate. The Ace of Swords implores you to explore and to allow for adventure as you learn more about this breakthrough. You may be unsure of the future, but you are sure of yourself. Let that guide you into the unknown.
Virgo (August 23 September 22): Six of Wands
Capricorn (December 22 - January 19): Seven of Swords
The Six of Wands encourages you to welcome positive reinforcement for your accomplishments. Now is not the time to be self-deprecating. You’re reaching milestones and it’s high time that it was acknowledged. Being proud and touting your success isn’t bragging if it’s true. You may be scared of what to do next, but you need to let inspiration come to you instead of chasing it down. Enjoy the changes in your life now before you have to go full speed ahead again.
The Seven of Swords indicates that you have been following the straight and narrow path, but it isn’t getting you very far. Work smarter, not harder, Capricorn. Shortcuts are okay— you don’t have to feel like you’re cheating. Try to look for the simple solution and don’t get too caught up in complications or intricate plans. Look for the simplicity in all things as you try to detangle your journey.
Taurus (April 20-May 20): Four of Cups You’ve been feeling lonely and apathetic lately. You’ve always struggled with coming out of your shell and changing the patterns you’ve ingrained in your life, but it’s what you have to do to feel more engaged with your life. You have to be an active participant, not a spectator. If you’re looking for a sign to take action, this is it.
Gemini (May 21-June 20): Page of Swords Gemini, you’ve been holding back. You’ve been feeling like you can’t express your thoughts publicly, so you only acknowledge the truth in private. Think about taking your ideas and thoughts public and consult with trusted friends or family. Maybe you’re worried about hurting people’s feelings, and that should be considered, but you also should consider the pros and cons of remaining silent.
Cancer (June 21-July 22): Five of Cups Something hasn’t turned out the way you predicted, and that’s okay. Life will go on even when the path ahead becomes complicated. Even if the outcome wasn’t expected, it can still lead to good things and help you meet your ultimate goals. Don’t wallow in the fact that things didn’t go exactly according to plan. Learn to be flexible and to expect the unexpected.
Libra (September 23 October 22): Nine of Pentacles You may be experiencing some gains lately, specifically in terms of wealth — materially or spiritually. This is a change from feeling consistently scrambled by the demands of life. It’s having a calming influence and is an overall harmonizing force. Even though you have these material gains, you should remember to enjoy the simple things around you — don’t let it go to your head
Scorpio (October 23 November 21): Wheel of Fortune You’re approaching a turning point. Things in your life are transforming, but in a clear and positive way. Although you’re feeling like you can’t control this change, it is a good one. Embrace the unexpected and the unfamiliar on your journey of self-discovery.
Aquarius (January 20 February 18): The Tower You’ve been hit with the unexpected and the world around you feels like it’s descending into chaos. Life is throwing you for a loop, but you’re an ace at finding the unknowable answer. This event may be a shock to the structure of your carefully crafted life, but there’s no doubt that you will come out of this just as strong as you were before. You will develop a resilience you didn’t even think you could to bring about positive change for yourself and those around you.
Pisces (February 19 - March 20): Ace of Pentacles It’s the beginning of something new this week, Pisces. You’ve been manifesting your goals and it seems like all the pieces are coming together and rising to the top. This is the time to invest in your ideas and yourself. As you start out, be prepared for the setbacks and little things that hold you back. It won’t be the huge life-changing conflicts that impact you this week, but the small things in your life that you often H forget about. ■ ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF FREEPIK
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
FEATURES
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11
UNDER THE KILT:
Date night for under $30
AFFORDABLE DATING HAS NEVER LOOKED SO EASY!
by: Madison Rheins, Editor-in-Chief
Dating in college can be fun but expensive. Finding a place to eat and finding an activity to do can add up especially when you’re trying to save money. But have no fear! These cute dates are the perfect opportunity to get to know your partner without hurting your wallet.
Picnic at the Park Pack some light snacks and triangle sandwiches, bring a big sheet and some of your favorite drinks. The weather is perfect right now for a peaceful picnic at a park under the trees. Make sure to bring a speaker for some music to set the mood. Your partner will appreciate you packing all of the food and you can spend some quality time together and be one with nature.
Hike the C If you and your partner are into fitness, hiking the C is not only a UCR tradition, but something fun that you could do together! Bring some snacks on the go and walk up there in the early morning to catch the sunrise. Looking out at the horizon with your partner will surely get the sparks flying.
Trader Joe’s Dinner Play rock, paper, scissors to see who gets to pick the drinks, appetizers, main course and dessert. Not only will this be a fun way to walk around the store with your partner, but the inexpensive food will also satisfy your every craving. Once you’ve picked all of your items, you and your significant other can bond over cooking the meals you’ve selected.
ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF PIKISUPERSTAR VIA FREEPIK
Doughnuts and the beach For those who don’t mind the drive, going to the beach at night is always a romantic thing to do. Bring a sheet and drive down to Newport Beach where you can walk to Seaside Doughnuts and look at all of the pretty houses along the water. Once you’ve gotten your doughnuts, sit on the beach and gaze at the horizon and maybe it will lead to H a kiss under the stars. Don’t forget to bring a jacket! ■
10 essentials to add to your summertime bucket list by: Julie Nguyen, Contributing Writer Spring quarter is almost over and many of us are already thinking about summer. With summer comes a lot of heat but also a time to have fun when we aren’t too busy stressing over school. It’s important to have time to relax and take care of yourself and summer is the perfect time to start. Some of these recommended activities can be done alone, with friends or family. Although some of us already have plans for the summer, here are 10 essentials to add to your summertime bucket list!
Picnic When the days aren’t scorching hot, a picnic is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. You can visit the beach to hear the waves splashing or watch the sunset on top of a cliff. Setting up a picnic can allow you to enjoy good food while having a good time in a different environment.
Fruit Picking Fruit picking is extremely relaxing and rewarding. Not only is it an easy task to walk around a farm and pick the fruits you love, you also get the extra enjoyment of eating them after. My personal favorite is strawberry picking, especially being rewarded by their sweet taste.
TIRED OF STAYING HOME AND WATCHING TV? HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS TO SPICE UP YOUR SUMMER!
Fort Building
Satisfy your inner child! Building a fort is extremely fun as an adult when you can use even more supplies available in your house. You can use a fort for many activities, such as watching a movie in your new safe space or hanging some lights and taking cute pictures.
ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF FREEPIK
Go on a walk
Art Activities
Escape Room
Go on a 30-minute walk wherever you want and enjoy the scenery around you. A fun way to spice it up is to ask Siri left or right at the end of every block. See where it leads you and maybe discover something new.
Another way to have fun can be through various art activities. No one has to be good at painting or drawing to enjoy the calming activity. Art activities can be enjoyed through chalk, drawing supplies or even paint. A twist around using paint can be using your legs as a new canvas. Leg painting is a great way to express your artwork on your own body and take some great pictures after for memories.
How about solving some fun puzzles? Escape rooms are a fun activity to bond with others to put all your brainpower together to escape a mysterious room. These rooms can vary in the level of difficulty depending on the location and levels chosen.
Photoshoot You can spice up your social media posts by taking some inspirational photos from Pinterest and having a photoshoot with either your friends, family, or even on your own.
Game Night Have fun with a classic activity. Game night can consist of either video games or classic board games. Games are great ways to have fun with a little bit of competition involved.
Rage Room
A rage room is somewhere you can intentionally break and destroy things without making a mess in your own home. In a rage room, people can bring in their own things or buy things to break to get rid of their anger. Maybe your final grade from the spring quarter wasn’t what you hoped for. Try to release the anger through the rage room and bond with those around you.
Drive-In Movie
Spice up movie night by going to a drive-in movie theater. Get old school feels and in the comfort of your own trunk you can enjoy a movie in a new way. There is quite a good selection of movies that are coming out in the upcoming summer. For Marvel-loving fans, there is a new Thor movie or even a new Minions H movie to get a good laugh. ■
12 TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022
FEATURES
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CAMPUS COPE:
A word of advice from someone who used to be 21 EMBRACE THOSE GROWING PAINS, THEY ARE LEADING YOU SOMEWHERE NEW.
By: David Moreno, Assistant Opinions Editor
Here’s 21 things I wish someone would’ve told me before I turned 21:
1. Nothing last forever 2. Loneliness is a companion 3. Some thoughts are better left unsaid 4. Don’t be afraid to change 5. Those bad memories will fade 6. You don’t owe anybody anything 7. Some goodbyes will be harder than others 8. It all doesn’t have to make sense right now 9. Embrace heartbreak 10. Not everything is a life lesson 11. Don’t overthink yourself to death 12. Some people don’t deserve apologies 13. Some people don’t deserve you 14. Love is a concept 15. Love is transparent 16. You don’t need another person to complete you 17. You don’t need another person to save you 18. Let go of the past 19. Let go of those expectations 20. You are enough 21. Nothing last forever, embrace it ■ H
AN EASY RECIPE WITH INGREDIENTS ALL SOURCED FROM TRADER JOE’S. ALEXANDRIA LACHMAN Staff Writer
Pesto and cheese, say what!
As college students, the need for quick easy meals is a must, but finding quick and tasty recipes is sometimes challenging. Having limited ingredients that are both readyto-use and fresh, is especially important for upcoming finals week. Students can have a hard time pulling themselves away from studying for hours at a time. However, one reliable market is none other than Trader Joe’s, where even their quick frozen meals are sure to be tasty. But
if you’re tired of frozen reheats, here’s an easy recipe that will be a new favorite. The best part is that all the ingredients are still sourced from Trader Joes so you know it’s going to be amazing! Ingredients Servings: 2 Start to finish: 15 Minutes • Trader Joe’s artisan ciabatta bread • Traders Joe’s pesto • Trader Joe’s fresh mozzarella cheese • Trader Joe’s balsamic glaze
Grab one of the artisan rolls and cut them in half. Add a spoonful of pesto and spread evenly on both sides. Then, grab some fresh mozzarella and layer on top of the pesto (If you’re a fan of rosemary, feel free to sprinkle some dried rosemary onto each slice). Place your sliced bread in an air fryer and leave for 6 min. Once the cheese is melted, remove from the air fryer. Lastly, drizzle balsamic vinegar over H your bread slices and enjoy! ■
ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF REDGREYSTOCK AND RAWPIXEL VIA FREEPIK
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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MONDAY, MAY 24, 2022
HBO’s latest series, “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” has a decent start, but is messy in its execution KIMBERLY BEJEC Staff Writer
“The Time Traveler’s Wife” was a 2003 novel written by Audrey Niffenegger and gained a lot of success during its time. Since then a movie adaptation of the book was released in 2009 featuring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana. The movie was a success, but received mixed reviews with audiences praising the actors’ performances and criticizing the premise. The television series adaptation of the book on HBO came out on May 15. The plot is a love story between Henry DeTamble (Theo James) and his wife, Clare Abshire (Rose Leslie). Henry has a genetic disorder that makes him travel through time at random moments for an unknown amount of time. Clare is an artist, struggling to deal with his unpredictable absences. The show follows both characters’ perspectives and travels throughout time during their relationship. A major issue that audiences have with the novel and adaptations involves the beginning of Clare and Henry’s relationship. Henry can often travel to the same place at different points of time. After marrying Clare, Henry starts to travel to her childhood starting when she is six years old. As Clare grows up, Henry visits her at various ages and they begin to form a close bond. Audiences have questioned this aspect of the romance. While some fans argue against the controversy, others cannot fathom the plotline of Henry visiting Clare in her childhood. Although this aspect may have worked back
when the novel was written, it is difficult for it to pass in today’s society. This major downfall of the story is what holds the show from keeping audiences engaged. Another downfall of the show is its messy storytelling. Due to Henry’s time travels and the various moments between Clare and Henry in their lives, the show jumps around frequently. Although there is a screen tag showing audiences the age of Clare and/or Henry at that point of time, it can still get confusing to follow. The show also includes scenes where Henry and Clare are speaking to the camera in a documentary style. It is not yet explained why the show involves these scenes, and for the audience it is unclear what is going on when they are randomly inserted into the show. An aspect of the film adaptation that was highly praised was the actors’ performance and their chemistry with each other. For James and Leslie, the chemistry between them is lacking in the premiere, especially as the “present” forms of their characters are not on the same page in their relationship. However, the show has just started and their chemistry could possibly develop as the series continues. Despite the many pitfalls of the show, there were a few highlights in the premiere. The dialogue involved some witty lines that gave a comedic aspect to the show. The individual performances of James and Leslie were interesting for audiences to see, especially when it comes to learning more about their characters. The heartfelt romance has a complex
story that can captivate the audience. However, its weaknesses unfortunately do not outweigh the show’s strengths. It is difficult to convey a story where a grown man travels to the past and visits a child whom he will marry later in life. As a result, audiences today may find that aspect creepy and thus cannot continue to watch the rest of the series. The original plotline went over people’s heads when it was a book and it barely passed as a movie. Therefore, a rendition of the story H today is a tough gamble to make. ■
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DESPITE THE SHOW HAVING SOME INTERESTING SCENES, IT STRUGGLES TO OVERCOME A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE LOVE STORY.
COURTESY OF WARNER BROS TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION
Time Traveler’s Wife,” cannot get past its controversies, which holds the show back from keeping VERDICT: “The the audience engaged. The show may have some highlights, but it fails to outweigh any strong points.
The fall of Netflix MADISON RHEINS Editor-in-Chief
Netflix stock has plummeted and they announced their first subscriber loss in more than a decade. All of this points to their recent crackdown on password sharing and their executives announcing that they will bring on ads to the platform by the end of 2022. And although Netflix will keep an ad-free tier that people can purchase, it’s most likely that this option will be pricier and more people will begin to leave the streaming service. In comparison to streaming services like HBO Max and Disney+, Netflix falls behind in terms of streamable content. Aside from series like “Inventing Anna” or “Bridgerton,” Netflix fails to boast as many hits as its competitors. Many people in online forums believe that Netflix originals are bad and are hard to compare to big blockbuster hits like “Euphoria” or “The Mandalorian.” Although people are skeptical of the longevity of all streaming services, Netflix is the most in danger of becoming obsolete. It simply can’t keep up with its competitors, and adding
THE RECENT CRACKDOWN ON PASSWORD SHARING AND THE THREAT OF ADS COULD SPELL THE END FOR THE STREAMING PLATFORM.
advertisements as the cheapest tier option will be its downfall. As we move out of the pandemic, it’s important to notice the slow incline of moviegoers. Now that it’s safe to leave our homes, many people are starting to go to the movies again. Hits like “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and the new Doctor Strange movie have proven that more people are opting to leave their homes and watch movies in a theater. This doesn’t leave much room for all of the streaming services to continue going strong. Combined with Disney+, HBO Max and even Hulu releasing popular series, Netflix is left out in the cold. The future of streaming remains bright for most companies, but Netflix will soon become a thing of the past. People are not going to want to pay a fee just to watch content littered with ads. It is very likely that although people will be able to buy a tier that is ad-free, it will be more expensive H and less worthwhile to the viewer. ■ COURTESY OF PEXELS
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
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COURTESY OF INTERSCOPE RECORDS ► FROM KENDRICK
uncle’s identity as a transgender man. While making an important demonstration on the difference between genuine ignorance and aggressive ignorance, he pontificates about school children’s homophobic and transphobic humor by dropping the f-slur multiple times. In the song, Lamar later recounts a concert where he invited a white girl on stage to rap “M.A.A.D. City,” but cut her off when she verbally stated the n-word. Lamar laments his hypocrisy for basking in the use of the f-slur while scrutinizing white people’s use of the n-word. Kodak Black’s feature on the album also brought controversy, as he faced assault charges from an incident in 2016 involving a then-teen girl. People believe
VERDICT:
his presence leaves a sour taste on the album, especially since Lamar discusses being affected by domestic assault and his desire to end generational abuse. Particular fans of Lamar propose that this was done purposefully to accentuate his point of abusers given a platform and such. It’s a lacking theory, and in turn reveals fans’ tendency to turn anything condemnable into claims of Kendrick’s artistic genius. Therefore, this album is a reflection on ourselves as much as it is on him. It is not the point that we admire Kendrick for his forthcomings, but that he lays facts about him before us and we determine, and allow others to determine, what we find tasteful or not about him. As evident in “cancel culture,” we strive to separate ourselves from
questionable personalities and we do so by swearing one person is all bad, or swearing they are all good. The ending of the track “Count Me Out” goes, “Some things I must confess / Spoke my truth, paid my debt / Can’t you see I’m a wreck? / Let me loose, I digress / This is me, I am blessed.” Lamar is not only revealing himself, but pleading that we see him as the way he is. So he in turn criticizes us. We stubbornly hold on to a holy version of an artist, unintentionally designating a role that they are not always prepared to uphold. When we criticize the music industry, it is shrouded in corporate condemnation, and rarely do we understand when we are that demanding side of the industry. This album is an invitation to look at ourselves. The track
“We Cry Together” also garnered attention as it depicts a couple’s argument. Fittingly introduced as “This is what the world sounds like,” it is sprinkled with modern day terms of accusation — the woman accuses the man of using “reverse psychology” while he calls her a “fake feminist.” Listeners joke that they’ve heard this song all their life, from the random couple in public or their own parents during their childhood. Sadistic jokes aside, there are signs that this album’s reflective purposes are working. Fittingly, the album ends with the song “Mirror,” in which the lyrics go, “Sorry I didn’t save the world, my friend / I was too busy building mine / I choose me, I’m sorry.”■ H
The new Kendrick album steps away from the usual narrative around Compton and deemphasizes “replay value,” instead giving us an opportunity to reflect on how we see artistry, while Kendrick reflects on himself.
Sports
SPORTS
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TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
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SACRIFICE FLYOUT FROM THE GAUCHOS LEADS TO THE GAME-WINNING RUN
UC Riverside baseball team loses in a nail-biter against UC Santa Barbara
COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS
HANSEL CHU Assistant Sports Editor
The UC Riverside baseball team lost in a crushing 8-9 game against UC Santa Barbara Friday night at Santa Barbara. Going into this game, the Highlanders sat in last place in the Big West Conference standings while the Gauchos sat comfortably in the first place. UCR looked to get an improbable win and finish the regular season strong. In the bottom of the first inning, UCSB was able to get on the scoreboard first with a sacrifice flyout from first baseman Kyle Johnson which sent third baseman Bryce Willits home. In the top of the third inning, a double from sophomore infielder
Andrew McFarland put the Highlanders in scoring position. Soon later, a double down the right-field line from freshman center fielder Jacob Badawi sent McFarland to the home plate and tied the game 1-1. After a strikeout from the pitcher Cory Lewis, a single into the right-field from redshirt junior Jacob Shanks sent two runners home and put UC Riverside in the lead 3-1. A popout from redshirt senior designated hitter Dylan Orick ended a successful inning for UCR. In the bottom of the fourth inning, UC Santa Barbara responded with a triple into the right-center from shortstop Jacob Sprinkle, which sent two runners home and tied the game 3-3. In the top of the fifth
inning, UC Riverside answered back with a three-run inning to regain the lead, 6-3. A double to right-center from freshman left fielder Andrew Rivas sent Badawi and McFarland to the home plate and gave the Highlanders the lead, 5-3. A bunt from Shanks advanced Rivas to third base with a chance to add another run to the inning. Orick delivered for UCR as he hit a single into right field to send Rivas home and bring the score to 6-3. Sophomore pitcher Eric Marrujo retired three straight batters to end the fifth inning. In the top of the seventh inning, UCR was able to score another run due to a couple of walks from the Gaucho bullpen. Four consecutive walks from the Gaucho bullpen led to an earned run and extended the lead 7-3 for the Highlanders. UCSB was able to inch a bit closer in the bottom of the seventh inning as a single up the middle from designated hitter Blake Klassen brought in a run for the Gauchos and brought the score to 7-4 going into the eighth inning. UC Riverside was able to tag in another run in the top of the eighth inning. With runners on first and second base, Shanks was able to sling a single into left field to bring the score to 8-4. With the bases loaded and two outs on the board, UCR threatened to score more runs. However, a groundout from sophomore shortstop Anthony Mata retired the inning for the Highlanders. In the bottom of the eighth inning, UC Santa Barbara closed the deficit with a two-run inning. With runners on second and third base, the Gauchos looked to score with one out on the board. A sacrifice foul out led right fielder Broc Mortensen to race toward home plate and
bring the score to 8-5. Soon after, a base hit down the infield line from left fielder Christian Kirtley led to another run for the Gauchos and the deficit narrowed to 8-6 going to the last inning. The Highlanders were unable to do anything in the top of the ninth inning as they went three up, three down. It was up to junior pitcher Sergio Ramirez to save the game for UCR. However, Ramirez was unable to get the job done. With runners on second and third base, Ramirez walked Mortensen to have the bases loaded for the Gauchos with one out. Sophomore pitcher Kyle Anderson came in for Ramirez to save the game. However, Anderson walked Kirtley to bring in a run for UCSB and the score was brought to 8-7. An error from redshirt freshman first baseman Joey Nicolai gave UC Santa Barbara an unearned run and tied the game at 8-8. Sprinkle went up to bat looking to give the Gauchos a walk-off hit. A flyout from Sprinkle toward center field sent Mortensen racing home. The throw toward the home plate did not reach in time and Mortensen was able to reach the home plate for an unearned run and give UCSB the comeback victory 8-9. Marrujo finished the game with three strikeouts and allowed two earned runs and four hits in 6.0 innings pitched. Shanks led the Highlanders at-bat with 3 RBI in three hits. Rivas contributed with an RBI double with one hit and brought in two runs. Badawi also chipped in with an RBI single in two hits and also brought in two runs. The Highlanders drop to 8-40 (4-24) and will have their last series of the season at crosstown rival Cal Baptist University H next week from May 26th to May 28th. ■
Highlander Hot Take: It takes more than just money to build a successful team KEVIN CONTRERAS Sports Editor
In the world of athletics, there is one thing that each and every sport has in common: Money. In every sport there is a huge concentration of money week in week out. Normally this money is directed towards logistics, travel, facilities, athlete and staff uniforms and marketing. Every so often though, there are brief moments where the money is concentrated towards completing multi-million dollar deals. Oftentimes, these deals are great for the sport and it can bring players together who would never have played together otherwise. But in its current form, team owners are often using money as a way to win championships the easy way. There are two examples that shed light on the current trend in both basketball and soccer: the Brooklyn Nets and the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) In basketball, the Nets recently underwent one of the largest deals in basketball history involving four teams and signing some of the biggest names in basketball currently. With this trade, the Brooklyn Nets held the most feared squad. The deal in question, of course, was the one which allowed them to acquire Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Blake Griffin all in the same squad. This was by all accounts a super team and was the team to watch out for. Unfortunately for the Nets, the story ends there. They had back-to-back unsuccessful seasons and since then, James Harden has been traded again. There were
THE CREATION OF SUPER TEAMS ARE FUN TO WATCH, BUT MONEY CAN’T ALWAYS BUY A CHAMPIONSHIP.
high hopes for this team, and while they were fun to watch, this super team got nowhere near the NBA championship trophy. The Brooklyn Nets had unlimited potential, which translated into one of the biggest flukes in NBA history. In soccer, PSG has become a big team with aspirations of winning the champions league, coming incredibly close in 2020, ultimately losing in the final. Since then, PSG has been on a path to rebuild and once again return to the trophy. PSG has at its disposal big names in every section of their team. In defense, Sergio Ramos and Presnel Kimpembe. In the midfield, Angel Di Maria. Nothing, though, is as impressive as their offense. Neymar Jr, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi — each three of the biggest forwards in soccer history. Yet, PSG has shown no results in the world of soccer. Even though they are fun to watch, they are a super team who keeps falling short. Building a team is no easy task. Teams who have the ability and resources to sign big names are expected to do so. The issue is that millionaire and billionaire owners believe they can bring the biggest names together in a room and expect the rest to sort itself out. Becoming a champion and crossing the threshold to join the greats takes more than just skills — it takes years of development and perseverance. Watching these players may be great fun and it is a true joy to see some of the best come together and play ball alongside each other, but money is not a shortcut to winning a trophy. ■ H COURTESY OF PEXELS
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