The Highlander
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
For the week of Tuesday, November 30, 2021
VOL. 70, ISSUE 09
est. 1954
RADAR
How ‘Eternals’ could be the glory or downfall of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
MARVEL’S MOST DIVERSE MOVIE HAS CAUSED MIXED REVIEWS AND RIFTS BETWEEN FANS AND CRITICS.
BRENDA JOVEL Assistant Radar Editor
Tyree Henry), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani) and Sprite (Lia McHugh). Each possesses unique abilities and personalities that were created by Arishem, their leader and a celestial. They were originally placed on Earth thousands of years ago to protect the world from maneating creatures called deviants. Once every deviant was destroyed, each member went their own way and were soon caught up living new lives in the modern era. Their new lives are thrown into a whirlpool of chaos when a deviant suddenly re-emerges, causing the Eternals to join forces once again to restore peace and safety for humanity. This is only the sub-plot of the film as the biggest and most important plot reveals itself to be the task to prevent the emergence of a celestial whose birth would result in the H demise of planet Earth. ■
When audience members were introduced to the highly-anticipated cast for “Eternals,” the world went haywire. As Marvel’s most diverse cast, they made sure to showcase each character as much as they could to hype fans up. New teasers went up on Marvel Studios’ official Instagram page for weeks before the newest posters for each character were shown. Seeing familiar A-list faces like Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Gemma Chan and more in their characters’ costumes created a train of thrills and anticipation for the film’s release. “Eternals” takes place five years after the events from “Avengers: Endgame.” The group is comprised of 10 members: Ajak (Salma Hayek), Ikaris (Richard Madden), Sersi (Gemma Chan), Druig (Barry Keoghan), Makari (Lauren Ridloff), Gilgamesh (Don Lee), Thena (Angelina Jolie), Phastos (Brian
OPINIONS
TWO YEARS INTO THE PANDEMIC, AAPI HATE INCIDENTS HAVE INCREASED, BUT IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET THE EVENTS THAT LED TO THIS POINT.
Hatred against Asian Americans surged during the pandemic, but history shows this has been a long time coming
COURTESY OF ELVERT BARNES VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-SA 2.0 YSABEL NAKASONE and 320,000 Pacific Islanders have Contributing Writer
A new national report done by the group Stop AAPI Hate shows that about 20% Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have experienced a hate-motivated incident in the last year. Based on the report, 20% means roughly 4.8 million Asian Americans
► SEE ETERNALS PAGE 8
COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES
been the subject of a hate incident. Despite public attention shifting away from this issue, AAPI hate has continued to surge. This is not only due to the association made between the pandemic and Asia, but also due to inflammatory rhetoric on the part of public officials and the country’s history of AAPI discrimination and
oppression that encourages people to act on long-standing racist attitudes. For this recent pandemic surge, the blame can at least in part be assigned to former President Donald Trump after his liberal use of racist terms like “Chinese virus” and “Kung Flu,” which he synonymously used for coronavirus. This choice to refer to the virus as Chinese was a conscious and deliberate one that was discovered after a photo was taken of Trump’s script where the word “corona” was crossed out and written in was the word “Chinese.” Experts were openly critical of these terms, claiming that they could increase occurrences of AAPI hate. A study done by UC San Francisco found a connection between Trump’s use of the term “Chinese virus” and the rise of anti-Asian hashtags on Twitter. The use of these blatantly racist terms for the coronavirus encourages people to see the virus as attached to an Asian person and gives people an excuse for H their own racist opinions or actions.■ ► SEE ASIAN AMERICAN HATE PAGE 5
SPORTS
UC Riverside’s men’s basketball team on a three-game win streak with a win over Florida A&M HANSEL CHU Assitant Sports Editor
The UC Riverside basketball team won 6049 against Florida A&M University at the SRC Arena on Black Friday. Going into this game, the Highlanders had a dominating win against Bethesda and squeaked past the University of Texas at El Paso on Monday night. Strong performances from junior guard Zyon Pullin and junior center Callum McRae led UCR to a victory Friday afternoon. Junior guard Flynn Cameron got things started for the Highlanders with a triple to open up the game. However, both teams struggled to put points up on the scoreboard as
THE HIGHLANDERS MANAGE TO BE VICTORIOUS IN A TOUGH DEFENSIVE BATTLE AGAINST THE RATTLERS the defensive intensity was high. A layup from graduate student guard Dominick Pickett gave UCR a 10-6 lead with 12:06 left in the first half. A couple of minutes later, a 3-pointer from freshman guard Wil Tattersal gave Riverside a 5-point lead around the halfway point of the half. This would ignite a 15-4 run from the Highlanders to grab control of the game. A pair of 3-pointers from senior forward J.P. Moorman II and a couple of buckets from Pullin H contributed to the run. ■ ► SEE MEN’S BASKETBALL PAGE 9
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NEWS
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021
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UC Online open to students for winter quarter and spring semester course registration
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ABHIJIT REGE News Editor
The University of California has announced in fall 2021 that UC Online’s cross-campus enrollment resource for online learning has been relaunched. The UC online platform allows undergraduate students the opportunity to receive instruction from any UC campus, especially those that may not be offered by the campus they attend. Academic credit is counted toward graduation, and these courses come at no additional cost for UC students. Online courses are offered each academic year to all UC undergraduate students systemwide, are delivered through videos
and interactive course discussions and are facilitated through online platforms. Their website advertises how the platform allows students to “satisfy degree requirements or explore new subjects with the convenience and flexibility of online learning.” Featured classes on the UC online website are creative classes including Video Games Theory and Research, Introductory Screenwriting and Introduction to Brewing and Beer, along with general education classes such as Calculus for Science, Engineering and Mathematics. But the UC Online platform contains numerous courses available to students. For
the upcoming quarter, classes hosted by UC Riverside that students from other campuses can choose to enroll in include CS005, Introduction to Computer Programming, PSYC001, Introductory Psychology and STAT010, Introduction to Statistics. These courses are developed and taught by UC faculty and instructors, and students can earn not only UC unit credit, but also general education, premajor or major credit based on departmental and programmatic requirements. Registration has already taken place for the upcoming winter quarter for UC’s on quarter system and will occur following the conclusion of the fall semester of UC Berkeley and Merced. The UC online platform hopes students “will consider exploring the resources available for enhanced learning and the opportunities available for access to more of UC’s worldclass faculty, regardless of location.” Though 95% of classes will be delivered in person for UCR students in the winter quarter, the UC Online platform can allow students to bolster their schedules with online classes. UC Online, formerly known as the Innovative Learning Technology Initiative, is part of the Educational Innovations and Services unit within Graduate, Undergraduate and Equity Affairs at the UC Office of the President. The University of California has expressed how the program furthers the university’s commitment to providing quality public education through equitable and inclusive online learning opportunities. To learn more about UC Online, please visit their H website here: https://www.uconline.edu/ ■
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Hibachi-San and Subway reopen at the HUB UCR IS STILL FACING A SHORTAGE OF STUDENT WORKERS. AMARAY ALVAREZ Assistant News Editor
Although UCR welcomed students back for the fall 2021 quarter, not all campus resources or centers were ready to open following the pandemic. Restaurants around the university and at the HUB, as well as residential dining halls, were met with the challenge of being understaffed. This challenge resulted in the closing of Lothian’s dining hall and delayed the opening of other student-favorite restaurants. Hibachi-San and Subway are the most recent HUB restaurants to reopen after being closed most of the first semester. Their delayed openings gave students few options of places to eat on campus. Panda Express, Chronic Tacos and The Habit, along with Coffee Bean, were the only establishments in the HUB accessible to students. Some Scotty locations and other restaurants still remain closed. While Hibachi-San and Subway have reopened, their hours are still limited. Hibachi-San is open Mondays through Fridays, except Tuesdays, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or when they run out of ingredients for the day. Subway is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The other restaurants in the HUB stay open until about 7 p.m., in comparison. The Barn restaurant and bar is also operating on a compromised schedule. Following a delayed opening, it is open for patio service Mondays through Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m. Patio service includes drinks and appetizers only. The reason for these delayed openings has been caused by a lack of student workers. The restaurants have had difficulty finding enough laborers to fully staff the restaurants. The residential dining halls have also been affected by this problem. Only a few weeks into the fall quarter, Lothian’s dining hall was closed so that all student dining hall workers could fully staff Glasgow,
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UCR’s newest dining hall. There has still been no update as to when Lothian will reopen. With classes being 95% in person for the winter quarter, these restaurants should soon reopen fully to meet the new
influx of students. Students wanting to work on-campus at one of these establishments can apply at dining.ucr.edu/employment/ H student-employment. ■
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Opinions TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021
OPINIONS
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THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL
Kyle Rittenhouse’s acquittal highlights the many flaws in the justice system
RITTENHOUSE’S TRIAL OPERATED ON THE BASIS THAT HE ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE. WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS TRUE, THE SITUATION SURROUNDING THE CASE SHOWS THE HOLES IN HOW JUSTICE IS CARRIED OUT.
T
he acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse was a relief for some and a gross abuse of the justice system for others. The nation has become divided over this case, with some as high on the political stage as Tulsi Gabbard and Donald Trump supporting the cases’ verdict. The evidence surrounded the case as well, especially video evidence that seemed to show that Rittenhouse indeed was acting in selfdefense. However, what led to the trial in the first place — Rittenhouse carrying an assault rifle around a Black Lives Matter protest — can just as easily be stated that he intended to do harm. While the nature surrounding the case, the verdict and the evidence can be debated nonstop, one thing is for certain: the justice system continues to show that it is broken and needs to be fixed. “Self-defense” laws are put into place to protect those who genuinely feel that they will be killed or experience grave harm by someone else who is actively hurting them. In drone camera footage, it seems that Joseph Rosenbaum threw a plastic bag at Rittenhouse, which would indicate on the surface that there was indeed some sort of provocation. However, a plastic bag would not constitute a risk of being killed or experiencing grave harm, as many self-defense laws state. Therefore, Rittenhouse did not truly have the right to claim selfdefense as it is currently defined, because there was no risk of immense damage coming to his person. Unfortunately, “self-defense” is not defined clearly enough by law and people are
COURTESY OF THOMAS HAWK VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-NC 2.0
able to get away with violent crimes as a result of it. The law needs to define what self-defense is and what it is not so that we don’t have the confusion and vagueness that have been seen around this particular trial as well as others. It does not help either that when self-defense is used as a claim, the race of the person often is an indicator as to how they are treated. Marc Wilson, a biracial man, shot and killed a white man who was yelling racial slurs toward Wilson on a highway. Though there was an attempt to run Wilson off of the road, he was arrested on charges of aggravated assault and felony murder. While these charges are nothing to scoff at, Rittenhouse was being held on five different first-degree charges for homicide and recklessness and still was acquitted. Meanwhile, Wilson was not permitted bail and faces a life sentence for his actions, and Rittenhouse walks free, though both are pleading the same excuse. Though in an ideal world race would not even be a factor in any trial, the fact of the matter is that race relations in America are so high that they cannot be ruled out entirely. The fact that Rittenhouse was at a Black Lives Matter protest with an assault rifle seems to suggest that he intended to cause some kind of harm. The murky nature of self-defense laws means that systemic racism gets involved as well — and to no one’s benefit. There are many angles to look at this case, and in all of them, the fact that even the charge for being a minor with possession of a dangerous weapon was dropped makes absolutely no sense. The case of self-defense as a concept needs to be federally defined, and
this needs to be done on the basis of true intent. The issue with this case is the nature of intent, and whether Rittenhouse masked his ill intent with a plea of self-defense. If the concept were to have a solid legal definition, regardless of the nebulous nature of intent, then these cases would likely see more justice toward people who hide their intentions to do harm and the acquittal of people who acted because they truly felt like they were in danger. Though the jury is being praised for supporting the claim of self-defense, the fact that self-defense is so nebulous in the first place shows the glaring holes that we still have in our justice system. It doesn’t help either that the self-defense excuse only benefits white men, showing that our system is still struggling with systemic racism in a time we need to be eradicating it from our societies. The Rittenhouse case is a prime example of how broken our justice system is and continues to be. Kyle Rittenhouse is not a hero. He is a benefactor of a system that benefits white men and helps them avoid the consequences of their H actions. ■
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.
OPINIONS
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021
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Kamala Harris needs to decide what she wants to be remembered for
KAMALA HARRIS’ LEGACY AS VICE PRESIDENT THUS FAR HAS LEFT MANY OF HER SUPPORTERS DISAPPOINTED IN HER.
DAVID MORENO Assistant Opinions Editor
COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-S.A. 2.0
Since taking public office in January, Vice President Kamala Harris has struggled to find her place within the Biden administration. Her approval ratings have hit record-breaking lows, a trend that started over the summer. Harris has found herself under a magnifying glass, constantly being criticized by the American public. Many Democrats are already looking to the future. If Joe Biden decides not to run for a second term, Harris would most likely become the frontrunner. But with her current struggles as vice president, her name might not hold enough weight to bring in voters. Harris needs to win over the trust of the American people, because without their support she has no chance of becoming president. Last week, President Biden had to be put under anaesthesia for a colonoscopy, during which time Harris was technically filling the role as the active president. While this shift in power lasted for one hour and twenty five minutes, it brought into conversation Harris’ ability to be president in the near future. If you ask any Democrat what their opinions are about a potential Harris presidency, their answer might surprise you. Even people within her own party are having a hard time defending some of her recent actions. Progressives saw Harris as a unique champion, her political actions have many feeling disappointed in her. One instance of this was over the summer, when Harris took a lot of heat for her comments about immigration. While on a trip to Guatemala, she stated in a speech, “Do not come. Do
not come. The United States will continue to enforce our laws and secure our borders.” She was speaking to Guatemalan immigrants who had been trying to seek asylum in the United States. This is around the time that her approval rating started to fall. It’s clear that her message wasn’t accepted. It would seem that current tensions being reported between her and President Biden are not helping her case. The pair have been struggling to work together, oftentimes with Harris being sidelined. Coming to the end of their first year in the White House, both President Biden and Kamala Harris’ approval ratings are down. A recent poll found that 51% of voters disapprove of her job performance. People who initially supported her are feeling like she’s not doing enough. The vice presidency can be restrictive at times, so in reality, there’s not much she can do right now. But if she wants to win the presidential nomination in the near future, she’s going to have to start changing the public opinion on her leadership skills. Nonetheless, the likelihood that President Biden won’t run for a second term is still relatively low. But with the growing concerns about his health and age, that probability might start to increase as we continue into their presidential term. Kamala Harris needs to decide what she wants her legacy to be as vice president. This is crucial for her political future. The Democratic Party will need to decide if Harris is a worthy enough candidate, and right H now she’s not. ■
► FROM ASIAN AMERICAN HATE
However, AAPI hate is not a new phenomenon, and it didn’t start or end with the Trump administration. Very notably, this country was responsible for the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. In the late 1800s, nativist propaganda was spread that blamed Chinese immigrants for lowered wages and other economic problems, despite the small portion of the population they made up. Congress caved to concerns, and the Chinese Exclusion Act ended Chinese immigration for 10 years. AAPI hate is a large part of U.S. history and clearly still is. It’s simply important to note that the pandemic was not the beginning of this issue, and this country’s path of ignorant hate began a long time ago. Furthermore, unreasonable standards are created for Asian-Americans through the Model Minority Myth. The stereotypical characterization of Asian-Americans as the perfect example of the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality or the non-threatening minority is not, as one might think, acceptance by society but instead a strict set of guidelines to going unnoticed and unheard. Asians face a lack of representation in many arenas, not just in government. In Hollywood, Asian actors or actresses star in films far more rarely, and these films are often full of racist rhetoric. A study found, after looking at 1,300 top-grossing films from 2007 to 2019, that less than 4% of the movies had AAPI actors in leading or co-leading roles. They also found that about two thirds of AAPI characters in these movies were characterized by Asian stereotypes, such as Asian women being submissive or tempresses. The collective desire to exclude and silence Asian voices is evident in the way they are and are not represented. Anti-Asian rhetoric goes even further beyond stereotypes and a lack of accurate representation, as the world has seen coverage of violent incidents of AAPI hate. In a shooting just earlier this year, the murder of eight women, six of whom were Asian women, was a brutal reminder of what emerges from racist sentiments and fetishization. The shooter claimed to the police that he was a sex addict and that the massage parlors he attacked were temptations he was aiming to eliminate. The association between Asian women and an obviously very disturbed man’s “temptation” is like the connection made between Asian people and
COURTESY OF MIKI JOURDAN VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
the coronavirus: entirely inaccurate, deeply dangerous and built on a racist misconceptions perpetuated by far too many people. Trying to move forward and making progress should be the ultimate goal. The same study recently done by Stop AAPI Hate posits that the best way to combat the issue of AAPI hate is education and community-
based solutions. California has taken a step in the right direction with the new ethnic studies requirements for graduating California high school students beginning in 2030. It is essential to understand America’s history and the oppression ingrained within it in order to H improve upon it. ■
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Features
FEATURES
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Tis' the season of Starbucks new holiday drinks By: Ashely Chen, Radar Editor The holiday season is just around the corner, and Starbucks has finally released its most anticipated special drinks of the year! On Nov. 4, Starbucks launched six holiday drinks: Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Irish Cream Cold Brew and their new Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. As a coffee enthusiast, I’ve decided to taste three of the six special drinks to see if the new holiday drinks can fulfill my sweet tooth.
The first drink I decided to try was the Caramel Brulee Latte. For the price of $5.45, I was able to order a grande size. After trying this drink, it immediately became my alltime favorite drink made by Starbucks. It reminded me of the Caramel Macchiato with a hint of smoked caramel added from the brulee bits. It was the perfect balance as I was able to get the right amount of sweetness from the caramel brulee while still being able to taste the espresso shots. If you’re a fan of the Caramel Macchiato, I definitely suggest trying this holiday drink.
Next up was the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha. For the price of $5.45, I was able to order a grande size. This is my second favorite holiday drink, as it definitely fulfilled my sweet tooth. Although this drink is on the sweeter side, I was definitely able to taste the espresso. It tasted similar to the White Chocolate Mocha but with a hint of toasted white chocolate. However, the sweetness from the white chocolate overpowers the espresso as you only taste white chocolate for the first few seconds after taking a sip. If you’re looking for a drink that will satisfy your sweet craving, this drink is for you!
Introducing three holiday drinks crafted by Starbucks that will satisfy your sweet tooth.
The last holiday drink I decided to try was the new Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte. For the price of $5.45, I decided to order it iced and in a grande size. At first, I was super excited to try this new special drink since I love almond milk and sugar cookies. However, after taking a sip, I was overwhelmed by the sweetness of the sugar cookie syrup. I could barely taste a hint of espresso because the syrup was super overpowering. The almond milk helped cut some of the sweetness, but it still did not fit to my liking. For those who enjoy a sweet drink and do not like the taste of coffee, I suggest trying this drink.■ H
FEATURES
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021
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The perfect cookie recipes that will have Santa coming back for seconds By: Senna Omar, Assistant Radar Editor
Three cookie recipes for the holiday season.
The holidays are fast approaching; here are a few cookie recipes sure to make Santa come back for seconds.
frosted peppermint brownie cookies Ingredients: 4-ounces unsalted butter 6-ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips 2-ounces unsweetened baking chocolate 175-grams all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 2 large eggs 1 large egg yolk 148-grams brown sugar 70-grams granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
Add chocolate chips, unsweetened chocolate, and butter into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high, stirring every 20 seconds until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool.
Scoop and shape dough into balls, and place dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving 2 inches of space between each ball.
Whip together eggs, egg yolk, brown sugar and granulated sugar until fluffy and creamy in a separate bowl. Add in vanilla and peppermint extract then mix in cooled chocolate mixture. Add dry mixture to egg/chocolate mixture, and stir until combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill until partially set for about 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Bake in a preheated oven for 8-11 minutes. Cool on a baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to completely cool. Once completely cooled, frost with peppermint cream cheese frosting, and sprinkle crushed candy canes on top. Frosting Ingredients: 4-ounces cream cheese 4 tablespoons unsalted ½ teaspoons peppermint extract 240-grams powdered sugar 4 peppermint candy canes, crushed In a bowl, whip together cream cheese and butter until pale and fluffy. Add peppermint extract and powdered sugar, and mix until the mixture is smooth and fluffy.
chocolate crinkle cookies Ingredients: 4-ounces bittersweet chocolate 1½ cups all-purpose flour ½ cup unsweetened cocoa 1½ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon kosher salt ½ cup unsalted butter 1 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
Beat butter and brown sugar together until fluffy. Beat in eggs, vanilla extract and cooled chocolate into the mixture. Gradually add flour into wet ingredients, mixing until completely incorporated. Place confectioners’ sugar into a small bowl. Roll dough into balls, and drop them into the sugar. Place dough in a parchment-lined baking sheet 2 inches apart, and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until completely cooled.
Melt bittersweet chocolate, stirring every 20 seconds to prevent burning. Set the chocolate aside to cool. In a bowl, whisk together flour, cacao, baking powder and salt.
Heat oven to 350 F. Bake in the oven for 9-11 minutes, rotating the pan’s position halfway through until the edges of the cookies are puffy and cracked. Let them cool on a baking sheet for 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to completely cool.
chai tea snowflake cookies Ingredients: 1 cup softened butter 1 cup packed brown sugar 1 tablespoon loose leaf chai tea, finely grounded 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon baking soda ⅛ teaspoon salt 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
Divide the dough in half, and wrap each half in plastic. Chill for one hour.
Mix butter until whipped. Add brown sugar, chai tea, vanilla, baking soda and salt into butter, and beat until light and fluffy. Stir in flour to create stiff and crumbly dough.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown.
Preheat the oven to 375 F. Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface. Use a 2-inch cookie cutter to cut circles out of dough. Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely.
Frosting Ingredients: 1 tablespoon warm water ¼ teaspoon corn syrup ⅛ teaspoon almond extract ¾ cup icing sugar Combine all ingredients in a bowl, and mix until well combined. The icing should be runny. Transfer the icing into a piping bag, and pipe snowflakes onto each cooled cookie. Allow the icing to set firmly before serving. ■H
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Radar
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021
THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae
Tate McRae Releases Another Hit with ‘Feel Like Sh—’ BEING FAIRLY NEW TO THE ENTERTAINMENT SCENE, TATE MCRAE HAS BEEN MAKING HER NAME KNOWN, AND HER MOST RECENT RELEASE ONLY FURTHER CEMENTS HER SEAT ATOP THE THRONE.
VERDICT:
SAMUEL LAO Radar Editor
The name “Tate McRae” is starting to become recognizable by anyone interested in the world of music as she continues to cement her legacy. McRae began to blow up around the beginning of the pandemic, and now that the world is starting to open up once again, the momentum that she gained then is not slowing down whatsoever. The song that really propelled her music career would have to be “You Broke Me First,” which has been streamed over 700 million times. As everyone knows, it is not usually one of the first songs of an artist that goes big, but rather the music they produce after that will tell about their future success. Shortly after the success of her first hit single, McRae has gone on to release songs with big-time artists such as Jeremy Zucker and Khalid, while also releasing her own EP titled, “TOO YOUNG TO BE SAD.” All of her songs have easily broken over millions of streams, and with that type of attention at the tender age of 18, it is becoming obvious that McRae is going to be a staple name within the upcoming years. With her latest release, “Feel Like
Sh—,” McRae sings over a simple piano beat, allowing her voice and lyrics to carry the weight for the majority of the song. After the first listen, it is obvious that she has once again created a masterpiece, but the question remains: how has McRae garnered so much attention so quickly? The answer is quite obvious when listening to her lyrics as McRae tends to write about relatable topics that many teenagers and young adults can easily relate to. From toxic relationships to missing someone you shouldn’t be missing, McRae makes it a point to allow herself to be vulnerable with her listeners, making it clear that everyone goes through the same things in life. Like with this newest single, for example, where the lyrics, “And usually I go out on nights / And not think of you once / But if they start playing that song / I can’t help but to think about us,” is something that anyone who has been in a relationship can understand. The pain of wanting that person to call or to hope that they would come back punctures deeply into the hearts of many fans. With simple lyrics, McRae creates this feeling of nostalgia in her listeners, bringing their H own pain and emotion to life. ■
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Just like she has proved in the past, her newest single is just another testament to the amazing songwriting that McRae brings to the table, and those who are into deep lyrical songs should give her latest song a listen.
COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURE ► FROM ETERNALS
Having a family reunion after being apart for thousands of years can bring awkwardness to the big screen, which Chloe Zhao knows how to showcase. Known for her academy-award-winning film “Nomadland,” Zhao knew how to wrench our hearts throughout the storyline. Many people were thrilled to see Ikaris and Sersi brought back together as their romance and marriage abruptly ended in the first few minutes of the film, yet their romance can cause a headache as it feels like a tug-of-war of going back
and forth with hopelessness as scenes go by. Their love for each other is definitely a strong bond that has connected them for years, but Ikaris’ shameful acts draw them further away from each other towards the end. Kumail Nanjiani did a spectacular job in being the comedian of the group as Kingo. Several of his jokes and humorous expressions were able to lighten up the mood in awkward moments throughout the film. With the help of his trusty assistant, Karun (Harish Patel), the duo become an unforgettable pair. One character that deserves a spotlight
is Druig. His personality consists of arrogance and witty remarks, but the most unique thing about him is that he is one of the few Eternals that wants to interfere in humanity’s problems. The Eternals are given the task to solely kill deviants and cannot interfere with humanity’s problems. Druig believes that the Eternals should interfere to make human life peaceful and easier to glide along, but Ajak tells him that he cannot defy Arishem’s orders. Druig decides to use his power of mind control to drive civilians out of war and proceeds to walk away from the family he has grown up with. The film also delivers enchanting scenes, especially between Druig and Makari whose romance was often overshadowed by Icarus and Sersi. Druig and Makari could have been the ultimate power couple in this movie and could have shown how love can truly be a beautiful, sweet feeling. If one thing can be said about the film, it’s that it knows how to build love as a defying emotion for each character. Unfortunately, many reviews for “Eternals” were mixed. The Rotten Tomatoes critic consensus gave it a disappointing 48% while the audience score rose to 80%. Many in the 48% range thought that the film was lackluster, even with such high-ranking celebrity actors. Many critics either thought that it was too long to even be entertained or believed that the film simply didn’t fulfill the expectations that Marvel had created for it. Yet, the audience score can speak for itself. It is believed that the only reason why “Eternals” is being critiqued so
harshly is for a number of reasons that don’t correlate with the contents of the movie at all. One of them is that the director is a woman. According to an article in Variety, action films, which are mainly associated with male directors, that are directed by a female director will receive even harsher critiques. The same occurred with director Cathy Yan in her film “Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” which incorporates an array of female characters and violence. Both of these women walked into the superhero world but had their movies eventually degraded. Another reason is the fact that Zhao directed the drama “Nomadland” that led many to believe that “Eternals” would resemble it in some way. Zhao had already established herself as a specific kind of director, so when many found out that she was directing the next biggest Marvel film, people had their own H opinions about it. ■
VERDICT: Although cheesy in some parts that could cause eye rolls and other signs of confusion, the movie overall shows how Marvel is expanding its audience by representing different backgrounds. Even with such diversity, this film is 50/50 for many people, but “Eternals’’ will certainly change the way we view MCU movies from now on.
Sports
SPORTS
THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021
9
UCR Women’s Basketball unable to seal the deal against University of Illinois Preseason shortened as three games are cancelled due to COVID-19 Protocol
KEVIN CONTRERAS Sports Editor
This past week, UCR’s women’s basketball team stepped out of the Inland Empire to travel to Illinois to face off against the University of Illinois’ Fighting Illini. The game took place in the State Farm Center, where the Highlanders lost the game in the final minutes, 86-82. Illinois took off with an early 10-2 run in the first four minutes of the game. UCR did their best to bounce back, making very few shots in between the Illini charge. The Highlanders were unable to take the lead away from Illinois during the remainder of the first quarter and ended it down by 4 points, 14-18. UCR came into the second quarter looking much more composed, going on a 5-1 run to tie the game at 19 with well over 8 minutes left. The Highlanders found themselves in a push and pull, with both teams trading shots before tying again at 23 a piece. Both teams, eager to get the leg up, kept up their intensity. UCR tied again at 26 before finally finding the lead 30-29 with a little over 4 minutes left in the first half. Unfortunately, the Fighting Illini managed to come together for another
charge, going on a 14-0 run. The Highlanders ended the half down 30-43. Despite the deficit, the Highlanders kept fighting to add more points to the score. UCR went on the offensive as they chipped away at the Illinois lead. With just under 5 minutes left in the third quarter, the Highlanders found themselves down 40-55. UCR then managed to go on a 14-3 run. Illinois managed to sink another shot before the end of the quarter to leave the scoreboard 61-53. In the final quarter of the game, UCR found themselves once again in a push and pull with Illinois. In an attempt to catch up, the Highlanders managed one more push. Unfortunately, to no avail as the game ended with the Highlanders down 82-86. For the Highlanders, the charge was led by senior guard Keilani Cooper and junior guard Jada Holland, with support from redshirt senior guard Olivia West, junior forward Anna Blount and redshirt sophomore guard Ryanne Walters. The Highlanders were scheduled to return to the court on Nov. 29 against Santa Clara University, but unfortunately, their next three
COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS
games have been cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols. The severity of the situation is unclear at the present time as the news is still unfolding. Where the concern stems from is also unavailable at this time.
The women are scheduled to return on Dec. 16 against the University of Antelope Valley H at the SRC arena. ■
► FROM MEN’S BASKETBALL
To end the first half, FAMU clamped down defensively and went on a little run of their own to bring themselves back into the game. Senior guard M.J. Randolph had 6 consecutive points to spark FAMU, and a 10-0 run from the Rattlers to end the half brought the score to 26-27 at halftime. At the half, Pullin had 9 points, six rebounds and two assists, while McRae had 2 points, eight rebounds and two assists at the halfway point of the game. UCR dominated the glass with a 27-15 rebound advantage, but also committed nine turnovers in the first half compared to the zero turnovers committed by the Rattlers, which led to 12 points off turnovers for Florida A&M. In the second half, neither team gave an inch as both teams responded to each other’s baskets. Within 5 minutes into the second half, the Highlanders started to find their rhythm as a pair of free-throws from Pickett gave UCR a 6-point lead, and a 3-pointer from Pullin gave Riverside a 39-30 lead. With 11:41 left in the game, a layup from redshirt freshman guard Quinton Ford gave the Highlanders a double-digit lead once again, and another triple from Pullin extended the Riverside lead to 14, 44-30. A 3-pointer from Cameron with just under 10 minutes left gave UCR a 17-point lead, their largest of the afternoon. Florida A&M University was still resilient despite being down double digits, as a layup from sophomore guard Jalen Speer brought the game to 57-44 with 2:15 left in the game. However, with the shot clock winding down, a 3-pointer from Cameron from way downtown touched nothing but the net and put the exclamation point in the game, giving the Highlanders the victory, 60-49. Pullin led all scorers with 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. McRae pulled down a career-high of 16 rebounds, along with 10 points, while Cameron chipped in with 12 points and six rebounds. UC Riverside improves their record to 5-2 on the season and will take on Saint Mary’s University in Moranga, H California on Monday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. ■ COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS
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