Volume 70 Issue 27 by The Highlander- UCR

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, May 17, 2022

VOL. 70, ISSUE 27

est. 1954

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SPRING SPLASH SPORTS Hot Take

2022

ATHLETICS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CAMARADERIE AMONG STUDENTS AND SHOULD RECEIVE THE SUPPORT OF CAMPUS AND THE STUDENT BODY. KEVIN CONTRERAS Sports Editor

UCR Athletics has had many struggles in the past two years both on and off the courts and fields. Off the court, UCR had to face the struggle of the COVID-19 pandemic and everything that it encompassed, from being remote, to the absence of fans, to almost being eliminated as a program. In August of 2020, the Budget Advisory committee for UCR made the recommendation of cutting the Highlander athletics department as a whole in order to offset the toll it was having on the university. After many months of social media campaigning, press conferences, interviews and engaging with students to sign their petition, finally in the first week of

May, it was announced that UCR Athletics would continue to compete at the Division I level inside of The Big West Conference. On the Court, the Highlanders continue to compete at the mid-major level, and after a very tough year, the various teams within Athletics reached historic levels of performance. Most recently, in an effort to receive more funding and support from the university and the general student body, Athletics proposed an increase in the student athletics fee. Leading up to the most recent ASUCR elections, there was much debate on whether this increase in the student fee would actually benefit the student body, but ultimately the pros outweigh the cons. ► SEE REFERENDUM PAGE 16

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ISRAEL’S OPPRESSION OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE KNOWS NO LIMITS YET FACES NO CONSEQUENCES.

OP-ED

The proposed student athletics fee referendum should have passed.

12-13

Israeli soldiers murder iconic Palestinian journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, in cold blood ANONYMOUS

On May 10, 2022, Shireen Abu Akleh and her team of reporters were covering the Israeli Occupation Force’s raid of a Palestinian refugee camp in Jenin, a city in the West Bank, Palestine. Though the entire team wore their press gear: a blue bulletproof vest and a blue helmet which both read the word “PRESS” on them in clear and large white letters to make themselves identifiable to Israeli forces, Abu Akleh and her team were distinctly targeted for the sole reason of being Palestinian journalists and media figures. Her colleague, Ali Al-Samoudi, was shot in the back and is now in stable condition, and Shireen Abu Akleh was shot right beneath her helmet, showing the deliberate intention to kill. It’s important to call attention to Israel’s attempts at silencing Palestinian voices and to highlight the hypocrisy of the United States, which prides itself on being the voice of freedom. Abu Akleh gained fame amongst the Palestinian people during her coverage of the second intifada, or Palestinian uprising against Israel, in 2000. Her work with Al Jazeera, the Middle-East’s biggest news source, and her daring and brave coverages of the Palestinian struggle against the apartheid state of Israel

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were Vcelebrated by supporters all across the globe. For Palestinians, Shireen Abu Akleh’s name became the face of news as a whole as three generations regularly sat together around their televisions to watch her reporting. Though they were so familiar with seeing her face on the screen, her presence within the community was just as prevalent. Palestinian deaths at the hands of Israel are not at all scarce, but her legacy and her attempts to show the world the truth of Israel’s atrocities are what make this particular one even more heart-wrenching. She was a voice for the people that Israel desperately sought to silence.

► SEE OP-ED PAGE 7

@thehighlanderucr @HighlanderUCR UCRHighlander NEWS 3

OPINIONS 5

FEATURES 9

RADAR 12

SPORTS 16

KUCR 88.3 FM

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

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Upcoming Events:

Breakfast Club R’Style 11 a.m. Upper HUB Plaza

Spring into Fitness 4 p.m. Glasgow Lawn

Sherwin-Williams Coffee Chat (Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at UCR) 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Upper HUB Lawn

On the Intersection: “May is for Mayhem” in Conversation with Mayhem Miller 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. CHASS Interdisciplinary South, 1128

The Well’s Public Health Fair 11 a.m. Hinderaker Lawn

APSP’s Musubi Workshop 12 p.m. HUB (Highlander Union Building ) 379

Baseball at UC Santa Barbara 5:30 pm. Santa Barbara , California

Artist Roundtable 4 p.m. Virtual Event

UCR Orchestra 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. University Theatre

Involidable by Ruth Madrid 8 p.m. Humanities Building, Humanities 411

Baseball at UC Santa Barbara 1 p.m. Santa Barbara, California

Culver City of the Arts Mini Comic Fest Featuring Black Kirby 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Culver City of the Arts 3834 Main St. Riverside, CA 92501

APSP’s a Touch of Henna 3 p.m. Costo Hall, 244

UC Riverside Concert Band Spring Concert 7 p.m. Culver Center of the Arts

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News

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NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

ASUCR

The Associated Students of UCR’s 24th meeting sees multiple reports by the Executive Cabinet ELECTIONS DIRECTOR TRICIA SARMIENTO IS INVITING SENATORS TO EDIT THE ELECTIONS BYLAWS. ABHIJIT REGE News Editor

The Associated Students of UCR’s 25th meeting was called to order on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 in the ASUCR Senate Chamber. All senators were present, except CNAS senator Rachel Paredes, CNAS senator Catelin La, CHASS senator Tammar Akel, CHASS senator Hoang Vu and SOE senator Dorothy Doronila. Also present were Executive President William Wang, Vice President of Sustainability Alondra Martinez, and Elections Director Tricia Sarmiento from the Executive Cabinet. Motions were called to add Outreach Meeting Minutes #4 to the agenda by senator Vivek Patel and was approved 12-0-0. Motions to approve the agenda were called by CHASS senator Victoria Nguyen, and a vote was passed 120-0. Following this, an approval of previous meeting minutes was called by CHASS senator Christopher Kent, and the vote passed 12-0-0. The Public Forum began with a presentation from Mike Molom, who attends Montana State University and shared resources that he found useful for students. An app was built for streamlining the student process for student jobs. The app allows staff who have a last minute need for help with tasks to be posted on the app where students can see what the job entails. It was launched at the beginning of the year and they have already had over 1,000 students sign up and over 15,000 apply for jobs. Molom explained that this is set up for financial success while students are getting their degree and also serves for international students who don’t have work visas. If anyone is interested in the app, they can reach out to him or President Wang as he has his contact information. The Executive Cabinet then delegated their exofficio reports. Vice President of Sustainability Alondra Martinez discussed what she has accomplished so far in the quarter. She first expressed her appreciation with how all events from April have resulted in great turnouts and how she was able to pass two additional green grants. She is currently working on getting 1,000 signatures for sustainability center and working on the last event of the quarter, Ride R’Cycles. She will continue posting information posts on social media and will be posting GCAP applications for the next academic year. Elections Director Tricia Sarmiento followed with her report. Motions were first called by senator Aalani Richardson to amend the elections timeline, passing 12-0-0. She then discussed how ASUCR bylaws give power solely to the elections director and committee, so they are attached to the bylaws. The bylaws are not clear and offer no direction, causing her to make decisions on a daily basis for many aspects that are unclear. During elections, she had to juggle coordinating with the administration, committees and pro-staff while continuously communicating with all candidates. Sarmiento made it abundantly clear that she will not tolerate hurtful comments about her character or her committee. She explained that while ASUCR is a welcoming space, as a woman in leadership, it is still difficult to hold this position. To remedy the situation with elections, she is inviting

three to four senators to edit the bylaws with her and pro-staff Laurie Sinclair on the elections guidelines and rules. This year’s elections had a 21% voter turnout rate, which is much higher than any previous years. Following this, Transfer and Non-Traditional Director Roxanna Vasquez then gave her report where she discussed planning a mental health event in week nine of the quarter. She will be teaming up with CHASS Transfer First to speak about their path of an undergraduate degree. Currently, a resolution is being written in support of a transfer center and she hopes to have a meeting with the provost. Executive Vice President Mufida Assaf then gave her report detailing her progress regarding legislation and events. She hopes to amend vice president bylaws for anything they want to remove or add based on their experience as elected officials. A new position, VP Diversity Equity and Inclusion, may be established. Assaf has spoken to pro-staff Laurie Sinclair for guidance on this new position. The Ethnic & Gender program liaison and diversity council would be under this position. Members would be appointed to ensure diversity and inclusion. In addition, she wants to change director for marketing and promotions to a VP position. In regards to events, the E&G tabling will no longer be a tabling event but will instead be a passport system where students will visit the E&G offices and win a prize through a raffle. This would be done to have students garner knowledge of the location of the centers. A banquet will be held for ASUCR along with a social for new elected officials and current senators. Lastly, First Time College Student Director Delane Ly gave her report detailing how she will be holding

JOSHUA WANG / THE HIGHLANDER

committee meetings two times a week for the end of year mixer event in the alumni center. She will be tabling at Glasgow on Thursdays at 6 p.m. to connect with first-year students to learn about the committee. A finance hearing will be held for the end of the year mixer event. Committee reports then saw a review of Finance Hearing Minutes #3 for the meeting that took place on May 6. Most notably in the hearing was the delegation of funding for First Time College Student Director Ly’s R’ Lu’au event, where $3.158 was allocated. In addition, the Judicial Council was allocated $3,120 for their Law Week event. Motions to approve the Finance Hearing Minutes were passed 12-0-0. Outreach Minutes #4 were also discussed upon and approved 12-0-0. To conclude the meeting, multiple senators had announcements to make. President Pro-Tempore Orlando Cabalo gave updates regarding an initiative for the fund to feed students and on the student workers of the botanic gardens situation. In regards to the latter, he is partnering the student workers with student interns at the garden who have been advocating for equitable funding for the R’Garden that grows food to feed students. A protest will be held to advocate for their rights next Wednesday, May 25 at the Bell Tower at 11 a.m. Senator Kent announced that CHASS senators are hosting their final town hall of the year next Friday, May 20 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Hub 379 and over Zoom. Senator Nguyen announced and reported that she, along with senator Vu and senator Richardson, held a School of Business town hall and had a successful conversation with Dean Wang and speakers from the masters program. The H meeting was then adjourned at 7:06 p.m. ■

4 TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

NEWS

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STUDENT WORKERS ARE PREPARING TO UNIONIZE.

ARCHIVE / THE HIGHLANDER

Botanical Garden workers are denied livable wages

HARU CHANG Staff Writer

Since late December 2021, student workers at the Botanical Garden of UC Riverside have been organizing in order to secure a $2 per hour wage increase as part of their living wage proposal. The Associated Students of UCR were made aware of the Living Wage Campaign at the Botanical Gardens and have expressed their “unwavering support for student-workers at both the Botanical Gardens and to the entire campus.” ASUCR voted unanimously in support of Botanical Garden workers. On April 22, Botanical Garden workers met with UCR Human Resources, consisting of CNAS and the garden administration. The Director of Labor Relations for UCR and other HR higher ups were in attendance. The meeting commenced with the reading of a letter authored by a student worker regarding their financial need. Student workers presented information that laid out the basis for their fight for a living wage. They reiterated their labor rights and intent to start a union if a living wage was not instituted. Student workers also presented research that indicates a $2 per hour wage increase would cost between $12,000 to $20,000 per year to cover the increased labor cost of all eight student workers. According to ASUCR, the $2 wage increase

would only cost between $9,216 to $18,432 a year for all eight students, a tiny fraction of the Botanical Garden’s yearly budget funded in large part by the university. This is excluding the over $3 million endowment the Botanical Gardens has. As student workers stated, UCR is an institution that is recognized for its contributions to the social mobility of its students. Contrary to its acclaim, student workers have expressed that UCR seems insensitive to its community’s financial dilemmas by arguing that it is not paying its student population that is predominantly working and middle class a living wage to lift various financial burdens and help financially insecure students continue their education at UCR. In response, HR representative Karen Logue stated, “You aren’t going to like this but student-workers aren’t supposed to make a living wage. You are supposed to make enough to buy food and pay for some rent, but the role of student workers is to gain experience.” Although the university intended for students to take these jobs for experience, the current pay is not adequate to cover basic living expenses. Student workers rely on these jobs to afford both academic and living necessities. The meeting ended with the student workers reiterating a deadline of April 29 at 3 p.m. for HR to approach negotiations with a sincere resolve to reach a collective bargaining agreement for a living wage. This includes sending properly

authorized representatives to bargaining sessions and meetings at reasonable times and places and as frequently as may be necessary to avoid major delays — good faith bargaining. The UCR administration has already delayed meeting with student workers for several months. During the meeting, UCR administrators made comments that concerned student workers. One such comment was, “I hope the union dues don’t cost more than what you negotiate in a contract.” The student workers suspect that administration attempted to dissuade students from unionizing by delegitimizing the effectiveness of a union in securing living wages. Nationwide, union workers are paid more than non-union workers and are able to secure better healthcare benefits. When negotiating a union contract, employees would have more flexibility in scheduling and other working conditions. The improvements in pay and benefits that come with union membership can offset the dues members pay. Without a written legally binding contract, any improvements made by management can be taken away. Botanical Garden workers’ petition has garnered over 235 signatures in under two weeks. They are currently in conversation with other student groups and basic needs organizations in order to create a H common coalition to build mutual support. ■

UCR Professor Mary L. Droser receives National Academy of Sciences Award The award was established in 2008 and combines the Charles Doolittle Walcott and Stanley Miller Medal.

AMARAY ALVAREZ Assistant News Editor

UCR professor of Earth and planetary sciences, Mary L. Droser, has been awarded the 2022 National Academy of Sciences Award in Early Earth and Life Sciences. This award is also known as the Charles Doolittle Walcott Medal. According to their website, the NAS is a “private, non-profit society of distinguished scholars. Established by an Act of Congress, signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, the NAS is charged with providing independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology.” Dr. Droser is a professor and paleontologist that has several scholarly publications and received her Ph.D. at the University of Southern California. Through her research, she has made discoveries on Ediacaran-Paleozoic life that has helped scholars better understand early animals and how they lived. The NAS Charles Doolittle Walcott Medal award was established in 2008 and combines two medals. The award combines presentation between the Charles Doolittle Walcott Medal for research on Cambrian or pre-Cambrian life and the Stanley

Miller Medal which recognizes research on Earth’s early development as a planet, including prebiotic chemistry and the origin of life. Dr. Droser’s research has found information about the earliest animal-dominated marine communities through her sustained focus on the role of bioturbation and microbial interactions. She also has a long-term project in South Australia where Ediacaran fossil beds were excavated, studied and preserved. The work that Dr. Droser completed has allowed for more insight into the fossil records of the Ediacaran, Cambrian and Ordovician faunas. Ediacaran fossils give record to the first known multicellular animal life on Earth, the Cambrian time period is when most of the major groups of animals first appeared in the fossil record, and the Ordovician period is when early vertebrates were found. In 2020 Dr. Droser received the Doctoral Dissertation Advisor and Mentor Award from the University of California Riverside. This award is another important milestone for her and the UCR H campus. ■

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Opinions

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

The Roe v. Wade overturn leak is a complicated reveal with complicated implications AS THIS LANDMARK CASE FACES POTENTIAL OVERTURNING, THERE IS MORE AT STAKE THAN PEOPLE REALIZE.

he leak of the potential overturn of Roe v. Wade on May 2 was a horrific shock to much of America. Though it was known to be under review by the Supreme Court in Dec 2021 for potential overturn, the leak still came as a shock. Many people immediately despaired at the consequences that the overturn, seemingly slated to occur sometime in July, will have. Many pro-life groups are rejoicing over this potential overturn, but there is something very clear that must be pointed out: this overturn has not happened yet. There is still time to preserve one of the most important rulings in American history and prevent any further backsliding on other important pieces of legislation. Although some, regardless of political affiliation, question the legitimacy of the Court that such a ruling was released, the reality is that the nature of the leak is not nearly as important as the fact that it happened. The public of America has never received prior access to a ruling; to know that if someone within the Supreme Court had not leaked this potential ruling, it would have caught the public almost entirely unaware when it took effect in July. The fact that the public now knows of the potential overturn means that something, no matter how small, could possibly be done. However, it must also be acknowledged that things are not quite so simple. Though the court of public opinion takes a greater role in society every single day, the Supreme Court is meant to remain uninfluenced by the public at large, for better or for worse. This means that although people can absolutely make their voice heard against this potential ruling, the Supreme Court may or may not take it fully into account. This does not mean that we should be wholly fatalistic; while rallying against this leaked draft, the public at large can also demand at least some transparency from the Supreme Court. It should be part of the role as Justices to notify the public if a past ruling is under review for whatever reason.

The importance of having the public’s voice heard on this particular issue, however, cannot be understated. Roe v. Wade does not simply ensure the right to abortion, but also the right to numerous privacy laws. Furthermore, though some are trying to concede that “the Constitution doesn’t say that abortion is legal so it’s a weak ruling,” that exact logic can dangerously be applied to almost all rulings of great importance, from Brown v. Board of Education to Obergefell v. Hodges. The founding fathers of America could simply not have predicted the issues that would become of great importance to modern America, over 200 years in the future. The harsh truth is that the Constitution alone simply cannot mandate everything that we do in an era that is becoming increasingly more tolerant. To overturn Roe v. Wade opens the door to numerous other rulings being overturned, and a massive backslide in democracy. This is not fear-mongering, nor is it a slippery slope fallacy. To use the logic that is being used to overturn Roe v. Wade across almost all other Supreme Court rulings means that almost all of them would fail. Roe v. Wade is so much more than just the right to abortion, which is misunderstood by too many across the states as it is. It’s a keystone ruling that needs to be upheld unless America wants to risk the lives of women across the U.S. as well as the rights of all non-white, non-cisgender people and non-men. Voices need to speak up, and we must try our best to be heard because the overturning of this law is not a blessing from God, but a nightmare H from hell. ■

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. COURTESY OF VICTORIA PICKERING VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-NC-ND-2.0

6 TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

OPINIONS

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WITH CONSISTENTLY DEPRESSING MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES AND POSSIBLE FUTURE RESTRICTION OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS, THE UNITED STATES IS PRIMED FOR A MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS. COURTESY OF PEXELS

Mothers deserve the right to survive childbirth YSABEL NAKASONE Staff Writer

Post-Mother’s Day, it is time to consider just how little is actually done to support mothers and their health. Despite being a developed country, America doesn’t do much to improve or mitigate the obscene maternal mortality rates in America. According to the CDC, there were 20.1 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in 2019, which is an increase of nearly three since 2018. In the developed world, America has one of the highest maternal mortality rates, and it is unacceptable. These grim statistics stem from a number of issues. To begin with, there is a blatant lack of research aimed at supporting pregnant women and preventing maternal mortality. There is a general lack of research aimed at complications like postpartum. Furthermore, there are cavernous gaps in proper health care due to racial biases and socioeconomic disparities. Black women are 2.5 times more likely than white women to die in childbirth, even when controlling for other factors. American Indian and Alaska Native women are 2.6 times more likely to live with circumstances that will lead to pregnancy complications than white women. Overall, a healthy pregnancy, child and mother depends on geographical location, education level,

socioeconomic status and access to proper medical care as well as safe, legal abortion. All of these factors find themselves restricted on a state by state basis which points out how specifically Southern-American women are disproportionately affected and more frequently experience consequences that can be fatal to them or their child. Postpartum, a largely ignored issue, is currently treated using a methodology which neglects the mother. Women are expected to bounce back after going through a very painful physical and emotionally demanding experience. It’s clear that treatment fails to stand by mothers or support them after birth. There needs to be a comprehensive plan to improve American maternal mortality rates, especially as women face an America that is on the precipice of revoking abortion rights, classified as torture by the United Nations. In a 2018 press release by the UN, they affirm “that abortion is a human right, that preventable maternal deaths are a violation of the right to life, and that the right to life begins at birth.” The unauthorized release of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion on abortion rights presents a number of issues and maternal mortality rates in America are going to have to take center stage in this debate. By preventing women from having safe and legal abortions,

lawmakers will force them to bear and have children in a country that fails to support maternal health. As if the loss of bodily autonomy wasn’t enough, this country is going to endanger women’s lives and violate everything the phrase “pro-life” means. It’s going to become even clearer just how insincere pro-life rhetoric is as the GOP fails to present a comprehensive plan for maternal health and parental support. Data from the CDC illustrates that, unfortunately but not unsurprisingly, maternal health worsens and infant mortality increases with Republican leadership. For the sake of mothers everywhere, Democratic politicians need to stop showing up to a knife fight with an olive branch. There desperately needs to be a shift in how mothers and parents are treated by medical professionals and their elected representatives because death is on the line. It’s unclear how people claim to love and support mothers when nothing substantial is done to protect them from the dangers of pregnancy and childbirth. Mothers do the ultimate favor and endure suffering for their children, and what this country offers in return is plainly repugnant. Aiding research that looks into the causes of and solutions to American maternal mortality rates is the best Mother’s Day present to give H mothers and mothers to be. ■

It isn’t surprising that social media apps are dangerous for children and teens alike IN ORDER TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE ONLINE, WE NEED TO KEEP THEM OFF OF THE INTERNET DAVID MORENO Assistant Opinions Editor

It would seem that the target audience for the majority of social media apps is constantly getting younger. With this shift in online culture comes a great deal of new dangers for parents and teens alike. Having a new generation of children grow up strictly on the internet is going to have serious consequences. Allowing young children to wander around the endless halls of the world wide web is already having detrimental effects. For example, take a teen girl in California who is suing the social media app Snapchat over alleged claims of sexual exploitation on the platform. She was a victim of predatory attack by an older individual also using the app to receive sexually explicit pictures from minors. It should raise a number of red flags that this was allowed to happen for as long as it did. Sadly, her story isn’t unique. This very same thing happens to hundreds of teens across the country. Predators who linger around these apps are constantly getting away with this kind of online behavior. It doesn’t make it any better that children on the receiving end of this abuse might be too scared to speak up about their personal experiences. Social media apps like Snapchat are especially dangerous for minors, just for the fact it’s one of the most popular among the age group. The nature of the app makes it so pictures and conversations are automatically deleted, which might encourage some users to send things they wouldn’t have otherwise. Apps like Snapchat offer a false sense of security, which can lead to minors making bad decisions. Social media apps like Instagram have started to check for users’ birthdays, in order to ensure that they are over the age 13. While these age verification are a step in the right direction, they don’t really guarantee anything. A user can simply lie when asked the question on the app. The recently added feature just feels like a safety guard

added to make sure the company can safeguard itself from future lawsuits. The responsibility ultimately comes down to the parents. After all, it’s their job to ensure their children are being safe on the internet. Yet, without realizing it, they are feeding into their children’s phone addiction. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that giving a child an iPad and unlimited access to the internet probably isn’t the best idea. It’s safe to say that we have entered this new digital age of “iPad babies’’ with an entire generation of toddlers already addicted to a digital screen. While we might not know the repercussions of this new form of parenting just yet, we could only assume they are going to be bad. On TikTok, for example, children are constantly loose on the app and are constantly creating and consuming content — content that probably isn’t appropriate for them to be watching in the first place. Of course putting the entirety of the fault on parents alone would be a mistake. These social media platforms need to do better to ensure that underage people stay off their sites. Some might make the argument that we need to create kid friendly spaces on the internet for children. While they might be coming from a good place, this isn’t going to solve the issue. The fact of the matter is that the internet, as it currently is right now, is not a place for children of any age. We already know for a fact that apps like Instagram have ushered in a new generation of eating disorders and body image issues. Children and teens are some of the most vulnerable members of society, and not working towards ways to protect them online would be a great mistake. These online platforms need to actually take the time and come up with ways to keep children off their sites. Other social media platforms should follow the steps of YouTube Kids, which only allows family friendly content to be streamed to its users. While it still promotes the idea to parents that it’s okay to allow your

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child to watch hours of video content, at least you can take comfort in the fact that they aren’t going to stumble across Alt-right propaganda or predatory information. Nonetheless, until social media apps can deliver on proper ways to keep young people on their platforms, parents only have one solution: keep your kids off social media. While the task might seem impossible to many parents, it is necessary. In the meantime, we should continue to believe young people when they come forward with their stories of abuse. We should be pushing these social media platforms to constantly H strive to do better. ■

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OPINIONS

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

The 2022 Philippine election just altered history for the worst KAYLA BATCHELOR Contributing Writer

For decades, the Philippine elections have revolved around a mountain of misinformation spread throughout Facebook, Instagram and recently TikTok. This is due to the lack of regulation and laws that do not prohibit the publication of false information leading up to crucial elections. As we know, misinformation happens everywhere in the world. We’ve seen this through life-changing events such as the pandemic, the 2020 United States presidential election and the war in Ukraine. What sets the Philippines apart from what’s transpiring throughout the rest of the world, however, is the way misinformation is actively changing the way younger generations are seeing the atrocities that have transpired in the past. This is relevant in the case of the 2022 Philippine election, where many voters were swayed through misinformation to put the controversial Marcos family into power once again. To provide some context, former President Ferdinand Marcos plunged the Philippine population into chaos by declaring martial law after a series of bombings in the capital, Manila. While this was a good decision at the time given the circumstances, Marcos drastically prolonged his time in office and left the country under martial law for 10 years. For reference, Marcos initially served two four-year terms as president, although the number of terms one could serve as

president was ratified to one six-year term later. From this martial law, millions of Filipinos suffered under his rule, resulting in poverty, wages decreasing and 3,275 people dying at the hands of the military. While many Filipino families have passed on the traumatic stories that took place at this time, the education system within the Philippines has rewritten these events to fit the agenda of the person who would end up winning the presidential election in 2022: Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr. The education system not only caused an intergenerational divide between families and communities but force-fed the narrative that the Marcos family did no wrong and made the economy flourish under martial law. This is an incredibly dangerous narrative with statistics in mind, yet it remains a contributing factor to where this country is at. Like the United States, the Philippines maintains a significant population of young voters, with thousands surpassing the eligibility age of 18 to vote in this election. With the consistent spread of information through apps aligning with the information they were taught, it is incredibly difficult to decipher between the lies. Upon looking into the way Bong Bong Marcos and his family are portrayed through popular social media sites like TikTok, it appears that many people within this age group romanticized the family, sympathizing with the “tough decisions” they made without regarding what people

in previous generations experienced. Considering that BBC News just published an article pertaining to the way a writer gets paid by politicians to spread and promote fake news, this is one of the many ways Philippine politicians continue to manipulate the young impressionable audience to vote for people like Marcos Jr. Therefore, this cycle remains, and the tainted narrative continues to circulate to impressionable audiences. The lack of any regulation when it comes to addressing misinformation also ties into the way corrupt politicians have been getting away with these actions for so long. One may argue that Bong Bong Marcos is capable of being an entirely different person from his father. However, he did openly admire the actions his father carried out to the detriment of the Filipino people. The whitewashed and romanticized version of Marcos family affairs circulating alongside the negative portrayal of Marcos’s rival, Leni Robredo, in the days leading up to the election is also suspicious. Finally, the way Bong Bong developed an alliance with Sara Duterte and gained approval from her controversial father, Rodrigo Duterte, brings a sense of dread about what will transpire in this six-year term. The president leaving office has caused controversy in every decision he made. One can only tell what will happen, but now is the time to pay attention to how Marcos Jr.’s rule impacts the country and H international relations going forward.■

COURTESY OF OSAMA EID VIA FLICKR UNDER CC0 ► FROM OP-ED

In response to reports of Shireen Abu Akleh’s death, the office of the prime minister of Israel, Naftali Bennett, was quick to try to blame her death on Palestinian people, saying, “Palestinians in Jenin were even filmed boasting ‘We hit a soldier; he’s lying on the ground’. However, no IDF soldier was injured, which increases the possibility that Palestinian terrorists were the ones who shot the journalist.” However, witness testimonies directly disprove this outright lie. Palestinian journalist, Shatha Hanaysha, witnessed Abu Akleh’s death firsthand. In recounting the horrors of that moment, she explained, “We made ourselves visible to the soldiers who were stationed hundreds of meters away from us … to make sure they knew we were journalists … When no warning shots were fired, we moved uphill towards the camp. Out of nowhere, we heard the first gunshot … Another bullet pierced Shireen’s neck … When I tried to

extend my arm to reach her, another bullet was fired … It was an Israeli sniper that shot at us,” Hanaysha explained. All those present at the scene of her murder gave credible reports consistent with Hanaysha’s. Furthermore, multiple investigations found that the Palestinian resistance fighters were nowhere near Abu Akleh and her crew. Instead, they were approximately 985 feet away from the area. Bennett’s statements continue a pattern in Israel’s handling of similar circumstances: Israel tries to blame everything on the Palestinians, and if that’s not possible, they “call” for an investigation that will lead nowhere and simply shift attention away from them as perpetrators of violence so that they can continue inflicting more aggression against the Palestinian people. Although they publicly called for an investigation, on the day of her funeral, the IOF attacked Palestinian mourners, even going as far as beating her pallbearers and causing her casket to hit the floor. Israel’s slaughtering of Abu Akleh marks yet another

MISINFORMATION LED TO THE RETURN OF THE MARCOS FAMILY.

COURTESY OF JOEY O. RAZON VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

push toward the erasure of the Palestinian people. Since 2000, over 45 journalists have been killed by Israel, and at an even more astonishing number, over 300 Palestinian people in total were killed by Israel in 2021 alone, a fifth of them being children. This begs the question: As Israel continues this genocide and as they continue pushing their efforts of the ethnic erasure of the Palestinian people, how is it that these crimes go unpunished? The United States has been anything but unbiased in covering the Palestinian struggle. Though circumstances surrounding Abu Akleh’s death, and countless other deaths at the hands of Israel, are as clear as day, American media sources use any sort of opportunity to portray contextual ambiguity and to present this genocide as a “two-sided conflict.” On May 12, The New York Times posted an article titled “Al Jazeera Journalist Is Killed During Clashes in West Bank” and soon corrected it to “Al Jazeera Journalist Is Killed in West Bank” after public outrage, yet it still completely omitted the fact that she was killed by Israeli snipers. Other sources followed with passive titles like this, such as the Associated Press News saying “Al Jazeera reporter killed,” and dismissed facts as mere claims. At the time of writing, numerous articles covering Israel’s beating of Palestinian mourners are currently dismissing it as a clash of violence between Palestinians and Israeli forces, though countless videos show Israeli soldiers to be the sole instigators and perpetrators. As Israel continues to hide beneath the gilded title of a “democracy,” in reality, it is an apartheid regime that has been pushing for the genocide of the Palestinian people since 1948, and the U.S. has been enabling it. Though it is indirect, all U.S. citizens have blood on our hands, for taxpayers give billions of dollars yearly to fund these atrocities. So as Israel continues to persecute the Palestinian people by murdering them, demolishing their homes and imprisoning them, the least we can do is call attention to it and to put pressure on our government, representatives and the United Nations to do something about it — not turn a blind eye by simply dismissing it as H yet another foreign country in “conflict.” ■

8 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022

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Features

FEATURES

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

Negative energy isn’t permanent, focus on the future Even in times of trouble, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel

By: Ysabel Nakasone, Staff Writer Aries (March 21-April 19): The High Priestess Something hasn’t turned out the way you expected and you feel as though things are shifting in ways you don’t understand. You’re choosing to remain ensconced in the past and you’re letting old grievances drive you. You have a lot of drive, Aries, that’s undeniable. But at this moment, you’re using that drive to drive yourself into the ground. It’s okay to reflect on the past, but being able to separate from it is what will lead you to new opportunities.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Three of Wands You’re engaging in a lot of procrastination this week, Taurus. You’re focusing too much on the idea of your goals and not the actuality. Try not to overextend yourself by thinking about a bunch of different endeavors and instead focus on a few or even just one. It’s important to be able to multitask, but what you need right now is singleminded focus.

Gemini (May 21-June 20): The Magician

this, focus on how you’re still intact and still maintain what’s important to you.

Leo (July 23-August 22): King of Cups You’ve been challenging the status quo, inviting conflict and disagreement. It’s admirable, though you should still remain careful. You are constantly exploring and growing, which can mean struggling with authority figures at times. As you consider your own values, remember that this struggle is something you are prepared for. Weather the storm, Leo.

Virgo (August 23-September 22): Queen of Wands You’ve been suffering within an unequal partnership that is stifling you. This relationship has developed into something domineering. You were looking for stability and care, and your partner or friend took it too far. Your independence has been compromised and you must overcome your introverted nature to demand better for yourself. You are the key to the end of this struggle and there is no doubt that you can end it.

Libra (September 23-October 22): Queen of Cups

Gemini, you’re very intelligent and have achieved an important milestone in your journey. However, you’re letting egotism envelop your personality, taking away from what people love about you. Don’t allow a selfish attitude to take over because it will only lead to disappointment, taking away from your jubilee.

You’ve been feeling like a fraud and have been doubting your abilities. As you question yourself, know that it is coming only from a place of fear and any sort of truth. You have to get out of your head a bit, take a breath. Do something just for fun and for stress relief. Your compassion should extend to yourself as well as others, Libra.

Cancer (June 21-July 22): The Emperor

Scorpio (October 23-November 21): Queen of Pentacles

You’ve just been involved in a conflict. Things were said and you walked away feeling unsatisfied. There was no winning this disagreement for you and you feel you were held back from expressing your true feelings. Control is very important to you, and this struggle has blurred those lines for you. In order to make it through

You fear the unknown, and that’s reasonable. Stepping outside of the box is hard and you don’t want to leave an environment where you feel safe. It’s important to rediscover what your original goals were because in order to reach them, you’ll need to venture into the unknown. Don’t forget about all of your potential because it’s there!

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21): Six of Wands As you deal with negative energy, it’s important to focus on how it’s already dissipating. Don’t bury your feelings about this negative energy, instead embrace how you’ve handled it. Embrace the dark shadows. Don’t get confused by conflicting messages about how to move forward, instead trust your own intuition.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19): Nine of Swords You’re feeling creatively blocked. There’s something within you that you feel the need to express, but you can’t quite figure out how. Feeling stuck is something you can overcome. Making ideas into a reality is a long process, don’t beat yourself up because you’re not seeing immediate results.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18): Five of Swords You’ve been guarding an important secret and it’s taking up a lot of energy and brain space. It might just be a worry you have and it can be overwhelming. Don’t let your inclination towards isolation guide you. Talk to friends or family, let people in and let them know what you’re struggling with. It’s not a weakness, it’s the opposite in fact.

Pisces (February 19-March 20): The Star The things you’ve put your trust in appear to be deteriorating right in front of your eyes. You’re feeling untethered and are finding it hard to connect. Tap into your sense of imagination and don’t let this test of trust and hope impact that. Try to imagine the things that motivate you and your goals. Even if you feel that the support system you’ve had in the past is no longer enough, know that you’re H enough. ■

ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF FREEPIK

10 TUESDAY, May 17, 2022

Features

FEATURES

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FAMOUSLY KNOWN FOR THEIR PRESENCE AT THE BELL TOWER, THE SKATE CLUB IS SO MUCH MORE THAN KICKFLIPS.

CLUB SPOTLIGHT:

The Skate Club has one rule for its members — have fun. BY: DAVID MORENO, ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR Any UCR student that has walked across campus has probably ran into a few members of the Skate Club. Its members have seemingly taken ownership of the Bell Tower, citing its ideal location away from classrooms and flat surface as a perfect combination. The Skate Club has positioned itself as an organization that welcomes all, no matter their background. The Skate Club, which was originally founded back in 2012, has long been a place for fostering community. At its core, the club is a place where students from all different academic backgrounds can come together and bond over the art of skateboarding. “There’s nothing like walking around campus and seeing someone and knowing that the one thing connecting you is Skate Club,” stated fourth-year geology major and president of the club, Maxim Shapvalov. Like any other on-campus organization, the Skate Club also hosts its share of social events: from skating competitions to just gathering members together for a night of fun activities. The Skate Club prides itself on being inclusive. Surprisingly, you don’t even need a skateboard to join. Some of the members can be seen on scooters or even roller skates, and a person’s level of proficiency is also not a problem. From

experts all the way to beginners, if you have a passion and appreciation for the culture, you are more than welcomed. This year, the club has been working on a year-long project: a skating video that will encompass a year’s worth of footage gathered by members. The video is set to premiere on the club’s social media account at the end of the quarter. While the organization has a general meeting of its elected members once a quarter, you can always find them on campus. If you walk around campus with a skateboard, there’s a fair chance that if a member spots you, they will try to get you to join. Oftentimes, students on campus aren’t even aware that such a club exists until they are approached about joining. Shapvalov explains that throughout his time in the organization, he has come to love the attention of skating at the Bell Tower. He explained, “At first I suffered with a bit of stage fright, but now when I get an audience of people I’m like let me do a cool kickflip or something.” Seeing people skating at the Bell Tower has almost become a staple in UCR student life. It’s something that you’ve come to expect. To keep up with the Skate Club here at UCR, you can follow their newly made Instagram account, @skateclubucr. COURTESY OF MAXIM SHAPOVALOV

Top 3 best snacks from Scotty’s Convenience Store LATE FOR YOUR CLASS? HERE ARE THE TOP 3 ON-THE-GO BY: ASHLEY CHEN, FEATURES EDITOR Tired of eating Panda Express or The Habit every other day during your gap hour? Scotty’s Convenience Store, located at the HUB, Glasgow, and Market at North District, has some delicious snacks and meals ready to go for you! Those who live on campus can also use their dining dollars. Here are some of my top three snacks that I like to buy whenever I am on campus.

Chicken Caesar Salad Trying to find something healthy? The chicken Caesar salad is one of my favorite options to choose from since it’s so fast and convenient. Although it might be on the pricier side, it’s really fulfilling, and you can eat it on the run to your next class or doing your study sesh at the library!

Tornado (cheese and pepperoni) Trying to find something new? The Tornado is just for you as it’s hot and packed freshly made everyday. Inside is

SNACKS FROM SCOTTY’S PERFECT FOR YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE!

cheese and pepperoni while the wrap is a corn tortilla. There are only a limited number of these a day so get them before they run out!

Pesto pasta Located in the fridge section, the pesto pasta is ready for you to eat without heating it up! It’s perfect for those rushing to their next class and need something fulfilling right away. I could barely finish the cold pesto pasta whenever I eat it, so I usually eat half at the moment and the other half for dinner! Scotty’s at Glasgow is open daily from 11 to 12 a.m., and Scotty’s at the HUB is open Monday to Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Scotty’s at Market at North District is open from 12 to 5 p.m. For more information about the dining services, follow their Instagram @ucrdining.

COURTESY OF UCR

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FEATURES

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

Out with the old, in with the new Springtime starbucks secret menu orders worth trying ALEXANDRIA LACHMAN Staff Writer

Now that the seasons are rapidly changing, it’s time to try something new. What’s better than a new Starbucks drink to obsess over? Social media is running rampant with new Starbucks inventions everyday. With the abundance of a new variety, now’s the perfect time to shake things up a bit! As we approach the end of the quarter, go out and treat yourself to a new drink that will have finals week looking a little less bleak. You can never go wrong with matcha. It can be put into any drink and will only add to the flavors. One of the new drinks that seems to be buzzing all over social media is the iced matcha latte with salted caramel cold foam. If you’re a fan of matcha, you need to run and make this your next Starbucks drink order because you will not regret it! With that twist of salted caramel cold foam, you will be obsessed with

that touch of caramel salty goodness. Don’t walk — run and order this new refresher that has been buzzing all over TikTok. Ask for a strawberry acai lemonade with six pumps of raspberry syrup and topped with passion tea. It is the perfect drink for these hot summer days that have visited us more frequently. What’s better in the summer than a nice refreshing strawberry lemonade? With this added twist, you will be addicted. It’s definitely a drink that I’ve added to my new favorites! With finals just around the corner, the demand for caffeine will be at a high. This drink is made for college students who are studying the hours away. Order a blonde shaken espresso with white mocha and extra caramel drizzle. It’s a perfect mixture of sweetness and coffee without having that after taste of being overloaded with sugar. As college students, the need for caffeine is real, but it can also have that added sweetness that can turn any study session H into a sweeter one. ■

COURTESY OF UCR

ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF FREEPIK

Radar TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SPRING SPLASH

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2022:

A successful comeback with a few minor complications BRENDA JOVEL Assistant Radar Editor

UCR is known for having one of the best and most well-known events of the year, Spring Splash. This year’s Spring Splash was highly anticipated since it was the first in-person one after two years of the pandemic restricting student life events. The morning heat didn’t stop students from lining up at 9 a.m. for the chance to be front and center near their favorite artists. As the line snaked around the CHASS building, there were several students trying to push themselves to the front with little regard for those who were waiting for nearly two hours under the hot sun. Unfortunately, an ASPB member showed up at the line at 1 p.m., thirty minutes after the line was meant to open at 12:30 p.m., and quickly started to check people into security. The giveaway items included for this year were cooling towels for the heat, pins and hoodies that had an incredible design this year created by Michelle Nguyen, ASPB’s director of marketing. Rather than running to the stage, students ran to receive their merchandise for the event. Long lines began to form at the various food trucks while others enjoyed their time either going down the Kraken Inflatable Slide or riding the mechanical shark. Before the event officially kicked off, several ASPB members described their excitement for this year’s Spring Splash. “I expect it to be fun since it’s the first Spring Splash in over two years. This is the best line-up we’ve ever had and I really hope that this is the best Spring Splash we’ve ever hosted,” said one ASPB member. Jameson Lee, a fourth-year majoring in business marketing and ASPB’s marketing chairperson, hoped to “bring campus culture back for this year and I hope that students enjoy themselves.” The first performer was Spüke, a DJ from California who began his set with an unfortunately low amount of people in the crowd since the majority were getting

VERDICT:

their giveaway items. Spüke played various songs, mainly EDM music with an audience that didn’t seem to engage too much with the artist, but Spüke continued to play his tunes for an exciting experience. As Spüke ended his set, the crowd chanted Oro Solido’s name, but an issue seemed to arise since another DJ took over the time that the Hispanic band was meant to perform. Although he played notable songs such as “Bottoms Up” by Trey Songz and “Hotel Room Service” by Pitbull, the crowd was waiting to see if Oro Solido would show up. Their delay did upset some students, but it was quickly wiped away once AG Club introduced themselves. AG Club took the stage with members Jody Fontaine, Baby Boy and DJ Isaac Rose. The trio immediately interacted with the audience as their performance began. Baby Boy and Jody Fontaine jumped around the stage during their set and would often stand against the barrier where fans could high-five the artists. They performed popular songs such as “Brass,” “Memphis,” “Mr. Put It On” and a new song that seemed to raise the energy within the crowd. Towards the end of their set, Fontaine urged the audience to repeat “punk rock” for their song that the crowd gladly repeated back. Fortunately, Oro Solido eventually came out with their band and lead singer, Raul Acosta. As a fellow Hispanic, it was exciting to see a band whose music was often played at birthday parties or quinceañeras. Their uplifting and energetic songs made everyone’s hips swing, especially when they started to call out the names of various countries from Latin and Central America to engage with the audience. “El Beeper,” “Abusadura” and “Maria Se Fue (María se fue)” were just a number of iconic and rhythmic songs that the group played. Acosta’s backup singers took the opportunity to show off their best dance moves which created an exhilarating environment for those who were watching them. Several times throughout the show, the artists had to remind the crowd to step back. Before J.I.D took the

THIS YEAR’S SPRING SPLASH LEFT AN EXHILARATING IMPRESSION ON FANS WHO ENJOYED THRILLING PERFORMANCES FROM THEIR FAVORITE ARTISTS. stage, two ASPB members insisted to the crowd that they step back if they wanted to see the next performance. With a couple of minor disturbances, J.I.D took the stage with a laid-back and chill vibe. His humorous personality made the crowd laugh, yet his fast-rapping skills impressed many fans as they sang along with him. Unfortunately, two students incited a fight during J.I.D’s set that caught his attention and stated, “Y’all are supposed to be in school as a family.” His performance escalated more the second he performed “Workin Out” and “Costa Rica,” two of his most liked songs that increased the liveliness of the audience. The second J.I.D ended his performance, and the crowd was anxious to see this year’s headliner, Baby Keem. His anticipated performance, unfortunately, led to many people pushing their way toward the front with little respect for the people in the front who were getting squished against other students or by the barricade. Nonetheless, Baby Keem’s entrance onto the stage made the audience roar with excitement. “ORANGE SODA,” “trademark usa” and most notably “MOSHPIT,” made certain portions of the crowd either jump in chant or bob their heads to the beat. Unfortunately, the artist looked a bit disappointed when the crowd didn’t sing along to “16,” making Baby Keem start the song over again for another try. His final song, “family ties,” appeared to be the one song that the crowd H enjoyed the most before the artist said his goodbyes.■

As the first Spring Splash in over two years, it was an amusing yet exhausting experience. Though there were a few delays within the various performances, many students still seemed excited to have the annual concert back in-person, and it will be exciting to see what the school does in the future!

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

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14 TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/ae

Gabriela Molina’s unique take on cultural heritage

COURTESY OF GABRIELA MOLINA

BRENDA JOVEL Radar Editor

Gabriela Molina, a fourth-year majoring in studio art and education, represents the ties she holds to both her family and culture within her art. Molina developed an interest in art at a young age, but it wasn’t until she was enrolled in Bell Arts Factory, a non-profit community art center, that her interest in art grew. When describing her nineyear experience at Bell Arts, Molina appreciated how “culturally relevant the projects were, such as Dia De Los Muertos or any Hispanic holiday that took place.” During her time in high school, Molina described how “eurocentric the art curriculum was” and how the absence of BIOPIC artists influenced her to explore her cultural identity through art. Not only did her interest in art grow, but she also came to love the aspect of education and how one day she aspires to become an art educator. She said, “I’d love to work in a non-profit community art center or a high school, and see how we could adopt a more culturally relevant curriculum where students feel both represented and encouraged to explore their culture and identities.” Molina’s art primarily stretches across the themes of family and cultural artifacts, such as family heirlooms, that she uses as sources of inspiration. She explained that her work can be seen as a researchbased approach when looking at her family history and culture as a source of knowledge. She said, “These themes help with unraveling my identity in relation to the connection between my ancestry, culture and family both here in the

U.S. and in Mexico.” Molina’s past series consisted of three portraits: two of her parents at the age of 21 and a self-portrait. Although her parents were from Mexico, their lives differed greatly in the cities that they grew up in which she expresses in their respective portraits. They are meant to showcase their story and what her parents were like when they were her age. Her most recent work consists of using fabrics that serve as portraits to refer to both her grandfather and father. She stated, “They envision a certain memory, such as when they are completing any landscaping jobs and their shirts are covered in blades of grass and dust. I’m currently trying to put those memories together to create something more tangible and physical.” The effect of this particular piece on her family has been strong. Molina mentioned how therapeutic it was for her and her family to look at the painting of her grandfather’s shirt after his recent passing. “We didn’t need to discuss the matter openly. We just looked at the painting in the present moment and it was a great way to grow closer with each other,” Molina explained. Molina’s art extends to various mediums, such as colored pencils, paint and sculpture, that she enjoys experimenting with. One of her sculptural pieces is that of a paletero or ice-cream cart with Marvel characters as her paletas or popsicles. “My stuff is influenced a lot by Marvel and mainly by SpiderMan. This sculpture reminded me of my childhood whenever the paletero man would come down the street and we’d be screaming to announce his arrival in the house.

It not only expresses my interest in Marvel but also those nostalgic childhood moments I shared with my sister and the neighborhood kids around us,” explained Molina. Molina says, “Art-making can sometimes feel like a solitary thing, but presenting my work and creating it in a space with others is something I enjoy the most. It welcomes conversation, various interpretations and good feedback.” Her openness to sharing her art is also attributed to when she was given her own studio space at the Bell Arts Factory before graduating high school. “I would open it to the public on the first Friday of every month. It was open to public viewing, and if people felt inclined to do so, they would also purchase some of my pieces. It gave me the chance and freedom to see what curating my own studio space would be like.” Molina has been grateful for her experiences here at UCR, stating that she’s been given many avenues to share her work with peers. She is often a vendor for Teatro Quinto Sol’s Poesia Peligrosa, an organization at UCR that strives to use art, theater and mediums for the means of self-expression. She has also exhibited her work at ASPB’S Art Walk and has hosted various art sessions while working in Residential Life. Molina explained, “I wasn’t sure what to anticipate as an art student in college that is known for being a research-based institution, but I was surprised to not just see the art community on campus, but also in the Riverside area in general.” She hopes that the art community at UCR continues to thrive and see the value that art can H bring to people. ■

A LOOK INTO FOURTHYEAR GABRIELA MOLINA’S CELEBRATION OF CULTURE AND SELFIDENTITY IN HER ART.

COURTESY OF GABRIELA MOLINA

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

~MET GALA 2022~

The Gilded Age has never looked this terribly bleak and dull. THE MET GALA CONTINUES TO BE A HEAVY TOPIC OF DEBATE AND DISCUSSION ON THE INTERNET. DAVID MORENO Assistant Opinions Editor

This past year was especially unique for the Metropolitan Gala, with the event happening twice within the span of just seven months. The theme of the museum’s two-part exhibition was “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” with the second event focusing on the Gilded Age of American fashion. This particular age of American fashion has been recently popularized by television shows like “The Gilded Age” on HBO Max. This time period can be whittled down to excessive fabrics, corsets and over the top hairstyles by the rich of time. This lined up to be an extremely playful Met Gala theme, but ultimately the mark was missed by the majority in attendance. What makes the Met Gala so unique from other major events in the pop culture realm is the over the top dresscode. Celebrities from all different corners of the entertainment industry come together in order to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The event has become so much more than just another fundraiser; it has become a pillar for pop culture critique among the general public. The carpet has transformed into a livestream event, with multiple media outlets reporting on every single second of the night. As the Met gala has transformed in recent years, so has the guest list. In 2019, one of the most influential names on the internet at the time was invited to the Met Gala, James Charles. Along with fellow YouTubers, Liza Koshy and Lily Singh, this marked the start of internet influencer appearances at the Met Gala. In more recent years, YouTubers and now TikTokers have continued to make appearances at the Gala. Most notably fashion-centered influencer Emma Chamberlain, who has now hosted interviews for Vogue on the carpet twice. YouTubers being invited to the Met Gala has always sparked controversy on the internet, with many feeling like they shouldn’t be invited. Internet personalities have every right to attend the Met Gala. After all, they attracted the most attention online during the event. When James Charles attended the event back in 2019, Twitter went up in flames — but to James’ advantage, all publicity, as they say, is good. This year’s Gilded Age theme brought with it a lot of anticipation from people on the internet. Everyone was expecting a “Bridgerton” style gala, filled with over the top showcases of wealth and extravagance. Instead,

the carpet was filled with celebrities repeatedly continuing to once again miss the mark of the theme. Some celebrities decided to opt out and wear more traditional Gala outfits, while others stuck more to the core central theme of American Fashion. For example, Kim Kardashian decided to wear a vintage dress famously once worn by Marilyn Monroe. She later received lots of negative feedback, many people citing that she was destroying a piece of American fashion history. As for the best dressed of the night, it’s easy to list the guests who actually managed to hit the nail on the head. First on the list is “Bridgerton” star Nicola Coughlan, who showed up in a Richard Quinn gown. The pink and black dress fit the theme perfectly, from the silhouette down to the added feathers. Billie Eilish was beautifully dressed in custom Gucci, and her outfit was completely made up of deadstock fabrics. She managed to send a message about being environmentally friendly while simultaneously being perfectly on theme. Another fan favorite was Emma Chamberlain, who was dressed by Louis Vuitton and Cartier. Being one of the first to hit the Gala’s carpet, she surely made an impact. As per the men in attendance, some honorable mentions are Bad Bunny, who dressed in Burberry, and Even Mock, who wore Head of State. For the worst dressed of the night, some celebrities in particular both managed to miss the mark and wear terrible looking outfits. Tommy Dorfman in Christopher Kane, for example, managed to look more like a torn leather trash bag more than anything. Vanessa Hudgens in Moschino dressed to look the part of a rich widower who just lost her husband in a “mysterious accident.” Her outfit ultimately fell more on the side of a costume party, and not the Met Gala. Prime movie star and ex girl-group member Camila Cabello, was dressed in Atelier Prabal Gurung. Let’s just say that the mice in the “Cinderella” movie would’ve never made a dress this ugly. The Met Gala will most likely continue to grow in popularity, especially as more young people in the entertainment industry start attending the event. At its core, the event will always be a night centered around an exclusive guest list and expensive outfits. We can only hope members in future attendance will honor its dress H code with a bit more diligence. ■

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COURTESY OF KAI PILGER VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS UNDER CC BY SA 4.0

Sports TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

SPORTS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/sports

UC Riverside softball team sweeps double-header against Cal State Bakersfield

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

HANSEL CHU Assistant Sports Editor

The UC Riverside softball team swept the double-header games 16-1 and 6-1 against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday afternoon in Bakersfield. Going into the ball game, the Highlanders sat in fourth place in the Big West Conference standings with one series left in the regular season. The double-header sweep for UCR marked the first time UC Riverside had a winning record in Big West play since 2015. In the first game of the double-header, junior shortstop Marissa Burk scored the first run of the game on an error from Cal State Bakersfield in the first inning. At

► FROM REFERENDUM

The current student fee for athletics is extremely outdated. Ever since UCR Athletics began competing at the Division I mid-major level 21 years ago, the student fee for athletics has remained the same and has not changed. Furthermore, it is the lowest of all the schools in The Big West. The pandemic has definitely not made this easy, as Athletics has had to cut their entire budget by one-third. This student increase would let the department begin to recover from the pandemic and would also allow for the university to elevate the state of athletics in the way of creating a student cheer team and a student band for the games. This makes a huge difference in terms of school spirit and garnering more support and allowing for additional opportunities for students to be involved with athletics. The Highlanders have recently come out of two historically impressive seasons and their momentum continues to carry over into every subsequent season. These various UCR teams, most notably men’s and women’s basketball, women’s golf, softball and men’s and women’s soccer, continue to perform and excel well within the Big West, but they do so at a financial disadvantage when compared to their fellow competitors. Other UCs within The Big West Conference have much higher student fees for athletics which give funding for better facilities and equipment. It also allows these universities

the top of the third inning, junior infielder Lauryn Garewal and senior outfielder Haylee Kela slammed back-to-back home runs, giving the Highlanders a 3-0 lead. After back-to-back walks from the Roadrunner pitcher Kirsten Martinez, UCR was in scoring position with players at second and third base. A single down the infield line from sophomore utility player Ally Troche brought home another run. Another walk from the pitcher Martinez sent redshirt junior infielder Max Ortega to the home plate and brought the score to 5-0. Moments later, a single from senior outfielder Nadia Witt brought home two scores and extended the UC Riverside lead 7-0. Martinez was then subbed out for pitcher Kaycie Kennedy to stop the

to attract more talent because the athletics fee provides for scholarships for these student athletes. Various senators within ASUCR had an issue with the student increase and voiced their opinions against it. For example, CNAS senator Rachel Paredes expressed her reservations about the fee as they related to the R’Garden. Paredes explained that the R’Garden went through a similar motion recently, attempting to propose their own student increase, but were rejected by Chancellor Kim Wilcox and the administration. The R’Garden is an extraordinary organization within our school, and they do tremendous work. However, it is not athletics who is responsible for this decision but the chancellor and the schools administration who ignore the opportunity to create sustainability plans. In fact, after hearing this, Athletics formed a five-point partnership with the R’Garden by hosting events together and promoting the R’Garden in games in order to show support. The student athletics referendum should have passed because not only are they giving back by way of scholarships, but by hosting events with student and school organizations, most recently working with African Student Programs during the basketball season. BCOE senator, Amy Do, also shared similar reservations about the referendum, stating that other projects with more tangible results should be in order, for example lower student parking fees, fixing staff shortages

offensive outburst from the Highlanders. However, even Kennedy couldn’t stop the offensive onslaught as she immediately walked Kela for another run for UCR. After a wild pitch from Kennedy, Witt raced to the home plate for another UC Riverside run and ballooned the lead to 9-0. Soon after, a single from redshirt sophomore catcher Jantzen Owen scored in another run before Kela was tagged at home plate trying to get another run, which ended the inning for UC Riverside. During the top of the third inning, the Highlanders exploded for nine runs in five hits. More of the same continued in the top of the fourth inning as a double from Witt brought in two runs for UCR and extended the lead to 12-0. After a wild pitch, freshman infielder Taylor Burdette reached home plate to bring the score to 13-0. Moments later, Ortega crushed a three-run home run into the left field to increase the Highlander lead to 16-0. Cal State Bakersfield was finally able to score in the bottom of the fifth inning as third baseman Maya Williams hit a home run to put the Roadrunners on the board 161. A strikeout from senior pitcher Chrys Hildebrand ended the game with UC Riverside winning the first game 16-1. Hildbrand nearly had a perfect game with 5.0 innings pitched. She allowed only one run, one hit and had 11 strikeouts. Witt led the Highlanders in batting with a 4 RBI in two hits and had two runs. In the second game, both teams started off a bit slow as the fatigue of the doubleheader started to kick in. In the bottom of the third inning, the Roadrunners were able to get on the scoreboard first as catcher Jocelynn Molina was able to steal

THE HIGHLANDERS TIE THE SCHOOL’S RECORD OF MOST RUNS SCORED IN A SINGLEGAME IN WHICH THEY SET EARLIER THIS SEASON. home base and give Cal State Bakersfield the lead 1-0. However, the Highlanders exploded in the top of the fourth inning as they amassed five total runs. It started with a single down the right center from Troche to bring home Ortega to tie the game 1-1. A single from Burdette down the center field brought home another run and gave UC Riverside the lead 2-1. After a groundout from Witt, Troche raced toward home plate and scored another run for UCR. Back-to-back doubles from Garewal and Kela brought in two scores for the Highlanders and pushed their lead to 5-1. In the top of the sixth inning, a single from Garewal down the center field brought Burdette to the home plate and extended the UCR lead 6-1. A quick three-up, three-down inning from redshirt senior pitcher Katie Barbarick retired the inning and gave UC Riverside the victory 6-1 and swept the double-header games. Barbarick in 7.0 innings pitched allowed only one run, five hits and had two strikeouts. Garewal led the Highlanders in batting as she had an RBI double in two hits and had one run. Burdette also contributed with an RBI single with three hits and one run. The Highlanders closed off the regular season with a 25-24 record (15-11) and finished fourth in the Big West Conference H standings.■

COURTESY OF UCR ATHLETICS

across departments and fixing various of the schools infrastructure. This is also an issue that should be taken up with administration of UCR, not with the student-athletes of the schools sports teams. Furthermore, students have not seen any form of campaigning for projects addressing these issues from ASUCR, nor have students received any type of proposal nor a simple social media information tour in order to garner support for these issues. These issues are incredibly important and need to be addressed, but they have nothing to do with athletics. Sports allows for universal camaraderie among peers who attend a university. It is not necessary to be a fan of the sport itself, nor is it necessary for you to know everything

about the teams. In our case, all you need is to be a Highlander. It provides a way to connect with other students and to further integrate within the campus. Sports can play a big role in a university for the spirit of student athletes, when allowed. A student increase would be an incredible step forward, not only for the various teams who work incredibly hard to make themselves and the school proud, but it would allow for students to feel more connected with campus. After over a year of being online with remote learning, the UCR student body could finally feel like Highlanders again. The student referendum H should have definitely passed. ■