Vol. 71, Issue 05

The Judicial Council reopening Elections Director and General Advocates positions

HARU CHANG Assistant News Editor

On Wednesday Oct. 19th, the ASUCR Senate called to order at 6:30 P.M. All were present except President Pro Tempore Aalani Richardson, CHASS Senator Jules Yang and BCOE Senator Chloe Au.

A motion to remove CA-F22-001 and CA-F22-002 from the agenda was approved by CNAS Senator Brenden Cano and seconded by CHASS Senator Brandon Huang. The agenda with the following amendments were approved by Senator Nguyen and seconded by CHASS Senator Hemant Hari. The previous Oct. 12th Senate meeting minutes were approved by CHASS Senator Alaa Mido and seconded by Senator Huang. The motion passed 13-0-0.

OPINIONS

The dangers in your child’s candy this Halloween is a myth

AYLÍN MORENO Contributing Writer

While October is a spooky, and scary time of the year — finding razor blades, drugs or other criminal paraphernalia in a child’s candy bag is an outright myth. Understandably, reading this statement might elicit memories from childhood regarding razor blades in candy apples and treats laced with THC/marijuana. However, these tales were simply that — tales. People have become paranoid towards a seemingly wholesome tradition involving children and candy. The answer lies in Halloween sadism. Halloween sadism can be viewed as an urban legend, which emerged during the early 1970s, to give expression to growing fears about the safety of children, the danger of crime and other sources of social strain.

Many misconceptions parents hold regarding Halloween safety are rooted in truth. The real cases that fed the drugged candy paranoia, however, were either unrelated to Halloween or were not committed by strangers. The Tylenol murders are a chilling case that involves a similar theme of tainted consumer goods depicted by Joel Best in his exploration of Halloween sadism. A familiar over the counter medication, regarded as

a staple in medicine cabinets across the United States, became an aberrant and frightening thing. This case, while unrelated to Halloween, was blasted by the media in an effort to warn families of any tampered medications lurking in their homes during the end of September 1982. It wasn’t unexpected that this news would bleed over into October and create hyper awareness of tainted consumer goods. While these cases should be taken seriously, it is safe to say the correlation between them and a child’s Halloween goodie bag from three doors down is indiscernible.

The meeting proceeded right into the committee reports after confirming there was nothing to announce during the public forum and the Ex-Officio Reports. Senator Mido approved the motion to open up Finance Hearing Minutes #2, seconded by Senator Hari. The Vice President of Finance Christian Martinez led the hearing. Martinez referred to the recent finance hearing where it discussed the general allocation for new clubs which was approved around 41 to 45 student organizations. The Vice President of Internal Affairs Jeanine Nassar requested a removal of a paid position in order have it transferred to a new Commisional of Sexual Violence position. The request was approved. President Mufida Assaf and Chief of Staff Tran introduced the

COURTESY OF PEXELS

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The Judicial Council reopening Elections Director and GeneralAdvocates positions

HARU CHANG Assistant News Editor

On Wednesday Oct. 19th, the ASUCR Senate called to order at 6:30 P.M. All were present except President Pro Tempore Aalani Richardson, CHASS Senator Jules Yang and BCOE Senator Chloe Au.

A motion to remove CA-F22-001 and CA-F22-002 from the agenda was approved by CNAS Senator Brenden Cano and seconded by CHASS Senator Brandon Huang. The agenda with the following amendments were approved by Senator Nguyen and seconded by CHASS Senator Hemant Hari. The previous Oct. 12th Senate meeting minutes were approved by CHASS Senator Alaa Mido and seconded by Senator Huang. The motion passed 13-0-0.

The meeting proceeded right into the committee reports after confirming there was nothing to announce during the public forum and the Ex-Officio Reports. Senator Mido approved the motion to open up Finance Hearing Minutes #2, seconded by Senator Hari. The Vice President of Finance Christian Martinez led the hearing. Martinez referred to the recent finance hearing where it discussed the general allocation for new clubs which was approved around 41 to 45 student organizations. The Vice President of Internal Affairs Jeanine Nassar requested a removal of a paid position in order have it transferred to a new Commisional of Sexual Violence position. The request was approved. President Mufida Assaf and Chief of Staff Tran introduced the addition of a new Vice President of DEI to ASUCR. The Finance Committee needed more information about the position, tabling the position. Until it passes the LRC, the Finance Committee decided to remain neutral. The Senate approved Senator Huang’s request for two temporary stipends for Photographer and Marketing Assistant positions. Senator Huang also requested a salary increase, the Senate decision was inconclusive and the matter was tabled. Senator Huang reported deciding to confirm that members of ASUCR use their available funding before approving requests for additional funding. The First Time College Director Victoria Nguyen requested funding for team attire: the Senate denied the

request. A motion was called to approve Finance Hearing Minutes #2, approved by Senator Nguyen and seconded by Senator Cano. The motion passed 13-0-0.

The motion to open up SB-F22-004 was approved by Senator Huang and seconded by CNAS Senator Abby Choy. CHASS Senator Ruhi Barman introduced the bill which made additions to the stipends under the Marketing and Promotions Director. Marketing and Promotions Director Phan requested the addition of Photographer and Marketing Assistant. Director Phan suggested reducing the stipend of the Videographers to $990 and cut down the time of work. Two more positions as a result of last week’s LRC SB-F22-00 passing were added and Director Phan requested temporary stipends for them. Senator Jules Yang entered the meeting at 6:45 P.M. SB-F22-004 was approved by Senator Cano and seconded by SOE Senator Leyan Elkatat.

The motion passed 13-0-1.

The Senate moved on to the public forum. On behalf of the Chief Justice, Associate Justice Kulkarni gave general updates on the Judicial Council, having officially finished onboarding new staff and Justices. The Judicial Council plans on reopening Elections Director and General Advocates positions. They have already begun Law Week planning and have established members of the Legislative, Financial Review, and Outreach and Marketing Committee. Justice Kulkarni announced that the first open Judicial session meeting will be held the first week of November, the exact date is yet to be determined. Aram Ayra reintroduced his position in ASUCR as Executive Leadership Intern and promised access to his resources to the ASUCR Senate. The Justice offered his assistance in advising bylaws, the new legislation, and client facing communications and services. Ayra is the former ASUCR Senator, President, Co-Chair for the Legislative Committee and Chai of the HUB Governing Board. He currently works at a state-wide non-profit that helps low income LGBT college students access financial resources and public benefits.

Senator Huang reported the progress of the Highlander

ASUCR SENATORS UPDATE OF VARIOUS EFFORTS AND ASSOCIATE JUSTICE KULKARNI GIVES GENERAL BRIEF ON THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL.

Spirit Committee in its efforts to promote the campus D1 sports programs. The Finance committee went over budget. The report noted that the pending requests made by student organizations for the allocations of funding was completed. Senator Choy reported that the LRC passed four pieces of legislation, two of which were mentioned in this meeting. She also announced that the “Lunch and Labor” event that was in collaboration with United Student Labor Action Coalition had a good turn out. Senator Choy mentioned she is currently working on the CNAS town hall and in conversation with the CNAS Dean. The senator reported to be currently working on the R Garden referendum, a legislation to end fracking and oil drilling in California in collaboration with Senator Barman, and a legislation with CNAS Senator Shukan Shah. CHASS Senator Ahman Greene explained his inability to attend the previous Finance Committee meeting due to an academic commitment. He reported that the Highlander Pride Committee reached out to the Personnel Director and are currently waiting for a response. Senator Greene has been in contact with the CHASS Senator to build the CHASS town hall. The Ethnic and Gender Programs were provided with resource connections according to Senator Greene. Senator Hari announced that all 4 pieces of legislation passed. The senator met with the Personnel Director, recently joined the ASUCR Campus Safety Committee, and is still building the town hall. Senator Greened stated that the date was to be determined for the First ASUCR Campus Safety Committee meeting.

During the Roundtable and announcements Senator Hguyen announced that the School Public Policy town hall was scheduled for Nov. 9 at 3 P.M. to 4 P.M. All students are welcomed to attend and attendees will be given an opportunity to win gift cards.

H

UC Riverside gets $201 million inbill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom

ABHIJIT REGE News Editor

ASSEMBLY BILL 2046 ALLOCATES $313 MILLION TO UCR AND UC MERCED.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, on Sept. 25, 2022, signed an Inland Empire lawmakers’ bill that will grant the University of California, Riverside, $201 million in state funding. Authored by assembly members Jose Medina and Adam C. Gray, AB 2046 would require funding appropriated by the Legislature during the 2022–2023 to 2024–2025, inclusive, fiscal years to directly support campus expansion projects or University of California climate initiatives, or both, at the University of California, Riverside, and the University of California, Merced. The bill, which will be officially enacted July 1, 2023, ensures that this money provided would be supplemental and would not supplant any current or future funding.

Medina, a Democratic representative of Riverside County, praised the governor’s signing of AB 2046. “For years, the Inland Empire and the Central Valley have been historically underfunded compared to other regions of the state,” Medina said in a news release. “The signing of AB 2046 and the investment of $313 million in the state budget are long overdue to these regions.”

Identifying a funding gap between UCR and coastal UC campuses, Medina and other Inland lawmakers lobbied for the money to make up for this. The Legislature found and declared that though California represents one of the largest economies in the world, these economic benefits are not shared equally by all regions of the state. Most notably, the Inland Empire and central valley are among the lowest in educational attainment levels and per-capita income. Schools and Universities, such as UCR, must constantly deal with frustrating issues from crumbling classrooms to a lack of classroom space, counselors and faculty.

A historical overview of the bill shows its first introduction to the legislative assembly on Feb. 14, 2022 before being revised and amended multiple times till its approval. It passed through the legislative assembly on May 26 with a vote count of 74-0-4, while it was approved by the senate on August 30 with a vote count of 400-0, before being ultimately signed into law by the governor of California. Initially, lawmakers sought $1.46 billion in the new state budget for UCR and UC Merced.

AB 2046 includes money to “increase enrollment, construct classrooms, increase research in public health and climate change, and create health equity in the Central Valley and Inland Empire,” Medina’s release states. “It also creates union jobs for the community through the projects that receive this funding.”

Industries in the Inland Empire are often hit hardest by the effects of shifting climate as agriculture, warehousing, and other commercial activity is negatively burdened disproportionately. Access to healthcare providers are also quite limited in the region as the population continues to grow. Investing in alleviating these issues would serve to “accelerate economic development and innovation in the areas of air pollution, clean technology, and sustainable agriculture, and significantly improve health outcomes in these communities,” as stated by the Legislature.

The bill would place certain wage and workforce requirements on projects that receive this funding and would require the University of California to submit an annual report to the Legislature and the Department of Finance regarding these funds, as provided.

With support from the state through financial and political means, UCR can leverage its strengths in social mobility, clean technology, and air pollution research to advance sustainability, innovation, and social inclusion. UCR, along with UCM, also has plans to grow their own health care providers, by advancing medical education in the Inland Empire and central valley.

GRACE SUN / THE HIGHLANDER

OpiniOns

Local elected officials should uphold and protect the values of their community, not ridicule them

Embroiled in yet another scandal, the Los Angeles City Council is facing backlash from Angelenos and Californians over leaked recordings from 2021 that display racist comments being made. City Council President, Nury Martinez, County Federation of Labor President, Ron Herrera, and council members Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León are heard in the recordings making offensive remarks about councilmember Mike Bonin’s adopted son, as well as LA residents at large. This recent leak brings into question the competency and professionalism of the council who are constantly making headlines for their misconduct instead of solving the issues that they were elected to.

With LA having historically low voter turnout rates, this a blow to the community who relies on their elected officials to solve problems plaguing the city and its inhabitants. This conversation was recorded during talks about redistricting, a process that has been used to divide affluent areas from ones with lower income rates. This process is known to be racist and allows those representing the district to manipulate their region in an effort to gain more political status. In the recording, the members are also heard discussing giving less affluent areas to their rivals. By only caring about areas with more economic influence, underrepresented Angelenos receive the short end of the stick and are given less opportunity to break generational curses.

Issues like affordable housing, homelessness and immigration rights are at the forefront of concerns that Angelenos have. These issues have been ignored or given little to no relief amidst a city council that is known for being corrupt and enthralled in scandal. With this recording being leaked, the thought of what other horrible things the council members have been saying and doing comes to mind. In recent years, some LA county officials have had to step down due to scandal and one, former council member Mitch Englander, was even sentenced to federal prison for obstructing a corruption probe.

Amidst this backlash, Angelenos have been vocal about calling for the removal of those heard in the recording. As of now, only Martinez has resigned and de Leon has publicly stated that he does not plan to do so. De Leon claims that while he did not protest the vulgar comments, he should not be attacked because he did not participate in adding to the conversation. This is a lazy cop out on de Leon’s part for not using his political position and power to stand up for the marginalized groups who voted him into office to support their interests.

This blatant act of racism from government officials, who are also people of color, stems from racist values instilled in the Latine community. Tracing back to colonialism, many people from Latin America tend to favor those with fairer skin associating the look with European beauty standards. These comments are not unusual for this community to hear, but coming from people in power, they reinstate colorism and the belief that those with darker skin tones do not deserve the same rights or treatment. These officials were elected to advocate the needs of their community and have failed by seeing them as second class citizens.

This recent scandal must be a wake up call for Angeleons. Those who want change to happen need to work towards gaining more political turnout. Local elections are often overlooked and should not be. Politics begins at the local level and by letting underqualified or incompetent canidates win, people are giving them a chance to stay in power and rise in ranking. Better candidates who are from the area and relate to those in their district are needed so that positive legislation can happen. With the midterms elections upon us, only time will tell how the county of LA responds to this racist recording.

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.

THE RACIST REMARKS MADE BY LA CITY COUNCILMEMBERS IS YET ANOTHER SCANDAL PREVENTING POSITIVE CHANGE FROM OCCURRING IN THE COUNTY.

COURTESY OF PAM LANE VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The dangers in your child’s candy this Halloween is a myth

AYLÍN MORENO Contributing Writer

While October is a spooky, and scary time of the year — finding razor blades, drugs or other criminal paraphernalia in a child’s candy bag is an outright myth. Understandably, reading this statement might elicit memories from childhood regarding razor blades in candy apples and treats laced with THC/marijuana. However, these tales were simply that — tales. People have become paranoid towards a seemingly wholesome tradition involving children and candy. The answer lies in Halloween sadism. Halloween sadism can be viewed as an urban legend, which emerged during the early 1970s, to give expression to growing fears about the safety of children, the danger of crime and other sources of social strain.

Many misconceptions parents hold regarding Halloween safety are rooted in truth. The real cases that fed the drugged candy paranoia, however, were either unrelated to Halloween or were not committed by strangers. The Tylenol murders are a chilling case that involves a similar theme of tainted consumer goods depicted by Joel Best in his exploration of Halloween sadism. A familiar over the counter medication, regarded as a staple in medicine cabinets across the United States, became an aberrant and frightening thing. This case, while unrelated to Halloween, was blasted by the media in an effort to warn families of any tampered medications lurking in their homes during the end of September 1982. It wasn’t unexpected that this news would bleed over into October and create hyper awareness of tainted consumer goods. While these cases should be taken seriously, it is safe to say the correlation between them and a child’s Halloween goodie bag from three doors down is indiscernible.

Yet, the general fear does predate the Tylenol murders. The New York Times headlined “Those Treats Might be Tricks” back in 1970 stating, “that plump red apple that Junior gets from a kindly old woman down the block, It may have a razor blade hidden inside.” While this feels retroactively like fear mongering, these are messages coming from trusted sources. This year, the Drug Enforcement Administration informed the public, via press conference, that a highly addictive synthetic opioid called “rainbow fentanyl” was circulating amongst the

youth.

Rainbow fentanyl is “fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes and sizes — it is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. This statement reached the public in August followed by a campaign by the DEA in September “one pill can kill,” just in time for a resurgence of that Halloween sadism. The DEA’s efforts to protect children from street drugs is noble, but to assume the target audience is children seems somewhat unfounded when the fear of tainted candy doesn’t lie in children buying these drugs, but strangers handing them out for free. This also begs the question as to who is afraid of their children being drugged and whether that audience understands the price of drugs in general.

Joel Best, in all his research, never found a case in which a child had become sick or died due to Halloween candy. He found that all cases involving such a story were later to be revealed as a hoax or were recanted. One prominent such story being a pair of 2015 kids who allegedly found needles in their candy bars after being shown a similar picture by a relative cautioning them of tampered Halloween candy. This prompted a 31 year old man in New Jersey to post his own needle ridden candy later, only for both of these cases to be proven false not even days later. The Chester County DA’s office said the unidentified families “apologized for the incident, understanding the serious impact it had on the community.”

While it is encouraged to practice safety among children during Halloween, there is no need to fear packaged candies. Instead, focus on children’s safety as they trick or treat on busy streets. The Today network recommends reflective tape on their costumes and bags, sticking to the sidewalks and ensuring they have buddies as well as supervision when they go door to door. All of this ensures that children will have a fun and safe Halloween. In this case, drugs are not the problem people need to focus on. ■ H

What was your best Halloween costume?

“My best costume is the one I’m wearing this year, a Mexican ghost. It keeps me warm and I don’t have to worry about my hair or makeup.”

Graciela Ibarra (she/her)

5th-year Sociology

“I used to cosplay a lot. My best costume was Caesar Zeppeli, a cosplay from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. It was the first time I handmade my costume.”

Jayla Jacob (she/her)

4th-year Theater, Film and Digital Production

“I was a construction worker and had a real helmet. People would knock on my head and I couldn’t feel it. Bringing a hard hat to parties really protects you.”

Ariana Caguioa (she/her) 4th-year Biology

HALLOWEEN SADISM LEADS TO THE WIDESPREAD FALSE NARRATIVE OF TAINTED CANDY DURING THE HOLIDAY.

“My best Halloween costume was in 5th grade. I was the Lone Ranger cowboy with a big cow boy hat. The movie had just recently come out and I was obsessed with cowboys and the wild west.”

Hayden Harbison (he/him)

2nd-year Theater, Film and Digital Production

“My best costume was SpongeBob SquarePants. I liked it because it took up a lot of space and was noticeable.”

Byron Borje (he/him)

4th-year Business Administration

“My best Halloween costume was a hotdog. It made me stand out and was funny.”

Sean Gutierrez (he/him)

1st-year Pre-Business

COURTESY OF PEXELS

Educational institutions that overlook safety concerns should not be trusted with the well being of their students

YSABEL NAKASONE Assistant Opinions Editor

This past summer, allegations of sexual assault and gang-rape related to several San Diego State University football players came to light. A civil suit has been filed against three former football players, one of whom has just been released from the NFL due to the case. The alleged assault occurred in October 2021, but it has taken this long for the university to conduct an investigation as well as alert the campus community. At the time, rumors circulated around campus claiming the victim had been left “bloodied and bruised” at a house party. In response to this heinous crime, SDSU responded with less than the bare minimum required of them by federal law. Currently, there have been no arrests or criminal charges. Alongside the other scandals plaguing California State University’s Leadership, this the latest in a long line of signs that the administration does not care about violence enacted on and by its community.

As of now, the defendants have escaped any possible consequences by the university since they are now graduated and no longer under SDSU’s purview. Justice would be, at the very least, a trial, but without that, it was on the university’s shoulders to protect their student body by looking into these claims. In this regard, they failed enormously. For a crime such as this, the guilty parties should have faced life reckoning consequences, although SDSU seems to disagree.

was the subject of an anonymous student-athlete report on a portal that was overseen by Rentto and the executive associate athletic director, Jenny Bramer. It’s currently unknown what was done with that information while football coach Brady Hoke stated that he was not made aware of any allegations related to the civil case being brought against the athlete. The SDSU athletic director, John David Wicker, has claimed that the football program did not cover up sexual assault allegations, but with public trust in CSU staff and institutions at an all time low and conflicting information, it’s unclear why anyone should be inclined to believe that. Especially since during this time, the SDSU football team was in a winning season largely due to the award winning punter and defendant, Araiza. With all of these inconsistencies adding up, it’s not a shock that the public is questioning whether or not the athletic department and the university as a whole was engaged in a cover-up.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

The complete lack of any investigation, however, while disappointing, is hardly a bombshell. Law enforcement often asks that outside institutions refrain from conducting investigations in cases such as these. The president of SDSU, Adele de la Torre, has released multiple statements claiming that this was done in order to guarantee justice and keep the official investigation uncompromised. The validity of this decision, especially considering that no criminal charges have been brought up, is questionable and has been challenged by a number of experts. Additionally, despite denials, the then campus police chief, Josh Mays, contacted the university official who oversees sexual misconduct investigations, Jessica Rentto, on Oct. 27 recommending that the university launch an internal investigation. He is quoted as stating: “I suspect your team may be able to gather info that will only help SDPD. We have stood by long enough.”

The university has undermined public trust in the already scandal embroiled CSU system as they repeatedly only release information after it had been reported by other news entities. It was also revealed that one of the current defendants, Matt Araiza,

The most egregious violation on the part of SDSU was their failure to disclose the event to the campus community as required by the Clery Act. The Clery Act mandates that universities “collect and publish information about safety and security-related policies and programs, as well as information about certain crimes reported on campus (or other Clery Act geography) and fire safety.” The university’s claim that disclosing the alleged crime was a violation of federal law is tenuous at best. In a statement from the U.S. Department of Education, it is clearly stated that “A school may issue timely warnings for crimes occurring outside a school’s Clery geographic boundaries.” The university could have, even if it actually believed they were prohibited from issuing a Clery warning, released an overarching statement regarding the incident such as the one released by De la Torre in June.

This is not a demand for details or to invade the privacy of a possibly very traumatized young woman. This is also not an accusation of guilt or innocence on the part of the defendants. It is an accusation of negligence on the part of SDSU as they failed to take even basic steps to prioritize the safety of their campus community for reasons that are simply not good enough. It’s being shown to abusers that their actions will be met with absolute indifference by educational institutions such as SDSU, giving them carte blanche to enact violence. Everyone involved owes the student body their resignations and apologies. Their actions were the equivalent of looking students in the eye and saying that the system and administration does not care about them and doesn’t plan to start.

To the distaste of eager partygoers, Halloween is not making a complete comeback

RAMITA SETTY Contributing Writer

Almost three years have passed since the start of the pandemic. Restrictions and social distancing measures have slowly softened as vaccines have been released, and it seems COVID-19’s hold on the world is easing. Yet it has not fully disappeared, and celebrating too early could lead to spikes as they have in the past. Holiday gatherings like Halloween tend to be superspreader events, which is why they were put on hold these past couple of years. That no longer appears to be the case, prompting a debate over what and if safety precautions are still necessary or overcautious. For now, however, safety precautions are still necessary.

At the moment, evidence suggests that it is not completely safe to hold social gatherings without any kind of precautions. People have largely grown impatient and are eager to rush back into a sense of normalcy, but moving too fast could lead to disastrous consequences. The good news is that COVID-19 numbers have been steadily climbing down. And Californians are better protected now more than ever, with 84% of Californians having received at least one vaccine dose and about 74% of Californians being considered fully vaccinated. But it has been observed that numbers tend to spike upwards during the colder months and holiday season. LA County has recently recorded approximately 1,100 cases a day, a much higher rate than the 600 cases per day that occurred during the spring. Since August, LA county has recorded an average of 70 to 125 COVID-19 deaths per week. In May, there were less with 25 to 50 deaths per week.

As of now, there are no official restrictions or mask mandates that people will be required to comply with. It is still possible to be safe this Halloween while having fun. One way is to get creative and design a mask to be a part of a costume. If possible, sticking to outdoor events and avoiding indoor ones where the risk of transmission is higher can help limit transmission. At parties with food and alcohol left out in the open, guests should be mindful that multiple people have likely touched it. Halloween-goers can carry a bag with hand sanitizer in order to properly socially distance themselves. As humans are not the only transmitters of COVID-19, it is important to be careful around any animals as well.

It appears that as time continues to tick away, cognitive dissonance has appeared to take hold of society, with efforts to downplay or deny the severity of COVID-19 in order to get back to “normal” life as soon as possible. People have received vaccines and countless booster shots and impatiently waited to be told by experts that they can live their lives again. Now it appears to be widely accepted that the pandemic is basically over. But it is important to remember that rushing too soon into “normalcy” could create the same problems all over again. There is no returning exactly to the same Halloween we left behind in those twilight pre-COVID years, but instead it makes more sense to permanently adopt safer guidelines for Halloween. It is imperative to remember that vulnerable members of society do exist, and deserve to be kept safe.

WITH THE PANDEMIC STILL NOT FULLY GONE, THIS HALLOWEEN MAY STILL BE INFLUENCED BY PANDEMIC ERA CAUTION.

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY’S HANDLING OF GANG RAPE ALLEGATIONS IS ANOTHER SIGN OF DETERIORATING MORAL FIBER WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

Gang-like behavior proves the police problem will become a much worse entity

MICHAEL APELACIO Contributing Writer

Severe incompetency, Hollywood-esque power fantasies, and murderous outgroup mentality are characteristics that police in the United States have repeatedly employed in a number of situations. However, a recent development worsened the situation when officers fi lled a Texas courthouse in Harris County to intimidate a judge from reallocating police budget, a behavior consistent with gang tactics. This event justifies the existing notion that the current state of the police is a paradise-like ideal for most street gangs; protected from the law, wielding fancy military toys and feared by commoners, all while having no regard for morals or education.

This stunt came as a result of the ongoing confl ict between Democratic Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and her Republican incumbents about the county’s budget for 2023. Hidalgo’s position has been to use funds for other social services, which would require reallocating the $1.4 billion police budget that made up a third of their $3.3 billion general fund last fiscal year. Alex del Moral Mealer, Hidalgo’s Republican challenger, whose position on law enforcement is to further fund them, shared a tweet with a picture showing hundreds of policemen outside the county courthouse hours before the meeting started. The Houston Chronicle noted that Judge Hidalgo was booed by the officers.

This is not the fi rst time law enforcement have used these tactics in an attempt to manipulate the law to their advantage. In fact, the law often defends police hooliganism and general lack of morals.

It’s relatively unknown by the public that the Supreme Court ruled that police have no obligation to protect citizens or have any knowledge of laws. Historically, the most detrimental ruling, introduced at the height of the civil rights movement, prevented qualified immunity from being evaluated under the Fourth Amendment. Naturally, this was abused and led to police being protected from the consequences of their own violence, especially against people of color.

Police unions have been hard at work to prevent qualified immunity from being repealed. The rationale was that policemen would face bankruptcy and homelessness. They argued that the profession would become barren. This makes it clear that officers have to rely on qualified immunity to maintain their jobs, indicating that

the goal is to protect them from being brought to justice instead of maintaining justice.

Additionally, qualified immunity is a terrible band-aid for the lack of meaningful training and rock-bottom standards for joining.

According to the Department of Justice, officers get around 21 weeks of training, and only around 168 hours on fi rearms, use of force and defense tactics, 21 of which is spent on de-escalation. Though the data is from 2013, the consistency of killings indicate that there has been little to no change in the lack of quality in police training.

Lawmakers have been working to repair these flaws in police training. As expected though, the police retaliate even when it is only the slightest threat to their status quo. Officers have responded to these attempted reforms frequently through intimidation and the halting of emergency services. This is primarily in response to the controversial “defund the police” sentiment, despite law enforcement budgets often reaching more than a third of city budgets annually. It is no surprise that these retaliations are meant to maintain their crude militarism mentality, making police reform considerably more difficult.

Police desire for militarization alone burns the “few bad apples” argument. Needing such equipment implies that they expect to engage criminals in military style combat and utilize intimidation tactics similar to those of a gang. This goes to show that law enforcement views the members of the community that they are supposedly meant to protect as the enemy. While there are indeed individuals out there that are capable of professionalism, decency and upholding justice, the police actively retaliate against these types of officers. These actions continue to delegitimize law enforcement as they maintain their position using tactics they condemn from criminal entities.

The police are a primary component of a system that propagates institutionalized racism and class inequality, and they’re using criminal tactics to do it. Unless officers hold respectable morals, are de-militarized and held accountable, police academies and departments persist as breeding grounds for government-backed hoodlums.

THE RECENT COURTHOUSE POLICE STUNT HIGHLIGHTS A SEVERE DIFFICULTY IN THE REFORMATION OF THE AMERICAN JUSTICE SYSTEM AS QUALIFIED IMMUNITY HELPS THEM GET AWAY WITH SUCH ACTIONS.

COURTESY OF ADAM SCOTTI VIA FLICKR UNDER CC BY-NC-SA

MOISES BAUTISTA / THE HIGHLANDER

Features

The good stuff coming to you in November…

YSABEL NAKASONE Assistant Opinions Editor

THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

Libra: Queen of Swords

It’s going to be an independent queen November for you, Libra. You will be a place where you are ready to set clear boundaries and you won’t stand for beating around the bush. You won’t be responding to ambiguous texts or staring at your phone waiting for that special someone to call. You’re taking charge in November and people need to either jump on the train or get off the tracks.

Scorpio: Knight of Wands

The fire pictured on this card indicates passion and energy. November could be a month filled with new ideas and vitality as well as a shift in your love life. You will be feeling a lot of enthusiasm and drive, drawing others in.

Sagittarius: The Lovers

November will be a part of a major shift in your love life. This is a month of realization as you discover someone close to you has had feelings all along. You may even feel encouraged to explore this connection.

Capricorn: Two of Cups

You’re entering a very important partnership in November. It is one that will give you knowledge that will be essential in pursuing your long term goals. Pay attention to details because the wisdom you’re gaining will not be obviously discerned.

Aquarius: Ace of Pentacles

Manifest everything, Aquarius. You will be so attuned to your surroundings in November that you will be exuding enough confidence and spirit to manifest good things for yourself. This is a rare time where you have stronger control over the course of events. There is so much potential surrounding you now, you just have to determine your main desires.

Pisces: The Page of Swords

You will be feeling very curious in November as you dive deep into things you maybe haven’t thought so much about lately. These investigative tendencies will guide you towards new ways to communicate, strengthening relationships with partners, friends, and family. Ask the hard questions this month because they will lead to satisfying answers.

Aries: The Hanged Man

Aries, this November bodes well for you as the Hanged Man indicates that you can look forward to rest and relaxation. There will be chances to pause and take a beat. Take advantage of the opportunity to let go.

Taurus: The Emperor

Look forward to a looming leadership opportunity. You have been preparing and feel confident in your ability to execute your goals. Keep an eye out for those around you and recognize that you are having a growing, positive impact on those around you as your influence broadens.

Gemini: The World

November marks a large and long-awaited success for you, Gemini. This might be months or years in the making and it’s especially satisfying because you succeeded despite the discouragement of those around you. You have exceeded anyone’s expectations in this, the final chapter of this journey.

Cancer: Death

A chapter of your life has ended and November will be a month of exploration and surprises. Your successes have been celebrated and you will find the drive to dive into something new whether it’s an effort towards professional success, academic achievement, or personal goals. This is a sweet spot of time where a lot of great opportunities are being laid out in front of you.

Leo: Eight of Pentacles

November is going to be a learning period for you, Leo. As you work within a specific area of your life, whether it is in classes or in relationships, you will learn new things and master different aspects of your life. As you continue to apply yourself, others will notice and remember.

Virgo: Six of Pentacles

Your near future appears to be full of abundance. This could mean material wealth or perhaps the strengthening of a romantic relationship. You will build on existing foundations and be able to share your wealth of money, love, and any number of positive things with others as well. This will also help build bridges with others so they might be generous with you as well one day.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

GRACE SUN / THE HIGHLANDER

More than spoken word

DIVYA BHARADWAJ Contributing Writer

Candles, vines and a microphone. These three items created the calm atmosphere for ASPB’s More than Spoken Word, an open mic poetry event hosted at the HUB. As guests entered the venue, they were greeted and directed towards the marketing table, then a dessert table. After everyone found their seats, the program started with the open mic portion of the schedule. The first performer of the night was Thristine Magallanes, a fourth year creative writing major. This was his first time sharing his poetry for an audience.

“I’ve been wanting to perform open mic for a while just to put myself out there and explore spoken word,” Magallanes said. He enjoys expressing himself and being relatable through poetry.

“I like writing about the way I feel and making people relate to what I write,” he said. Magallanes has been writing poetry for three years now, after being motivated in one of his classes.

“Learning how to get my emotions and my feelings out there was just what kept me going,” the senior said. “I found it therapeutic.”

Four students, including Magallanes, presented their poems, and then the program moved on to feature The Verbal Coliseum, a club that shares their passion for poetry through events hosted throughout the year.

Lauren Marquez, the president of The Verbal Coliseum performed three poems. She gets inspiration from events like More than Spoken Word, her schoolwork and political issues. “As a poet, I’m very open minded to a lot of different art forms and that’s where I get my inspiration from,” said Marquez, a

fourth year media and cultural studies major.

She said it took practice and motivation from peers to be able to stand in front of an audience and share her poems with everyone, and how she’s been able to gain support from poets who participate in The Verbal Coliseum’s events.

Once The Verbal Coliseum finished their performance, which included three poets, the audience got to hear from Poetic Moment, an award winning poet from Los Angeles. While she attended UCR, she started open mic nights, and is grateful to see how much progress this has made over the past 10 years.

“It’s been emotional to see how this event has changed over time because when it first started it was me and a couple of people performing at the barn,” she said. “So to see it evolve and have this many people in attendance makes me proud.” Her poems are inspired by her students and the work she does within education.

“I always take whatever I’m getting an education in and use that as a way to advocate for those students who I know who are undocumented, or undervalued and come from low socioeconomic statuses,” Poetic Moment said. “My focus has always been to take their stories and highlight them to the best way that I know how and give them additional voice.

After her inspiring performance, The Melrose Poetry Bureau engaged with the audience in an interactive poetry competition involving typewriters. They asked audience members to provide random phrases and words to use in their poetry, which they would write on the spot. ■ H

Features Fiction: Cynthia’s whispers

SENNA OMAR Assistant Features Editor

OVERCOME FEARS OR CONFUSED DELUSIONS?

It t’was Halloween night, and as we slowly crept toward the manor, the fear in our heart grew louder. The roar of Cynthia’s taunts rang deep in our mind; you see, earlier that day, she claimed to have made the tremendous trek up horror hill and felt we were “too pansy” to partici pate. We continued the climb, and with every step, regret encapsulated our body.

Top of the hill, we’re at the top of the hill; our heart pumping, blood rushing, and veins pumping with adrena line. That’s it, isn’t it? All Cynthia said was that we had to… “pansy.” Her words rang clear.

GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT OF OUR HEAD“Knock,” “Knock,” “Knock.”

The door slowly creeps open, but there’s no one there to greet us. Cold, all we feel is cold; do we go in, should we leave? Staring at the dark, barren, unwelcoming hallway we entered, Cynthia’s disgusting words fueled my bravery.

BANG

Fear…blood running cold through our veins. The doors closed… it’s closed; who closed the door? Cynthia, this is all Cynthia’s fault if we just… were trapped, the door closed on its own. Never did it once occur to us to try and open the door, but it probably would not have made a difference anyway.

Okay, okay… time to get our bearings; this place is cold and quiet… Let’s look around. Split up? Horror movie 101, never split up we shall travel together. The manor is so silent. The temperature seemed to drop with every step we made down the enormous entryway.

Couches…let’s sit. The adrenaline pumping through our system masked the toll of the monumental journey up to the manor. Soft, the couch feels soft; we sunk in. Cynthia rang silent, her cries of slander slipping away. Slumber, slumber on the soft couch; all we crave is sleep… Goodnight Cynthia.

Bright lights hang over our head interrupting the sweet slumber brought about by the cold, soft, sofa of the manor. Confused, we feel confused. “Where are we? Where am I?” Trapped, were trapped; our arms clasped, our legs shackled.

We’re cold; this place is cold and scary just like the manor, but it’s not dark… if only it were dark, our eyes don’t take kindly to light.

A figure smudges into our eyeline, his head blocks the blaring lights, and our vision slowly comes back into focus.

“You gave us quite the scare there Cynthia, staying out of the ward all night like that!” His words wringing incoherently in our mind…

STUDENT POETS PARTICIPATE IN A NIGHT FEATURING OPEN MICS AND SPECIAL GUESTS.

What is he talking about? Cynthia’s not here! Where is Cynthia? Did she do this to us? “Everything is going to be okay now, Cynthia,” whispered the man, who only seemed like a figure again.

He had already injected something tingley into our veins, and we watched his sly smirk slither away sending us straight into slumber.

Goodnight… ■ H

COURTESY OF PEXELS

GRACE

Looking for a place around Riverside to go Trick-orTreating? Here are 5 events happening in town!

ASHLEY CHEN Features Editor

With Halloween being on a Monday this year, many of us are unable to go home to spend time with our family and friends due to upcoming midterms. Even though Halloween is on a weekday, take the night off from studying and go trick-ortreating with your friends! Here are just a few of the many events to take your friends trick-or-treating.

Mission Inn Hotel and Spa

Located in the heart of Downtown Riverside, the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa is one of the most popular places to visit during the holidays! Not only is the Mission Inn the best place to get your candy, you can also have a nice dinner with your friends. The Mission Inn also has cute picture spots for you and your friends to post on Instagram!

Bryant Park

Located at Bryant Park, 7950 Philbin Ave. Riverside, CA 92503, the city of Riverside is holding a Halloween carnival for people of all ages to visit. The event will be held on October 31st from 5-8 P.M. They will also have special trick-ortreat stations, inflatables, snacks, carnival games, Halloween themed activities and many more! Admission is free, however, some booths may charge a fee. For more information, visit https://riversideca.gov/calendar/event/city-riverside-halloweenhappenings-3.

City of Grand Terrace

5 EVENTS TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TRICK-OR-TREATING AROUND RIVERSIDE.

The city of Grand Terrace is holding a family-friendly trick-or-treating event at the Walgreens back parking lot on the corner of Barton Rd & Mt. Vernon Ave. The event will be held from 5-7 P.M. There will also be a car decorating contest and the audience will be the judge! If you would like to decorate your cars for Halloween, this event is for you. For more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ halloween-trunk-or-treat-tickets-428680072637?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.

RH Trunk or Treat

Join Rock Hill Baptist Church for a night filled with trick-or-treating events with your friends and family! Located at Rancho Cucamonga, Rock Hill Church is holding a community event on Halloween. This event will be held on October 31st from 6-8 P.M. They will be serving snacks and apple cider for all attendees. They will also be holding a decorating car contest and a costume contest for those interested. For more information, visit rh-trunk-or-treat-tickets-425290213477.

16th Annual Trunk or Treat

Join Rock of the Foothills Church for their annual trunk or treat event! Located in the city of La Verne, Rock of the Foothills Church will have live music, games, prizes, trunks and tons of candy for attendees of all ages. This event will take place on October 31st from 5:30-8 P.M. For more information, visit https://www. eventbrite.com/e/16th-annual-trunk-or-treat-tickets-439177510757?aff=ebdssbdests earch.

Quick and easy Halloween treats

ASHLEY CHEN Features Editor

Ghost Pretzels

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Serving size: 20

Ingredients:

One bag of Pretzels sticks

One bag of white chocolate chips

One cup of dark chocolate chips

Directions:

Take the bag of pretzel sticks and spread the pretzel sticks on a pan with parchment paper. Make sure none of them are broken.

Melt one bag of white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds. Stir to prevent it from burning. Melt the bag of dark chocolate chips in a separate microwave safe bowl for one minute. Stir to prevent it from burning.

Take your pretzel sticks and dip it in the melted white chocolate chip bowl half way through. Let them cool in the fridge for 15 minutes.

After they are cooled, take a toothpick and dip it in the melted dark chocolate chip bowl. Add two dots on the dipped white chocolate side of the pretzel to make two eyes. Dip the toothpick in the melted dark chocolate chip bowl again if needed and make a mouth of the ghost. Enjoy your ghost pretzels!

Dirt cups

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Serving size: 5

Ingredients:

One pack of chocolate pudding

One bag of crushed Oreos

One bag of gummy worms

Directions:

Take a small glass cup and fill it with ¼ of chocolate pudding. Take a small handful of crushed oreos and lay it on top of your chocolate pudding. Add 3 gummy worms. Repeat this process until you fill the cup to the top. You can also add a candy skeleton hand to make it scary!

THROWING A HALLOWEEN PARTY?

HERE ARE A FEW EASY RECIPES THAT WILL SPOOK YOUR GUESTS.

Cake Pop Eyeballs

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Serving size: 10

Ingredients:

Crumbled chocolate cake

One cup of chocolate icing

One bag of white chocolate chips

One bag of dark chocolate chips

Directions:

Take your crumbled chocolate cake and add one cup of chocolate icing to the bowl. Mix until the crumbled cake is completely mixed with the icing. Take a scoop of the mixture and roll it into a ball. Lay the balls on a sheet of parchment paper and let it chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.

Melt one bag of white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds. Stir to prevent it from burning. Melt the bag of dark chocolate chips in a separate microwave safe bowl for one minute. Stir to prevent it from burning.

Take out your chilled chocolate cake balls from the fridge and dip them in the melted white chocolate chip bowl. Make sure to completely cover the chocolate cake ball with melted white chocolate. Use a spoon to help cover it if needed. Once it’s completely covered, place it back on the parchment paper and let it cool in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Once the chocolate covered balls are cooled, take a toothpick and dip it in the melted dark chocolate chip bowl. Make a circle in the center of the ball to make an eyeball. Enjoy your Cake pop eyeballs!

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COURTESY OF PEXELS

Top 5 Halloween TV specials to watch for the best spooky vibes

KIMBERLY BEJEC Staff Writer

With Halloween quickly coming up, you may fi nd yourself wanting to get into a frightening mood. During the Halloween season, plenty of TV shows come out with a special episode that is tailored to the spooky holiday. Many different Halloween specials can either fi ll you with laughter or give you a scare. Here are some Halloween TV specials to binge-watch for a little trick and a lot of treats.

“Brooklyn 99” Season 1 Episode 6 “Halloween”

In this comedic sitcom, based in a New York City fictional 99th precinct, the squad of detectives and their captain go through their everyday lives on the job. The show’s Halloween episodes follow an intriguing tradition that keeps the audience entertained and guessing. The Halloween Heist is the precinct’s tradition in which the officers play a game in which one of them has to retrieve an object by midnight to determine the winner as the “greatest human/genius.” Each Halloween episode is fi lled with Halloween fun and comedic moments as the squad shows the competitive side of themselves. The best of these Halloween specials is season one’s “Halloween.” “Halloween” marks the beginning of the tradition, setting the intensity and excitement for future Halloween episodes. Honorable Halloween heist episodes include season three’s “Halloween, Part III” and season five’s “HalloVeen.” The show is currently available to stream on Hulu.

“Bob’s Burgers” Season 6 Episode 3 “The Hauntening”

“Bob’s Burgers” is an animated series that is no stranger to Halloween specials. With an array of Halloween specials to choose from, season six’s “The Hauntening” is among one the best specials from the show. “Bob’s Burgers” is about a third-generation burger joint owner, Bob, his wife Linda, and three children, Tina, Gene and Louise. In the episode, it is Halloween and Louise complains about never having been scared, as the scares are “too predictable.” To get Louise scared, Bob and Linda set up a haunted house for their children. The episode has all of the typical themes of the show such as family values, puns and running gags, while also highlighting a frightening tone. The show is available to stream on Hulu.

“Suite Life of Zack and Cody” Season 1 Episode 19 “Ghost of 613”

There are plenty of 2000s Disney Channel shows that have memorable

Halloween episodes. However, “Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” a show about preteen twins, Zack and Cody, living and creating chaos in the fictional Tipton Hotel, takes the cake. Their Halloween special in season one, “Ghost of 613,” is both frightening and comedic. The twins along with their friends at the hotel hear about a suite that is rumored to be haunted by ghosts. The crew decides to investigate the suite and along the way, they learn about the story behind the room and experience strange things. The show is currently available to stream on Disney+.

“Stranger Things” Season 2 Episode 2 “Chapter Two: Trick or Treat”

Netfl ix’s “Stranger Things” is a series that is worthy enough in it to be watched for the spooky season. However, season two’s “Chapter Two: Trick or Treat, Freak” highlights the holiday itself while maintaining the theme of the show. The episode focuses on the rare moments of childhood for the boys, Mike, Will, Dustin and Lucas, as they dress up and trickor-treat for Halloween. Although the audience sees the boys living their childhood, they realize that since the events of the last season with the Demogorgon, they are growing up and things are changing. They cannot seem to escape the aftermath effects of the last season after having their lives and the world around them changing. The show is currently available to stream on Netfl ix.

“Boy Meets World” Season 5 Episode 17 “And Then There Was Shawn”

“Boy Meets World” is a coming-of-age sitcom as the main character, Cory Matthews, goes through his life from childhood to adulthood alongside his romantic interest Topanga and best friend Shawn. The show is fi lled with humor and deals with themes of family, love and identity. Although this particular episode was not aired during the Halloween season, it still presents a thrilling atmosphere that is perfect for audiences to enjoy at this time of year. Struggling to deal with his close friends’ breakup, Shawn’s actions get him and his friends stuck in detention. The rest of the episode follows a slasher parody, bringing both comedic and horror fi lm elements that are sure to captivate the audience’s attention. Besides the comedic and horror elements, the episode also reaches a deeper meaning for Shawn’s character, adding to the brilliance of the episode. The show is currently available to stream on Disney+.

■ H

2022 noteworthy horror films

HERE IS A LIST OF HORROR MOVIES RELEASED THIS YEAR THAT SHOULD BE ON EVERY HALLOWEEN WATCHLIST.

The releases of horror movies have enabled fans of the genre this Halloween to refresh their movie lists with compelling new additions to their yearly rewatchable classics. Here is a list of movies for veteran horror fans and those new to the genre:

“X” & “Pearl”

This first selection in this list is a double feature. “X” and “Pearl,” both films directed and written by Ti West with Mia Goth as a writer on “Pearl,” are perhaps this year’s favorite slashers. Both films give different tones of horror while giving something new for audiences to enjoy with the outstanding performances of Mia Goth. “X,” released in March, follows a group of filmmakers looking to make an adult film at a remote farm but are terrorized by the owners of the property. “Pearl,” the prequel to “X” released in September, is a more grounded horror movie with less gore and kills than “X,” however it is a character dissection about Pearl’s antagonism in “X.” The movies have gone on to do so well that the crew has started filming the sequel to “X” and the third film in the franchise, “MaXXXine,” and would not be surprising if the movie is released in the next couple of months.

“Barbarian”

A practice used on occasions by movie-goers is to watch a film with no previous knowledge of the plot or having seen a single teaser or trailer. “Barbarian” is a movie that begs to be seen as such when experiencing it for the first time. The premise is about Tess and Keith,

SEBASTIAN BUSTAMANTE CEJA Contributing Writer

played by Georgina Campbell and Bill Skarsgård, who are double-booked by a rental agency and find themselves sharing a house that contains a dark and disturbing history. Some best horror movies instill fear into our daily lives, and this movie will do just that about rental homes.

“Doctor Strange”

Yes, a Marvel movie is on this list. While a weak point of Marvel’s Phase Four is the lack of direction combined with the many conspiracy theories and rumors created by fans, Sam Raimi focuses on simply delivering a standalone horror superhero movie – and succeeds.

“Multiverse of Madness” has all you need: Zombie Doctor Strange, monsters, unhinged Wanda, fan-service casting, superhero gore and iconic lines that pull on the heartstrings.

“Nope”

While Jordan Peele’s movie did not receive the praise it deserves, Nope is on its way to becoming a cult classic to be watched every year in the nights leading up to Halloween. The afrofuturistic western horror movie does lack “scary moments” but does that by instead spotlighting the exploitation of animals in mainstream entertainment while delivering a new take on “UAPs.”

This movie will get your blood pumping however it will do so with mystery and thrilling moments that can ease anyone into the horror genre.

“Smile”

There is already a great selection of movies with the

protagonists escaping a curse. “Smile” deserves a spot in that selection and on Halloween movies to binge.

While the film does not add much new to the genre of curse horror movies, it is an entertaining watch to see a mental health specialist struggle with a “trauma demon.”

The movie is a balance of jumpscare and some creepy moments that don’t lose value watching it for a second time.

SOME TV SPECIALS TO TREAT YOURSELF TO THIS HALLOWEEN SEASON FOR SOME HORRORS AND LAUGHS.

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

ILLUSTRATION BY MOISES BAUTISTA

Spooky Vibes: a Halloween playlist

CHLOE FARQUHAR Contributing Writer

It is that time of year again: spooky season. It is the time for scary movies, creepy costumes and horror-filled fun. With Halloween just a few days away, it’s time to prepare for the celebration. And, what’s a celebration without music? Whether you’ll be attending a Halloween party, doing some pumpkin carving or even spending the Monday studying, here are a few tracks that’ll make your night a little more living and a little less dead.

“Friday the 13th” by White Reaper

This White Reaper track is the perfect way to kick off your Halloween. Its spooky synthesizer and garage band guitar will make you want to move. With lyrics about a relationship gone sour on Friday the 13th, listening to the song is almost like watching a mysterious horror film. The track leaves you wondering what wicked things are next for this troubled couple.

“Serafina” by Bambara

In this song, Bambara paints a picture of a girl dancing around a fire in a mischievous way, charming those around her to join her in her acts of arson. The dark and effortless vocals make you feel as if you’re listening to a scary story around the campfire — or performing sacrificial rituals, if that’s your vibe.

“London Dungeon” by Misfits

What’s Halloween without the Misfits? “London Dungeon” draws you in with a percussion intro, followed by a dark, rhythmic bass line and eerie guitar effects. Some see Halloween as a time when the “freaks” come out, but this horror-punk band embraces the sides of themselves that may seem strange to others. This track is proof of that, and it will have everyone wanting to dance with the living dead.

“Pet Sematary” by The Ramones

The party continues with “Pet Sematary.” The song is the epitome of Halloween. Written for the movie based on Stephen King’s novel, the lyrics are about walking around a magical cemetery, in which the buried come back to life. However, the singer expresses that he doesn’t want to be buried here since he does not want a replay of his terrible experience. Despite the dreary lyrics, this is a song you can bop your head to this Halloween.

10 ROCK SONGS THAT’LL POSSESS YOU WITH THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT.

“Possessed” by Suicidal Tendencies

The title of this song from the hardcore and thrash band says it all. “Possessed” is about being controlled by some unknown, outside force, whether it be spirits, voices in your head or even the opinions of others drowning out your thoughts. Mosh with the monsters to this fast-paced track.

“The Staircase (Mystery)” by Siouxsie and the Banshees

“The Staircase (Mystery)” sets the scene of a house that’s upside down with spinning staircases. The echoing guitar riffs and the haunting notes will make you feel like you’re walking through a haunted house that you can never escape. Siouxsie’s ghoulish vocals towards the end close out the song in the most chilling way.

“Gravediggin’” by The Buttertones

Take a swim with the “Creature from the Black Lagoon” in the surf rock song “Gravediggin.’” This song from The Buttertones is an excellent addition to your Halloween festivities. With its surf rock guitar sounds and screamin’ sax, this song will get you moving. The smooth, deep vocals bring darkness while the fast tempo brings the dance.

“Lucifer Sam” by Pink Floyd

Starting with surf rock-inspired guitar and ominous notes from the organ, “Lucifer Sam” enchants you. With lyrics about a devilish cat and a witch, this song is perfect for the season. Filled with mysterious sounds, this psychedelic tune will take you on a trip with the creepy creatures of the night.

“Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads

This catchy track from the band Talking Heads takes you into the mind of a “Psycho Killer.” It begins with a simple bass line and some kicks of the bass drum, then it picks up with light guitar chords. The rhythm of the guitar brings out the feelings of anxiety and tension that the killer is feeling, as depicted through the lyrics. Recently used in an episode of “Stranger Things 4,” this song is a staple this Halloween.

“Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)” by David Bowie

Last but not least, “Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)” by the legendary David Bowie is a must-listen this spooky season. The wailing guitar and clanking percussion create a chaotic sound most pleasingly. The haunting vocal harmonies during the chorus make Bowie sound like the monsters he’s singing about, but what’s even scarier than this song is not having it in your Halloween playlist this year. ■ H

Curl up with a good book this spooky season

EVELYN HOMAN Managing Editor

THERE IS NO BETTER TIME OF YEAR TO PICK UP AN EERIE BOOK - HERE ARE SOME TO HELP YOU MAKE YOUR TBR A LITTLE MORE MACABRE.

Halloween, and fall in general, is the perfect time of year to pick up some frightening books to really help you get into the holiday spirit. Here are a handful you can devour alongside your Halloween candy this year.

“Dracula” by Bram Stoker

It’s hard to beat the classics, and this one needs no introduction. Stoker’s classic vampire tale centers around the pinnacle of horror icons, Count Dracula, and features gothic and horror elements that made the book as famous when it was published as it is now. However, if you’ve been keeping up with Drac’s antics in the form of Dracula Daily, might I recommend:

“Carmilla” by Sheridan Le Fanu

The vampire story that predates “Dracula,” this one also features a lesbian love story at its center. The titular vampiress begins to appear to protagonist Laura following a carriage accident, and the two’s relationship intensifies until its frightening climax. If you loved “Dracula” or would prefer a vampire story that centers women instead, this would be a great choice.

“Lobizona” by Romina Garber

Taking the werewolf trope that we have all come to know, Garber weaves a story about Manu, an Argentine immigrant living illegally in America. Based heavily on Garber’s native Argentine folklore, this book looks at the real-world horror of what undocumented immigrants face in America while also adding a supernatural twist.

“The Vegetarian” by Han Kang

For those who like body horror, Kang’s novella in three parts delivers a story of a woman who rejects the standards of her culture and family by refusing to eat meat. Her nightmares that drive her towards this decision make brief glimpses across the page and help form a story that is equal parts cerebral and terrifying.

“American Psycho” by Bret Easton Ellis

For just about every type of horror you can imagine — there is the very popular “American Psycho.” Well known now for Christian Bale’s horrifying portrayal of the axe-wielding, Huey Lewis-loving Patrick Bateman, this book I recommend with just about every trigger warning you can imagine. If you can handle the amount of gore and horror on these pages, you’re also in for a treat that satirizes capitalism. Bonus points if you have “Hip To Be Square” as a backing soundtrack to your reading experience.

COURTESY OF PEXELS ■ H

Radar Replay: This Halloween, let the “The Witches” be at the top of your watchlist

RAMITA SETTY Contributing Writer

Perhaps Christmas is the season when you prefer cozying up with your loved ones more and watching a feel-good classic holiday movie. At Halloween, you want to be out at a party or trick-ortreating for candy; not at home watching movies as a Halloween activity. But Halloween is not without its own collection of bizarre, schlocky and silly cult classics, with one of them being “The Witches” (1990).

Growing up, I was obsessed with Roald Dahl’s books. They were just the right mix of mystical, wondrous and kooky, and they transported me to worlds much more preferable to a lonely nine-yearold girl than the one I lived in. One of my favorite books was “The Witches.” A whimsical and yet eerie story about a boy turned into a mouse tasked with stopping all of the witches of England had just the right mix of action, comedy and heart. It wasn’t until I grew older that I could appreciate just how horrifying some parts of the story were — such as the revelation that the boy and his grandma will die together being treated rather cheerfully — but nonetheless, it remained a staple of my childhood.

It wasn’t long until I discovered the movie adaptation. Most Hollywood adaptations tend to be hit-or-miss, but to my delight, this one managed to hit all of the right spots. It managed to capture all of Dahl’s odd flourishes and embellishments, complete with the tacky-looking witches and —

there is no other way to say this — earnestly British dialogue. You don’t know if laughing or gasping at Angelica Houston’s bizarre transformation is the right call, and the rest of the movie leaves you feeling a similar way. “The Witches” takes a story with horror elements, but is true to Dahl’s story, embeds adventure and family fun into it, creating a quirky Halloween classic. It’s more cheesy and silly than scary, and the movie knows that. It never tries to take itself more seriously than that. Dahl criticized the movie for deviating from the ending of the story he wrote, but I think it’s in line with the tone that “The Witches” established, which is much more lighthearted.

But that doesn’t mean that “The Witches” doesn’t deserve a place in the Halloween mythos. It is more of a family movie and does mix goofiness and horror together in a way only a skilled author like Dahl could have. Sure, maybe some people could argue that Halloween is strictly a spooky holiday, but there’s no denying that Halloween, in many ways, is a pretty goofy holiday as well. Carving scary faces onto pumpkins? Dressing up in tacky costumes to beg candies from strangers? “The Witches” fits right into the heart of a holiday that is a strange mix of ghastly and dopey. So this Halloween, consider gathering all of your friends together and giving this peculiarly delightful holiday cult classic a try.

THIS ANGELICA HOUSTON FAMILY-FUN HORROR DESERVES ITS PLACE IN THE HALLOWEEN MYTHOS.

COURTESY OF STREAMCUT

GRACE

HIGHLANDER

UC Riverside women’s soccer loses to Hawaii 1-2

HANSEL CHU Sports Editor

The UC Riverside women’s soccer team lost to Hawaii 1-2 Thursday night in Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium in Hawaii. Going into this game, the Highlanders suffered two consecutive losses where they lost by one goal. UCR had control for most of this game before they were unable to hold onto the lead in the final minutes, leading to a shocking loss.

UC Riverside came out with intensity in the first period as they caught Hawaii on their heels by attacking early. Within the first 15 seconds, redshirt junior midfielder Alexandra Hargrave took a shot toward the goal but was unable to score. This set the tone for the Highlanders in the early minutes as UCR was in scoring position in the first ten minutes of the game. Hawaii attempted a shot toward the goal at the 4:37 mark but was unable to score. This caused some frustration as Hawaii forward Krista Peterson was called for a yellow card. Peterson tried an attempt to score soon after but was unsuccessful. UCR went back onto the offensive as redshirt senior forward Natza Marin tried her shot at the goal but missed. The game stalled for a few minutes as both teams settled down in the game, trying to figure out how to get better looks to score. After an offside penalty on UC Riverside, Hargrave came down the field and kicked the ball to redshirt junior forward Kameron Henry, who was able to get a clean look at the goal and score, putting UC Riverside up 1-0. A few seconds later, Henry came down the field once again and took another shot at the goal but this time, she was unable to connect on the score as the ball sailed over the goal. Hawaii tried their best to score but the Highlander defense made it difficult for the Rainbow Wahine to get clean looks at the goal. As the first period reached the 45:00 mark, Hawaii put a lot of pressure on the UCR defense as they were on the offensive and took multiple shots at the goal but were unable to connect.

Tempers started to flare in the second period as Hawaii relentlessly attacked the goal, putting the Highlanders on their heels which resulted in multiple fouls being called. A yellow card was assessed to freshman defender Emma Gonalez as she slid into the defender trying to prevent a score. Another foul was assessed to sophomore defender Kelsey Musolf as she was trying to battle for the ball. UC Riverside was able to hold their ground as they were able to prevent a score despite multiple scoring chances from Hawaii. Frustration ensued for

the Rainbow Wahine as defender Zoe Park was given a yellow card trying to get the ball. More goals were attempted by Hawaii but the redshirt junior goalkeeper Caela Kaio continued to make plays and saved the goal on multiple occasions. At the 65:20 mark, Marin was called for a yellow flag as she collided with one of the Hawaii players, which was the second yellow card called on UCR in the second period.

Past the halfway point in the second period, the UC Riverside defense looked like they were able to toughen out the win. However, fatigue started to settle in and the Rainbow Wahine was able to break through. After a saved goal from Hawaii’s Lauren Marquez, they took that opportunity to race down the field and score. After a missed shot from forward Taylor Caporus, Caporus was able to track down the ball and kick it to midfielder Bailey Faulkner, who was able to capitalize and score, tying the game at 1-1 at the 71:41 mark. Minutes later, Marquez was able to get another save and Hawaii was able to get the ball down the field. Hawaii forward Amber Gilbert had possession of the soccer ball and was able to slice through the UCR defense and score the goal to put Hawaii up 1-2 at the 79:35 mark. Things started to get chippy between both teams as yellow cards and fouls started to pile up down the stretch. After kicking the ball away after the whistle, Peterson was given her second yellow card of the game which resulted in her being ejected from the game. Seconds later, redshirt senior forward Lenya Wood collided with the goalie, Kaio, was assessed a yellow card. Despite all the fouls, the Highlanders had multiple chances at the end to score but were unable to connect. With 30 seconds left in the game, UC Riverside went on the offensive but they were unable to securely get the ball and kick it toward the goal. With five seconds remaining, a collision between both teams went uncalled and time expired, giving Hawaii the win 2-1.

Henry had the only goal for the Highlanders this game while attempting two shots toward the goal. Hargrave had the assist to Henry for the gal but was unable to connect any of her four shots.

The Highlanders drop to 2-7-7 (0-5-3) and will play their last game of the season against Cal State Northridge at home on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 P.M.

LATE-MINUTE SCORE FROM HAWAII SENDS THE HIGHLANDERS TO ITS THIRD STRAIGHT LOSS.

COURTESY OF UCR SPORTS

Scariest athletes of all-time

KIA NOOSHI Contributing Writer

Being a sports fan can elicit an array of emotions – joy, excitement, anxiety, sadness – but the one I’ve always found the most surprising is fear. The criteria of what makes an athlete scary are very subjective but there are some athletes who transcend all criteria and are renowned for the fear they strike in their opponents. There are many factors that play into what evokes fear in an opponent from size and strength to intelligence or in-game antics. In honor of Halloween, here are some of the athletes (in no particular order) who are most widely feared by opponents and what makes them so scary.

Lawrence Taylor

If the first scene of The Blind Side was not enough to convince you as to why Lawrence Taylor was so incredibly feared, then his accolades will surely do the trick. Three time Defensive Player of the Year and the only player to have won that award in his rookie season. One of two and so far the last defensive player to have won NFL MVP, he is widely regarded as the best defensive player ever to play in the NFL.

Barry Bonds

The greatest hitter in baseball history Barry Bonds holds both the record for most home runs and intentional walks in a career. Bonds, in fact, has intentionally walked more than double the amount as the next most walked player (Albert Pujols). Every time he walked to the plate, opponents knew there was a chance he would hit the ball out of the park. That level of fear in his opponents is one of the reasons why Bonds won 7 NL MVP awards in his career.

Mike Tyson

Being 5′10″ and one of the hardest hitting, most dominant boxers in a heavyweight division filled by man mountains in itself would strike fear in opponents. “Iron” Mike Tyson’s antics in and out of the rink added to his fear factor. Famously, Tyson bit off a portion of Evander Holyfield’s ear in one of their famous bouts. The youngest boxer to ever win a heavyweight title, Tyson is still revered as one of the scariest boxers of all time.

Michael Jordan

The Last Dance documentary gave great insight into MJ’s mentality and why he was feared as soon as he stepped onto the court. It seemed as though Jordan took everything personally and used it to drive himself to be a better player. An uber-

competitive person, Jordan is rumored to have once cheated in order to win a card game against an elderly woman, and this desire to win along with his incredible skills on the hardwood make MJ among the most storied and feared athletes among those who played against him.

Lionel Messi

The little magician is arguably soccer’s greatest ever player and no doubt among the naturally gifted athletes of all time. His goal scoring and playmaking ability are among the best if not the best that we have ever seen and any side with Messi in it has a massive advantage over the opponent. Messi’s averages more than a goal contribution every game throughout his career meaning that teams featuring the little magician are statistically bound to score at least once per game which is incredible given how tight the margins in soccer often are.

Kobe Bryant

The athlete most revered for his mentality, the “Black Mamba” was one of if not the most feared star in the NBA for more than a decade. Talk to any player who played alongside Kobe and they will tell you their “Kobe” story. One of the most prolific scorers in basketball history, knowing he could go off for huge points on any given night while also playing relentless defense was both terrifying and exhausting for his opponents.

Lewis Hamilton

Most podiums, pole positions, wins, and joint most championships in Formula 1 history. Hamilton utterly dominated the sport of F1 for nearly a decade winning six titles with Mercedes, the most dominant period in the sport since Michael Schumacher. Hamilton, a master of the wet weather race, could race in all conditions and had a knack for being able to pull every last ounce of performance out of his car. His dominance led many of his rivals to wish for his retirement or even retire themselves in Nico Rosberg’s case.■ H

WITH HALLOWEEN APPROACHING, HERE ARE SOME OF THE SCARIEST ATHLETES TO EVER GRACE THE PUBLIC EYE.

COURTESY OF KEITH ALLISON VIA WIKIMEDIACOMMONS UNDER CC BY-SA