Vol. 71, Issue 17

T he h ighlander

Concerns arise as to whether ASUCR will provide funding for student orgs

ABHIJIT REGE News Editor

The Associated Students of UCR’s seventh meeting was called to order by Executive Vice President Myra Usmani on Wednesday, Jan. 25th, 2023 in the ASUCR Senate Chamber at 7:05 P.M. All senators were present, excluding CNAS senator Brenden Cano and BCOE senator Chloe Au as well as senators Andrew Bui and Alex Lu who arrived late. In addition to the senators, members of the Executive Cabinet were present as well.

During the Public Forum, Todd Halvorsen first took the stand to discuss the upcoming New York Times Collaboration for the school. Halvorsen explained through a presentation on behalf of the New York Times that Vice President of Campus Internal Affairs, Jeanine Nassar is at the forefront of this collaboration and expenses will be coming out of the Office of the VPCIA.

Vice President of External Affairs, Amina Hearns gave a statement of frustration on behalf of the VPEA Office, and the lack of support and communication within ASUCR and Senate. Executive President

Mufida Assaf scolded the senate by reminding them that tabling is a part of their by-laws and that tabling efforts by the Senators has been lacking. EVP Usmani must get in contact with the Marketing and Promotions Director Phanxico Hoang to determine who is keeping with their tabling duties.

Most notably at the meeting, concerns were raised regarding ASUCR’s department of finance and funding. Cecilia López Gonzales and Armando Ruiz-Rosas Jr. spoke for the UCR Model United Nations club and expressed how their organization, among others, is experiencing issues with obtaining funding from ASUCR finance. According to Gonzales, funding has become inaccessible to students and expressed that she found officials to have “clear gaps of knowledge on financial funding.” She elaborated that when reaching out to the finance president, she did not receive a response until she was able to sit down with President Assaf. Ruiz-Rosas Jr. voiced that there was a “lack of accountability which has

► SEE ASUCR PAGE 3

Grammy Controversy: Not Black or White

CECILE DIROLL Contributing Writer

Earlier this month, artists gathered to celebrate and recognize music across all genres at the 65th Grammy Awards. With performances from Bad Bunny and Lizzo to a star-studded audience that included Adele, Taylor Swift, H.E.R. and many others. Spirits were high, and everyone was excited — until the winner of the last category was announced.

Beyoncé’s album “Renaissance,” celebrating Black dance music and queer culture, was expected to win Album of the Year by critics and fans. The album had accumulated 179.06 million streams within the first week of its release, the most in Beyoncé’s career. But when the host, Trevor Noah handed the envelope to the Harry Styles fan on stage, saying “You can read it,” it was clear Beyonce had lost the category again. A stunned Harry Styles’ graciously accepted the award and emotionally remarked, “This doesn’t happen to people like me very often,”— poking the Beyhive even more.

Despite winning a record-breaking 32 Grammys, more than any other artist, Beyoncé has yet to win Album of the Year. Her work has been nominated by the Recording Academy in this category for the last four years, each time losing

out to white artists. Jay-Z, Beyoncé’s husband and famous rapper in his own right, commented that her loss was a “missed opportunity” and blamed it as being a “marketing thing” after the show. Even Lizzo, who won Record of the Year for her song “About Damn Time,” the first Black woman to receive the award since Whitney Houston won it back in 1994, felt compelled to acknowledge Beyoncé in her acceptance speech as Adelé did back in 2016 when she beat out Beyoncé in this category.

The Grammy’s latest snub of Beyoncé’s work not only enraged her many fans but served to underscore an open secret — the Recording Academy’s unceasing underrepresentation of Black artists in its four major categories: Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Album of the Year. Because winning a Grammy is considered the “music industry’s highest honor,” the repeated awarding of this coveted acknowledgment to white over Black artists has been roundly criticized by such notable musicians as The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj and Frank Ocean. In 2021, for instance, The Weeknd announced a boycott against the Grammys after his album, “After

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Concerns arise as to whether ASUCR will provide funding for student orgs

The Associated Students of UCR’s seventh meeting was called to order by Executive Vice President Myra Usmani on Wednesday, Jan. 25th, 2023 in the ASUCR Senate Chamber at 7:05 P.M. All senators were present, excluding CNAS senator Brenden Cano and BCOE senator Chloe Au as well as senators Andrew Bui and Alex Lu who arrived late. In addition to the senators, members of the Executive Cabinet were present as well.

During the Public Forum, Todd Halvorsen first took the stand to discuss the upcoming New York Times Collaboration for the school. Halvorsen explained through a presentation on behalf of the New York Times that Vice President of Campus Internal Affairs, Jeanine Nassar is at the forefront of this collaboration and expenses will be coming out of the Office of the VPCIA.

Vice President of External Affairs, Amina Hearns gave a statement of frustration on behalf of the VPEA Office, and the lack of support and communication within ASUCR and Senate. Executive President Mufida Assaf scolded the senate by reminding them that tabling is a part of their by-laws and that tabling efforts by the Senators has been lacking. EVP Usmani must get in contact with the Marketing and Promotions Director Phanxico Hoang to determine who is keeping with their tabling duties.

Most notably at the meeting, concerns were raised regarding ASUCR’s department of finance and funding. Cecilia López Gonzales and Armando Ruiz-Rosas Jr. spoke for the UCR Model United Nations club and expressed how their organization, among others, is experiencing issues with obtaining funding from ASUCR finance. According to Gonzales, funding has become inaccessible to students and expressed that she found officials to have “clear gaps of knowledge on financial funding.” She elaborated that when reaching out to the finance president, she did not receive a response until she was able to sit down with President Assaf. Ruiz-Rosas Jr. voiced that there was a “lack of accountability which has led to misappropriation of valuable time for all individuals involved. She wanted to make it clear that there are three main points to make, that there is a lack of knowledge of funding, barriers to funding and ignorance from the financial department.

Ex-Officio Reports then followed and saw updates from the executive cabinet. President Assaf discussed the recent tailgate that took place, while EVP Usmani gave updates including a piece of scooter legislation that was passed. VP of Finance Christian Martinez, updated that he has allocated $19,000 for general funds and that 3.3k from contingency funds must be used to account for adjusted manufacturing costs with remodeling. VPCIA Nassar gave updates on the Meal swipe donation program provided by the committee of basic needs and the campus safety escort service. VPEA Hearns discussed how she would be meeting with President Drake to discuss Anti-blackness on UC Campuses, Diversity inclusion, as well as ableism in UC Housing. VP of Sustainability Alondra Martinez announced the notable achievement of 9 Green Grants having been passed this year. CNAS Sen. Kyle Cheng spoke on behalf of Marketing and Promotions Director Hoang. EVP Usmani spoke on Transfer Student Director Dionne Shelton’s behalf and provided an update through a presentation while First Time Student Director Victoria Nguyen’s behalf with updates on a Point-2-point shuttle program. Personnel Director Ankita Ahluwalia’s updates included how her branch will help with the upcoming elections and goals such as a Mahsa Amini memorial and a contraceptive Vending Machine Resolution. Elections Director Elizabeth Trinh discussed how she has prepared candidacy packets and worked closely with prostaff for candidates convention. PPT Aalani Richardson is working on multiple projects including reworking the elections code to make sure it aligns with the Constitution, and a Performing Arts referendum. Judicial Updates were given by Associate Justice Armando Ruiz-Rosas where he detailed updating and implementing Judicial Stipends legislation to be passed tonight through the Senate, as well as setting guidelines for himself in order to uphold legitimacy of the Judicial Counsel.

New Businesses primarily saw discourse amongst the senate over two referendums that are proposed to appear on this year’s ballot during elections season. The first is a Performing Arts Referendum that seeks to address the unsustainable funding structure for arts programs. Proposed by PPT Richardson, along with senators Ahman Greene and Ruhi Barman, and Assistant Dean of Arts and Humanities Kiril Tomoff, the referendum proposes the implementation of a Performing Arts Support and Access Fee (PASA fee) that would range from $9.50 to $12.00, which would provide partial offset for students eligible for financial aid by returning 25% of the fee to aid. The referendum would extend support to

music and dance programs and provide free tickets to all fine arts productions, benefiting students and encouraging community engagement through free tickets to productions hosted by the Arts and Humanities department. Assistant Dean Tomoff expressed hope for expanding access to potential opportunities to have productions, both student-run and professional, including premiere dance departments in the US. The referendum aims to provide a rare opportunity for students to showcase their talent and perform in SoCal, where performances are limited. The referendum was initially planned for 2020 but was canceled due to covid. The senate reviewed the proposed referendum which they tabled, which would be implemented over the next five years.

The R’Garden Referendum was presented by Christian Valdez, on behalf of R’Garden and Judy Crawford, director of Basic Needs, with a primary purpose of feeding students. During the meeting, the speakers were questioned about the paid positions and interns they currently have, as well as the availability of information and internships for graduate students. The estimated allocation for R’Garden was discussed, including the core support system from Agricultural Operations, and conferences held at the garden that are open to all students. The financials were a concern, with Basic Needs potentially pulling funding from R’Garden, and the need for continued education credits for interns. The discussion also included the possibility of including representation from GSA or ASUCR in the referendum. The meeting concluded with a motion to table the referendum for the following week to make corrections before submitting it to the ballot.

An ASUCR Statement of Solidarity with Turkey and Syria was presented by President Assaf. To round off the meeting, one piece of legislation was discussed, SB-W23-010 Updating and Implementing Judicial Stipends. According to Vice Chair LRC Barman, it has been pre-approved by Finance. Finance Hearing Minutes #7 were also reviewed. Sen. Hunt inquired on the complications with Model UN attaining funding and Sen. Brandon Huang explained that they came for travel funds, and they do not have that anymore. He recommended other ways they could get funding like fundraising and clarified that it would not be possible to obtain funding from general or contingency funds.

Chief Justice Alexandria Arias reiterated to the Senate during Public Comment to utilize the forms and Judicial Review. Roundtable Announcements included a CHASS and CNAS town hall as well as a reminder of all senior standing students to apply to graduate. The meeting was adjourned at 10:46 P.M.

Louie Rodríguez named New Vice Provost & Dean of Undergraduate Education RODRÍGUEZ AIMS FOR UCR TO BECOME A

Effective April 1, Louie Rodríguez was recently named UC Riverside’s next vice provost and dean of undergraduate education (VPDUE). Rodríguez is a professor in UCR’s School of Education (SOE) and engages in research focused on issues of educational equity, Latino education, and community engagement. Between 2019 and 2022, he served as the school’s interim dean and overall, he has served on the UCR faculty since 2016.

“It’s an honor to serve in this capacity as someone who was born and raised in the Inland Empire. I see my story in the story of so many of UCR’s undergraduate students,” said Rodríguez, “This opportunity will allow me to use my own research, teaching, and leadership, which has centered on student success, to strengthen undergraduate education across the entire campus.”

Rodríguez succeeds Jennifer Brown, who served as VPDUE from 2018 to 2022. In her absence, Associate Provost Ken Baerenklau has served as interim VPDUE since March 2022. Before joining UCR in 2016, Rodríguez was a faculty member at Cal State San Bernardino (CSUSB) and Florida International University. Originally from the Inland Empire, he attended San Bernardino Valley College and CSUSB before completing master’s and doctoral degrees at Harvard University.

UCR provost and executive vice chancellor Elizabeth Watkins expressed her praises to Rodriguez, explaining, “Louie proved to be a dynamic and steadfast leader as interim dean. He strengthened community engagement, enhanced interdisciplinary research, and led a number of student-centered initiatives all during the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward to supporting him as he works across the university community to advance the academic success of all undergraduate students.”

Vice chancellor of student affairs, Brian Haynes, expressed how he looks

MODEL OF EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION.

forward to promoting overall academic success for undergraduate students and enhancing the partnerships between Undergraduate Education and Student Affairs.

“We are excited to welcome Louie Rodríguez into the position of vice provost and dean of undergraduate education because we know that the partnership between undergraduate education and student affairs is so impactful to student success.”

Rodríguez notable achievements as interim dean of the SOE include recruiting 30% of the school’s current faculty, leading to the most diverse education faculty in the UC system. During his tenure, the school raised $3 million dollars, developed five endowed scholarships for students, and created 200 emergency scholarships to help students with basic needs. In addition, Rodríguez championed an Ethnic Studies Pathway as part of the Teacher Education Program and developed two teacher pipeline programs for the region and state. Rodríguez currently holds the Bank of America Endowed Chair in Education Leadership, Policy, and Practice.

Rodríguez hopes for UCR to become a model of excellence in undergraduate education. “One of my goals is to build a clearly defined Undergraduate Education unit on campus that is mission-focused and driven by a set of core priorities that empowers Undergraduate Education staff and leadership, UCR faculty and leadership, and students to promote equity and student success across UCR’s undergraduate population.” ■ H

Climate Change: Air pollution affecting carbon retention in soil

HARU CHANG Assistant News Editor

Peter Hoyak, the assistant professor in UCR’s Department of Environmental Sciences, coauthored a study that suggests nitrogen released industrial pollutants causes dry soil to release carbon into the atmosphere, which contributes to climate change. The researchers expected that the additional nitrogen would increase carbon retention in the soil since plants use nitrogen as a fertilizer and it promotes microbial activity. However, the study found that the responses vary across biomes: especially in certain dryland soil.

Dryland covers around 45% of Earth’s land area and stores around 33% of the global soil organic carbon in the top 1m of soil. The study found that nitrogen fertilization can disproportionately impact carbon retention, however it was unclear if increasing nitrogen increases carbon storage in soils.

In order to understand how nitrogen impacted the carbon storage in soil, the researchers measured the organic carbon in soil by separating plant-derived carbon capture, particulate organic carbon, and microbially derived carbon input. They sampled soil that has been fertilized with nitrogen at four experimental sites near San Diego and Irvine. Although there were varied responses to nitrogen, the level of particulate organic carbon did not increase.

Studies found that the long-term effect of nitrogen fertilization on dryland appeared abiotic, where soils resisting dramatic changes in pH by releasing calcium would risk significant loss of carbon in the soil: contributing to the increase in carbon in the atmosphere where it impacts climate change. ■ H

NEW UC RIVERSIDE STUDY SUGGESTS NITROGEN RELEASED BY INDUSTRIAL POLLUTANTS CAUSES SOILS TO RELEASE CARBON INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Students without legal status deserve equal compensation for their work

Across the United States, those without legal status often face discrimination and unequal opportunities when looking for work due to their resident status. Employers try to negotiate under the table deals or do not give these employees the same salary, benefits or protections due to them not being considered a proper employee. While it is illegal to discriminate against those without legal status, this sentiment stems from the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 that states, an employer must verify the identity and employment eligibility of all employees who are hired after 1986 by completing a verification form while also confirming the employee’s identity and employment authorization. Despite this act, the UC system is being urged to reconsider their position on allowing undocumented students employment opportunities by The Opportunity for All Campaign. This campaign has researched the 1986 Act and has found it does not cover state entities like the UC. By hiding behind the legality of this act, those without legal status are losing out on jobs that would help them further their careers, or just aid them in supporting themselves, and the UC System needs to pave the way in acknowledging this group by offering them employment.

The Opportunity for All Campaign argues that the UC is considered an entity of the state and would not face legal repercussions for allowing students without legal status work opportunities. UC Students who are not legal residents currently have limited jobs that they can hold and are not able to participate in research positions or other jobs that they may be qualified for. The students who do hold jobs through campus are often just considered unpaid interns or are given a stipend at the end of each academic quarter or semester in the form of a scholarship that goes towards tuition. Denying these students the ability to be paid in a weekly or biweekly pay period limits their economic situations and prevents the UC campuses from benefiting from their contributions. While the legal status of someone can cause stress and other problems in their daily lives, employment should not be one of these factors and the UC System has the ability to offer their students this support and security.

According to The New York Times, The UC is the thirdlargest employer in California, and hiring students without legal resident status could provide opportunities for nearly 45,000 California students. This economic aid with the support of a

large entity like the UC would send a message to California, along with other states and universities, that those without legal status deserve to be here and have equal opportunities. Opposers to allowing undocumented students work opportunities might not want to support this group for biased reasons or may worry about any repercussions the UC System would face for going against the 1986 Act. These opponents, however, are wrong and possess a limited world scope that lacks empathy for those who are also just trying to survive and create a substantial life in the US. The UCs often pride themselves on their diversity and how they are a safe space for undocumented peoples by providing sanctuary, but are failing to fully support their communities by not agreeing to offer this group full employment.

With DACA status’ left up in the air following a lack of initiative from the Biden Administration to protect undocumented peoples, students attending a UC need even more support from their campuses to help give them the tools they need to succeed in life and start their careers. By limiting the opportunities these students have they are being set back and pit against their colleagues instead of being able to focus on their studies. Those in support of The Opportunity for All Campaign can sign their letter pushing the UC System to allow those without legal status work opportunities. It is time for the UC to take a stand and allow equal opportunities for these students who they claim to support.

■ H

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 UC SYSTEM IS BEING CALLED ON TO EMPLOY AND PAY UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS DESPITE FEDERAL ORDERS.

COURTESY OF RHODODENRITES VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS UNDER CC BY-SA

Four day work weeks might be a step in the right direction for the US

SONALI WHITTLE Contributing Writer

The idea of a four day work week might feel bizarre to Americans considering the United States has only ever participated in a five day work week, but the results of a U.K. trial might be strong enough to change minds. Dozens of companies took part in “the world’s largest trial of a four-day workweek” according to The Washington Post, resulting in supervisors and employees favoring the new set up and electing to keep it. Americans could also benefit from implementing four day work weeks and it isn’t hard to see why U.K. employees are in favor of it as well.

According to the results, employees saw benefits in their “sleep, stress levels, personal lives and mental health.” In a capitalist society that is focused primarily on making money and maximizing employee time, this approach to the work field offers a breath of fresh air. People are often overworked, suffering from stress and unable to lead fulfilling personal lives since they are too engrossed in their job. There is nothing wrong with wanting professional success, but it puts a strain on the other aspects of people’s lives. People are typically trying to earn higher pay because there is a lot of pressure to provide for themselves and their loved ones. Financial security easily becomes a priority for those facing financial struggles. With this four day work week, people will have greater autonomy over their lives.

Four day work weeks are controversial, however, because of how it was thought to affect companies and employers. Companies face the risk of losing out on revenue, not to mention significantly altering the busy work environment. Unfortunately, the current work environment structure has often been used to intimidate employees. To companies that profit from five day work weeks, there is a gamble to be taken for the wellbeing of their staff. In direct contrast to the worries of these companies, the previously mentioned study saw a 35% increase in revenue when compared to previous years around a similar time period.

Employees are the backbone of companies and the economy. By giving them the same pay and less working hours, their quality of life can improve significantly. If adopted, there are positive side effects to be seen for the companies as well as for the employees individually. It is past time the U.S. moves away from the mindset that incentivizes burnout. A healthy work life balance should not be an option, but a necessity. ■ H

A TRIAL IN THE UK PROVED THAT MORE PEOPLE PREFER FOUR DAY WORK WEEKS THAN THE TRADITIONAL FIVE.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

Senior farewell: Saying goodbye and thank you to three introspective years at UC Riverside

JAELYN GONZALEZ Assistant Radar Editor

Until my time at the Highlander, I have never considered myself a writer. In my eyes, I did not have the eloquence and expressiveness of someone worth being called a writer. For the longest time, I did not believe I was good at anything that fell into my hands.

From a young age, my dear mother and father tried to keep me active by getting me involved with everything and anything possible. Sports, music, STEM, arts, dance and the list goes on. Nothing stuck with me.

As a child, my family moved all over Los Angeles County. From Covina to Diamond Bar, it felt neverending. In the summer of 2015, my parents told me once more my family would be packing up, but this time for Riverside County. I met with a counselor at my new middle school to register for my courses. My mother handed him a tightly sealed envelope with my 7th-grade teacher’s recommendation to enter the rigorous math course, which I felt I was truly great at. He took a long look at the letter with the signature and pushed it aside.

“The math is different here than at your old school,” he told my 12-year-old self with a look of devastation.

Throughout the year, I reached discouragement from pursuing my favorite activities and questioned my ability to perform them. This feeling continued throughout high school, as well as college.

I began studying at UC Riverside fall of 2020. After being stuck inside for months, I tried to socialize and be proactive in my community activism. I joined the ASUCR Office of External Affairs, where I dabbled around in the Lobby Corps and the Civic Engagement Committee. I spent a year and a half with ASUCR, eventually parting ways as Director of Civic Engagement. Yet, I never felt my contributions made a true impact in Riverside.

In 2021, a friend within the Lobby Corps encouraged me to look into the Roosevelt Network at UCR, a new public policy organization. My dream of becoming a lawyer died, as most political science students do. Instead, I grew an interest in research and political communications. While I met some of the most brilliant students, I did not feel an ounce of belonging.

That was until the summer of 2021 when I got a call for an interview with KUCR 88.3FM, the college radio station. I applied to be a DJ in my first year of college, back when there was nothing to do but listen to music. I trained, then onboarded, and have not looked back since. The community and enthusiasm within the station are unbelievable. I am appreciative of all the staff and DJs at KUCR.

Toward the end of my second year, I took a flight to Washington, D.C. to intern at a non-profit for three months. During this period, I began to figure out my path. While staying at the UCDC center, I took a journalism course with the Professor of Professional Practice and previous Washington Bureau Chief for the San Francisco Chronicle, Marc Sandalow. I would sit in his office asking questions in hopes of clearing my

vision for my senior year, and he delivered. Professor Sandalow pushed me to do what I was afraid to do — journalism.

He encouraged me to join The Highlander when I returned back to California. I told him I am not a writer and explained my lack of confidence. I compared myself to great essayists like James Baldwin and Joan Didion. I thought to myself, I did not have an intricate mind like them or used extravagant language. He pointed out to me, I have been writing all my life. He laid out my capstone project to me, which was a journalist piece on the UC housing crisis. Professor Sandalow reassured me of my talents pulling details and original thoughts from the piece. After all the doubt that had been built from the age of 12, I was given the push I needed to be self-assured about following my true interests. Later on, The Highlander hired me as the Assistant Radar Editor.

Since then, I have spent the past year at one of the best places to be. With an amazing and supportive staff, I could not ask for anymore. From extensive interviews to the Sundance Film Festival, I will remember the paper to be one of the most important jumpstarts to my career. I would like to give a special thank you to Brenda Jovel and Madison Rheins for giving me the opportunity to be creative and trusting all my ideas.

As my senior year comes to a close, I remember my time at UC Riverside as a beautiful transformative period in my life. My message to anyone who has uncertainty about their capabilities to pursue their passions is to give yourself a chance. People can test your aptitude and surround you with discouragement, but it is ultimately up to you to unleash your potential and creative self.

Thank you to Alumni Vivek Kakar, Brendan Rooks, Emily Thomas and John Dover for inspiring me to be an advocate and leader for my community. To my coworkers whose collaborations always lead to phenomenal projects, thank you, Gavin Cho, Madyn Powell, Zaina Ali and Chiamaka Ezeunala. Thank you to my leads and supervisors, Elliot Fong and Eduardo Valencia for believing in my proposals. To my professors who motivated me to reach greater heights, Dr. Richard T. Rodríguez, Professor Michael Bucklin and Marc Sandalow. And to my parents, who supported me all throughout my life, mamá y papá.

I hope to achieve and reach for more in the next period of my life. Thank you to the Highlander for this opportunity and to the UC Riverside community for an amazing three years.

Wong Fu Productions: The YouTube Sensation That’s More Than Just Short Films

ABHIJIT REGE

News Editor

UC Riverside was visited by Wong Fu Productions through an event hosted by Asian Pacific Student Programs (APSP). A veteran YouTube channel that has captured the hearts of millions of viewers worldwide, the team behind Wong Fu Productions includes Philip Wang, Wesley Chan and Ted Fu. The channel features a variety of content, including short films, web series, and vlogs, which explore the experiences of Asian Americans and deal with topics such as love, relationships and cultural identity. At the event, fans were able to first meet with Wes and the rest of the team as a prelude before Phillip Wang took the stage, sitting alongside two interviewers. Through numerous questions, the audience was able to learn more about Phillip and his passions, as well as the Wong Fu production team and their current endeavors.

Wong Fu Productions was started as a hobby by Philip, Wesley and Ted, who met while studying at the University of California, San Diego. Wang elaborated how their start was

“Pure exploration,” and explained, “When we started our YouTube channel, no one was doing it at the time. We sold T-shirts out of our living room.” Their breakthrough came with the web series, “Just a Nice Guy” in 2008, which went viral and brought them to the attention of a wider audience. Since then, Wong Fu Productions has continued to produce high-quality content that resonates with audiences around the world. Some of their most popular projects include “Yellow Fever,” “Strangers, Again,” ”Asian Bachelorette” and “When It Counts.” The team has also collaborated with other YouTubers, including RocketJump, JustKiddingFilms, David So, and, famously, Ryan Higa, with the production of “Agents of Secret Stuff”.

In addition to their YouTube channel, Wong Fu Productions also operates a restaurant called “Boba Guys’’ in San Francisco. The idea for the restaurant came from Philip and Wesley’s experience working in a restaurant while at UCSD, and they eventually decided to open their own cafe. They wanted to create a space that was more than just a place to get a good cup of tea, implementing a Studio Ghibli-inspired experience. The group utilized Joe Hisashi’s soundtrack and Hayao Miyazaki’s atmosphere. Referencing other fellow content creators who have expanded their brand beyond their

channels, Wang advised that “If anyone’s thinking about it, think hard about it. It’s very fulfilling”

Wong Fu Productions has been successful in their endeavors, but they have also faced their fair share of challenges. As Asian Americans, they did not have many role models to look up to and did not know that there were many options available to them. When asked if Phillip considered other career paths, the short answer was no. “A majority of things were not thought of on dream lists when growing up.” However, they found that the restaurant business a realistic goal in which they could imbue their passion for representing their culture and the Asian American experience. The team has also had to navigate the difficulties of running a business in the age of internet media culture. They have had to be adaptable and flexible, constantly evolving their content to keep up with changing trends and audiences that range across multiple generations. Wang expanded on how they were self-taught in an emerging time period for the YouTube platform. However, despite these challenges, they remain passionate about their work and find it fulfilling to be able to create content that has a real impact on people’s lives.

Alex Ha, a second year Computer Science major, commented on the event and explained, “It was a blast to be able to see Phil, Wes and the whole team. The event invoked a sense of nostalgia and struck a note with my childhood where I would binge the classic YouTube from that era.”

Looking to the future, Wong Fu Productions is excited about the possibilities that lie ahead, with the goals of starting their own Asian American studio and producing stories from the community. They hope to continue to produce high-quality content and to be able to keep their brand going for another 20 years. “It’s weird that after so many years, there hasn’t been another Wong Fu” making short films is difficult and expensive to produce,” Wang explained as he expressed how he felt his purpose was to act as a role model to help future Asian American producers jumpstart their careers.■ H

AFTER MANY YEARS OF TRIAL AND ERROR, I LEAVE CAMPUS WITH A BRIGHTER PERSPECTIVE.

The new dessert spot to check out in Riverside

The Beignet Spot has something for everyone

ALEXANDRIA LACHMAN Staff Writer

Looking to try something new?

Well then you should definitely check out the Beignet Spot located in Downtown Riverside. A cute little place that makes their beignets fresh to order for every customer, with the added bonus of being able to see the beignet making process while you wait for your order.

You can go and order your classic beignets and add dipping sauces such as caramel, raspberry and chocolate or if you want a little more flare, you should try their artisan beignets. Personally, I would highly recommend the peach cobbler beignets. Warm and fluffy with the added bonus of sweet peaches made this treat so worth it. Another sweet treat is their banana pudding shake, which was perfection in a cup without being overwhelming.

And if you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, you need to check out their savory menu. With items such as their jerk chicken sandwich or their morning hash that has all the makings of “hitting the spot.” The breakfast and lunch menu do not lack in flavor or toppings that’s for sure! The Beignet Spot is run by the Alec family and they have brought the Caribbean creole flavors to life in Riverside.No matter what, there will be something for you on the menu that will fulfill your cravings.

Chewy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Longing for the taste of homemade dessert? Try making these rich brownie-like cookies to curb your craving.

NATALIE DAHL Staff Writer

have all purpose flour you can either mix equal parts white and wheat flour, or just use exclusively white.

If you don’t have chocolate, you can substitute it with 1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder mixed with ½ tablespoons canola or vegetable oil.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Melt chocolate in the microwave and let fully cool. Add in sugar, oil and vanilla extract and thoroughly mix. Mix in eggs, one at a time. Mix in flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl. Mix dry and wet ingredients together. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, but preferably overnight (This will prevent the dough from sticking to your hands).

After the dough is cool, drop by the teaspoonful onto a plate covered in powdered sugar. Roll around to coat. Shape into balls with your hands. Place onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Depending on how big you make the dough balls, this recipe will yield anywhere between 2 to 3 dozen cookies.

Make sure to place the dough balls far enough away from each other that they don’t melt into one giant cookie! Happy baking Highlanders!

Photo Courtesy of Pexels

Photo Courtesy of Pexels

Grammy Controversy: Not Black or White

CECILE DIROLL Contributing Writer

Earlier this month, artists gathered to celebrate and recognize music across all genres at the 65th Grammy Awards. With performances from Bad Bunny and Lizzo to a star-studded audience that included Adele, Taylor Swift, H.E.R. and many others. Spirits were high, and everyone was excited — until the winner of the last category was announced.

Beyoncé’s album “Renaissance,” celebrating Black dance music and queer culture, was expected to win Album of the Year by critics and fans. The album had accumulated 179.06 million streams within the first week of its release, the most in Beyoncé’s career. But when the host, Trevor Noah handed the envelope to the Harry Styles fan on stage, saying “You can read it,” it was clear Beyonce had lost the category again. A stunned Harry Styles’ graciously accepted the award and emotionally remarked, “This doesn’t happen to people like me very often,”— poking the Beyhive even more.

Despite winning a record-breaking 32 Grammys, more than any other artist, Beyoncé has yet to win Album of the Year. Her work has been nominated by the Recording Academy in this category for the last four years, each time losing out to white artists. Jay-Z, Beyoncé’s husband and famous rapper in his own right, commented that her loss was a “missed opportunity” and blamed it as being a “marketing thing” after the show. Even Lizzo, who won Record of the Year for her song “About Damn Time,” the first Black woman to receive the award since Whitney Houston won it back in 1994, felt compelled to acknowledge Beyoncé in her acceptance speech as Adelé did back in 2016 when she beat out Beyoncé in this category.

The Grammy’s latest snub of Beyoncé’s work not only enraged her many fans but served to underscore an open secret — the Recording Academy’s unceasing underrepresentation of Black artists in its four major categories: Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Album of the Year. Because winning a Grammy is considered the “music industry’s highest honor,” the repeated awarding of this coveted acknowledgment to white over Black artists has been roundly criticized by such notable musicians as The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj and Frank Ocean. In 2021, for instance, The Weeknd announced a boycott against the Grammys after his album, “After Hours” — which spent four consecutive weeks as No.1 on the Billboard 200 — was not nominated for a single category.

The Weeknd also spoke against the Grammys on Twitter, writing,

“The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans, and the industry transparency…” He went on to say that out of the 64 years of the Grammys, only ten Black leading artists have won

Controversy arose at the Grammy’s after Beyoncé lost Album of the Year for the fourth time, the most significant award of the night. ■

In an industry that depends on popular artists to perform and attend their award shows to remain relevant and gain viewers, connections are everything. In return, those artists are rewarded. Brandi Carlile, for example, won 3 awards in some of the most prestigious categories at this year’s ceremony, racking up seven nominations. In addition, she is known to perform for many of the academy’s charity galas and TV shows — even singing at this year’s show, where her wife and kids introduced her. Even Harry Styles’ manager, Jeffrey Azoff, the son of Irving Azoff, chairman of Full Stop Management, a management team representing several famous recording artists — is very well connected within the industry. By comparison, Beyoncé hasn’t performed at the Grammys since 2017, and her manager for many years was Matthew Knowles, her father. Nepotism is a massive problem for many Black artists who aren’t as well-connected in the industry.

Regrettably, the Academy has always been slow to progress. By opting to align with and reward traditional sounds, lyrics and instruments at the expense of artists who dare to try something different, the Grammys’ biggest failure is its acknowledgment of Black artists at their artistic peak. The list goes on from Beyonce’s Lemonade to the Weeknd’s After Hours, which are all examples of Black artists at their most creative, artistic and successful career peaks gone continuously unrecognized by the Recording Academy.

So, was the Grammy audience’s questionable response to Harry’s acceptance speech a shot at him for what he said, or were they outraged by the Academy’s continued disregard for Black artists? It would seem it may have been both and that some of the members of the audience would have responded the same way no matter what he said. However, Harry raised a more important point in his acceptance speech when he said, “there is no best music.”

What constitutes the best album of the year, and by extension, the best music, are the real questions. If this is defined by the commercial success of an album, sales, streams and chart placement, then it’s hard to argue that “Harry’s House” was unworthy. “As it Was” was declared the Song of the Summer by Billboard after 4 weeks at No.1. However, if “best” is defined by other components, then Beyoncé “Renaissance” was the more culturally influential album of the two. This lack of definition and a deeply ingrained system of quid pro quo in the Music Academy helps to explain why Black artists are infrequent winners in the top categories. It won’t be until the Academy is more transparent about its nomination and voting processes that Black artists can win in these categories. ■ H

Photo Courtesy of J.ébey via Wikimedia

Bear’ provides a heart-pounding high

MAXEN OLVERA

Contributing

Writer

“Cocaine Bear” is a high-concept comedy that supplies an unbeatable cinematic experience. The comedy’s premise comes from a true story involving blow, a bear and drug smugglers. In 1985, a former narcotics officer turned notorious drug smuggler, Andrew Thornton, planned to transport over 300 kilograms of cocaine to the United States. Everything was going smoothly until he tapped into a radio signal used by federal agents. In a state of panic, Thornton threw out half of the cocaine load as he flew over Georgia. The coke packages landed in the center of Georgia forest occupied by black bears. One unlucky bear believed the cocaine was a food dish. The bear was said to have consumed up to 40 lbs of the narcotic, causing it to die in minutes. The cocaine bear fascinated the senses of American pop culture leading to books, exhibits and now movies.

The original 80’s story was radically changed for the screenplay as it had the black bear go on a cokefueled killing spree. Hollywood’s adaptation of the idea comes from a spec script by Jimmy Warden with the screenplay being tossed from studio to studio; until the academy award-winning producers Phill Lord and Chris Miller brought the project to Universal Pictures. The studio fell in love with the absurd movie idea, and production started immediately. Elizabeth Banks was

The white rock makes a bear go on a blood-soaked rampage.

brought on board to direct the picture. Primarily known for her acting expertise, she brings an understanding of the movie-making process to the director’s chair.

Bank’s extensive skills allow her to direct an ensemble cast of reputable actors successfully. The expansive cast is anchored in by Kerri Russell, Isiah Whitlock Jr. and the late Ray Liotta. Each actor represents different storylines converging at National Park, where Cocaine Bear wreaks havoc. Comedic actress Margo Martindale is a standout in my book. I’ve never seen her on the big screen, but she has been in countless movies. Her line delivery gifts have a sense of charm. Whitlock provides a needed layer of comedy that adds to the zaniest of the story. Finally, Ray Liotta gives a memorable last performance as an aging gangster. Liotta was easily one of the great actors in American cinema, with films like “Goodfellas” and “Field of Dreams” under his belt. Banks dedicated her movie to the memory of the beloved actor.

A 1985 setting allows “Cocaine Bear” to have a nostalgic style. The eccentric cast of characters wears leg warmers, headbands and parachute pants. 80s fashion is used by Banks to fully immerse audience members into the period. She also uses the radical catalog of early 80s songs. A chase between the cokedout bear and an ambulance filled with paramedics

VERDICT:

ends up in a blood bath as “Just Can’t Get Enough” by Depeche Mode gives the gory scene a lighter tone. Depeche Mode’s classic tune complements the synthesized score of Mark Mothersburg. His score has nostalgic music cues that came from his DEVO days. Mothersburg’s totally tubular score is a perfect backdrop for this horror comedy.

The titular star of the film is a gift that keeps on giving. The bear is the central point of suspense, action and comedy. Suspenseful stress builds up before each kill. The insanely violent scenes are filled with overthe-top action moments. Bank’s energetic camera movement allows the action scenes to flow smoothly on the silver screen. Most of the comedy stems from the coke-induced escapades of the great black bear giving the audience a sense of empathy toward the creature. The bear could’ve been portrayed as a scary monster. Instead, Banks shows the animal as a friendly giant that never meant to ingest the cocaine.

“Cocaine Bear” is a cult classic in the making. Some people will not enjoy this movie because it is very unrealistic. Nevertheless, the long distance from the confines of reality enhances the film’s scope. The movie is an excellent mix of graphic violence, nostalgic flare and outlandish comedy. Banks successfully crafts a good time at the movies. ■ H

“COCAINE BEAR” TAKES ADVANTAGE OF ITS BOMBASTIC PREMISE AND DELIVERS A CAMP FILM TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME.

BRENDAN VO

Contributing Writer

Ant-Man and the Wasp returned to cinema as of Feb. 17, as “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania;” starring Paul Rudd as the beloved Ant-Man and a recasting of his daughter Cassie Lang with actress Kathryn Newton. The two movies in the Ant-Man series have been praised as great palette cleansers as they would tend to follow up on the serious and widely successful Avengers movies. “Ant-Man” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp’’ succeeded with its humor, amusing characters and its ability to tell a great story on a smaller scale.

The newest addition to the Ant-Man movies, “AntMan and The Wasp: Quantumania,” however, was arduously tasked with the mission to start the next phase of the Marvel franchise and introduce a new mainstay villain: Kang the Conqueror. In order to meet these expectations, the new Ant-Man movie had to completely change its tone from the aforementioned iterations. Additionally, Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Major, debuted as Marvel’s new threat to its superheroes. Carrying the heavy weight of Marvel’s new phase and villain, “AntMan and The Wasp: Quantumania,” ultimately falls short in almost every manner.

A main criticism that follows the newest Marvel movie calls out Marvel’s pattern of underdeveloped and unfinished characters and themes. This can be seen in how the film handles police brutality, privilege and a new side antagonist, MODOK. Cassie’s desire to fight against Kang is symbolic of the strife between organized protesters and abusive police. The conclusion of the thematic comparison ends in Kang falling to a revolt led by Cassie and the people that he oppressed. However, in its simplicity, the film fails to address the nuance and complexity of the situation.

MODOK’s character as Kang’s main henchman had his own emotional arc that ended with Cassie convinc-

The newest Ant-Man movie struggles with the difficult task of beginning Marvel’s new phase of movies and introducing a new mainstay villain.

ing him to go against Kang, which valiantly dies in his endeavor. However, the substance of the character is lacking in its portrayal of its comic origins. MODOK’s incredible relevance in Marvel Comics also calls into Marvel’s intention of subjugating its source material to one-off cameos as his death parallels the death of the Illuminati in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Subsequently, no character had a meaningful end to any of their stories. Although the film mechanically introduces the next Marvel phase and plotline, it fails to showcase any growth in the characters.

Kang’s introduction to the Marvel Universe, however, succeeded with Jonathan Major’s performance. With a calm and articulate manner, Kang also shows ruthlessness and strength when needed. Not unlike Thanos, Kang’s quiet confidence and mannerism prove to be devilishly charming and a standout performance despite the limitations of the movie’s narrative.

The movie takes place in the Quantum Realm, revealing the previously abstract and mysterious universe to be a concrete, living setting. A weakness in the cinematography of this new realm can be found in its incredibly noisy design. The fully CGI background screams with thousands of colors and noise that fail to contribute to any beauty or aesthetic. The environment that the characters traverse is ultimately a bane to the audience. ■ H

VERDICT:

“ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA” FAILS EXPECTATIONS AND ATTEMPTS TO TELL A MEANINGFUL MESSAGE. THE FILM FOLLOWS WITH DOUBTS FOR THE SUCCESS OF FUTURE MARVEL PROJECTS WITH ILL-WRITTEN CHARACTERS AND PLOT HOLES.

‘Cocaine

‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’ falls short in every expectation

Radar Replay: A reflection on Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s ‘A City Of Sadness’

76 YEARS AFTER

COURTESY OF CURZON ARTIFICIAL EYE

MAX BRIGGS Contributing Writer

In 1989, Taiwanese auteur Hou Hsiao-Hsien told the story of a family in the small coastal town of Jiufen. Without context, the film appears to be surrounded by an impenetrable veil of mysticism. However, those familiar with the island’s history will understand the significance within the specific release date of “A City of Sadness.” To unlock the importance of the film, we must use a key, one that was forged on Aug. 15, 1945.

A radio broadcast blares. Emperor Hirohito has just announced the unconditional surrender of Japan, ending 50 years of colonial rule. The streets are paved with joy, for Taiwan is free again. Unbeknownst to many, the ongoing feud between the Chinese Communist Party and Kuomintang (Nationalists) will prove to be as dangerous as the previous war. With the Republic of China now in control of Taiwan, the threat of the suppressive regime grows larger by the day.

The audience witnesses the shift in the political climate through the daily lives of the Lin family. Wenching, the youngest of four brothers, is a photographer with leftist beliefs and is also deaf. The third brother, Wen-leung, is scarred by his time in World War II. The second brother has vanished, while the eldest runs an underground nightclub and a smuggling business. Any sense of normalcy the family has is slowly upended, as the external threat of governmental force proves to destroy their lives from within. Hou’s direction stifles any drastic camera movement, with shots often containing a sense of voyeurism; it is as if the viewer is a ghost floating adrift in the past. Precision is the utmost priority, with silence often containing more

OF

228

THE FILM’S DEPICTION OF THE DANGERS OF AUTHORITARIANISM STILL RINGS TRUE TODAY.

meaning than speech.

As the Kuomintang continues to abuse their power, each member of the family is increasingly exposed to danger. Hiromi and Hiroe are two siblings with contrasting personalities. One wants to live in peace, while the other seeks to fight back. Showcasing much of the story through Hiromi’s point of view sheds light on the value of a female-centric perspective, as well as highlighting a group that many would have thought to be safe from marginalization. It soon becomes evident that people’s safety of all backgrounds is at risk.

Wen-ching uses communication through written characters — a clever choice that Hou takes advantage of for a multitude of reasons. The character is played by iconic Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, who was unable to speak the prominent languages featured in the film. Wen-ching’s writing serves as a link between the events not shown on screen and the viewer’s thoughts, coinciding with the narrative’s slow, detail-oriented pace. Long, drawn-out notes are implemented throughout the soundtrack, acting as a cry for help. Physical expression rather than dialogue is employed with the intent of revealing the widespread manifestation of pain that the citizens go through. The audience sees this on display through the aftermath of Wen-leung’s torture, Wen-heung’s eventual death and the constant sense of melancholy in Wen-ching’s eyes.

Later on, the Lin family listens to another radio broadcast. The built-up tension between the Kuomintang and the native population is about to explode in a catharsis of violence. Hou uses familiar

images to contrast the once peaceful state of the local hospital, transitioning it into a nest of terror, one filled with bloody stretchers and gut-wrenching screams.

The rich yet eerie cinematography is complemented by the frequent use of passageways, a technique coined by the legendary Japanese filmmaker Yasujirō Ozu, which Hou applies to establish the deteriorating relationship between the environment and those who inhabit it. People are arrested and beaten. Any protests are put down, resulting in the death of at least 18,000 people, and martial law is twice declared and lifted during this time. However, there are no direct depictions of the atrocities committed.

This seemingly limited but nuanced portrayal of the 228 incident is the first instance in history the event was addressed on film, a feat even more impressive due to the lack of books written about the subject. The long-term establishment of martial law instituted briefly after the incident only ended two years before the release of “A City of Sadness,” making Hou’s calculated chronicle all the more consequential.

The impact of Hou’s remarkable film runs even deeper once one realizes the importance of speaking for the voiceless. Through the portrayal of a common family, an entire generation’s story became unearthed, providing hope for a world where justice prevails. While art will never be able to remedy the scars of the past, it certainly has the potential to heal them, all while cementing the truth in its creative process.■ H

Book bans tell children that their literacy does not matter

EVELYN HOMAN Managing Editor

If you are a current college student reading this, I ask you to recall your school library when you were a child. Was it filled with interesting chapter books, donning construction paper decorations fitting the season? Were there bookshelves that spanned the wall, or a book nook? Whatever your experience with a classroom or school library in your elementary school was, it certainly is not what Floridian children are facing right now, with teachers being forced to cover their bookshelves so they don’t get sued. Florida is not the only place where constant book bans and challenges have been occurring over the decades, but the last two years have become especially concerning. Most concerning of all is not just that these bans and challenges are happening in the first place, but that they are driving kids away from reading altogether.

One school librarian noted that amidst these book bans, student interest in the school library has taken a sharp downturn. It is also noted in this article that the more books that feature LGBTQIA+ characters get challenged or banned, the less likely the library will be to select books with such characters in the future to integrate into the library. This is not the only reason that children are turning away from the school

library. Although it can certainly be understood why children, who either identify with or want to learn about LGBTQIA+ identities, feel discouraged from using the library when they know that books they want to read are not going to be there. In addition to that, some schools have been stalled from acquiring any new books at all during this whole debacle.

The national literacy rate in America is lower than what many might expect: 52% of adults in the United States fall below the “Level Three” section of literacy — which is the level of literacy understanding to function in daily life. This literacy gap is so prevalent that some schools have sent home letters telling parents to not interfere when their children read, or make any indication that reading is a waste of time. In a broader pop culture sense, reading has been given a bad enough rap already, but reading is so crucial to a child’s development that these schools found it necessary to tell parents so.

With ongoing book bans and the lack of new material in the library, it’s no wonder children being impacted by these issues are turning away from the one place where literature is incredibly accessible. Students asking for new books are not able to

get them. Students who are part of marginalized communities are finding that the books that display their identities are being removed. With nothing to read, children will turn away from reading entirely. As we’re facing a resurgence in the love of reading thanks to social media, there is no better time to initiate children into the wonderful world of literature, but this cannot happen while state governments force libraries to stagnate for no good reason.

The literacy of the next generation should be a top priority for government officials, but this only proves the opposite so long as book banning occurs. All the red tape shouldn’t be there in the first place. Children and teenagers, and indeed people of all ages, deserve access to literature that will help them empathize with others and expand their worldviews. To promote anything else is to tell the next generation that their literacy does not matter and further increase the number of people who were failed by the education system. ■ H

THE TRAGEDY

THE

INCIDENT,

IN THE FACE OF BOOK BANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CHILDREN ARE TURNING AWAY FROM READING, AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED QUICKLY.

UCR Women’s Basketball blow first half lead as they fall to

Hawaii 60-49

KIA NOOSHI Assistant Sports Editor

THE HIGHLANDERS STARTED THE GAME STRONG BUT FELL APART IN THE SECOND HALF NOW SITTING 3-15 IN CONFERENCE PLAY.

The UC Riverside women’s basketball team were defeated by Hawaii 69-49 Thursday night in the SRC Arena. Going into this ball game, the Highlanders were on a five game losing streak and were looking to get back to winning. Many festivities were brought to the game as it was African Student Programs night which added to a great atmosphere created by the Highlander faithful.

UCR started the game out strong with junior guard Jordan Webster knocking down a wide open three in the corner after a good possession involving some clever ball movement by the Highlanders. For much of the first quarter the two teams traded baskets on near identical shooting splits with a 40 percent field goal clip and 50 percent from three on both sides, but a 12-5 rebounding edge which included a 6-1 edge on the offensive glass, helped the Highlanders gain a four-point edge after all was said and done in the first quarter.

The second quarter was even better than the first for the Highlanders as they extended their lead via some great defense down low by forwards Anna Blount and Matehya Bryant. Their defensive actions, specifically

that of Bryant who had a one woman block party in the paint finishing the game with five, helping the Highlanders extend their lead to nine by the end of the first half.

The Highlanders had their best half in quite a few outings as their defense prevented Hawaii from getting into a rhythm as Hawaii’s best player, guard Lily Wahinekapu, was extremely limited in the first half. UCR was also extremely tenacious rebounding the ball which helped them put up many more shots than Hawaii which resulted in more baskets made helping them create the lead in the first half.

The second half was completely different than the first for the Highlanders as Hawaii had evidently made some adjustments to their game plan which allowed them back into the game. Hawaii implemented a full court press which UCR struggled to get around and that led to a large number of turnovers for the Highlanders handing possession back to Hawaii which led to easy shots on the fastbreak for the Rainbow Wahine. Hawaii’s decision to guard UCR tight on defense and double down low also meant that UCR struggled to shoot the ball all throughout the third

quarter, a common theme of their play throughout their season where many of their games are won and lost in the third quarter.

Heading into the fourth quarter, UCR had blown their nine point lead and were now down five points. The fourth quarter was marked by some great defense and opportunities for UCR’s best player Webster to score the rock on easy free throws ending the game with 20 points with 10 of those being from the foul spot. Webster was the lone bright spot for the Highlanders as the rest of the team struggled shooting the ball and turning the ball over.

The game ended 60-49 with Hawaii coming out victorious. This loss drops UCR to 3-15 in conference play, bottom of the Big West going into the conference tournament, where everything is to play for as regular season records do not matter. The UCR women’s basketball team is next headed down to Irvine to play the Anteaters on Thursday night at 7:00 pm before rounding out the regular season with a home game at home against Cal Poly, March 4th.

■ H

UC Riverside men’s basketball team reaches 20 wins on the year with a thrilling win against Hawaii

HANSEL CHU Sports Editor

The UC Riverside men’s basketball team won a thriller against Hawaii, 54-52, Wednesday night in Manoa, Hawaii. Going into this game, the Highlanders have won four of their last five games and defeated some tough opponents along the way. UCR looked to continue their hot stretch of games as they looked to get their revenge on Hawaii, who won their previous matchup against the Highlanders earlier this year.

The Highlanders started out the game ice-cold from the field as the ball seemed to not find its way through the basket. Both teams traded buckets to open up the game as senior guard Zyon Pullin and graduate student Flynn Cameron scored the early points to tie the score at 4-4. Defense was a main emphasis for both teams as neither team seemed to get a clean look at the rim, subsequently leading to a low scoring 10-8 score by the halfway point of the first half. After a missed three from freshman forward Lachlan Olbrich, freshman guard Nate Pickens cleaned up the mess with a putback layup to momentarily give UCR a 12-11 lead with 8:03 left until halftime. However, Hawaii started to run away with the game as their jump shots started to fall through the basket. After a missed jump shot from Pullin, Hawaii guard Beon Riley knocked down a three-pointer to push the Rainbow Warrior lead to four. In the next possession, Hawaii guard Noel Coleman knocked down a corner three-pointer after a missed three from UCR to give them a 14-21 lead with 3:44 left in the first half. The Highlanders were shut out for the rest of the half as Hawaii’s stifling defense made it hard for UC Riverside to get into a rhythm offensively. A couple of free throws from the Rainbow Warriors near the end of the first half gave them a 14-25 lead going into the half. The measly 14 points put up by

UCR was the lowest they have scored in a half all season as they shot 19.4% from the field and 0-10 from three-point range.

The Highlanders seemed to be awakened in the second half as they stepped up their intensity on the offensive and defensive end of the floor. UC Riverside was able to keep the score within striking distance as Pullin, Cameron, and Olbrich started to knock down shots and find a rhythm. Back-to-back jump shots from sophomore forward Vladimer Salaridze brought the deficit to seven, 26-33, and a putback layup from Olbrich cut the Hawaii lead to five, 28-33. The Rainbow Warriors would respond and push the lead back up to 10 with 11:54 left in the game but Pullin would start to get cooking as he knocked down shot after shot to keep the Highlanders in the game. After a steal from Pullin, he would finish the fastbreak layup to bring the score to 34-38. In the next possession, Pullin would find himself wide open for three and knock it down to cut the deficit to just one, 37-38, with 8:23 left in the game. Hawaii seemed to go cold during this stretch as it was the Highlander defense that made it difficult for the Rainbow Warriors to get good shots. After a missed three from Riley, Pullin would grab the rebound and fire up another three, which he splashed it down and gave UC Riverside the lead 40-38. Pullin, in that stretch, scored 12 straight points for UCR.

The Rainbow Warriors continued to struggle as the momentum shifted toward the Highlander way. With 2:39 left to play, Pullin would hit a step-back jump shot to give UC Riverside a six-point lead, 51-45.

Hawaii would quickly rally as Coleman would knock down a three-pointer to bring the score within three points, and a layup from Hawaii forward Kamaka

Hepa brought the Highlander lead to just one, 51-50. Junior forward Will Tattersall would finish a righthanded reverse layup with 1:21 left to play to extend the UCR lead to 53-50. Hawaii forward Bernardo Da Silva would finish a layup of his own to bring the score to 53-52 with 1:02 left in the game. With 32 seconds left in the game, Pullin’s floater would be blocked by Coleman giving the Rainbow Warriors a chance to win the game. However, UC Riverside played great defense on the other end and forced a tough contested threepointer from Hepa which was off the mark. Olbrich would rebound the ball and get fouled, in which he went one for two at the free throw line. Hawaii would quickly go down the other end but a layup from Hawaii guard Javon McClanahan was blocked out of bounds by Pullin. With one second remaining, however, Tattersall would be called for a foul on the inbounds pass, which put Hepa at the free-throw line for a one-and-one. With a chance to tie the game, Hepa’s first free throw clanked back rim and out, and gave UC Riverside a narrow 54-52 win.

Pullin led all scorers with 24 points, six rebounds, and three steals. Olbrich would post a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds with two steals. UCR outscored Hawaii 40-27 in the second in route of their fourth straight win.

The Highlanders recorded 20 wins for the first time in program history and improved their conference record to 13-5, placing them number two in the standings. They will take on UC Irvine at home for senior night on Thursday, March 2nd, at 7:00 P.M.■ H

THE HIGHLANDERS ERASE AN 11-POINT DEFICIT TO CONTINUE THEIR HISTORIC SEASON.