Vol. 71, Issue 18

T he h ighlander

Concerns with limited funding continue as attempts are made to support the R’Gear project.

ABHIJIT REGE News Editor

The Associated Students of UCR’s eighth meeting was called to order by Executive Vice President Myra Usmani on Wednesday, Mar. 1st, 2023 in the ASUCR Senate Chamber at 7:04 P.M. All senators were present, excluding CNAS senator Brenden Cano, CHASS senator Alex Lu, and BCOE senator Chloe Au as well as senator Andrew Bui who arrived late. In addition to the senators, members of the Executive Cabinet were present as well.

During the Public Forum, the VP of External Affairs Government Relations Director Angel Renteria announced that their office will be throwing an event to discuss student loan forgiveness in the HUB 260. Approval of ECAB Meeting Minutes also took place. There were no ex-officio reports.

Committee Reports opened with one piece of legislation from the Legislative Review Committee. Senate Resolution SR-W23-008 Turkey and Syria Earthquake Resolution stands in solidarity with the victims of the devastating Earthquake that occurred in Turkey and Syria. Motions to approve the resolution passed 11-0-1.

Most notably at the meeting, Finance Hearing Minutes #8 were reviewed and a lengthy discussion proceeded on how funding should be allocated as well as present concerns about the low availability of funding.

VP of Finance Christian Martinez discussed line item b. which detailed President Assaf requesting $50,070 for R’Gear though she was only granted $40,000. By securing funding for R’Gear, President Assaf hoped to buy hoodies and sweatshirts to give away to first year students at no charge. Assaf elaborated the history of R’Gear and its significance to the campus community.

CNAS senator Abby Choy confirmed with President Assaf, that students will unfortunately be unable to get R’Gear due to funding issues. However, she has been in conversation with VP of Sustainability Alondra Martinez to see if it can be paired with a sustainability event. In response to SPP senator Sean Nguyen’s inquiry on the financial breakdown of R’Gear, Assaf explained that all funding will go to the sweaters, of which 4,000 units

► SEE ASUCR PAGE 3

Harvesting Chicano cultura and memorias with Vero Sanchez-Gomez

BRENDA JOVEL Radar Editor

Beginning at the age of 14, Vero Sanchez Gomez began their artistic endeavors within the Santa Barbara Arts Alliance, a program assisting at-risk youths within their neighborhoods to explore art. After becoming a mentor in the program, Vero delved into the world of Chicano history and cultura which she currently can express through Chicano Student Programs (CSP) at UCR.

The role of CSP in Vero’s college experience has engraved itself into their life even before UCR. “The main reason why I came to UCR was that my sister was an alumnus. CSP provided support for her, and seeing her graduate motivated me to pursue college since I’m first gen,” Vero stated. Now as a third-year majoring in Anthropology, Vero has collected immense experiences and friendships throughout their 3-year journey at CSP as their Social Media and Marketing Coordinator.

“I feel privileged having art as my main thing, and having CSP value my work. Every piece is very hands-on and there is a contribution from everyone when curating events,” she said.

CSP is known for hosting Semana

De La Mujer (Feb. 18-24), “a weeklong series that aims to emphasize the accomplishments of Chicanas/Latinas.” This year’s theme: “HERSTORY is healing, strength, and an act of resistance. As we unlearn the things that no longer serve us, lagrimas are what help us release and nourish. Seguiremos floreciendo y brotando con alegría,” as written on their Instagram page.

When talking about this year’s Semana De La Mujer, the joy and passion sparking out of Vero’s voice and eyes was undeniable. “This year was the most personal to me. Our Assistant Director, Arlene Cano Matute, wanted the theme to center around wrinkles —- honoring historias and memories.”

Vero recounted that that same day, her aunt sent her a photo of her grandmother, and after showing the picture to Matute, her grandmother became the central image of the event. “I feel connected to my grandma. She went through so much, and I feel I am a product of her resistance toward the world. I’m in a big academic space, and I hope she is very proud of me.”

The series began with various speaker panels and an art exhibition where Vero had a chance to showcase their work on

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Concerns with limited funding continue as attempts are made to support the R’Gear project.

ABHIJIT REGE News Editor

The Associated Students of UCR’s eighth meeting was called to order by Executive Vice President Myra Usmani on Wednesday, Mar. 1st, 2023 in the ASUCR Senate Chamber at 7:04 P.M. All senators were present, excluding CNAS senator Brenden Cano, CHASS senator Alex Lu, and BCOE senator Chloe Au as well as senator Andrew Bui who arrived late. In addition to the senators, members of the Executive Cabinet were present as well.

During the Public Forum, the VP of External Affairs Government Relations Director Angel Renteria announced that their office will be throwing an event to discuss student loan forgiveness in the HUB 260. Approval of ECAB Meeting Minutes also took place. There were no ex-officio reports.

Committee Reports opened with one piece of legislation from the Legislative Review Committee. Senate Resolution SR-W23-008 Turkey and Syria Earthquake Resolution stands in solidarity with the victims of the devastating Earthquake that occurred in Turkey and Syria. Motions to approve the resolution passed 11-0-1.

Most notably at the meeting, Finance Hearing Minutes #8 were reviewed and a lengthy discussion proceeded on how funding should be allocated as well as present concerns about the low availability of funding. VP of Finance Christian Martinez discussed line item b. which detailed President Assaf requesting $50,070 for R’Gear though she was only granted $40,000. By securing funding for R’Gear, President Assaf hoped to buy hoodies and sweatshirts to give away to first year students at no charge. Assaf elaborated the history of R’Gear and its significance to the campus community.

CNAS senator Abby Choy confirmed with President Assaf, that students will unfortunately be unable to get R’Gear due to funding issues. However, she has been in conversation with VP of Sustainability Alondra Martinez to see if it can be paired with a sustainability event. In response to SPP senator Sean Nguyen’s inquiry on the financial breakdown of R’Gear, Assaf explained that all funding will go to the sweaters, of which 4,000 units will be produced, and that distribution will likely take place at the Bell Tower close to when elections will occur.

PPT Richardson then explained how they may attempt to pull funding in the future from Reserves, however, VP of Finance Martinez explained that while he is open to scheduling a conversation, Reserve funds are only utilized in the case of a dire emergency. This pivoted to a discussion on what would be considered a “dire emergency,” with respect to the bylaws, most significantly due to how funding was pulled from Reserves for renovations. This was primarily done under the direction of Financial Operations Manager, Amy Carrizosa.

Sen. Nguyen voiced his worries about only having $21,000 remaining in the Contingency budget for Spring and questioned if VP of Finance Martinez believes it will be enough for what will take place in the upcoming quarter. Martinez expressed his optimistic hope, but explained that he cannot be certain without knowing the number of events that will take place.

Director Angel Renteria commented on the budget as a member of the public that $21,000 is quite low of a number, equivalent to the funding used for one Office of External Affairs conference. Martinez responded that the finance committee has been allocating funds for all the organizations that have come to Finance. Renteria also made a notable suggestion to soft launch R’Gear with a lower budget in order to remain cognizant of factors like inflation.

PPT Richardson inquired to Executive Director of the HUB, Brenden O’Brien about supplementing the Contingency funds with Reserves. Executive Director O’Brien clarified that VP of Finance Martinez is correct in how the bylaws are very restrictive about pulling from reserves and urged that there should be more transparency on how Reserve funds are allocated. CHASS Sen. Ahman Greene suggested making R’Gear an event grant, but VP of Finance elaborated on how this would not be possible as an organization cannot come to ask for money for the same event nor can funds be combined.

A motion was made to approve the hearing minutes which failed, but this was then redacted. Associate Justice Armando Ruiz-Rosas Jr. elaborated more on the vote count requirements for overriding vote as a 2/3 vote of senate is required for passage. President Assaf asked if Senators wanted to send the R’Gear project back to Finance to lower the budget and push for a soft launch.

CNAS Sen. Kyle Cheng noted how the HEAT concert was presented in a prior meeting with the same purpose of marketing ASUCR, and believed allocating funds for HEAT would be better. Pres. Assaf responded that she does not believe the R’Gear project could be compared to HEAT, with the concert being a one-time event, versus R’Gear that could be seen as a legacy apparel.

Motions to redact the previously conducted vote passed 15-0-0, and the hearing minutes were approved by line item, which resulted in line item a. being approved and line item b. being rejected.

As part of New Business, a Ride Metrolink and Rail Safety presentation was delivered by Veronica De Santos and Allison Crook. This presentation provided a guide for students to use Metrolink services to find their local station and purchase tickets. In addition, both the Performing Arts and R’Garden Referendums were reviewed after being tabled in last week’s meeting. Amendments were made to the referendums and passage of both were successful with a vote count of 14-0-1.

Public Comment followed with Executive Director O’Brien first taking the stand. The HUB director elaborated on the referendums and the processes that will take place before they go on the elections ballot. Sen. Hunt inquired if the referendum will return to senate if it does not pass by UCOP or the Chancellor. O’Brien responded that it will depend on what specifically is disagreed upon.

President Assaf then took the stand and inquired to senate what they would like to see from sending R’Gear back to the Finance committee, reigniting the lengthy discussion from before. PPT Richardson explained that the senate have all held concerns with the remaining budget being able to sustain the amount necessary for the project, especially when factoring in how this is the first full year back in person as well as inflation. Assaf responded that $21,000 should be enough and that every VP can allocate from their budget to sponsor events.

CNAS senator Shukan Shah brought up the Women’s Campus Safety Escort program which could be classified as an emergency, in a manner that will allow for reserves to be utilized. However, Angel Renteria commented from the galley that R’Gear and the Escort program cannot be compared as the latter should be prioritized and that it is better to be safe than sorry with funding. PPT Richardson believes the senate should stop discussing Campus Safety Escort Services because that is not on the Finance minutes and not related to the topic of R’Gear.

Richardson further elaborated that while everyone seemed to be in support of the project, issues have mainly risen due to financial concerns. Sen. Hunt states how Reserves were essentially completely off the table from everything that has been discussed thus far. Sen. Mido suggested reducing the amount to around $20,000 to $25,000, which was met with support from Sen. Greene. Discussions took place amongst the galley in regards to changing the clothing type or material to cut costs.

PPT Richardson also suggested to President Assaf that she should survey the freshman student body to learn their thoughts and concerns, providing multiple potential methods of collecting data. Assaf expressed how she felt that a survey would not alter the conversation as she believed most students would not refuse a free piece of clothing.

Senator Camilia Mohamed and Sen. Hunt both noted that only current seniors are aware of what R’Gear is and that most freshmen are unaware of the merchandise. Sen. Mido and Director Renteria expressed their support for surveying students to learn what kind of merchandise they prefer. SOE Sen. Leyan Elkatat supported President Assaf’s call to attain $20,000 in funding for the project. Motions to close the discussions then followed and passed 10-3-1.

VPEA Amina Hearns then spoke following the lengthy discourse and called for a hybrid or online live option to be implemented for senate meetings, as it would increase accessibility and engagement. EVP Usmani stated that she has been looking into broadcasting Senate Meetings on another platform than Zoom, due to difficulties experienced with online meetings during the pandemic.

Roundtable Announcements concluded the meeting with announcements ranging from the implementation of Peer Academic Advisors as well as BCOE town hall and a Women’s History Month event to both take place. The meeting was adjourned at 10:11 P.M.

Applicants needed for new Commission of the Deaf positions

HARU CHANG Assistant News Editor

The City of Riverside is now accepting applications for the new Commission of the Deaf, created by the City Council Jan. 24. The 13 commission members would represent the interests of the Riverside deaf community.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2019 American Community Survey, there are more than 155,903 people with hearing difficulty living within the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area. Previously the needs of those with hearing difficulties were addressed by an organization within the city called the Model Deaf Community Committee (MDCC), which was established in April 1998.

The City Council will be selecting two representatives for Ward 3 where the California School for the Deaf Riverside (CSDR) is located. Placing particular focus on the youth impacted by hearing difficulties. For the rest of the Wards will be assigned with one member of the commission. Two youth ex-officio members and three statewide members will be selected as well.

While youth ex-officio members will serve two-year terms, other members will be serving for four year terms. Youth ex-officio members must be 18 years of age and a current high school student attending a highschool in the City of Riverside.

In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom approved Senate Bill 24 which allows UC and CSU campuses to start offering abortion through medication to students by Jan. 1st, 2023. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, the state of California has taken steps to remove barriers to reproductive health on college campuses. According to a journal by Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, up to 519 UC and CSU students seek medicated abortion each month in California. While local Planned Parenthood facilities provide medicated abortion, public college students face many challenges such as financial troubles, commuting barriers, and busy schedules that can make attaining this medication rather difficult .

UCR’s Student Health Services provides affordable, fast, convenient medical care to students such as pregnancy tests, condoms, birth control, birth control counseling and emergency contraception. With the implementation of Senate Bill 24, medicated abortion is now available at Student Health Services and is covered under UCSHIP. If students have private insurance, they will be referred to their primary care provider.

Students will have access to SHS at (951) 827-3031 to make an appointment for “Family Care and Abortion Care Service.” The patient will then have a consultation with a Healthcare Provider at the Student Health Services building, where a healthcare provider will explain the medicated abortion process including time frames and expected results. The SHS building is located in Lot 15, near Pentland Hills. If the patient decides to continue their abortion care, a referral will be sent to the FPA Women’s Health Telehealth Team. The medication for abortion will be mailed and virtual follow-up meetings will be arranged to ensure the health of the patient.

The abortion pill is available during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Mifepristone 200 milligram and Misoprostol 800 milligram are the two types of pills that would be administered. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, tiredness and cramps. Pain medication is allowed to be prescribed by the medical providers to alleviate these common side effects.

With the dedication of human rights advocates, student accessibility to abortion has been addressed and implemented to colleges in California. Awareness of health care services at UCR enables students to access holistic healthcare on campus.

To learn more about the services that the UCR’s Student Health Services provides, you can call them at (951) 827-3031 or visit their website, https://studenthealth.ucr.edu.

■ H

The new Commision of the Deaf would serve at an advisory capacity to promote full participation in society: education and employment, effective communication, and cultural awareness. They would be reviewing community policies, programs, and actions which affect persons within the deaf community and make appropriate recommendations to the City Council. This assistance would be extended to other City boards, commissions, and City departments. The commissioners of the Deaf would also organize community outreach, and other duties directed by the City. The City Council will be relying on the Commissioners to be informed to make policy decisions to meet the accessibility needs of people with hearing difficulties.

The Commission of the Deaf replaces the MDCC. The Commission will be serving as an external review process and would be sustained for a long duration. The previous committee was a means of internal regulation and a temporary measure to address accessibility needs of the city. The Commission follows the same rules as other city boards and commissions, and is subject to Brown Act/Sunshine Ordinance requirements.

UCR provides medication for abortion after the passing of California Law

SINCE JANUARY 1ST, 2023, UCR OFFERS MEDICATED ABORTION AT STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES.

THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE IS IN SEARCH FOR APPLICANTS TO FILL THE NEW POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN THE NEW COMMISSION OF THE DEAF.

ANDREA MARIE LOMELI Contributing Writer

Photo Courtesy of Pexels

OpiniOns THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

UC Riverside needs to halt its business with Beacon Economics

UC Riverside is facing criticism from students and faculty over a research center that uses the UC name but is not operated by the university. The UC Riverside School of Business Center for Economic Forecasting and Development is instead run by Beacon Economics, a private consulting company that pays the campus royalty fees to use UC Riverside’s name on its reports. These reports include research on topics meant to sway public opinion on political policies causing UC members to bring up issues of legitimacy and create a petition urging the UC to stop its business relationship with Beacon Economics.

More than 100 UC graduate students and faculty members have signed the petition titled “Open letter to the UC Regents seeking investigation of the UC Riverside” pushing the UC to investigate and end its agreement with Beacon. Dylan Rodriguez, a media studies professor at UC Riverside, and former chair of UC Riverside’s Faculty Senate, stated that UC Riverside collecting royalty revenue from the center is “completely reprehensible” and a “blatant invitation to various forms of ethics violations.”

Beacon previously published reports funded by Lyft that promoted Proposition 22, a 2020 voter initiative that wished to treat app-based and delivery drivers as independent contractors, but ultimately failed. Recently it published another controversial paper funded by the California Restaurant Association that claimed increasing the state minimum wage was harmful to the restaurant industry. In this paper the law, AB 257, that set a higher minimum wage, was criticized and called out for leading to an increase in fast-food prices. This evidence has been critiqued by UC faculty who feel the information is misleading and oversimplified causing the AB 257 law to seem unfavorable when it is beneficial for the public.

The research center has also raised concerns over legitimacy with them needing to use UC Riverside’s name to bolster their reports. Academic integrity has long been a problem when it

comes to donors and allowing an industry to fund a study that directly affects them is a serious breach of integrity. The public is unable to rely on a privately run business to prioritize ethical practices and implement research that would align with the interests of the University.

While some research is backed by corporations or outside investors, Beacon needs to provide more transparency on how they are conducting business and who is evaluating and influencing their research. These allegations not only raise concerns about the conduct of the business and their economic influence on the research conducted in UC Riverside, but also the values of the University and the administration. It is unclear whether or not the administration’s interests are to uphold ethical, sustainable and socio-politically conscious research. UC Riverside needs to investigate Beacon and instate a review process to maintain legitimacy for its students and faculty.

■ 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 RIVERSIDE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS CENTER IS USING RIVERSIDE’S NAME TO GAIN LEGITIMACY ON ITS RESEARCH THAT IS UNASSOCIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY.

McDonald’s is ruining America

MATTHEW REALE Contributing Writer

The uniqueness of fast-food brands that once caught our eye, like the Golden Arches or Pizza Hut’s red roof, have been replaced by the same minimalist architecture that mimics upscale restaurants. These boring additions were no mistake, but rather, a sad example of how McDonaldization is negatively impacting society.

George Ritzer, a distinguished sociology professor for the University of Maryland, coined the term in his book, The McDonaldization of Society. It refers to four key qualities offered by the McCorporation: efficiency, calculability, predictability and control. McDonald’s provides efficiency with quick service. It offers calculability by serving large portions of food for low prices; individuals are getting the “most bang for their buck.” These restaurants give a sense of predictability or familiarity no matter where you are. When you order a Big Mac in New York, you can expect the taste to be almost the same as a Big Mac in Los Angeles. McDonald’s also controls both employees and customers with workers being slowly phased out by technology that does their jobs, like tablets that take your order and soft-drink machines that automatically stop when the drink is full. Customers are then coached through lines to sit down in uncomfortable seats meant to make people want to leave as soon as they finish eating.

While McDonaldization started in the fast food industry, it certainly has not stopped there. McDonaldization has affected other industries like sports, healthcare and even education. Sports fans can now buy their tickets through online vendors without ever interacting with an employee, doctor appointments consist of the physician spending fifteen or thirty minutes going through a checklist of items and each school district has a standardized curriculum that every child follows.

Riverside county’s sheriff department needs to be held accountable for inmate deaths

SONALI WHITTLE

Contributing Writer

Seemingly since its conception, there has been varying discourse related to law enforcement in this country. Distrust filters down to every rung on the ladder, including Riverside County’s own law department office. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has been accused of violating civil rights in practice. This past year, the county saw a significant rise of deaths in the county’s jails along with allegations of excessive force and other misconduct.

According to The Desert Sun, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that investigators will look into whether Sheriff Chad Bianco’s department has exhibited any misconduct or any repetitive patterns of unconstitutional behavior. Bianco himself has attempted to steer the image of his department by saying that the investigation is based on “nothing but false misleading statements, and straight-out lies from activists, including attorneys.” Biano has targeted activists and attorneys for the alleged misinformation.

This approach has led to dehumanization. While it may be nice to eliminate human error, sometimes unpredictability makes that meal all the more special. Imagine opening up your 10-piece Chicken McNuggets and finding 11 nuggets. This personal touch makes each interaction unique. Furthermore, the homogenization of society has resulted in too much familiarity. Since most brands have decided to switch towards a sleek, simple and boring image, everywhere feels and looks the same. It no longer feels special to visit certain brand-name stores. People are also being treated less as individuals and more as a collective entity.

However, McDonaldization is not entirely bad. In this fast paced society, it’s necessary to be efficient. People often do not have time nor want to make the commitment to spend over an hour eating at a restaurant when they can eat a meal in less than fifteen minutes. Furthermore, the uniform nature allows a wider range of goods and services to be distributed across the country and rural areas that do not traditionally have access to fresh food. The uniformity of the services ensure the same quality and familiarity. This more impersonal approach gets rid of some of the personal bias and prejudice that is inherent in human interaction.

While McDonaldization has benefited American society, it causes problems that are much worse. If society were to continue down this dark path of efficiency, life will seem a lot more bland and pointless. This can stunt the personal growth of humanity and potentially lead to a society that lacks creativity and individuality.

The state is looking into the sheriff’s department for misconduct following a rise in inmate deaths in the past year.

There are several incidents around the country that highlight police abuse against prisoners and civilians. It is implausible that Riverside County’s department could be guilty of misconduct. The Desert Sun reported that “20 inmates have died in the county’s jails since January 2022.” This is the most deaths that the county has seen in over a decade. A sudden spike in deaths raises questions as to why there’s been such a steep climb in numbers.

The Riverside County Sheriff Department is, at the very least, overlooking what is happening within their department. This rise in deaths is genuinely concerning and the documented allegations of misconduct and abuse of power are strong indicators that the department is guilty of doing something wrong.

The statement from the Sheriff himself, blaming lawyers and activists, raises even more suspicion. Although the department has offered to be fully cooperative, whether that promise will actually be fulfilled remains questionable. If the department is found guilty of misconduct, Sheriff Bianco, who has faced other criticisms in this role, and any other individuals involved should be removed from their positions.

Many facets of American society have been corrupted by McDonaldization.

Campus cope: preparing for graduation!

ere’s much to do with 12 weeks le - here are some reminders to add to your checklist

ASHLEY CHEN Features Editor

As winter quarter is coming to an end, applications to graduate in the Spring have finally been released. For those who are graduating this year, there is so much to do in such little time. Sometimes, I think about the time when I started my first quarter at UCR. Excited, driven and motivated are just a few of the many emotions I felt rushing through me as I anticipated my very first day of college.

Three years later and I still feel these exact same emotions as I anticipate what lies ahead of me when I graduate. The big day is just a couple months away but there are so many things to do before then. I always feel nervous about forgetting something important when something like this is just around the corner. However, I like to keep track of all the reminders given out through emails by our advisors or school websites with a Google calendar or the Notes app. My advisor usually sends out weekly reminders of when important deadlines are coming and when applications open. Although I know some advisors do not do this often, reaching out to your advisor about your questions can help you plan your personal deadlines. Do not be afraid to ask because the advisors are there to help you!

Graduation applications recently opened up and are due on Monday, March 6, 2023 through your R’Web! For those who have applied to graduate in Fall or Winter 2023, you are eligible to walk in the Spring 2023 commencement ceremony with those who have applied to graduate in the Spring. If you are expected to graduate Summer 2023, you may be eligible to also participate in the Spring 2023 ceremony as well if you submit your application by Monday, April 10, 2023!

For my colleges, CHASS and SOE, I did not have any additional requirements once I applied to graduate. However, if you are in a different college, you may have additional requirements, steps or capstone requirements needed to fulfill before you are approved to graduate and participate in the ceremony. Make sure to continue checking your graduating status after applying to make sure there are no additional requirements needed!

Not only is this a big day for me, it’s also a big day for my family and friends as they prepare to take off work or be excused from school to attend my graduation ceremony. The Intent to Participate form is set to be released on Monday, April 17, 2023. Information about this will be emailed to us that afternoon so be on the lookout! For those who send in their Intent to Participate form by the deadline, you are guaranteed a minimum of eight complimentary guest tickets for the ceremony. However, if you would like to purchase more guest tickets, the maximum number of tickets may vary by ceremony. Ticket ordering is not on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For more information about Commencement 2023, important upcoming dates and deadlines, schedules of all ceremonies, links to your college’s requirements to graduate and a graduation guide and checklist, check out https://commencement.ucr.edu. Congrats Highlanders! We did it. The finish line is so close so keep pushing through and enjoy your last few months at UCR.

Do we have to break up?

Can long distance relationships really work out?

NATALIE DAHL Staff Writer

If one or both partners move, can their relationship last? I think yes. Distance doesn’t make a relationship more likely to fail; it just puts a relationship to the test and forces both partners to develop their emotional, vulnerability, and communication skills. My opinion is for anyone whose partner is moving away is to at least try. If you grow apart and break up, then nothing worse is happening compared to breaking up in the first place. And if there is a possibility for you to be together again in the short or medium term future, then you and your partner have something to look forward to! Your time apart will make the memories you make when together even more special.

I am in what I consider to be a “mid-distance” relationship. It’s a long enough distance that we can only see each other on occasional weekends when our schedules line up and we can carve out enough time to drive to each other. Most of the time, I hate it and wish we could live closer together. When I’ve had a hard day, I end up feeling pretty alone and wish for nothing more than to have the support of my significant other. But I value the times when I get to see my partner so much more than I did when we could hang out all the time. What’s worked for me is creating a solid structure of times that we can call each other daily. Additionally, instead of texting throughout the day, I like writing down things that I want to share with my partner so I can verbally tell them. This makes me feel like less of a pen pal, and more of a person present in my partner’s life.

I know I would be glued to my partner‘s hip if we went to the same schools, so our distance forces me to prioritize my friendships, which is especially important as college is a time to meet new people. So while long distance does suck, they’re not a sure-fire reason to break off your relationship and they can help you grow both as an individual and as a partner.

Photo Courtesy of Pexels

Sitting down with UCR’s Model United Nations

ANNELISE MCCULLOUGH Contributing Writer

UCR’s Model United Nations club has seen many successes as a result of its member’s dedication and hard work. With their upcoming conference in New York City, I have sat down with members of the executive board to learn more about MUN and what to expect for the conference.

Sitting down for the interview were members of MUN’s executive* board. Cecilia Lopez Gonzalez; fourth-year political science major and MUN President, Angela Chien; second-year political science/international affairs major and MUN Outreach Coordinator, Subham Barua; fifthyear political science/economics double major and Outreach Deputy, Armando Ruiz-Rosas; third-year public policy/spanish double major and Finance Director, Haley Perez- Rodriguez; third-year political science/ international affairs major and Fundraising Coordinator, and Tomas Alves; second-year political science/international affairs major and Secretary.

The Model United Nations club aims to give its members the opportunity of emulating the United Nations by learning about global policy issues and creating solutions to them. There are local and national conferences where MUN members have the opportunity to act as delegates for the countries they represent. All members are welcome to participate in local conferences, but a more selective interview process is utilized to select the group of delegates for national conferences. There are two major national conferences that UCR MUN attend; Washington DC in November and New York in April. With the New York conference fast approaching, UCR MUN is busy with preparations.

The national conference is hosted by NMUN – the group that hosts the MUN simulations. Delegates invited to participate come from all over the world. During the New York conference, UCR will be representing the countries of the United Arab Emirates and South Sudan with a twentyseven person team including five alternates. Leading the team are head delegates Tomas Alves and Armando Ruiz-Rosas.

To prepare the delegates organized meetings with notable people such as the South Sudanese ambassador to Ethiopia and representative to the African Union and the ambassador of Poland. During the conference, the MUN team has plans to meet with dignitaries of the United Arab Emirates.

I asked for the topics that would be discussed at the conference and learned that there are multiple different committees that have different issues they focus on. One committee is the General Assembly First Committee or GA1. The topic discussed will be Youth for Disarmament, Proliferation, and Peace, Barua says. Another committee is the Security Council or SC and one of the topics is Women Peace and Security: Ending Cycles of Sexual Violence and Conflict. The General Assembly third Committee is Safeguarding Human Rights of Persons Displaced by Climate Change.

I sat down with both of them to learn about what to expect from the conference. “It’s a weeklong conference”, explains Alves, “and is characterized by a lot of committee meetings.”

The conference begins with role call and housekeeping rules. Then begins the main part of the conference: the formal and informal sessions.

The conference goes back and forth between formal and informal sessions until the conference is over.

“During formal sessions is where individual countries are giving speeches… in order to voice their stances and opinions” on the given topics, says Chien. Individuals will also be given the motion to end the formal session and begin the informal session. The informal session is where “the discussions and negotiations come into play.” This is where policies and recommendations will be created and teams are able to determine if they can “work with a member state” and scope out possible signatories. The informal session is also where UCR MUN’s diplomatic skills will shine.

The goal at the end of the conference is to have “written and passed a resolution… that was voted on and passed by the entire committee body,” Chien explains.

“There is a great amount of opportunity that you can receive in New York ranging from personal development to networking”, says RuizRosas. The MUN conference is an invaluable opportunity to learn from and work with people all over the world, gaining firsthand experience of different perspectives and seeing how to work together to create policy for problems affecting the world presently. The conference helps to “get a global perspective of what the international community really is.”

UCR’s model UN is a competitive and diligent club, they have high expectations for themselves and expect to place in the top five percent of the delegations that attend. According to Ruiz-Rosas, as head delegates, he and Alves have the unique responsibility of leading the delegates to success and are “taking that on with a really great passion.” However, during their free time, the delegates are looking forward to enjoying a more relaxing trip in New York once the conference is over by playing tourist and enjoying the city.

According to Ruiz-Rosas, as head delegates, he and Alves have the unique responsibility of leading the delegates to success and are “taking that on with a really great passion.”

There was overwhelming praise for the public speaking, leadership, and diplomatic skills that MUN instills in its members. Further than those skills, Cecilia Lopez-Gonzalez shares that her favorite part of MUN has been the unique opportunity to establish friendships with international students at the conference that would have otherwise been unable to happen. Barua also highlights the importance of the MUN conferences in networking, graduate school opportunities, and study abroad programs. As Lopez-Gonzales puts it, “the club is a forum to elevate ourselves.”

UCR MUN is always looking for new members to join them, regardless of major or prior experience. Apart from general meetings, they host socials which is a great opportunity to meet MUN members and learn more about the club. MUN is committed to developing your strengths and teaching you skills that are applicable to whatever you choose to do in the future. If you are someone who wants to develop or strengthen their public speaking, diplomatic, and writing skills, go check out UCR’s MUN.

Campus Cope: Preparing for finals week

ALEXANDRIA LACHMAN Staff Writer

With finals approaching, the stress and anxiety that comes with it isn’t far behind. The anxiety of feeling overwhelmed and the need to end the quarter off with that perfect score is stressful. With all the studying that goes into finals week, it’s important to take time for yourself and to know your limits.

Studying with friends can make you take accountability for those designated study hours you promised yourself while also not letting yourself feel alone when the pressure and long hours gets to you. Having a support group who can acknowledge and relate to those feelings that arise with preparing for finals can make all the difference. Also, make sure that with all the caffeinated drinks you’re bound to consume, to stay hydrated with water. Coffee and energy drinks can help for staying up for long hours but provide no hydration that you’ll need to stay healthy for this finals week.

Another reminder, make sure to make time in your schedule to eat a decent meal and to always have a snack on hand. With your mind set on one goal, it can be easy to forget the last time you ate. That pain you feel in your head 5 hours into studying… yeah that’s not your brain absorbing all the information, that’s your brain letting you know that you’re hungry.

Most importantly, make time to relax and have a much needed break in between all study sessions. Resting your eyes for 30 minutes to even stretching your legs and going for a small walk outside can make all the difference. Finals week is stressful for everyone but it’s important that you remember to take it one day at a time and don’t overdo it when you’re on the peak of a burnout. Good luck this upcoming finals week Highlanders! ■ H

2023 Best Picture Nominees ranked

LUKE LIAO Contributing Writer

With the award season fully underway and the 2023 Oscars arriving soon, ranking the Oscar best picture nominees is the best way to commemorate this year’s award show.

10. “Elvis”

The trite biopic is an example of sacrificing substance for style, offering an elementary glimpse at the rock ‘n’ roll icon. Director Baz Luhrmann has always been known to employ extravagant visuals and rapid-fire editing, but in a story that demands depth, some restraint was needed. Amid unwarranted runtime and indulgence lies Austin Butler’s stirring, committed performance.

9. “AvAtA r: t h E WAy of th E WAt E r”

The science fiction epic boasts trailblazing VFX work and greatly expands upon the world its predecessor moored. While it makes the wise decision to pivot focus on the Sully children’s escapades, the writing feigns profundity and selfhood throughout. This is a spectacle championed by none, but it’s not hard to believe that the story was in service or second to the technology.

8. “All Qui E t on th E W E st E rn f ront”

The German language retelling of the classic novel operates between the immersive storm of trench warfare and a drawl of an armistice race. The glaring shortcoming of this rendition is the discussions of the perils of blind nationalism and the importance of humanism that the novel and 1930 film included, respectively. The film seems more interested in depicting hell on earth, which it does with great technicality. But with its embellished style and score, it seems to revel in this inferno.

7. “ t h E fA bE lm A ns”

Steven Spielberg’s story about his youth and love for filmmaking will work for many but left some audiences feeling impartial. The amount of coming-of-age aspects the semi-autobiography attempts to touch is ultimately its handicap: these scenes are always sterile. Whether it is sugary or not, the underlying message about cinema and the unspoken interactions capture the implicit familial dynamic more gracefully than verbal exchanges.

THE ACADEMY’S 10 PICKS COMPETE FOR THE COVETED AWARD THIS SUNDAY, BUT WHICH ONES ARE WORTH SEEING?

6. “ t ri A ngl E of sA dn E ss”

The newest comedy satire from Ruben Ostlund has a promising start, jabbing at the gender roles and privilege of the relationship between two models. Unfortunately, as more characters are added to the melting pot, its social messages and nimble script lose serration. The film prospers when character dynamics are given room to breathe because Ostlund has an array of caricatures and a talented ensemble behind them. Although “Triangle of Sadness” flatlines as any form of satire, its bursts of meaningful character interactions and visual gags are entertaining.

5. “Wom E n tA lking”

A timely film, Sarah Polley’s drama adapts Miriam Toew’s book of the same name, following a Mennonite community, the sexual violence inflicted upon them and the irresolution that is left. Certain stretches fringe on artifice with Socratic formality, but the script is nonetheless confident from start to finish. Although a decision is reached, a sense of certitude and trajectory is not always capitalized — the discourse acts more like, and triumphs as, a think piece.

4. “ top gun: mAv E rick”

“Maverick” pays homage to the original from its color grading, campiness and credits sequence, but outdoes Tony Scott’s film in every element. The respect for its predecessor also carries over to the audience; the legacy sequel is a crowd-pleaser. There is something for everyone whether it is the action, romance, bromance, zingers or high stakes. The dedication to camerawork and craft is prevalent, allowing these galvanizing action set pieces to take flight.

3. “ t h E bA nsh EE s of i nish E rin”

The tragicomedy about a fallout of two friends finds writer-director Martin McDonagh flexing his comedic and dramatic writing dexterity. The humor is crude as always, jokes can range from genitals, bread vans and donkey feces. But what begins as banter deftly shifts into misfortune. Much of this stated penmanship goes a long way thanks to Colin Farrell, who is both dopey and heartbreaking as the one grappling with his friend’s sudden behavior. On the verdant island, an increasingly weighty and memorable interplay unfolds.

2. “Ev E rything

Ev E ry W h E r E All At onc E ”

In simple terms, the film is an action adventure, familial drama, raunchy comedy and a science fiction trip. The brainchild of Daniels could be described as any of these and many more. The multiverse story juggles genres while never losing sight of the centerpiece: the Wang family through their highs and lows. Michelle Yeoh plays the matriarch, leading a faultless supporting cast. While it could not be more intimate, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” remains existentially profound. When all of the zaniness and discord resides, we are left with a sentiment akin to the phrase, amor fati, “love of one’s fate.” The film confronts headon themes but never pretends to have all the answers to life’s what-ifs.

1. “ tár”

“Tár” is a masterfully crafted character deconstruction and delves into power dynamics made possible by Cate Blanchett in a career-high performance and a painstakingly restrained screenplay. Director Todd Field offers us a puzzle box of an individual, revealing information from the top down. Like its titular character’s image, the film leverages a deceptive facade, allowing nuances in conversation or corporal performance to be (over)analyzed. However there is practically no screen time that goes unjustified in “Tár’s” 2 hours and 37 minutes — even the credits are pertinent. Everything has a purpose to service Tár: her relationships, psyche and personality. Avoiding a definitive turning point, “Tár” takes the long road, following the maestro conductor down a complex descent from omnipotence.

Artist spotlight: Harvesting Chicano cultura and memorias with Vero Sanchez-Gomez

BRENDA JOVEL Radar Editor

Beginning at the age of 14, Vero Sanchez Gomez began their artistic endeavors within the Santa Barbara Arts Alliance, a program assisting at-risk youths within their neighborhoods to explore art. After becoming a mentor in the program, Vero delved into the world of Chicano history and cultura which she currently can express through Chicano Student Programs (CSP) at UCR.

The role of CSP in Vero’s college experience has engraved itself into their life even before UCR. “The main reason why I came to UCR was that my sister was an alumnus. CSP provided support for her, and seeing her graduate motivated me to pursue college since I’m first gen,” Vero stated. Now as a third-year majoring in Anthropology, Vero has collected immense experiences and friendships throughout their 3-year journey at CSP as their Social Media and Marketing Coordinator.

“I feel privileged having art as my main thing, and having CSP value my work. Every piece is very hands-on and there is a contribution from everyone when curating events,” she said.

CSP is known for hosting Semana De La Mujer (Feb. 18-24), “a week-long series that aims to emphasize the accomplishments of Chicanas/Latinas.” This year’s theme: “HERSTORY is healing, strength, and an act of resistance. As we unlearn the things that no longer serve us, lagrimas are what help us release and nourish. Seguiremos floreciendo y brotando con alegría,” as written on their Instagram page.

When talking about this year’s Semana De La Mujer, the joy and passion sparking out of Vero’s voice and eyes was undeniable. “This year was the most personal to me. Our Assistant Director, Arlene Cano Matute, wanted the theme to center around wrinkles —- honoring historias and memories.”

Vero recounted that that same day, her aunt sent her a photo of her grandmother, and after showing the picture to Matute, her grandmother became the central image of the event. “I feel connected to my grandma. She went through so much, and I feel I am a product of her resistance toward the world. I’m in a big academic space, and I hope she is very proud of me.”

The series began with various speaker panels and an art exhibition where Vero had a chance to showcase their work on the first floor of the Rivera Library. When asked if they felt pressure when it came to presenting their work to the public, Vero recalls feeling nervous since she had a three-week deadline of completing the piece.

“Making art for me is chaos, but it’s fun — it’s a fun controlled chaos. When it gets to be not fun anymore is when I need to finish it [a piece]. The last day, I had class and I was between being ‘above the mood happy’ [finishing the piece] or going to class, and I went to class late but I definitely felt rushed, a little going on autopilot. It ended up working out and everyone enjoyed it,” Vero said.

The painting also took on a surrealist approach, and as Vero described, a form of art that takes on fantastical elements with realism. This kind of approach can make pieces feel dreamy, as “surrealism takes on more organic, flowy lines whereas realism takes on more harsh, symmetrical lines.”

Vero later described the messages she wishes to convey in her art. “A lot of my work stems from myself; self-healing, and struggles with mental health. Showing people that even though the world is crumbling around you, you can make your own reality.” Vero went on to say, “A lot of my work has research on it. I base my work on Mexican heritage or different mythology. It’s okay to look into your ancestral roots and look into your culture and thrive within it.”

To end the week, CSP hosted Poesía Peligrosa on Feb. 23, a quarterly event originally hosted by Teatro Quinto Sol (TQS) before it was dismantled during the pandemic. Vero was part of Teatro Quinto’s final year as a freshman, and along with Matute, who was also an alum from TQS, began their goal to host Poesía Peligrosa at The Barn this year.

“[TQS’S] Previous president, Ashley Nicole Diaz, was our keynote speaker for the night. It was amazing, and [Poesía Peligrosa] can be vulnerable and a space to cry. Everyone is willing to listen and be a part of it,” said Vero. “It is a queer-positive, artistic space. It is a space for students to come unrestricted, unfiltered.” Singing, dancing and spoken word are examples of the acts that several students perform during the event. Vendors (often UCR students) are also able to present and sell their pieces to the public.

This year was a true success for Vero and their team, as Poesía Peligrosa welcomed many students into their arms even under the rain. Though Poesía Peligrosa is meant to be a quarterly event, Vero hopes that CSP can continue this and possibly revive TQS. “It may not happen until next year, but there is a lot of support from alumni on campus,” she stated.

For final thoughts, Vero stated that she is thankful for her friends, saying, “They impact my art a lot. [I’ve] been so thankful for all the friendships I’ve created.” Vero also gave a shoutout to Emmanuel Aguilar for their support! ■ H

‘Daisy Jones and the Six’ is a soap opera disguised as a story about a band

RAMITA SETTY

Contributing Writer

The fictional 1970s rock band “Daisy Jones and the Six,” inspired by Fleetwood Mac, are working towards becoming the iconic band the series sells them as in the first three episodes released by Amazon Prime on March 2. We meet Daisy (Riley Keough), the discontented, free-spirited daughter of wealthy parents and Billy (Sam Claflin), a domineering personality who views the band as more his property than anything else. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the series is set up as a documentary, interviewing the members of the band twenty years after their last performance together on their rise and fall from fame. The series depends on two things to work: the music and the larger-than-life romance between Daisy and Billy that will eventually bring everything crashing down. But it’s still too soon to tell how Daisy and Billy’s relationship will pan out, as both of them meet for the first time while recording Billy’s new song,

“Honeycomb” at the end of episode three. Perhaps in fleshing out their romance, the series finds its footing, as it feels much more at home with soap opera romance than the story of a band, as evidenced by Billy and Camilla’s (Camila Morrone)’s relationship.

The story seems unable to strike a balance between the personal and the musical, careening a little too much toward the former. We see Billy and Camilla’s romance bloom and then fall apart as he starts doing drugs and blooms again, while the rest of the band members serve as little more than awkward background decorations to this melodramatic soap opera.

The music doesn’t seem too promising either. Every song on the band’s album, “Aurora,” has the same pop beat and generic sound that will leave you wondering how this band became so world famous. Because of this, the big moment at the end of episode three when we hear Billy and Daisy sing together for the first time falls flat.

Daisy’s story, meanwhile, feels a little more cohesive, as Keough channels the acerbic rock goddess-in-making who will soon become the lead singer for The Six. Following Daisy, as she flits about in the Los Angeles music scene and tries to find her voice, the series feels most like what it billed itself as the chaotic musician trying to make their voice heard.

The setting feels oddly sanitized. There is no sense of the nitty-gritty hedonism or glamor of 1970s rock. There are various scenes of drug use and sex, but they feel like a slight window dressing of depravity garnishing vanilla characters; antithetical to what the 70s rock scene was really like. Instead, it feels like a millennial imagination of what it was actually like, which could perhaps describe the series as a whole. ■ H

UCR UNDERGRAD VERO TELLS THE HIGHLANDER THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH CSP AND THEIR ARTISTIC JOURNEY.

COURTESY OF VERO SANCHEZ GOMEZ

‘The Mandalorian’ season three premiere has a rough and underwhelming start

In the three years since the release of the second season, fans have been eagerly waiting for the third season of “The Mandalorian’’ to be released. Since the success of the first season, the show has garnered a broad fan base. Alongside longtime “Star Wars” fans, the show gained a new audience’s interest in the franchise. With the wide storylines in the franchise, “The Mandalorian” is yet another storyline for audiences to delve into and build upon the overall lore of the “Star Wars” universe. After season three premiered on March 1, “The Mandalorian” will air new episodes on Disney+ every Wednesday.

Set in a galaxy far away “The Mandalorian” is set five years after the original Star Wars films. The show follows the Mandalorian bounty hunter, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) across the outer rim of the galaxy. In the first season, Din was hired to recover a child of the same species as the well-known “Star Wars” character, Yoda, and bring him to Imperial Forces. However, he instead goes on the run to protect the child, Grogu, from getting in the wrong hands. In the second season, Din ventures on a journey to find the Jedi and return force-sensitive Grogu to his kind. However, since the events in “The Book of Boba Fett,” Din and Grogu reunite before the events of the third season.

Starting off strong, the premiere of season 3 reveals plenty to the audience about what to expect in the upcoming episodes. In it, Din talks about redeeming himself after getting kicked out of the Mandalorian Tribe for removing his helmet. To be reinstated back into the tribe, Din needs to come into contact with Mandalore’s waters. Although Mandalore was destroyed by the Empire during the Great Purge, he discovers proof that the mines are still intact with living water in them. He then begins his journey of redemption to Mandalore.

Despite being in armor and a helmet for almost the entirety of the show, Pedro Pascal does an excellent job in his performance as the titular character. Since the show started airing, many fans have praised Pascal’s acting even with his face being obscured. Additionally, fans have loved Grogu’s character, noting the cuteness and mystery of the character. As the show progress, one of the highlights is the dad-sonlike relationship between the Mandalorian and Grogu.

While parental roles are common in the “Star Wars” franchise, “The Mandalorian” connects to this role in a way that the others have not done before. As this connection shows a softer side to the tough and closed-off bounty hunter. As a result, it makes the Mandalorian more relatable and gains audiences’ sympathy to understand the character on a more human level despite his anonymity. In other “Star Wars” works, the parental role was typically avoided or did not go into depth. The show contrasts this as Din and Grogu have a close bond with each other and grow into the dad and son dynamic. As the season progresses, the audience can see the connection between the two forges even deeper, as they become closer and more fond of each other.

Verdict:

Season three, episode one of “The Mandalorian” does well in setting up the plot for the season, but it falls short in creating excitement and building anticipation for what is to come.

Although the past two seasons were promising, the premiere of season three disappoints in the excitement factor that will engage the audience for future episodes. The first episode does well in setting up the storyline for the rest of the season. However, as most premieres go, a lot more thrilling scenes are included to hype up fans for what is to come. Instead, the episode focuses more on setting up the plot, rather than building anticipation. Additionally, fans have been complaining about difficulty catching up. The season starts with a vague recap of the past seasons and expectations that the audience has watched “The Book of Boba Fett,” to keep up with the Mandalorian and Grogu. Despite the underwhelming beginning, there is still some promise for future episodes.

THE MANDALORIAN AND HIS COMPANION, GROGU, RETURN TO THE AUDIENCE’S SCREENS AS THEY EMBARK ON A NEW JOURNEY TO MANDALORE.

KIMBERLY BEJEC Staff Writer

Courtesy of Disney+

Courtesy of Disney+

Courtesy of Disney+

UC Riverside falls to UC Irvine 65-75 in a wild finish

HANSEL CHU Sports Editor

The UC Riverside men’s basketball team lost to UC Irvine 65-75 Thursday night in an extremely packed SRC Arena for Senior Night. Going into this game, the Highlanders rode a four-game winning streak with a chance to regain the number-one spot in the Big West Conference standings. UC Riverside celebrated three seniors in this special occasion: guards Zyon Pullin, Jamal Hartwell II, and Flynn Cameron. However, a rough shooting night for UCR helped propel the Anteaters to a much-needed win.

UC Irvine came out strong in the first half as they took an early 9-0 lead. UCI center Bent Leuchten scored the first seven points for the Anteaters as the Highlanders remained scoreless before Cameron knocked down a corner three-pointer to get UC Riverside on the scoreboard. UCI guard DJ Davis knocked down a pair of jump shots to give UC Irvine a 14-3 lead with 12:57 left in the first half. However, UCR climbed back into the game with the three-ball as they cut the lead within four points by connecting on three-pointers. Cameron started to heat up past the midway point of the first half as he scored eight straight points for the Highlanders to give them their first lead, 17-16, with 9:00 left until halftime. The Anteaters were able to regain the lead back before Cameron knocked down another three-pointer to tie the game at 20-20. Both teams continued to trade baskets and the lead as the first half started to wind down.

THE HIGHLANDERS WERE UNABLE TO SECURE THE NUMBER ONE SEED ON SENIOR NIGHT.

With 38 seconds left on the clock, Leuchten finished a wide-open dunk off a miss to give UCI a 33-30 lead. With time expiring, UCI guard Dawson Baker finished a tough floater with the foul to give UC Irvine a sixpoint lead going into the half, 36-30.

UC Irvine was able to control the lead in the second half as Davis and Leuchten carried the offensive load. A layup from freshman forward Lachlan Olbrich was able to cut the deficit to within two points, but the Anteaters went on an 11-2 run to push their lead back up to double digits, 52-41, with about 12:29 left in the game. Moments later, UCI guard Ofure Ujadughele went coast-to-coast and finished a layup to give UC Irvine their biggest lead of the night, 57-44.

However, the Highlanders were able to respond by going on a run of their own to get back into the game. A three-pointer from sophomore forward Vladimer Salaridze stopped the bleeding for UCR and a step-back jump shot from Pullin brought the deficit back within single digits. Off of a chase-down block from Olbrich, Cameron raced down the other end and dunked the ball with his right hand to erupt the SRC Arena into a frenzy and gave momentum to UC Riverside. Soon later, Cameron connected on a threeball to bring the deficit within one point, 59-58, with 5:51 left in the game.

Down the stretch, UC Irvine would respond in a huge way to regain control of the game and seal the

game. A layup from Ujadughele stopped the run from the Highlanders and a dunk from UCI center Dean Keeler pushed the lead back up to five. Moments later, Davis would knock down an open corner three-pointer to push the lead back up to 10 points and silence the SRC Arena. UCR suddenly went cold from the field and could not seem to get a shot to fall down. The Anteaters would knock down their free throws and with the time winding down, UC Riverside would have their four-game winning streak snapped as they lost 65-75.

Cameron led the way for the Highlanders with 26 points and five rebounds, which included five threepointers on the night. Pullin had a solid game as well with 14 points and seven assists. However, UCR shot 9-34 from three-point range and could not seem to find an answer for Davis, who finished with 26 points for UCI.

The Highlanders finished their regular season with a gutsy win at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and finished their season with a 21-11 record (14-6), placing them at the number third spot in the Big West Conference standings. They will travel to Henderson, Nevada for the Big West Conference Championship Tournament and their first game will be against UC Davis on Thursday, Mar. 9.

■ H

Redbull and Max Verstappen are set to breeze through another F1 Season

KIA NOOSHI

Assistant Sports Editor

With the new F1 season beginning this weekend in Bahrain the grid has just conducted preseason testing with teams getting as many laps possible with their new cars in order to find their best setups. This new season is the second year of the massive new changes to the chassis implemented by the FIA in the turbo hybrid engine era. Prior to these changes F1 was marked by a Mercedes dynasty with the German team having won every constructors and drivers title up for grabs. The new technical regulations ended their dominance with Redbull adjusting to the new regulations with one of the most dominant driver-car combinations in F1 history with Max Verstappen and the RB18.

For this 2023 season blue chip teams such as Mercedes and Ferrari looked to get back to championship ways after dominating the sport for the better part of the past two decades, however, it looks to be Redbull once again who are setting the pace with the RB19. The RB19 looks to marry the concepts of downforce and low drag to perfection allowing their car, which is powered by a Honda engine, to be both rapid on the straights and efficient through the corners. Mercedes and Ferrari on the other hand both struggle with their race pace due to their less than perfect chassis and have resorted to stripping the paint back

in order to save as much weight as possible, this being more prevalent in the Mercedes which sports a black livery consisting mainly of non-painted carbon fiber.

Ferrari and Mercedes with their struggle have opened the path for another team to enter the battle for a top four spot in the constructors championship. Aston Martin, who race with a new lineup consisting of veterans Lance Stroll and two-time champion Fernando Alonso, are a surprise to every team on the grid. In the previous season, Aston were among the worst teams on the grid finishing seventh in the standings just ahead of the backmarkers of the sport, however it looks like their off season development has yielded incredible results as their car looked incredibly dangerous in the preseason tests, especially when driven by the aforementioned Alonso.

2023 shapes up to be an interesting season as the long calendar gives teams ample time to develop upgrades in order to squeeze every ounce of pace out of their machinery. With that said however, every team has a mountain to climb in order to match and be able to overtake the formula RedBull have perfected for the new technical regulations. The majority of the teams: Alfa Romeo; AlphaTauri; Alpine; Haas; McLaren; and Williams, have no chance at competing for wins given their lack of pace during testing and are relegated to

battling amongst themselves in the midfield and as backmarkers. That leaves just Mercedes, Ferrari, and Aston Martin who have a viable shot at competing for podiums and wins consistently, but how consistently will determine whether or not they can compete with RedBull for both driver and constructors titles.

Mercedes and Ferrari will have to overcome their struggles with poor engineering either on their chassis in the case of Mercedes, or their engine reliability in the case of Ferrari; issues which will hinder them and definitely take them out of the contention in several races until those problems are resolved. In Aston Martin’s case, they as a team appear to be too inexperienced with the top of the grid to effectively challenge RedBull in engineering, and their driver lineup while one of the better pairings on the grid, is no match to the ridiculous duo that is Sergio Perez and reigning champion Max Verstappen who is determined to get his threepeat on drivers titles. 2023 has all the makings to be an exciting one over the upcoming nine months but it looks unlikely that anyone will be able to challenge RedBull and the RB19. ■ H

COURTESY OF UCR SPORTS