Volume 72, Issue 09 by The Highlander- UCR

The Highlander

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

For the week of Tuesday, November 28, 2023

VOL. 72, ISSUE 09

est. 1954

FEATURES

How to conquer “Twilight” core this winter MAKE THE BEST OF THE UPCOMING WINTER SEASON BY CHANNELING YOUR “TWILIGHT” FANTASIES. GABRIELA GALVAN Contributing Writer

COURTESY OF SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT

RADAR

SAG-AFTRA members consider the ramifications of new contract

NEWS North District Phase 2 breaks ground

NOT ALL OF SAG-AFTRA’S MEMBERS ARE HAPPY ABOUT THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF WORKERS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

RAMITA SETTY Staff Writer

NEW DEVELOPMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RCCD WOULD ADD 1568 NEW BEDS. SENNA OMAR AND EMYR ORTIZ Managing Editor and Assistant News Editor

After 118 days of striking, the Screen Actor Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAGAFTRA), the union representing over 160,000 actors, reached a tentative deal for a new contract with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the entity representing entertainment companies such as Disney, Netflix, Amazon and more, creating a path for the industry to get back to work. Actors, who have struggled for years with issues surrounding residuals on streaming

shows and growing future concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) replacing background performers, took to the picket lines in order to demand a better contract. The newly proposed tentative deal involves some substantial wins for the union, such as increases in compensation for streaming shows and films, better healthcare funding, and concessions on self-taped auditions. It also guarantees studios will not use artificial intelligence to create “digital replicas” of actors’ likenesses without payment or approval.

► SEE SAG-AFTRA PAGE 12

apartment-style buildings housing 1568 new beds, 326 of which are for RCCD students, and new recreational areas. Heidi Scribner, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Auxiliary Services, sees North District Phase 2 as a step in addressing the demand for housing on campus. “We do see the demand [for housing] continuing to hold strong and increase, and in order for us to meet that, we need to continue to develop.” Auxiliary Services include Housing, Dining, Hospitality, Transportation ► SEE NORTH DISTRICT PAGE 4

@thehighlanderucr @HighlanderUCR UCRHighlander NEWS 3

OPINIONS 6

FEATURES 9

RADAR 12

SPORTS 15

KUCR 88.3 FM

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Upcoming Events:

UCR Taiko Ensemble Recital 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Barn

Transfer Tuesday 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. HMNSS 1614

I Spy a Scholarship 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Virtual Event

Nurturing Parenting Workshop 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Virtual Event

SHS Flu Vaccine Clinic 8 a.m. SHCC Conference Room

Graduate Writing Series 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. HUB 260

UCR Twilight Transfer Talks 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. HUB 379

Kirsten Ashley Wiest Vocal Studio Concert 8 p.m. ARTS 166

Holiday Carillon Recital 3 p.m. UCR Bell Tower

Tai Chi Workshops 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. SRC MPR C

Men’s Basketball vs. North Dakota 4 p.m. SRC Arena

Surprise Snack Giveaway Orbach and Rivera Libraries

Fall 2023 Dance Showings 2:30 p.m.

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KELLEY MANZO / THE HIGHLANDER

Sunday

HIGHLANDER STAFF Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor

Senna Omar

Brenda Jovel

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News Editor

Asst. News Editor

Emyr Ortiz

Mata Elangovan

news@highlandernews.org Opinions editor Ysabel Nakasone opinions@highlandernews.org Features Editor

eorti082@ucr.edu Asst. Opinions Editor Cecile Diroll cdiro001@ucr.edu Asst. Features Editor

Natalie Dahl

features@highlandernews.org

Maribel Gamez-Reyes mgame016@ucr.edu

Radar Editor Brendan Vo radar@highlandernews.org

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Sports Editor Hansel Chu sports@highlandernews.org

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Photography Editor

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Asst. Photo Editor Irene Tu ytu021@ucr.edu Copy Editor

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NEWS

News

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/news

TUESDAY, NOV 28, 2023

Four-day humanitarian pause between Hamas and Israel QATAR BROKERS A DEAL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND HOSTAGE RELEASES.

SENNA OMAR Managing Editor

On Friday morning, Nov. 17, 2023, Gaza Time, according to an article by Reuters, Hamas and Israel started a four-day ceasefire where both sides released civilians, and aid was allowed to enter Gaza for the first time since Oct. 7. Under this deal, 50 Israeli hostages detained on Oct. 7 by Hamas are expected to be released alongside 150 Palestinian women and children imprisoned under administrative detention. The United Nations defines administrative detention as being jailed without a trial. According to an article by ABC7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a list of a potential 300 prisoners who could be released but has only agreed to release half that number. Most of the prisoners listed for release are male children aged 16 through 18, with some as young as 14 in addition to 33 women. This list is only 1.8% of the over 8,300 Palestinian prisoners currently held in Israeli jails, approximately 3,000 of whom are held under administrative detention. In coverage by Reuters, Hamas has agreed to release 20% of their 240 hostages captured on Oct. 7; these hostages are expected to be released in batches in exchange for the Palestinian prisoners throughout the four-day pause in violence. In addition to Israeli civilians, half of the hostages kept by Hamas are foreign and dual nationals from around forty different countries. Wording of the deal from an AP News article states, “Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day halt in hostilities,” meaning that this deal only applies to Gaza and Israel and provides no mention of the West Bank as part of the humanitarian pause. According to an Al Jazeera article, “Israel has said that northern Gaza is out of bounds” and that displaced people will not be allowed to “enter the north of the war-torn enclave.” It was reported that “at least two Palestinians are

reported to have been killed by the Israeli military, and 11 wounded, as they have attempted the trip to northern Gaza.” A previous Reuters article mentioned that both sides have reiterated their commitment to the cause after the fourday humanitarian pause. Israel has stated that the conflict will continue until Hamas is eliminated and all the hostages are free, and Hamas has stated that its “finger remains on the trigger.” Despite this, both sides have also made clear their commitment to the truce, as reported by a New York Times article. The article reports on Hamas’s top official, Ismail Haniyeh, who, in an interview with Al-Jazeera, stated, “The movement reaffirms its commitment to the successful implementation of the agreement, as long as the enemy also commits to its implementation.” According to a Reuters article, Israeli officials have also stated that for an extra ten hostages released by Hamas, the truce will be extended by one day. A New York Times article reported that since the ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar, more aid has been allowed to enter Gaza, where approximately 2.2 million people have been displaced. According to the United Nations (UN) Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, “today’s humanitarian pause went into effect with relative calm allowing truckloads of aid to go into Gaza.” By the first night, 140 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were allowed to enter through the Rafah border crossing, which had been closed, according to an ABC News article. On Friday, in the first round, Hamas released 24 hostages in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners, as reported by an AP News article. After the United Nations (UN) warnings that Gaza residents are approaching starvation largely due to a lack of fuel and food, “129,000 liters of fuel and four trucks of gas” aid were allowed to cross into Gaza.

In an ABC News piece, the World Health Organization has described Gaza’s hospital situation as “catastrophic.” With most hospitals no longer functioning, this exchange also allowed for the evacuation of 21 of the over 27,490 reportedly injured Palestinians to “larger scale medical operations,” from information pulled from various news sources. A New York Times article reported that Hamas officials threatened to postpone hostage transfers on day two, claiming “Israel had reneged on parts of the agreement … Israel had not allowed enough aid to reach northern Gaza and had not released Palestinian prisoners according to agreed-upon terms.” Another New York Times article reported that before Oct. 7, Gaza, on average, would receive 500 trucks of aid per day; Israel has since decreased that number. Despite threats, Hamas handed over 13 Israeli hostages in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners. In a report by Reuters, Saturday night, in Jenin Refugee Camp, West Bank, Israeli forces killed seven Palestinians, including two minors, which is not a violation of the ceasefire since it only applies to Gaza. Sunday, Nov. 26, Hamas freed 17 hostages in exchange for 39 Palestinians, as reported in an AP News article. All of the Palestinians were young men aged 17 and under, and three Thai nationals. The Israel hostages ranged from age four to 84, including 14 Israelis and four foreign nationals. Disclaimer: This article will be updated on the online issue as the ceasefire progresses. If you wish to learn more about where the information came from, check the online H issue to see all the linked sources.■

COURTESY OF PRACHATAI VIA FLICKR

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NEWS

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North District Phase 2 breaks ground NEW DEVELOPMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RCCD WOULD ADD 1568 NEW BEDS. SENNA OMAR AND EMYR ORTIZ Managing Editor and Assistant News Editor

On Wednesday, Nov. 4, ground was broken for North District Phase 2, a new student housing complex located north of the original North District project. Gusty winds marked the occasion, as did speeches from the mayor of Riverside, the Riverside Community College District (RCCD) Chancellor Wolde Ab-Isaac, UCR Chancellor Kim Wilcox and others. The groundbreaking kicked off the beginning of construction on a $347.78 million project in collaboration with the RCCD. North District Phase 2 will include two apartment-style buildings housing 1568 new beds, 326 of which are for RCCD students, and new recreational areas. Heidi Scribner, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Auxiliary Services, sees North District Phase 2 as a step in addressing the demand for housing on campus. “We do see the demand [for housing] continuing to hold strong and increase, and in order for us to meet that, we need to continue to develop.” Auxiliary Services include Housing, Dining, Hospitality, Transportation and Parking, Early Childhood Services and Campus Business Services. Scribner began working at the University of California, Riverside, in 2021 when Dundee and North District had first opened due to a partnership with American Campus Communities (ACC) the previous year. Dundee is considered a private-public partnership, or P3; in this type of partnership, the campus ground-leases the property, and ACC owns the building until the school pays it back. These are multi-year-long contracts where the rent that students pay goes towards paying back the construction costs for the building. In combination with the two ACC properties, approximately 2,300 beds were opened, which, according to Scribner, is “a significant number at once.” Like Dundee and North District, North District Phase 2 was originally a P3 partnership with American Campus Communities; however, UCR decided to take the project in a different direction, opting to go through the Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program (SB169). The Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program is a three-year state student housing program designed to provide “one-time grants for the construction of student housing or for the acquisition and renovation of commercial properties into student housing for the purpose of providing affordable, low-cost housing options

for students enrolled in public postsecondary educational institutions in the state, including community colleges.” UCR, in collaboration with RCCD, managed to receive $120.6 million from the program in order to develop student housing over the next three years. North District phases one and two are both part of The North District Development (NDD) Plan which is a long-range development plan. This means that the project will be completed in multiple phases. “The NDD Plan designates land uses for the entire 55‐acre site … The NDD Plan includes a mix of land use designations that would allow for the construction of student housing units (for first-year, second-year, transfer and upper-division undergraduate and graduate students), support spaces, site improvements, utilities and supporting infrastructure improvements, dining facilities, recreational fields, an athletic field and related parking.” According to Scribner, “we continue to see very high demand” for student housing, “especially coming out of the pandemic much of the housing in the private market had increases in rent.” Scribner continued, “We believe that students should live with us, at least for a year. It’s a great experience. You get to meet a lot of people, and we offer a lot of services and support and proximity.” The partnership between RCCD and UCR means that of the 1568 beds in the new development, some are reserved for RCCD students. To facilitate the new logistics of the development, RCCD and UCR have partnered on a work group to develop the student experience for North District Phase 2. “Our Student Affairs [and RCCD’s] student life are on a workgroup that we’re getting ready to kick off with key representation [from] the areas that touch student life,” explains Scribner. “They’re going to be working together on what the program looks like [and] what the student experience looks like.” However, the day-to-day operations will be handled by UCR, “we’re running the construction, we will be managing like we do for all of our housing; we’ll be handling the administration, the facility, upkeep, the cleaning, et cetera,” says Scribner. According to Scribner, RCCD students will not be located in just one area of the new development but instead will be “dispersed out through the community.” Scribner hopes that this community model will help RCC students “see what it’s like to be at a four-year campus

[and] hope to transfer.” When asked for a statement, Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox said, “UCR and RCC have a long history of collaboration and support. Many RCC students transfer to UCR to continue their education. We also work together to improve student success throughout the region. The North District project builds on our partnership and continues our work of supporting student success. By providing housing, we remove one of the possible barriers to pursuing an education for both UCR and RCC students. Additionally, providing RCC students the opportunity to live on the UCR gives them a chance to envision how they would succeed if they transfer to UCR to complete their degrees.” While RCCD and UCR students will be living side by side in North District Phase 2, whether the partnership will continue in other aspects of campus life is still uncertain. “There are other questions of could [RCCD students] use this, attend this? And we need to work that out,” states Scribner. “Because our students pay specific fees for some of those things…we’re not going to add burden to our students. But we don’t want people left out because we’re trying to create a more holistic community.” Still, Scribner believes the partnership between RCCD and UCR was important for the feasibility of the project itself. “The community college brought money to the table, quite truthfully,” Scribner explains. “By doing a joint partnership, we were able to get 126 million to put towards this. Where without a partnership, we would have been eligible for much less.” As the project moves forward, Scribner hopes students will continue to be invested in the process. “How the North District program may look right now, with the RCC, might seem a little odd,” says Scribner. “But there’s a lot of opportunity for our students to be involved to help shape it.” Construction for North District Phase 2 is not expected to be complete until August 2025. However, this construction is not the end of development plans in the North District lot. According to Scribner, “We do plan to continue to develop North District … So there will be a North District Three.” ■ H

Administrators and other officials break ground on North District Phase 2 on November 4th, 2023 SENNA OMAR / THE HIGHLANDER

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NEWS

TUESDAY, NOV 28, 2023

How student-parents qualify for priority registration A SIT-DOWN WITH THE UNIVERSITY REGISTRAR EXPLAINS MORE REGARDING THE PROCESS. MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

On Sept. 30, 2022, Assembly Bill No. 2881 was approved by California Gov. Gavin Newsom. “This bill would require the California State University and each community college district, and request the University of California, with respect to each campus in their respective jurisdictions that administers a priority enrollment system, to grant priority in that system for registration for enrollment to a student parent, as defined, by no later than July 1, 2023.” An analytical study conducted by Wheelhouse at the University of California, Davis found that 13.4% of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Application (CADAA) filers were student-parents in 2018. This is about one in ten students. A student-parent is someone who has dependent children while enrolled at a higher education institution. On the Students with Dependent Children FAQs page on the FAFSA website, a “dependent child” is defined as someone under “18 years of age whose parent or legal guardian is the student.” As of Spring quarter of the 2022-2023 school year, the University of California, Riverside adhered to the request made by the bill and granted student-parents attending the university priority registration. Non-Traditional Student Director Dallys Cobian explained the importance of priority-registration for this student population, expressing that “as a studentparent, my schedule kind of revolves around my children’s… [There’s] a limited window of classes that I can take and unfortunately there aren’t a lot of evening or weekend classes available.” She further explained how her children’s schools start at 8:00 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m., requiring her to be available at both times for pick up and drop off. She also lives 30 miles away from UCR, which she elaborated can also impact how many classes she can take during the day. Cobian ends by stating that “we’re not asking for special treatment, we’re asking them to consider the circumstances… With priority registration, that gives us first dibs at some of those classes that we can take.” According to information from the registration help desk, UCR identifies student parents “based on data from the FAFSA/California Dream Act applications.” The University Registrar, Bracken Dailey explained why the university chose to use those two applications to determine eligibility, stating that “we felt like this was the most streamline. As for our campus, we have quite a large population [that] already completes those two documents. And so it seems like a pathway that

most of our students have already completed.” There are challenges that come to this process, Dailey expressed that “[student-parents] come in very different shapes and sizes and at a certain point we have to be able to operationalize this. Off the legislation, it has to define [a] dependant. The FAFSA and the DREAM Act [defines] a dependent based on government taxes and government definitions of what a dependent is.” In scenarios where dependency claims change midway through the academic year, Dailey stated that the best thing to do would be to “reach out to me, so we can explore what has occurred, and establish if it meets the requirements for priority registration. And if it does, then we will make sure that the student is eligible for it.” Despite student-parents being provided priority registration since the end of last quarter, Cobian claimed that a decent portion of the population is unaware that they qualify for priority registration. She explained that some student-parents and caregivers do not fill out the financial aid documents because they think that they will not qualify for aid, unaware that those same forms are what are being used to determine eligibility for priority registration. At the Registrar, Dailey stated that “we probably didn’t do a well enough job. Anyone who submitted the FAFSA or DREAM Act who qualified did get that priority registration, but unfortunately there are students who fell outside. We probably did not do a good enough job to get the word out there. Now we have to try and find those students who are falling through the cracks that have not completed either of those documents and figure out how to best proceed with those individuals.” Cobian explained some of the various ways that her department at ASUCR is working on getting word out to student-parents on campus. “We’re opening a NonTraditional Student Director Instagram page… We need to find a way to get the word out about different things that are available. Get to know other student parents that are going through the same things… And word of mouth works great.” For those seeking help or advice regarding the situation, Dailey stated that the best way to get help would be to go to registrar.ucr.edu. “It does have information about registration on the main page and it lists who has priority registration. On the contact page you have my contact information, as well as other people in the office, and so they are more than welcome to reach out to me.” ■ H

IRENE TU / THE HIGHLANDER

KELLEY MANZO / THE HIGHLANDER

Opinions TUESDAY, NOV 28, 2023

OPINIONS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/opinions

THE HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

President Xi Jinping’s San Francisco visit served only as a reminder of the U.S.’s shortcomings ASIAN AMERICANS AND CALIFORNIANS HAD A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO THE BIGGEST NON-EVENT TO GRACE THE WEST COAST AS A MEETING BETWEEN TWO MAJOR WORLD LEADERS YIELDED NO FRUIT. 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.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to San Francisco was a major subject of discussion for Asian Americans as protests broke out throughout the city on issues ranging from China’s human rights record, labor issues and Tibetan independence. This visit brought up concerns regarding the rise of anti-Asian hate, which surged in the U.S. during and after the pandemic, largely due to inaccurate and baseless rhetoric that placed undue blame on the Chinese for the effects of COVID-19. The clean-up of San Francisco and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ill-advised comments on said clean-up also brought up San Francisco’s struggles in reviving the city in what might be called a postpandemic time period. While the four-hour conversation between the American President and Xi bore little fruit besides vague ideas and no commitment, it certainly managed to cause unrest in California. Strained relations between America and China, as well as anti-China rhetoric coming from American politicians and public figures, have certainly contributed to an increase in hate crimes targeting Asians since 2020. This visit by Xi was met with a mixed bag of reactions from Asian Americans. While many believe that improved trade and social relations with China will yield more positive attitudes toward Asian Americans, there is no clear road toward understanding. Despite this highly anticipated meeting between world leaders, relations will remain strained, especially as President Biden made extremely inflammatory remarks shortly after the summit, calling Xi a “dictator.” While criticism of the Chinese government and other forms of speech should not be stifled or censored, too many statements by prominent U.S. officials and politicians are rooted in xenophobia and political convenience. The U.S. government maintains its desire to be a dominant economic power, and China remains a threat to American hegemony. As long as China wields economic power, political figures will continue to stress the threat of China and the Chinese people. As the U.S. enters an election year, China

is gearing up as a huge topic for the general election. Congressional hearings about the China-based social media platform TikTok are a flashpoint of anti-Asian attitudes. Earlier this year, TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew was questioned extensively by the House Energy and Commerce Committee regarding accusations that the app’s parent company was sharing data with the Chinese government. Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington stated, “To the American people watching today, hear this: TikTok is a weapon by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on you and manipulate what you see and

exploit for future generations.” To be clear, currently, there is no evidence that the Chinese government has been able to gain access to the data of American users. While it is a possibility, it is a fact that the U.S. government has violated the privacy of American citizens via the FBI, the NSA and other government agencies. Anyone concerned about their online privacy should be more worried about the U.S. government than the Chinese. Data from 2022 indicates that Chinese Americans make up the largest share of the San Francisco population compared to other major cities in the U.S. This is a city that has a huge investment in the

worsening or improved attitudes towards Asians. This visit and the discouraging behavior of elected officials in recent years don’t inspire confidence. In the end, this meeting means little to nothing in terms of real or satisfactory change for the general population. During this same visit, Xi also met with American business leaders, making a clear statement of China’s goals. U.S. businesses are clearly building a relationship with the Chinese President as his arrival and speech at the gala were met with several standing ovations. This visit was very transparently about business interests and the economy rather than the various human rights issues being protested against in the streets of San Francisco. While the international community can expect the two countries to move forward for the sake of their economies, expecting either country to commit to humanitarian change is a moonshot into the abyss. For Chinese Americans who are apprehensive toward or outright appalled at the Chinese President’s visit, this visit increases concerns about worsening environmental standards, abuses of labor rights and government violations of free speech. This is a real possibility, as both China and the U.S. need to address their numerous shortcomings on these issues, but this visit was not really about those concerns. For Californians, this visit showed just how superficial government can be. As the city of San Francisco was cleaned up for the short visit, there are questions as to why the same amount of effort isn’t being put into actually helping the city recover from the disastrous effects of COVID-19. It’s also interesting how increased prosecution for drug-related crimes and kicking homeless people off the street is considered a “cleanup.” This isn’t a clean-up; it’s a cover-up. This visit was a disappointment all around as the world approaches the point of no return in terms of carbon emissions and continued failing human rights standards. No progress has been made, and it does not appear to be on the horizon with American and Chinese political interests on the table.■ H

IMAGE COURTESY OF FREEPIK

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/opinions

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, NOV 28, 2023

Media literacy education is completely unnecessary MATA ELANGOVAN News Editor

CALIFORNIA’S NEW EDUCATION STANDARDS ARE A FAT WASTE OF TIME. Ah, the rapid rise of news and media, moving from the small press to large corporate standing, everywhere you turn, a wave of information crashes towards you. News is available at the tips of our fingers by simply opening up our phones and checking Google. California Gov. Gavin Newsom just recently approved Assembly Bill #873, which requires media literacy to be incorporated into the curriculum framework for those in primary education. Various teachers voice their views on the situation, explaining whether or not the curriculum change is beneficial for education. AP English Literature teacher Shook Spear states, “This was not an issue until we discussed it. Let’s go back to blissful ignorance.” Teachers are feeling incredibly attacked by this piece of legislation. History teacher Amy Rika spoke out recently, asking, “Was I not supposed to be getting all of the news from my Uber driver?” She continued, “I obviously turned out fine; these kids will be too.” “Education standards are fine the way they are. I was a straight-A student and I know that I can get perfectly unbiased information from the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Instagram account,” says a Southern California school administrator. It’s very clear that the California education system has churned out the cream of the crop, and this monumental shift will only

deteriorate the quality of graduates. It can only get worse from here, truly. Increasing media literacy sounds a lot like increasing the ability to think freely. After years and years of being hand-fed

information from the state and nation, children will be inspired to think for themselves. While this may be a purely theoretical solution being implemented into core instructional standards, it will become the beginning of a renaissance. A fifth grader who should be online playing Club Penguin will instead view the game critically and realize they are feeding into

corporate greed by paying a membership. An eighth grader researching United States colonization for a project will take a step back, find the millions of lives lost in the process and realize that maybe they

do not live in the “land of the free.” If students learn to be critical of the information they take in, they will become critical of those who give them that information. In no time at all, teachers will be brought to their knees by those they once taught. No one will rise to take their place either because who wants to be paid pennies to educate the next generation, especially the first generation,

to practice critical thinking at a societal level? Being critical of the media is the first step to revolution. The next is free thought and the desire for a better society. Students will get fed up with misinformation and lies and decide to enact change with their own hands eventually. The downfall of society is imminent as we encourage students to take information and learn to separate truth from lies, to steer away from big corporate media and realize that information that is presented can be skewed by greed. As a society, we are not developed enough to adapt to this change in a timely manner. Deviating from societal norms is a dangerous thing; Governor Newsom should take a step back and think about whether or not he truly wants California to be the birthplace of the next revolution. *This is a satirical piece and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about the writer’s opinion except through humor and/ or exaggeration. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental or is intended purely as satire, parody or spoof of such persons and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about that person. ■ H

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Upcoming U.N. Climate Conference is set up for failure TOMAS ALVES Distribution Manager

THE UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE HELD IN DUBAI ON NOV. 30 WILL FAIL TO MEET THE WORLD’S EXPECTATIONS ON TACKLING THE CLIMATE CRISIS ONCE AGAIN. This year, what is commonly known as COP 28, or the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 to round out the calendar year. Preoccupied with the status of global conflicts, many players, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the European Union (EU), are looking forward to this year’s climate conference in hopes of progress on long-awaited climate finance deals and a possible agreement for phasing out fossil fuel emissions. Though optimism always runs high for this high-level meeting to address climate change, the world should temper its expectations while not lowering its ambitions for progress. As a product of the landmark Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, the first global stocktake on the world’s progress toward staying under a 1.5 degrees Celsius rise in temperature will end at COP 28. The global stocktake refers to an accountability mechanism meant to present the world’s progress in achieving the framework’s goals to its signatory parties. In referring to this most recent stocktake, the overall consensus is unsurprising: “We are not on track to limit global warming to 1.5 [degrees Celsius]” and “the window for meaningful change is closing,” according to the U.N. Framework Convention on

Climate Change’s website. At last year’s conference, COP 27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, countries were able to agree on the creation of a global loss and damage fund, which had been the culmination of years of planning and negotiation. This fund recognizes the need of poorer countries most affected by current climate emergencies and climate disasters to be relieved of the worst financial burdens caused by major climate disasters. Yet, while recognizing such a need in countries is “an important step towards climate justice,” there are no clearly outlined steps for countries to follow. This gap in multilateral agreement is one of the main priorities for the UAE hosted conference. Reasons certainly exist for the nations in attendance at COP 28 to be optimistic, yet as incremental as some of these planned agreements are, they continue to lack the scope and breadth needed to deliver on the climate crisis. The loss and damage fund signaled a step in the right direction to addressing climate injustice for underdeveloped nations, but the agreement did not lay out substantive details in terms of administration, implementation, funding and access. As Director of the World Resources Institute’s International Climate Initiative, David Waskow puts it, “We need to think in

pace and speed, of course, but we also need depth,” noting that surface-level agreements with the sole intention of agreement is a false hope for progress. While many nations anticipate the first global stocktake at the COP 28 conference to be a grim reminder of the progress towards conforming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, they only have themselves to blame. Since the last climate conference, 7.1% of the globe’s GDP, or 7.1 trillion USD, was spent on fossil fuel subsidies from nations worldwide, representing a record surge. The United Arab Emirates engages as one of the leading oil producers in the world with a top-10 production mark of 4.2 million barrels a day. To add insult to injury, the UAE announced that the conference’s Presidency will be held by the top Executive of an Abu Dhabibased oil company, Masdar, Sultan alJaber. While top climate officials in the UN admit that fossil fuels will still be a part of the global economy by 2050, oil executives should be part of the conversation but not leading it. Last year’s COP 27 hosted a record number of delegates from oil companies from the private sector — a trend that will continue in Dubai. To set the stakes for the summit, the UAE and Al-Jaber have announced four pillars to guide the summit’s deliberations, including fast-

tracking the energy transition, climate finance, climate resilience and inclusivity in their letter to the parties. Most notably, the two largest global polluters, the U.S. and China, will seemingly still be at odds over many topics, such as contributions to climate damage and transnational labor. This might upend global momentum that the EU and UAE are heading to reach a climate finance agreement, especially laying the groundwork for the previously agreed COP 27 loss and damage fund. Every year, the Conference of Parties or COP puts climate change back on the world agenda, giving it much-needed political and public focus. However, it seems as though an apathetic attitude always follows once leaders sit down and talk. Even though diplomacy is progress, it’s not nearly enough. The world should expect little from COP 28 until the world’s major powers can agree to measures of action rather than empty promises. Global prestige beckons for the nations of the world to lead on innovation, investment and ingenuity in order to reach the goals of the 2015 Paris agreement. Yet the state of geopolitics would suggest that the agreements in need are not the ones the H world will receive. ■

OPINIONS

TUESDAY, NOV 28, 2023

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Computer science teacher shortage puts California near the bottom of U.S. instruction rankings Studying computer science can help students succeed more in their future careers, and the current lack of standards disadvantages students. ASHLEY CARRANZA Contributing Writer

California has planned for years to bring computer science to all K-12 students. But a lack of qualified teachers has stalled these efforts and left California — a global hub for the technological industry — ranked near the bottom of states nationally in the percentage of high schools offering computer science classes. Computer science should be a prioritized subject in K-12 schools because it can advance students’ experience in the field of technology early on and benefit them in their future careers. Students benefit from learning about technology in school by gaining computational reasoning and analytical thinking skills. Julie Flapan, director of the Computer Science Equity Project at UCLA, has said, “A good class now includes lessons on artificial intelligence, media literacy, data science, ethics and biased algorithms.” The impact of the lack of computer science classes in low-income communities is a major disadvantage for college-aspiring students and their career opportunities. They should be able to learn skills that can help them advance

economically and place them in higher-paying jobs. Many students who are not familiar with this subject early on may not be interested in it later, thus preventing them from gaining skills learned by their peers and breaking the cycle of poverty. Introducing it at an early age can help them with technological literacy and adaptability, an opportunity that is currently only afforded to a minority of students. This lack of curricula exists despite California being known for its tech companies and Silicon Valley. According to a 2022 report, only 40% of California high schools offer computer science classes, well below the national average of 53%. Growing up in a state that is advanced in technology but not in its curriculum is an unbelievable disparity. “They grow up in the shadow of tech companies, yet go to schools that don't even offer them the opportunity to learn the skills they need to one day work there,” says Assemblymember Marc Berman, a Silicon Valley lawmaker advocating for better computer science education. Some ideas that are currently being implemented are grants for teachers to have the opportunity to take twenty required units to gain computer science teaching credentials. The program allows teachers to make computer science more accessible to students of color, students with disabilities and low-income students. Minecraft in the classroom is teaching students programming skills such as Python, block coding and how to solve problems with AI. This program can be used by educators, parents, Information Technology (IT) administrators and on-campus clubs. Microsoft also provides a computer science curriculum through its online toolkit. They recognize the importance of teaching computer science and the demand for tech workers in the future. An additional 149 million digital jobs will be created by 2025 in areas such as privacy, data analytics, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, according to an analysis by LinkedIn and Microsoft. These are advancement opportunities students deserve to be prepared and equipped for by California educational institutions. The lack of computer science teachers comes from educators having trouble meeting the qualifications to

teach computer science. Additionally, undergraduate students who pursue a career in computer science may not be aware of the fact that they have the option of becoming an educator in their field of study. These two things combined can cause a gap in teaching in universities that desperately warrants attention and action. Adding this subject to the curriculum can help boost California’s instruction ranking and will provide students with a modernized education that will give them real-world knowledge and further their success post-graduation. In contempoH rary times, this knowledge is not only valuable, it’s essential.■

Democrats are going to lose control of the Senate in 2024

With Joe Manchin not seeking re-election and a difficult Senate map, Democrats’ chances of maintaining their Senate majority are extremely slim. AAZAM KHAN Contributing Writer

Heading into an election year, Senate Democrats face an uphill battle to keep their majority. They barely held on to the Senate in the 2022 midterms when Democrats outperformed polling expectations. Even then, the party barely maintained Senate control, with Catherine Cortez Masto defeating Adam Laxalt in Nevada by fewer than 8,000 votes. The Senate map in 2022 was unfavorable for Democrats, but the 2024 map is significantly more difficult. Currently, Republicans have 49 seats, and Democrats have 48 seats, plus three independents who caucus with the Democrats. Republicans only need to pick up two seats in the upper house to win back control. This can be done by either picking up two or more seats directly or picking up one seat and winning Senate control by having the Republican presidential candidate win the presidential election since the Vice President can break ties in the Senate. At this time, all of the incumbent Republicans running for re-election are in safe red states, and the Republican National Committee does not have to allocate resources to defend incumbent seats. Two other Democrats are representing conservative states. One is Sen. Sherrod Brown from Ohio, which has been trending to the right over the course of the past decade. If conservatives are smart, they’ll nominate a moderate Republican who doesn’t publicly entertain fringe conspiracy theories. This will give Repub-

licans a good chance at taking down Sen. Brown. Democrats have fewer options. With Sen. Joe Manchin announcing that he will not seek another term, this is a gut punch to Democratic strategists. Even though Manchin infuriated many liberals

chin had to make compromises between both Democrats and Republicans to remain as an elected official. Even though Manchin frustrated many Democrats, he was a better political option for the party than a Republican alternative. With him not seeking anoth-

for being a powerful thorn in the progressive agenda, it is worth considering the fact that he represents the conservative state of West Virginia. Donald Trump defeated Joe Biden in that state by over 35 points in 2020. Man-

er term, Republicans are essentially guaranteed to gain that West Virginia Senate seat. The second Democrat representing a conservative state is Sen. Jon Tester from Montana. This rural state has been tradi-

tionally conservative with roughly 62% of Montanans saying they are Republicans or at least lean Republican. It is a miracle that Sen. Tester could thread the needle to win enough approval as a Democrat to represent that state to be with. The last Senate race worth directly mentioning is Arizona’s. What makes this specific race very unusual is that the state’s current Senator, Kyrsten Sinema, was a Democrat who recently left the party to be an independent when it became clear Sinema would not survive a primary. The incoming Arizona Democratic nominee for 2024 will take on Kyrsten Sinema and a Republican contender simultaneously, splitting the vote to the disadvantage of the Democratic Party. If, miraculously, Republicans somehow fail to make gains on any of these seats listed above, many races are still within the party’s reach. This includes races in battleground states like Wisconsin, Nevada and Pennsylvania and an open seat in the state of Michigan. It’s pretty clear that after Joe Manchin announced that he won’t run for a second term, Democrats now have no margin for error. Anything short of complete perfection for the Democratic Party means that come Jan. 3, 2025, Republicans will H once again retain their Senate majority. ■

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Features

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FEATURES

TUESDAY, NOV 28, 2023

The cards predict a very bleak future… As the quarter comes to an end, the cold only just begins. Ysabel Nakasone, Opinions Editor

Aries (March 21 - April 19) Seven of Wands Reversed You are giving up and giving in. You’ve been caught off guard by new changes and your response is to give up. This time, the challenges are too great and are not within your capabilities. As sad as it is, you have to surrender.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Nine of Cups The Nine of Cups speaks to a dream come true. This week is going to be marked by something you’ve wanted for a long time. This isn’t something you think of on a whim, this is the culmination of a long-term desire and effort you little mastermind.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Justice You’ve been waiting for a decision. There is someone who holds your future in their hands. Their choice will be a fair one that you have no choice but to accept. There is no fighting the outcome of this ruling.

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22) Two of Pentacles You’re stretched too thin, Leo. Everything and everyone in your life wants something from you and is pressuring you to give it. You will be put in the impossible position of choosing between people who mean the world to you.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Eight of Wands Everything is moving so quickly, and you can’t keep up. Things have changed, and you can’t continue to deny that they have. You simply have to hold on and wait it out until you can start over. You’re good at this, and you can survive this, even if it hurts.

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22) Four of Cups Reversed You’re going to take a step back, Virgo. You feel cloistered and you need a moment away from it all. You need to know that even though you need this time, don’t let it go on too long or it will be seen as pushing away the people who matter to you. They will see this as a rejection and take it personally. Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Eight of Swords

Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22) Ace of Cups You’re jumping into a new relationship, Libra. Be aware that this might be a rash decision. You’re making decisions based on passion and a desire to not be lonely. This is not necessarily a mistake, but you’re doing it for all the wrong reasons.

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) Chariot You are in control, Capricorn. For this momentary period, you have the upper hand and influence the natural course of events. You cannot give in to distractions and have to remain clear-headed as those around you will attempt to shove you off the right path.

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) King of Swords New information is coming to light, and you are exploring the importance of the truth. You need to decide if the truth is worth more than someone’s feelings. Everyone will decide that the burden falls on you to choose and figure out how to settle the conflict.

You see yourself as the victim and as someone who has been hurt. This is all of your own making and you are truly in denial. Think back through what has happened lately, carefully. You’ll find that the root cause was you all along.

Pisces (Feb 19 - March 20) Queen of Cups Reversed Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) Wheel of Fortune Reversed This is simply going to be a week of bad luck for you. There’s nothing to be done about it as a myriad of unfortunate events will befall you. Luckily, the effects won’t be disastrous and won’t damage your life beyond this week.

Right now, you’re feeling very dependent on others. You feel that you cannot function with them as you struggle through some pretty bleak life events. While you do need to lean on others, you are losing yourself in the person you think they want you to be. ■H

FEATURES

10 TUESDAY, NOV 28, 2023

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Ringing of the bells: The early history of UCR’s Bell Tower The campus’s best known landmark has a fascinating, tumultuous past. ZACHARY HANSON Contributing Writer

“We’ve got a bell tower. So what else is nu? Personally, I don’t mind having it in the neighborhood. I just wouldn’t want my sister to marry one.” - Larry Peitzman, 1966 A pinnacle of UCR’s cultural development, the monolithic structure of the UCR Bell Tower has long presided as both the symbolic and literal center of campus. Since 1966, this carillon tower has persistently remained headstrong in every panorama of UCR — a cornucopia of student activity and culture. Its chimes triumphantly represent a prestige that UCR has come to flaunt; to imagine our school without the Bell Tower is to imagine a different school. With this immense cultural respect, the abundance of extremely critical perspectives at its construction came to me as quite a surprise. Analyzing 1966’s Highlander Volume 24, which covers the period leading up to and following the completion of the structure, it became clear that many students at this time simply hated the Bell Tower. The pieces I chose to highlight in this article were an exchange between several contributors to The Highlander, a three-issue-long argument that illustrates the conflicted reception of the Bell Tower. These fiery pieces serve to give our big Bell Tower a little more character and story. In 1966, the construction of the Bell Tower was well underway, having begun in 1965. The week of Oct. 19, 1966, the tower was dedicated and opened to the public. Elizabeth Pretzer, a junior at the time, reported that she looked up and had a revelation: a massive, shameful phallus imposed over her, “a disfigurement of the campus,” that cast

a shadow of elitism because of the donated money used to build it. With these criticisms, she put forward a petition in The Highlander to tear down the freshly-constructed tower to preserve for UCR “a shread [sic] of dignity.” Outraged by this inflammatory criticism of this new point of campus pride, several contributors submitted rebuttals to Pretzer’s petition during the next week of Oct. 26, 1966. They argued against both the aesthetic and financial criticisms which Pretzer leveled at the Bell Tower. Jane Bennet and Christopher McDermott, both freshmen, argued that the Bell Tower had a definitive beauty, one that inspired them as they walked the campus. To them, the Bell Tower affirmed “an idealistic aspect of man, sensitive to the aesthetic, wanting to experience and perpetuate the intangibles.” They saw this Bell Tower not as an educational investment, but an aesthetic one; thus they described the great abstract value this monument brought to the campus. Similarly, in the same issue, Richard Francavigalia, a professor, describes an inherent value in the imposition of the building, with its constant reminder of the institution driving students to pursue greater heights. He contended that Pretzer’s focus on the phallic nature of the Bell Tower diminished its true aesthetic value, the “sexual hang-ups” removing one from its beauty. Prepping her arguments for a few weeks, Pretzer retorted these claims in the issue published during the week of Nov. 16, 1966. To Bennet and McDermott’s claims she argued that rather than a form of artistic beauty, the tower

KELLEY MANZO / THE HIGHLANDER

was rather “purely quantitative,” representing only the veneer of wealth that UCR wished to put forward. In response to Francavigalia, she targets the religious, Catholic nature of his argument, accusing him of desiring a return to the connection of religious isolation and academia. Furthermore, she argues that if Francavigalia truly had this sentiment, the Bell Tower should remain standing, so that she could take the issue to the Supreme Court. The claims pushed by all parties in these early moments of the Bell Tower’s history are all obviously far more inflamed and reactionary than we are now in our attitude towards the structure. Although our carillon may be a bit phallic and potentially a little bit wasteful, it is also a beautiful monument that keeps UCR students inspired with its gorgeous suggestive silhouette. ■H

How to conquer “Twilight Core” this winter Make the best of the upcoming winter season by channeling your “Twilight” fantasies.

GABRIELA GALVAN Contributing Writer

In Southern California, under near-constant solar radiation, there is a large city named Riverside. With no promises of rain and the dependence on a surplus of sunscreen, experiencing the likes of a “Twilight” winter defined by foggy days filtered in blue-green hues and engulfing misty rains is not very realistic. Despite Riverside's blistering nature, it's not impossible to emulate the gloomy angst of “Twilight’s” aesthetic following these few lifestyle tips. Fall unconditionally and irrevocably in love with someone. Crushes are cute, fun, and innocent, but being in love is a real killer! Falling in love can happen at first glance, develop over time, or happen after being saved from a near car accident by a mysterious type. You really can't pick and choose how or when it happens. But you can definitely pick and choose who. This is a sign to gravitate toward that almost bizarre personality in your class, giving off a bloodthirsty aura. It goes without saying that these mystifying

(pun intended) people leave little to no room for personal transparency but are definitely alluring in nature to keep you wanting to know more. However, is it really in true “Twilight” fashion to only fall for one guy? Of course not. Whether you're team library crush or team lab partner, it's always more fun to have an additional party to daydream about. When you can live forever, live for your teenage angst. Being an adult is overrated; fly your way into the winter season this year by channeling your inner teenage blues, Bella Swan style. Immersing yourself into this awkward persona requires both a downgrade on your looks and personality. This sounds crazy, but conquering “Twilight” core does not promise to make you into the best version of yourself. If you're outgoing, loud, and expressive, it's time to change that. In true “Twilight” fashion, embrace your alone time and become an introverted loner for a season. Adopt the lone wolf character and run from

the crowds! Apart from personality, style is essential. Don't bring too much attention to yourself by wearing bright shades. Muted colors like grays, blacks, blues and greens are imperative to channeling the overcast aesthetic of Forks, Washington, that Riverside never has. Most importantly, remember your Converse, preferably worn under your formal dress. Say it. Out loud. Say it. You want to have a beach day in January. Engulfed by tree-flourishing mountains, surrounded by the abundance of replenishing clouds and bordered by a spirited ocean, Forks, Washington is the place to be! Except this is Riverside, and I'm here to help make do with what it offers to best live out our “Twilight” fantasies. Considering Riverside County is just a short distance from the best Southern California beaches, take advantage of the distance and welcome yourself to a beach day like the Forks locals. The amount of public parks in Riverside makes it the perfect op-

portunity to have a ball game with your closest friends, preferably in the thundering rain. Lastly, treat yourself to an excellent breakfast or brunch burger with a side of steamy fries to enjoy a classic Bella Swan meal. Have the skin of a killer. Why look 104 years old when you can look 17 forever? The winter season is notorious for sabotaging just about anyone's skin, so make sure to keep it moisturized and happy. Rather than falling vulnerable to the dry and cold air, avoid the curse of unhealthy skin and maintain a complexion that will glitter under Riverside's harsh rays. Don't bat an eye, and do take care of your skin! Be a Bella. Sure, build up an introverted personality, be awkward, and go to the beach, but most importantly, remember to bite your lip. Are you confused? Bite your lip. Are you in love? Bite your lip. Are you in the presence of Robert Pattinson? Bite your lip. ■H

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FEATURES

TUESDAY, NOV 28, 2023

The friendship breakup guide

HOW TO KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME AND EVERY STAGE OF GOING THROUGH THE SPLIT. ALISON WHITESIDE Contributing Writer

Whether it be a large argument or a slow distancing over time, there are many reasons why a friendship breakup can happen. No matter the cause, friendship splits are extremely difficult. Because they are not given as much airtime as romantic breakups, people can often feel that they are alone in navigating the process and won’t seek support or advice from the people around them. By not giving the proper acknowledgment to the conflict, it can sometimes even be harder to move on from and process than a romantic breakup. If you are currently questioning a friendship, this article will offer some points to consider when deciding if you need to break up with a friend and guide you through the process of splitting up. Friendship ultimately serves as a key component in a person’s happiness. Happy friendships, happy life. The next time you are hanging out with someone whose friendship you are questioning, consider how you feel when you are with them and the impression they leave on you afterward. If you find yourself drained and irritable more often than you find yourself laughing, then it is definitely time to reconsider the relationship. Oftentimes we can let unhappy friendships persist for a while because we remember the happiness that may have happened at other times during the relationship. Consider the implications of ending this friendship. If you are both a part of the same social circle, a

split will affect more than just you. While it is not as satisfying and may feel like a cop-out, sometimes the backlash is just not worth the benefits of cutting off a toxic friend. Reflect on your own values and weigh out the potential emotional consequences of your actions. Sometimes our brains play tricks on us, and what we may see as an affront may not even be something that our friend realizes they are doing. If you can list tangible reasons why the relationship is no longer making you happy, then you may want to consider talking it over with your friend. Now, in the best-case scenario, your person listens to what you have to say and adjusts their behavior in order to be a better friend to you. If you voice your needs and don’t notice any change in behavior, it likely means that this person is unwilling or unable to put in the effort to evaluate themselves and how they affect the people around them. It is never your personal responsibility to “fix” someone, and if you have already told them how they are hurting you, then your job is done. So, if you get to the point where you feel you have tried and considered everything, and you just feel that this relationship is not working for you anymore, here’s how to break it off. There are many ways to end a friendship, but it is best to remain gentle and honest throughout the process. It may be tempting to make spiteful comments

or messages, but ultimately this will invalidate the real reasons for why you are cutting someone off. Ghosting someone that you had a serious friendship with is never okay, but if you feel that you cannot handle an in-person interaction, you can instead send a text. No matter how you get the message across, make sure the terms are clear. Clarify what the relationship ending means to you. If you never want to speak to this person again, tell them that you want no contact. The rules around friendship splits are much less commonly agreed upon than that of romantic relationships ending, so make sure you are clear about what your intentions are. Prepare for the worst with your emotions. If this was a very close friend, it is likely that you will feel very emotional after the split. Treat yourself as kindly as you would if you had just undergone a messy romantic breakup. If you don’t feel motivated to work, understand that this is a natural emotional response to a real situation. Do whatever makes you feel like you are taking care of yourself, and talk through the situation with people who support you. No matter what, understand that you will be better off emotionally from where you started, even if it takes H time. ■

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Unlocking the secrets of effortless coexistence NAVIGATING ROOMMATE RELATIONSHIPS. LEILANI ACOSTA Contributing Writer

Living with roommates can be a perplexing maze for someone who hasn’t encountered it before. To say I experienced a shock during that first week of living together is an understatement. Below, I’ve compiled a list of tips so you won’t struggle as I did.

Communication

Something I didn’t realize before moving into the dorms was the loss of my independence. I have lived in a house with others before, sure. But a bedroom?! Never. It is imperative to have respect for your roommate and establish ground rules that each person agrees to. I’ve found it useful to understand my roommate’s boundaries regarding noise at night, study habits and whether or not people are allowed to come into our dorm. Communication is key, for without it, there may be outbursts of unexpressed frustration in the future. Bottling up your emotions is never the answer.

Scheduling

Another aspect of roommate life I didn’t prepare for was the difference in our schedules. Learning to plan your day around another person’s schedule can be frustrating at times. For example, a majority of my classes are in the morning, so I study during the afternoon. However, my roommate mostly has midday classes and studies late into the night. Initially, this

was a conflict because while I was trying to sleep, she was studying with the bright light on! Expressing my concern, the solution we found was shared Google calendars. By doing this, my roommate and I had access to each other’s schedules and planned accordingly to go to the library or a friend’s dorm to study at night instead of disturbing each other’s sleep schedules.

Cleanliness

Something that I took for granted when living with my parents was having a kitchen and a designated area to eat. Moving into the dorms, freshmen are squished into small shoebox-sized rooms and forced to eat breakfast in bed. Upon first thought, it sounds delightful. But as the days went on, I would accidentally spill yogurt or drop my spoon in my blanket. Inevitably, messes were prevalent amongst our room. Noting this, me and my roommate drew our formal rules for who would clean what. We both agreed and taped the list on the wall: while I was assigned to take out the trash and vacuum the floor, she would clean the fridge and wipe the microwave down. This allowed us to form a team-effort instead of each girl cleaning her own side of the room. Even though we each have our own sides, the room is shared. Therefore, if a bug problem were to occur then both of our sides would be infested! Following these rules

daily helps me and my roommate stay out of trouble with the creepy-crawlies.

Compromise

My final tip is in regards to diffusing conflict. Sometimes, roommates may have differing values, which can result in disagreements at times. Especially paired with the stressors of classes, homesickness and fatigue, hurtful words may be thrown at one another. I have utilized the art of compromising when dealing with a difference of opinions. For example, me and my roommate didn’t originally agree on whether we should have friends over or not. Both of us were firm in where we stood on the topic. Stepping away from my position, I offered a solution that I hoped we would both agree to: friends could only visit the dorm during daytime hours. Fortunately, she agreed. Not only is this problem-solving technique useful in daily verbal conflict but also can be a helpful practice for compromising in both classroom and work environments. Living with another person may seem intimidating at first, but by being able to communicate feelings, share daily schedules, keep clean and compromise, you will triumph. I have experienced some obstacles living with other people, but by following these tips, I was able to live happily and issue-free with my roommate.■ H

12 TUESDAY, NOV 28, 2023

Radar

RADAR

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SAG-AFTRA members consider the ramifications of new contract Not all of SAG-AFTRA’s members are happy about the tentative agreement reached and what it means for the future of workers in the entertainment industry. RAMITA SETTY Staff Writer

fter 118 days of striking, the Screen Actor Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the union representing over 160,000 actors, reached a tentative deal for a new contract with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the entity representing entertainment companies such as Disney, Netflix, Amazon and more, creating a path for the industry to get back to work. Actors, who have struggled for years with issues surrounding residuals on streaming shows and growing future concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) replacing background performers, took to the picket lines in order to demand a better contract. The newly proposed tentative deal involves some substantial wins for the union, such as increases in compensation for streaming shows and films, better healthcare funding, and concessions on self-taped auditions. It also guarantees studios will not use artificial intelligence to create “digital replicas” of actors’ likenesses without payment or approval. It did not, however, secure a percentage of streaming service revenue for its members. A two percent share later dropped to one percent, then a per-subscriber fee was proposed and rejected by the AMPTP, which instead proposed a new residual based on performance metrics in a fund worth about $40 million. Currently, SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee, which voted unanimously to accept the deal, is having the contract reviewed and finalized by the union’s national board. For the past couple of days, union members have been reacting to the new deal. Chief among the biggest concerns are the AI protections the new contract would give — or the lack thereof. One of the main reasons behind the strike was fear from actors that studios could use and twist their voices and likenesses however they wanted without compensating or getting permission from said actors. The new contract would require studios to obtain permission from performers in order to use a “digital replica” of themselves to be created and then be compensated for its use equivalent to if they had worked on set. However, many fear that these protections are not enough. For example, actors could feel pressured to agree to a digital likeness of themselves being created in order to be hired. If they refuse, they can be passed over to someone else. There are also exceptions when the studios need to obtain performers’ consent. There have been plenty of complaints about the fact that SAG-AFTRA has not released the full agreement to its members yet, claiming that the deal is not yet finalized. Without understanding what the contract entails specifically, many do not feel comfortable voting on this yet. There have been growing calls since on social media from union members for the deal to be rejected. But it is unclear if

“. . .drastic changes. . .will most likely lead to fewer shows being greenlit and first-look deals being canceled”

the union will be able to hold out for a better deal. In the weeks leading up to the end of the deal, morale had started to wane among picketing members. In October, when SAG-AFTRA prohibited its members from dressing up as characters from media produced by struck companies, the union faced backlash from its members. Jennifer Fox posted a costume of herself on Instagram, flagrantly breaking this rule. As of today, SAG-AFTRA has not levied any penalties on members for breaking this rule. There is also a growing amount of pressure from studios and a collection of Hollywood’s A-List actors, the ones, ironically, with the least to lose in any contract agreement, to wrap up the strike. Whether the union can stand up to this pressure and fight for a fairer deal for working-class actors will remain to be seen. In the coming years, fewer jobs for writers and actors are projected. After the studios poured billions of dollars into launching streaming services, most have still failed to turn a profit. Studios, receiving pressure from Wall Street about the lack of profits, will make drastic changes that will most likely lead to fewer shows being greenlit and firstlook deals being canceled. It will be more difficult for newcomers to succeed in an already cut-throat industry filled with considerable competition. For people thinking of working in the industry, this is something to keep in mind as the dust settles from the strikes. ■H

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF PEXELS

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/radar

RADAR

TUESDAY, NOV 28, 2023

Part one of season six, ‘The Crown,’ deals delicately with Diana’s death CECILE DIROLL Assistant Opinions Editor

Panned by some critics, ‘The Crown’ tackles a difficult period in the British monarchy. The first part of the highly-anticipated final season of “The Crown” dropped on Nov. 16 on Netflix last week. Focused on the late Queen Elizabeth II and the events that shaped her reign, these four episodes follow a newly divorced Princess Diana — played convincingly by Elizabeth Debicki — as she navigates the paparazzi, her new life as an “ex-royal” and single mother and her early death in the summer of 1997. Though Peter Morgan, director and creator of the series, certainly takes creative liberties with this part of the British royal family’s history, part one of season six captures this difficult moment with care and sensitivity. “The Crown” appropriately depicts Princess Diana’s death by utilizing different perspectives and story devices. The first episode begins with a man walking his dog late at night when he sees the car carrying Diana and her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, speed and crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. Rather than sensationalizing the crash with speeding cars and the destroyed Mercedes-Benz, “The Crown” treats Diana’s death respectfully. The artistic decision by Morgan to begin part one with the tragic car crash immediately draws audiences in and frames the four episodes’ storyline and purpose: to explain the events and choices that lead to Diana’s death. Additionally, part one shows Diana’s growing isolation due to the press’ harassment. The second episode of “The Crown” contrasts the story of Italian photographer, Mario Brenna, who captured the $3 million photo of Diana and Dodi embracing on a yacht, and the royal photographer, Duncan Muir, who took staged photos of Prince Charles and his sons, Princes William and Harry, in Scotland. The stark difference between the behavior of the loyal royal family photographers and the tabloid-hungry paparazzi underscores the frenzy and chaos Diana

lived under after leaving the protection of the Palace. Morgan’s unique approach to telling these unknown stories and using different perspectives about the royal family enriches the storytelling and is unlike any other depiction. Part one also explores the complicated nature of Diana and Dodi’s relationship. Dodi Fayed (Khalid Abdalla), the eldest son of wealthy Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed is portrayed as a son who struggles to live up to his father’s expectations. He pursues a relationship with Diana as a way to please his father, earn his British citizenship and make his way into British upper society. Despite being paired together for selfish reasons, Dodi and Diana come to enjoy each other’s company as they share a unique kinship over their complex relationships with their fathers and feelings of loneliness. Though not confirmed, Morgan’s interpretation of Diana and Dodi’s relationship shifts away from the typical whirlwind romance storyline and instead allows viewers to learn more about the emotional connection between these two broken characters. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of season six is Prince Charles’, now King Charles III, unexpected character transformation from a villainous cheating husband to the regretful ex-husband and assertive future monarch. Indeed, Charles begins season six throwing parties for Camilla Parker Bowles, his long-time love, and playing a publicity battle against Diana for the public’s favor. However, as part one progresses, Charles seeks to prioritize his sons and co-parent with Diana – “Even though we weren’t brilliant at being married, can we be brilliant at all of this?” This new side of Charles is especially apparent after Diana’s death when he breaks down upon seeing her dead body and pushes the Queen to

release a statement showing “empathy” in response to the nation’s grief. The choice to depict Charles more humanely is an interesting redemption arc for a character most audiences have, until now, viewed as the “bad guy.” However, there was controversy over the appearance of Diana’s “ghost” visiting Charles and the Queen. Many viewers do not believe Diana would “make peace” and comfort the royals after the way she was treated. Undoubtedly a risky technique and up for interpretation, Diana’s reappearance as a figment of the imagination can represent the universal feeling to anyone who has lost someone unexpectedly and wants to have one last conversation. Morgan’s decision to end Diana’s story by providing a sense of closure with her former husband and the Monarch further humanizes the royal family and closes her story. However, this part could have been better executed if certain lines in these conversions were cut or changed. For example, when the “ghost” of Diana says to Charles, “Thank you for how you were at the hospital. So raw, broken … and handsome. I’ll take that with me,” it rubs audiences the wrong way as Diana would likely never have said that to Charles. Part two of season six will be released on Dec. 14 with a flashforward to Prince William meeting his future wife, Catherine Middleton, at St. Andrew’s College and Prince Charles finally marrying Camilla. Blending fact and fiction, “The Crown” does an impressive job of filling in the gaps in Diana’s story and showing the complexity of these characters. Hopefully, part two of season six will conclude “The H Crown” on a high note. ■

Verdict: A difficult moment to capture, part one of season six of “The Crown” does an impressive job handling Diana’s story, making it worth the watch.

‘Saltburn’ Review: Infiltrating the upper crust LUKE LIAO Staff Writer

A licentious hellraiser worms into an aristocratic family’s life. Oliver (Barry Keoghan) is a freshman at Oxford University. His presence is anything but noteworthy — he’s dressed like a middle-aged penpusher and gets lost in the shuffle of new faces and places. The only interesting quality that Oliver has is his infatuation for Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), a wealthy and handsome student whose social life remains impalpable to the fervid outsider. Inevitably, fate introduces the nerd and golden boy together and the two hit it off. Ollie, an affectionate nickname given by Felix, joins the in-group, entering a world of drinking, smoking and philandering. Knowing that Oliver has a trying domestic life, Felix later invites him to stay the summer at Saltburn — his family’s estate — putting in motion a debauched story of parasitism. When the beginning of “Saltburn” serviceably presents Oliver’s obsession with Felix against the carousing of college life, we know that these feelings of zeal are relatively untapped and will unbound within the gates of the Baroque mansion. Sure enough, they do as Oliver is quick to adjust to the Saltburn denizens’ posh lifestyle, slyly earwigging and committing salacious acts around the manor’s

grounds. And yet, this hedonic, precarious game Oliver plays never dawns as quite thrilling or even momentous. There is a vacuum of interrelatedness between his exploits and the events that follow. Director and screenwriter Emerald Fennell offers little to grab onto, fashioning a story around short-lived potencies rather than consequences. Around these maneuvers and ploys, Fennell, with cinematographer Linus Sandgren, fashions a brazen presentation with popping colors and a symphonic score with mid-2000s needle drops. Everything looks and sounds good, but these frills can be a reminder of how unremarkable the scene it’s dressing really is. Earworms like MGMT’s “Time to Pretend” pulsate while a hacky montage-esque sequence plays out that means nothing to these characters when they have a bore of a dinner later. The rakehell at the center of everything, embodied by the chameleonic Barry Keoghan, is a thorny character by design: his construction is defined by his desire, and he’s an unreliable narrator. Much of the intrigue surrounding this eccentric falls by the wayside during the film’s midsection, as Oliver is

increasingly reduced to a vehicle for depravity and deviousness. Earlier on, there are sexually explicit scenes that remind us how pathetic his whole scheme really is — and there are some, namely a graveyard scene, that register more as means to titillate for the sake of doing so. This diminishment is unfortunate because Keoghan, in his first leading role, isn’t given much substance to act upon and, rather, things to “do.” Saltburn’s issue of characterization extends to its supporting players Elspeth (Rosamund Pike) and Sir James Catton (Richard E. Grant), Felix’s parents. The seasoned actors of the ensemble give uniformly humorous performances, but their satirical aloofness makes them feel like misplaced wildcards. Beneath her farcical ramblings, Elspeth is a thread that should be utilized and is, but only far too late in the last half hour. “Saltburn’s” closing stretch barrels towards its end, seemingly making up for lost ground, especially for its main character. Predictable or not, it does feel like the thriller we should have gotten an hour ago by the end. ■ H

Verdict: “Saltburn” tries to devilishly provoke and titillate but finds itself running empty through and through.

14 TUESDAY, NOV 28, 2023

RADAR

THE HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/category/radar

TikTok Star Bella Poarch releases her new empowering single ‘Bad Boy!’

Bella Poarch’s music career has risen since her first released single in 2021 with ‘Build A B*tch’ to now ‘Bad Boy!’ SIN SZE MAN Contributing Writer

With the iconic singer-songwriter rising from TikTok, Bella Poarch dropped her newest single “Bad Boy!” on Nov. 10. It became a new addition to the pop music genre with its overall catchy rhythmic beats and repetitive lyrics, making it easy to memorize and compelling to sing along to. You might find yourself mouthing the lyrics on your way to school or even humming the melodies in a classroom. Bella Poarch captioned her post “I’ve always had a love and hate relationship with my body since childhood.” In the entertainment industry, it has always been harder on artists when they’re constantly in the spotlight. But Poarch has made it relatable to us by telling us a story we needed to hear. “I have had moments of feeling good in my skin and other moments of hating myself. After my sexual assault, I felt like I couldn’t look at myself in mirrors worse of all I felt like a stranger in my body. Now, I’m regaining a sense of myself that I lost, I’m rediscovering myself, and reclaiming my body.” This single is about embracing our flaws, vulnerability, past, pain and trauma, while teaching us to love ourselves. It is about expressing an idea and doing it fearlessly. In the first verse, Poarch sings, “Bad boys and their trauma / All their issues with their mama / Bad boys bring the drama / Play guitar and think they’re Nirvana,” exhibiting good musicality as each line’s syllables closely match one another and create convincing rhymes. There is more emphasis on the title when she puts that on repeat as she lyrically details her version of a bad boy. In the pre-chorus she sings, “I’vе had boys who would shower / Me with chocolates and flowеrs / But without the

chase, it’s safe to say I’m bored.” The lyrics are not intended to be toxic, it instead indicates how abusive behavior in her past, such as her childhood and the time she served in the Navy, has shaped her current thoughts as a victim and survivor. The drums accompanying this lyric focuses and enhances the rhythm, and Poarch sings each word effortlessly and melodically, which has drawn praise. There are also arguments regarding the official cover photo for the single overflow on her announcement post on Instagram, questioning her decision to expose her body in an attempt to re-own it. Criticizing the way she chose to express her feelings and the image choice for her single, completely missing the intention of her choices. Nudity is a subjective term for many. Artists have their own reason for what they put up on their covers, usually relating to other cover art of previous releases. This cover shows us not only a woman’s body, but a woman who can do what she wants with her body and that is empowering. Most importantly, we all have different ways of dealing with different traumas, and her way of reclaiming her consent is through art and music. On her cover, the singer showed off her body of tattoos, one being the title of the new single on her side thigh. Despite the criticism, Bella Poarch’s cover for “Bad Boy!” is an empowering choice to take back control of her body image. Bella Poarch’s single “Bad Boy!” sends the message of re-owning her own body — what felt separated from her — and that in itself is empowering. ■ H

COURTESY OF WARNER RECORDS

Verdict: This single is about staying brutally honest with yourself and getting into the nitty gritty of how you feel in the moment. Bella Poarch owns up to her emotions as she uses this single and her recent music to reclaim herself.

Inclusivity in Fashion

COURTESY OF WARNER RECORDS

Inclusivity, if done right, is advantageous for all. GILLIAN ONG Contributing Writer

For many, being represented in the media is one of the most liberating feelings. This is especially true for minorities who have fewer opportunities to feel seen or heard. Inclusivity, if done right, is beneficial, but when done wrong, it is detrimental. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was iconic. Everyone would gather around the TV and marvel at the Angels walking the catwalk. Their beauty was unattainable, and that’s exactly what made them so popular. In recent years, Victoria’s Secret has been recruiting a more diverse set of women: women with disabilities, women who are short and, in general, women who look more like the audience watching them. This strategy, however, backfired on Victoria’s Secret. The first step to inclusivity, at least body positivity-wise, is to stop editing photos. Victoria’s Secret, even now with its new inclusive branding, has yet to even start the first step. Despite their best efforts to be more inclusive, they are still guilty of photoshopping and airbrushing, which continues to cause the harm inclusivity should help mitigate. Multiple studies have shown that digitally altering and photoshopping photos that already feature thin bodies have a direct impact on self-esteem and self-image, especially in women and adolescents. Even with the release of a new maternity line, Victoria’s Secret still hypersexualizes and airbrushes, leading many to complain that most pregnant bodies are being misrepresented and idealized. Additionally, many women complain about the Victoria’s Secret catwalk being too boring and completely disappointing. Many of the once-iconic models, such as Adriana Lima, were nowhere to be seen. Content creator Meghan Elinor states that, while she is all for body positivity, she says, “The point of the Angels was not everybody could be an Angel.” Many women aren’t falling for the performative awareness, and it feels as if Victoria’s Secret is only now inclusive to save their brand.

On the flip side, however, Aerie showed massive success capitalizing on body positivity and inclusivity. Aerie launched in 2014 with their brand starting off being centered around inclusivity. Unlike Victoria’s Secret, where they attempted to save their brand through inclusivity, Aerie was always focused on inclusion. Forbes stated that “The brand has struck a chord with today’s consumers who value social responsibility, body positivity, inclusion and a community that supports each other.” One way Aerie promotes authentic inclusivity is by including disability representation. The brand has accomplished this by bringing in a gold medalist snowboarder, Brenna Huckaby, and blind YouTuber Molly Burke. Burke spoke out about how when she sees disability inclusion: “it often feels like tokenism, which is not what we need. If I ever feel like a brand is trying to use my disability for ‘brownie points,’ I walk away from the opportunity. But Aerie has never made me feel that way — their use of women with disabilities is authentic, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of that.” Inclusivity in the fashion industry is essential and advantageous if done right, not only for the people but also for the companies. It allows a broad range of people and diversity to be represented, which, in turn, relates more to the target audience.■ H

Sports

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SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOV 28, 2023

UCR women’s basketball team wins a nail-biter against Utah State 52-51

HANSEL CHU Sports Editor

Jordan Webster knocks down the go-ahead jump shot to give UCR their second win of the year. The UC Riverside women’s basketball team defeated Utah State 52-51 in a come from behind victory. Going into this ball game, the Highlanders won their first game of the season against Antelope Valley in a comfortable double-digit win and looked to carry that momentum against the Aggies. Things didn’t go as planned to start the game for UCR, but a second-half comeback helped propel them into a much needed win. Both teams struggled to find their footing in the first quarter, as they combined for six turnovers within the first five minutes of the game. Senior guard Jordan Webster knocked down a jumper to give UC Riverside their first points of the game within the first two minutes of the game. The Highlanders took their first lead of the game, 5-4, off a secondchance 3-pointer from sophomore guard Zoe Tillery. After that 3-pointer, however, UCR went on a three-minute scoring drought that saw them lose the lead to Utah State. Junior center Esther Matarranz broke the scoring drought with a layup after an assist from redshirt senior forward Matehya Bryant. Still, by the end of the first quarter, the Highlanders saw themselves trailing 15-9. Utah State capitalized on the stale offensive play from UC Riverside as they took an eight-point lead in the second quarter. After a block from forward Tiarra Hill-Brown, guard Skye Miller sunk in a jump shot to give the Aggies their biggest lead of the night, 19-11. The Highlanders wouldn’t give up, however, as they started to make a little comeback midway through the quarter. It started with Tillery dishing the ball to senior guard Julia Stenberg for a mid-range jumper to cut the lead to 19-13. After a missed shot from Utah State, Tillery found Bryant on the inside of the layup to bring the deficit within four points. After a couple of minutes, Bryant went one for two at the free throw line to bring the score to 19-16, capping off a 5-0 run for UCR. However, the Aggies ended the half strong as they dominated down the stretch to take a 26-18 lead at halftime. Both teams started to trade buckets to start the third quarter as the offense started to pick up from both sides. For UC Riverside, Bryant started to impose her will on the inside as she scored four early second-half points. However, forward Bridget Mullings maintained the lead for Utah State as she continued to knock down timely shots every time UCR would get close. The Highlanders could not find an answer to get multiple

defensive stops, as every time they scored, the Aggies would come down the court and get a score of their own. The duo of Webster and Bryant started to get going at the end of the quarter as they were able to bring UC Riverside back into the game. With time winding down, Matarranz was able to finish a layup to cut the deficit to two, 41-39, entering the fourth quarter. The Highlanders were able to carry their momentum into the fourth quarter as Bryant sank in another jump shot to tie the game at 41-41. After a turnover from Utah State, Bryant was able to finish a putback layup to give UCR their first lead since the first quarter, 43-41. Bryant continued to take over in the fourth quarter as on the ensuing defensive possession, she came up with a steal and scored in another jumper to extend the Highlander lead to four points. Utah State was able to break their four-minute scoring drought with a layup to break the 7-0 UCR run, but Bryant was able to sink in another mid-range jump shot to push the lead back up to five points. The resilience of the Aggies would continue to show as they were able to tie the game up at 50 with 1:18 left in the game. With 27 seconds left on the clock, forward Samiana Suguturaga was fouled by Stenberg, which she sunk in one of two free throws to give Utah State a 51-50 lead. With time winding down, Webster came up clutch for the Highlanders as she got to her spot and knocked down the go-ahead jump shot to give UC Riverside the lead, 52-51, with six seconds left on the clock. Utah State had one more chance to win the game but Miller was unable to finish the game-winning layup and UC Riverside walked away with the victory 52-51. Bryant led the way for the Highlanders as she filled up the stat sheet with 21 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, two steals and four blocks. Webster also contributed with 13 points and three rebounds. The Highlanders improve their record to 2-3 on the season and will be on the road to H face Merrimack College on Friday, Dec. 1, at 8 a.m. ■

UC Riverside loses heartbreaker to Montana State 68-69 ISAAC SOLNICK Contributing Writer

Highlanders battle hard in back-and-forth game. Following their 74-68 victory against the University of Wisconsin Green Bay, the Highlanders were looking to keep the good times going on the road against Montana State. This would be no easy task as the Bobcats entered this season looking for their third straight Big Sky championship. It was clear that UCR head coach Mike Magpayo and the Highlanders were wary of redshirt senior guard Robert Ford III. In Ford III’s last game against Green Bay, he finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Although impressive for the 6-foot guard, the Highlanders were determined to make his life difficult in this game. It didn’t matter which UCR guard matched up with Ford III. The Highlanders played tight defense on Ford III from the inbound. With their star point guard struggling to bring the ball up the court, the Bobcats couldn’t get their offense going early on. However, UCR failed to take full advantage of the sluggish Bobcats. The officials in this contest weren’t afraid to set the tone. Constant whistles killed the offensive flow for both teams. The Highlanders finally got going after senior forward Wil Tattersall found junior center Ben Griscti on the pick-and-pop 3. The Australian duo were followed up by a transition three-pointer from redshirt sophomore guard Isaiah Moses. UCR entered the first TV timeout with a 10-6 lead. After the break, Mike Magpayo dipped into his bench and put out his hustle line. The move paid off. Tattersall completed a 3-point play, and Moses drilled a pullup jumper after a couple of offensive rebounds. After another Moses 3-pointer, it looked like the Highlanders were about to pull away. Montana State needed a spark, and they got it from junior forward Chika Nduka. Coming off the bench, Nduka set hard screens to help set up himself and his teammates for easy buckets. This was extremely problematic for the Highlanders since Ford III found a lot of success in the pick-and-roll with Nduka. With Nduka’s help, Ford III had finally found his rhythm. Ford III’s offensive prowess, which had previously been shut down by the Highlanders, had been unleashed. Ford wasn’t the only Bobcat to find his groove. Junior guard Tyler Patterson’s shot was cold, but his fast hands forced a few turnovers against the Highlanders. A 3-point play from sophomore forward Brandon Walker cut the Highlander lead to 1. After UCR’s

redshirt freshman Kaleb Smith and Brandon Walker traded threes, a pair of free throws from Robert Ford III gave Montana State their first lead of the game. The Highlanders would retake the lead before halftime, but back-to-back blocks from Montana State’s junior forward Sam Lecholat kept the momentum with the Bobcats. Determined to hang onto the lead, redshirt freshman Barrington Hargress took the reins of the offense. Working with his teammates, Hargress was able to assist the other Highlanders on the fastbreak, pick and roll and backdoor cuts. While UCR was sharing the rock, Montana State’s second-half scoring was coming from one player. After starting ice-cold in the first half, Tyler Patterson caught fire in the second half. Constant off-ball movement and off-ball screens set up Patterson for open shots. He didn’t miss and the Montana State crowd loved it. After a deep 3-pointer from Patterson, Mike Magpayo had no choice but to call a timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Montana State looked to trap UCR’s ball handlers with double teams. It forced some long possessions and bad shots from the Highlanders, but hustle plays helped make up for these errors. Junior Niyi Olabode brought UCR within two after turning an offensive rebound into a three-point play. UCR briefly took back the lead after three-pointers from redshirt junior Vladimir Salaridze and Isaiah Moses. However, another 3-pointer from Patterson and a steal from sophomore Jed Miller put Montana State back in front. In the final moments, the Bobcats were able to inbound to Robert Ford III before the Highlanders could get a steal. With ice in his veins, Ford III put Montana State up by 4. As time expired, Isaiah Moses knocked down a deep 3, but it was too little too late. The Highlanders lose to Montana State and fall to 2-4 on the season. The record is disappointing but not discouraging. This game really exemplified how deep this year’s roster is. Mike Magpayo called upon 11 different Highlanders in this game, whereas the Bobcats only used a 7 man rotation. The team’s strong depth will pay dividends later this season, and it almost made the difference against Montana State. The loss concludes a tough 5 game road trip that included two Power 5 matchups. The Highlanders are back H in action against Bethesda University on Nov. 26. ■

16 TUESDAY, NOV 28, 2023

SPORTS

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Tragedy on ice:

Adam Johnson’s death renews conversations about hockey’s risks MARIBEL GAMEZ-REYES Assistant Features Editor

The aftermath of Johnson’s tragic death calls for a much-needed reevaluation of priorities. The heartbreaking passing of former NHL player Adam Johnson was confirmed in a statement released on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2023, by the Nottingham Panthers, the English side club Johnson was most recently playing for. During a UK Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) game against the Sheffield Steelers that took place a day prior, the fatal incident unfolded in the second period of the match when Johnson suffered an on-ice collision. The fast and brief encounter in the collision, as Christian Bennet, a Guardian journalist who was at the game, recalls, “The Sheffield player clearly got knocked off his feet and his skate went up and slit [the other player’s] throat. I’ve never seen that amount of blood come out of anyone at any sort of pace. It is one of the grimmest things I’ve ever seen at a sports event.” The incident has been described as a “freak accident,” and while it is a rare occurrence for this level of injury, it doesn’t stop being a real possibility for athletes that play the sport. With hockey being a fast-paced sport, collisions are typical. However, adding razorsharp skate blades to the mix means there is a higher danger factor for sustaining more serious injuries. As the most widespread and recent injury of this magnitude, the death of Adam Johnson has catalyzed a much-needed reevaluation of priorities in hockey. This has sparked conversations about whether neck protection should be more widely mandated. Presently, USA Hockey “recommends” rather than “requires” players to wear neck guards, a simple protective gear around the neck area. The matter could be addressed as early as USA Hockey’s Winter Meeting in January 2024 for any potential rule change proposals. Neck protectors are also not required in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), American Hockey League or East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). IMAGE COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

KELLEY MANZO / THE HIGHLANDER

For the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), which comprises three major leagues, there is a general neck guard mandate for players under 16, which is eventually lifted once they reach junior level. Moving forward, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) still mandate neck guards for players, while the Western Hockey League (WHL) doesn’t. Moving up in rank, despite expecting more safety measures set in place for players performing at a professional level, the National Hockey League (NHL) has at no point in time placed a general mandate for neck protection. Under the scrutiny of the public eye, the sport and associated leagues are being put in the spotlight, not for entertainment purposes but for long-overdue changes in safety measures. A parallel situation to that of Johnson’s is the case of 16-year-old Teddy Balkind, who died after receiving a laceration to the neck from an opposing player in an on-ice collision during a game that took place last year. Prior to that incident, there were two cases that involved NHL players that survived. The first occurred in 2008, when Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik received a neck laceration from a teammate who simply lost balance during a game. The second case is from 1989 when Buffalo Sabres goalie Clint Malarchuk received a neck laceration when an opposing player crashed into the goal crease. There have been a number of skate lacerations that have proved to be some of the most gruesome injuries in sports, and despite neck lacerations being rare, one is too many lives taken. As neck guards are mostly “recommended,” there are distinct reasons in favor of or against the protective gear, but it all depends on players’ personal choices. ■ H