Volume 67 Issue 0

THE HIGHLANDER

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

VOL. 67, ISSUE 0

FOR THE WEEK OF TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2018

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California primary election results showcase a medley of landslides and close contests MARK BERTUMEN Senior Staff Writer

AMANI MAHMOUD Senior Staff Writer CYDNEY CONTRERAS Contributing Writer VASKEN NAJARIAN Contributing Writer

The California primary elections to decide candidates for November’s contests were held Tuesday, June 5. In accordance with the “jungle primary” system in California, the top two candidates for each office, regardless of political party, will contest the general elections on Nov. 6.

The governor’s position will be determined between Democrat and Lieutenant Governor of California Gavin Newsom and Republican businessman John Cox, who won 33.8 percent and 26.2 percent of the popular vote respectively.

Newsom intends to improve the quality of education in California by considering the prospect as a “lifelong pursuit.” He plans to enhance primary education by establishing universal preschool, improving after school programs for grade schools from kindergarten to 12th grade, creating college savings accounts for students starting in kindergarten and providing two free years of community college. Cox’s online platform does not especially focus on education, but he has stated that the state school system ought to be scrutinized for any errors in its functioning and that university course loads be examined in order to cut costs and improve the quality of higher education.

Cox seems especially focused on ensuring economic stability for Californians, citing that the state “ranks dead last in friendliness to business” and has a suffering middle class, in part due to “the highest state sales tax, and skyhigh gas taxes, traffic fines, and utility rates.” He believes that repealing the gas tax established by Jerry Brown in April 2017 can help achieve this, which in November aimed to increased the annual budget of CalTrans, the state’s department of transportation, by $5.2 billion. Cox considers CalTrans to be “one of the most corrupt and inefficient bureaucracies on the planet,” receiving money “without building any new roads.”

Some of Cox’s support may be due to President Trump’s endorsement when he tweeted that electing Cox for governor was a “rare opportunity (for California) to turn things around and solve its high crime, high tax, problems - along with so many others [sic]...He’ll (Cox) Make California

Great Again!” Cox did not vote for Trump during the 2016 election, opting instead for libertarian Gary Johnson.

Annel Lopez, a third-year political science major at UCR, told the Highlander that she voted for Democrat Delaine Eastin as governor, since she “wanted to have free college tuition and healthcare for all,” the former also featuring prominently in Newsom’s platform. Eastin only ended up winning 3.1 percent of the popular vote, coming in fifth behind the other candidates.

Lopez practiced her “civic duty” of voting because “(she) was pressured from the people around me,” she said.

“Guaranteed, if they didn’t remind me about (it) I probably wouldn’t have voted.”

She also believes that gubernatorial candidate and former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa “wasn’t as helpful as he should have been.”

However, Marsela Barajas, another third-year political science major, voted for Villaraigosa because “the issues he (focused) on appeal to me and what I am passionate about.” According to Villaraigosa’s campaign page, the former mayor focused on “rebuilding our middle class by investing in our schools and repairing our infrastructure” and also focused on providing a voice for California’s citizens, “making sure the people are heard in Sacramento and their priorities are addressed.” Villaraigosa ended up with the 13.2 percent of the popular vote and the third highest amount of votes overall, narrowly disqualifying him from contesting the November election.

One of California’s seats in the US Senate will be contested between 26-year incumbent Dianne Feinstein and former California Senate President pro tempore Kevin de León, both Democrats. Feinstein won 44.2 percent of the popular vote while de León won 11.5 percent, barely more than a quarter of what the incumbent received.

In 1994, Feinstein wrote and passed a bill that banned assault weapons. The bill expired in 2004 but she tried to reinstate the bill in 2013 one month after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which was defeated. In the wake of more recent shootings by assault weapons, such as the Las Vegas shooting of October last year, where 59 people were killed and another 851 were injured, Feinstein has been looking to pass another bill of the same nature since last November.

Alongside banning assault weapons De León aims to improve background checks, research gun violence and support programs that assist communities affected by shootings.

In regards to health care, De León wishes to instate “Medicare for all,” a single-payer health care system proposed in a bill by

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Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. Under the system, the federal government would pay for health care for all U.S. citizens, with required costs translating to $1.4 trillion and a requisite rise in taxes. Currently only California senator Kamala Harris supports the bill.

Feinstein aims to let Medicare negotiate the prices of medicine sold by pharmaceutical businesses in an effort to mitigate high drug costs. Republican President Donald Trump supported the policy in his campaign but did not include it in his drug pricing plan proposed in May 2018. Feinstein also wants to lower the eligible age for Medicare from 65 years old to 55.

The position of Secretary of State will go to either Democratic incumbent Alex Padilla or Republican Mark Meuser, respectively winning 51.9 percent and 31.9 percent of the popular vote.

Padilla has been Secretary of State since January of 2015, and has made it a goal to improve voter turnout and voting rights.

Currently he wants to establish automatic voter registration, a policy enacted in only eight states thus far, for Californians receiving or renewing their driver’s license or state ID and also wishes to increase transparency in political and campaign spelling.

Meuser is also interested in improving California’s voting turnout by restoring voter confidence in elections, which may partially be due to the 45,000 votes voided last November as a result of unidentifiable and unmatched signatures on ballots. He plans to solve this issue through improving the signature recognition system by associating a PIN with signatures when voting by mail.

The top two candidates for Attorney General are Democratic incumbent Xavier Becerra and former El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Steven Bailey, a Republican. Bailey won 25 percent of the vote while Becerra won nearly twice as much with a total of 45.3 percent.

Becerra promotes affordable health care, the management of climate change, the reformation of immigration laws, and the DREAM Act, which allows undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and educated in its schools to be legalized.

Bailey supports the death penalty and the Three Strikes law, which doubles the term that an offender serves for a felony if they committed a felony in the past. Jail time will then extend anywhere from 25 years to life if offenders commit a third felony. Bailey also promises to crack down on drug and property crime and to reduce the early release of criminals from prison, specifically sexual offenders that he believes contributed to the 24 percent increase of crime in California over the last year.

Votes were also cast for the 80 members of the California State Assembly, the lower house of the California State Legislature.

State Assembly District 60, which is contained entirely within Riverside county, will be contested between Democratic incumbent Sabrina Cervantes and Republican Bill Essayli. Essayli overtook Cervantes in votes 52.9 percent to 47.1.

According to Essayli’s campaign website, he prioritizes repealing California’s gas and car taxes, improving the police and prison systems and increasing the economic competition of the state.

Cervantes’s online biography states that she worked alongside those who developed UCR’s School of Medicine and that “she understands what this institution means for local residents and hopes to continue to expand access to affordable education.” Her “extensive knowledge in the Riverside community” has helped her identify “critical elements that residents need to be successful.”

Essayli is only one of two candidates to have outvoted an incumbent of a district in this election. In an online news release, Essayli attributes Cervantes’ upset to a “loss of support (by) her district because of her unpopular votes, like voting to raise gas taxes and vehicle registration fees.”

One presumably unpopular vote from last May made by Cervantes was for the statemandated installation of solar panels on all newly constructed homes by 2020, a choice that Essayli tweeted was in the favor of “Sacramento special interests instead of what is the best interest of Riverside county residents.”

The general election will take place on Tues., November 6.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2018

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Student worker union bargains for Title IX reforms, wage increases AIDAN RUTTEN Senior Staff Writer

The United Automobile Workers Local 2865, which represents student employees, is currently in the process of contract bargaining with the University of California across campuses for more affordable housing, improvements to Title IX investigations and better wages. UAW 2865 serves both graduate and undergraduate employees, most of them teaching and research assistants.

At UCR, meetings between the bargaining unit and school officials took place on June 6 and 7.

Testimonies and discussion were open to the public, after which the union bargaining team and school officials met in a closed meeting. During these, professors and

students shared their experiences regarding issues such as sexual harassment and difficulties finding adequate childcare options for working parents.

“Title IX will never not be broken,” said Jennifer Doyle, a professor with the UC Riverside Department of English quoted on the UAW 2865 website. “Slowing down the grievance process until the Title IX investigation has been completed is an unreasonable ask of student workers. It exponentially magnifies the harm.” An article in the Daily Breeze reported that 113 sexual harassment cases occurred within the UC system between 2013 and 2016. These were only the cases in which investigations had been completed.

A recent petition by the union

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with over 1,000 signatures was put forward to the administration for consideration. “Students and workers across the UC face high rates of sexual violence and sexual harassment,” it reads, “and members of our union who have experienced sexual violence and sexual harassment report numerous unfair experiences as a result of the Title IX process.” The petition proposes ensuring timely responses to reported violence and regular updates after a complaint has been filed.

According to an email from the UC Office of the President (UCOP) spokesperson Stephanie Beechem, “UC is committed to pursuing contract provisions that align with the university’s systemwide sexual violence and sexual harassment policy, which outlines a transparent, consistent and (sic) process to ensure fairness in investigating and adjudicating such cases.” Beechem also wrote that “This policy was shaped with the input of student leaders serving on a presidential task force.”

The President’s Task Force on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence and Sexual Assault consists of several UC regents, campus police officials, school administrators, victims’ advocacy group representatives, Title IX officers and students. It was created in 2014 to conduct research on how to better respond to claims and prevent sexual assault and harassment in the first place.

Another concern raised by the bargaining unit is wages. UAW’s website says that “UC administration still believes 2% per year is an acceptable wage proposal.

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2% is a meager $43 per month for most members, which does not even keep pace with inflation.”

To solve this, the union proposed “wage parity with UC’s peer institutions and housing stipends” to keep workers competitive in the current housing market. The average salary for a UC Riverside teaching assistant is $1,959 per month, or about $24,000 per year.

The concern over wages and other issues is echoed by David Chavez, UCR’s union leader, in an email to the Highlander. “As of yet, the UC has fallen short on most of our demands,” he wrote.

“They have offered us a 2% pay increase and not signaled any movement on increasing paid leave, affordable housing, eliminating the NRST (Nonresident Supplemental Tuition) and all

campus fees, or improved childcare support.”

The bargaining is ongoing, but Beechem told the Highlander that they aim to “reach a multi-year agreement that recognizes the significant contributions that academic student employees make to UC by providing fair pay, familyfriendly benefits, a safe workplace and good working conditions.”

Despite concerns over the administration’s efforts to address student workers’ issues, Chavez is hopeful about the future. “I think we have made some good progress since our session at UCR. I am optimistic in the sense that our members have a strong passion to fight for a just contract that supports student workers across the state.”

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UC Riverside School of Medicine helps students pay for schooling by serving the Inland Empire ATENAS ODRIOZOLA Contributing Writer

The cost of attending medical school has increased due to a rise in tuition in recent years. In a US News finding, tuition at public universities has risen by 194 percent in the past 20 years. However, the UC Riverside School of Medicine has made it easier for students to afford medical school by providing an opportunity to have their tuition paid in exchange for providing their services to the Inland Empire.

As of the 2017-2018 academic year, the UCR School of Medicine’s tuition cost $39,060. With the incorporation of room and board, transportation, personal expenses and books and supplies, the total cost can add up to $60,000.

However, to relieve the cost the UCR School of Medicine provides numerous scholarships, including the Dean’s Mission Award. This award, intended for incoming third year students, covers all required university fees not covered by other need-based financial aid sources for two years. In return, students are expected to work for 30 months in general internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, family medicine, general surgery or psychiatry within the Inland Empire.

Dr. Paul Lyons, UCR School of Medicine Senior Associate Dean, explained the purpose of

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the program in an interview with the Highlander. “The inspiration for the Mission Award is the same inspiration that lies behind the medical school as a whole. The medical school was developed specifically to improve the health and wellness of Inland Southern California … the only way for this to work … is if the graduates stay in this region.”

Lessa Heng, a first year pre-med biochemistry major stated, “That would be something I would be interested in … I am from Southern California, so staying in the region

while having a job here would be amazing. It would also be a good experience working in a diverse community.”

Since the scholarships are funded by individuals and donations from regional institutions, there is only enough funding to provide 38 medical students from a class of approximately 220. The number of recipients of the award varies by year depending on the amount of money raised, which can fluctuate over time.

While the cost of tuition would continue to increase, Dr.

Lyons explained cost should not discourage anyone from attending medical school. “Even if this type of scholarship is not available, the debt you accumulate going through medical school at the moment is still manageable given the reimbursement”, stated Dr.Lyons.

“Although it’s very scary how much money you would owe... it’s still a really good investment of time and money and energy and effort.”

UC Riverside Financial Aid Office was unable to provide more insight on the added support that ■H students can receive.

UCR collaborates with non-profit Chilean company to increase technology commercialization in Chile

VIVIAN LEE Staff Writer

The Office of Information Technology Partnerships (OTP) at UC Riverside has partnered with Know Hub Chile, a non-profit organization that specializes in expanding awareness and attention to technology created within eight universities and three research centers in Chile. The government-funded program hopes this collaborative effort will bring more attention to their current projects and stimulate the Chilean economy.

Know Hub Chile was established in early 2017, according to Lothar Driller, the company’s chief of technology transfer in agroindustry. He shared that they are collaborating with UC Riverside to “bring more of the technology-based education to our (Chilean) students in order to promote entrepreneurship as UCR has had a well-known long track record in transferring technology.” In addition to that, both organizations hope to use each other ’s resources in order to identify and pursue opportunities to conduct research in either the U.S. or Chile.

Driller elaborated further, stating that they were seeking to introduce more technology from Chile, as many Chilean universities are currently looking for intellectual property to share and invest in. The Chilean government recognized the potential of many projects currently underway in local universities, which are often hampered by

a lack of proper tools or infrastructure to attract investment or outside support, as explained by Fernando Venegas, legal and intellectual property manager of Know Hub. By collaborating with UC Riverside after recognizing them for their outstanding history in patenting and commercializing technological innovations, they would be able “to transfer technology from a national scale to an international scale, bringing entrepreneurship within Chile and create (sic) an impact.”

From this, they hope to develop self-sustainability within the organization and create “a flowback of money through support of tech and transfer” within their organization.

Rosibel Ochoa, the associate vice chancellor of technology partnerships for UCR told the Highlander how eager the Office of Information Technology is to collaborate with Know Hub. Their office would be a place to “run programs that involve innovation and entrepreneurships, giving resources for students, faculty and entrepreneurs who are seeking access to capital, mentors, (and) training.”

Ochoa moved to UCR in order to become associate vice chancellor of technology partnerships after working with engineering-based entrepreneurial programs at UCSD. She was approached by Know Hub Chile to utilize their mentorship, training workshops and entrepreneurship education in order to guide students in selling their technological innovations. “What they want is to join forces, to work together and

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be more effective and efficient in how they commercialize their intellectual property,” she stated.

The exchange of resources between Riverside and Chile has given both parties a chance at exploring different opportunities for education in entrepreneurial and technology commercialization.

Know Hub Chile would give UCR an opportunity to develop their international profile, whereas UCR can provide the tools and resources for Chile to develop their skills and methodology in marketing their projects and soon-to-be business ideas on a larger, global scale.

“Once you transfer the methodology for creating business, it be-

comes a standard in the sense that you need to know who your customers are, how big your opportunity is. And all of this knowledge is important no matter where you’re working or what your nationality is. And more importantly you see the intersection in the humanities and science and technology,” said Ochoa.

The OTP is currently holding several ongoing programs at UCR that have given 200 students the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship for start-up innovators every quarter. They are working with the School of Business in providing mentorship and internships.

More information can be found online at their website.

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The Year in Review: Highlights of the 2017-2018 Academic Year

SEPTEMBER

On Sept. 26, 2017, freshman convocation occurred with speakers such as Chancellor Kim Wilcox, President of the UCR Alumni Association Kenneth Noeller, Executive Vice Chancellor Cynthia Larive, Chairman of the Academic Senate Dylan Rodriguez, and ASUCR President Aram Ayra. Speakers welcomed the Class of 2021 with Ayra urging freshmen to “set your sights high.”

The free speech debate reached UCR’s campus when a viral video taken on Sept. 27 depicted a dispute between Matthew Vitale, a fourthyear economics major and Edith Macias, a fourth-year ethnic studies major, over a “Make America Great Again” hat that she snatched off of Vitale’s head. Chancellor Kim Wilcox sent out a campus-wide email in which he called on the student community to “affirm that our dedication to free speech need not conflict with our commitment to mutual respect.”

OCTOBER

The 2017-18 ASUCR senators were sworn into office on Wednesday, Oct. 4 during the first state of the association meeting of the year.

After the agenda was approved and officer reports were made, staffing was approved for the Associated Students Program Board (ASPB), among others.

UCR’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), who are represented by the University and Professional Technical Employees (UPTE) union, were in contract negotiations with the UC Office of the President (UCOP) concerning the ability for CAPS to retain its workers. UC representatives did not attend any of six planned bargaining meetings and issues remain unresolved.

On Tuesday, Oct. 31, UPTE union members protested against the UC, citing low wages and a high number of layoffs. They also claimed unfair treatment of workers.

NOVEMBER

Activists representing UCR’s Muslim community demanded more halal dining options on the UCR campus. David Henry, the Dining Executive Director, explained that the department is working with new on-campus brands like Chronic Taco and The Habit to transition to halal products.

The Habit Burger and Grill opened inside of Latitude 55 on Nov. 15.

DECEMBER UC Riverside’s Middle Eastern Student Center (MESC) showed interest in expanding through a relocation to Costo Hall. Tina Aoun, director of MESC, stated that a move to Costo Hall would allow students access to more resources.

JANUARY

ASUCR contentiously voted to ban political parties for the 2018 election on Wednesday, Jan. 17 with a vote of 4-3-9. Students against political parties at the time believed parties would pool favor or resources into candidates running on behalf of a single group’s interests, such as Greek life.

On Jan. 18, in response to the planned removal of countries whose illegal immigrants are eligible to stay in the country, students protested to raise awareness of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This policy protects immigrants fleeing conflict or natural disaster from deportation.

ASUCR banned the practice of laptopping from the 2018 elections with a 9-1-0 vote on Jan. 24. Laptopping was a controversial political practice which allowed students to approach others and ask them to vote on an insecure, privately owned laptop by providing their login information.

MARCH

On Wednesday March 7, The R’Gear financial allocation was vetoed by ASUCR President Aram Ayra and Executive Cabinet members Johnathan Li, Vice President of External Affairs, and Carisha Moore, Executive Vice President. The process did not involve all ECAB members and was therefore questioned by several others, with the veto eventually filed for review.

On Tuesday, March 13 the veto was overturned by the judicial council, who ruled that the veto did not meet constitutional requirements.

APRIL

In the first week of April, multiple sources told the Highlander that the sudden retirement of former UC Riverside Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs James Sandoval arose from a comprehensive Title IX investigation into sexual harassment allegations made against Sandoval in the early summer of 2017. The source told the Highlander that Sandoval was investigated by UCR Human Resources but was absolved of wrongdoing sparking complaints which caused the university to enlist UC’s Title IX office to conduct another investigation.

ASUCR election debates featured candidates speaking about their future plans and initiatives. The debates centered primarily on boosting student involvement and food insecurity.

Chancellor Wilcox spoke to the Highlander regarding the Michigan State University investigation in which a report from the Detroit News suggested that Wilcox failed to act on numerous complaints of sexual misconduct against the school’s former Dean William Strampel. Wilcox told the Highlander that he did receive anonymous feedback that Strampel had made inappropriate comments and as a result instituted a corrective action plan that directed Strampel to stop making such comments.

Semi Cole was elected president of ASUCR for the 2018-19 academic year on April 30. Cole won in a landslide with 1,493 votes against his opponent Diana Jekki, who won 967 votes.

MAY

ASUCR’s 2018 election sparked controversy and frustration when the voter turnout rate was overestimated due to a programming glitch.

The program, built by Patrick Le, duplicated more than 2,000 students’ votes in a vote-counting list, giving the illusion that the 20 percent voter threshold was met when, in reality, only 14.39% of undergraduate students voted.

On May 2, students protested the Highlander Empowerment Student Services Referendum’s (HESSR) failure at an ASUCR meeting.

On May 7 to May 9, the largest UC employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Chapter 3299 called for a strike due to stalled contract negotiations regarding worsening work conditions.

At a Legislative Review Committee meeting on May 16, a subcommittee that reviews and edits bills killed a bill that would reduce ASUCR Executive Cabinet stipends by approximately 60 percent.

Through a special election on Tuesday, May 22, a vacant CNAS Senatorial seat was filled by third year transfer student and biology major Wajeha Mahmoud. She ran on a platform of expanding research opportunities for undocumented students and freshmen.

Disparity between administration’s salaries and money spent on students, such as those in Costo Hall, was the catalyst for a student protest

by GS 107, a student coalition for students and workers’ rights at UCR, on Tuesday, May 29. They said that the lack of funding does not align with UCR’s diverse image.

JUNE

Wajeha Mahmoud’s election victory as CNAS senator was shortlived, due to her appointment through a special election in May being ruled unconstitutional by the Judicial Council. Students running for senate seats need to have completed at least three quarters at UCR, according to Article 3, Section 8 of the ASUCR constitution.

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FEBRUARY

UCR union members took to the Bell Tower on Feb. 1 to decry unfair working conditions in a UC-wide day of protest. Workers protested higher wages, alleged racist treatment of university staff and poor accommodations.

Sammie Ayoub, a third year political science and internal affairs major was at the center of the ASUCR meeting held on Feb. 7. During public forum, two students, Hawie Mekbib and Jose Venegas, denounced Ayoub’s candidacy for chief of staff under the office of ASUCR Vice President of Internal Affairs Semi Cole by making the senate aware of Ayoub’s alleged sexual misconduct during his time at Riverside City College. Ayoub’s appointment was not approved, with a vote of 5-6-1.

Kicking off elections, ASUCR announced the names of those set to run for an ASUCR position in the 2018 elections, most notably Carisha Moore and Diana Jekki’s run for presidency.

On Wednesday, Feb. 28, ASUCR passed a $35,285.45 expenditure in order to fund R’Gear, a program which provides apparel to students at no upfront cost, with funding deriving from student fees. The controversial program was largely promoted as an effort to bolster school pride, especially for freshmen.

JIMMY LAI / HIGHLANDER

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Opinions HIGHLANDER EDITORIAL

Riverside’s city manager contract dispute is a wholly Californian problem

A

fter the Riverside City Council fired former city manager John Russo among controversy over his high salary in April, they shot down a proposal to impose a cap on the city manager’s salary at a May 1 meeting by a vote of 6-1. The political flip-flop came after loud debate as Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey attempted to veto Russo’s proposed salary at $323,946 a year, an amount the council originally claimed was necessary to keep Riverside competitive with other cities in California. The turmoil that played out inside of Riverside City Hall is just a microcosm of the highly inflated compensation top public officials are receiving in cities across the entire state of California.

The Riverside City Council voted to approve Russo’s salary at $323,946 for the city of 324,722 in February of 2018. After the vote, Mayor Bailey was quick to announce his distaste for the contract through a veto that quickly fell flat, but led to real consequences nonetheless.

Pressured by growing controversy over Russo’s salary as a result of Bailey’s political posturing, the city council that had just approved Russo’s contract two months prior by a 5-2 vote apparently saw the issue much differently when it changed its vote to 4-3 in April, to fire him.

The reason for this political flip-flop, of course, is the public being understandably upset at a city manager of a 324,000 city making about $471,000 in salary and benefits while the governor of the 39.5 million people of California only makes about $274,000 a year by the same metrics.

The impetus of this local controversy, the excessively high salary of the city manager, is a troubling California epidemic. The managers of San Jose and Norwalk made $610,000 and $601,000 respectively, in pay and benefits during 2017. A small beach town in coastal LA, Manhattan Beach, for example, pays its city manager $349,000 for its population of about 35,000.

According to Ryan Hagen of the Southern California News Group, the Riverside City Council justified Russo’s high salary

MARK BERTUMAN / HIGHLANDER

in claiming “if we pay substantially less than other cities, we’ll get substantially worse performance.” This same mindset was typified by the Glendale City Council, which just recently approved a $278,000 a year salary for the city of 200,000 people.

Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian said, “If we paid $200,000, I just don’t think we’d have anyone apply. You look … at the neighboring cities and they’re paying more.

There’s an upward spiraling of salaries, and I don’t know that the end is in sight.”

Najarian speaks to the sad truth that has overtaken the state. In just two years from 2014 to 2016, Glendale’s city manager compensation grew from about $306,000 in pay and benefits a year to over $373,000. And just two years ago in 2016, nearby Norwalk’s city manager compensation, which is currently $601,000, was just $331,000. This upscaling of contracts indicates an accelerating race to raise salaries and benefits between cities that feel obligated to offer abundantly generous contracts to potential managers, just to stay competitive. The competition has clearly transformed into an uncontrolled feedback loop in which cities are left with the dubious choice of either grossly overpaying public employees or losing the ability to hire quality candidates from outside the city itself.

Acting as a city manager is, of course, an incredibly demanding and stressful job that certainly requires exceptional compensation.

However, due to the nature of public work, the emphasis on service and sacrifice, and the political nature of hiring and firing .it is foolish to treat a city manager like a CEO. The city council, being held accountable to citizens rather than shareholders, lacks the same flexibility as an apparatus of the private sector that could quickly and more easily displace an unsatisfactory CEO. Elected officials all across the state have devised a number of solutions to this spiraling salary situation. Mayor Bailey’s symbolic veto of Russo’s contract is one such attempt, but even if it were successful, it would have ultimately been a failure; the city likely would have just been left behind if it refused to join the rest of the state in offering inflated salaries

to its manager candidates. Clearly any such solution would have to be implemented at the statewide level so that no one city can restart the spiral by continuing to offer increasingly higher salaries and benefits.

One solution proposed locally is Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes’s (D-Riverside) plan to institute a cap on public official salaries as no higher than the base salary of the governor. Currently, the portion of public officials’ salaries that are higher than the governor’s cumulatively cost taxpayers $1.8 billion a year, according to Cervantes.

This solution seems relatively popular at the bipartisan level, considering that Cervantes’s Republican opponent, Bill Essayli, proposed limiting public official compensation to the level of the governor just two months before Cervantes came out with her official proposal in the State Assembly.

Essayli said his proposal was motivated largely by a federal law that prohibits the salary of federal officials from exceeding that of the vice president of the United States.

The proposal has its issues though. Firstly, a statewide cap on the compensation of public officials has the potential to make California less competitive for quality candidates nationwide. Although this would likely have little effect and would be largely offset by California’s generally high standard of living, a flat cap on salary compensation could create vast disparities between city managers of expensive cities like San Francisco and cheaper cities like Barstow.

One proposal that aimed to pinpoint this issue was a ballot measure that passed in Murrieta in 2010 that called for the salary of public officials to not exceed two and a half times the median household income.

Although the measure was passed, the city has all but ignored it and is paying its officials at levels similar to those of neighboring cities.

The failure of Murrieta to enact this measure in good faith illustrates the necessity of a statewide solution to a statewide epidemic that is creating an array of serious local challenges.

Somewhere around three times the median household income of a city is a reasonable

cap, and could allow for a lid to finally be put down over this never-ending upward spiral while still making the job attractive in every city. The salary disparity would of course make poorer and more inland cities even less desirable for candidates, as opposed to richer and coastal cities, but it is more accurately tied to the cities’ resources and is more respectful to the taxpayer. Alongside the cap of around 3 times the median household income, could also be an option to choose a flat cap alternative of around $175,000, which would provide greater flexibility to cities that may need to rely on higher salaries to offset the relatively lower standard of living.

Even with all of these measures in place, cities could still play the exact same game with benefits and perks for managers, which are much harder to regulate than salaries. One solution to this potential problem would be a statewide standardization of city manager benefits, or using the median household income as a factor in determining limits.

While competition between cities for the best managers is good for the state as a whole, it’s unfortunately true that an exceedingly high number of city managers could have their salaries cut by at least $100,000 yearly and still be fairly compensated for the work that they are doing. Ultimately, the role of city manager exists not to provide financial gain to qualified candidates or lure in candidates drawn to generous compensation, but rather to act on behalf of the city’s population and use its resources as efficiently as possible.

The competition between cities for the best managers ultimately comes out as a tragedy of the commons, where salaries across the board seem to be inflated by tens of thousands of dollars for no reason other than the competition itself. Whatever the solution ultimately is, it is going to need a statewide scope.

■H 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.

TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2018

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

9

US Meddling in European Politics is Old News ANDREAS RAUCH Senior Staff Writer

Richard Grenell is not off to a very good start. The newlyappointed U.S. ambassador to Germany has already caused embarrassment and tension twice since his appointment in May, first with threats of sanctions against German businesses trading with Iran and, recently, with a commitment to “empower” conservative movements in Europe.

Despite the admittedly immodest and hostile nature of these comments, Grenell’s attempts to swing a club and dominate European politics are nothing new. Since the establishment of the Cold War world order, U.S. interests and politics have largely directed and informed the path of European politics.

Grenell’s comments that came in a June 3 interview with Breitbart were characterized by the obnoxious presumption that has become the modus operandi of Trump-era public statements.

The newlyaccredited ambassador claimed to “absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders.” He continued to invoke populist sentiments, hailing Trump’s electoral victory as “(empowering) individuals and people to say that they can’t just allow the political class to determine before an election takes place, who’s going to win and who should run.”

At first glance, this rhetoric seems like regular toeing of the Republican party line.

Across the globe the surge of successes for populist, usually right-wing candidates has inspired their co-ideologues and triggered a cascade of support for such parties.

Grenell’s comments, however, imply U.S. meddling in foreign politics, and those of allies, no less. And as we all know from recent events (2016, anyone?), foreign meddling in one’s democratic process is a huge cause for concern.

What is surprising, however, is the reaction to this willingness to pull the strings abroad. The U.S., in fact, has been doing this for half a century.

In a shattered, late-1940s Europe, the U.S.’s patronage and dabbling was inevitable.

The Marshall Plan’s economic relief was coupled with the establishment of political institutions and military integration.

NATO, that hotbed of free-riding and shirked responsibilities (if our president is to be believed), is one such institution. Economic agreements and organizations, including the Bretton Woods consensus, the IMF and the World Bank, are others. The most significant, of course, is the United Nations, the reboot of the League of Nations and the most important arbiter of peace, diplomacy and development in the world today.

Alongside these cooperative establishments came some less-savory interventions.

U.S.-sponsored coups across the world, notably in Iran, Vietnam, Congo, Chile and Greece, have shaped

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the destinies of millions of people, often for the worse.

More recently, the existence of vast intelligence sharing agreements and collection operations, both in conjunction with and against U.S. allies, have tarnished the U.S.’s trustworthiness and reputation worldwide.

The existence of a rich tradition of U.S. intervention abroad is not inherently a bad thing. Without the Marshall Plan, the United Nations or NATO, U.S. allies, especially in Europe, may not have stood against the creep of the Soviet Union. Intelligence collection to this day is at least somewhat justified by its effectiveness in keeping threats to liberal democracy at arm’s length.

A valid counterpoint is that Grenell’s comments indicate an intent to undermine sovereignty and democratic self-determination, and directly influence foreign politics, something long considered, at least publicly, a bridge too far. After all, it would be hypocritical for the United States to promote democracy and national sovereignty while undermining its own partners.

Unfortunately, the historical record indicates that this contradiction is all too common in the past. In its role as policeman of the world, America has often overstepped its boundaries and played puppetmaster in the game of foreign internal politics.

The outrage and controversy

surrounding a U.S. diplomat’s acknowledgment of his own plans to subvert allied governments is entirely justified. After all, having just experienced the effects of foreign intervention in our sacred democratic process has left a sour taste in the mouth of many an American.

Those watching the surreal drama of modern politics unfold, however, cannot claim surprise at the developments.

The only novelty here is the brazenness of Grenell’s acknowledgment. Such bold shamelessness in denigrating our allies is the true cause for concern in a world already marked by increasing mistrust and ill-feeling toward the ■H United States.

Unknown territory ahead as the President claims he can pardon himself SHYAM RAJAN Contributing Writer

On June 4, President Donald Trump tweeted that he had the “absolute right” to pardon himself, a novel and unprecedented legal claim that he apparently considers his constitutional right. His attorney, Rudy Giuliani, has since claimed that he can “probably” pardon himself, but has no plans to do so. His acknowledgment of the President’s claim served to downplay its seeming unethicality while at the same time acknowledging the lack of legal precedent for such an issue. Although the President may legally have a right to pardon himself, the act would set a dangerous precedent for future cases and result in political fallout with the potential to break the characteristic silence of his fellow Republicans that continuously shove his most controversial actions under the rug.

Before his resignation, President Richard Nixon was advised by the White House Legal Counsel that “under the fundamental rule that no one can be the judge in his own case, the President cannot pardon himself.” Although this has never been tested in court, a close reading of the Constitution may suggest otherwise.

Although not explicit, the action seemingly conflicts with other Constitutional principles designed to constrain executive overreach and preserve a separation of powers. Wary of a return to monarchy, even the founding fathers feared the pardoning powers granted to the President. But because the Constitution does not explicitly forbid it, a case can be made to allow for self-pardoning.

The Supreme Court has never attempted to place restrictions on the President’s right to pardon, a precedent with roots in early Federalism. Alexander Hamilton vowed for its necessity in buffering the humanity lost through “rigor[ous]” law enforcement. His opponents claimed that acts of treason should be included amongst the two circumstances in which pardoning was forbidden – state crimes and impeachment.

The Federalists remained stout, proposing that treason could be fought through impeachment; the President must retain the right to pardon traitors to alleviate the aftermath of rebellion or civil war. As his opponents pushed for Congress to replace the President as the issuer of pardons, Hamilton remained victorious, cementing impeachment as the only tool to combat Presidential violations of “public trust.” Although the right to self-pardon was unmentioned, the framers attributed enough trust to their handiwork that the separation of powers would keep their representatives accountable.

The idea of self-pardoning, while novel, could elicit claims of kingship if permitted, forcing a strict reading of legal documents to reconcile presidential prerogatives with ethical practice.

Nonetheless, because it is generally recognized that the president has the unequivocal power to pardon, and that “there are no expressed limitations governing whom the president may or may not pardon,” his right to pardoning himself may be an undesirable reality, except in cases of impeachment.

After hypothetically pardoning oneself, the constitutionality of the decision would be tried in court, provid-

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ing opportunity to test the foreboding advice given to President Nixon. Not only would its glaring absence from the Constitution be announced, but political fallout will follow regardless of judicial opinion. If the President were to pardon himself, legislators would cry for impeachment. Even if he is found to have that right, legislators have discouraged the deed, noting that “nobody is above the law.” Republican silence toward the President’s administrative reshuffling amidst investigations of collusion between his campaign and Russian operatives has stalled potential mutiny, but their silence inadvertently furthers support for a untouchable executive. Even in theory, this does not entitle free reign for a President to obstruct justice. In the words of President Nixon, “if the President does it, it’s not illegal.” In which case, the alternative of impeachment remains salient as ever.

“Spygate,” as termed by President Trump, began with the 2016 FBI investigation of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. Accusing them of abusive surveillance, the FBI countered by claiming that lawmakers’ incessant requests for classified documents would leak highly sensitive information. The constant conflict between Republicans and the Justice Department has ballooned for years; as the investigation continues, opinions remain divided as to whether the probe itself is constitutional, mirroring the discussion of the constitutionality of self-pardoning. While claiming a constitutional right to self-pardon may circumstantially suggest a modicum of guilt, a potential presidential pardon of his entire administration would sever the entire FBI investigation, forcing investigators to seek to prosecute statelevel crimes which the President explic-

itly lacks the power to pardon.

The President’s right to self-pardon is mired in an ethical debate that conflicts with legal clause. A close reading of the Constitution does not explicitly forbid such an unprecedented display of executive power, but Congress and the Supreme Court retain their roles in balancing power if the President’s authority spirals towards authoritarianism. It is not whether the act itself is unconstitutional, however unprecedented, but that it would be succeeded by a case determining its legality. To ambush the President with impeachment would strip him of his ability to pardon himself. Although the decision – likely to reach the Supreme Court – may be the first of its kind, the consequences resulting from it would be tremendous, forcing the Republicans to eject from the plane whose pilot they continue to silently support.

■H

10 TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2018

OPINIONS

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/opinions

OPINION POLL Compiled by Martin Lopez, Staff Photographer

“Where do you get your news ?”

Claire Wun Biology Second-year “Articles on my newsfeeds.”

Nate Marshall English Second-year

Carlin Smart Biology Second-year

Danielle Pente Biology Second-year

Samantha Garcia Biochemistry Second-year

Karla Monte Nueroscience Third-year

“Reddit and word of mouth.”

“Articles online and on PBS.”

“I like Reddit, documentaries and research papers.”

“I mostly use snapchat, or i get it from my family and articles online.”

“I read The Highlander, and my local news on TV.”

AN ODE OF POSITIVITY TO THE GRADUATING CLASS Edward Dave Staff Writer

When we begin a new chapter in life there is always trepidation about how we intend to fill all the new space.

After all, everyone’s destiny is vested in their own hands. That reality became blatantly clear the first time many of us bombed our first quiz or skipped a class that featured an attendance sheet. Accountability and agency became single-worded mantras that shadowed every waking step. And as this particular chapter comes to an end, it’s even more clear that the road ahead intends to take us on a Highway to Hell with few pit stops in route.

But before we shudder at the thought of a future unknown, we need to first embrace the end of an era that shook the foundations of our scholarly and personal lives to their very cores. If college was tantamount to a significant other that played such a formative role in many of our lives, shouldn’t we want to get closure from experience? You can never bask in the glory of a new phase without being completely sure you’ve exhausted all of your energy on your last endeavor. So as we anticipate what’s to come, let’s stop for a moment and think about all that we’ve done.

We started off our journeys as fledglings. We all thought we were so grown after high school and felt as though little could stand in the way of our newfound independence. And then we realized college isn’t an institution that specializes in coddling young adults. It’s a living, breathing obstacle course that you must maneuver through with finesse. If you make a slight misstep, you’ll fall behind and have to play an intense session of catchup. If you leap too far and miss the landing, you may find that the gambit you took wasn’t worth the sacrifice.

JIMMY LAI / HIGHLANDER

JIMMY LAI / HIGHLANDER

Likening college to an obstacle course is not only an accessible way to encapsulate these four years, it enables us to take a look at these last few years of our lives knowing we played the game and won. Or perhaps joking about traumatic events is just a way to cope with whatever comes afterwards. Either way, it’s important that each and every one of us has faith in ourselves for surviving an era that so many other people don’t get a chance to finish, or even be a part of.

Remember how many of us looked at the quarter system as if it was a stark reminder of the rapture? We didn’t understand how on earth a professor could lecture on an entire class’ worth of material in ten weeks. But somehow they did and we went through dozens of quarters defying time and our own sanities. To those who hail from UC schools, 10 weeks now almost feels like 10 hours.

It’s also quite comical to think retrospectively on how many units we needed to graduate. A whopping 180 was a tall order that many felt would be impossible to achieve. But as the quarters dialed down and we averaged a full class schedule, we realized it wasn’t as daunting as we thought it’d be. Although we have the proverbial scars on our identity as proof, they’re at least the scars that mark a survivor.

So many of us come from homes where we will be the first generation to graduate with a bachelor’s for a prestigious research school. Along with gaining eternal bragging rights from our doting parents, we’ll also be equipped with a piece of paper that’ll serve as a small

token of all of the arduous work we’ve done. It’s not necessarily a consolation for all the work, but it is a reminder that we completed an era of our lives that would change us forever.

Those who haven’t gone to college love to undermine all that we have to do in a single day, let alone an entire school year. A lot of us juggled extracurriculars like clubs, sports and other activities that diverted our attention from academics. But even with our time slashed and distributed to our social exploits, we always had at least one hand firmly on the books.

If nothing else, college is a no-man’s land that teaches you how to pick yourself back up when you’ve consciously done something to lose your own footing.

You can become your best hype-man, or your darnedest adversary. But hopefully what you walk away with is a reflection in the mirror that makes you smile because it’s someone who has come leaps and bounds from where they began.

To those who’ve yet to graduate and have a few more years left, remember to trust in the process. Be content in your successes and failures. Never let any one mistake define how you approach a situation. Savor your successes because there are some quarters where you’ll only have a few. But most of all, have pride in the fact that you’ve embarked on a journey to become a fully realized individual who can fend for themselves, and support your families. Most people only get one chance to do college. And even if you don’t do it conventionally, ■H make sure it’s an experience that’s wholly you.

Features HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

Staff

spotlight

FEATURES

TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2018

11

More Than a Supervisor: how Romanie Arterberry impacted a campus Martha Delgado, Senior staff writer

In the office of the Women’s Resource Center’s (WRC) Program Coordinator, Nathaly Martinez, is a calendar for June with important dates. Events written on it include “Raza Graduation,” “Family Graduation” and “Romanie’s Retirement Party!”

After working for 40 years on the UCR campus, Romanie Arterberry, the Student Life and Development Specialist at the WRC, will retire at the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

A miniature broken heart marks June 28th as “Romanie’s Last Day”.

When UCR was first established, the slogan on the undergraduate admissions pamphlets read, “the campus with a personal touch.” At that time, the campus had 4,000 students so almost everyone knew each other by name. Now that the campus is at 23,000 students the slogan is no longer used by the school. To Arterberry, however, it’s a philosophy.

“Whoever comes into my office, I treat them like they’re the only student because that’s how I would want my kids to be treated when they were in college,” Arterberry began. “We need to remember that all of us have jobs here because of students. It’s customer service-based, and you want to keep your customers happy. I think sometimes folks lose sight of that, and we need to remember that,” she explained.

Although she was born in Sacramento, Arterberry was raised in Washington D.C. Arterberry’s mother worked three jobs to support her husband while he attended Howard University. Arterberry was introduced to college life early on, since her father would take her to his classes at university. When she was 7 yearsold, her family moved from Washington D.C. to Riverside.

Arterberry attended Skadron College of Business in San Bernardino and graduated from its 12-month executive secretarial program.

At the time, she wanted to become a secretary because of the job’s glamorous portrayal on TV. Arterberry was 19 years old when she began working in the UCR Department of Nematology as a shorthand secretary for a professor. Her path eventually led to the Vice Chancellor’s Office for Student Affairs.

During her ten years working at the office, Arterberry’s life changed dramatically. She got

married and had a son, who was eventually diagnosed with cancer. Arterberry’s first thought was to quit and go stay at home with her son until her supervisor reminded her about employee benefits that could help her support her son’s treatment. Arterberry began to work a part-time job shared with an undergrad student, Ramona Sanchez, who was a single parent. To this day, Sanchez and Arterberry are still friends.

After her son’s recovery, Arterberry wanted to continue working part-time. She left her position at the Vice Chancellor’s office to work part-time in the Counseling Center for three years. In this position, she started a cancer survivors’ support group for faculty and staff. “It wasn’t a counseling group,” she described. “(We were) just people who shared the issue of cancer, whether they knew someone who had it or they were experiencing it themselves. It gave us a chance to support each other.”

When a part-time job opened up at the WRC, Arterberry applied and was hired as the administrative assistant. After the WRC programmer during that time left, Arterberry took over the position. Shortly after, she became the advisor for the Campus Safety Escort Service (CSES) and advised its 50 student volunteers.

Throughout her 26 years working in the WRC, she has been the interim director for the WRC three different times until the hiring of Denise Davis, the current WRC director, in 2016.

Elena Perez, now the coordinator for the Academic Intervention Programs and Tutorial Assistance Programs at the Academic Resource Center (ARC), first met Arterberry when Perez was a programmer at Chicano Student Programs.

Perez remembered Arterberry’s creative and innovative programs, like Arterberry’s program that addressed the taboos of tattoos in the workplace. The program consisted of a panel of staff and faculty who had tattoos and discussed the stigma that come with tattoos. While Perez does not have tattoos, she was intrigued and attended the program where she learned about the topic. It was also during this time that Perez considered applying to work at the ARC. Arterberry encouraged Perez to not let the opportunity pass and apply for the position.

Since working at the WRC, Arterberry has felt passionate about its mission and has seen

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the center’s growth with its creation of the Title IX office and SAVE program. The two WRC programs she is most passionate about are the CSES and the Vagina Monologues, which she planned and coordinated.

It was during one performance of the Vagina Monologues in 2013 that Nathaly Martinez, then a second-year, introduced herself to Arterberry and became involved with the WRC. When some staff from the WRC were moved to the the newly-established CARE office in June 2016, the WRC experienced a staff shortage.

Arterberry advocated for a temporary position for Martinez which became a full-time job when she was hired as Program Coordinator later that year.

Martinez soon came to know Arterberry as a caring and thoughtful friend. When Martinez did not want to go home for Thanksgiving during her third-year for personal reasons, Arterberry welcomed Martinez to join Arterberry’s family for Thanksgiving. While Martinez did not end up going, she still cherishes the moment. “For her, this is not just a job. It’s something that comes from her heart. To me, that was the first time I really felt welcomed and (saw) that she really cared about me as a person,” Martinez explained.

Many people recognize Arterberry’s advocacy and support for abuse survivors.

During her time working in the WRC, Arterberry had helped a graduate student who was in an abusive relationship. The student would use her hair to cover the bruises on her face. After a couple of attempts to leave, the student finally chose to leave for good and Arterberry helped her make a list of the things she would have to do. Weeks later, the student waved at Arteberry on campus and was unrecognizable to her as the student wore a big smile, now visible as her hair no longer covered her face.

Arterberry also helped another student who called her at 2 a.m. after she had been sexually assaulted. Arterberry arrived at the student’s residence hall by 2:30 a.m. “It was painful to see her go through that,” Arterberry said. Now, the student is engaged and will be graduating from a doctorate program in December. “I just get so proud when I look at her because of what she experienced and you know that she hurt so much,” Arterberry shared. “You worry about the students like they’re all your kids.”

Arterberry finds her motivation to work in student affairs from the experiences with all the students she has helped. She finds it impactful when someone comes back to tell her that they left an unhealthy relationship. “It drives you to come to work every morning because you never know when that one student is going to come across your path that needs that help,” explained Arterberry.

As an advisor for the student parent organization R’Kids, Arterberry has also been an advocate for students with children, something that arose from her experience job sharing with Sanchez when she worked at the Vice Chancellor’s office. Ambar Osario, a UCR alumna with a bachelor’s in fine arts and student parent, first met Arterberry when she joined R’Kids at the beginning of her first-year.

During Osario’s time as an undergraduate, many parents in R’Kids felt they were disrespected and unvalued by the director of the Child Development Center. Arterberry set up and facilitated a meeting between the director, student parents and the Vice Chancellor. The meeting was significant, as the parents finally felt respected at the Child Development Center.

“I’m very glad I graduated last year, so I don’t have to experience UCR without Romanie,”

Osario stated during Arterberry’s Retirement Celebration on June 12th.

Richard Ho, a fourth-year philosophy major, was a shy student until Arterberry taught him how to engage with people and be himself.

Ho had been a volunteer in the CSES his four years at UCR and would visit the WRC often.

He became a coordinator for the CSES at the end of his second year where he got to know Arterberry who grew to be a friend and a mother figure to him. Every morning, Ho would walk into Arterberry’s office to say “Hi,” catch up on their lives, and share their passion for baking.

Arterberry would also advise Ho whenever challenges arose while he was a coordinator for CSES. “I would not see myself how I am now without her. Without Romanie I don’t think I would have been able to pick up those skills,” Ho stated.

In 2017, Arterberry began to consider the possibility of retiring after her father passed away in July of that same year. On top of that, her mother was experiencing health concerns. It was then that Arterberry began to feel a need to be with her family at this point in her life.

Arterberry leaves the WRC in the capable hands of young staff such as Martinez and Davis, full of new and different ideas. Arterberry commented, “I just recognize that my season here is over. I love (working at the WRC), and I will miss it. UCR has been my life for forty years. It helped me be the person I am today.”

As a teenager, Arterberry wanted to leave Riverside because it was for “old and retired people.” “That’s what I am,” she joked as she talked to me inside her office at the WRC. Arterberry’s collection of 50 magnets and pictures on the top shelf cabinets had been taken down and replaced with a pinboard full of pictures.

Months before retiring, Arterberry still helps many students grow. Katia Mejia, a thirdyear public policy major, is one of the last few students that Arterberry mentored. Mejia was assigned to work in the WRC in spring quarter through Undocumented Student Programs’ The Butterfly Project. Arterberry helped Mejia create the program Undocu Sisters Talk, taught her how to speak in front of a group and lead the program.

“I’m going to miss Romanie so much,” began Mejia. “She was welcoming, helpful and a true mentor.”

Arterberry is still unsure of what she will do with the rest of her life after retiring. For now, she knows she wants to catch up with friends who are also retired, come back to help with the Vagina Monologues and pick a place to volunteer at. Also on her list is sleeping in until 8 a.m. and going to a matinee screening just because she can.

Martinez will move into Arterberry’s office.

While it will be tough for Martinez to match Arterberry’s magnet collection, Martinez considers it to be a blessing and honor to take Arterberry’s place. “I feel like it’s going to be my safe haven knowing she was there and people know its a safe space,” Martinez stated.

Arterberry’s legacy will also mark the office as a whole. To celebrate Arterberry’s work, the lounge in the WRC is being renamed the “Romanie Arterberry Student Lounge.”

Arterberry’s impact on campus was not visible or physical. It was emotional. Many faculty, staff and students felt the influence of Arterberry’s loving and caring nature. “People think about impact and they think of what can you see,” Perez stated. “I think all of us who had the opportunity to interact with Romanie feel the impact and that’s hard to show.”

■H

12

TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2018

FEATURES

HIGHLANDER // highlandernews.org/features

Scenery, Sun and Citrus: exploring the IE during the summer MARTHA DELGADO Senior Staff Writer

The Inland Empire is famous for its citrus groves and sunsoaked cities. It’s also famous for its unbearable heat. While the high temperatures can keep all but the bravest away during the summer, there is a wealth of things to do and see if you are spending these months in the area.

Mount Rubidoux Trail and Memorial Park Ever wanted to go on a hike? Not motivated enough to leave the city? Located in Riverside, Mount Rubidoux offers a short and easy hike to a great view of the city, making it an enjoyable activity for beginners. This spot is a must if you want to stay in shape and experience the outdoors while staying closer to home. Along the walk, make sure to stop by many historical landmarks until you get to the notable cross at the top. Don’t forget to take a selfie and show off that fantastic vista!

La Sierra Park Another option for those who want to go outdoors but not venture far from civilization, is La Sierra Park in southern Riverside.

The hills and greenery make it a great spot for a picnic or for those seeking a quiet place to destress. The park’s large open spaces are great for casual soccer, frisbee or volleyball. Don’t miss the amazing views of the annual Riverside Fourth of July fireworks.

Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center If you are looking for family-friendly activities, consider visiting the Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center. Located in Jurupa Valley, this outdoor museum features a variety of dinosaur sculptures for dinosaur nerds of any age. The museum also offers an opportunity to learn about the variety of minerals and fossils in the area. Don’t miss the cactus trail where you can walk through an array of native cacti, succulents and wildflowers.

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The Shops at Dos Lagos The mall is a common place to go to during the summer, meaning the Moreno Valley Mall and Galleria at Tyler will generally be packed with a lot of people. Still need to get shopping done? Why not stop by another mall that is still within the county? The Shops at Dos Lagos is an outdoor center in Corona that features a small lake and a bridge making it a nice spot to spend your hard-earned dollars. Get your grocery shopping done at Trader Joe’s and walk over to popular retail stores to get your other essentials. You can also check out the mall’s diverse food court that features poke, bakeries and cafes. One highlight of this location is the restaurant Live from Memphis, where you can see live music on the regular.

During the daytime, this mall is peaceful and makes a great place to relax or walk by the lake. If you prefer a livelier setting, go during the nighttime when a lot more people tend to show up

you can check out the California Citrus State Historic Park in Riverside. In this park, you can take a 45-minute guided tour of California’s citrus industry and learn how Riverside became the citrus capital of the world, all while tasting local limes and oranges.

Afterwards, you can also explore the area at your pleasure and take a look at the myriad varieties of citrus trees.

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California Citrus State Historic Park Riverside is known for its citrus industry and for being the location where one of the original Washington navel orange trees grown in California still stands. If you want to learn more about this industry’s history and enjoy the sweet smell of fresh oranges,

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THINGS TO CATCH UP ON OVER Summer Vacation

BLADE RUNNER 2049 MARCELO GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

A sequel to the now over 30-year-old cult classic “Blade Runner,” “Blade Runner 2049” is one of, if not the best sci-fi movies in recent memory. In it, we follow K (Ryan Gosling), a new blade runner who hunts down replicants in service of the Los Angeles Police Department. All is well until K discovers information regarding the location of Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner who went MIA 30 years ago.

What separates “2049” from other sci-fi sequels of last year, like “Alien: Covenant,” is that the film walks the very thin line of being innovative while simultaneously staying true to the feel of the original. “Blade Runner 2049” and its predecessor are far from the same film; however, they still feel connected and integral to each other, as all entries in a good series should feel. With its two hour and forty-four minute runtime, alongside its slowburner of a plot, “2049” is far from a casual watch. Expert cinematography, an amazing soundtrack and world building that creates a beyond-immersive experience all warrant the large time investment.

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ISLE OF DOGS MARCELO GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

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From award winning director and writer Wes Anderson comes a quirky yet heartfelt tale of a pack of exiled and diseased dogs with aspirations to return to their former glory as house pets. Add in Atari (Koyu Rankin), a young Japanese boy who crash lands on their island home in search of his lost dog, Spots, and you have a quest-turned-redemption story that the entire family can enjoy. Sporting masterful writing and dialogue, there is hardly a scene in “Isle of Dogs” that I found boring; one particular three to five minute exchange between Chief (Bryan Cranston) and Nutmeg (Scarlett Johansson) early on is simply mesmerizing. Even scenes that I expected to slow down the pace, such as the more exposition-based Japan moments, had something new to show to keep my interest.

Filmed entirely in gorgeous stop motion animation, and featuring voice talent from the likes of Bryan Cranston, Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray, “Isle of Dogs” is truly a spectacle of filmmaking.

HEREDITARY MARCELO GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

Smart, compelling and utterly terrifying are all perfect descriptions of Ari Aster’s thrilling masterpiece. Following the death of her mother, Annie observes odd behavior in her young daughter, Charlie. As time goes on, Annie begins to unravel strange and horrifying secrets about her family’s past all while her children experience increasingly peculiar events. In the current age of horror, littered with jump scare-filled and borderline comedic flops, “Hereditary” is a godsend. The camera work in this film is amazing, with more than a few memorable shots coming to mind whenever I think about “Hereditary’”s cinematography. The entire movie is shot in a way that simply feels unsettling. Whereas many horror movies create tension by writing in clueless protagonists who string the audience along to their completely expected demise, “Hereditary” induces anxiety when nothing is happening.

There are several moments in this film where I sat in complete silence with my heart racing, unsure of what was to come next. With an unnerving atmosphere, masterful subtlety and fantastic performances from Alex Wolff and Toni Collette, “Hereditary” is a treat for horror’s hardcore fans and sceptics of the genre alike.

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AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR MARCELO GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

You know it, you’ve heard about it and the hype surrounding it–Marvel Studios’ tour de force: “Avengers: Infinity War.” Despite the incredible high regard that this film is held in, don’t be mistaken, it’s far from the best Marvel film; one of the top five is probably a more fitting title. However, with that in mind, “Infinity War” is still an incredibly ambitious film that mostly accomplishes the enormous task set before it. Everyone is here, with an enormous main cast consisting of all your favorite heroes seeking to stop Thanos (Josh Brolin) from gathering the Infinity Stones and bringing destruction upon the universe. Like “Blade Runner 2049” it’s a long watch, clocking in at two hours and forty minutes, but it feels far from drawn out. Every scene has a purpose and not a moment is wasted during this rollercoaster of an experience. With the blockbuster actors you know and love, exciting action sequences and more than a few jaw-dropping moments, “Infinity War” is a shining example of what superhero movies should strive to be.

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MY HERO ACADEMIA MARCELO GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

With its third season currently underway and already receiving endless praise from fans and critics alike, now’s as good a time as ever to start watching “My Hero Academia.” The premise is simple: Izuku Midoriya is a powerless child born into a world full of superheroes. Despite these limits, he still strives to become the number one hero. With the help of his mentor, All Might, and the friends he makes along the way at the prestigious U.A. High School, Midoriya comes closer to accomplishing his goal. Whether it’s the extremely high stakes and powerful emotion, or the simple visual spectacle of watching two superpowered characters going all out, each of the masterfully choreographed fight scenes are memorable in their own way. Colorful and exciting animation from Bones, alongside a ton of likeable and unique characters, make “My Hero Academia” a great anime for longtime fans of the shonen genre as well as newcomers to the medium as a whole.

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YURU CAMP

MARCELO GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

For who have been searching for their fix on a moe show about cute anime girls doing cute anime things, there’s the soft 12-episode relaxation fest that is “Yuru Camp.” A loner and outdoor enthusiast, Rin enjoys her time off in the isolation of the wilderness, that is before the oblivious and loveable Nadeshiko finds herself stranded, with Rin as her only salvation.

After bonding over ramen and a campfire, the two girls feel the sparks of a friendship which Nadeshiko eagerly fans as Rin keeps her distance. Enamored by her experience with Rin, Nadeshiko joins the local Outdoor Activities Club shortly after. The series follows their various exploits as they seek to enjoy the wilderness together, while Rin learns that sometimes it pays off to make a few friends along the way.

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VIOLET EVERGARDEN MARCELO GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

Breathtaking animation, an extremely emotional story and a standout protagonist are just a few of the reasons to pick up “Violet Evergarden” over the summer. Easily the best anime of the winter season, the series follows Violet, a former child soldier who seeks to find the meaning of love. Along the way, she’ll encounter a diverse cast of characters, each of whom teach her lessons on emotion in what ultimately amounts to a glorious exploration of the human spirit. Like most critically acclaimed anime, “Violet Evergarden” is praised for its beautiful animation but what causes this series to stand apart from others like it is how it chooses to use this animation. This series has a way of creating landscapes and environments that feel fantastical and distant, while simultaneously feeling intimate and real. Once you’ve gotten a taste for the world of “Violet Evergarden,” you won’t want to leave anytime soon. For anyone willing to invest in 13 episodes, as well as some tears, “Violet Evergarden” is a must-watch.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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AMERICAN VANDAL MARCELO GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

A goofy and lighthearted mockumentary, the Netflix original series “American Vandal” follows Peter and Sam, two amateur filmmakers who seek to solve the crime of the century at their local high school: “Who drew the dicks?” Following the vandalization of faculty vehicles in the school parking lot, our pair of students roll the camera and attempt to get to the bottom of a rabbit hole that goes surprisingly deep.

Despite being an obvious parody of the true crime genre, by the time I reached the third episode, I was completely immersed and invested in getting to the bottom of who the culprit was. From the stoner kid who may, or may not be, a scapegoat to elaborate ways that last year’s summer camp and a house party connect to every potential culprit’s motive, this series will keep you guessing till the final episode. With tons of stand out and hilarious bits, “American Vandal” is the perfect comedy to invest your time, and far too much of your deductive reasoning, in completing.

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THE FLASH

JONATHAN FERNANDEZ Senior Staff Writer

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The fourth season of “The Flash” has recently been added to Netflix and with the implementation of some promising new elements, as well as some old ones that initially drew in the fanbase, the series continues to be an enjoyable watch.

The show is still loaded with cringe, whether it’s the bad acting or just cheesy dialogue, but that’s been a consistent problem throughout the series. As in past seasons, the actual plot and fun, action-packed scenes featuring The Flash make the grind through these painfully awkward parts rewarding and worthwhile.

This main issue aside, season four does a great job of getting viewers attached to new characters such as metahuman Rebecca Sharpe, whose power is being extremely lucky, and Ralph Dibny, a former private investigator-turned-superhero. A huge upside of season four is that for once, “the fastest man alive” isn’t facing off against another evil speedster who is, to no one’s surprise, actually faster than him. Instead the main antagonist is a college professor named Clifford Devoe who seeks to “enlighten” the world alongside his dedicated wife Marlize by negating the impact of technology on society. He attempts to do so by stealing the powers of other metahumans in order to defeat Team Flash and move forward with his plan. All in all, season four still struggles with the same issues as past seasons, but if you can handle the extremely cheesy moments, it’s an easy watch, and a solid show to binge over the summer.

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“The Incredibles 2” offers fans a reason to forgive Brad Bird for “Tomorrowland” MARCELO GARCIA Senior Staff Writer

It’s been nearly 14 years since the release of “The Incredibles,” and other than the occasional outcry for a sequel, or the equally sporadic and random influxes of “Where’s my supersuit” memes which served as general reminders of the film’s existence, the desire or even general interest in “The Incredibles 2” was lost to me. When the movie was finally announced, and the hype which followed shortly after ensued, the standard was rather high. Disney is known for award-winning polish and emotional weight that has contributed toward countless fan favorites and classics. The studio, however, also has a rather shaky history with sequels such as “The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2,” ”Aladdin: The Return of Jafar” and “Pocahontas II,” all of which flopped in the box office, as well as receiving low scores from critics. Not to mention that Brad Bird, the film’s director, last directed another Disney flop, “Tomorrowland.”

Thankfully, despite a few early signs of a potential failure, “The Incredibles 2” has a solid foundation that follows in its predecessor’s footsteps and preserves the charm that originally led to the franchise’s success.

The beginning of “The Incredibles 2” transitions seamlessly from the events of the first

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film, and is done in a manner that, despite not having seen the original for at least eight years, my memories of the first returned in a surprisingly vivid matter.

This can only be intentional for, as stated earlier, there is an immensely large time gap between the release of “The Incredibles” and its new sequel. Following the introduction, the main premise is introduced, where the roles of the original film are reversed as Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) must

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now leave to do hero work as Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) stays behind to care for their three children. As expected, hijinks on either end make both protagonists’ lives interesting and drive the story.

Much like the previous film, “The Incredibles 2” maintains the 1960’s, retro-yet-modern feel that’s a bit difficult to pin down. This is probably the largest factor that contributes to such a seamless transition, even after 14 years. Since the universe of “The Incredibles” franchise is more of a parallel than a direct reflection of our own, the film doesn’t need to awkwardly grapple with the “kids always on their cell phones” trope that we’ve seen movies address time and time again. While we do see the impact of technology, with the ideas of hacking and media control that are associated with the main villain, Screenslaver– definitely social commentary on it’s own– the world of this film is very much independent and free of any thematic constraints or obligations that films set in 2018 tend to have.

That being said, it’s interesting to note the prevalent philosophical undertones of the film which, while admittedly ambitious, don’t accomplish much other than present ideas which the film either actively contradicts or simply doesn’t expand on. There are definitely feminist aspects to this film that can be appreciated; Elastigirl never becomes “Mrs. Incredible” even though either film could have easily taken that direction, Violet never seems to take a backseat role to either of her male siblings (although one could argue that she lacks in screen time compared to Jack-Jack in this film but to be fair so does Dash) and the women save men equally as often as the men save women.

But these were all large aspects of and compliments owed to the first film. All “The Incredibles 2” really does differently is address these ideals a little more, especially during an exchange that, while I admit does contribute to the main villain’s motive, once again, introduces ideas that don’t really go anywhere. There

are also takes on consumerism and the idolization of heroes that, as compelling as they are, don’t warrant any further mention since the film shoots both of them in the foot by contradicting them before they even have a chance to sit with audience.

This isn’t to say that “The Incredibles 2” is bad by any means since, frankly, I don’t think anyone short of a media and cultural studies professor is going into this film actively analyzing its deep and political meaning; in fact it’s a great film, regardless of what is an incredibly, no pun intended, minor flaw.

The film remains the same homage to Golden Age comics and superheroes that, while seeing less of the spotlight in “The Incredibles 2,” is definitely not lost entirely. There are more than

a few noteworthy moments of comedy, maybe not kneeslappers, but enough to warrant a smile or two from older audience members, especially parents.

The plot is solid, as predictable as it is, and makes for a lighthearted and enjoyable watch.

And as always, the talented people at Pixar continue to impress with the painstaking detail put into the animation and character models that make the world of “The Incredibles 2” something audiences want to spend more time in.

Verdict: “The Incredibles 2” is by no means a revolutionary sequel that surpasses its predecessor, but has enough quick humor and heart to make it a solid contender for family film of the ■H year.

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Uruguay Russia Egypt Saudi Arabia

Brazil Serbia Switzerland Costa Rica

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Spain Iran Portugal Morocco

Germany Mexico Sweden Korea Republic

FIFA Simulation Predicts ANDREAS RAUCH Senior Staff Writer JONATHAN FERNANDEZ Senior Staff Writer VASKEN NAJARIAN Contributing Writer

The FIFA World Cup is officially underway and because of all the excitement around the tournament, the Highlander sports team thought it’d be fun to simulate the world’s premier soccer tournament on FIFA 18 to see who would come out on top. After seeing the results of the simulation as well as the first couple of games from every team, we have a couple of thoughts on who will win it all and who will take home the tournament’s most prestigious awards.

The Winners:

FIFA 18: Germany, 2-1 win over France in the final.

Jonathan Fernandez: Mexico. They’ve clearly been the best team in their group and “The Simpsons” also made the prediction that the finals matchup would be Mexico against Portugal which makes me confident in my selection. So far El Tri has proven that they can compete with the best the world has to offer and I don’t see them having to play against a tougher team than Germany, who they already beat. That victory signified a changing of the guards and this World Cup it will be Mexico going home with the trophy.

Andreas Rauch: Germany. After a rough start against Mexico and a rocky game against Sweden, Germany finally have the opportunity to right the boat and defend their throne. Tough opponents await; the Germans will face either Brazil or tooth-and-nail fighting underdogs Switzerland in the next round, and potentially other strong challengers later on. With clinical finishing and a champion’s confident swagger, the Nationalmannschaft will be the last to leave Russia. July 15th, Luzhniki Stadium. Save the date.

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2018 FIFA World Cup Semi

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s Germany World Cup Win Golden Boot Award (Most Goals):

Golden Ball Award (Best Player):

FIFA 18: Timo Werner, Germany, 6 goals.

FIFA 18: Eden Hazard, Belgium.

JF: Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo has looked like a man on a mission since he arrived in Russia and I don’t anticipate him or Portugal slowing down. He had a hat-trick in Portugal’s opener against Spain and added another goal in the team’s 1-0 victory over Iran in the second game.

Portugal is most likely going to advance, and with their final game being against the group’s weakest team, Ronaldo will have a lot more opportunities to add to his four goals.

AR: Diego Costa. When he’s not winding up opponents and drawing fouls, Spain’s controversial hitman is putting them in the back of the net. With three to his name after just two games, Costa is at the spearhead of a patient and technical Spanish side. As the main attacking outlet on a star-studded side, Spain is poised to go far, and Costa is bound to lead them with a record at this tournament.

JF: Eden Hazard. Belgium has won every game so far and Hazard has been right at the center of it. Lukaku has stolen the limelight with his four goals so far in the tournament, but Hazard has done a great job of setting up teammates as well as finishing his own opportunities. Belgium is most likely going to play either Japan or Senegal in the next round, both of whom they can beat so Hazard should have at least three more games to add to both his assists and goals.

AR: Cristiano Ronaldo. Although Portugal is no longer the one man team it was in recent years, there is no denying that the 33-year-old is essential to his side’s success. On and off the pitch, the Real Madrid man is in the driver seat for club and country, and has already left his mark on the Russia tournament. Four goals, including a hat-trick against superstars Spain, prove that, like good wine, Ronaldo just gets better as he ages. In his last major tournament, he will seek to shoot his side to the pinnacle of the game.

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Sports Summer speculation: A few surprises to expect from the NBA offseason JONATHAN FERNANDEZ Senior Staff Writer JARYD BONGCARAS Senior Staff Writer

The NBA offseason is always one of the hotter topics to talk about during the summer, so the Highlander sports section decided to talk about what’s to come, as well as how today’s league fares against previous decades.

Keep in mind that this is all being discussed before July 1st, which is when the free agency period begins.

What is the craziest thing that you think will happen this summer?

Here’s a crazy prediction, one that probably won’t happen, but is worth a shot. The craziest thing that could possibly take place this summer is LeBron retiring or at least taking a break from the game of basketball for a year or two. If he’s realistic with himself, he knows he’s probably not going to win a title next year, so why not take a year off and try to wait this Warriors dynasty out? Michael Jordan retired twice in order to recharge, so maybe LeBron will look to do the same thing.

The Warriors just won their third ring in four years by sweeping the Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals. When will the Warriors dynasty end? (Assuming that, at some point, it does end.)

The end is probably coming a lot sooner than people think. Draymond Green has made it clear that he’s gunning for the supermax contract that only the Warriors can give him when he becomes a free agent and with Klay Thompson set to hit free agency in the summer of 2019 it’s going to be tough to keep both of them. Owner Joe Lacob said that Kevin Durant can have any contract he wants during the Warriors championship parade, so cap space is going to be spread pretty thin in the summer of 2019 with both Durant and Stephen Curry already maxed out. This means Golden State will most likely have to choose between Green and Thompson, both of whom are essential to this dynasty.

One of the most interesting storylines of the regular season, and now the summer, is what is going on in San Antonio with

Kawhi Leonard. Leonard made it public that he wants out, preferably to the Lakers, but the Spurs don’t seem interested in trading him anywhere near the Western Conference. How does Kawhi’s situation turn out this summer?

where LeBron James is going to play next season. According to Las Vegas oddsmakers the Lakers are the favorites to land him, but moving to the stacked western conference poses a very difficult challenge.

Does LeBron actually head west?

The Spurs aren’t going to rush this. Their only deadline to make a move is the trade deadline and unless they get a deal that blows them away they won’t pull the trigger. Of course by waiting they risk his trade value dropping, but they also still believe they can mend whatever relationships have been broken. I think ideally if a trade was going to be made over the summer it would have happened before the draft so San Antonio would be able to receive multiple picks and rising stars to jumpstart their life without Kawhi.

However, the draft came and went and Kawhi is still stuck in San Antonio.

If Kawhi stays with the Spurs, this shows the “leap of trust” he’s willing to take with the organization again, especially after his injury this past year. Regardless of what team he goes to, he’ll be the clear number one option. I say this because I don’t see him teaming up with LeBron.

It’s a good bet that he does move West,

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specifically to the Lakers because that seems to be the only scenario that makes sense both on the court and on the financial side. Los Angeles is one of the few teams has the financial flexibility to sign two max players. That being said, LeBron only goes to the Lakers if Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka sign another superstar to come play with him.

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Obviously the Golden State Warriors are a super team and arguably the most dominant team of all time. There are also talks of another super team forming in Los Angeles around LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George. Are super teams actually a new phenomenon?

It depends how the term super team is defined. Super teams of the past have been formed through the draft and examples of this are shown throughout history in the 50s/60s Boston Celtics, the 80s showtime Lakers and even the 90s Bulls teams.

The main difference is in how they’re formed nowadays. Players now obviously have more leverage in terms of mobility, but even in the past, the trades of players like Wilt Chamberlain or Kareem to already-established teams like the Lakers has resulted in really dominant squads.

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The biggest question of the offseason is

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