Israel and Hamas six month ceasefire halts 15 months of violence
After 470 days of genocide, Gaza looks to rebuild.
By: Senna Omar, Editor-in-Chief
After 470 days of genocide, negotiation efforts between Hamas and Israel have resulted in a temporary ceasefire. In the first phase of this three phase plan, on Sunday, Jan 19, 2024 three Israeli hostages were exchanged for approximately 90 Palestinian prisoners of war.
The start of this ceasefire was set to begin on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Gaza time, however, the plan was delayed by three hours by Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mediated by the United States (U.S), Qatar, and Egypt, this ceasefire mirrors a three-phase deal proposed by Former President Joe Biden eight months ago in May 2024; it calls for the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners of war and an end to all fighting in Gaza for 42 days (six weeks).
Former President Biden explained in his farewell address, “This plan was developed and negotiated by my team and will be largely implemented by the incoming administration. That's why I told my team to keep the incoming administration fully informed.”
A reporter in the audience asked who in the history books would be credited with orchestrating this ceasefire, and the Former President responded, “Is that a joke?”
President Donald Trump — inaugurated into office for the second time yesterday, Jan. 20, 2024 — was quick to claim credit for the ceasefire in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. President Trump shared his pleasure with the agreement, “This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies.”
“We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my Administration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States!”
The first stage of the ceasefire will last six weeks; during this time, 33 of the remaining 98 Israeli hostages will be released in exchange for the return of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees — the exact number of Palestinians who will be released has yet to be revealed.
Read More on page 4, NEWS
After 470 days of genocide, Gaza looks to rebuild.
By: Mata Elangovan, Managing Editor
on page 3
Gov. Newsom’s proposed budget cuts to UC’s operational funds will significantly harm campuses like UCR, which heavily depend on state funding.
By: The Editorial Board
On Jan. 10, 2025, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his budget proposal for 2025-2026, kicking off negotiations between the governor and the state legislature over California’s fiscal priorities. Calling this year’s budget “a non-event,” Gov. Newsom’s proposal anticipates a total budget of $322 billion — the second largest state spending plan ever — with a “modest” surplus of $363 million following the previous year’s deficit of $46 billion.
While certain areas saw a rise in funding, including K-12 education and community colleges, the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) budget was slashed by nearly eight percent — totaling $772 million combined. According to the proposed budget, UC’s operational funding will be reduced by $396.6 million as the state plans to defer $240.8 million from the five percent base increase until 2027-2028 and $31 million for the ongoing program to “replace nonresident students with California students” at UC campuses like Berkeley, Los Angeles and San Diego.
Read more on page 9, OPINIONS
The life story of a civil rights activist and pastor: Legacy turned to a day of service.
By: Senna Omar, Editor-in-Chief
On Nov. 2, 1983, former President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law designating the third Monday of January a federal holiday. The holiday serves in remembrance of the civil rights leader Dr. Marin Luther King Jr.
First introduced just four days after his assassination, this legislation took over 15 years of persistence from civil rights activists to be recognized federally, and an additional 17 years for it to be recognized in all 50 states. Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Day is the only federal holiday that is designated as a national day of service, encouraging Americans everywhere to engage in community service in honor of MLK.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia on Jan. 15, 1929, Dr. King led The Civil Rights Movement across the United States (U.S.) from the mid-1950s until his assassina-
tion on April 4, 1968. His leadership was fundamental to ending legal segregation and achieving civil liberties for African Americans in the U.S.
Dr. King came from a Southern middle class family. Growing up on Auburn Avenue, also known as “Black Wall Street," this bustling street was home to some of the most successful Black businesses and churches predating The Civil Rights Movement. From an early age, King was exposed to prejudices that were familiar to Black families living in the South.
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Fire breaks out in Positron Laboratory
IMMEDIATE EVACUATION FOLLOWED BY INVESTIGATION OF THE PHYSICS BUILDING TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FIRE.
MATA ELANGOVAN Managing Editor
Afire broke out on campus at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and prompted immediate evacuation and disbursement of the fire investigator and Hazardous Materials Team to investigate the situation. The fire was reported at 2:20 p.m on Jan. 16, 2024 in Physics building 1159 on the northeast side of campus near Winston Chung Hall. While the cause of the fire has not been determined as of publication, investigations are currently underway.
The wing of the Physics building where the fire occurred is known as the annex and is home to the Positron Laboratory which is located in room 1159 according to a paper posted on an exterior entrance. The building was promptly evacuated by the UCR Building Emergency Staff and no civilian injuries were reported.
The Positron Laboratory, according to their website, focuses on the Positronium (Ps) Physics, a physics based on the anti-particle of electrons, “with the ultimate goal of fabricating a Bose-Einstein Condensation of Ps,” a unique quantum state of matter.
According to UCR’s Director of Emergency Management Andrew Flores, “Like most labs on campus, hazardous materials are present in some form and the first responders
are always concerned with necessary precautions, so once the initial fire was extinguished, they secured the building and called in the HazMat team who have expertise.”
Found on the emergency sheet posted on the exterior of the building, the National Fire Protection Association 704 diamond identifies the hazards of materials for emergency response in the lab. The assessment designates the lab as a level three health hazard, meaning it has the potential to “cause serious or permanent injury.” In terms of flammability, it is ranked as a level four, meaning it “will rapidly or completely vaporize at atmospheric pressure and normal ambient temperatures … and burn easily.” With a level three designation for instability, it is “readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition at normal temperatures and pressures.” The lab also has a special hazard warning for containing simple asphyxiant gas.
Other hazards and special concerns listed for the lab include a strong magnetic field, high voltage, radioactive materials or radiation producing machine and lasers. The lab was last certified on Oct. 11, 2023.
It is still unclear as to whether or not any of the chemicals in the lab caught on fire and what items were inside of the lab.
Campus fire marshals, Environmental Health & Safety Personnel, Office of Emergency Management, UC Police Department (UCPD) and the City Fire Department responded to the scene of the fire and secured the building.
Lieutenant Jason Day of UCPD shared, “Dispatch received the initial set of alarms around 2:15 p.m. and immediately notified the Riverside Fire Department (RFD), as well as dispatching our own officers. Our officers created a perimeter around the building to allow RFD to work, and assisted with the evacuations of staff, faculty and students.”
The fire was contained within 30 minutes of first responders arriving and the fire investigator and Hazardous Materials Team were sent to the scene of the fire to conduct a preliminary investigation.
Director Flores reports that the HazMat team was unable to come to conclusions, leading to the building to not be secured until the following morning.
The Campus Fire Marshal Scott Jackson shared that the State Fire Marshall will be coming to UCR on Tuesday, Jan. 21 to conduct a follow-up assessment and identify the source of the fire. As of the nineteenth of January , the cause of the fire is still unknown, and the annex and lab will be closed to civilians until it is determined.
Reports have been made stating that there is fire damage to the interior of the annex but the extent of the damage will not be known until UCR personnel can assess the scene.
The rest of the Physics building was reopened around 5 p.m. and instruction continued as normal.
Kaleb Teklebrhan, a second-year chemical engineering major, was in the Physics 2000s building, a neighboring room, when the fire alarm was set off. He reported that he initially was unable to see or hear anything during the evacuation, but the smoke became visible coming from the building after walking down the hill towards the annex.
Three UCR Highlander Alerts were sent out to students and faculty in order to update them on the situation. The first was sent at 2:58 p.m., more than 30 minutes after the fire was reported to UCPD and informed the campus community that there was a fire incident in Physics and to remain out of the area. The second update came at 3:49 p.m., informing people that the situation was contained, but traffic is still impacted and to remain out of the area. The final report at 6:48 p.m. announced that the incident was resolved and that streets have been reopened. ■ H
MATA ELANGOVAN / THE HIGHLANDER
Israel and Hamas six month ceasefire halts 15 months of violence
AFTER 470 DAYS OF GENOCIDE, GAZA LOOKS TO REBUILD.
SENNA OMAR Editor-in-Chief
After 470 days of genocide, negotiation efforts between Hamas and Israel have resulted in a temporary ceasefire. In the first phase of this three phase plan, on Sunday, Jan 19, 2024 three Israeli hostages were exchanged for approximately 90 Palestinian prisoners of war.
The start of this ceasefire was set to begin on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Gaza time, however, the plan was delayed by three hours by Israeli Prime Minister
Under the terms of the agreement, Palestinian prisoners will be released for Israeli captives according to a ratio agreed upon by both sides and international mediators in Doha, Qatar. Al Jazeera reported that “110 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life [in prison] by Israeli courts will be exchanged for nine ill and wounded Israeli captives. In addition, Israeli men over the age of 50 will be released in exchange for Palestinian captives at a ratio of 1:3 for those sentenced for life sentences, and 1:27
(PM) Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mediated by the United States (U.S), Qatar, and Egypt, this ceasefire mirrors a three-phase deal proposed by Former President Joe Biden eight months ago in May 2024; it calls for the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners of war and an end to all fighting in Gaza for 42 days (six weeks).
Former President Biden explained in his farewell address, “This plan was developed and negotiated by my team and will be largely implemented by the incoming administration. That’s why I told my team to keep the incoming administration fully informed.”
A reporter in the audience asked who in the history books would be credited with orchestrating this ceasefire, and the former President responded, “Is that a joke?”
President Donald Trump — inaugurated into office for the second time yesterday, Jan. 20, 2024 — was quick to claim credit for the ceasefire in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. President Trump shared his pleasure with the agreement, “This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies.”
“We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my Administration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States!”
The first stage of the ceasefire will last six weeks; during this time, 33 of the remaining 98 Israeli hostages will be released in exchange for the return of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees — the exact number of Palestinians who will be released has yet to be revealed.
for those serving other sentences.”
One hour before the ceasefire was set to take effect, PM Netanyahu announced that it would not begin until Hamas provided Israel with a list of the names for the first three hostages being released. On Sunday, his office released a statement: “The prime minister instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that the ceasefire, which is supposed to go into effect at 8:30 a.m., will not begin until Israel has the list of released abductees that Hamas has pledged to provide.”
Hamas has assured their commitment to the ceasefire deal and claimed that any delays in disclosing the names of the hostages was the result of “technical field reasons.”
They have reportedly released a list of names of the three hostages set to be freed first. In a statement, Hamas said “as part of the ... prisoner swap deal, the Ezzedine AlQassam Brigade decided to release the following Israeli prisoners today,” giving the names of three women — Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher.
Shortly after the ceasefire deadline, Israeli warplanes and artillery attacked the northern and central areas of Gaza. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service reported that at least eight were killed and dozens more were wounded by this Israeli attack. Israeli military spokespeople proclaimed that Israel would continue to attack Gaza as long as Hamas did not meet its obligations under the ceasefire.
At least an additional 19 Palestinians were killed during the nearly three hour delay before the ceasefire took effect at 11:15 a.m. Gaza time on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
Lead U.S. negotiator Brett McGurk explained that after the initial hostage releases on Sunday afternoon, the accords call for four more female hostages to be released after a week, followed by the release of three further hostages for every week thereafter.
President Trump has repeatedly stated
that there would be “all hell to pay” if the hostages were not freed by his inauguration on Jan. 20.
In the first phase, the Israeli army is set to “move out of populated areas to the edges of the Gaza Strip,” allowing for some displaced Palestinians to return, and begin the process of rebuilding their homes. During phase one, Israel will not fully withdraw from Gaza, and plans to maintain a security buffer zone within Gaza along the perimeter.
Phase one also calls for Israel to withdraw from the Netzarim Corridor, a belt across the center of the Gaza Strip where Israeli troops cleared out the Palestinian population and set up bases. This belt has allowed Israel to control the movement of Palestinians into northern Gaza, search people fleeing from the north and bar anyone from entering northern Gaza.
Within the first week of the ceasefire, Israeli troops are supposed to withdraw from Rasheed Street — the main north to south coastal road — opening up the route for Palestinians looking to return to their homes in the north. With most of Gaza’s population currently displaced into tent camps, Palestinians are desperate to return to their homes, looking to rebuild their homes that were destroyed or damaged by Israel’s campaign. By day 22 of the ceasefire, Israel is set to withdraw from the entire Netzarim Corridor.
16 days after the beginning of phase one, phase two negotiations are planned to begin. Also set to last six weeks, phase two will see the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for a yet-to-be negotiated number of Palestinian prisoners, as well as the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza strip.
Plans for the negotiation of Phase three have yet to be released, however preliminary proposals show the exchange of deceased Palestinian’s for deceased Israeli hostages, an end to the Israeli blockade of Gaza, reopening of Gazzan border crossing, and the implementation of a reconstruction plan for the destroyed Gaza Strip.
Natan Sachs, director of the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings, explained that the likelihood of this agreement lasting beyond its initial six-week phase is presently “the big unknown.”
Experts have shared concerns that PM Netanyahu, who has resisted a ceasefire for months and pledged to destroy Hamas, will resume violence as soon as Israeli hostages are recovered. International Crisis croup expert on Israel-Palestine Mairav Zonszein told Al Jazeera, “Israel is very good at breaking ceasefires and making it appear that it wasn’t its fault.”
In opposition to this ceasefire deal, Israeli minister of national security Itamar Ben-Gvir, alongside two other Israeli ministers from the Jewish Power party — a farright, nationalist religious party — have resigned from the Israeli government.
This deal comes after 15 months of violence. In this time, Israel has killed over 46,000 Palestinians. According to the United Nations (UN), approximately 90 percent of Gaza’s population has been displaced from their home and “forced to move to avoid Israeli military operations. Many have been displaced repeatedly, some 10 times or more.”
Satellite images show how Israel’s mili-
tary brigade has decimated Gaza — destroying buildings, roads, homes, and everything in between. Around 60 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure has been completely destroyed. Israel’s relentless carpet bombing has cut Gaza off from water, collapsed healthcare services and waste systems and has also resulted in extreme environmental and health risks for residents.
The World Bank has estimated nearly $18.5 billion in damage from just the first four months of war. If the Israeli blockade of Gaza continues, the UN estimates that it could take 350 years to rebuild Gaza. All estimates of damages are according to satellite data; experts will not be able to assess the full extent of the damage until fighting ends and inspectors have full access to the territory.
Despite the “critical humanitarian conditions,” Palestinian families are eager to return and rebuild their homes. Um Mohammed Hanoun — displaced from AlKarama neighborhood in central Gaza — shared, “My plan is to remove the rubble, set up a tent on my land, and live there … All I care about is seeing my home. I hope that Gaza will be rebuilt to the way it was, and that our lives will return to what they were.”
Similarly, Sami Abu Tahoun, a child displaced from Gaza city described how he had not seen his father since the conflict ensued. He hopes to return home, stating, “I want to go back to Gaza City for one
reason, and that’s to see my father.” Like Abu Tahoun, Ayman Abu Radwan was also forced to leave his home in Gaza city for a tattered tent in the south.
Abu Radwan described, “We want to think now about our future. Enough death and destruction … We are tired. We have endured the full heat of summer, and the frost and cold of winter. Children are dying. Every night, I am woken up by the cries of a two-week-old baby shivering from the cold. I hope that our conditions will improve. We deserve a better life than this.”
Mohammed al-Quqa — displaced from al-Shari refugee camp — explained how even though the violence is over, “the greatest suffering will be the psychological situation. The war has been long, and our families, our children, have witnessed things they should never have seen.”
COURTESY OF ALJAZEERA
COURTESY OF NBC
Key developments in Trump’s legal battles
DONALD TRUMP FACES LEGAL CHALLENGES INVOLVING HUSH MONEY CASE AND 2020 ELECTION.
SARAH TABEL Contributing Writer
Since 2019, President Donald Trump has been served six different cases involving non-disclosure payments, classified documents, election subversions and civil fraud. These include the hush money, 2020 election interference, Washington election subversion, Florida classified documents and New York civil fraud cases, which gained significant attention.
In March 2023, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged President Donald Trump with falsifying business records. The charges were tied to non-disclosure payments made to an adult actress before the 2016 presidential election to silence claims of an affair, which President Trump has denied. The case was concluded in May 2024 when the jury convicted President Trump of 34 felonies involving falsifying business records in the first degree.
The presiding Judge, Judge Juan Merchan, has made statements about sentencing President Trump with unconditional discharge, exempting President Trump from prison time, fines and probation. However, the conviction will remain on record. On Dec. 3, President Trump motioned to dismiss the case, arguing that his civic and financial contributions to the nation warranted his dismissal, however the judge rejected this motion. Trump
reaffirmed his plea of not guilty, insisting that these charges were politically motivated.
In a separate court proceeding on Dec. 16, President Trump motioned to overturn the hush money conviction. He argued that the United States (U.S.) The Supreme Court’s July 1 ruling stated that presidents cannot be criminally prosecuted for official actions and these should apply to him. This motion was denied, the ruling explicitly clarified that it does not shield presidents from prosecutions for personal conduct. Prosecutors alleged that President Trump was intentionally falsifying business records to conceal payments violating New York election laws. These laws state that falsifying business records becomes a felony when committed with the intention of advancing another crime, which prosecutors argued was influencing the unlawful outcome of the 2016 election.
Trump faced other high profile cases including the 2020 election interference case, which alleged that Trump made efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Special Counsel Jack Smith accused Trump of instigating an “unprecedented criminal effort” to remain in power after losing the 2020 election. The trial has faced delays due to Trump’s win in the 2024 election.
Prosecutors have suggested charging the President under the Insurrection Act, which grants the President authority to deploy military and National Guard troops within the country. However, prosecutors determined that there wasn’t a sufficient amount of evidence to proceed, particularly in relation to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
President Trump faced charges once again in Aug. 2023 for alleged efforts in subverting the 2020 election, however the case was dismissed in Nov. 2024 when President Trump won the election. In June of 2023, Special Counsel Jack Smith charged President Trump with mishandling several classified documents in Florida after leaving office. However, the case was also dismissed following President Trump’s win in the 2024 election.
In September 2023, Judge Arthur Engoron found President Trump liable for fraud, alleging that the President intentionally misrepresented his wealth. Under New York state law, President Trump is required to pay interest on penalties, which orders him to pay $454 million. President Trump has denied these accusations and is appealing the court’s decisions.
Since 2019, President Donald Trump has faced multiple legal challenges involving high profile cases most of which have been halted or dismissed following his victory in the 2024 presidential election. With several cases still pending, the progress of these legal matters is being monitored closely as they move through the courts.
UCR hosts UCLA students seeking refuge from LA Fire
AS THE PALISADES FIRE ENCROACHED ON UCLA, RESIDENTS EVACUATED TO UCR.
SENNA OMAR Editor-in-Chief
As fires continue to burn throughout Los Angeles (LA) County for the third week in a row, over 200,000 residents have rushed to escape the flame — including many members of the University of California, LA (UCLA) community.
The Palisades fire — the largest of the over a dozen fires scorching LA — has burned over 23,700 acres since its outbreak on Jan. 7, 2025. Closest to UCLA campus, the Palisades fire is currently 49 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. All evacuation warnings to and around UCLA campus have been lifted, and classes — temporarily conducted virtually due to the fire — are set to resume in-person today on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.
Although no public statement was released by university officials, reports from residents of UCLA and UC River-
side (UCR) show that, in the days following the outbreak of the fire, UCLA students were emergently evacuated to UCR.
An anonymous second-year UCLA student has confirmed that UCLA students were evacuated to UCR. Currently taking zoom classes from UCR campus, they explained that “a few days after the fires, we were emailed specifics about when and how we should evacuate campus … UCR has accommodated me, providing a place to stay, a gym, a quiet room for zoom and a place for food.” Although they described the transition back to online classes as “mildly annoying, [UCLA] professors have been extremely supportive in terms of attendance and accommodation.”
According to an anonymous residential advisor (RA) serving on UCR’s Residential Education (ResEd) team, RA’s started checking rooms in preparation for UCLA students evacuating
from the fires beginning on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. RA’s on duty were given specific instructions to perform room checks on the “300 unoccupied living spaces on [UCR] campus … relocations will occur in any unoccupied beds or rooms in any of the residence halls or apartments on campus.”
RA’s were instructed to “knock on the door and if no one answered we had permission to let ourselves into the room. We had to check that the bed, desk and closet were all clear and unused or unoccupied, as well as inform students about UCLA’s evacuation plan. For spaces that weren’t clear, residents were instructed that they had 24 hours to remove their items and someone will come check again at a later time.”
First-year resident of Pentland Hills Residence Hall, Kaelyn McAdams, shared that the RA’s on duty were performing random room checks on triple and double occupancy rooms because
the “school was talking on UCLA students currently displaced by the fires.” McAdams was unaware that campus housing was conducting room checks.
According to UCR campus housing policies, the university must provide a minimum of “24 hours posted or six days mailed notification” before entering a residence’s accommodations, except in the “event of an emergency, during periodic fire drills, when resident has abandoned or surrendered the premises, or when it is impracticable.”
McAdams explained that “the school apparently deemed this an emergency, however, the school has yet to give us an email about this being an emergency.”
ResEd professional staff were contacted to confirm these allegations, but no response was received as of Jan. 18, 2025.
COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE VIA FLICKR
FBI continues to investigate the New Year’s terror attack
SHAMSUD-DIN
ALEXANDRA ARCENAS Contributing Writter
JABBAR DROVE A TRUCK THROUGH A NEW ORLENES CROWD, RESULTING IN AN ESTIMATED 14 CASUALTIES.
In the center of the French Quarter of New Orleans, during New Years celebrations, Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a Ford pick-up truck through a crowd-filled Bourbon Street on Jan. 1, 2025 at 3:15 a.m. According to an official Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) statement, they have identified around 14 casualties, 57 injured, two businesses damaged and a total of 136 victims involved in the attack. A majority of the victims were transported to the New Orleans University Medical Center (UMC).
Based on the Chief Medical Officer of the University Medical Center (UMC), Dr. Jeffery Elder to WDSU6 News, it was the highest number of critical care patients the hospital has ever seen. Many of the patients arrived all at the same time during the New Year’s attack. The injuries that many of the victims suffered included gunshot wounds, blunt-force injuries, various broken limbs and head trauma. Louisiana State University and Tulane University provided trauma surgeons from their respective medical schools to help the UMC staff. In light of the events, UMC and Spirit of Charity Foundation established the New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA) Strong Fund to help victims of the attack and their families ensure access to resources for rehabilitation and recovery.
The attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was identified by the FBI as a 42-year-old Texan. Officials later stated that Jabbar died in a shootout with police after opening fire. The FBI is investigating this as an “attack of terrorism.” They found an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flag in the vehicle with
other firearms and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The FBI states that Jabbar has been Muslim since 2022 which was when he started to isolate himself from society. They also reference that he began to have extremist views in the spring of 2024.
The New York Times (NYT) also reported that officials said there were various videos on Jabbar’s Facebook account leading up to the incident, including one where he “pledged allegiance to ISIS.” The NYT also comments on behalf of FBI officials, stating that Jabbar may not be entirely responsible; others may be connected to the attack. The FBI is actively trying to decide a motive. However, in a speech update by FBI New Orleans Field Officer, Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil states that Jabbar traveled to Cairo, Egypt on June 22 and arrived on July 3, 2023.
Shortly after he arrived in America, he flew to Canada from July 10 to July 13. He also made two trips to New Orleans before the attack in Oct. and Nov.
The FBI reports that Jabbar was caught on video footage using Meta glasses on his October trip as he biked around the French Quarter. The FBI said that he used the Meta glasses to record the area during his trip. Jabbar was wearing the glasses during the attack. The report suggests that the glasses could have been used to livestream the event. However, Jabbar did not activate the livestream function.
As the FBI continued its investigation on Jabbar, the NYT went into great detail about his upbringing, family and personal and professional life to explore any warning signs of the devastating event.
According to past classmates of Jabbar, he was always reserved but exceptionally smart. Numerous neighbors also confirmed his quiet nature but also considered him a helpful neighbor. Although the FBI stated that Jabbar was only recently a Muslim, Jabbar’s brother, Abdur Jabbar, reported that he converted to Islam a long time ago and was Muslim for most of his life despite being raised Christian.
In recent months, Jabbar’s first ex-wife’s family stated that he was acting erratically in the months which led to the family denying him to see their children. In total, he had three marriages and each ended in divorce. In which his third divorce caused him severe financial problems. Jabbar did have other incidents with the law such as misdemeanor theft, driving under the influence, and a restraining order from his second wife, all reported in a CNN article.
Jabbar was a U.S. Army Veteran who was deployed to Afghanistan during his service. He served as an information technology specialist and he was discharged in 2020 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. In the opinion of his brother, Jabbar joined the military without any goals but to become more disciplined. Not many of his former friends or family thought that he may be capable of the attack.
The identification of Shamsud-Din Jabbar as the attacker raised crucial questions about the factors that led to such a catastrophic incident, from his recent “radicalization” to his troubled personal history. ■ H
Mohammed al-Bashir appointed prime minister in Syria
FOLLOWING THE OVERTHROW OF ASSAD, SYRIA SETS UP A CARETAKER GOVERNMENT.
SENNA OMAR Editor-in-Chief
Following the overthrow of Bashir alAssad on Dec. 13, 2024, Syria looks to set up a new government, inclusive to all aspects of Syrian society. Syria has set up a caretaker government that will lead the country through rebuilding efforts until March 1, when plans for a permanent government are set to be established.
Leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — the Islamist militant group responsible for the overthrow of Assad — Ahmed al-Sharaa has appointed Mohammed alBashir, the head of the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) in Idlib, prime minister of the Syrian caretaker government.
The United States (U.S.) and other western countries have designated HTS as a terrorist organization, Sharaa even had a $10 million bounty on his head, which was recently lifted. Sharaa has denied any allegations that HTS was a terrorist group, claiming that “they did not target civilian or civilian areas.” Instead, he stated, “They considered themselves to be victims of the crimes of the Assad regime.”
De facto leader Sharaa shared in an interview with the BBC that Syria is “exhausted by war and is not a threat to its neighbours or to the West.” Sharaa is currently urging the international community to lift sanctions on Syria, stating, “Now, after all that has happened, sanctions must be lifted because they were targeted at the old regime. The victim and the oppressor should not be treated in the same way.”
Many things for Syria’s future government are still undetermined. During his interview with the BBC, Sharaa shared that “there are many things I just don’t have the right to talk about because they are legal
issues … [A] Syrian committee of legal experts [will] write a constitution. They will decide. And any ruler or president will have to follow the law.”
Following the Syrian uprisings that erupted in 2011, Idlib — a province in northwestern Syria — became a Syrian opposition stronghold. By 2017, HTS consolidated control over the area and created SSG out of civilian experts.
First emerging as minister in 2021, the Shura Council elected al-Bashir Prime Minister of SSG in 2024. According to expert on Syria Robin Yassin-Kassab, “Mohammed al-Bashir … has done a reasonably good job in Idlib … I understand that it makes sense to scale [the Salvation Government] up to the whole of Syria, for now.”
For the time being, al-Bashir shared that the ministers from the SSG would take over the national ministerial portfolios in Syria. According to Al Jazeera, the new Syrian caretaker ministers are as follows:
Minister of Interior: Mohammed Abdul Rahman
Minister of Economy and Resources: Basel Abdul Aziz
Minister of Information: Muhammad Yaqoub al-Omar
Minister of Justice: Shadi Muhammad al-Waisi
Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation: Mohamed Taha al-Ahmad
Minister of Health: Mazen Dukhan
Minister of Development: Fadi al-Qassem
Minister of Local Administration and Services: Mohamed Abdel Rahman Muslim Minister of Endowments: Hussam Haj Hussein
Minister of Education: Nazir al-Qadri
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research: Abdel Moneim Abdel Hafez Experts are concerned that Syria’s caretaker government has no intention to consolidate power over to Syria. Executive director of Baytna — a non-governmental organization (NGO) that supports local civil society groups in Syria —- Assaad Al Achi stated, “What worries me is if [this caretaker government] extends [its leadership] for more than three months, but if it just for three months … then that’s alright.”
Yassin-Kassab explained to Al Jazeera that HTS could ease these concerns by creating a roadmap detailing plans for future governance of Syria.
South Korean President Yoon arrested
DOZENS OF SUPPORTERS DETAINED FOLLOWING DESTRUCTION OF COURT TRIAL LOCATION.
On Saturday, Jan. 18 2025, President Yoon Suk Yeol’s arrest and detainment for his declaration of martial law was extended. Previously, law enforcements were not able to formally arrest President Yoon due to his lawyer’s explaining that the warrant that was used on Dec. 27 was not viable. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, while having a foothold on the investigation did not have jurisdiction over the law enforcement, thus unable to provide a legal warrant.
Following this, the Seoul Western District Court deliberated for eight hours before providing law enforcement with an arrest warrant, expressing that President Yoon is a threat to destroying evidence. On Jan. 15, Yoon became the first sitting South Korean President arrested. Since being apprehended, his team of lawyers has been attempting to challenge the arrest warrant.
After the announcement of his extended detainment on Sunday, Jan 19, at 3 a.m. Korean Standard Time, a large group of supporters protested his release and removal of the extension. Dozens of supporters were detained after they stormed the court and smashed windows. Some were able to venture into the court and utilized fire extinguishers and threw objects around the hallways and court rooms. The police were able to restore order around hours later, with about 46 arrests and 9 police officers injured.
COURTESY OF CNN
DINARA GODAGE Assistant News Editor
COURTESY OF FREEPIK
SENNA OMAR Editor-in-Chief
In remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
THE LIFE STORY OF A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND PASTOR: LEGACY TURNED TO A DAY OF SERVICE.
On Nov. 2, 1983, former President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law designating the third Monday of January a federal holiday. The holiday serves in remembrance of the civil rights leader Dr. Marin Luther King Jr.
First introduced just four days after his assassination, this legislation took over 15 years of persistence from civil rights activists to be recognized federally, and an additional 17 years for it to be recognized in all 50 states. Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Day is the only federal holiday that is designated as a national day of service, encouraging Americans everywhere to engage in community service in honor of MLK.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia on Jan. 15, 1929, Dr. King led The Civil Rights Movement across the United States (U.S.) from the mid-1950s until his assassination on April 4, 1968. His leadership was fundamental to ending legal segregation and achieving civil liberties for African Americans in the U.S.
Dr. King came from a Southern middle class family. Growing up on Auburn Avenue, also known as “Black Wall Street,” this bustling street was home to some of the most successful Black businesses and churches predating The Civil Rights Movement. From an early age, King was exposed to prejudices that were familiar to Black families living in the South.
At age 12, MLK lost his maternal grandmother to a fatal heart attack. Upset by the news of his grandmother’s passing, Dr. King attempted suicide by jumping through a second-story window. Before beginning college at Morehouse College in 1944, Dr. King spent the summer on a tobacco farm in Connecticut.
During his first extended stay in an integrated society, Dr. King observed race relations outside the segregated South, not-
ing in a letter to his parents how shocking it was to see “Negroes and whites go [to] the same church … I never [thought] that a person of my race could eat anywhere.”
After his graduation from Morehouse in 1948, Dr. King spent the next three years at Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania. Here he studied Mahatma Gandhi’s “philosophy of nonviolence” and “the thought of contemporary Protestant theologians.”
In 1951, Dr. King earned a bachelor
of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman.”
During his studies at BU, MLK began working as the pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. After he had worked there for over a year, a small group of civil rights activists began protesting racial segregation on the city’s public bus systems.
Among these revolutionaries was Rosa Parks, an African American woman, who on Dec. 1, 1955 refused to surrender her
of divinity degree, and was elected president of Crozer’s almost entirely white student body. In a recommendation letter for Dr. King, one of his professors at Crozer noted, “The fact that with our student body largely Southern in constitution a colored man should be elected to and be popular [in] such a position is in itself no mean recommendation.”
Seeking a foundation for his theological and ethical inclinations, after his graduation from Crozer in 1951, King went to Boston University (BU). Studying man’s relationship with God, King received his doctorate in 1955 for a dissertation entitled, “A comparison of the Conceptions
bus seat to a white passenger —- a violation of the city’s segregation laws — thus beginning the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Dr. King — a young, well educated and respected man — was bolstered to the front lines of this 13-month protest. In his first speech to the Montgomery Improvement Association — the group organizing the boycott — King shared, “We have no alternative but to protest. For many years we have shown an amazing patience. We have sometimes given our white brothers the feeling that we liked the way we were being treated. But we come here tonight to be saved from that patience that makes us patient with anything less than freedom
and justice.
While leading this over one-year boycott, Dr. King faced extreme prejudice from surrounding communities — his home was blown up with dynamite and the lives of his family were threatened — but he still remained resilient in the face of adversity.
By the spring of 1963, MLK’s campaign to end racial segregation practices in Birmingham, Alabama had amassed national attention when police hosed down and sent dogs onto protesters. During this demonstration, Dr. King — alongside hundreds of his supporters, including children — was arrested. From his cell in Birmingham Jail, Dr. King wrote his renowned “Letters from the Birmingham Jail,” detailing his philosophy of nonviolent resistance.
In an effort to bring together multiple factions of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King joined civil rights leaders to organize the historic March on Washington. Standing in front of a crowd of over 200,000 peaceful protesters at the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 18, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
His infamous “I Have a Dream” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial resulted in a strong shift of national opinion. By 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed, prohibiting “discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.” By the end of 1964, King was regarded as one of the most respected civil rights activists, earning him the Noble Peace Prize.
At age 39, activism had taken a toll on Dr. King, he explained “I’m frankly tired of marching. I’m tired of going to jail.”
On March 10, 1969, while standing on the second-story balcony of the Lorraine Motel, Dr. King was killed by a sniper bullet by white man, James Earl Ray. His death caused massive rallies and uprisings across over 100 cities in the U.S.
Second ASUCR meeting of the winter quarter ASUCR
FUNDRAISERS FOR LA FIRES DISCUSSED, BUDGET ALLOCATIONS AND BILLS PASSED.
making voting more accessible on campus and protecting our oceans.”
The second Associated Students of the University of California, Riverside (ASUCR) meeting of the winter quarter started with California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) announcing that they had set up a fundraiser for World Central Kitchen, an organization that helps those who are displaced from the Los Angeles fires. They explained that for the rest of the quarter the organization would direct their efforts towards, “combating hunger and health assistance within our community as well as making textbooks more affordable,
Moving onto the Finance Committee, the Senate approved organization allocations for $12,000 and $264 all approved at 15-0-0. Some allocations included the Nigerian Student Association and Mujeres Unidad UCR which received allocations of $1,500 respectively.
The Legislative Review Committee (LRC) saw the approval of three bills. SB-W25-001: Amendment to Chapter 35 created more cohesion between the Senate Internship, First Year Fellow Program and ASUCR bylaws.
SB-W25-003: Amending Chap-
ter 2 of the bylaws explained how the “line of succession” in ASUCR would follow given the removal of the Executive Vice President (EVP). Since President Pro Tempore (PPT) would succeed the EVP of the removal, the bill states that the Vice Chair of the LRC would in turn take over for the PPT.
SB-W25-004: Amending Chapter 8 of the bylaws would create rules for subjective feedback on legislation. PPT Leila Haidar explained that they wished to avoid “issues in LRC of determining the line between when we’re giving our subjective opinions and when we aren’t,” and that the bylaw would
allow for “consensual feedback.” It is because of this that the bill states that subjective feedback legislation must first acquire the approval of the law’s author.
Senator reports saw College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Senator Vinisha Lalli share progress regarding the creation of a South Asian Center and shared a Google survey that would allow those involved to assess the need for the center. She further discussed projects regarding campus safety, installing more emergency blue poles on campus and testing water quality at UCR.
GOV. NEWSOM’S PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS TO UC’S OPERATIONAL FUNDS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY HARM CAMPUSES LIKE UCR, WHICH HEAVILY DEPEND ON STATE FUNDING.
On Jan. 10, 2025, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his budget proposal for 2025-2026, kicking off negotiations between the governor and the state legislature over California’s fiscal priorities. Calling this year’s budget “a non-event,” Gov. Newsom’s proposal anticipates a total budget of $322 billion — the second largest state spending plan ever — with a “modest” surplus of $363 million following the previous year’s deficit of $46 billion.
While certain areas saw a rise in funding, including K-12 education and community colleges, the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) budget was slashed by nearly eight percent — totaling $772 million combined. According to the proposed budget, UC’s operational funding will be reduced by $396.6 million as the state plans to defer $240.8 million from the five percent base increase until 2027-2028 and $31 million for the ongoing program to “replace nonresident students with California students” at UC campuses like Berkeley, Los Angeles and San Diego.
In a statement, UC President Michael V. Drake shared he was “concerned” how the cuts might affect “our students and campus services” at a time when “the University is enrolling record numbers of California students.”
President Drake’s comments refer to the state legislature’s multiyear compact with UC and CSU, which would provide a five percent increase to California’s base budget if both the UC and CSU “enrolled more in-state students,” “increased graduation rates” and worked to eliminate “equity gaps in college completion.”
In the past few years, UC has steadily improved its achievement of these goals as the number of enrolled nonresident un-
dergraduate students has declined slightly from 16.5 percent to 15.8 percent systemwide. However, Gov. Newsom’s budget cuts to the multiyear compact may reduce UC campuses’ incentive to continue this progress as they seek to accommodate enrollment rates and funding. This is unlikely to affect UC Riverside (UCR) as the campus percentage of nonresident undergraduates has remained low at roughly three percent to 4.5 percent since 2021-2022.
Nonetheless, the proposed budget cuts to operational funds, totaling $396.6 million, are concerning because they will disproportionately impact UC campuses — like UCR and UC Merced — that heavily rely on state funding to support their dayto-day operations. UCR receives 45 percent of its core budget from state funding and approximately 50 percent from student tuition. Thus, compensating for half of the core budget will have real consequences on UCR’s plans to expand its academic infrastructure and programs and remain a competitive institution for faculty and staff.
In 2024, UCR broke ground for the new Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Facility (UTLF), which will provide additional classrooms, new laboratories and instructional studio space for undergraduate students and faculty. The new on-campus housing apartment, North District Phase 2, started construction last year and will generate 1,568 additional beds for UCR and Riverside City College students by summer of 2025. Other projects, such as the new Schools of Business and Medicine, have expanded amenities for business and medical students with new classrooms, lecture spaces and student lounge areas.
Gov. Newsom’s budget cuts will hinder the campus’s ability to continue this development since — unlike other UC campuses — UCR does not receive as many
private donations to build new academic buildings. UCR relies extensively on state funding to develop educational buildings; financial support is more important than ever for this campus.
According to the UC’s Budget for Current Operations, which provides context for UC’s budget requests from the state, the dilution of state funding can mean “fewer course offerings, less access to modern instructional equipment, larger class sizes, reduced interaction with top faculty, longer waits for student services, longer time-todegree, fewer student jobs and fewer services relative to the number of students enrolled.”
As the number one university for social mobility, UCR plays a significant role in advancing students economically due to its top-tier education, faculty, and internship and research opportunities. For many UCR students, the stakes are much higher in obtaining a high-quality academic experience, and insufficient state funds will prevent them from experiencing one and achieving their educational goals.
State budget cuts also harm faculty, who will choose more competitive and attractive offers for research and teaching if UC and UCR do not receive the funds they need to retain them. According to the 20242025 UC budget, employee salaries and benefits are the largest component of the system’s budget, accounting for 69 percent in 2022-2023. A lack of funding will affect how UCR attracts and retains its diverse and multi-faceted faculty and staff.
For example, three professors — Dr. Joab Corey, Dr. Bree Lang and Dr. Matthew Lang — left the Department of Economics last quarter due to the “very good opportunities” they received from other institutions. Although the Department of Economics said they made “good offers”
to retain the professors, this may not be the case for much longer if UCR doesn’t receive sufficient state funding to make enticing and competitive salary offers to faculty. As they leave, UCR’s educational quality will decline.
Lastly, decreased state funding could also impact much-needed salary increases for UC workers, which the Board of Regents sets for UC’s represented and nonrepresented employee groups. In Nov. 2024, UCR’s American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 (AFSCME Local 3299) joined other UC campuses and healthcare centers to protest UC’s “bad faith bargaining” and “unfair labor practices.” The negotiations with UC included a demand for wage increases for campuses’ service and healthcare workers, which still has not been resolved.
While pushing the Board of Regents for higher salaries is critical, UC cannot meet AFSCME Local 3299 and other employee labor groups’ demands without needed state funding. The budget cuts will directly impact the financial well-being of UC employees who need wage increases now to keep pace with the higher cost of living.
From the 2020 pandemic to the recent Los Angeles wildfires devastating Southern California, economic pressures have complicated the development of the annual state budget. However, the state must prioritize California’s higher educational systems, particularly the UC — an economic driver for the state — at a time when research and education will come under attack by the incoming presidential administration.
With so much to lose, there is nothing more important than safeguarding California’s higher educational systems and its students, faculty and employees.
IRENE TU / THE HIGHLANDER
BRANDON TA IS A THIRD-YEAR BIOLOGY MAJOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE (UCR), WHERE HE IS CONDUCTING RESEARCH IN THE MEDIHACK LAB ON THE OPIOID CRISIS IN RIVERSIDE. HIS WORK FOCUSES ON UNDERSTANDING THE PHYSIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE CRISIS. BRANDON IS PASSIONATE ABOUT MEDICAL EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEERISM, SPENDING HIS TIME VOLUNTEERING AT MOBILE CLINICS AND FREE CLINICS TO SERVE THE VULNERABLE POPULATION. YOU CAN REACH HIM AT BTA012@UCR.EDU.
Students and the streets: bridging the divide in Riverside’s opioid crisis
THE OPIOID CRISIS IN RIVERSIDE IS WORSENING, YET MANY STUDENTS AT UCR SEEM UNAWARE OF ITS EFFECTS.
While volunteering with the homeless community through a mobile health clinic, I encountered a woman draped in a blanket. After speaking with her, she began to beg to be prescribed stronger pain medication. Her desperation was palpable. It left me wondering how many others like her are trapped in a cycle of pain and addiction, invisible to those of us in our daily routines. Her situation is a stark reminder of the realities of the opioid crisis.
The ongoing opioid crisis in the United States (U.S.) has exerted its powerful grip over numerous communities — Riverside is no exception. While Riverside’s homeless population has faced an increase in rates of usage and addiction to opioids, there is a noticeable disconnect between university students and the realities of the incessant opioid problem.
Why is there such a disconnect? In my opinion, it comes down to three factors: the University of California, Riverside’s (UCR) student “bubble,” stigma towards the homeless population and a lack of awareness.
The university campus, with its resources, events and vibrant student life, becomes a self-contained “bubble” or an insulated environment where students may remain unaware or disconnected from the challenges facing the surrounding
local community. Dining halls, libraries and recreational facilities are designed to meet the needs of the students, reducing the necessity for students to venture outside the university’s boundaries.
For many, the campus is not only a place of learning but also a zone of comfort and familiarity, leaving little room for them to engage with the broader Riverside community. This dynamic places students in a “bubble” and leaves little incentive to step outside this “bubble,” reinforcing apathy for local issues including homelessness and the opioid crisis. Therefore, it is critical that students break out of the campus “bubble” and engage with the ongoing crisis.
Further propagating the disconnect is the stigma attached to homelessness. Homelessness and addiction are directly correlated with each other, as substance addiction is often a result of homelessness. Many people in society, including students, hold harmful stereotypes about homelessness and addiction — framing them as a result of personal failures. In reality, however, homelessness and addiction are complicated public health issues that are catalyzed by systemic problems, such as lack of affordable housing, job insecurity, trauma, socioeconomic factors and limited access to treatment. In Riverside, limited access to affordable housing and mental
health services exacerbates these issues, leaving many without the necessary resources needed to break the cycle of addiction.
The most consequential instigator of the disconnect between students and the local community is the lack of awareness amongst the UCR student population. While many may have a gist of the severity of the ongoing opioid crisis, they do not understand the scale it has progressed to. How many walk past a homeless person on their way to class, unaware of the opioid addiction that might be silently affecting them?
In my opinion, the problem is not that students don’t care, but that they don’t realize the depth of the crisis around them. While numerous initiatives and resources are addressing this issue, they often lack visibility or fail to resonate deeply with the UCR student body. Fostering dialogue and awareness could bridge this gap, empowering students to become more informed and involved in these efforts.
This crisis cannot be fixed by sitting idly. It is a problem that we collectively need to take action against to slow its progress. Healthcare professionals in labs like the MediHack Lab, an affiliated UCR School of Medicine (SOM) lab, are using innovative approaches to address public health crises. These approaches revolve around education, project-
based solutions and meaningful community partnerships — bridging the gap between academic institutions and communities. Students can help combat the opioid epidemic by supporting these initiatives and participating in them. Whether it be donating to an organization that works directly with those experiencing homelessness in Riverside, volunteering through on-campus groups or spending the time to educate yourself on the crisis, it is time to step out of the campus comfort zone and into the Riverside community. The first step for students to get involved in the community is by supporting and joining initiatives, like the MediHack lab or by volunteering at local shelters and clinics.
Together, these collective efforts can bring meaningful change, forming a more compassionate and informed UCR student body that is better equipped to address the interconnected challenges of the opioid crisis. Ultimately, these collective actions can create a ripple effect that strengthens community bonds, improves health outcomes and fosters empathy.
Op-Eds are not edited by The Highlander, excluding those related to grammatical errors and AP requirements. Op-Eds do not reflect the opinion of the Editorial Board and are not written by Highlander contracted writers.
Wake-and-bake taken to the next level
CALIFORNIA’S CANNABIS CAFES PROMISE ECONOMIC GROWTH BUT RAISE SAFETY AND HEALTH CONCERNS DUE TO INCONSISTENT REGULATIONS.
SPANDANA JANAPATI Assistant Opinions Editor
California’s Assembly Bill 1775 (A.B. 1775) has introduced cannabis cafes, where people can now legally enjoy cannabis alongside food, drinks and live entertainment in designated spaces. The law, written by Assemblyman Matt Haney, allows cannabis retailers and businesses to create social spots for cannabis use as long as they have approval from local jurisdictions. While these cafes offer the potential for economic growth, the lack of cohesive regulation and risks to public health — including secondhand smoke exposure and increased accessibility — raise concerns about their broader impact.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approval of A.B. 1775 marks a departure from his 2022 veto of a similar bill, which he rejected over concerns about employee safety from secondhand smoke. The only difference with this version is a requirement for businesses to inform employees about the risks of secondhand smoke exposure. However, it does not mandate additional safeguards, such as improved ventilation or designated non-smoking areas, leaving significant gaps in workplace safety and raising questions about whether this change is enough to reduce the risks.
The growing inconsistency in California’s cannabis and drug use policies further complicates A.B. 1775. Just months prior, Gov. Newsom held different ideas when he enacted an emergency ban on industrial hemp products exceeding the 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) limits. Hemp products, distinct from cannabis
due to their lower THC levels, have long been marketed as non-intoxicating alternatives. Yet, health incidents stemming from misrepresented hemp products have driven the ban. A 2017 study revealed products containing more than one percent of THC, the compound in cannabis that creates the feeling of being “high.”
Gov. Newsom’s conflicting moves — supporting cannabis cafes while cracking down on hemp products — shows California’s inconsistent regulatory approach. These back-and-forths emphasize the challenges of creating policies within a rapidly growing industry, given how the research surrounding cannabis is constantly changing. The push toward cannabis cafes is likely only the first step in many changes to come, especially since these establishments are modeled after Amsterdam-style coffee shops where individuals can also purchase “medicinal mushrooms.”
The economic opportunities within the cannabis industry cannot completely be ignored. The U.S. cannabis market is projected to have a $112.4 billion economic impact in 2024, and California alone has brought in over $6 billion in tax revenue since legalization. These cafes could generate additional revenue and attract new consumers, especially in urban centers where social spaces are highly valued.
This high revenue can come at the cost of physical wellbeing and safely cultivated cannabis. The danger can be seen through the prevalence of vape cartridges as more individuals believe they are a safer alternative. However, studies in 2024 found that several of these vapes were revealed
to have brain-damaging pesticides within them, emphasizing how little is known about the safe consumption of cannabis.
Additionally, college towns and urban centers — where cannabis cafes are likely to thrive — already experience high rates of marijuana use among young adults. Studies show that 25 percent of college students use marijuana monthly, with many beginning use during their college years. Increased access through nearby cafes could normalize frequent use, making cannabis dependence more common among these vulnerable populations.
Secondhand smoke remains another significant concern which has not been properly addressed by this bill. Research shows nonsmokers exposed to secondhand cannabis smoke face a 20 percent to 30 percent higher risk of lung cancer. While A.B. 1775 includes provisions to inform employees of these risks, it fails to address health implications for patrons and nearby residents. The social nature of these cafes may also unintentionally encourage habitual use. Although not everyone who uses cannabis develops an addiction, data shows that 14.2 million people in the U.S. met the criteria for cannabis use disorder in 2020. Severe cases of the disorder negatively affect their personal, academic and professional lives.
California’s decision to legalize can nabis cafes reflects the state’s broader acceptance of marijuana use. However,
the conflicting policies like promoting consumption lounges while restricting hemp products suggest a lack of thought behind the strategy. Moreover, gaps in understanding the science behind cannabis and regulatory oversight for newer products make navigating this industry more challenging. Without a clear and balanced plan, California risks prioritizing economic gains at the expense of public health, creating unintended consequences for its residents and communities.
Slave labor clause of California constitution leaves inmates unfairly fighting LA fires for less than $30 a day
INCARCERATED CALIFORNIAN FIREFIGHTERS ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AND SHOULD BE COMPENSATED AS SUCH.
SENNA OMAR
Editor-in-Chief
More than 1,000 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) incarcerated firefighters have been working around the clock for three weeks to extinguish the flames engulfing Los Angeles (LA) County. Some of these inmates are earning less than $30 a day for their efforts. But after risking their lives, California’s inmates deserve better and should be paid on par with other firefighters.
Without these essential workers, there would be no chance of containing the blazes burning LA to the ground. This is not a new practice. California began training inmates to help fight wildfires during World War II while many firefighters and men in general were deployed overseas. Today, CDCR operates 35 fire camps across the state of California where inmates can become certified in firefighting.
Many of these inmates joined these fire camps for the chance to
get time off their sentences, get time outside the prison walls and gain hands-on training that could help them in their employment post-incarceration.
When deployed, volunteer firefighter inmates earn embarrassingly low wages, averaging between $5.80 to $10.24 per day and earn an additional $1 per hour of work during active fires. This means the lowest-paid firefighter would earn $29.80 for a 24-hour shift of fighting fires.
One inmate fighting these fires, Joseph McKinney, shared his motivations for volunteering: “When you realize you’re doing something ... for the greater good, you’re willing to put that sacrifice up … and not only that, I have a debt to pay to society and this is how I’m choosing to pay it back.”
According to CDCR, these firefighter crews are made up of incarcerated volunteers with up to eight years on their sentence and who have been deemed physically and mentally fit by the CDCR. When they are not fighting fires, these inmates respond to a plethora of other California natural disasters and work in community service surrounding the area to their camp.
Attempting to remedy the gross injustices perpetrated on these firefighters, California Assemblymember Isaac Bryan introduced a bill that would pay inmates the same as the lowest-paid non-incarcerated firefighters on the frontlines. Assemblymember Bryan insisted, “We always talk about how it’s an injustice and we’ve never addressed it … I think it’s appropriate for us to have a conversation about what equity looks like even in the midst of a natural disaster.”
Assembly Bill (A.B.) 247 states that “inmate firefighters shall be paid an hourly wage equal to the lowest nonincarcerated firefighter wage in the State of California for the time that they are actively fighting a fire. The lowest firefighter wage shall be updated annually.”
This move comes after the 2024 elections where California voters failed to pass Proposition 6, which would have eliminated the forced, unpaid inmate labor from the California constitution. California voters had the chance to get rid of this slavery clause, but lost by approximately six percent. Now, this slavery clause is inadequately compensating inmate firefighters who are risking their lives to help Southern
Californian communities.
Instead of paying these inmates more, CDCR has put out multiple posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, thanking these inmates for their hard work: “The LA community stands united in gratitude for the over 1,000 CDCR staff and incarcerated firefighters who are selflessly aiding others, embodying the spirit of resilience and hope even in anonymity. Thank you for the warm welcome to our crew.” However, thanking inmates for their work isn’t the same as fairly paying them for their important contributions to containing the LA fires and upholding public safety. Braving powerful winds and debris, these inmate firefighters have been risking their lives to save LA from the blazes currently scorching the county. As one of the leading states spearheading change, it is embarrassing that California is one of the 20 states that still have forced labor clauses in their constitution — legalizing slavery. There is no place in society for slavery clauses and forced labor practices that diminish the earning potential for these California inmates.
Features Scotty-Scopes:
Fears and frustrations
Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22): Judgement
Ignoring the call doesn’t mean it would go away, Libra. Many heroes in the stories don’t want to be the chosen one, but they have to lean into it anyways, and so do you.
Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19): Two of Pentacles
Capricorn, don’t worry about being overcommitted to things. You just have to split your time wisely between all of your responsibilities, and it will all work out in the end.
Aries (March 21 – April 19): King of Swords
Aries, you aren’t manipulating people into being your friends. They want to be around you and you don’t have to stress every second that you’re doing and saying the right thing.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22): Eight of Swords
Cancer, you are your own harshest critic, but others don’t view you that way. Let your negative thoughts go and be open to compliments and praise from others.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21): Nine of Wands
You’re scared that even if you put in your best effort, you’ll fail. But you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.
Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18): The Hierophant
You don’t need to conform for people to love you. While traditions are important, you have the freedom to challenge the status quo.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20): Five of Cups
You are not a disappointment, Taurus, and failure doesn’t mean it’s the end. Forgive yourself for past actions and don’t be so pessimistic.
Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22): Knight of Cups
Nothing is out of reach if you truly want it. Don’t listen to people telling you that things are unrealistic if it’s what your heart truly desires.
WHAT’S HOLDING YOU HIGHLANDERS BACK THIS WEEK.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21): Seven of Pentacles
Don’t be so stressed about the long-term. College is a time to be figuring out your life, not stressing about where you’re going to retire.
Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20): The Hanged Man
Although it can be scary, open yourself to new perspectives in your life. Seeing things from one perspective won’t let you experience life as fully as you can.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20): Four of Cups
Taking time for yourself doesn’t mean you’re withdrawing. People will still think you’re involved and thoughtful even if you aren’t in constant communication with them.
Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22): The Chariot
A lack of direction in your current life can be frustrating, but it does not define you. You can find success wherever the wind takes you.
The Beignet Spot scratches that perfect southern Itch
THE BEIGNET SPOT OFFERS A VARIETY OF FOOD OPTIONS READY TO MEET YOUR CRAVINGS. FROM JUICY CHICKEN SANDWICHES TO DECADENT DESSERTS, THE BEIGNET SPOT EARNS ITS SPOT IN THE CULINARY HEART OF THE HIGHLANDER.
SANJANA THATTE News Editor
With their classic flavors, hearty meals and heartwarming desserts, this beautiful brunch location will be your new comfort restaurant and hearty hangover cure.
Nestled in the heart of downtown Riverside, The Beignet Spot offers a wide variety of items to fill you up and keep you smiling throughout the day
With its homey brick walls, wide glass windows and sturdy oak tables bathed in the comforting light of the afternoon sun, The Beignet Spot provides a comforting modern environment. The observation glass provides a complete look into the kitchen, allowing
B-Spot Sammy: 3/5
Priced at $10.99, this sandwich — made with scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, bacon, arugula and tomato jam — gives you a your bang for your buck with the high quality ingredients and perfectly cooked fillings. The perfectly buttered, soft brioche buns complements the crisp crunch of the arugula, which provided a much needed freshness to the carbs and fat in the sandwich.
The scrambled eggs were fluffy, yet had the perfect bite, making them some of the best I have had in Riverside. The bacon provided some much needed salt and the tomato jam added the perfect amount of acidity to the
Beignet Flight (Banana Foster, Berry Berry, and Peach Cobbler)
The Beignet Flight covered three flavors. Each flavor came with two beignets, and the overall price of the order was $13.95.
Banana Foster: 4/5
If banana bread and beignets had a child, this would be it. Sweet, warm, cinnamon-y goodness spread over warm, soft, pillowy beignets made for a ridiculously comforting dessert. The banana flavor was entirely due to the fresh bananas that were incorporated into the banana’s foster syrup giving it an all natural, entirely non-artificial taste. The fresh bananas added a bit of bite to the dessert that was otherwise encapsulated by the fluffiness of the beignets. The whipped cream added some lightness, making the dessert less heavy.
Berry Berry: 4/5
When you think of classic berry flavoring — not artificial berry flavoring, but really berry flavored desserts made with gooseberries, blueberries and blackberries — this is it. Sweet, tart, acidic and wonderfully light, the berry topping of the berry beignets adds freshness and excitement to the all around
Classic 8 Pack Beignet - 5/5
It is no surprise that the beignet in its simple glory, at $7.95, would be the best of the lot. The fluffy, crispy, soft, cloudlike bits of heaven were the perfect example of what a beignet should be. Unlike a plain doughnut that relies on a tender yet doughy texture all around to check all the boxes, a beignet must be crispy on the outside, soft and pillowy on the inside and
customers to see the process of making various dishes and beignets in industry-sized batches.
The ambiance is perfect for a quick lunch date with a friend, a Mother’s Day brunch or even just a post-party hangout location to fill your stomach. Breakfast sandwiches, loaded fries and chicken sandwiches are just some of the wide variety of options available at the Beignet Spot to satisfy your cravings.
sandwich without being too overpowering.
My biggest criticism of the sandwich was the lack of salt and more notably the reduced quantity of its amazing fillings. As I was eating this delectable sandwich, I couldn’t help but notice the significant lack of salt in all of its components. Though the sandwich can stand on its own without the seasoning, it loses a great deal of depth and flavor without it. Furthermore, the beautiful brioche buns that speak for the quality of the sandwich also seemed far too big. This was mostly due to the lack of fillings, making me at times feel like I was eating more bread than sandwich. But all in all, this is a great breakfast sandwich that leaves you wishing for more.
Jerk Fried Chicken Sandwich- 4/5
A chicken sandwich for the ages, at only $10.99. With the Beignet Spot’s classic brioche buns, B-spot sauce, pickles, jerk aioli and juicy slab of jerk fried chicken. It’s juicy, crispy, crunchy and exquisitely seasoned. The chicken cutlet is the highlight of the sandwich, having been perfectly cooked and seasoned in classic Jamaican fashion. The taste of cloves and pepper that give jerk chicken its iconic taste are immediately recognizable and present in the sandwich. The coleslaw and pickles balanced the fattiness of the
stable nature of the beignets. However, as is with many of the trade-offs of being classic, the berry topping doesn’t quite reinvent the wheel. Aside from the usual berry notes, there were no standout flavors or unique twists that you would expect from a house berry sauce. If you are looking for a solid beignet topping, and are not looking to take too many risks, look no further than the Berry Berry beignet.
Peach Cobbler: 4/5
With wonderful textures and comforting spices, this treat is everything you would expect to find in the peach cobbler beignet. The soft, yet delicate texture of the cooked peaches covered in the cinnamon-y syrup created a wonderful blend of soft dough and tender peach that is perfect for cold weather. Like with the banana foster beignet, the whipped cream cuts the heaviness of the dessert making it manageable for one person to eat. Much like with Berry Berry however, I found myself craving slightly more in terms of the intensity of the spices and the power of the peaches. Obviously the tartness and sweetness of the peaches will depend highly on the season but in regards to the syrup I found myself craving more. All in all, a lovely dessert that puts a smile on your face and makes you reminisce for fall.
lightly sweetened. It’s essential that the cloud of powdered sugar that adorns them does not come off as too overpowering. The combination of all these elements creates the perfectly light, buttery, soft and comforting dessert that we all know and love. The Beignet Spot knocks it out of the park, and creates the perfect homage to this pastry that we all know and love. ■ H
chicken with its freshness and snappy texture, adding a bit of tanginess to the mix.
The only disappointment would have to be the B-spot sauce and jerk aioli. If you had told me that there was a simple mayo-based sauce to add a little bit of moisture to the sandwich, I would have believed you. Though the sauce did provide some much needed liquidity to an otherwise very cumbersome sandwich, I could not tell you what it tasted like. Otherwise, it’s a wonderful chicken sandwich.
SANJANA THATTE / THE HIGHLANDER
NORM’S NOOK SPOTLIGHT
Buttons
GABRIELA GALVAN Assistant Features Editor
It wasn’t always bear country in these parts. While the University of California, Riverside (UCR) succumbed to the bear hug, the campus was reigned over by the little bearded lady. Lady MacTavish of Walpole, mostly recognized by her nickname “Buttons,” was a highly-spirited Scottish Terrier introduced to the campus by George Beattie in 1955. After the university opened its doors to students in 1954, it was lacking
in the spirit department. In an effort to establish a university with a prideful student body, the university set out to integrate a mascot. Suggestions included many furry beasts until the vote ultimately landed on the fierceness of a bear that eventually paired with the nickname, “Hylander.” However, the mascot debates didn’t take away from Buttons recognition as a dedicated Scottie, and the dog was further acknowledged as UCR’s first rendition of a mascot with the help of Ernest Garcia. Her presence on campus from 1955 to 1959 not only proved to be an adorable gift, but a symbol of true Highlander spirit!
STUDENT POLL
QUESTION: What are your ins and outs for this year?
Answer our weekly question on the Highlander Instagram for the opportunity to get featured in the next issue!
Tiktok out, Rednote in
Jealousy and stagnancy out, collaboration and substance in
Procrastinating at the last minute out, mindful scheduling in
iPads out, jazz in
Rooting for the Oakland A’s out, rooting for the Dodgers in
In-N-Out out, In-N-Out in
Henna P.
Anahita H.
Jackie A.
Gabriela G.
Isaac S.
Natalie D.
COURTESY OF UCR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
GRAPHICS BY LAYNA LAPIKAS / THE HIGHLANDER
By Natali FEaturEs
GIMME GIMME S’MORE ANSWERS (DON’T
MAIN ST
30. “___ do you do?”
31. ___ and outs
34. First and last layer in a s’more, along with “cracker”
37. Push and ____
38. Lentil dish
39. High quality reproduction of sound; Abbr.
40. Prepare to shoot
41. Itty-bitty bit
42. Unreturnable serve
43. Days of ___; bygone time
45. Third layer in a s’more, along with 62-Across
47. Kind of truck
48. Decide to leave, with “out”
49. ___ of Sandwich
50. Stage signal
51. Bring home the bacon
52. In favor of
55. Overcast
58. “Shoot!”
60. Gawk (at)
62. Third layer in a s’more, along with 45-Across 64. “Cast Away” setting
66. An order from the court; habeas corpus, for example
67. Lacking originality or freshness
68. Composition for two performers
69. Decorated, as a cake
70. “Piece of cake!”
71. ___ good example; 2 wds.
72. ___ephone #
Down
1. King Julian or Zoboomafoo
2. To slur over; saying “y’all”
3. Most common type of saxophone in a middle school band
4. Pack animal
5. Wine holder
6. Prophesy
7. TikTok vs IG _____
8. TV monitor?; Abbr.
9. “Yeah;” 2 wds.
10. Neighbor of Cambodia and Vietnam
11. Head vermin
ORANGE ST
12. Pepsi rival
15. Neighbor of Swed.
20. Soy or ____ bean
PEEK!)
22. April honoree
26. Beaver’s work
28. Purdue ___
29. “The Sweetheart of Sigma ___” by The Chordettes
30. Run smoothly
31. Teen ___
32. Cold war winner; Abbr.
33. Cole ___
34. Mountain pass in India
35. Puerto ___
36. Some; 2 wds.
37. Kind of chart or pizza
40. Verb with thou
41. “It Makes Me ___” by NSYNC
43. “___ rang?”
44. Kind of column in a newspaper
45. Disfigure or damage
46. Acquirer Reference Numbers; Abbr.
49. Young raptor
50. Dermatologist’s concerns
51. Follow as a result
52. Screwball comedy
53. A projection from the wall of a building
54. No longer working: Abbr.
55. Clock standard: Abbr.
(Hint: Greenwich Mean Time Zone; Abbr.)
56. Pink, as a steak
57. Diva’s operatic song
59. Gives a hand
61. Nincompoop
63. “___ is for horses”
65. When a plane or car is due in: Abbr. ■ H
COURTESY OF GOURMANDISE VIA FLICKR
‘The Room Next Door’ is a beautiful contemplation on life ending
Pedro Almodóvar paints the beauty of dying in his first English-language film.
By: Aakif Iqbal, Contributing Writer
“The Room Next Door,” starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, is director Pedro Almodóvar’s first foray into making English-language films. It follows Ingrid (Julianne Moore) as she discovers that an old friend of hers, Martha (Tilda Swinton), has stage three cervical cancer. Martha hopes that instead of spending her last days suffering through chemotherapy, she will be able to spend the last few moments of her life living to the fullest.
This plot may sound familiar to those who caught A24’s “We Live in Time,” starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield. Though, compared to “We Live in Time,” “The Room Next Door” approaches the topics of relationships and death with much more gravitas. It explores family, the value
of art and the ethics of assisted suicide. Swinton plays Martha with such care and authenticity, and with a convincing accent, that it's sometimes hard to remember she is not even American.
Swinton and Moore play across each other in a way reminiscent of Ingmar Bergman’s “Persona.” Most of the film centers around the conversations they have as they reflect on their lives.
For almost three decades, Pedro Almodóvar has been successfully making films in Spanish. Developing a name for himself as a strong visionary director, Almodóvar exhibits his skill in the films “All About my Mother” and “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.” These works are known for their strong use of primary colors and their off-beat sense of humor and are
staples in Almodovar’s work. It suffices to say that “The Room Next Door” — his first Englishlanguage film — is a success.
Juxtaposing Francois Truffaut’s 1966 film adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s novel “Fahrenheit 451,” this science fiction film never made a name for itself because of the tumultuous behind-the-scenes events that occurred during its production. Cases like Truffaut — a French director attempting to make a film completely in English — occur when filmmakers attempt to cross language barriers without adequate knowledge of the language.
What makes cinema magnificent is its ability to transcend the verbal language — viewers do not need to know French, Japanese or Urdu in order to tell somebody’s facial expressions. Almodóvar’s ability to visually
tell stories — sans language — is the reason why “The Room Next Door” challenges perspectives, compared to trainwreck films like “Fahrenheit 451,” that fails to connect audiences.
The film is not strikingly realistic like most modern audiences may hope. It is big and melodramatic. Strong compositions echoing the work of Edward Hopper populate every scene in the film. The performances are larger than life and the music that underscores scenes are ripe with emotion. The characters only wear strong, bold cashmere sweaters and bright red lipstick. In this way, Almodóvar is pulling influence from the great Hollywood melodramas of the 1950s, which are most associated with Douglas Sirk. Almodóvar’s character design is reminiscent of films like “All that Heaven Allows,” tying this in the classic themes with his usual style.
However, this is not to say that it lacks emotionality because it is extremely affecting. Lines of dialogue reverberate well after leaving the theater. The film is
In Retrospect: ‘Goodbye, Dragon Inn’
Director Tsai Ming-Liang’s interpretation of mundanity takes a step inside cinema.
By: Luke Liao, Contributing Writer
The 2003 film “Goodbye, Dragon Inn” opened in a cinema in Taipei that was screening King Hu’s 1967 film “Dragon Inn.” It will be the last movie shown in the cinema and is a fitting choice, as Hu's Wuxia film marked a significant milestone in Taiwanese and world cinema. But this choice, celebrating a high point in Taiwanese filmmaking, also stands in stark contrast to the theater’s current condition, where it stands in the inclement weather, largely vacant and timeworn.
Inside, only a few individuals haunt the cinema. Director Tsai Ming-Liang’s interpretation of mundanity, where words hold little value, drives the film’s plot as these isolated bodies wander and occasionally cross paths. In the main plotline, a ticket woman (Chen Shiang-Chyi) with a bad leg limps to deliver a shou bao, or
longevity bun, to her co-worker (Lee Kang-sheng). Driven by the small act of kindness, she embarks across backrooms, hallways and other porous spaces, step by step.
And although there are other occupants, some of whom are familiar, they are ultimately passive figures in the film. The kineticism in “Goodbye, Dragon Inn” comes from the movie’s setting and the ironies and singularities that Tsai cleverly mines out of it. The great contradiction of the moviegoing experience is that the occupants are isolated — whether it be in their seats, silence or darkness — while, at the same time, subject to the same sights and sounds of the film.
The beauty of movies — and art in general — is, then, that these same sights and sounds can elicit vastly different emotions and
thoughts. Tsai captures these complexities in a way that isn’t heady by personifying “Dragon Inn” as a character itself, whose omnipresent role throughout the film is constantly evolving. For the ticket lady, it becomes a source of motivation. For another moviegoer, it is a reminder of his past. All of this happens under the same roof, in different spaces and at different times.
As much as Tsai’s observations are about film and physical space, there are also greater, more human details to be found. In his filmography, Tsai’s running theme is urban isolation and the search for connection. In one of the plotlines, a man playing musical chairs around the auditorium is revealed to be one of a handful of men looking for a gay encounter. There is strange amusement to the awkward shuffling and staging of bodies as these men silently sit or pass one another. But
philosophical and paced slowly, but it is never boring. It constantly keeps viewers guessing. At some of its most serious scenes, Martha will crack a joke, because this is what life is actually about.
Verdict: With a great script, great performances and thoughtprovoking questions, this film is not to be missed. For viewers that have never watched a Pedro Almodóvar film, “The Room Next Door” is a great introduction.
also, this scene is a greater reflection on how these men’s sexuality, and it’s an expression of intimacy driven to the unlit corners of the theater.
Take a scene where restroom etiquette is humorously set aside as two men use urinals right next to each other despite the row being empty. Tsai’s avoidance of dialogue works to great effect as their shifting eyes and tense bodies speak for themselves. The antsiness is palpable, leaving the audience waiting for someone to cut the silence, and in the end, no man dares to.
And on the note of the lack of dialogue, one of “Goodbye, Dragon Inn’s” chief achievements, the encapsulation of the moviegoing experience, is indebted to the prevailing silence. All that is left in the film’s soundscape are ambient analog sounds: gentle rain, the hum of the projector, echoed foot-
steps and audio from “Dragon Inn.” Factor in the setting of empty and damp liminal spaces, and the result is an ineffable union of sadness, serenity and eeriness.
These feelings of nostalgia and melancholy, for the impermanence of time and a bygone era of movies, course throughout the film’s brisk 82 minutes and resonate long after. The casting of Chun Shih and Miao Tien, stars of “Dragon Inn,” celebrates what once existed, while the lack of finality in the ending signifies the ushering of cinema’s future, however uncertain. Perhaps, to come to terms with the impossible feeling of nostalgia, where everything in the past seems better than the present, all one can do is appreciate their memories.
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Courtesy of Homegreen Films
Passionate school teachers meet unhinged Philadelphia bar owners
Chaos meets comedy gold as the world of “Abbott Elementary” collides with the world of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
By: Karl Boudiwan, Contributing Writer
In the highly anticipated ninth episode of “Abbott Elementary’s” fourth season, which aired on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 on ABC, blends the show's heartfelt humor with the antics of the Paddy’s Pub gang. The result: an interesting, but entertaining experience.
The episode begins as Principal Ava announces the arrival of the volunteers sent by the district. However, these volunteers end up being the chaotic and selfcentered owners of Paddy’s Pub – Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Mac (Rob McElhenney), Charlie (Charlie Day), Frank (Danny DeVito) and Dee (Kaitlin Olson), whose comedically criminal activities — such as illegally dumping trash — lead them to fulfill community service hours.
Although it is an “Abbott Elementary” episode, audiences still experience the self-serving nature of “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia” as each member of the gang is partnered with a staff member: Charlie with Barbara
(Sheryl Lee Ralph), Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter), and Jacob (Chris Perfetti), Dee with Janine (Quinta Brunson), Mac with Principal Ava (Janelle James) and Frank with Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams). Dennis, on the other hand, didn't really play a role in this episode, as he tries to avoid the camera pointing at him — consistent with the mockumentary style of the show.
Each volunteer member brings out their own chaotic behaviors. Charlie, known for his inability to read, becomes a priority for Melissa and Barbara as they try to teach him basic reading. Jacob also helps him, but his role is pretty lackluster and out of place. Dee, paired up with Janine, is initially friendly at first, as she discovers that her co-worker went to the Pennsylvania State University and formed a bond with her. Eventually, when Dee meets Gregory, Janine’s boyfriend, her true colors show as her self-centered and vindictive attitude takes over.
Meanwhile, Frank — paired with Mr. Johnson and Gregory — are tasked to work on compost and must fix the “raccoon situation.” In the old-fashioned-FrankReynolds way, he mischievously hides the fact that he was eating the compost. Sadly though, his screen time is pretty short. While Mac works for Principal Ava, he tries his best to have her sign the paper so the gang can end their community service time early. However, Ava outsmarts him by playing the same game he does.
Overall, hardcore fans of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” will enjoy this episode, but new viewers should know that it’s not the full dose of the gang’s chaotic behavior. The humor had to be toned down to fit “Abbott Elementary’s” heartfelt style. While the characters stay true to their attitude, viewers should remember that, at the end of the day, it’s an “Abbott Elementary” episode. In the end, it's still worth watching to see Charlie finally get the ability to read after all those years.
In Defense: Alphaville’: Jean-Luc Godard’s computer-ruled sci-fi city
French New Wave elements in
By: Iris Aranda, Contributing Writer
Oftentimes, modern audiences overlook older films, but French New Wave cinema proves that this could not be further from the truth —- older films are anything but boring. Emerging in the late 1950s, this French New Wave cinema movement helped push for innovation. Before Old Hollywood films, filmmakers followed strict rules and guidelines. American filmmakers were limited to indoor soundstages, whereas French New Wave directors, due to technological advances, were able to film outside.
Jean-Luc Godard’s 1965 “Alphaville” was shot on location in Paris, France. This film took advantage of newer technology that allowed them to experiment with different mediums. Rejecting traditional cinematic techniques, French New Wave cinema directors broke free from the standard dialogue shots of person A speaking to person B, embracing new, unconventional storytelling techniques.
Jean-Luc Godard, a French-Swiss director, was responsible for defining the movement. Godard’s “Alphaville” is a sci-fi noir film about a dystopian, futuristic city under the mind control of a computer named Alpha 60 that forces citizens of the city to act logical and suppress all displays of emotions – an act punishable by death.
‘Alphaville.’
star in this film. The film follows Lemmy Caution, played by Constantine, an American secret agent from the outer countries posing as Ivan Johnson, a journalist, as he enters the strange, futuristic city of Alphaville. Lemmy goes on a series of missions, keeping viewers on their toes and questioning what is happening. This is a place where the meaning of love is lost and where poetry is forbidden.
Godard’s choice to use black-and-white film to his advantage added depth to the film’s world, making the film seductive and enticing as it dives into the strange suburb. There seem to be parallels between this world and a dictatorial regime, with odd and oppressive rules. This is highlighted in a scene where Caution gets interviewed by Alpha 60, whose artificial voice looms over the shots and emphasizes control over the city.
With each watch of the film, more and more questions arise regarding worldbuilding. There’s a number of unsettling moments in this film, such as the objectification of women, whose bodies are marked with tattoos of numbers. There’s a picture of a mysterious man, Scientist von Braun, everywhere Johnson goes. In another disturbing scene, people by a pool are shot for expressing their emotions. Natacha von Braun, played by Anna Karina, a programmer for Alpha 60 whom Caution enlists in his mission, gets questioned about her apparent sadness when Caution
is ambushed and beaten.
In the city of Alphaville, citizens are encouraged to act logically and reject emotions. This is especially evident when Natacha doesn’t know the difference between a bible and a dictionary. There seems to be no freedom in Alphaville, with Natacha ordered to not see Caution anymore, presumably because she’s grown too attached to him.
The cinematography adds to the sci-fi world. Beautiful clips are revealed piece by piece. There is never a boring second of film wasted. Alphaville is a captivating film that uses the most out of its low budget, to draw in its audiences in, using the tools of cinema: editing, mise en scene, acting and narrative.
■ H
Anna Karina and Eddie Constantine co-
Courtesy of ABC
A fallacy within the biopic genre
With “A Complete Unknown” out in theaters, audiences may be quick to forget about the original Bob Dylan biopic
By: Sebastian Morales, Contributing Writer
The tall task of portraying a timeless and well-revered artist such as Bob Dylan through a biopic is a grueling job for any actor. With the role teetering on the fine line between endless acclaim or meticulous scrutiny, it is a challenge that encapsulates risks and rewards. Many Dylan fans are eager to express their skepticism of anybody being able to dawn the notorious folk singer-songwriter onto the silver screen faithfully.
Skepticism was expected since 2007’s “I’m Not There,” and the recently released “A Complete Unknown” at the end of last year. An invisible “it comes with the job” quality is attached to the biopic genre as these films are complimented with established audiences behind them. New biopics are pumped out year after year, and they’ve become Hollywood’s latest profit-hopeful obsession. So it begs the question of whether film has the capacity to authentically represent artists like Bob Dylan, or any other celebrity icon waiting for their next biopic to be made.
An unignorable aspect of Dylan as a celebrity is his carefully crafted vagueness about his past, combined with his larger-thanlife lyricism that has cultivated into a sensationalized mythology that seeks to define an individual who consistently wishes to be undefinable.
This mythological aspect of celebrity culture is a concept that ultimately flattens the intention of what biopics market themselves as — the truth. No matter if you have only heard of Bob Dylan recently due to one of the film industry’s most talented and popular actors working today, deciding to accept the challenge of fictionally carrying the same weight on their shoulders as an artist such as Dylan, in film.
Admirers of Dylan have been well-fed; there have been two biopics made within less than a generation from each other. Serving as two sides of the same coin, both films could not be further apart in their depiction and storytelling of the superstar folk artist.
“A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold, opened in theaters last year with surmountable expectations. Based on the book, “Dylan Goes Electric!” by Elijah Wald, the film focuses on Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet), in the early stages of his career
as folk music’s newest and rising star. Eventually he became one of the genre’s main influences, propelling folk music into popularity in the 1960s. Dylan also challenged the folk music industry with his controversial use of electronic instruments at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.
Held within the vision of a big Hollywood studio biopic, “A Complete Unknown” offers audiences a conventional but wellmade representation of Dylan from unknown to a critically acclaimed artist. It follows one linear narrative with only one actor portraying the ambiguous star. It should be pointed out that Chalamet’s performance as Dylan is strikingly convincing and deserving of all the praise he has received.
Critics have labeled “A Complete Unknown” as conventional, however, the director did make significant stoves away from this formulaic biopic trope: seeing the star as the talented child, watching them be molded into fame and witnessing the star grow old well past their heyday.
Director James Mangold smartly opts to showcase his subject of interest within a four-year span throughout the film’s runtime.
However, for some audiences,
Mangold’s latest depiction of Bob Dylan may still be deemed too surface-level for an artist with such nuance on how the public perceives him. Fans may have come out of the theater with the same understanding and knowledge of the musician as they did the moment right before they sat in their seats for “A Complete Unknown.”
“I’m Not There,” the first Bob Dylan biopic, was directed by Todd Haynes in 2007, starring Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger and Marcus Carl Franklin, is as unconventional as biopics come. The film ambitiously uses six actors to portray various aspects and periods of Bob Dylan’s life and mythology. Narratively, “I’m Not There” jumps back and forth between each character to create a nonlinear story, without ever outright labeling any cast member as Bob Dylan.
The film cleverly utilizes fictionalization to its advantage in its attempt to uncover reality. Within the genre, there will always be a fragment of fiction where the detailed truth of a real-life person is at the mercy of what the film’s creators dictate as fact and fantasy for the audience to consume. The producers choose to dramatize or romanticize the individual and the events surrounding them for the sake of entertainment, and
more importantly, studio profit.
“I’m Not There” may not provide absolute answers to demystify Dylan’s past or any of the longstanding questions that fans have speculated explanations on over the decades of his career. Instead, Hayne’s film can be seen as a loose case study of Dylan and the surrounding mythology attached to his fame. Similar to how many other subjects of interest within biopics develop grandiose backstories that may lean into the fantastical expectations of what fans want to believe, or what celebrities wish for fans to spread amongst themselves.
When comparing the two biopics, it is up to the watcher to determine which of the two renditions does justice to the story of Bob Dylan. With its amazing acting and singing between an ensemble cast and a generic beat-for-beat storyline that has followed conventional Hollywood biopics time after time, “A Complete Unknown” stays traditional in its homage to Dylan.
However, “I’m Not There,” strips away the rules and tropes that the genre is most famously critiqued for in its quest to depict “reality. This film knows its subject of interest is undefinable and leans into its fictional storytelling to capture what makes Dylan so fascinating for the public, attempting
to dissect why he has been such a thorn in the expectations of those who idolized him.
The thorn lodged at the side of those expectations are the same expectations that are put on biopics to authentically reveal the unrevealable. This plagues the satisfaction of audiences for celebrities — such as Bob Dylan fans — to never fully be fulfilled with what they are given on the screen. Perhaps the concept of biopics has been flawed since its conception and practice. ■ H
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Ethel Cain’s ‘Perverts’ is a controversial but unique indie album that left fans and critics puzzled
The artist has gained praise for previous works, but has now come out with a different ambient style of music that has some disappointed, and others intrigued.
By: Joanna Simon, Contributing Writer
Ethel Cain is an indie artist who amassed a sizable cult following after the release of “Preacher’s Daughter,” an extensive and highly praised album with a rich storyline, haunting ambience and unique emotions captured through her voice and production. In turn, fans eagerly anticipated the release of her next album, “Perverts,” which came out on Jan. 8.
The album was promoted on Cain’s various social media platforms, with a repeated phrase: “It’s happening to everybody.”
This ominous statement excited fans for her next release, accompanied by video teasers that were dark, unsettling and edited with a rustic look, consistent with many of Cain’s videos.
“Punish” is a slow track with Cain’s drawn-out, crooning voice, lamenting her sorrows in vague allusions to Lucifer being kicked out of heaven. Released as a single in October 2024, it has become one of the most popular tracks on “Perverts.” Cain’s vocals shine brightest in this section, delivering a vocal performance that is nothing short of heavenly, making this track a wonderful listening experience.
“Onanist” is a track with an emphasis on ambience, and relies less on lyrics, as with many of the songs on “Perverts.” However, this is actually one of the few tracks with considerably clear lyrics. The song portrays an experience of letting oneself go, evoking a sense of self gratification, framed in the context of Biblical “sexual sin.”
Yet, as with many of Ethel’s tracks, the song’s vagueness allows listeners to interpret it in their own way. The song
has a light, dreamy sound for the first half, but the instrumental sounds more haunting and ominous with droning in the background as the vocal delivery of the lyrics evolve into a slow chant.
Overall, it’s a really fitting track for depicting someone’s numbness to excessive pleasure after the initial positive stages of it, and Cain delivers an excellent vocal performance with captivating production, making this a song with a unique ambience.
“Amber Waves” is one of the more praised songs on the album after “Punish,” with a slow guitar and light, harmonious vocals from Ethel. There is an absence of the droning sound that is present on most tracks. As the final track on the album, the imagined central character in the album’s storyline has succumbed to chasing pleasure. The lyrics seem to allude to addiction, with the song ending with the lyrics: “I can’t feel anything.”
“Vacillator” is an ambience-centered track with a darker sound. As the title suggests, it tells the story of an indecisive lover wavering between how they feel about their relationship. The song is reminiscent of a slow, relaxed day but gradually shifts from this mood.
Towards the halfway point, the background introduces an unsettling combination of sounds, contrasting with the earlier ambiance to create a sense of unease. Then the instrumental abruptly resets back to sound calm again, reflecting the theme of indecision through its production. The guitar and percussion is fitting, letting the song progress at a perfect pace.
The other tracks on the album are mostly ambient, with few lyrics involved. This unexpectedly threw some fans and critics off in its reception. The genres of most of the songs are dark ambience and drone, which involve specific sounds similar to the humming of a porch light outside. Other sounds include a variety of distortion synths, adding to the unsettling vibe of “Perverts.”
Overall, the album received a lot of mixed criticism, with fans arguing amongst themselves over whether it was a good release or not. Much of Cain’s devoted fanbase praised the songs on the album, with the sentiment that it just wasn’t for everyone, and “if you got it, you got it.”
Others in her fanbase maintained a more critical eye, viewing this installment in Cain’s discography as her weakest album. Regardless of this verdict, many appreciated Cain’s artistry and willingness to step far outside the mainstream even after performing at large events in 2024.
Some listeners expressed that “Preacher’s Daughter” was overall a more appealing listen, with some saying they liked listening to “Perverts” but felt it lacked replayability. Others simply claimed that they wanted more lyrics in the songs, rather than primarily instrumentals for over six minutes, as none of the songs in “Perverts” were below that number.
Some already enjoyed the style of music similar to what was in “Perverts,” so they genuinely enjoyed the album. Others only enjoyed a select few songs, with “Punish” being a favorite, slightly more reminiscent of a release that would be on “Preacher’s Daughter.”
Lil Baby & 21 Savage’s newest single marks its territory in this year’s rap game
By: Ian Palma, Contributing Writer
After one week of being released, Atlanta-based rapper Lil Baby’s new album “Who Hard as Me” (WHAM) has received moderate-to-high acclaim from fans and critics alike. It has even reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200. Known for songs such as “Drip Too Hard,” Lil Baby has a streak when it comes to releasing highly praised albums, and his latest one is no different.
Even with the major success of the album, it wouldn’t be fair to say that Lil Baby deserves all of the credit, especially since many of it contains features from heavy-hitters within the rap industry such as Young Thug, Future and Travis Scott. In fact, Lil Baby’s strongest tracks within the albums are in collaboration with some other artist.
Lil Baby’s newest single from the album titled, “Outfit,” featuring 21 Savage, particularly serves as a testimony to the album being mostly successful due to his partnerships with other artists. More importantly, the single could very well be a signal of what’s about to go down in the rap game in 2025.
With the song being introduced with nothing but a few seconds of 808s, Lil Baby wastes no time when it comes to rapping his verses. Lil Baby’s lyrics in the single aren’t anything significant to remark upon. The rapper delivers his experience
making it in the rap industry and the flexing that comes with it, a common theme that’s been recycled in the last 11 songs in his album.
Lil Baby somewhat uses clever wordplay to emphasize his rise with one line being a direct reference to 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin.’” Lil Baby’s best lyrics in the track come from his acknowledgment of his Atlanta upbringing as well as his parents; his main goal being to “give the trenches some hope.” He also ad-libs on his own verse which further emphasizes the notion that the only real person he can talk to is himself.
Despite Lil Baby’s shortcomings on his own track, what makes “Outfit” a somewhat passable single is the presence of 21 Savage. As with many of his other songs, 21 Savage approaches the track with no hesitation to his flow, being a direct contrast to Lil Baby’s delivery in the first part of the song.
One of the most significant and shocking lines within the song comes from 21 Savage in which he subtly makes his own stance on the Drake-Kendrick rap beef.
21 Savage sneak disses Kendrick, mocking him for his “Kung-Fu Kenny” persona while making a possible reference to his support of Drake.
The rapper has a long history of collaborating with Drake, being featured in songs
such as “Rich Flex” and “Knife Talk.” 21 Savage’s long standing partnership with Drake makes it all the more evident of his lyrics being a potential shot at Kendrick Lamar. 21 Savage’s lines may very well resume the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, which was practically dying out ever since Kendrick did The Pop Out concert back in June of 2024.
All in all, the song is stuck in the muddy pits of mediocrity in which its only saving grace would be the revitalization of a feud that probably should’ve been left alone last year. Although Lil Baby’s stance on the Drake-Kendrick dispute is unclear, “Outfit” opens the floor for more rap artists to be embroiled in the conflict.
It isn’t to say that the renewal of the Drake-Kendrick feud isn’t a bad thing for the rap industry since it would allow other rappers to become active in terms of backing either side of the beef. Besides the Drake-Kendrick callout, there isn’t any plausible case as to why the track should be considered as a single especially since it follows the format of all of the songs in Lil Baby’s album to a below-average extent.
Verdict: Even with 21 Savage’s feature, “Outfit” is a standard rap song whose references to recent events within the rap industry are the sole reason why it’s being labelled as a single.
Despite mixed opinions, this album portrays interesting topics in an abstract format- such as the concepts of sin, hedonism, numbness, psychosis and other human struggles and flaws. Cain creates an incredibly immersive atmosphere through her signature production skills. This album will either be comforting or haunting, depending on the environment of the listener. To other listeners, the album may be completely unbearable.
Verdict: “Perverts” is an album far outside the norm, primarily composed of lengthy, lyric-less tracks that are fitting for a niche horror movie. However, the strength of this release is something that is debatable; it seems that Cain is making songs for the sake of her personal art, instead of her current audience.
‘Outfit’ debuts, unafraid of throwing some shade along the way
Photo courtesy of Silken Weinberg
Courtesy of Universal Music Group
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Van Cleef and Arpels: A timeless legacy
By: Sarah Tabel, CW
Van Cleef and Arpels combines luxury, culture and nature enticing global appeal and dupes.
Founded in 1906 by Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels, Van Cleef and Arpels came to be one of the most iconic names in luxury jewelry. The brand’s original location still remains at 22 Place Vendôme in Paris and reflects the brand's dedication to luxury and craftsmanship. Both founders came from families with a deep-rooted foundation in jewelry making, ensuring a heritage of optimal quality and artistry. From its beginnings, the fashion house distinguished itself with its exceptional creations.
The brand drew significant inspiration from oriental art in the 1920s, influenced by the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, which sparked a wave of orientalism across Europe. This influenced Van Cleef and Arpels to incorporate Egyptian, Japanese, Chinese and Indian motifs in their designs. These influences were seen in masterpieces like the Peony Clip, inspired by Princess Faiza of Egypt in 1937. The brand expanded its reach over time, creating jewelry for prominent figures such as Edward VII and designing notable pieces for the
wedding of Fawzia of Egypt and Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. These include the collaret for Queen Nazli of Egypt and a tiara for the Princess.
In 1967, Van Cleef and Arpels crafted the coronation crown for Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran, further solidifying their reputation. A year later the fashion house introduced its most iconic design, the Alhambra collection. The Alhambra long necklace is made up of 20 clover shaped motifs, encompassing the brand's nature-inspired elegance.
Inspired by the four leaf clovers, tokens of luck, these motifs became the signature of Van Cleef
and Arpels, with the Alhambra collection symbolizing love, good fortune and timeless elegance. Crafted and introduced in 1968, the Alhambra collection drew a connection to nature with its vibrant gemstones and focused on the natural works that appealed to diverse audiences.
Modern pop culture continues to celebrate Van Cleef and Arpels. Artists like Peso Pluma showcased the Alhambra collection in music videos. Other male celebrities like Drake and Lebron James wear the brand's creations, challenging gender norms.
Van Cleef and Arpels’ high price
point makes the jewelry very exclusive and inaccessible to many. This results in a high demand for dupes, in which social media platforms are playing a significant role in promoting the replicas of the Alhambra collection, making dupes more socially acceptable.
The vintage appeal of the brand's designs is synonymous with the old money aesthetic, and dupes allow individuals to participate in these trends without the hefty price tag. The fashion house's history with royalty contributes to its allure and its premium prices.
The brand's popularity varies across different regions, influenced by the fashion trends and cultural preferences. Van Cleef and Arpels has strong influence and popularity in the Middle East, where the Alhambra collection resonates deeply due to the cultural traditions of gifting jewelry in this region.
Van Cleef and Arpels represents luxury and artistry in jewelry, despite the price point limiting accessibility. The rise in dupes and social media’s influence has broadened the brand's appeal, and the fashion house continues to captivate global audiences with its themes of luck, love and nature.■ H
Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels
Highlanders bounce back with 62-52 win against UCSB
Makayla Rose, Zoe Tillery and Seneca Hackley smother Gauchos with suffocating perimeter defense.
By: Isaac Solnick, Sports Editor
Following their 61-47 road defeat to Hawaii on Jan. 9, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) women’s basketball team received a much-needed bye to regroup and prepare for their next opponents, the University of California, Santa Barabara (UCSB).
While the Highlanders had time to rest, UCSB were coming off an emotional 51-50 home loss against archrivals Cal Poly. With a whole three extra days of break and home court advantage, UCR had the mental edge going into Thursday's contest.
From the start, it seemed like the Highlanders were the more lively team. The Gauchos won the tip-off, but UCR forced junior guard Skylar Burke to throw up a prayer with the shot clock winding down on the first possession. She managed to secure her own rebound. However, the Gauchos still couldn’t find a good shot even with a fresh 20 seconds as the Highlanders forced a shot clock violation.
Junior guard Zoe Tillery scored the first points of the game with an open midrange due to a miscommunication from the Gauchos while defending the on-ball screen. On the next possession, UCSB turned it over again leading to a fastbreak layup for junior guard Makayla Rose.
The rest of the Highlanders were feeding off the energy of Tillery and Rose. Both junior guards did an exceptional job defending UCSB’s playmakers along the perimeter. This stalled the Gauchos offense as UCSB kept having to settle for long 3-pointers.
Back-to-back threes from fifth-year guard Alyssa Marin and sophomore forward Zoe Borter kept the Gauchos even on the scoreboard, but the Highlanders were the better team throughout the first quarter.
However, the shots stopped falling for UCSB in the second quarter and the Highlanders started pulling away from the Gauchos. Graduate guard Seneca
Hackley checked in for Tillery as head coach Brad Langston looked to use Hackley’s shooting to spread the floor. This allowed Rose to utilize her speed to blow by her defender and wreak havoc with the extra spacing.
After driving to the hoop, Rose found Hackley wide open in the corner with a sweet cross-court pass. The Colorado native drilled the 3-pointer and the Highlanders didn’t look back. They outscored the Gauchos 21-5 in the second quarter and took a commanding 39-22 lead going into halftime.
Down by 17 points, UCSB looked to change their offensive approach in the second half. They needed to score quick buckets to give themselves a chance of coming back, but the Highlanders kept the same gameplan. Rose and Tillery maintained intense on-ball pressure. This forced the Gauchos to play fast and panicky rather than quick and under control.
The Gauchos would eventually see some success in the fourth quarter. They scored eight unanswered points and cut the lead to just seven. However, the Highlanders stayed composed and countered with nine unanswered points of their own to take this one 62-52.
On Saturday, the Highlanders traveled to La Jolla to take on the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). UCR entered the fourth quarter trailing by 14 points, but the Highlanders didn’t lose hope. Duchemin led the comeback, scoring eight points in the fourth quarter. UCR had a chance to win the game on the final possession but turned it over. UCSD held on to win 59-58 as the Highlanders dropped to 4-3 in the Big West.
The Highlanders are back in action against the University of California, Irvine this Thursday, Jan. 23.
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THE HIGHLANDER / Elena Versage
Barrington Hargress sets new school record with 40 points versus UCSD
UCR IMPROVES TO 4-3 IN CONFERENCE PLAY, KNOCKING OFF SECOND PLACE UCSD.
TERRY NGUYEN Assistant Sports Editor
The University of California, Riverside (UCR) played one of their best games of the season on Saturday night at the Student Recreation Center Arena, defeating UC San Diego 85-81 in a thriller. Barrington Hargress set a new school record with 40 points.
In the previous two games, before playing UC San Diego, Hargress was a combined 11/40 from the field and didn’t look like himself offensively. He shared, “Those two [previous] games were tough, but now I’m just happy I can provide for my team when they need me.”
When the game tipped off against the Tritons, he was dialed in from the jump, notching 25 points while going 5/5 from downtown in the first half. Hargress continued to be aggressive in the second half, and finished with a 40-piece on 14/22 shooting.
Following the game, Hargress ex-
plained, “I just try to stay consistent. I got a great group of guys behind me. They uplift me to anything I can do possible. They believe in me and that’s really all I need … This is really all a team effort.”
The Highlanders went into halftime with a 44-35 lead against UCSD, but the Tritons wouldn’t go away without a fight. Senior guard Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones consistently attacked the basket early in the second half, putting the pressure on the UCR bigs. He finished with 32 points on 9/18 shooting and 14/17 from the charity stripe.
Joel Armotrading was the most effective defender when guarding TaitJones, despite barely ever leaving the paint. His defense was paramount for the Highlanders to come out on top against the Tritons, and he notched a double double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
UCSD’s Tyler McGhie struggled from beyond the arc, as he went 0/9 from downtown. He entered the game having made 68 3-pointers on the season, which leads the conference. Nate Pickens was the primary defender on McGhie and he did a solid job preventing the sharpshooter from creating open shots throughout the game. Pickens also had 15 points on 5/9 shooting and 4/6 from downtown.
Coming down the stretch, UCR was able to maintain the lead for the final 7:45 of the game. Hargress scored eight of UCR’s final 20 points, and the game was sealed by a Kaleb Smith free throw.
UCR’s next game will be at home against UC Irvine on Thursday night. Tune in at 7 p.m. on KUCR 88.3 FM for coverage of the game.
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RIVERSIDE RECAPS
Men’s Basketball - 1/18/2025
UCR vs. UCSD
85-81, W
UCR Team Leaders:
Points: Barrington Hargress (40) - UC
Riverside Division I single game scoring record
Rebounds: Joel Armotrading (14)
Assists: Isaiah Moses (10)
Women’s Basketball - 1/18/2025
UCR vs. UCSD
59-58, L
UCR Team Leaders:
Points: Shelley Duchemin (15)
Rebounds: Esther Matarranz (11)
Assists: Shelley Duchemin (4)
Women’s Basketball - 1/16/2025
UCSB vs. UCR
62-52, W
UCR Team Leaders: Points: Makayla Rose (14)
Rebounds: Shelley Duchemin and Esther Matarranz (3)
Assists: Makayla Rose and Esther Matarranz (3)
Men’s Basketball - 1/16/2025
UCR vs. UCSB
66-63, L
UCR Team Leaders:
Points: Barrington Hargress (18)
Rebounds: Kaleb Smith (7)
Assists: Barrington Hargress (8)
Men’s Tennis - 1/14/2025
UCR vs. LMU 5-2, L 4-0, L
Women’s Tennis - 1/16/2025 @ 10am
Nebraska vs. UCR
4-0, L
Women’s Tennis - 1/16/2025 @ 2pm
Nebraska vs. UCR
ELENA VERSAGE / THE HIGHLANDER
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