VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1
OUTLOOK
IllustraƟon by MarjoneƩe Lee
H O N O R S
On September 24, the air was full of excited voices as students, old and new, greeted each other at the University Honors Fall Welcome. Students mingled as they waited in line for ice cream, cha ng about their summer and the upcoming fall quarter. The purpose of the Fall Welcome is to ease students back into school mode and unite the University Honors community before the quarter begins. In addi on to socializing over ice cream, students were encouraged to check out the informa onal tables set up for each of the University Honors commi ees: Honors Leadership, Co-curricular, Community Service, Media & Communica ons, Outreach and Social. Tours of the University Honors office were also given for first year students; some had not seen the UCR campus since the Summer University Honors Program (SUHP), their orienta on to the University Honors Program. A er all students had checked in and had some me to socialize, they were gathered in front of the University Theatre, where Dr. Perring, Faculty Director of University Honors, introduced a couple keynote speakers. The first speaker was especially noteworthy: Dr. Kim A. Wilcox, the newly appointed chancellor of UCR. It was an honor to hear Chancellor Wilcox give an inspiring welcome to University Honors students, encouraging them to do their best in the upcoming school year. Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs James Sandoval spoke next, giving a warm welcome and urging students to get involved on campus. Together, he and the Chancellor symbolized the e between academic and social life. Dr. Perring then dismissed the students to the University Lecture Hall, where he spoke to students about what it meant to be a University Honors student and the commitment that it entails. Staff Director Gladis Herrera-Berkowitz also introduced students to a new electronic portal that makes it easier for University Honors to track students’ progress and provide students a convenient way to schedule appointments for advising with Honors staff. At the end of the night, students le the Fall Welcome feeling invigorated and excited for the new school year.
by jessica soria
LWELCOME
HONORS FAL
We have all heard the term “hipster” being tossed around on a daily basis, and it seems that the use of the word seems to be growing more and more popular. So why have hipsters suddenly grown so popular, sprouting up on our college campuses and coffee shops? What is it about the “hipster” way of thinking that draws in so many young adults to adopt this persona? I think the hipster phenomenon rises from our own attempt to stand out from the sea of conformity and experience spontaneity. In a sense, hipsters are creating their own spontaneous art by making a fashion statement. The hipster culture is obsessed with portraying the concept of “unconby Rajvee ventional beauty” to stand out, and progressive gender attitudes have played a large role in redefining this concept. Hipsters seek to erase gender boundaries through their unique sense of style. In urban areas, a new peer culture has emerged in which a kind of gender blurring is not only acceptable but cool. One can see that gender fluidity has increasingly become a trend, as popular clothing lines such as Urban Outfitters, H&M,
and American Apparel have begun to sell clothes and accessories that can be worn by either gender. The world of hipster vogue allows individuals to connect with their identity and rebel against traditional stereotypical gender roles. I think another cause in the rise of the hipster movement is this search for authenticity. We live in an era where our purchases are always mediated; amongst the commercial and marketing ploys, it can be tough to distinguish fraud from sincerity. Hipsters are in pursuit of items from genuine people. Apart from obtainability and cost, they prefer to spend earnings on something that they can personally connect Sanghavi with. Hipsters crave items that have a kind of “realness” to them, or have a history behind them. They acquire objects and apparel from past ages like vintage clothing and their signature fixed-gear bikes, or “fixies.” In an era of rapid growth and development, it seems the hipster generation has come to defy their fellow urbanites and display their individuality through such items and clothing.
the hipster
BY RAJVEE SANGHAVI On Thursday, October 3, the Co-Curricular Commi ee (CCC) accompanied University Honors students to the Riverside Art Walk, Riverside’s monthly homage to art. The event took place from 6:00 to about 9:00 p.m. and spanned a few lively blocks that had been adorned for the occasion. Students met up with members of the commi ee and took the bus to downtown Riverside, where an evening full of music, lights, and talent awaited them. The students were taken to view various locaons where art was put on display, one of which included the Riverside Art Museum. Many of the works on display reflected the central theme of Day of the Dead, or Dia de los muertos. This highly an cipated Mexican holiday is a tribute to friends and family who have passed away and offers up a different perspec ve on death. It is not a mournful commemora on but rather a joyful and colorful celebra on where death takes a lively expression through pain ngs, sculptures, and costumes. In addi on, the Riverside Art Museum had a diverse assortment of art on display. Viewers marveled at the interpre ve dance that took place in the gallery and the streets where people were selling their own works. There were also two museums especially dedicated to showcasing UCR students’ art pieces: The UCR Sweeney Art Gallery and the UCR California Museum of Photography. At the Photography museum, students were able to view an innova ve spinning wheel, where spectators
FALLARTS R’SIDE WALK
could take part in a mo on picture viewing of both old and new photographs. CCC is o en in charge of planning events for Honors students that pertain to arts and culture. The commi ee recognizes the importance of enabling students to ac vely engage in ar s c and cultural learning outside the classroom. Jody Gotoc, the president of the CCC notes that “UCR University Honors is interdisciplinary, so we try to explore a wide range of interests. Events like these are a great way to take me out of the day to simply just appreciate the arts.”
The Developmental Origins
of Disease and Law
ENJOY YOUR
breakfast BY ESTEFANIA ZAVALA
BY RUSSELLA ALTAMIRANO On Thursday, October 17, University Honors students had the opportunity to a end the first University Honors Fall colloquia presented by the presgious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. This colloquia showcased dis nguished professor of the UCR Philosophy department and faculty member of the UCR Environmental Toxicology graduate program, Dr. Carl Cranor and the issues brought up in his recently published book, Legally Poisoned: How the Law Puts Us at Risk from Toxicant (2011). The presenta on began with a brief introduc on of Phi Beta Kappa’s history. Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and most pres gious academic honor society in the United States. Among their well-known members are Condoleezza Rice, eight ex-presidents of the United States, and Dr. Cranor himself. Only the top 10% of undergraduates at dis nguished universi es (including UCR) are invited to join upon review of students’ high scholarly merit, intellectual integrity, tolerance of viewpoints, and broad range of academic interests. Dr. Cranor then presented informa on regarding epigene cs, or how our genes can change due to the environment and the substances that enter our bodies throughout our life me. For example, every pregnant woman ingests, inhales, and absorbs at least 43 contaminated substances throughout their pregnancy. Once this happens, their children can be born with these chemicals already in their system. For instance, Diethyls lbestrol (DES), a synthe c estrogen that was used in the 1950’s, was seen to have induced vaginal and cervical cancer in daughters 20 years a er their exposure in the womb. Dr. Cranor stated that these harmful chemical exposures can become biologically embedded in us and make their effects trans-genera onal. Therefore, they may influence the development of children and future genera ons. Dr. Cranor’s presenta on brought to light the interrelated roles between the sciences and humani es as these findings present even greater moral and legal issues. Although Dr. Cranor admi ed that molecular contamina on is inevitable, he s ll argued that the problem of toxic molecules should be handled with legal and efficient premarket tes ng. Dr. Cranor stated that, “postmarket laws encourage willful toxic ignorance” and called for the implementa on of premarket laws to prevent biological defects that could terribly affect lives of genera ons to come.
Passion is not something normally associated with breakfast foods. When you think of your cinnamon raisin bagel, you do not usually think of beautiful poetry. When you hastily guzzle your coffee on the way to class, you do not stop to ponder its magnificence. Or maybe you do—I certainly enjoy breakfast way more than I should. Every single type of breakfast food is, in its own way, perfect to me. Omelets. The pancake vs. waffle debate. Even plain old oatmeal. Why is this? Well, I was doing some introspection and, true to form, I was reminded of the poem by E.E Cummings entitled “[as freedom is a breakfast food].” As the title may imply, it’s a sort of ode to breakfast foods and other simple things in life. It was written during the Great Depression, a time when even those smallest of joys were pretty scarce. The poem is about having “enough” and treasuring the tiny details amidst a sea of seemingly endless troubles. It’s about adding up the small good things (like the first bite of food after a night of frantic studying) and making them much more important than all of the negative things in your life. Maybe midterms aren’t quite on the level of the Great Depression but when I think of the three papers I have to write this weekend, I do feel pretty morose. So when I was drinking some milk this morning, I tried to stop mentally rewriting a paper and instead tried to just focus on my toast. It was surprisingly very soothing. So, whether you had strawberry Pop-tarts or a fancy latte, I encourage you to really take the time to savor your breakfast. Let whatever is stressing you out about your day seem insignificant compared to the newfound magnitude of your breakfast.
BY RAJVEE SANGHAVI The UCR Fall Plant Sale is a biannual event that recently took place during the weekend of Oct. 26-27. During this weekend, individuals were invited to a end and tour the Botanic Gardens from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and browse through the many plants that were on sale. Individuals who a ended the event included seniors to young children, making this a family-friendly occasion. This fall’s sale was quite successful this year. In previous years, many plants had died out before the sale, but thanks to the staff ’s hard work, very few plants were damaged before the event. Moreover, there were many volunteers who worked on a variety of tasks, which included helping facilitate sales at the cash register, pruning and cleaning plants, and providing customers with detailed descrip ons of the plants. There were also student volunteers from University Honors who helped wheelbarrow plants and act as “security” to watch over the plants. There were also workshops that took place to serve the interests of both adults and children alike, such as the “How to Prune Roses” workshop. Small children flocked to the “Make Your Own Fairy Garden” workshop, where their imagina on was given free reign over many interes ng items. The children were given a box with an assortment of different plants, which also served as supplies for a makeshi fairy house. As a final touch, they were able to select a li le fairy doll to inhabit their newly designed fairy garden. Some of the children even had wings to wear on their backs so that they too could become a part of the fairy garden that they had just created. The botanical gardens event sold a wide variety of plants, from cac to trees to rain lilies. Profits from the sales will be used for the upkeep and maintenance of the gardens, which the staff hopes to con nue to grow and expand throughout the upcoming years.
Fall Plant Sale
BY MERIMA TRICIC
a retrospect into turkish culture Since my first trip to Istanbul several years ago, the images of the tall looming mosques with sparkling lights draped over the minarets standing thousands of feet into the sky have been replaying in my mind, over and over. The loud noises, booming market places, and vivid language have stayed with me in my heart even today, and I long for the day I go back to revisit one of my homelands. Turkish culture, in truth, can’t be perfectly described; it is something to be experienced. Traditional foods such as warm baklava lightly covered in a drizzle of sugar or freshly made dolma is something to be tried in the heart of Turkey, Istanbul. It is during the Islamic month of Ramadan (Fasting) that vendors and stores remain open throughout the night and one can spend the night walking through the alleys of Turkey. The main square for tourists, named Sultan Fatih after the mosque nearby, is filled with families and couples walking across the streets, talking pleasantly. Often I stood with them, waiting for the call to prayer from the minarets of the masjids that signified the time to break their fast and to eat. The lush grasses of parks were covered with thick blankets where older women stood holding ceramic pots. Mothers would then begin placing the plates for each family member while young children stand in the streets playing with toys that release sparks of light into the darkened sky. Men return from the stores with grocery bags filled with pita, dolma, baklava, and other foods so numerous they cannot all be named. Grandfathers stand behind the children, watching them fondly and laughing when the children run after each other. As the call to prayer rings, families return together and dried dates are passed around first to the elders and then down the line to the youngest. When the bowl of dates disappears among the circle of families, eager after a day’s fast, all return to the masjid to pray together, shoulder to shoulder with their hands raised to the sky. Prayer in the ancient masjids of Turkey can never even be properly described, as inscriptions of Arabic surround the stone walls of the Hagia Sophia and the soft lights behind us shine as we enter into the building with Arab carpets and candle-lit chandeliers. It is at this moment that one can stand among hundreds of others, regardless of origin or race, and feel the awe of history surrounding those who look for it.
BY JASON TRAN As a child, I o en looked to fables and fairy tales to learn about life’s lessons. Mulan taught me to always be myself. The Li le Mermaid mo vated me to swim towards my dreams. And Robin Hood inspired me to fight against evil, whatever that may be. Now as an adult, I find my knowledge within another form of story-telling: research. People in this profession collect data to cra insigh ul papers, their own forms of stories. Having its own plot, climax, and conclusion, a published work can deliver profound discoveries for a greater humanity. During the summer of 2013, I was fortunate enough to be given the chance to write my own story and work alongside experts from the Harvard School of Public Health. For two months in Ethiopia, I conducted epidemiology research and learned about the reality of health dispari es beyond pen and paper. On a daily basis, I witnessed the effects of poverty on the human condi on. Beggars had an emaciated physicality. Some were crippled while others revealed faint coughs and distraught miens. The peak of my emo ons ran high when I saw a homeless man who had severe cuts across his legs, and signs of infec on were visible. His eyes, though not gray in color, were gray with hopelessness. Na ve health experts also often revealed to me that “there [were] more Ethiopian doctors in America than all over Ethiopia.” I felt saddened by this fact but impassioned nonetheless. Living around poverty is so much more different than working with it. I began to realize that experiences like these mo vate researchers to write their own stories. A er all, public health aims to alleviate humans from suffering through illnesses and diseases. I held steadfast to this ambi on as I worked on my own specific project. From producing biosta cal figures to wri ng a full-fledged paper, I saw the resemblance of my epidemiological work to a story. If writers of famous novels or century-old tales collec vely place characters in deranged plots and twists that lead to profound ideas, I, along with many researchers, were doing the same: piecing real-life facts together and coming up with novel discoveries. Like them, we authored our own collec ons of literary fortunes, or what I like to call, scien fic fables. Stories are powerful and influen al to the human mind, because people learn through communicaon. It’s communica on that establishes self-sufficiency and gives losers enough hope to become winners. It’s communica on that sets the moral boundaries for right and wrong. And it’s communica on that has the poten al to change a world of its values when then-present writers deem those values to be catastrophic and unfi ng. Public health research promises to do all of this by revealing to the public dire issues that affect all people across the globe.
A Scientific Fable
PITBULL awareness BY RUSSELA ALTAMIRANO Although they were the iconic and most charming American breed in the early 20th century, American Pit Bull Terriers have become one the most feared dogs in society due to their negative media reputation. This may have been caused by the pit bulls’ high pain tolerance and history of badger hunting that has made the breed popular for dog fighting. Within the past few decades, many cities and counties have banned and restricted pitbull ownership through breed specific legislation. For instance, in Article 3 of their Ordinance No. 573, Audubon County, Iowa states that “in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and citizens of the city,” registered pit bulls are subject to indoor confinement and mandatory insurance. Even though California has not implemented these types of laws, many cities, including Riverside, have approved sterilization ordinances. Since pit bulls have been given increasing media attention by NBC LA and ABC Local in recent years due to multiple attacks, it is no wonder fear and hate towards them have also risen. However, one should not hate the entire breed for the actions committed by inadequately trained dogs. Pit bull owners are just as much at fault as the dogs themselves. If owners do not take the time to properly train and educate their dogs, they only perpetuate the cycle of aggression and suppression for pit bulls. Contrary to common myths, pit bulls were not bred to be fighters and are not natural killers. The average pit bull has a higher (and better) temperament score than other family friendly breeds according to the 2013 American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) Breed Statistics which measures different aspects of temperament, including friendliness and aggressiveness. Society has etched a violent image of this breed that will no doubt take years to overcome. However, a way to solve this includes spreading awareness for the breed’s education. If educated correctly, the American Pit Bull Terrier can become a beloved dog in the US once again. Pit bulls have the potential to be everyone’s best friend just like the many who have already won the hearts of their owners, including myself.
pandora
BY RAJVEE SANGHAVI
Advancements in web development have led to increased access to media that was once more costly and difficult to access. My go-to-site for music, Pandora Internet Radio is one of the many websites that caters to the public’s growing need for quick and easy entertainment by offering free service to its customers. This website plays music based on the listener’s selections with no extra downloads or plug-ins, which makes it one of the most popular music sites in the U.S. So what makes Pandora stand out amongst the plethora of music sites out there? In 2000, founders Westergreen and Gaser commissioned a project (that was to become Pandora) through a massive undertaking known as the Music Genome Project. This pioneering project led to the creation of many fascinating features found in Pandora today, including the ability to personalize and continuously update user profiles. Each song on Pandora is analyzed according to a variety of technical elements such as melody, rhythm, and lyrics and separated into different categories. The results of these categorizations are then incorporated into a computerized algorithm that ultimately streams music in accordance to the listener’s ratings. A team of professional musicologists have also arranged a way to provide users with familiar favorites while introducing them to hidden jewels. I came across Medicine for the People, a political rap/alternative crew, while sifting through indie rock tracks. Their melodious tracks have now become my new study music. Sure, perhaps sites like Spotify allow its users to be more connected to social media applications, but Pandora caters to the individual’s personal interests. Pandora’s innovative approach to customized listener playlists combined with its social networking facility also contributes to a gratifying website experience. I think one of Pandora’s most remarkable qualities is that it attempts to cater to the individual rather than the populace. This company has created something close to a personal companion—it knows my tastes, my likes and dislikes. For music lovers like me, this characteristic feature is what sets Pandora apart from any other online music site.
BY JESSICA SORIA If you were to look at a sample of water from a stream, you might presume no life could possibly exist in it. On the contrary, microscopic creatures thrive in such ecosystems. These ny creatures cons tute the meal plan for larger animals such as crabs and small fish, and those animals are the prey for even larger fish that eventually end up being served as a tasty meal on a silver pla er. Although we may never see these small creatures, any change that aects these animals can, in turn, have a huge eect on the rest of the food chain that depends on it, including humans. It was these ny animals that I inves gated this summer, thanks to the MARC U STAR program, an internship program that I applied for in spring quarter. MARC U STAR guarantees students a nine week research experience with a MARC U STAR Faculty Mentor. During my internship, I worked with Dr. Reznick, who works in the Department of Biology. His research mostly centers on evolu on by natural selec on and tes ng evolu onary theory in natural popula ons, specifically guppies from the island of Trinidad. The project I was involved in looked at the impact of adding guppy species to four Trinidadian streams that previously had no guppies by measuring the average invertebrate abundance. My role in the project was to process stream samples that came in from Trinidad. Stream samples were collected from both experimental areas of the stream and areas that had no guppies, which served as the control group. Along with other volunteers, I used two sieves to separate the sample into coarse and fine parts. Then, we collected all the invertebrates from each part, iden fied, and measured them. This was the first me I had done anything of this nature so this was a new experience for me, but one I thoroughly appreciated. I enjoyed learning new lab techniques and developing the skill to analyze academic papers that were relevant to my research. Working in a lab was also an exci ng opportunity for me to learn what research means. Dr. Reznick would also share stories about his own experiences while helping me develop my project. Ul mately, the research I conducted culminated in an end-of-the-summer presenta on (a requirement of the MARC U STAR program) about the research I had completed and the experience I gained from the program. Presenta ons were seven minutes long and presented to fellow MARC U STAR students as well as their mentors. It was surprising yet sa sfying to see that, despite some mes feeling research was going slow, it did eventually build to a bigger picture and contribute to the enormous wealth of knowledge that already exists.
the world of
invertebrates
LETTERS TO SANTA BY PAULINA LAROYA
On the morning of December 13, the first-graders of Columbia Elementary sat pa ently in their classrooms, well aware that a group of Honors students from UC Riverside would soon come through the classroom doors with smiles on their faces and presents in their hands. Indeed, this was the day that the Service Commi ee’s annual Le ers to Santa event took place. For this volunteer opportunity, each volunteer from the honors program picked out one special first-grader’s le er to Santa and purchased the specific toy that each child asked for in the le er. Rather than studying for a last final or going home to get an early start on winter break, each one of these volunteers showed their Christmas spirit by bringing smiles to the faces of children. The morning started off as a UCR student gave a speech about the true meaning of Christmas and why the volunteers were there. The excitement then rose as each volunteer was finally able to meet his or her assigned first-grade partner; introduc ons were made and hugs were exchanged as
the student ac vi es were about to commence. The first-grader proudly presented their new friends with a Christmas card that they had colored themselves. A er that, the first-graders chose a children’s book so they could read and show off their reading skills. Then the presents were opened, and the levels of cheer arose in each class as the children u ered “I love it!” “Look what I got!” “This is exactly what I wanted!” “May I give you a thank-you hug?” And the toys were taken out of their boxes as the children eagerly played with their new acquisi ons. The children then sang Christmas carols for the volunteers, who hurriedly took out their camera phones in an a empt to capture the joy of the moment. When the volume got louder, smiles got bigger, and cuteness was brought to a whole new level, it was clear to the volunteers that they spent the last day of finals week in the best way possible - by bringing joy to a child this holiday season.
BURGER BOSS BY RAJVEE SANGHAVI
On November 21, the local fast food restaurant Burger Boss was filled with University Honors students talking, laughing, and just enjoying a great night out away from the daily grind of work and study. The result of the University Honors Social Commi ee’s hard work, this event was part of the quarterly Foodies events. The fun-filled event took place from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with quite a turnout of a couple dozen Honors students streaming into this tasty venue. It was clear that many of us were simply glad to be away from the cold rain just outside. At Burger Boss, customers can create their own fresh burger from a wide selec on of bread, veggies, meats, and cheeses. The menu also consisted of vegetarian and vegan op ons,
which came as a pleasant surprise to me, as I too am a vegetarian. Our group of friends ordered a variety of different styled burgers, from black bean pa y to egg white filling. Furthermore, we felt that the customer service was excellent. When one of us went to inquire about her order which seemed to be taking a while, she was offered a free milkshake which she fervently declined a er having had a large mocha. When one of the employees heard our joking rebukes towards her for not accep ng the offer, he offered all four of us free chocolate milkshakes! I would highly recommend this place to any hungry stomach out there because there is an op on for everyone.
IllustraƟon by MarjoneƩe Lee