fall 2014 VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1 FALL 2014
Dr. Richard Cardullo
O U R N E W H O N O R S FA C U LT Y D I R E C T O R by Rajvee Sanghavi photo by Anthony Nguyen
Dr. Cardullo is a professor of the Department of Biology at UC Riverside (UCR) and Faculty Director of University Honors. Although Dr. Cardullo began teaching at UCR in 1991, his teaching career spans a total of about 35 years. By the time he was a junior in college, Dr. Cardullo was certain that he wanted to become a research scientist. Though he was not sure if he wanted to be an academic, Dr. Cardullo wished to be involved in the “creative nature of science,” he says, such as “testing hypotheses, coming up with experiments, and advancing knowledge.” Apart from administrative duties, his involvement in Honors ranges from being a part of student activities such as the running club, to teaching Honors courses. I had the pleasure of taking his ignition seminar as part of my Honors curriculum, entitled the “Nature of Discovery.” On the first day of this seminar, students were presented with the question of how the three areas of science, physics, biology, and chemistry, are related. Over the course of the class many of us realized that they coexist in almost all areas of scientific study. Dr. Cardullo helped many of us understand how to approach problems holistically; incorporating multiple areas of study in order to solve one question. Moreover, Dr. Cardullo is engaged in many activities with his students apart from simply teaching. He supports Audeamus, which is a multi-disciplinary honors journal for students, and the Honors Outreach Committee. Members of this committee go out to high schools and community colleges, mainly in the Inland Empire, with the goal of recruiting students into Honors. He is also a part of the Honors running club, whose members go jogging, participate in local 5K marathons, and collaborate with other campus organizations. Recent collaborations include a fundraiser with the Pre-dentistry club as well as a local marathon at UC Irvine for Pediatric Cancer Research where students helped to raise donations for the cause. When he is not teaching or in the office, Dr. Cardullo enjoys hiking and backpacking, singing with choral groups in Riverside, gardening, playing piano, and running marathons. Upon being asked for any words of wisdom for students transitioning into the adult world, Dr. Cardullo offered up his golden advice. He encourages students to explore their options and to truly find their passion. “Whatever your goal is, envision it, research it, and then enact it. Execute it. It all starts with a dream and ends with an action,” he says.
Fall Welcome
by Jessica Soria
photos by eriel datuin and anthony nguyen
The patio in front of the University Theatre was buzzing with excitement as over 500 University Honors students mingled with each other and UCR faculty, staff, and administrators at the annual University Honors Welcome on September 29. Dr. Cardullo, UH’s new Faculty Director, gave a warm wel-
come speech and encouraged students to take advantage of all University Honors has to offer. Earlier in the day, students attended informational sessions detailing changes to University Honors and various academic and experiential opportunities.
HONORSPRIDE:
Chancellor’s Research Fellowship Program Out of the thirteen students awarded $5,000 stipends as part of the 2014-2015 Chancellor’s Research Fellowship (CRF) program, six were Honors students, an excellent show of how University Honors helps pave the way for success for its students. Chosen out of 56 applicants, the selected students will work closely with their faculty mentors and use their stipend to pay for any research or creative activity-related expenses, as part of the program.
PHOTO BY ROSS FRENCH
Now in its third year, the CRF program recently expanded its number of fellowships from twelve to thirteen, thanks to an endowment made by UCR’s Kim A. Wilcox and his wife Diane Del Buono in February.
Honors students awarded for the 2014-2015 Chancellor’s Research Fellowship Program: James Colbath, Biology Are mice “born to run”; resistant to muscle injuries and/or beƩer able to recover from such injuries? Faculty Mentor: Dr. Theodore Garland
Mark Forde, Political Science/International Relations Triggering uprisings and regime change through poliƟcal assassinaƟons. Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Pion-Berlin
Nicole Perez, Psychology University student aƫtudes and behaviors towards cogniƟve enhancement drugs. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kate Sweeny
Leah Rosario, Political Science/Law and Society A study of the transgender movement on college campuses. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Katja Guenther
Connor Richards, Physics and Astronomy Search for strong producƟon of gluinos using Higgs-tagging in jet-enriched events. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Owen Long
Geoffrey Pronovost, Biochemistry CorrelaƟon or causaƟon: the roles of TREM2 and P2Y12 on microglial surveillance following traumaƟc brain injury. Faculty Mentor: Dr. Monica Carson
read more at ucrtoday.ucr.edu/23181
Dr. Cranor’ s lecture by alexandra sakkis
p h o t o s b y a n t h o n y n g u y e n a n d d r. c a r d u l l o Dr. Cranor graduated with a PhD in Philosophy from UCLA. His areas of interest are legal and moral philosophy including issues that concern risks, science, and law. He also deals with the regula on of carcinogens and developmental toxicants and the use of scien fic evidence in legal decisions. Dr. Cranor has published a few books and has won numerous awards including The UCR Honors Professor of the Year in 2008.
On Wednesday, October 15, Dr. Carl Cranor, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Faculty Member of the Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program, presented to a class of Honors students his lecture: Cancers, Brain Disorders, and the Feminization of Boys: How Can We Avoid
Poisoning Our Children? Dr. Cranor is a leading expert in the field of epigenetics: how organisms change due to modifications of gene expression. He specifically explores the added effects of carcinogens and how it affects developing children.
TEDxRiverside “My experience at TEDx was phenomenal. It was very inspirational and really helped me put my goals in perspective. It helped me to really redirect myself and try to dig in and find my passion. I really enjoyed the perspective of many of the speakers, especially Kermit Alexander. Although he had experienced a horrific past, the way he coped with the situation and the perspective he took on it was very fascinating. I also really enjoyed Adam Young’s story about perseverance dealing with a debilitating health condition. It was inspiring for me and helped me to recognize the real importance of life.”
OOnV AThursday, TION FOR INNOVATION October 16, four lucky Honors
“Attending the TEDx students had the opportunity to attend the Riverside event was unTEDxRiverside conference at the Fox doubtedly one of the most Theatre. Afterwards, the students fun things I’ve done this year. shared their thoughts on the event. I found the content relevant and engaging, with high-profile speakers talking about a wide breadth of subjects whose purposes tied in with things I care about. I especially loved hearing from Garner Holt and Steve Breen – both of their presentations were extremely interesting, noting what the development of a single strong skill could do for their career. I also thoroughly enjoyed James Beck’s presentation on SerfBliss, which I think could spark the level of generosity we see in society dramatically. I’m glad I went, and between amazing artists and talented speakers, it will be a long time before I forget that day.”
nathan berger
michelle mikail
“‘If you want to eat an elephant,’ states Gregory Adamson as he recalls his memories of leaving behind the corporate world, ‘you don’t swallow it whole -- you take one bite at a time.’ As a perfectionist who procrastinated on almost every major milestone in my life, I always feared in the process. This particular quote of Adamson’s gave me a new perspective, and I realized the importance of taking small, doable steps, so that the final one will not seem so far away in the end. Many other TEDx speakers’ advice have been very beneficial to my growth as well, personally and intellectually. I felt that success in life does not mean you must show your diplomas or chained to corporate world -- the more important thing is their readiness for anything, their willpower/passion, and their curiosity to step outside the conventional realm. Garner Holt said he was just a dreamer like any of us, not a genius or a god. It makes success seem less scary and [more] achievable. Thank you, Honors, for giving me such a rewarding opportunity to hear all of these wonderful people’s wise words!”
danni wei
“The TEDx event was an amazing experience. We heard from amazing presenters from a Nobel Prize winner to a self-trained artist who uses his hands to paint. I left the event inspired to try new things and actively serve others.”
bryan burgoon
fall plant sale
by Rajvee Sanghavi
The Fall Plant Sale is a UCR biannual event, which took place Oct. 25-26, 2014. Volunteers, many from the Honors community, helped facilitate and carry out the sales by shuttling customers to and from the gardens, pruning and
tidying plants or serving as escorts for newcomers and answering questions about the plants on sale. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., people of all ages came out to enjoy and tour the gardens. Many individuals who attended the event were elders or young families, making for a family-friendly occasion. The gardens were also aired television on channel 2 and channel 9. Many different categories of plants were sold this past
fall, including shrubs, succulents, vines, house plants, air plants, picture plants, and trees. Moreover, there were numerous desert plants such as aloes, agaves, and cacti. The profit that is made through these sales goes toward the growth and maintenance of the gardens. PHOTOS BY MEGAN KRUM AND YOYO HONG
HALLOWEEN SOCIAL B Y K A T H L E E N B I L O G
Anxious murmurs emanated through the darkened Bear Cave in Pentland Hills as groups of dressed-up Honors students arrived on October 29, 2014 at 7 p.m. for the annual Halloween Social held by the Honors Social Committee. As the night continued, more than 50 students line danced, played “beer” pong, and took pictures at the Halloween-themed photobooth; there was also a table of free snacks as refreshments for students. Dr. Richard
Cardullo and Dr. Robert Parker were present too, dressed as Super Man and as a wizard, respectively. The night’s festivities included a mummy-wrapping contest and a costume contest, with a swamp spirit as scariest, Wall-E and Eva for best group, and super-girly Wonder Woman for most creative. With the night concluding at 10 p.m., students looked forward to more Halloween events later in the week.
P H O T O S B Y B R I C H E W, M E G A N K R U M , C A T H Y H A , Y E S E N I A S A N C H E Z
artsWALK
by jessica baker
PHOTOS BY ERIEL DATUIN
On November 7, Honors students rendezvous-ed and went off to Downtown Riverside’s Arts Walk. Students were able to experience the “artsy” Riverside that unveils itself on every first Thursday of the month. The attractions at Arts Walk vary with independent artists selling creations, food vendors dishing out their delicacies, and street performers welcoming applause or tips. By merely walking down one block, Honors students could hear bands strumming guitars or hitting drums within the Blood Orange InfoShop (a non-commercial space for art exhibits, performances, and free education). Then they were welcomed by the conversations abuzz in the local cafes. Only at Arts Walk are students able to receive a free calligraphy sample penned by a local artist in front of the Back To The Grind coffee shop or jive with a trumpet player and his fellow dog. Come out to the next Arts Walk if you want to get jiggy with art! It is only a bus ride away!
congressional hearing
with Dr Link by paulina laroya
On Tuesday, December 2, Dr. Perry Link, the CHASS Chancellorial Chair for Innovative Teaching, collaborated with the Co-Curricular Committee to put on a lunch-and-chat discussion. About 10 Honors students were in attendance, eagerly discussing China’s influence on academic freedom in U.S. universities. Earlier in the quarter, Dr. Link had been invited by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China to share his thoughts and opinions on the topic at a hearing held by the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee. He reached out to Honors with the idea of hosting a discussion event with Honors students to discuss ideas that he could potentially present at his hearing. The discussion began with a short informational introduction from Dr. Link regarding China’s involvement in U.S. universities. Sure enough, the students were immersed in an engaging discussion filled with suggestions that Dr. Link could bring up at his hearing later that week in Washington, DC.
photos by bri chew
game night
On Thursday, November 20, laughter and joy consumed the night as Honors students gathered in the Pentland Bear Cave for a night of fun games and delicious food. The Honors Game Night, put on by the Honors Social Committee, was a fun-filled event that included several board, video, and party games. Around forty students enjoyed playing a wide range of games and eating free pizza. Other snacks and water were also provided. The board games available included Clue, Monopoly, and Settlers of Catan. The party games included Uno and Flux, and the video games included Rock Band and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
by Louis Penafiel photos by Bri Chew, Cathy Ha, Megan Krum
santa
letters to
photos by yesenia sanchez BY KEELY SMITH
Taking place at Columbia Elementary School in the city of Perris, the Letters to Santa event hosted by the Honors Service Committee provided Christmas joy to not only the children in the classrooms, but also to the (about fifty!) Honors students and staff who attended. The children read aloud, excitedly opened their gifts, and bonded with the volunteers as they played with their new toys. This allowed the students get some stress relief from finals week and have an excuse to play with cars and Barbies
again! The children also presented some Christmas songs that they had prepared, which persuaded the volunteers to sing “Jingle Bells” in return. Although the departure was bittersweet--seeing that the children were so welcoming and the teachers provided a treat for all the volunteers--this event proved to be another successful event as University Honors spread some holiday spirit this season.
t h e g ett y v i l l a with Dr Salzman article and photos by Yesenia Sanchez
On Dec. 6, University Honors students were given the opportunity to visit the Getty Villa in Malibu. As soon as everyone got there, they looked around the museum with eyes full of awe and curiosity. After a brief introductory information about the Villa, the students were given permission to walk through the museum by themselves. The students raced in different directions to see everything they could; since they were all interested in seeing different exhibits it was rare to bump into classmates. Many walked through the gardens and enjoyed taking pictures in front of the statues, busts, and fountains.
Although the fountains were turned off in order to conserve water in our current drought they were still a beautiful sight. Others went from exhibit to exhibit and admired the various artifacts in display. The exhibit of greatest interest was “Molten Color: Glassmaking in Antiquity” where short clips were played to showcase the different ways glass
was made. By the end of trip almost everyone was exhausted, but happy with what they had seen.
HONORS SPOTLIGHT
Some of this quarter’s achieving Honors students and groups!
spacerace:
Charles Macleod BY LOUIS PENAFIEL
First-year mechanical engineering major Charles Macleod started his undergraduate career with his eyes already set on the stars. His avid interest in robotics, particularly aerospace applications, began many years ago and has followed him to University Honors. As a child, Charles participated in science fairs with his projects centered on roofing material and insulation, which jumpstarted his interest in engineering. His interest in aerospace application and robotics came from “Astronomy” magazine. By joining his high school’s robotics club, he continued to develop his engineering skills and developed a fascination for the engineering principles behind robotics. As such, Charles’ main aspiration is to work in the aerospace robotics sector. He wishes to work at either private or public space compa-
nies, such as JPL, whose main goal is to develop and program robots that are sent into space and controlled back in earth, similar to the Mars Rover and Curiosity. Charles has already joined organizations and professional associations to help him develop his skills, such as SAE International and IEEE. SAE International is the Society of Automotive Engineers, which emphasizes transport industries, including aerospace vehicles. Charles participated in Formula SAE, which is a student design competition run by SAE International that has teams of student develop a Formulastyle race car. IEEE is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and is dedicated to advancing technological innovation. Many well wishes to Charles for the future, and he reaches his own stars.
rhythm and brains true hero b y Jacq ueline Wong Legacies are created when a simple idea grows into a larger movement. The Riverside Community Choir (RCC) is on the verge of following that tradition. Not even a year since its inception, RCC was voted second place out of 38 colleges and universities across the nation, and won $1500 from TrueHero, an organization that helps fund community ser-
vice proje c t s . RCC provides the homeless youth at the Path of Life Shelter in Riverside an outlet for expression and empowerment through a choral community. This choir was founded by Honors students Jericha and Ayana Viduya, and stemmed from the music service organization Rhythm and Brains. When asked about her inspiration for creating RCC, Jericha recalled, “I first met these kids during a University Honors volun-
teering opportunity. They told me how disappointed they were that the choir at their school was discontinued due to budget cuts. As these kids shared their hopes and challenges, I felt a greater sense of responsibility towards them. I promised them I will organize a choir for them, and they were ecstatic. When I came with my sister the following week, they looked surprised and remarked, ‘you actually came back.’ My heart dropped and I immediately began working with the director and supervisor of the shelter to start the community choir.” Thus began RCC,
and since then, they have already performed at the UCR Honors Year-End Celebration, and held a special feature at TEDxUCR. Reflecting upon their achievements, Jericha remarks that, “we have an awesome, supportive, talented, and empowering team that leads the project. Providing these kids with an outlet to express themselves, and the exposure to higher education is so important. The overwhelming support we’ve received from the community and winning second place just shows how there is so much passion within the Riverside Community.”
balancing act:
nick notti
BY HYEMIN KIM
Nick Notti, a third-year Honors student pursuing a double major in biochemistry and neuroscience, is also an HPAC leader, avid volunteer, and pre-med currently devising a thesis project to research the effects of political policy on music and its socioeconomic influences from a multifaceted academic approach. Nick was inspired to combine political policy and music for his thesis project after writing 16 extra pages for a 5-page paper detailing the cultural history of rock music in his introductory English class freshman year. He said, “I loved studying how music that I listened to profusely as a child had greatly influenced culture and policy throughout history.” Regarding the process of coming up with a good thesis question that can be researched, Nick describes the steps in writing a thesis to be first deciding on the topic, creating a question that can be tested, and then searching for necessary information from a plethora of sources. “Information comes in all shapes and sizes, and the true work for your thesis comes in how you tie all of your information together to analyze and ultimately propose an answer to your question,” said Nick. In addition to constructing his thesis, Nick balances a rigorous workload each quarter and participates in numerous extracurricular activities. Concerning his workload, Nick said, “In total, I would estimate that I spend approximately 30 to 35 hours a week split between my work with Undergraduate Admissions, Honors, HPAC, UCR’s Mini Medical School, and volunteering at Riverside Community Hospital.” When asked for any advice to students interested in either a musical or pre-med career or even both, Nick said, “Pursue what you love, who you love, and study hard! Develop yourself personally, professionally, and socially, and don’t leave the University with any regrets of what could have been!”
taylor sutherland by Jessica Baker
Often, Korean pop music is not perceived as a possible topic for critical studies. Korean idols are interpreted as the focus of the latest gossip column or of fandom adoration. It is entertainment that seeks to be bubbly or sexy, cute or funny—not as a possible research topic for an undergraduate Honors student. Yet, as she jokingly introduced herself as “Inigo Montoya” and promising a death threat for having “killed [her] father,” Taylor Sutherland discusses the critical stakes and analysis her senior thesis conducted on Korean pop idols and fans. A fourth year history major, Sutherland has been working on her senior thesis by analyzing, through a critical gender and sexuality perspective, “the ways in which image is portrayed in the K-pop community and how fans react to the ideals that are presented.” Even as an avid fan since high school, Sutherland felt the contradictions between the high standards idols must consistently meet and the fans’ criticisms are issues that need to be revealed. With idols constantly under the eye of their fans and media, they must fix their critiques in order to maintain their place in the highly competitive K-pop industry. For example, “though a considerable percentage of the [K-pop] fandom is composed of younger girls, female groups are far less popular than their male counterparts and are more likely to receive harsh criticism.” Sutherland’s senior thesis offers a critique on the body image that K-pop idols must maintain, such as, for female idols, light skin, big eyes, a V-shaped face, a thin waist, and an S shape. The last standard is when the female idol’s body profile should look like an “S” shape with her prominent breasts and buttocks forming the curves of an “S,” while maintaining a thin waist. Though these idols are demanded to maintain a physique akin to a Barbie doll, their fans still dish out harsh criticisms via internet This forums or other outproblematic belets. havior in fandoms, Sutherland insists, should be addressed in “a more open dialogue,” because “discussing problems within media can lead to new ways to combating these issues.” In order for Korean pop music to continue being enjoyable and humorous entertainment that fans can easily gush over, the idols must be able to entertain without fear of the critical fandom. To Sutherland, the issues surrounding K-pop idols and fans can be resolved by the fans who consume the media, yet fans that bring attention to the harmful behaviors or patterns of thinking internalized in the K-pop industry are often disgraced as “haters,” ending most critical discussion of the industry. It is when these critical fans are accepted within the K-pop fandom that real change can occur to these problematic body images and behaviors.
honors
*NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in opinion pieces are solely those of the original authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of University Honors, UC Riverside, the University of California, and/or any/all contributors to the Honors Outlook.
opinion pieces*
voices
one” are the ones that may pose problems. Games with violence are typically regarded as destructive, but the difference really lies in how the games are being used. Studies show that those who play games no more than two hours a day actually have shown improvement in many areas. While it is nice to kick back and relax with a controller in hand, by Alexandra Sakkis playing first-person shooter games, like Call of Duty or Halo, can actually improve reflexes, accuracy, and eyesight Keeping a teammate from dying on contrary to popular belief. Studies have shown action gamers the battlefield, lobbing grenades at the are actually 25% faster than casual gamers, without a decrease enemy, hitting a given target—these are in accuracy. Gamers generally have improved eyesight comsome of the missions a first-person shooter must pared to people who do not play games; gamers pay more attenundertake. People assume that video games are hurting our na- tion to detail because the game demands it. If a person is playtion’s minds; those who play video games become more violent ing Halo, the player must quickly distinguish which enemies to and in turn become the next school shooters. But video games shoot. To pass a mission, the player must strategize efficiently or are often misconceived, because there are some aspects that can risk being shot. be beneficial. However, after two hours, the beneficial effects of play time There are different kinds of games, from sports to first-per- decreases and may deteriorate the mind. This can lead to social son shooter and puzzles to exercise games. While each one has and health problems like anxiety or obesity. Playing video games its pros and cons, the games rated higher than “E” for “Every- can be beneficial, as long as the amount of game time is limited.
First-Person Shooters Aid Health
Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rajvee Sanghavi “Mean Girls” is a teen comedy film that tells the story of the formerly homeschooled sophomore Cady Heron entering a world full of social cliques and raging hormones. We’ve all heard the jokes at least at some point, such as “You can’t sit with us!” or, “On Wednesdays, we wear pink.” This movie defines our generation of students, to the point where lines from the movie are still being quoted over a decade after its release. Fans and enthusiasts have created numerous memes or GIFs and have quoted the movie on social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. What is it about this flick that resonates with us? What makes this movie more than the average teenage comedy? The great cast, subtle humor, and powerful ability to connect with the teenage generation all contribute to the movie’s long-lasting legacy. The movie features a solid cast and script. These seasoned actresses include
Rachel McAdams, Lindsay Lohan, and Amanda Seyfried, who play the titular characters, all of whom have starred in major box office hits. Actress and screenwriter Tina Fey and Tim Meadows, both from the comedy show “Saturday Night Live” were also a fantastic addition of talent to the film. With such a great script, cast, and crew, this film was a recipe for success. Sure, we do have the crude language, misbehavior and partying generally assigned to teenage comedies. Yet “Mean Girls” gives the audience a fresh dissection of the usual clichés of adolescence with witty nuances and a genuine portrayal of the relationships among the girls. This can be seen through the strong character development of the individuals portrayed. Janice Ian, for example, isn’t the stereotypical gothic outcast; she’s actually a spunky, confident girl who instigates a revolution against the “Plastics” (the popular girls).
Most of us can relate to sophomore Cady’s need to feel accepted amongst her peers. The movie hits home for a lot of teenagers, many of whom feel as though no one understands them or struggle to fit in with the crowd. There comes a time in nearly every girl’s awkward high school years when she yearns to sit at the exclusive “cool girl” table. Like many other flicks, the film is an exaggerated version of reality, but its depiction of the brutality and ridiculousness of high school and the need to find and stay true to oneself within a social construct ring true. “Mean Girls” has become a pop-culture phenomenon and is a clever satire on high school stereotypes and the status quo. It certainly nails the “survival of the fittest” mentality that pervades the high school scene.
[
]
scientia knowledge potentia est
is power
Why do we fear diseases that suddenly gain global attention, such as Ebola? People feared it after it found its way to America, although they were probably not concerned about it before. If we were to inform ourselves about diseases in general, we would realize there are other more serious diseases in America. Thus, the unnecessary angst for the unknown often comes from the lack of knowledge about it. People need to know that the most effective way to eradicate those fears is to learn about what they do not understand. It is true that Ebola has killed over 15,000 in West Africa and that no vaccine currently exists. What many may not realize is that there are plenty of other more detrimental diseases within the country, such as Alzheimer’s disease, which had affected around 5 million people in 2013. Regarding Ebola in America, there have only been four reported cases and one death. Many would argue one death is more than enough, but there is no need to be overly distressed. Ebola is not airborne or waterborne but spread through direct
Honor students are fortunate. With access to faculty, staff, and community members that guide our way through our college years, this constant support system, tuckered away in Olmsted Hall or reachable by convenient emails, allows Honors students to be involved in various community or personal endeavors. Whether it be supporting community health or writing a collection of narratives on immigrant workers, many Honor students seem to find projects, communities, or goals to which they dedicate their time. They are not merely stu-
by Hyemin Kim
transmission, including contaminated blood or bodily fluids. Although it may be terrifying to hear there is no approved vaccine for Ebola, three surviving cases have recovered and have been discharged. These surviving patients indicate Ebola can be conquered and may not be as serious as most believe. If people were to know even just these two facts about Ebola, it seems possible to diminish initial fears. Such a claim is evident in AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), a disease that is more easily spread and fatal within the United States. AIDS is the last stage of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in which the immune system is weakened and vulnerable to infections. There are numerous ways it is spread, such as sexual contact and blood transfusions of the indents, but comfected, and munity members there fostering progress in have various communities. But what if Honor students did not have their communities? What if Honor students were never aware of them? What if Honor students were not able to engage with them? A college education is often the door that opens students to these communities; yet, quite often, not every student has the opportunity to go to college. Even more do not receive an excellent education in grade school. Educational inequality—the difference in learning experienced by students—is a major issue in America, especially in low-income communities and happens at all levels of education from college with rising tuition prices to elementary schools with budget cuts. This issue does
been an estimated toll of over 600,000 deaths within the country. Despite its numerous transmission methods and high mortality rate, AIDS does not receive hyped media coverage or prompt constant worry because people are more informed about it. This may insinuate that when people learn about the true causes or symptoms of diseases that abruptly gain infamous popularity, they can extinguish their needless fear. According to Aristotle, “knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Maybe instead of knowing “yourself,” understanding the truth about the unknown will mollify any worry about it. It is not wrong to be scared of something inexplicable because human nature tends to accept what is easy to understand and push aside what is not. So before asserting something as your number one fear, attempt to comprehend it and realize that knowledge can be power and aid in placating that fear.
want to fight against
educational inequality in a community setting?
by Jessica Baker
not receive the attention needed to solve it. So who is solving it? Teach for America (TFA) is a nonprofit that is addressing educational inequality. By sending college graduates as grade school teachers to low-income areas, TFA hopes to “close the current opportunity gap that exists in classrooms”—a hope that is also shared by some students in Honors. Eva Perez, a third-year student and current TFA intern, plans to participate in TFA based on her own beliefs that “children should be able to receive a greater level of education regardless of the community they come from.” She also shared that many of her own family members in Mexico
moviereviews 8/10
The Theory of Everything
“The Theory of Everything” tells the story of Stephen Hawking. Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) learns early in the movie that he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of motor-neuron disease in which affected people lose their ability to control their muscles. As the movie goes on, Hawking slowly loses his ability to control certain parts of his body and
it becomes increasingly difficult to understand Hawking’s thoughts. Hawking is given only a few years to live, and using that given amount Hawking decides to research time. Yet, despite these circumstances, Hawking surpassed expectations, passing his given estimate life span and his ability to devise new theories concerning time. Together, with his wife Jane (Felicity Jones), Hawking demonstrates ex-
traordinary endurance, and he proved to the world anything is possible. “The Theory of Everything” explains human endeavors and puts them in the perspective of the universe. People are different, and there are multiple complexities within a person as within the universe. We do not know the length of either the universe or humanity. “The Theory of Everything” is an authentic approach to the life of Hawking and to the life of the universe.
review by Alexandra Sakkis
image from Filmoria.co.uk
are unable to continue their studies. Lauren Green, a fourth-year student, is invested in finding solutions for education inequality because then “we can more quickly find a way to mitigate problems in our society,” such as racist institutions or mindsets that set back many in lowincome communities. With many Honor students focused on community endeavors, TFA may be an opportunity to continue such endeavors beyond undergraduate education. Green states that as “aware and active” people, Honor students should consider TFA if they feel “a calling for social justice and service” focused on education, while Perez states “it is a great way to make a difference in someone’s life.” With TFA’s two-year program in addition to its affiliated Masters and Teaching Credential programs, TFA is a program that seeks not only to eliminate educational inequality, but also to support its members’ own education to a higher level. Currently, applications are open to students on the TFA website with its last deadline on January 30, 2015: www. teachforamerica.org.
7.5/10
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
Taking place after the last games, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) must embrace her role as the rebellion’s leader, the Mockingjay, after Peeta’s (Josh Hutcherson) capture. Katniss works with Gale (Liam Hemsworth) to provide a flame for the revolution which is driven by President Coin (Julianne Moore). Throughout the story, the audience is treated with raw emotional moments and intense action sequences, showing three-dimensional characters dealing with personal problems and creating an oppressive Panem that the nation is desperately trying to overthrow. The characters bring their own personality to the isolated realm of District 13 and the use of media creates a refreshing revolutionary strategy. The pace however, may be the only
image from Geekadelphia.com
downside, as each sequence occurs one after the other, all of which feel important in terms of tension. When the climax finally does come around, it barely feels like the big moment for which we have been waiting. At the end, the movie ends with an emotionally jarring cliffhanger, which neatly ties up the whole meaning of “Mockingjay Part One” into a neat little bow with a ribbon made of betrayal, but it leaves us clamoring for more. Involving the audience in this rollercoaster of emotions places us right in the middle of the revolution. A successful revolution does not happen overnight, and they definitely don’t end with a “happily-ever-after.” “Mockingjay” is a refreshing taste of the successful Hunger Games and is the beginning of an end to an amazing franchise.
review by Alexandra Sakkis
9.5/10
8.5/10
Big Hero 6
“Big Hero 6” focuses around the adventures of Hiro (Ryan Potter), an engineering genius. Baymax (Scott Adsit), a robot created by Hiro’s big brother, Tadashi, diagnoses Hiro with grief after a traumatic event. Baymax attempts to ‘heal’ Hiro, as well as an emotionless robot can, which develops Baymax into its own character. After a shocking discovery, Hiro and his friends suit up in order to take down the villain of the story. Throughout their adventures, Hiro realizes how important it is to surround himself with people who love him. The movie combines humor and the main theme of grief beautifully which broadens the audience of “Big Hero 6” to include not only the young, but also the old. “Big Hero 6” is a thrill ride that is sure to stir up emotions and is an enjoyable film not only for kids, but also for the whole family.
images from FreeBigHero6.com & Disney.Wikia.com
9.5/10
review by Alexandra Sakkis
Fury
“Fury” follows the struggles and triumphs of the five-man crew that commands the M4A3E8 Sherman tank named Fury during World War II. They fight for United States Allies who are deep in battle to defeat Nazi Germany. A battle-hardened Army sergeant named Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Brad Pitt) heads the crew that later receives young rookie Norman “Machine” Ellison (Logan Lerman). Initially, Machine, new to the horrors of war, refuses to kill any of the opposing Nazi Germans but is forced by Wardaddy to execute a captive German artilleryman. As he spends more time on the warfront, witnesses the bombardment of towns and cities by the Germans and deaths of some of the United States Allies, and observes the dark cruelties of war, Machine becomes much more hardened and develops the skill to kill. Soon, the Fury crew realize that after putting up a great fight, they are greatly outnumbered by 300 Waffen-SS infantry soon heading toward Fury. Bravely, the men maintain their ground and dutifully manage to kill off a great number of the enemy. “Fury” is an exciting war movie that artistically details and starkly captures the courage and bond of veterans alongside the harsh realities and grim sacrifices of war.
review by Chika Ojukwu
image from HD Wallpapers
Interstellar
“Interstellar” is a 2014 science fiction film directed by Christopher Nolan that stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain. It features a team of astronaut explorers who travel through a wormhole in order to find a new, habitable planet on which humanity can dwell as Earth is regressing into an agrarian society. Former NASA pilot Cooper (McConaughey) heads the mission together with biologist Amelia Brand (Hathaway) and two other NASA scientists. The movie is thrilling and thought-provoking, riddled with plot twists that likens the movie to the 2010 hit movie Inception. Due to Cooper’s agreement to head the extraterrestrial search for another Planet Earth, he ends up missing out on two decades of his children’s lives. His daughter Murphy becomes a NASA scientist. With the help of her father, who encodes the key data from an alien-created space as the communicative “ghost” Murphy believed to haunt her bedroom from childhood, she saves humanity from its plight. “Interstellar” is a story of sacrifice, parental love, and courage that proves itself as a great watch for the family.
image from Papers.co
review by Chika Ojukwu
9/10
Dumb and Dumber To
In the sequel to the 1994 comedy film “Dumb and Dumber,” stars Jim Carey and Jeff Daniels reprise their roles two decades later in the direct sequel “Dumb and Dumber To.” “Dummies” Lloyd Christmas (Carey) and Harry Dunne (Daniels) embark on a road trip to find Dunne’s daughter, who was adopted by another family. The duo journey to Maryland, where Dunne’s daughter Fanny, now named Penny, lives with her adoptive parents, Bernard and Adele. Penny travels to a KEN convention in El Paso, image from Universal, Ɵme.com Texas, to deliver a speech on her father’s life work, along with a billion dollar package to be given to one of the doctors at the convention. The movie follows the antics of the hilarious duo as they battle the family’s greedy housekeeper, Bernard’s ill-intentioned wife, and they have comical mix-ups at the convention. The sequel, even 20 years later, is a respectable follow-up to the famous first flick. “Dumb and Dumber To” guarantees good laughs and your money’s worth. review by Chika Ojukwu
leads
the MCC team
advisors
Jane Kim Staff Advisor
Dr. Guillermo Aguilar Faculty Advisor
Jessica Soria Co-Chair 4th year Biology
media
David Romero Co-Chair 3rd year Mechanical Engineering
Paulina Laroya Design Lead 2nd year Business Administration
Yatna Patel Social Media Lead 3rd year Biochemistry
Kiichi Kuboshima Webmaster 1st year Mechanical Engineering
Melanie Queponds Social Media 3rd year Theatre
writers
Jessica Baker 4th year English & History
Kathleen Bilog 1st year Neuroscience
Hyemin Kim 1st year Biochemistry
Tim Lee 2nd year Anthropology
Catherine Ha 2nd year Neuroscience
J. Megan Krum 2nd year Neuroscience
Chika Ojukwu 2nd year Media Cultural Studies
Alexandra Sakkis 1st year
Louis Penafiel 1st year Physics
CHASS Undeclared
Anthony Nguyen 3rd year Biochemistry
Yesenia Sanchez 3rd year Creative Writing
photographers
Eriel Datuin 3rd year Biology
Bri Chew 1st year Math
Aaron Lai 2nd year Environmental Sciences
Rajvee Sanghavi 3rd year Biology
WHAT IS THE BEST NEW FALL TV SHOW? 0% NCIS: New Orleans 40% How to Get Away with Murder 13.33% Gotham 6.67% Black-ish 40% None of the above
THE BEST THING ABOUT FALL IS...
33.33% The cooler weather 26.67% The cooler fashions 20% Halloween and Thanksgiving 20% Counting down to Winter Break 0% Fall quarter classes
MY FAVORITE STYLE OF STUDYING IS... 6.67% Going over old sample exams 40% Reviewing notes, homework, examples, etc. 6.67% Group studying 6.67% Cramming 40% All of the above
s t l u es r y e v r su
tune in for surveys, photos albums, and the latest news!
STUDENT-RUN WEBSITE
TUMBLR
mccucr.wix.com/ honors-outlook
facebook.com/ UniversityHonorsUCR
ucrhonors.tumblr.com
@ucrhonors