April 6, 2023

City council candidates Francesca Wright and Donna Neville share platforms at candidate forum

The Davis Area League of Women Voters hosted a forum with the candidates to discuss the upcoming election

BY CHRIS PONCE city@theaggie.org

On March 29, The Davis Area League of Women Voters (LWV), in partnership with Davis Media Access, hosted an online forum featuring District 3 city council candidates Donna Neville and Francesca Wright. With the special election on May 2 less than a month away, candidates discussed issues relevant to the city such as housing, fiscal challenges and downtown plans.

The candidates were asked about the most important actions they would take to improve financial growth in Davis. Neville said that she has previous experience in this area, explaining that she drafted criteria used by the California state auditor’s Local Government High Risk Program to assess the fiscal health of California cities.

“First we need more revenue,” Neville said. “This requires a robust economic development plan that sets out our priorities for attracting and retaining businesses in our downtown and other commercial hubs. We can’t flourish if we have empty retail spaces. Second, we need to find ways for the innovative businesses that want to locate and stay in Davis to stay here.

Finally, I’ll promote more transparency and community involvement in our budgeting process. We should hold public budget workshops where each city department presents its budget and the community has the ability to weigh in on spending priorities.”

Wright then answered the same question. She said that the city needs to set aside more funds for long-term maintenance of roads.

“We need strategies to maximize revenue — and that includes property taxes, sales taxes [and] hotel taxes — while preserving the character of our town,” Wright said. “This will require restoring vibrant retail, attracting tourism and facilitating ease of [permitting] upgrades.

For example, we could increase property tax revenue by accelerating [the] permitting of real property upgrades. [...] We could use smarter application screening tools that require less staff time, and we could add fees for expedited services that could pay for the additional staffing.”

An audience member asked the candidates about the issue of affordable housing and rising prices of rent in Davis. Wright mentioned the improvements that have already been made with the Davis Housing Trust Fund and what work still needs to be done to help combat the housing crisis.

“By having staff in place, we can go after federal and state housing resources and make them more accessible,” Wright said. “The renting issue is beyond just

the affordability. It’s also having climateresilient spaces and I would like to address that as well.”

Neville said that she believes the city can and should acquire the federal and state resources to address the issue.

“The state now has enacted a number of pieces of significant legislation that are very top-down in terms of directing housing at the local level,” Neville said. “But they haven’t given us the tools or the money to be able to really incentivize the building of the affordable and the low- to moderate-income housing we need. So I would love to see Davis work together with the League of California Cities to advocate for money in the state budget for that purpose.” Both candidates were also asked about the Downtown Davis Plan, which aims to create a long-term guide for development and infrastructure through 2040. Wright answered first, focusing on the impact of the plan and how it can be improved.

“This new model promises to accelerate the permitting process,” Wright said. “It has opened an opportunity for increased building height up to seven stories in the core [of downtown] and densification along G Street and is projected to provide 1,000 more units of housing. As a city council member, my priority for the Downtown Plan will be to address two key missing areas, which are: one, planning for the trees and two, envisioning streetscapes and transportation options.”

Neville said that while the Downtown

Following her announcement to run for Senate, Representative Porter discusses corporate PACs, abortion access and other issues facing California

BY CHRIS PONCE city@theaggie.org

On March 15, Democratic Congressperson Katie Porter, who represents California’s 47th District (CA-47), held a campaign event at the UCD Alumni Center. The event was hosted by the Davis College Democrats (DCD). Rep. Porter is one of three declared Democratic Representatives campaigning to replace long-time Sen. Dianne Feinstein following her decision to retire in 2024.

DCD President Frances Haydock introduced Rep. Porter to those in attendance, welcoming her to Davis. Porter, who was a law professor at UC Irvine, talked about her experiences with Davis.

“This is my second trip to UC Davis,” Porter said. “And I’m going to tell you what I thought after my first trip, which I’m reminded of. Davis is like a little slice of heaven. It’s just a little slice of heaven, so it is really wonderful to be back here and be with you all. And I won’t comment on the Anteaters vs. Davis.”

Rep. Porter began by introducing herself, touching on her title from the San Francisco Chronicle as “Congress’s single mom and watchdog.” Porter spoke about how her background impacts her candidacy and ability to fight against issues that are affecting Californians.

“It is not good enough that we have to worry that we are not going to be able to stay in California and raise our families in California because we can

not afford the cost of housing,” Porter said. “It is not good enough that when we go to a church or to a school or to a movie theater we have to worry about the threat of gun violence. [...] There are real challenges that we are facing in California and those battles and those solutions are going to be fought in the U.S. Senate.”

During the 2022 election cycle, Porter’s campaign received the largest sum of donations for a Democrat candidate running for the House of Representatives that year — and her campaign did this without accepting donations from Corporate PACs. Porter discussed her grassroots campaign strategy and talked about how it separates her from other candidates in the Senate race.

“I ran [for the House] in 2017 and got elected for the first time in 2018,” Porter said. “I’ve never taken a dime of corporate PAC money and I am the only candidate in the race who can say that and I am very, very proud of it.

I am one of 11 members of the 435 people in the House of Representatives who do not take contributions from federal lobbyists. You cannot have your hand out for a contribution check at six o’clock at a reception and turn around and help the American people — expect the American people to believe you’re voting in their best interest — the next morning.”

Following her speech, Porter opened the rest of the meet-and-greet to take questions from students and those in attendance. The Porter campaign event came one day after Turning Point USA (TPUSA) held an event on campus, and Porter was asked about it.

One person in attendance asked Porter, “A lot of people that were [at

the TPUSA event] are people that we’re going to be in class with, our peers. Some people that we might have considered friends, how do we come to terms with those people being around us?”

“This is a question you have to think about when the elevator opens and the person you’re going to have to ride with is Marjorie Taylor Greene,” Porter said. “We have to value and we have to respect free speech, but we also have to be willing to call out and fight against and hold people to account for hate speech. That is a line we have to be willing to draw. And we have to make sure that our institutions, including our educational institutions, are not hiding behind free speech to facilitate hate speech. We have to try to reach across the aisle when we can, but you don’t compromise your values to do it.”

Another attendee asked Porter about the push to codify Roe v. Wade and the Equal Rights Amendment: “that was my mother’s fight, and now our fight, and now my daughter’s.”

“Make no mistake, Republicans will enact a nationwide abortion ban so we need to codify Roe v. Wade,” Porter said. “We’re stuck, the number of Democratic women in the Senate has actually gone down. The only reason the number of women hasn’t gone down is because Republicans [have been] elected. We are not making forward progress. California’s tradition of elected female leaders is amazing, and I’m proud to walk in those footsteps. That is a trail they have made for people to follow. I’m really proud to be following in it and I commit to all of you to widen that trail for others whose voices need to be heard and are often ignored in Washington.”

Plan will have a lasting positive impact on Davis, more must be done to address the city’s economy and housing crisis.

“The Downtown Plan alone won’t revitalize our downtown economically nor will it ensure that the housing we desperately need gets built,” Neville said.

“I have two key priorities. In terms of housing, we need to put additional tools in place such as a revenue stream for Housing Trust Fund and possibly housing impact fees or commercial linkage fees that will truly serve as incentives to building the housing we need in the downtown

area. The Downtown Plan needs to be accompanied by a robust economic development plan that sets out a proactive approach for attracting and retaining businesses to downtown.”

The last day to register to vote in the special election is April 17. Ballots will be mailed to voters in District 3, and a list of ballot drop boxes, as well as additional voter information, can be found on the Yolo County Elections Office website.

ASUCD spring elections encourage students to vote and run for office

After historically low voter turnout in fall elections, ASUCD and student organizations emphasize the importance of voter participation, competitive elections to increase representation

BY LILY FREEMAN campus@theaggie.org

The ASUCD 2023 spring elections are near; students will be able to cast their votes on the ASUCD elections website from the morning of April 24 to the evening of April 28. Undergraduate students will vote for various candidates running for ASUCD leadership positions, including the roles of senator, president and vice president, external affairs vice president, student advocate and international student representative.

Students will also vote on proposed measures. Senator Stephen Fujimoto explained some of the measures that will appear on the ballot.

“An amendment I authored will be on the ballot, CA #79 or the ‘DRIP II Amendment,’” Fujimoto said. “The Senate will also be voting on whether to put The Green Initiative Fund [TGIF] fee referendum on the ballot.”

According to Fujimoto, the DRIP II Amendment would allow the student body to vote on a recall and a replacement candidate for an ASUCD senator, external affairs vice president, student advocate, transfer student representative or an international student representative at the same time.

If the Senate decides to put TGIF on the ballot, it will mark the third election in a row that it has been voted on by students, after failing during the past two elections due to a lack of voter turnout. A 20% voter turnout is required for any measure on student fees to pass.

Cassie Eng, a fourth-year managerial economics and environmental policy analysis and planning double major and a TGIF committee member, described why she believes the TGIF referendum is important. “TGIF supports the UC Davis reputation as a global leader in sustainability and climate change

research,” Eng said. “Given historically low voter turnout, we are really pushing for the student body to make the spring elections count.”

Kelly Abey, a third-year environmental policy analysis and planning and sustainable environmental design double major and a TGIF committee member, explained what is at stake if TGIF does not pass during this election.

“TGIF is operating on the last of our reserves,” Abey said. “If we fail for a third time, the program will no longer exist on the UC Davis campus. We are planning on doing all that we can to increase the undergraduate voter turnout to meet the 20% voter threshold.”

In March, the Editorial Board met with Chancellor Gary May and other UC Davis administrators. At the meeting, we asked whether the administration would financially support the continuation of TGIF and its related operations, should it fail to pass in the ASUCD elections. May said that “there are funds available [...] that could address this issue” but that nothing has been done at this point.

Fujimoto said that all proposed measures will be finalized and published on the elections website in the upcoming weeks so that students can learn about them before voting. Voting will take place digitally through the ASUCD elections website, but the ASUCD Elections Committee is also working on setting up in-person voting booths with volunteers who will assist in teaching students how to vote, according to Fujimoto. ASUCD will announce where students can find these booths once the locations are finalized.

‘I don’t do Washington the way other people do:’ Congressperson Katie Porter holds campaign event on campus

Katie Porter, a California Senate candidate, speaks at the UC Davis Alumni Center. (Shanna Punzalan / Aggie)

Davis City Offices. (Aggie File)

Report released about death of 21,000 fish at UC Davis research center

The report found that the loss was caused by toxic levels of chlorine in the center’s tanks

BY KAYA DO-KHANH campus@theaggie.org

An independent investigation report into the fish mortality event that occurred on Aug. 9, 2022 at the UC Davis Center for Aquatic Biology and Aquaculture (CABA) was released in Feb. 2023, according to a recent press release. The university called the loss of approximately 21,000 fish a “catastrophic failure” in a statement issued on Aug. 11, two days after the incident.

The investigation report by Dr. Anthony Farrell, a professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia, stated that the water contamination, which was the cause of death for the fish, was due to an accumulation of mineral deposits inside sealed piping that led wastewater away from the facility. According to Farrell, this was a problem that had been developing over the course of several decades. The mineral deposits created a blockage that led to a sudden contamination of toxic levels of chlorine into the well water supply that was used to supply the tanks.

“No individual or collection of individuals can be singled out as being responsible,” Farrell wrote in the report.

“The support staff, faculty and students who dealt with the catastrophe are to be commended for their collective responses to the catastrophe. The responses were both rapid and appropriate.”

The event occurred overnight, and an undergraduate student employee discovered the fish mortality around 8 a.m. on Aug. 9. According to an article from The New York Times, the chlorine damaged the gills and skin of multiple fish species in the tanks of the center, including the green and white sturgeon and Chinook salmon, which is endangered. Approximately 100 fish survived the event.

The CABA center was built in the 1950s and is home to research programs aimed at sustaining California’s aquatic species, supporting the technological framework of the state’s aquaculture industries and creating sustainable aquaculture production. The center

had never before had such “an allencompassing loss” of fish, said Dr. Brignolo, the executive director of the Research and Teaching Animal Care Program, in a statement to The New York Times.

In the report, Farrell made a number of recommendations to eliminate the risk of a similar event occurring in the future. The recommendations include a replacement of the disinfection system and an advanced procedure for emergencies. Some of the actions that were recommended are already being implemented or planned, and the university has committed to funding improvements for the center.

“We are thankful for our campus partners, staff, faculty and students who have been instrumental in rebuilding the facility quickly and with compassion so that our aquatic conservation programs could be restored,” a statement from the university reads. “CABA welcomed fish back into the facility in October 2022.”

Two arrested for vandalism while protesting Turning Point USA speaker event

The protest also resulted in damage to the doors of the U Center and minor injury to a campus police officer

BY SONORA SLATER campus@theaggie.org

Two people were arrested and the glass doors of the University Credit Union Center (U Center) were broken by protesters outside of the speaker event held by conservative student group Turning Point USA (TPUSA) on March 14, but the event went on as planned.

After an on-campus event planned by the group last fall was canceled before it began when fights broke out between protesters and counter-protesters affiliated with the Proud Boys, the university said that they had security plans in place to ensure public safety at this event.

These plans involved limiting tickets to the event to 1,000, checking IDs and event registration confirmation emails at the entrance, having attendees pass through metal detectors, not allowing bags or backpacks inside the venue and having a presence of more than 100 police officers, including campus police and private security, in and around the U Center.

The event, which began at 7 p.m., featured TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, who is known in part for previous antiLGBTQ+ statements, such as describing the LGBTQ+ movement as a “social contagion.” Kirk spoke to an audience of around 500 people.

Protesters, some of whom appeared to be associated with the left-wing political movement “Antifa,” began gathering slightly before 5 p.m. wearing black clothes and masks and holding black umbrellas to cover their faces. They were holding banners that read “Protect Trans Kids,” among other statements. Throughout the protest, they yelled at or pushed several members of the press who attempted to take pictures or videos.

Some conservative media outlets have reported that the protest may have been spurred on by a Sacramento Bee op-ed published ahead of the event which stated that, “Kirk has also called for the lynching of trans people.” A correction was later issued to the Sacramento Bee article noting that the claim was “extrapolated from Kirk’s comments” about a women’s swimming competition in which he said that, “Someone should’ve took care of it the way we took care of things in the 1950s and 60s.”

Kirk has said that the comment was in reference to female college swimmer

Riley Gaines being uncomfortable with trans swimmer Lia Thomas’s presence in the women’s locker room and that his callback to the 50s and 60s was meant to imply that “local law enforcement would have interceded” if a similar situation were to take place back then.

The crowd of protesters outside the UC Davis event slowly grew, and by 6 p.m. they were blocking the sidewalk toward the southeast entrance of the U Center, making it difficult for people attending the event to get through. As police began to let attendees into the building, more officers emerged in riot gear, including face shields and batons. They lined the entrance of the building and began to move the line slowly back away from the plastic barrier set up surrounding the entrance. They continued to hold the line as protesters threw eggs and other small objects at police and event attendees.

Slightly before 7 p.m., the line of officers moved quickly to the other side of the building, where 10 glass panes in the doors to the northeast entrance, near the ARC, had been kicked in by protesters.

Local environmental club hosts movie nights at Stephens Davis Branch Library

The Cool Davis event featured environmental documentary “What the Health”

BY ALMA CULVERWELL city@theaggie.org

On March 19, Cool Davis, a group of residents, businesses and organizations committed to the City of Davis’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, held a community movie circle at the Mary L. Stephens Davis Branch Yolo County Library. The event was a showing of “What the Health” followed by a discussion about the impacts of diets on the environment. Cool Davis first implemented their Climate Movie Circle events last September, when the program was introduced for community members who are passionate about protecting the environment to have an outlet and opportunity to meet with like-minded people.

The Climate Movie Circle is a space that allows community members to participate in monthly discussions about current topics and environmental issues. These discussions take place on the second Sunday of each month at the Mary L. Stephens Davis Branch Library and are typically structured around a documentary which is then followed by a community discussion.

Leslie Crenna, household engagement campaign manager for Cool Davis, explained the goal of these events.

generation can understand each other and learn from each other.”

Cool Davis has shown films related to eating habits and indigenous perspectives on environmental issues.

The group hopes to cater to a younger audience for the next upcoming showing. Mabel Del Aguila, a fourthyear Spanish major, is a college student who already attends these circles.

“I like that it is a bunch of likeminded people that also care about the environment and bounce ideas off of each other and learn new things, too,” Del Aguila said. “I like that it is a little community I have where I can talk to people who also care.”

The agenda of the recent discussion centered around the popular documentary “What the Health” directed by Kip Anderson, which explores the connections between diet, health and the environment. This past week’s discussion also included a free vegan meal provided by community member Jon Bgornstad with a wide host of options to fit all dietary needs and restrictions, with menu items ranging from lentil loaf to vegan parfaits. A participant at the recent circle, Rena Nayyar, reflected on the experience.

These protesters did not get into the building or the event, and no arrests were made related to the breaking of the glass — however, two people were arrested and charged with vandalism in relation to graffiti of the Trans Pride flag on the wall of the U Center. One of these two is not affiliated with the university in any way, according to a March 14 press release from UC Davis, and the other has not been identified.

Some of the UC Davis eggheads were also graffitied with messages against the university and the Antifa symbol. Additional incidents reported at the event include one officer sustaining an injury when he was jumped on from behind and pushed to the ground and people being pepper sprayed by others in the crowd of protesters.

First-year chemistry major Alex Cabrera said that he initially came to the event as a protester but ended up shifting to the side to watch because he didn’t feel safe in the crowd after people dressed in Proud Boys attire said threatening things to some of the protesters.

“I really don’t like Charlie Kirk and some of the things he’s said about the border,” Cabrera said. “I’m Mexican American, and my parents are immigrants, and I feel threatened by [TPUSA] being on campus.”

He went on to say that the fact that he felt unsafe despite the presence of 100-plus police officers made him feel like “the police are protecting [TPUSA], not us.” However, he noted that he did not agree with any violent actions of the Antifa protesters and that he believes “there needs to be some type of police to protect against when Antifa gets violent.”

On the same day as the TPUSA event, ASUCD hosted a finals study session and decompression space in the CoHo from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. offering free Scantrons, Blue Books, snacks, coffee and bike lights, as well as a safe and quiet place to study far away from where the protest was taking place. “It’s finals week, so normally there’s

some sort of finals study session going on held by one of the centers in the Student Community Center,” ASUCD External Affairs Vice President Celene Aridin said. “But unfortunately [...] they decided to close down today because of how close they are to the event, so we decided to step up and say, ‘Hey, if anyone wants to study, we’ll just keep the CoHo open a little longer.’”

Before the event, UC Davis Chancellor Gary May posted a video message addressing the concerns regarding TPUSA.

“Thank you for sharing your distress at a student group hosting a speaker who is a well-documented proponent of misinformation and hate and who has advocated for violence against transgender individuals,” May said. “UC Davis stands with our transgender and non-binary Aggies in opposition to this hateful and divisive messaging. UC Davis did not invite this individual and did not sponsor this event.”

He went on to acknowledge that as a registered student organization (RSO) on campus, TPUSA has the right under UC and campus policy to reserve space on campus for events and invite speakers of their choice.

Kirk responded to May’s video with a video of his own, saying in reference to “advoca[ting] for violence against transgender individuals]” that he had “never done that” and “might sue [May] for [saying] that.”

In the March 17 edition of May’s “Checking in With the Chancellor” newsletter, he addressed the event, saying that “the limits of free speech are being tested at college campuses across the country, [including] at UC Davis.”

“Freedom of expression is vital to our higher education mission,” May said. “As a public university, we’re also obligated by law to uphold free speech protections. History shows us how these have protected the voices of oppressed and minoritized communities. Let’s reaffirm our commitment to nonviolent exchange and the highest standards of conduct and decency toward all.”

“Cool Davis has hosted various climate-related movies over the years, and we all really felt it was a really effective way to bring people in that’s kind of low commitment and high learning value so we wanted to continue that and extend it into the future,” Crenna said. “We’re trying to bring together young people and older people in the space […] we’re trying to find ways that the older and younger

“I wish more people would come because there is so much good information that helps people know what choices they have to make improvements,” Nayyar said.

The next Climate Circle will take place on April 23 at 1:30 p.m. at the Mary L. Stephens Library in the Blanchard Room and will highlight 10 of the best collections from the One Earth Youth Film Contest.

Campus police form a line in front of the U Center during the March 14 Turning Point USA event after protesters kicked in the center’s glass doors. (Sonora Slater / Aggie)

UC Davis Center for Aquatic Biology and Aquaculture. (Aggie File)

Aggies in the Area: Malena

Ortiz

Meet the design director of the KDVS

90.3 FM radio station

BY FAITH DEMEULENAERE features@theaggie.org

UC Berkeley hosts 38th annual Empowering Womxn of Color Conference

BY DANIELA DULA MEJIA features@theaggie.org

On Saturday, March 11, UC Berkeley hosted its 38th annual Empowering Womxn of Color Conference (EWOCC). Since its founding, the conference has been run by womxn of color, for womxn of color. According to its website, the EWOOC uses the term “womxn” to include “all who experience life through the lens of womxn in body, spirit, identity past, present, future and fluid.”

EWOCC has become a wellestablished tradition and it is the longest-running conference of its kind in the nation, according to its website. In previous years, the conference has hosted many civil rights activists as keynote speakers, including Angela Davis and Eline Brown.

Elena Ojeda, an EWOCC cocoordinator, started attending the conference in 2021 when she was looking for a community that reflected her own identity.

“It’s a great space to meet people, and it’s great to meet friends,” Ojeda said. “It’s a very welcoming space, and the topics and workshops were all great, and it just gives you something to talk about with someone who you might not know.”

mindfulness practitioner who focuses on “empowerment and self-determination of populations made vulnerable to violence and oppression,” according to her website.

“The Empowering Womxn of Color Conference was something that helped me spiritually grow,” De Santiago said. “Through one of the workshops I was able to practice visualization and being okay with silence and being okay with vulnerability with people who I honestly didn’t know.”

De Santiago said it was nice to be in a space where everyone “understood that most of the time, our space is taken up by other people, and this was our time to reclaim it.”

In the afternoon, there was a keynote presentation from Taína Asili, a New York-based Puerto Rican singer, speaker, filmmaker and activist. Asili interacted with audience members as she described how she uses music as a tool to resist oppression and fill people with joy.

“My parents — and also punk rock — taught me to imagine the world I wish to see despite the boundaries, limitations and discriminations before me,” Asili said in her presentation, “to envision that other world of liberation, that ecosystem of joy, and move towards it through music and art as my vehicle.”

Oluwaseun Adegbite, an EWOCC co-coordinator, said Asili’s speech was well received by the event staff.

“We felt like [Asili] really encompassed our theme […] transmuting all the issues that we face and transmuting into something that you can enjoy and that uplifts you and makes you happy,” Adegbite said.

Asili created an engaging and fun atmosphere with attendees by asking them questions and passing out notecards so the group could compose a song together. Attendees shared some of their favorite liberation songs and sang as a group.

EWOCC on 8

Found in every corner of the UC Davis campus are posters that look like they’ve been taken right out of a DIY zine, advertising the multitudes of events hosted by the student-run freeform radio station, KDVS. Malena Ortiz, a fourth-year design major and the KDVS design director, has been the hardworking Aggie behind the designs since May 2021.

Inspiration for the KDVS design brand, according to Ortiz, comes from 1980s and 1990s punk and indie music culture.

“The station is a great place to see cool, old graphic design in person,” Ortiz said. “We also have a large collection of show flyers hanging on our walls, and I like looking at them for inspiration.”

Ortiz also works on KDViationS, the station’s quarterly publication.

Much of Ortiz’s work has a classic cutand-paste look and integrates bold fonts and graphic line drawings.

“Most of my work is made digitally,”

Ortiz said, “but I am inspired by the roughness of analog graphic design and the different textures it can incorporate.”

Ortiz said that she is grateful for support from the KDVS community.

“At KDVS I work mostly with our events directors, public relations director and community coordinators,”

Ortiz said. “I’m lucky I get to be around a community of people who value music, art and DIY culture.”

Ortiz said working at KDVS informed much of her college experience at UC Davis, and “creatively challenged [her] more than anything else ever has.”

Ortiz’s designs can be found at @ malena.digital and @kdvs903fm on Instagram.

This year’s conference took place at UC Berkeley’s International House with the theme “Flourish: Nourishing Ecosystems of Joy.” Opened its doors to attendees at 8 a.m. on March 11 marked the event’s return to a fully inperson conference after the COVID-19 pandemic. As visitors trickled into the auditorium, they were welcomed with live music from local performers, including an indigenous healing drum circle with the Wakan Wiya Two Spirit Drum group.

After the morning celebration, attendees participated in workshops that focused on themes of joy, healing and economic success.

Giselle De Santiago, a thirdyear English major at UC Davis, attended the conference as a volunteer and participated in the workshop “Nourish the Seeds of Intimacy” with Facilitator Dominique Cowling, a

UC Davis Craft Center allows students to take a step back from their day-to-day life to express their creativity

Choose from dozens of unique, skill-based art classes to take without the pressure of a letter grade

BY REBEKA ZELJKO features@theaggie.org

For many students, the UC Davis Craft Center serves as a break from their hectic academic schedules. According to its website, the Craft Center offers upwards of 50 different classes per quarter, including ceramics, glass blowing, 3D printing, weaving and welding.

Meredith McClintock, a fourthyear communication major and studio manager for the glass and screen printing studios, said that the Craft Center attracts students of all majors who are looking for a creative outlet.

“One of the interesting things is we don’t have that many art majors taking the classes,” McClintock said. “Almost everyone is a science or humanities

major because this is their outlet. I know like four aerospace engineers who regularly take classes here.”

Andrew Hui, a fourth-year science and technology studies major said he enjoys going to the Craft Center in his free time.

“I think there’s not a lot of chances to express my artistic or creative side in my classes,” Hui said. “So even though [Craft Center] classes aren’t for credit, it’s a really chill way to spend your time and meet new people.”

The relaxation is a big selling point for students who are accustomed to a fast pace and demanding academic environment.

“It’s completely pressure-free,”

McClintock said. “We will give you an orientation and ascertain your skill level to ensure you have a fun and safe experience, but there’s no grade attached to this.”

According to the Campus Recreation website, these classes cost between $14 to $250, but students can utilize the Well-Being Fee Waiver to offset these costs. Students can apply for the waiver using a Google Form, and it can be applied to one class or a studio pass to access the Craft Center for free or at a discounted rate.

Harrison Dietzman, a graduate student studying creative writing, teaches a black-and-white photography class at the Craft Center.

“I’d taught writing and literature classes but never taught an applied hands-on class before,” Dietzman said.

“It’s been fun to teach something more skill-based and less abstract.”

The diverse array of majors in his classes is also something Dietzman noted.

“Most of my students are not in the fine arts academically,” Dietzman said. “There’s a lot of engineers and animal life science, which is just the composition of this university. They usually express that they have a hobby that feels active and productive and gets them out of their normal classes.”

Dietzman said that the close-knit community at the Craft Center is what

solidified his involvement as a volunteer instructor.

“We cap the photo classes at a really small class size, so it’s a very hands-on instruction experience,” Dietzman said. “It feels less alienating than what people might be used to going to UC Davis. In school, the class sizes are [often] going to be more than 25 people, but here, they’re much smaller.”

The relaxed and creative nature of the classes offered by the Craft Center makes it an incredibly popular recreation space for students. McClintock recommends that people plan ahead of time to secure a spot in a class that they are interested in taking.

“Our upcoming registration is open on the very first day of instruction, so April 3,” McClintock said. “We open at 12:30 p.m. in person, but people will usually start to line up earlier, depending on the popularity of the class.”

It’s not uncommon for popular classes to fill up quickly, so Hui suggests getting there as early as possible.

“I think most of the classes fill up super fast,” Hui said. “The day of the sign up, the line was around the Silo, so if you want a ceramics class, you have to line up in the morning.”

But if you aren’t able to get the class you want, there are other ways for you to get involved in a creative pastime.

“Even if I don’t get a class, you can buy studio passes,” Hui said. “You go through a small orientation or training, and then you can get access to the studio and make things in your own free time.”

Hui said he recommends you have a game plan going into the sign-up process.

“Pick multiple classes you are interested in just in case,” Hui said. “They all seem really fun, and I think they will all help with your well-being and develop your skills in some way.”

Dietzman said that even if you don’t get your first-choice class, every offered course can be beneficial in some way.

“There’s such a broad range of programs at the Craft Center,” Dietzman said. “They have metal working and glass blowing and different classes, but they’re all making an object so you have something to keep, take home and be proud of.”

The conference celebrates womxn’s history in a way that is inclusive and creates space for future generations of womxn to flourish

(Malena Ortiz / Courtesy)

(Yasmin Graham, EWOCC planning committee social media coordinator and photographer / Courtesy)

The UC Davis Craft Center is located in the Silo and open for students to take art classes. (Jersain Medina / Aggie)

Why go vegan or vegetarian?

Consider reducing your animal product consumption

BY EMILIE BROWN emrbrown@ucdavis.edu

There are a variety of reasons why you should consider switching to a vegan or vegetarian diet — let’s dive right in.

The impact of meat and animal product consumption on our planet is huge, and cutting these products out of your diet can help reduce your personal carbon footprint.

The meat and dairy industries are responsible for 25-30% of greenhouse gas emissions, and those emissions are one of the main drivers of climate change. Cows in particular produce methane (as we have all smelled here in Davis), which is one of the most dangerous greenhouse gasses — it is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. And 37% of all methane emissions come directly from cattle. No one likes climate change, but few realize the positive impact our dietary choices can make in slowing it. I believe that cutting red meat out of your diet is a valuable step we can all take to lower carbon emissions.

Meat and dairy production is also the number one cause of deforestation worldwide, accounting for 41% of deforestation globally and 80% of Amazon deforestation. Deforestation leads to the loss of diverse animals, more climate change, economic losses and irreversible damage to the biomes and ecosystems we love.

Additionally, research has shown that it takes 1,847 gallons of water to make one pound of beef. That’s enough water to sustain 78 people for a month. It also takes 2.5 pounds of grain to produce that same pound of beef. Additionally, 60% of the world’s agricultural land is used to grow food for meat and animal product production, all of which could

be used to feed people instead. The meat and animal product industries today are completely unsustainable.

Another reason to go vegetarian or vegan is because of ethical concerns. Researchers have observed fear, grief and empathy in many animals, which are sometimes kept in terrible conditions.

Pigs in particular have been observed to have about the same emotional and cognitive capacities as dogs.

The good news is that there’s an easy way to help curb the negative effects of meat and animal product production: reduce or eliminate these products from your diet. Going vegan (cutting out all animal products) reduces your carbon footprint by up to 73%, which has positive effects on the planet and future generations.

Some people object to becoming vegan or vegetarian because they say that people need meat to survive, but that’s simply not true. Going vegan or vegetarian significantly reduces your

Are colonies still owed reparations?

NATALIE CHENG / AGGIE

chance of developing heart disease (the leading cause of death in the U.S.), diabetes and even some types of cancer. It’s commonly misunderstood that vegan and vegetarian diets lack essential nutrients found in meat-based diets, but this is also untrue — it’s possible, and even easy, to get all the nutrients you need through a vegan or vegetarian diet. Beans, spinach and dark chocolate all have more iron than beef, almond milk often has more calcium than cow’s milk and edamame, tofu and mushrooms have more protein than most meat. So, what are you waiting for? You can make a huge positive impact on your planet and your future by changing your eating habits now.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

Must-watch Studio Ghibli films

Hint: It’s all of them

BY MAYA KORNYEYEVA mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers.

Studio Ghibli, a Tokyo-based animation studio, is world-famous for its beautifully designed films featuring stories about the human experience and unique world-building. The company was founded by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki in 1985, and boasts a characteristic animation style of rich acrylic colors and individually handdrawn frames. After numerous projects and partnerships with companies like Walt Disney Studios and Streamline Pictures, Studio Ghibli succeeded in producing four of the top ten highestgrossing animated feature films in Japan.

Over the last several months, I rewatched every single Studio Ghibli film, from their very first postapocalyptic animated feature “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” to their most recent psychological drama “When Marnie was There.”

Twenty-three movies later, I am here to tell you which of the Hayao Miyazaki masterpieces are the best of the best; and, most importantly, why these films resonated with me.

My absolute favorite Ghibli movie is “Howl’s Moving Castle,” released in 2004 and featuring music by Joe Hisaishi. Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, “Howl’s Moving Castle” never fails to captivate me every single time I rewatch it, as it is effortlessly beautiful with a deep message about the healing power of love and the strength of character. The movie is about a young woman named Sophie, who is cursed by a witch and transformed to become old and withered after she encounters Howl, a traveling magician and a “stealer of hearts.” Amidst a war, Sophie finds Howl and his moving castle — powered by his fire demon Calcifer — and helps Howl regain his lost heart, free a lost prince and lift her curse.

The reason I rank this film the highest out of all the Studio Ghibli movies is the moving storyline and welldeveloped setting. I love the interactions between all of the characters, namely the creation of a family among Howl and all of the lost souls his castle picks up along

its way. The music gives the entire picture a theme of blissful peace, and Sophie’s unbreakable resilience to live with the hand she has been dealt is something I find both rare and admirable.

Tied for second place are the films

“Spirited Away” (2001) and “My Neighbor Totoro” (1988). Both of these movies involve superb and imaginative animation, with the first being set in a realm of spirits and the second in the Japanese countryside. I love both these films equally, and I think they do incredible jobs of telling stories of being somewhere new and the process of persevering and adapting to a new environment that follows. Both also celebrate the importance of youth and allow your imagination and soul to act as a guide.

For instance, every element in “Spirited Away” is magical and surprising, often shocking viewers as they watch the heroine Chihiro struggle to save her parents and form a unique bond with her savior, the river spirit Haku. “Totoro” is likewise fantastical, with adorable forest spirits befriending two young girls as they settle into their new home and wait for their mother to return from the hospital.

The third place spot has to be awarded to “Princess Mononoke.” This film is set in 14th century Japan as iron manufacturing is beginning to take prevalence and industrial greed starts to clash with nature and the livelihood of the forest. Watching this movie, I was captivated by the depth of the characters and the myriad of conflicts and relationships between every group in the film. The animals, along with the spirits, gods and even demons, are each individually powerful and contributed to the complexity of interrelations woven into the film.

Moreover, the animation is mindblowingly fantastical. The fight scenes between the hero, Prince Ashitaka, and the samurai are filled with energy, and the spirits of the forest range from downright adorable to uncanny. Ghibli films generally excel at deep storytelling and relatable, refreshing dialogue, and “Princess Mononoke” is no exception.

Finally, there are a few Studio Ghibli films that deserve honorable mention. It was extremely difficult to choose favorites, as the genres of the

movies are vastly different. My top three mentioned above (well, technically, top four) are must-sees in my opinion, but the following few should most definitely be next.

“Grave of the Fireflies” is a historically realistic heart-wrencher about World War II and the realities of death, pain and loss, based on a short story written by Akiyuki Nosaka about his life in Japan during the Kobe Bombings in 1945. The animation is so precise and the story so devastating to witness that this won’t be a film I soon forget. It is truly heartbreaking, and one of the only films that has ever given me a deep feeling of anguish at the conclusion.

“When Marnie was There” falls into a relatively similar category, as the story follows the parallel storylines of Marnie and Anna, two girls separated by time but connected by their emotional trauma and feelings of having nowhere to belong. This animated film is a beautiful work of art and captures the very intricate human feelings of melancholy and desire for connection.

You can probably tell that I can go on and on about how amazing the Studio Ghibli films are — it is not an understatement to say that watching animated movies from these renowned directors and writers has changed my perception of the world and caused me to truly consider what living is all about.

“The Wind Rises” taught me about how pursuing the thing you are passionate about can carry you through adversity and closer to your dreams. “From Up on Poppy Hill” reminded me of the powerful connection of family and friendship across life and death. “Castle in the Sky” showed the importance of choosing what you value and living your life in balance according to those values.

Animation is such a wonderful tool for visual storytelling, and it is often overlooked in favor of live action. However, I believe some stories can only be told through animation, and I don’t think any other organization approaches it in the unique and profound way that Studio Ghibli does.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

The

era of colonialism is technically over, but this doesn’t mean that past imperialist nations can forget that it happened

BY GEETIKA MAHAJAN giamahajan@ucdavis.edu

I didn’t officially “learn” about European colonialism in school until 10th grade. I had heard about, or history books had mentioned in passing, countries in the East or in Africa that had fallen under Europe’s sphere of influence — but that was the extent of my knowledge until I reached high school. When I think about this now, it seems ridiculous; colonialism is so deeply entrenched in the history of many European nations and the U.S. and still has ramifications that persist in the modern day. It seems that many nations in the West are attempting to bury their colonial history rather than taking accountability for it, at least from an educational standpoint. However, rather than allowing these nations to get away with denying their pasts, people need to be made increasingly aware of the crimes committed toward colonized nations. The imperial empires must provide some sort of reparation.

The history of colonialism has been an ongoing detriment to the nations that were colonized, and on the flip side, those who reaped benefits from colonization are still benefitting today. India, for example, has had almost $43 trillion worth of artifacts stolen. While the nation was forced to reckon with this loss while rebuilding after the end of the British Raj, the British government has many of these artifacts displayed in for-profit museums still today.

This may be the most obvious example — imperialist governments displaying stolen items in museums — as if these artifacts should be the original owners’ to display and make money off of. However, there are other ways in which these governments have disenfranchised those who live in the previously colonized territory; oftentimes, the rule of colonizers draws sharper lines between groups of people in a nation, negatively affecting the politics and attitudes in the land the colonizers left. The most obvious example of this is the Rwandan genocide, which resulted in the deaths of around 500,000–660,000 Tutsi people, because of distinctions and division exacerbated by the previous German colonizers.

The legacy of colonialism is still being fully realized; it is not a thing

of the past, despite how desperately past colonizers may wish to frame it as such. With this in mind, it should seem obvious that past colonies are owed reparations — the only question is what form these reparations should take. For example, it seems to me that dumping a large sum of money on a newly formed democracy is a recipe for fraud, corruption and overall inefficiency.

Further, reparation is not just restorative — it also functions as a gesture of apology and of recognition that a crime was committed. As such, the actions should not only aid the newly formed governments but should also symbolize that the governments truly recognize how they have disenfranchised such nations.

First, there should be a dedicated curriculum in schools in the previous empires to ensure that the history of colonialism is not forgotten, benumbed or framed as a necessary evil. Additionally, all relics stolen during colonialism must be returned to their nation of origin. Both of these actions demonstrate an acknowledgment of the wrong, and an unwillingness to hide behind the years that have passed since they actually left the colonized land. Finally, rather than paying the governments of past colonial lands, efforts should be made to provide infrastructural support to these burgeoning nations. This could come in the form of support in building and maintaining hospitals, schools or government structures.

Colonialism may seem like an event that began and ended in the past — but if one observes the nations that were colonizers or colonized, it’s clear that its effects are ongoing. It should naturally follow that the past imperial nations pay reparations for the crimes that were committed and for the negative consequences that still result from colonialism. These reparations should not merely be a monetary donation, but a genuine gesture and acceptance of responsibility. Without this, we run the risk of colonialism being forgotten — or perhaps even doomed to be repeated again.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

SPRINGELECTIONS FROM THE COVER

Students who are interested in running for an ASUCD leadership position can sign up for a ticket until 8 a.m. on April 10. To become a candidate, according to the elections website, undergraduate students must be in good academic standing. Additionally, candidates running for Senate, transfer student representative, international student representative and student advocate must obtain 50 student signatures. The external affairs vice president must obtain 70 signatures and executive tickets must obtain 150 signatures.

Fujimoto encouraged students to run and emphasized the importance of competitive elections.

“ASUCD elected officials get to have a say on a variety of things that impact students, including how ASUCD services are run and how the ASUCD fee revenue is spent,” Fujimoto said. “While knowledge and experience in ASUCD are useful, much of it can be taught if you are open to learning. A willingness to listen to students and a desire to advocate for them can’t be

taught and is so much more important. Any student who has that willingness and desire should run even if they are remotely considering it.” Reid Rizk, a second-year international relations major and ASUCD elections officer, also outlined the influence of this election.

“This election, and ASUCD elections overall, are extremely important to our campus and the students who live here,” Rizk said. “After several cycles of less than ideal turnout and engagement, the elections committee believes in promoting fair and free elections with a wide field of candidates for office and providing students with the ability to advocate for policies and people they want to lead our school.”

Sign up for a ticket to become a candidate in the spring elections here. Learn about the election candidates here and the election measures here. Cast your vote here. (Polls open on April 24 at 8 a.m. and close on April 28 at 8 p.m.)

NATALIE CHENG / AGGIE

The Editorial Board’s guide to finding a summer job

Our tips for making the arduous process of job and internship applications as painless as possible

Ah, the start of spring quarter. The sun is finally shining, the grass has never looked greener, the flowers are in bloom and your next existential crisis is just lurking around the corner. It seems cruelly ironic that just when motivation to do anything other than lie on the Quad, headphones in, basking in the warm weather is extremely low, you have to hunt for internships (or jobs, if you’re a graduating senior). It can be a daunting task to try and find a position that you’re not only interested in but also qualified for. As students, we, the members of the Editorial Board, are right there with you. And although we’re no experts on the subject, here is what we’ve learned so far.

The Internship and Career Center (ICC) on campus provides myriad resources for both finding job opportunities and being better prepared to apply and interview for positions. They offer workshops on resume and interview basics, finding internships, communicating with potential employers and more. They

SEE ONLINE

Scan to read the transcript of the Editorial Board’s quarterly meeting with UC Davis administrators.

also host career fairs four to six times a year to help connect students with job openings. At the fairs, students can have face-to-face conversations about open positions with individuals who are extremely interested in employing UC Davis students. The next career fair is on April 19, and we encourage you to attend if you are hoping to find an internship or job this summer. For updates, you can subscribe to their newsletters.

UC Davis faculty can also be a useful resource for finding jobs within a particular field. Don’t be afraid to ask your professors more about their jobs or other opportunities related to their work during office hours. At least from our experience, professors are more than happy to talk about why they love what they do and help direct you to positions relevant to your major. At the very least, getting to know your professors on a more personal level can help you get a great letter of recommendation, which can bolster an application for any position.

Be sure to keep an eye out for newsletters from your major as well. We know it’s tempting to skim through those emails (or, let’s be real, delete them without reading them), but they often contain valuable information about job opportunities on and off campus.

Organizations within your major such as the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Undergraduate Womxn in Economics Society can also be extremely helpful to facilitate professional connections, learn about different career paths with a given degree and simply meet other students in your major who may share your interests.

For other job listings, asking your professors where to look is a great start. In some cases, there may be sites specific to the job you’re interested in that professors can direct you to. You can

often find campus jobs and UC Davisrelated internships through Handshake, while Indeed, Glassdoor and LinkedIn can be great sites to look for open positions anywhere in the world.

And in terms of actual applications, it’s important to be open-minded and perseverant. The fact of the matter is that you are sure to receive quite a few rejection letters before getting a job or internship offer. Often, positions will fill up quickly or hiring managers will have received too many applications by the time you apply. Make sure to apply for different types of positions — both jobs that seem nearly perfect, as well as those that may not be exactly what you’re looking for but are still interesting to you — rather than only focusing on your dream job. Who knows? Maybe you’ll unexpectedly find something you really love. All in all, diligence is key; carve out a little time every week to look and apply for jobs. It’s easy to get discouraged, but the more often you are hunting for jobs and sending in applications, the stronger your chances are of receiving an offer. While finding an internship or job is stressful for anyone, this feeling is only heightened for seniors facing the great unknown after graduation. And while we encourage you to be persistent in your job applications this quarter (and truly believe you’ll find something you love), it’s important to also acknowledge what an accomplishment it is to be graduating from college. We don’t offer any of this advice to intimidate you or make you nervous, and while it’s important to think about the future, it’s equally important to enjoy your last quarter in Davis. Pet a cow, take a walk in the Arboretum and sit on an Egghead. And, when you have some time, apply for a few jobs. You got this!

WRITTEN BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Start your quarter off right with these eye-opening books

My picks for the best books for college students

BY YASMEEN O’BRIEN yjobrien@ucdavis.edu

In honor of the start of a new quarter, I’ve compiled some of my favorite books that have had a deep impact on me. These are some wonderful reads that I believe people at any age can learn from, but are especially impactful for young people. The first three are beautifully written non-fiction and the last two are novels with riveting stories and magnificent writing. If you give these books a chance, I can assure you that they will alter your perspective for the better.

“The Wisdom of Anxiety” by Sheryl Paul I must confess that I have not yet finished this book, but I’m still recommending it to you because that’s how good it is. It’s something I read bit by bit, picking chapters that feel relevant to my current situation. I read it mostly in times of stress, but occasionally in times of peace. It has become a calming touchstone in a hectic and unpredictable life. It talks about how worry and intrusive thoughts are gifts that help us heal. Each chapter is will almost certainly leave you feeling calm and more in touch with yourself.

“Tiny Beautiful Things” by Cheryl Strayed “Tiny Beautiful Things” is a collection of Cheryl Strayed’s previously anonymous columns published in “The Rumpus.” Readers wrote “Dear Sugar” into her column, seeking advice. It’s perfect for those with shorter attention spans or less time in their schedules to read because the chapters are very short and non-linear — each is a different story. The book is so wonderful. I feel lighter after reading it. Strayed provides us with a literary landscape in which any feeling or form of expression is

acceptable. We are allowed to cry, scream, laugh, mourn, praise, sulk and more. There are very few human emotions and experiences that aren’t confronted in this book. “Tiny Beautiful Things” revived my hope in the goodness of the world. I believe everyone should read this book, especially young people. Also, a mini recommendation by the same author is “Wild.” This memoir follows a young Cheryl Strayed as she embarks on a soul-searching backpacking trip along the Pacific Crest Trail in the wake of her mother’s premature death. It is beautifully written and comforting for all who have struggled with loss and identity.

“The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin

This book was published in 1963, at a time of civil rights marches and extreme violence against Black Americans, and is still very relevant today. I read this book for the first time when I was 16 years old and it changed the way I looked at the world and racism in the U.S. With this country’s legacy of slavery, racism and white supremacy, this book offers the essential perspective of sufferers of racial injustice, and forces you to contemplate your privilege and role in this legacy. It is wildly eyeopening and important, especially for young people who are still learning how to carry themselves. “The Fire Next Time” helps all people to better understand Black Americans’ struggle for equal rights through empathy. This autobiographical essay puts us on the path to becoming more anti-racist.

“The Girls” by Emma Cline

This book was an absolute pageturner for me. It is a coming of age story about a 14-year-old girl growing up in the late 1960s in Northern

AARON POTTER

My first college cry

You never forget your first time

BY CARMEL RAVIV craviv@ucdavis.edu

California who finds herself attracted to and intertwined with a Mansonlike commune. Cline’s writing is intoxicating, and her ability to capture the essence of growing up as a young woman is beyond impressive.

At its heart, “The Girls” is the story of an impressionable and corrupted young girl testing the bounds of her own curiosity. The feelings brought up by the main character’s desire to be accepted is something many of us can relate to. It urged me to be kinder to my younger self, which is a loving sentiment we should all practice more often.

“Daisy Jones & the Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I read this book about a year ago after a friend recommended it to me. It has now become an Amazon Prime Video limited series and gained even more popularity. The book follows the formation and humble beginnings of a rock band from the 1970s through their journey to world fame and fortune. Like many rock and roll bands of the ‘70s, drama and chaos ensue, which leads to the group’s demise.

Full of lovable characters, an interesting plot and the opportunity to experience the era through the story, this book is hard to put down. It’s in the format of an interview between a journalist and the band members, which makes it easy to read and allows for wonderful moments of humor and unreliable narration. It’s a great story with a great ending. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

Watching “A Dog’s Purpose,” my middle school graduation, my first breakup and losing my AirPods in a restaurant in Jamaica — these all seemed like appropriate times to cry in my life. I wasn’t ashamed of shedding a tear or expressing myself, because it was a very teenage-girl thing to do.

Although the difference between an 18-year-old in high school and an 18-year-old in college is literally three months, the shift felt like beginning a completely new chapter, one that warranted some new maturity and a lot of growing up. And that meant no more crying. I expected to find a huge group of friends, settle into my classes and get into a new routine that cultivated who I was in my newfound independence, all without a single tear.

Given the headline of this article, I failed. So what was it that made me cry? Not being able to attend sorority rush last fall because I had to go home that weekend. Yep, and I felt pretty stupid about it.

I expected too much from myself in college. I wasn’t becoming cool and independent fast enough. Where were the parties three times a week? Thirsty Thursdays? The swanky coffee shops where everyone hangs out? When do the classes get interesting so I can be pretentious? Why is my only real friend my mom?

I was meeting so many people, but not forming real connections yet. Even

though privacy is hard to come by in a triple freshman dorm, guaranteeing that I was never alone, I always felt lonely. I believed strongly that joining Greek life would solve my problems. I was looking forward to it for weeks, feeling like it was the only way into living the college experience I envisioned for myself. But when my Jewish mother pleaded that I come home to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the chance slipped through my fingers.

I vividly remember flopping on my bottom bunk bed, turning my head towards the wall so my roommates wouldn’t see and silently crying until I fell asleep. Then I woke up, forgot about it and went about my day.

I was afraid that if I cried, it would confirm that I wasn’t having fun in college or living up to my expectations. But actually, it showed me it’s okay to have bad days and move on. College won’t always be easy, and settling in is a long process. But if you keep your head up, let yourself cry and let go of your expectations, you’ll find yourself truly happy with genuine people and unique experiences to show for it. When things don’t go your way, it’s okay to cry about it. It’s the college thing to do.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

KELLIE LU / AGGIE

MARY ANN LEM

ARTS & CULTURE

Review: The nihilism of nostalgia in ‘So Much (For) Stardust’

Fall Out Boy enters into a renewed classic rock era with their latest album

BY ADHITHI ANJALI arts@theaggie.org

The Arts Desk’s weekly picks for music, movies and more

BY RUMA POUDELL arts@theaggie.org

Movie: “Inception” dir. by Christopher Nolan (2010)

Although it’s over 10 years old now, this movie will forever be a favorite. “Inception” is a sci-fi thriller and heartbreaker. The first time I watched it, I cried (no joke) five times throughout the film. The way this movie captures heartache and suspense and has an open-ended conclusion is amazing. It details the journey of a man as he seeks to make his way back home through one last mission: implanting an idea into a business figure’s mind through his dreams.

Song: “Fantasy” by Kali Uchis ft. Don Toliver (2023)

From moving out at an early age and setting forth on her music career, Kali Uchis comes from humble beginnings and has since come a long way. Uchis is most known for her smooth transitions between singing in Spanish and English, meshing the two languages together so flawlessly that you’d think they’re one and the same. Her latest album, “Fantasy,” particularly strikes the soul as her angelic voice sings about dancing and having a lover who is equally, if not more so, in love with you as you are with them. This song will make you tap into the divine feminine, open to receiving and loving.

TV Show: “Malcolm in the Middle” (2000)

After the longest gap between albums since the group’s start, rock band Fall Out Boy dropped their first album since “MANIA” in 2018 on March 24.

The group’s eighth album, “So Much (For) Stardust,” returns to heavier guitars and a grander punch-drunk sound but rejects nostalgic boundaries, and it is refreshing to watch a band as established as this one continue to embrace change and refuse the nihilistic urge to let the past define them.

The first two songs, “Love From the Other Side” and “Heartbreak Feels So Good,” were released as promotional singles for the album. Both open with cinematic orchestral notes that are cut through by electric guitar, setting a dreamy, summery rock tone that is dying to be heard. The music’s springtime release is apt for the album’s sense of renewal.

After Fall Out Boy’s last couple of years, a few themes were expected of their return: post-”MANIA” criticism, calls to ‘return to the good, old days,’ the spiraling of the pandemic and

all to about the future, and how it is so suffocated by the past. From the fourth track, “Fake Out,” which has lyrics such as “We did it for futures that never came / And for pasts we’re never gonna change,” we see the suffocating stagnation of denying any meaning to the present moment. You can always try to break out of it, but then you lose any control you might have had.

In other ways, however, the album is a return to some of the band’s signature habits. Bassist Pete Wentz brought back his spoken word interludes in Track 10, “Baby Annihilation,” which have not been included on an album since 2008’s “Folie à Deux.” In “So

Good Right Now” and “What a Time to be Alive,” longtime fans might be reminded of the soul dance-pop sound of Patrick Stump’s 2011 solo album, “Soul Punk.” And what would a Fall Out Boy album be without a good rock ballad like “Heaven, Iowa” to show off their theatrical side?

Midway through the album, Ethan Hawkes’s monologue from the 1994

film “Reality Bites” is set to the sound of a rising score in the song “The Pink Seashell, feat. Ethan Hawke.” He talks about his driving philosophy of life, all based on a pink seashell his father gives him. The song insinuates that life is ultimately empty, but you can fill it with meaning. The title track, which serves as the album’s closer, brings us around to the same question introduced in “Love From the Other Side,” which is “What would you trade the pain for?” It’s a matter of letting the meaninglessness of life define you or forging a life that’s worthwhile, in spite of the fear. In a riff on old emo-punk expectations for the band, Fall Out Boy reconfigures these perceptions into a larger, cinematic composition with elements from their entire body of work. Of course, the album is not without corny lyrics or begrudging wit — but it’s the kind that makes you wonder how seriously you’re supposed to take it. It’s that teetering edge of meaninglessness, fun, the old and the new that marks this novel era of the band.

Commentary: Celebrating drag as art

Looking at the performance craft as more than a political tool

BY CORALIE LOON arts@theaggie.org

Earlier this month, Tennessee became the first state to pass a bill banning drag shows in public places, sparked by a fear of such shows “being harmful to minors.” Following the introduction of Tennessee Senate Bill 3, a slew of legislation restricting drag was introduced in other states across the country, including Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia. The politicization of this performance in many ways shadows the politicization of sexuality, gender expression and other parts of people’s personal lives.

The discussion of queer and trans rights is vital — human life, rights and autonomy are at stake. But the hyperpoliticization of drag in the media often causes us to overlook what the art form is at its core and why it’s so important to protect and cherish.

Drag has often been and continues to be used as a political tool. By nature, it challenges the norm by breaking and reinventing gender roles. One of the most basic definitions of drag is “performing in an exaggerated way that caricatures or challenges male or female stereotypes,” subverting societal expectations about the relationship between sex, gender identity and gender expression.

Drag is a vehicle for making statements, speaking out and expressing discontent with the status quo. But it also doesn’t have to be political in the same way that women growing out

their armpit or leg hair doesn’t have to be; it can just be a personal choice, a way to express oneself to increase selfacceptance and love. It can also just be, well, fun. It’s time to celebrate drag for what it is: art. Drag as art has been around for centuries. The term was coined during the era of Shakespeare when men would dress up to play women’s roles in the theater. The “first-ever” drag queen, William Dorsey Swann, was born enslaved in the 17th century, and after escaping enslavement, Swann hosted drag balls for Black men to celebrate and perform together. Drag has existed as an underground art style for most of its life, living on the fringes of society and providing a safe space for marginalized communities.

Drag resists politicization by blurring its own definitions. Far-right political movements attempt to legally confine drag through legislation, including the original Tennessee bill, which defined drag performers as “male or female impersonators.”

But this definition misses the whole point of drag — to detach “male” and “female” categories from gendered social constructions, to not impersonate bodies as much as to impersonate the norms and idealizations attached to those bodies.

Drag is about breaking boundaries and definitions because that is what art is about. Some define drag as performance mixed with genderfuck, or the bending of one’s gender expression,

identity or presentation. The presence of heterosexual, trans, cisgender and nonbinary drag performers prove drag’s inability to be defined as one thing.

Art that evades confinement is hard to limit through policy. CBS News talked about the politicization of drag and in doing so, addressed “common” questions people have about drag: Is drag sexual? Should children see or dress in drag? But these questions ignore drag for what it is: an art form and method of self-expression. Would you ask if a child should view or engage with art? Would you ask, “Is art sexual?”

These questions seem silly because we know that art evades definition and that all art is different. What defines it is not who it’s made for or what the final product is, but that something was created simply because someone felt compelled to create it.

People perform drag because it’s joyful. Drag can provide a sense of community when, according to Psychiatric Times, “29% of LGBTQ+ youth have experienced homelessness, been kicked out of their homes, or have run away.” Embodying a character outside of oneself has what is sometimes called a “Batman effect,” whereby individuals feel they can boost a sense of “perseverance during challenging situations, and increase [their] selfcontrol.”

Performing drag does not come without its challenges: social ostracization, discrimination and the monetary cost of performing, just

Growing up in the United States, this show was a staple of my childhood. I recently got into watching the show again and it still gives me the giggles. The dynamics between the siblings and their parents is heart-touching, realistic and really funny. My favorite character is Dewey, the toddler and youngest sibling, whose innocence is played on in one episode in which he gets close to “hot” babysitters while the older brothers desperately fail to do the same. The show’s jokes are silly and simple, but their delivery makes the show *chefs kiss.*

Song: “Taco Truck x VB” by Lana Del Rey (2023)

In case you haven’t heard, Lana released a new album recently. Like her other songs, this one has an edge to it while still harboring a soft feeling. I like songs that make you want to dance, and this one is perfect for that. There’s a strange mix of whispering and an alarm-like ringing at one point which makes my toes curl. While I could dance to this song, it’s also really chill and laid back if you just want to listen to something while doing other tasks, too.

to name a few. But people still do it because drag offers them liberation and autonomy in a world where queer and gender-nonconforming people are prevented from fully realizing these feelings in day-to-day life. And drag’s impacts go far beyond the performer — an article by the University of Northampton says that people who watched U.K. drag shows on TV described it as boosting their confidence and soothing feelings of

anxiety and depression.

In their horror-drag competition show, the Boulet Brothers say it best: “Drag is art, and art is subjective.” Drag can be political, but it is also much deeper and more personal. Drag is joy. Drag is catharsis. Drag is autonomy. Drag is necessary because when we threaten art, we threaten all that is human within us. Most importantly, drag is a human right.

NATALIE CHENG / AGGIE

Cover of Fall Out Boy’s upcoming album, So Much (for) Stardust. (Courtesy of Fall Out Boy / fair use)

Commentary: Why do many K-dramas have such similar storylines?

Many of these popular shows follow plots that are too common and expected

BY SARAH HAN arts@theaggie.org

K-dramas are one of the most popular TV genres today. From romance to thriller, they tell stories that keep audiences on their toes. However, after watching one K-drama after another, there seems to be a recurring storyline for every type: romance K-dramas display a Cinderella-esque relationship between the male character(s) and female character, action K-dramas plot two groups against each other, thriller K-dramas center around the theme of capitalism and so on.

Arguably the most popular type of K-drama is romance. With the exception of a few, most romance dramas draw more sympathy for the female characters by categorizing them as socially poor or comparably worse off than their male counterparts. For example, “Our Beloved Summer” tells the story of Kook Yeon-soo and Choi Ung’s relationship, in which Yeon-soo, the female character, is unhappy with her life after high school while Choi Ung, the male character, is more than content.

Another popular drama is “Boys

Over Flowers,” which follows the classic “rich guy, poor girl” trope: Geum Jan-di is a working-class girl that encounters the “F4,” which refers to the four richest boys in school.

Part of the reason for the recurring Cinderella trope in K-dramas might be due to its expectedness, as the female and male protagonists always eventually end up together. Another part of it might be that it’s a fantasized plot many viewers are drawn to. Regardless of the reason, the prevalence of the trope

makes it harder to distinguish between individual shows.

The same plot does not only apply to romance K-dramas; in fact, action

K-dramas nearly always plot two groups against each other. A prime example is the drama “IRIS,” in which IRIS is a group that rebels against the government. Throughout the entire series, the main characters Kim Hyunjun, Jin Sa-woo and Choi Seung-hee face tumultuous situations while trying to defeat the supposedly evil IRIS group.

More recent examples include “Awaken,” a 2020 drama about a group of police officers and detectives that attempt to detect who initiated the mysterious murders occurring across the country. This drama similarly focuses on one morally good group of people attempting to prevent a supposedly evil group from doing harm to society.

Action K-dramas, although they can have twists here and there, are expected to have the main group of characters “win” over the evil group. It’s a popular storyline among viewers because the expected ending garners a sense of satisfaction at the conclusion of the series.

The themes of K-dramas also tend to be similar or borderline identical. This is most prominent in thriller K-dramas, in which the most common theme surrounds the inequalities of capitalism and the stringent division between the rich and poor.

Netflix’s hit series “Squid Game” upholds the theme of social inequality particularly well. Players of the game compete against each other

The best Dark Academia books to read before winter is over

Unfolding the origins of the literary subgenre and aesthetic

NATALIE CHENG / AGGIE

to win millions of dollars, while the headmasters comfortably enjoy watching the players get killed and eliminated round after round. The main theme of the drama is humans’ inherent desperation for money and the point at which that desperation forces them to put their lives on the line to obtain as much money as possible.

Another example includes the Netflix K-drama “Little Women,” which follows the financially disadvantaged Oh family as they are intertwined with the wealthiest family in South Korea, the Parks. Similar to “Squid Game,” this drama sheds light on social inequality by contrasting the poverty of the Oh family day-to-day with the lavish lifestyle of the Parks.

Social inequality seems to be a particularly common theme because it is one of the most foundational problems in society today. Therefore, by airing shows that highlight the extremities of this issue, K-dramas can pull in viewers that empathize with the characters facing economic challenges and envy those who aren’t.

Are similar storylines exclusive to K-dramas? Probably not. Other sitcoms, Netflix series and even movies follow similar storylines that overlap with each other. However, considering that K-dramas are noticeably similar to one another, many of their endings and structures feel too expected and common.

Review: ‘1984’ is a twisted ode to faith

The politically dystopian classic highlights how we’re seemingly stuck in the systems we’re born into

BY RUMA POUDELL arts@theaggie.org

“1984” is a dystopian novel by George Orwell focused on politics and faith. The book details the journey of Winston, a rebel filled with lust for freedom of thought. Though published in 1949, many have said that the classic is still just as relevant today as it was when initially released.

by The Party. For example, he points out that war is constantly overfunded to keep the production and labor of people concentrated on irrelevant fights. This keeps resources away from areas such as education and health, which would lead to a more intelligent population that could overturn the system itself.

BY CORALIE LOON arts@theaggie.org

With spring just around the corner, lovers of the darkest and coldest time of the year are savoring the last moments of winter. One way to make use of the last few weeks of the rainy season is to stay inside, curl up with a warm drink and get lost in a good book.

Dark Academia, a literary subgenre and aesthetic that has gained considerable popularity in the last decade, may be perfect for lovers of mystery, historical fiction, academic settings and sometimes even fantasy. According to L’Officiel, while the term Dark Academia “first appeared on the blogging platform Tumblr around 2015,” the genre is widely accepted to have been sparked by Donna Tartt’s 1992 novel, “The Secret History.”

Book Riot defines Dark Academia as “a book which features an academic setting, like a college or boarding school, and usually features some kind of a dark twist.” L’Officiel cites common elements of Dark Academia as classical literature, European art, gothic architecture and the appearance of “puzzles, murder, danger, cults and secret clubs.” This element of darkness, which distinguishes it from “light” and much more romanticized academia, often serves as a commentary on the “darkness” of elitist culture.

For those who grew up reading “Harry Potter,” Dark Academia has a certain appeal as the grown-up version of the magical, anachronistic highschool drama. If any of these elements sound intriguing, here are some of the best Dark Academia books to read this year:

“The Secret History” by Donna Tartt (1992) It’s hard to find any list of Dark Academia books without “The Secret History” on it. This modern classic is an immersive, slow and simmering story of murder within a group of college students. The story is narrated by Richard Papen, who, after beginning to attend college in New England, attempts to join an exclusive ancient Greek program that is as small and intriguing as it is elusive. Naturally, things don’t go as planned. What makes this book interesting is not the murder itself, but the coy way the narrative structure frames the murder and slowly

uncovers all that happens leading up to and following the pivotal moment.

There’s a reason this book is often called the original Dark Academia novel: its atmospheric and immersive tone, the presence of a mysterious “society” and its literature-loving and elitist cast of characters all cumulate into this memorable plunge into corruption and moral ambiguity.

“Vita Nostra” by Maryna and Serhiy Dyachenko (2007)

Originally written in Russian and translated by Julia Meitov Hersey, this novel combines references to Dark Academia with heavy doses of fantasy and existential dread. “Vita Nostra” follows a young woman, Sasha, who encounters a mysterious man while vacationing by the beach. Sasha is manipulated into following the stranger’s requests, which are increasingly bizarre and revealed to be part of an initiation into a school she’s never heard of: The Institute of Special Technologies. The story follows her journey through an education that seems to baffle as much as it teaches.

“Vita Nostra” is not for the casual reader: it is dark, ambiguous and detached from the physical world. A Goodreads user by the name of “Rincey” compared the book to “Harry Potter,” if it was written by Kafka. A better definition would be hard to come by.

“If We Were Villains” by M.L. Rio (2017) Another classic on the Dark Academia bookshelf, “If We Were Villains” is the most similar to “The Secret History” out of the books on this list. It follows Oliver, a man who was imprisoned for supposedly murdering a fellow classmate in his college days, as he explains the truth of the event to a detective. Similar to “The Secret History,” “If We Were Villains” follows a group of friends brought together by a similar interest: in this case, Shakespeare. As the story progresses, interpersonal relationships grow and tensions bubble, slowly blurring the lines between theatrics and reality.

The story takes place in a society run by “The Party,” which consists of the Ministry of Truth, Ministry of Peace and Ministry of Love. The three groups work together to uphold The Party’s power over civilians, but the extent to which The Party governs their people is daunting. There is something called the “Thought Police,” which monitors peoples’ whereabouts, expressions and any signs of thought that do not align with the values of The Party.

Orwell details ways in which The Party psychologically manipulates people. Families are turned against each other as children are trained to rat out any misconduct of parents. Affection or fondness towards another is extinguished through anti-love sex education and other forms of propaganda — since it may lead to passions that do not further The Party’s agenda. Despite the extreme lengths that The Party goes to, Orwell ties the novel back to the real world. He writes about socialism, capitalism and how we are, all in a way, bound to the system just as Winston is stuck in his world governed

Other than in Winston’s own thoughts and diaries, where he lets rebellious thoughts manifest, his first introduction to rebellion is through a mysterious love interest, Julia. She’s introduced as a “spy” that Winston despises at first — that is until he receives a random note from her with “I love you” written on it.

As someone who usually finds fast-paced love stories distasteful, I actually enjoyed this one because there was an animalistic sense of passion to it — loving for the sake of loving and escaping from a world that is against the very thing you are doing. It’s especially interesting because Orwell emphasizes that their hookups are a political act — something comparable to modernday hookup culture, which some find liberating, while others disagree.

What makes “1984” so enjoyable is Winston’s journey to find “The Brotherhood,” an organization that rebels against The Party.

As the book progresses, The Brotherhood introduces itself to Winston just as suddenly as love does.

He meets an old friend who invites him to a meeting where he is given The Brotherhood’s book of ideology.

Just as hope arises that there may be a way out of the dystopian reign, the book does a complete turn, and it is revealed that the very friend who introduced Winston to the rebel group is the one who tortures him back into submission on behalf of The Party.

Throughout the book, Orwell emphasizes that Winston’s love for Julia is the one thing he will never betray. While being tortured, he is subject to pain, fear and forced confessions of treason. Holding on for lengths of time unknown for certain, he becomes frail and weak. Finally, after The Party subjects him to his greatest fear, he gives up and begs for his lover to be tortured instead.

Upon reading how Winston and his love both end up betraying each other to ensure their own survival, “1984” leaves you wondering what, and who, to put your faith in, as well as to what extent you would go to keep said faith intact and for what reasons. Would you stick with it even if there was no way for your dreams or beliefs to come to fruition, just as Winston’s dream of living without constant surveillance? Or would you prioritize survival at the cost of your free will?

on

Covers of “1984” for George Drwell (Courtesy / The Guardian)

Theatrical release poster of Little Women. (Courtesy of Netflix / fair use)

Davis Joint Unified School District implements new instructional calendar for 2023-24 school year

The calendar now observes Indigenous People’s Day

BY ALMA CULVERWELL city@theaggie.org

Last March, the Davis Joint Unified School District (DJUSD) approved a new instructional calendar for the upcoming 2023-24 school year. The new calendar’s changes include observing Indigenous People’s Day on Oct. 9, starting school on Aug. 22 and ending school on June 6. This calendar was implemented following an agreement between teachers and parents that a day off between the start of school and winter break would be appropriate.

Laura Juanitas, the DJUSD associate superintendent of student support services, explained the justification for the shift in the instructional calendar.

“The committee wanted to explore whether having a day off [in the fall] may give people a bit of a break, maybe reduce stress and also honor Indigenous People’s Day,” Juanitas said. Cara Messmore, DJUSD Director of Student Support Services, said that the change is being implemented in part as a way to support student and teacher mental health

“An extra day off offers an opportunity for self-care,” Messmore said. “I encourage staff and students to identify something they can look forward to each month, no matter how small. The new calendar provides an

opportunity for staff and students to plan a quick getaway, take a fall hike, make plans with friends or just enjoy an additional sleep in. Staff tending to their mental health prevents burnout which allows them greater job satisfaction and allows them to create the conditions for students to feel connected and thrive.”

Parents and teachers completed a survey so that committee members could get a sense of what day off would work best to accommodate people’s working schedules. They originally looked into taking more than one day off, but after the survey they settled on only one. Over two-thirds of the people

Oddli: the sustainable clothing brand embracing the inner child within all of us

BY ANA BACH arts@theaggie.org

Oddli is a sustainably sourced clothing brand co-created by Jensen Neff and Ellie Chen. The two decided to pursue this business venture while in their senior years at Stanford University after finding out just how much fabric goes to waste in the fashion industry.

“The initial idea for Oddli came after we were invited down together to shoot at Patagonia’s creative headquarters in Ventura,” Neff, who is the Creative Head of the brand, said. “After seeing the way that their business functioned, [while] simultaneously being at Stanford, watching girls overnight order (and me included) clothing pieces to wear for a formal the next day,” they were inspired to start their line.

Oddli’s clothing is mainly made up of leftover scrap fabric. There are roughly 14 million pounds of fabric left over every day in the clothing industry, and in creating a brand that recycles excess materials from larger fast fashion companies, Oddli creates clothing that actually contributes to the overall health of the planet. Each piece is made from a unique array of these fabrics, leaving each buyer with a special story of creation tied to their clothing.

Neff said that Stanford’s Capstone Project requirement provided the two with the necessary mentorship and encouragement they needed to move forward with their business venture.

“We started by tackling the waste issue in the industry,” Neff said. “We had gained an 8,000-person waitlist and did 50,000 [orders] in pre-order in one month. Then we said, ‘Let’s go test it for one year in Los Angeles.’ Now it has been two years and we just got our first full-time employee and office space.”

Neff said that the inspiration for the brand name came from a Shel Silverstein poem. “Falling Up” inspired the feeling that the two wanted for the brand.

“We wanted that feeling of falling up in a name,” Neff said. “I think the name couldn’t be more fitting.”

The brand releases a limited product line, which the founders say is meant to shift the culture that is charged with a constant need to endlessly produce new pieces to keep consumers interested. Oddli hopes buyers will treasure fewer pieces for a longer period of time.

Oddli’s products have been showcased on a handful of influencers’

TikTok and Instagram accounts. Neff stated that the best way to grow the brand has been through “intentional gifting.”

“I really look for people who have creative passions [and those] who have small businesses or are building platforms around something,” Neff said.

“Gifting-wise, I choose what I think they would like.”

Still, in the early stages of brand building, Oddli is looking to grow an even bigger sustainable business. While other companies in the fashion industry aim to grow the product line physically by constantly producing new items, Oddli is looking to resourcefully takes what has already been put into the material world and spin it into something new.

“I believe that the world needs Oddli,” Neff said. “The vision overall is to become what will be Gen-Z’s ethical clothing brand, and what would be the replacement for Urban Outfitters or Brandy Melville. I will do anything it takes to get there and I think the way that we market is going to shift,

especially in this next year.”

In addition to prioritizing sustainability, Oddli also sets itself apart by prioritizing connecting with buyers. Neff emphasized the impact that brands have on shaping our identities.

“The way that a brand could help me define myself and stand for my values was unmatched,” Neff said.

“One of my favorite things that we have been hearing a ton with Oddli is that anytime someone wears it and someone else comes up to them, I think they automatically feel a connection as well as an overall kindness. I hope that Oddli stands for not taking ourselves too seriously while also feeling cool and sexy and any of those things that we want to be.”

Neff spoke about where she sees the brand going within the next year.

“The goal for this year is growth,” Neff said. “We really want it to be the year where Oddli reaches so many more eyes [...] I am just in love with the world we are building. I want more people to be a part of it.”

surveyed responded that they would be open to taking a day off during the month of October.

Although instructional calendars are typically approved for three years at a time, this new calendar was only approved for the 2023-24 year. Joe DiNunzio, the school board trustee for area 3, reflected on the impacts of this change and what future schedules might look like.

“I believe that providing a day off on Oct. 9 to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day will be very well received by our students, teachers and community members,” DiNunzio said. “It allows us

to honor the cultures and histories of the Native American people and provides a needed long weekend for students and staff in the fall. The calendar was approved for only the 2023-24 school year, and the District will review the impact of the change before deciding to either propose renewing this calendar or recommending additional changes.” The updated instructional calendar will be implemented with the start of the 2023-24 school year on Aug. 22, 2023.

EWOCC

FROM PAGE 3

The conference concluded with a panel Q&A with local community leaders and healers about how attendees can cultivate and maintain joy for themselves. One of the panelists, Nakia Woods, spoke about her experience as a Black former student at UC Berkeley. She said Black students were often policed for expressing joy at public events on campus.

“It’s not really safe for women of color to experience joy in public,” said Alex Badaoui, the panel coordinator for the EWOCC. “I think that there [are] not a lot of spaces to be vulnerable either. And we created that space to do it together.”

Woods and other panelists reminded attendees that everyone should still experience joy freely, even in the face

of adversity.

“We have to be the example of how we want to see others interact and create community and let that feeling linger with individuals so they can spread it throughout others in their lives and in their network,” Badaoui said.

The conference was an opportunity for women of color to learn from community leaders who have shared experiences and benefited from the spaces created. Each year, EWOCC continues to create a space that welcomes returning community members, like Ojeda, and draws in new attendees, like De Santiago.

“It taught me a lot, and I’m really excited to go back next year,” De Santiago said.

DARKACADEMIA

FROM PAGE 7

“If We Were Villains” is captivating, dramatic and hard to put down, making it a more favorable read for those who found “The Secret History” to be too meandering. Despite its commitment to almost all the tropes of Dark Academia literature, it reads as a fresh and memorable take on a Shakespearean tragedy.

“Maurice” by E.M. Forster (1971)

Not published until a year after the author’s death, “Maurice” is not usually viewed as a member of the Dark Academia subgenre. However, its setting at a university, focus on interpersonal relationships and involvement with literature, art and Greek culture make it a prototype of the genre’s eventual development. “Maurice” follows the life of a young man growing up and

grappling with his sexual identity. While studying at Cambridge University, he begins to fall in love with his classmate, Clive, and develops a relationship that is strained by both parties’ inability to commit to something they find morally unjustifiable.

“Maurice” lacks the elements that make it clearly “dark” — no murder occurs and nothing supernatural pokes through the surface. But it is also not clearly “light” academia — it critiques elitist culture and the heteronormative world it produces rather than romanticizing them. At the heart of “Maurice” is the theme that appears again and again in Dark Academia: characters who are rejected by the outside world and must create their own version of social reality.

One of the company’s founders, Jensen Neff, discusses how clothing can be ethically sourced and playfully vibrant

Jensen Neff, left, and Ellie Chen, right, co-founders of Oddli. (Courtesy / Jensen Neff)

Sudoku

Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row, column and 3x3 square must contain each digit. Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing.

Crossword

HUMOR

Spring Break

BY LIDYA SHCHERBAKOVA lvshcherbakova@ucdavis.edu

Disclaimer: This cartoon is humor and/or satire, and its content is purely fictional. The story and names of “sources” are fictionalized.

Daylight saving time: Is it worth the change?

Negative health implications go beyond just a lost hour of sleep

BY LILLY ACKERMAN science@theaggie.org

Every year, the clocks “spring forward” in March for most of the United States, giving us later sunsets until we “fall backward” in November. However, this comes at the price of one hour of sleep and misalignment with the morning light — penalties that actually have some serious effects on human health and well-being.

Dr. Heinrich Gompf, a sleep medicine researcher in UC Davis Health’s Department of Neurological Surgery, explained that daylight saving time was originally put in place to conserve energy during World War I and II. By extending daylight later into the evening times, people would use less electricity when they got home from work, allowing more of this energy to be used for war resources.

We still follow this annual system today, but sleep researchers have found that it has negative effects on our circadian rhythms and thus our health. This has led to questions about whether it is worth continuing, especially since energy efficiency has improved drastically since daylight saving time’s inception.

“All organisms have an internal timekeeping mechanism known as the circadian clock which runs an approximately 24-hour rhythm of gradually increasing and decreasing hormone levels,” Gompf said via email. “This approximate clock needs to get reset every morning with light [...] But when we change our clocks to daylight savings time in the spring, that light cue isn’t there.”

According to Temitayo OyegbileChidi, a neurologist specializing in childhood and adult sleep disorders and an associate professor of neurology at UC Davis Health, a misaligned circadian rhythm can negatively affect human health in a variety of ways.

“[D]uring the first week of change to daylight saving time, there are more motor vehicle accidents, especially in the morning, more strokes and heart attacks and more complaints of sleep problems amongst people than any other time of the year,” Oyegbile-Chidi said via email.

Researchers have even seen relief

AGGIE FILE

from these effects when we “fall backward” in autumn, suggesting that there is a chronic de-synchronization for the entire duration of daylight saving time.

“I’m sure you have noticed that during daylight saving period, you may go out and stay out later, eat later, watch TV later, etc.,” Oyegbile-Chidi said. “All these activities misalign with the natural body clock which expects more sunlight in the early morning instead of the late evening. There is evidence that this misalignment over time may contribute to other health

issues including cancers and metabolic disorders such as diabetes.”

Luckily, there are ways to minimize these negative effects for a better experience navigating the time change.

“The best thing to do is to get as much natural, outdoor light as possible, as early in the day following the clock change as you can,” Gompf said. “Otherwise […] [another way] is to eat only a very light meal for dinner the evening before the clock change. This will then help you be hungry enough to have your first meal of the day after the clock change—for most people that’s

breakfast, but for some it’s lunch—an hour earlier.”

Oyegbile-Chidi also recommended to shift your sleep 10 to 15 minutes every day for the week leading up to the time change as a way to ease into the new schedule. Ultimately, due to the health implications it has and the difficult adjustment it brings, both Gompf and Oyegbile-Chidi, along with the National Sleep Foundation and other national sleep organizations, recommend that we move away from the time change in the future.

“Given the negative health effects of changing the clock, it is now no longer worth it,” Gompf said. “The Sleep Research Society, which I am part of, as well as all other major sleep and medical associations recommend not changing the clock anymore.” Although those extra long summer nights would be missed, our bodies would thank us in both the shortand long-term if daylight saving time ended for good. In the meantime, the recommendations above might alleviate some of the annual strain.

International study on Duchenne muscular dystrophy allows for future research opportunities

The study analyzes disease progression to provide a

foundation for new treatments

BY KATIE HELLMAN science@theaggie.org

The UC Davis Health Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is launching an international study on the history of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in collaboration with the Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group (CINRG) and the Therapeutic Research in Neuromuscular Disorder Solutions.

DMD is an inherited disorder that primarily affects males and is characterized by progressive muscle weakness. It presents itself at birth and can affect heart, lung and bone health.

The Duchenne Natural History Study aims to collect information from clinics around the world on the progression of DMD in people of different ages. The data will be used to conduct further research into new

treatment options. Erik K. Henricson, the co-principal investigator on the study and an associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, commented on the goals of the study.

“[We’re] not just looking at the rates of loss of strength of a specific muscle group but how that contributes to overall mobility,” Henricson said.

“And using statistical techniques, [we’re looking at] what we can do to develop predictive models or get information from a patient today to predict where we think they’re going to be diseaseprogress wise two to four years from now. Not everybody progresses at the same rate; the trajectories can be different enough that the milestones we tend to see, such as the loss of ability to

perform certain functions, can occur at different times.”

The project builds upon a previous study by UC Davis scientists and CINRG collaborators. The study, which ran from 2003 to 2016, included 20 institutions from nine countries and consisted of 440 families. Changes in physical abilities, the severity of health issues and the ways in which patients utilized healthcare services were analyzed throughout the duration of the study. That study aimed to “longitudinally assess body function and body structure (impairment) through the measurement of anthropometrics, muscle strength and pulmonary function” and to “assess participation, life satisfaction, service utilization and health-related quality

of life in subjects with DMD.”

Craig M. McDonald, the coprincipal investigator of the 2003-2016 study and a professor in and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, commented on his work regarding DMD research in an article by Newswise.

“It is incredibly rewarding as a physician scientist to generate natural history data and develop novel clinical endpoints used in clinical trials, and I have been excited to be able to offer my patients precision therapeutics that target the underlying causes of neuromuscular diseases and modifying the course of these complex multisystem diseases,” McDonald said. Researchers also discovered biomarkers associated with disease

progression. These findings led them to identify how common genetic variations could alter patterns and rates of DMD progression, which can be used to develop methods to prevent DMD from occurring. “There are a number of really cool new technologies out there that are capable of causing the body to skip over mutated parts of the genes, often called exon skipping,” Henricson said. “As a result, you often get a shorter but mostly functional dystrophin protein, which actually helps to create stronger muscle cells and to reduce the impact of the disease.”

JOANNE SUN / AGGIE

BASEBALL

World Baseball Classic Recap

Team Japan claims their third World Baseball Classic Title

BY CAROLYN (CARI) FENN sports@theaggie.org

Following a final matchup between U.S. captain center fielder Mike Trout and Japan’s captain pitcher Shohei Ohtani, Team Japan took home the World Baseball Classic title, beating the U.S. 3-2. This is Japan’s third World Baseball Classic championship; they claimed two previous championships in 2006 and 2009.

While many predicted that Team USA and Team Japan would make it into the latter stages of the tournament, the impressive performances by many of the other countries shifted the odds of who would win the tournament. With unexpected performances and surprise upsets, no team’s position in the tournament was secure.

The biggest upset that came from the tournament was the Dominican Republic, who was predicted by many to have the best chance of winning the championship. However, the Dominicans did not end up making it past the pool rounds, placing third

BASEBALL

behind Venezuela and Puerto Rico with a 2-2 record. Despite having a star-studded roster full of MLB stars, they exited the series after the four-game minimum slate.

What exactly went wrong for the Dominican Republic could have been the result of a range of factors. The onegame structure of the tournament, the loss of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and others just before their first game and even unlucky pooling are just a few factors that contributed to their early exit from the tournament. While it is hard to predict how the Dominican Republic would have performed if events had played out differently, one thing that is certain is that the talent of the other countries and their players had been greatly underestimated.

The four teams that surprised many with their performances — leading to many unexpected upsets — were Australia, Mexico, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

Australia’s success in Pool B came as a shock, as they beat out Korea for the runner-up spot to advance to the quarterfinals against Japan. Many believed that Korea and Japan were going to be the obvious winners of the pool, but following Australia’s 8-7 win against Korea, it became clear that the odds of Australia advancing over Korea were high. Venezuela and Puerto Rico were the two teams to advance in Pool D, beating out the favored Dominican Republic. With Venezuela’s 4-0 record, they were guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals. The final pool game between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic solidified Puerto Rico’s quarterfinals spot after a 5-2 win.

Mexico was one of the two teams to advance from Pool C, beating out Team USA for the first spot. While it was expected that they had a chance to advance along with the United States, many were surprised by their

win over the powerhouse team. Mexico beat Team USA 11-5, dominating the star-studded team and forcing the U.S. to face Canada to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.

Unfortunately for Puerto Rico, Australia and Venezuela, they were not able to keep their winning streaks going in the quarterfinal round. Venezuela lost to the U.S. 9-7 after a grand slam by Trea Turner in the top of the eighth inning, securing Team USA’s lead and eventual win. Puerto Rico was unable to score after the first inning and lost to Mexico 5-4. Australia lost in a close matchup against Cuba with a final score of 4-3.

Following their win over Team USA, Mexico’s ongoing success continued as they advanced further in the tournament than they ever have before. In the quarterfinals, the team beat Puerto Rico 5-4 to advance to the semifinals where they faced Japan for the chance to make it to the championship

game. Despite eventually losing to Japan 6-5, they were able to hold a secure lead until the bottom of the ninth inning when Japan’s Munetaka Murakami’s walk-off double scored them two runs, securing the last-minute victory over Mexico to face Team USA in the final.

The final matchup between Japan and the United States was one of the most anticipated games of the whole series. With Los Angeles Angels teammates Ohtani and Trout leading their respective teams, it was clear that the game was going to be a tough battle. After five seasons together as teammates in the MLB, this was the first time the two MVPs had to face each other at the plate.

After a close game, the final atbat came down to the two long-time teammates, with Trout at the plate and Ohtani on the mound. Then, with a full count, Ohtani struck out Trout swinging to secure Japan’s 3-2 win and the country’s third World Baseball Classic title.

Japan was able to go undefeated in the entire tournament, beating every team that they faced. And, on top of leading his team to victory after striking out his MLB teammate in the biggest faceoff of the tournament, Ohtani won MVP for his impressive performance both on the mound and the plate.

The World Baseball Classic was full of impressive defensive plays, crazy home runs and unexpected performances by many. While Japan’s win was not a shock to many, the impressive performance put on by all the teams showed that it was anyone’s game at any point. When the most talented players from each country face off against one another, it is difficult to predict who among them will lead their team to victory.

The World Baseball Classic will return in 2026 for its sixth installment. With players retiring and new talent that is still yet to come, it is impossible to know who will take home the title in three years’ time.

Aggies lose back and forth game against the Titans

UC Davis’s baseball team drops game two of three-game series to CSU Fullerton, 6-4

BY PATRICK FIGUEROA sports@theaggie.org

On Saturday, March 25, the Aggies faced off against the CSU Fullerton Titans in game two of a three-game series. This marked the second series of conference play — conference play began the week before when the Aggies played against the CSUN Matadors. Coming off of an 11-2 loss the day before, the Aggies looked to rebound and even the series.

The Aggies’ starting pitcher was second-year left-hander Bryan Green. Entering the game, Green had a respectable 3.54 earned run average (ERA). He faced off against Fullerton redshirt third-year right-handed pitcher Trevor Hinkel. Hinkel had a less stellar 9.25 ERA, but he did not let prior failures affect his performance on this day.

In Green’s first time through the batting order, he only allowed one baserunner — a walk to Titans firstyear infielder Eli Lopez in the top of the third inning. Through three innings, Green struck two batters out and forced weak contact that allowed his defense to make routine plays. On the other hand, Hinkel struck out two batters as well, but he got some help from second-year center fielder Moises Guzman. Guzman made two incredible catches on deep fly balls that would have likely been extra base hits in the first and third inning.

Green continued his strong outing in the fourth and fifth inning as his defense made spectacular plays along the way. To get the first out of the fourth inning, The Aggies’ third-year second baseman Alex Gouveia made an impressive throw on the run to first base. In the fifth inning, the Aggies’ third-year catcher Jack Gallagher threw out Titans third-year Brendan Bobo, as he tried to steal second base. Through five innings, Green did not give up a single hit.

After four scoreless innings, the Aggies’ offense woke up in the bottom of the fifth inning. To start the inning, first-year Braydon Wooldrige got on first base with help from a Titans fielding error. Then, second-year Nick Leehey hit a double that allowed Wooldridge to advance to third base. With runners on second and third base, second-year Mark Wolbert smacked a single to center field that scored both runners. The Aggies took a 2-0 lead.

Fullerton would respond in the top of the sixth inning. After two runners got on first and second base, Titans third-year Nate Nankil hit a double that scored one runner and advanced

another to third. Titans fourth-year Carter Wright drove in another run on a fielder’s choice, tying the game. Shortly after, the Titans had two outs but runners on first and second base in the sixth inning. The Aggies substituted Green with redshirt thirdyear pitcher Kaden Hogan. The Titans’ Moises Guzman hit a single to center field that scored one runner. However, as the Aggies tried to throw a runner out at third base, the ball went past the third baseman, third-year Nick Iverson, and, thus, allowed Fullerton to score another run. Hogan struck out the final batter, but the damage was done. The Aggies trailed, 4-2.

Replacing Hinkel, Titans fourthyear pitcher Fynn Chester entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.

He did not allow a hit for this inning.

However, the Aggies’ pitcher Kaden Hogan did the same through the top

of the seventh inning.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Aggies had another rally. Wooldridge, Wolbert and third-year Nick Iverson all got on base to load the bases with only one out. Third-year Damian Stone came up to the plate. He took ball one and fouled off the second pitch. With a 1-1 count, Stone hit a single to center field, driving in two runners. The Aggied and Titans were now tied at four runs. However, the Aggies could not take the lead despite having runners on first and second base in the inning.

In the top of the eighth inning, Fullerton regained their lead. With one out and runners on first and second base, Titans third-year Caden Connor hit a double to right field that drove in a runner. Hogan was substituted by utility player Danny Carrion. Carrion proceeded to walk Guzman, loading the

bases. On the following pitch, he hit the batter, Bobo, which allowed Fullerton to take a 6-4 lead. However, despite having bases loaded and only one out, Carrion forced a pop-up and struck out the following batter to get out of the inning. The Aggies threatened in the bottom of the eighth inning. Gouveia hit a leadoff double. Shortly after, Wooldridge hit a single that allowed Gouveia to advance to third. With runners on the corners (first and third base) and one out, Leehey came up to the plate. He hit the ball hard, but it resulted in a lineout to second base. With Wolbert stepping up to the plate, the Titans substituted Chester with left-handed third-year Jojo Ingrassia.

Wolbert had a hit in each one of his three prior at bats, but Ingrassia got the best of him as he struck Wolbert out to end the inning.

Carrion held the Titans hitless in the top of the ninth inning. Down 6-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Aggies needed another rally. Ingrassia remained in the game and forced a ground out against Iverson. Stone managed to reach first base after he got hit by a pitch, but the Aggies could not muster any other baserunners. The Titans secured a 6-4 victory, winning the three game series and improving their win-loss record to 10-8. The Aggies’ loss dropped their record to 6-12. Unfortunately, for the Aggies, they did not win a game against Fullerton. They lost the following day, 4-1. However, they went on to beat Loyola Marymount on Monday, March 27, 103. With this win, the Aggies have now won more games this season than they did all of last season. For a program in its second year under Head Coach Tommy Nicholson, this is a sign of progression.

Recap of the UC Davis Aggies against the Cal State Fullerton Titans game. (Sean Vanderaa / Aggie)

JOANNE SUN / AGGIE