April 6, 2017

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the California Aggie

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University of California spent almost $1 million on Katehi investigation Katehi responds to criticism that she should have resigned earlier

CIERA PASTUREL / AGGIE FILE

BY JAYASHRI PA D M A N A B H AN campus@theaggie.org

The Sacramento Bee reported on March 24 that nearly $1 million was spent investigating former UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi, according to information released by the UC Office of the President (UCOP). Last April, UC President Janet Napolitano ordered a four-month investigation into various allegations against Katehi. The investigation focused on Katehi’s acceptance of board seats for DeVry Education Group and textbook publisher John Wiley & Sons, improper use of student fees, nepotism and involvement in the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars to public relations firms to clean up her and the university’s online reputations after the 2011 pepper spray incident. Katehi resigned on August 9, 2016, the same day the investigative report was released. She was offered a year’s salary with benefits while placed on leave. The probe was conducted by the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliff LLP. Dianne Klein, the press secretary and executive director of strategic communications of the Office of the President, provided a statement to The Bee regarding the exact cost of the investigation. “After taking into account the discounted hourly billing rates and

other fee accommodations that the firm agreed to, the final cost to UC will be $988,142.75 for Orrick’s fees and expenses,” Klein wrote in an email to The Bee. “The funds used to pay for the investigation come from the presidential endowment, which does not include any state or tuition dollars.” Many people feel that the amount of money spent on the investigation could have been allocated elsewhere to provide more resources to students and faculty. “The big losers in this are the students at the University of California, Davis specifically, and the University of California generally,” said Ed Howard, of the Center for Public Interest Law, to The Bee. “If you think of the number of scholarships or the number of computers, or the excellent professors or programs that could have been paid for with that nearly million dollars, that is just tragic.” Connor Gorman, a fourth-year graduate student in the Physics Department who was an active participant in the Fire Katehi movement, expressed a similar sentiment. “Obviously I think it’s ridiculous,” Gorman said. “That money could have been used for other things [...] on students, we need so many things. We need more counselors, we need more housing, we need more classes. Tuition also just increased.” Gorman also expressed his displeasure with the lack of credit given

VOLUME 135, ISSUE 21 | THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

to activists — who held protests and camped out in Mrak Hall for weeks — for their contribution in Katehi’s resignation, since it was amid this student activism that Napolitano put Katehi on a paid leave. According to Klein, Katehi was placed on paid leave because she refused Napolitano’s request for her resignation. “ As you know — but it bears repeating — all of this could have been avoided had Katehi resigned as chancellor of UC Davis as President Napolitano had asked,” Klein wrote in her email to The Bee. “Instead, in direct contravention to the agreement she and the president had made to keep the matter confidential until the terms of the resignation could be finalized, the chancellor waged a public campaign to keep her position while at the same time denying any wrongdoing. Katehi believes that the investigation last year and the allegations presented against her were not represented well by the statements made by the UCOP, having sent out several tweets against the article by the Davis Enterprise. One tweet read: “I have been working in Higher Ed in the US for 38 years. This is the first time I have experienced this treatment.” Katehi feels that the UCOP was trying to place the blame on her for the expensive investigation. “The only thing a President has to do is to ask the Chancellor to leave the position,” Katehi said. “That happens all the time and there are many respectful ways to allow the Chancellor to step down from the position.” Katehi maintains that she and her family were threatened and that she was asked to leave her position without any proof that she violated the trust of the university or the law. “I was asked to leave the university and I am a distinguished faculty member. I have tenure,” Katehi said. “There is a process the UC Senate takes if tenure is to be removed for a faculty member.” Katehi believes the whole development of the investigation could have been avoided if the UC president had asked her to step down from chancellor by justifying the accusations instead of threatening her and her family. “There was no need for an investigation,” Katehi said. “The only thing that the president should have done was tell me for all the reasons she wanted me to step down from my position. But this is not what happened. What happened was that I was threatened that I and my family will be investigated unless I would leave the university, not just the chancellor position. [...] I am a member of the National Academy of Engineering and am one of the most cited engineering women in the U.S. and around the world. I would not leave the university overnight as a thief without knowing why I’m leaving the university.” Katehi believes that the funds might have been better used to support universities and the students, and hopes that UC Davis can focus on improving education and research, increasing the number of scholarships provided and improving the quality of teaching and facilities. Katehi plans to return to UC Davis in the fall as an electrical engineering professor and researcher.

DON PREISLER / UC DAVIS OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

JAY GELVEZON / AGGIE FILE

UC Davis veterinary science ranks first in the world

Hidden artistic talents of the UC Davis men’s basketball team

QS World University Rankings lists university as second in agriculture and forestry

Players rap, film, write poetry and more

BY YVO N N E L E ON G campus@theaggie.org

QS World University Rankings ranked UC Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine first for the second year in a row on March 7. QS rankings are based on reputational surveys and research citations. This year, QS evaluated 4,438 universities, then qualified 3,098 and ranked 1,117 institutions. For the fifth consecutive year UC Davis has also ranked second as a top university in agriculture and forestry. UC Davis has held the top spot in QS World University Rankings since the inclusion of the veterinary sciences field in 2015. “The energy, passion, knowledge and skills that the UC Davis veterinary medicine community brings to their jobs every day is the secret to our success,” said Michael Lairmore, the dean of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, via a press release. “Our future, supported in part by generous philanthropic partners, will be shaped by our combined efforts as we push the boundaries of research discoveries, provide innovative educational opportunities for our students, bring advanced clinical services to our animal patients, and serve our

VETERINARY on 8

620 G Street at 6th davisfood.coop

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communities by advancing the health of animals, people and the environment.” The veterinary program, which is also ranked first by U.S. News and World Report, houses a prolific research program. Last year alone, the research program totaled nearly $76 million in research funds. “We have ranked first mostly because of the success of our faculty in getting research funding, more than most of our competitors,” said Alan Conley, the chairperson of the population, health and reproduction department within the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, via email. With the enormous research funding UC Davis receives, the school annually treats more than 50,000 animal patients in 34 specialty clinical services. UC Davis also serves as a strong leader in veterinary medical education with a curriculum built on sound educational theory designed and delivered by prominent faculty members annually. Samantha Fousse, a Ph.D./DVM student in the Veterinary Scientist Training Program (VSTP) in the Integrative Genetics and Genomics graduate group, and a recipient of the 2017 AVMA/AVMF

620 G ST

5th Street (Russell Blvd.)

Open 7am—10pm

BY MYAH DANI ELS arts@theaggie.org

The UC Davis men’s basketball team has some serious skills on the court. However, many may be unaware of the various artistic talents these players also possess. This year’s NCAA Tournament competitors don’t just play ball — they rap, film videos, edit photos, host fashion blogs, crack jokes and write poetry. “My hidden passion is fashion,” said Garrison Goode, a second-year economics major. “I always grew up loving accessories and putting random pieces of clothing together and making cool outfits.” The 6’7” forward takes fashion inspiration from several sources, ranging from musicians to people he finds on social media. “Kanye West is really stylish,” Goode said. “Honestly, anybody in the hip-hop industry inspires me. Especially NBA athletes too. You can just see them walking into the stadium wearing really cool things [...] I find a lot of inspiration on Instagram and Tumblr too.” Goode has put his passion into fruition by collaborating with teammate Georgi Funtarov, a

fourth-year communication major, to start an Instagram account featuring photos of art, fashion and nature. “It is called double.g.lifestyle,” Goode said. “It’s our thing.” Funtarov, a forward on the team, also enjoys photography and shooting videos in addition to being a member of double.g.lifestyle. “I love taking photos, making videos and editing them to tell a story,” Funtarov said. “I do everything from filming, editing, audio, color grading, visuals and music.” Funtarov takes inspiration from family and friends and has found time in his schedule to learn how to use cameras and editing software. He has done projects ranging from recording the basketball team in Costa Rica to shooting a music video for his hip-hop class. “My mom has been an interior designer for over 20 years, so I have always been about the visuals since I was little, ” Funtarov said. “I learned everything online. I started with iMovie, and little by little I started using professional programs.” Other members of the team, such as Chima BASKETBALL on 8


2 | THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

UC Davis participates in sexual assault awareness month Events to create dialogue surrounding sexual violence on campus HANNAH LEE / AGGIE

BY AL LY RUSSE L L ca mpus@ t he ag g i e . o rg

Throughout April, campus organizations will host events to commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness Month. These events will raise awareness of sexual assault on college campuses, inform students of available resources and get students involved in efforts to make UC Davis a safer campus. Events planned include the Dear Survivor Photo Project on April 6, a screening of the documentary The Hunting Ground on April 13 and the Take

Back the Night event on April 12. These events aim to create a dialogue regarding sexual assault with students on campus. Sam Alavi, a fourth-year sociology and education major, is the student director of ASUCD’s Sexual Assault, Awareness and Advocacy Committee (SAAAC) and creator of the Dear Survivor Photo Project. “The campus supports survivors; you’re loved, you’re supported and we believe you,” Alavi said. “It’s a really simple message that a lot of survivors don’t get.” Over the past few months, Alavi has photo-

ANH-TRAM BUI / AGGIE

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PROPOSES 20 PERCENT ENROLLMENT CAP ON OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS Proposal set to give Californians top priority in UC admissions process BY CLA RA Z HAO c ampus@theaggie.org

University of California (UC) officials proposed a 20 percent enrollment cap on out-of-state undergraduates on March 6. The proposal is the first of its kind and is current-

ly being debated by the UC Board of Regents. The regents, who met in San Francisco, initially planned to vote on the proposal on March 16. However, they have decided to continue discussing the matter over the next two months in order to vote in May. If approved, the proposal will be effective starting fall 2017.

graphed survivors and allies and overlaid stylized versions of letters written to themselves, friends or other survivors. She plans to post digital versions of these posters online during April and eventually convert them into banners that will hang around campus. On April 6, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Women’s Resources and Research Center (WRRC) will host an event in which students can participate in the project themselves by having their photos taken and writing letters to friends or other survivors. Lily Karim, a first-year biomedical engineering major and member of the SAAAC, is working to organize a screening of The Hunting Ground with the help of other SAAAC members. The documentary describes the prevalence of rape culture on college campuses across the nation through the stories of survivors. The screening will take place on April 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Sciences Lecture Hall. “My goal is to raise awareness for sexual assault on campus and the reporting process. It needs to be more transparent so survivors are not silenced,” Karim said.

UC Davis’ Center for Advocacy, Resources, and Education (CARE) is organizing Take Back the Night, which, according to the event’s Facebook page, is “an annual event which aims to raise awareness about sexual assault, support survivors and promote action within the community to end sexual and gender-based violence.” At the Student Community Center on April 12 starting at 7 p.m., students can participate in art projects, listen to spoken word, hear live music and attend a resource fair as a way to support survivors and create a larger community of students informed and committed to ending sexual assault on the UC Davis campus. CARE Outreach Student Assistant Allyanna Pittman, a fourth-year psychology and economics double major, is working to coordinate the event. “Our aim is to create a campus culture that is intolerant of sexual assault, while simultaneously empowering survivors,” Pittman said via email. Resources for students interested in learning more can be found at UC Davis’ Sexual Violence Prevention and Response website, the WRRC and CARE.

According to UC spokesperson Dianne Klein, the proposed policy balances the needs of California students with the benefits those outside students bring — diverse perspectives as well as millions in additional tuition revenue, which added up to nearly $550 million in 2016-17. Klein stated that the extra revenue from nonresident students — who pay about $27,000 more in annual tuition than in-staters — has helped campuses recruit and retain faculty, add courses, lower overall class sizes and purchase new educational materials. The nonresident revenue has also allowed the UC system to increase financial aid for in-state students by an average of $700 per student. Despite these benefits, however, there have been calls against the increase in out-of-state student enrollment. Approximately a year ago, lawmakers threatened to withhold $18.5 million in funds if the public university system did not limit the number of students from outside California. In the same year, a state audit was released accusing the UC system of favoring out-of-state students at the expense of in-state students. UC President Janet Napolitano deemed the state audit as “unfair and unwarranted,” according to UC Santa Barbara’s The Bottom Line. Nonetheless, in recent years, many Californian students and their families have expressed dismay at failing to get into their desired UC campuses despite stellar grades and accomplishments, attributing this at least in part to the increase in the number of out-of-state students.

“I think they should prioritize California students […] because our parents pay taxes to support the university,” said Katherine Uriarte, a student from South Pasadena, in the LA Times. On the other hand, there is evidence to suggest in-state applicants already have priority over out-ofstate students in the UC admissions process, with 71 percent accepted to at least one campus of their choice, compared with 55 percent for nonresidents, according to the Los Angeles Times. UC Davis’ website states that the university’s scholarship requirement is satisfied when in-state applicants earn a GPA of 3.0 or better in “A-G” courses taken during the tenth and eleventh grades. Applicants who are not California residents, on the other hand, must earn a GPA of 3.4 or better. The proposal is seen as worrisome by many faculty and students. In an interview with the Daily Californian, Associated Students of University of California (ASUC) President Will Morrow said the proposal is “counter to the values” of the university and puts at risk the longstanding value of the UC system of “accepting students of the highest caliber and considering other factors later.” Although around 90 percent of all current UC undergraduates are California residents, the proportion of out-of-state students at certain campuses is much higher than the average, with 24.4 percent at UC Berkeley, 22.9 percent at UC San Diego and 22.8 percent at UCLA. If passed, the enrollment cap could have a larger impact on these campuses.

NICHOLAS CHAN / AGGIE

Police Logs:

Welcome back, Aggies NIKKI PADAR / AGGIE

BY SAM SOLOMON city@t he aggie . org

March 24 “Unknown subject cut down city tree in front yard.” “Male subject, intoxicated, came in and said he needed food [...] subject is currently sitting on the curb outside eating.”

Happy Birthday, Davis

“Unknown subjects running around the complex with Safeway shopping carts.”

Davis reaches milestone in centennial celebration BY SAM A N T HA SO LO MO N city@ th e ag g i e . o rg

A 32-block area in front of Putah Creek and some 400 odd residents — this was the entirety of Davisville in 1870. It wasn’t until the University State Farm, an agricultural offshoot of the University of California, was selected to be implemented in Davisville that the tiny town really began to take shape. Davisites celebrated with fireworks and flying flags and immediately the women’s improvement club organized Cleanup Days to make the town presentable for the new university. Over a hundred years later, on March 28, Davis marked the 100th anniversary of its incorporation by making over G Street, the original two blocks of Davisville by the railroad, and dedicating Davis’ annual celebrations to the centennial. “The 1917, March 28, date is what we, the city, consider to be the day when it was officially recorded with secretary of state’s office,” said Bob Bowen, the public relations manager for the City of Davis and the president of the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame. “So, that’s what we consider our birthday.” The City of Davis has chosen to focus on Davis’ little-known — but extensive — history as a small agricultural town. Pulling from the private collections of Davis’ longest-standing residents and with some help from the UC Davis community, Bowen and others created an hour-long presentation to show residents the historical significance of Davis. “Here we are 100 years later, and we presented a couple of powerpoint slide shows based on the images that special collections at the UCD library had

assembled, in addition to some images from the city and private family archives,” Bowen said. These presentations will occur at the Varsity Theater on a semi-weekly basis until the summertime, in addition to a special display of Davis’ 100 years of history in Shields Library. “It’s just our year of [...] things that affected how the city came about and why the city came about,” Bowen said. Several other special events have been coordinated in conjunction with the centennial, including a makeover of G Street, a Fourth of July birthday party, and a “Centennial Plaza.” According to the City of Davis website, “The walk from the history [sic] Southern Pacific train station to the intersection will be updated with new landscaping, hardscape, art work, interpretive historical signage, a time capsule, and a public plaza.” The city is also planning on recreating events from 100 years ago. The City Council met to discuss the incorporation of Davis on April 3, 1917, a meeting that Bowen announced will be replicated by the current City Council as an homage to this monumental decision. Original ordinances will be read, such as where to keep livestock and what to do with turkeys that roam the streets. Some of which, Bowen jokingly pointed out, may still be relevant to this day. The name change from “Davisville” to “Davis” is also another piece of history that the City of Davis is highlighting. It was actually The Davis Enterprise that had changed the name from Davisville to Davis CENTENNIAL on 12

March 25 “LP has one in custody for theft of burrito.” March 26 “Male was writing in marker on a concrete post.” “8-10 inch alligator lizard in the kitchen of the apt. — RP requesting officer assistance with getting it out.” March 29 “Trying to access water with power tools.” “Male subject was at the drive thru stating ‘let me have, let me have, let me have’ for over 7 minutes.” March 30 “Female breaking down signs and tearing up plants, yelling at people.” April 1 “Two squirrels fighting in Amtrak plot.” “Neighbors having loud intercourse with the windows open.”


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THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

Board of Regents holds March meeting Regents approve new UC Berkeley chancellor, discuss nonresident enrollment cap, divest from fossil fuels

AUDREY MCNAMARA / THE DAILY CALIFORNIAN / COURTESY

BY AA RO N L I SS ca mpu s @ th e a ggi e .o r g

The University of California (UC) Regents held a board meeting on March 16, during which they appointed Carol Christ as UC Berkeley’s new chancellor and discussed a 20 percent enrollment cap on non-California residents and foreign exchange students. Christ will oversee UC Berkeley’s 27,000 undergraduates and 10,000 graduate students. During the remarks leading up to the vote, Napolitano spoke of why she had selected Christ. “I strongly believe that Carol Christ will make an excellent chancellor for UC Berkeley,” Na-

politano said. “She has a compelling vision for Berkeley’s future, a demonstrated record of accomplishment and the trust of students, faculty, staff, alumni and the other members of Berkeley’s community. I urge you to support her appointment.” Christ’s annual salary will be $531,939, set by the Regents as a continuation of the current chancellor Nicholas Dirks’ salary. Christ was unanimously voted as Berkeley’s new chancellor. “I am deeply honored that the president and the regents have chosen me to lead Berkeley at this critical moment in its history,” Christ said. “I’m even more honored to serve the campus that I

Traditions of UC Davis

love. I’ve been asking myself what Berkeley has meant and continues to mean to me. I arrived to Berkeley in 1970.” Napolitano spoke about Christ’s established history at UC Berkeley, complementing her leadership and administrative skills. “In January of 2015, Dr. Christ returned to campus as director for center of studies for higher education,” Napolitano said. “May of last year, she agreed to take up her former role as executive vice chancellor and provost on an interim basis. In every position she held at Berkeley, she left the entity better off.” In 1970, Christ became a

UC DAVIS

Evolving, expanding, evoking Aggie pride BY M A RLYS JE A N E fea tures @ th e a ggi e .o r g

Last spring, Kimberly Miller strode across the graduation stage, squeezing her daughter’s hand with glee as their medals gleaned in the sun. Miller, now an animal biology graduate student, and her daughter, Evie, were each wearing a special medallion in recognition of their completion of all 50 Aggie Traditions. “Most folks don’t get to wear a medal unless you’re the university medalist, which is only going to one person,” said Jennifer Thayer, the assistant director of programs for the Cal Aggie Alumni Association and UC Davis alumna. “So having a nice medal that’s just showing you have Aggie pride and Aggie spirit and just showing that you were really committed to being fully engaged on campus during your time here is pretty exciting.” Back in 2008, the Cal Aggie Alumni Association collaborated with ASUCD to create a list of the most quintessentially UC Davis activities, which can be conveniently found online or on the mobile app, “Aggie Traditions.” Once all 50 traditions are completed — including visiting the Davis Farmers Market, reading a copy of The California Aggie and meeting Gunrock — students are given a medal at commencement to showcase their dedication to the authentic Aggie experience. “I think so many times we focus on getting the grade, getting the internship, getting through school, paying their way, the kind of stuff where we

forget we should be doing great, fun things,” said Carrie Wright, the associate executive director and chief programs officer for the Cal Aggie Alumni Association and a UCD alumna. One of the most iconic events at UC Davis that makes the list is Picnic Day, the oldest and most popular tradition a student has the opportunity to experience. Not only do students partake in this annual event, but family, alumni and community members have enjoyed this event since 1909. “Picnic Day is over 100 years old and was basically an open house where families would come and see where their students were going to school,” Wright said. “It’s the largest student-run event on a campus, so that’s clearly one of the most unique and long-lasting of the traditions we have.” Miller considers Picnic Day the most classic from the list of Aggie Traditions. She attests that spending the day on campus visiting all of the open house exhibits and exploring areas outside of one’s own department is special and connects people to each other in a special way. To Miller, attending Picnic Day is a great representation of Davis culture; attending Picnic Day, in other words, is a rite of passage. “I feel like a tradition is something that has some kind of special connection to it,” Miller said. “Something that after you’ve completed it, you’re now a part of something. Even if it’s as simple as eating lunch in the CoHo or studying at Shields, now you can share that experience with other Aggies who have done the same.”

faculty member of UC Berkeley and also served as the chair of the English Department from 1985 to 1988. She became dean of humanities, mathematic and natural sciences in 1986 and was appointed provost and dean of the College of Letters and Sciences. The highest-ranking female administrator member at UC Berkeley, Christ served as vice chancellor, assistant manager and continuing provost at UC Berkeley until this latest position. Napolitano said that Christ has been an integral part of Berkeley’s success and will help the school continue to grow. “Dr. Christ has a way with making things better,” Napolitano said. “She builds strong relationships, and trust, with diverse groups and diverse individuals, and then forms consensus and finds solutions. In challenges, she uncovers opportunities and improves upon them. I believe she is the right person to lead what is widely regarded as the best public research university in the world. It also helps that she loves the place, and the faculty, students, staff, alumni and community

Indeed, traditions surround UC Davis students. When Thayer was a student, she spent a lot of time in the CoHo, unaware that she was living an Aggie tradition every day of her college experience. As a freshman, visiting the cows by her dorm in Tercero was another effortless check on her own list of accomplished traditions. “I think some of these are not what we necessarily consider traditions, but it’s something that the students or even a staff member or a faculty member are doing every day that they don’t even know is creating their whole UC Davis experience, whether it be visiting the cows or going to the Rec Pool for a swim or reading the book of the campus book project,” Thayer said. “All of these things that we do everyday [...] are actually really cool fun things to do and [are] making your time here at Davis that much more memorable.” The Aggie Traditions list also includes other signature Davis events like Pajamarino, which has its roots back in 1912, as well as rituals like rubbing or kissing the egghead in front of Shields Library during finals week — which was around when Thayer and Wright were students here in the 1990s and persists today. They can be as big as attending the Whole Earth Festival or as simple as riding Unitrans to campus. No matter the magnitude, all of these activities and customs are considered traditions for important reasons. “To make something special enough to be considered a tradition, I think it needs to be something relatively unique to UC Davis (like the Pajamarino), something any student can reasonably accomplish, and something that will make the student experience more memorable overall,” Miller said. Traditions have the capacity to evolve. Pajamarino started as a small gathering of students in their pajamas at the train station in order to greet returning alumni on the eve of Homecoming. Today, though, the event is a full-fledged celebration, complete with student performances and a parade through downtown. Not only do traditions evolve, but they expand as time moves forward. Thayer and Wright both mentioned the possibility of adding eating Woodstock’s pizza to the list of Aggie Traditions, and Miller believes riding the draft horse wagon around campus would be another great addition. Both of these activities fit Miller’s definition of what makes a good tradition in that they are accessible to students and community members as well as offer a taste of true Davis culture — something that can’t be experienced just anywhere. “How [traditions] add to the UC Davis experience is that [they] make a student really appreciate their time on campus,” Thayer said. “If you’re here TRADITIONS on 10

who make Berkeley what it is: rightly famous.” In addition to the appointment of Berkeley’s new chancellor, Regent Sherry Lansing said that she is interested in the “assembly of a debt-free college education which would include more than just tuition,” and that the Regents should support this step. “We want to be very strong advocates of this legislation once it’s finally proposed,” Lansing said. On March 15, the Regents held an Investment Subcommittee meeting to announce a further $150 million fossil fuel divestment. Companies being divested from include the Sunoco and Energy Transfer Partners, businesses involved in building the Dakota Access Pipeline. UC has also divested from companies earlier this year, including $450 million from Wells Fargo and $200 million from coal and tar sands resources. Laretta Johnson, a first-year student at UC Santa Cruz, demanded that the UC fully divest from fossil fuel businesses. “The UC refuses to take a firm stand, in essence backing the sta-

tus quo, and acting as though we are not in a time of deep political and climate crisis,” Johnson said in an interview with Fossil Free UC. “This situation demands action, and real leadership requires they make the decision to fully divest from fossil fuels and truly stand with us.” The board also discussed a possible 20 percent cap on non-California residents, which would affect out-of-state and foreign exchange students. Some regents mentioned how tuition and housing payment from outof-state students help fund the UC system, while others were concerned about resources. Some students have mixed feelings about the results from recent Regents board meetings. Dinar Kurji, a second-year religious studies major at UC Davis, questioned the potential cap on non-California residents, as it could encroach on foreign exchange students. “I’m glad UC Berkeley has a new chancellor,” Kurj said. “Regarding the non-resident cap, it’s bad to restrict foreign exchange students.”

DAVIS ALUMNA DELAINE EASTIN ENTERS RACE FOR GOVERNOR Former state superintendent announces gubernatorial run in 2018 BY CAI TLY N SAMP LEY c it y@t he aggie . org

UC Davis graduate and Davis resident Delaine Eastin announced her plans to run for governor in the upcoming 2018 election on Nov. 1. Eastin earned her bachelor’s degree from UC Davis, then went on to receive a master’s degree in political science from UC Santa Barbara. In 2015, Eastin became the fourteenth recipient of the UC Davis medal. According to the UC Davis website, “[The medals are] awarded for the very highest levels of distinction, personal achievement and contributions to the ideals of higher education on which UC Davis is founded.” Eastin was nominated by interim chancellor Ralph J. Hexter. “Ms. Eastin has a highly distinguished record of public service that reflects UC Davis’ core values,” Hexter said in his nomination. “Her selection reaffirms our university’s commitment to public education and public service and powerfully communicates how a UC Davis education can be a springboard to making a positive difference in society.” Eastin, the first in her family to attend college, also dedicated a scholarship at Davis for women who are the first in their families to go to college. Eastin was formerly the State Superintendent of Public Instruction as well as a California assemblywoman. She announced her run alongside Democrats such as California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, State Treasurer John Chiang and Antonio Villaraigosa, the former mayor of Los Angeles. In the past, Eastin has been praised for her dedication to education since the beginnings of her political career. She is the only woman to ever hold the office of State Superintendent in California and has assisted in streamlining the California Department of Education through numerous measures, task forces and propositions while in office. She has continually expressed a firm support of education as the backbone of a prosperous city, state or nation. “I wind up believing that my first priority has to be education –– I will try to make college much more affordable,” Eastin said. “I want to go back to the days when community college was free. I’d like to see us cut the cost of CSU, and especially undergrad programs. I know that the people that tend to be in mountains of debt […] are usually the ones in grad school.”

Eastin has also placed an emphasis on Pre-K and K-12 schools, stating that she plans to “fight for pre-school to graduate school.” She has advocated for more technology and smaller class sizes, as well as a more consistent foreign language curriculum and an emphasis on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) in state schools. “I also want to spend a lot of time and attention on infrastructure,” Eastin said. “We have no long-range plans for dams, for underground sewage storage, anything like that. Long-planning keeps everything nimble.” Eastin also stresses the difficulty that people, especially those who are newly employed, have in locating affordable housing near where they work. Affordable housing, she said, is even more difficult to locate in large transportation hubs. Eastin also discussed the amount of money that had gone into building prisons, despite prison overcrowding in California. She noted that, in just two years, the percentage of California’s budget dedicated to prisons has risen by 2 percent. As of recently, California’s prison population was documented at 112,300, which is 135.8 percent over design capacity. Eastin believes that a large majority of people who are in state prisons are instead in need of psychiatric hospitals. “I think we need to have a real hard press on mental health in this state, and in this country,” Eastin said. A national survey by the U.S. Department of Health and Human services revealed that over 95% of prisons in the United States have a number of mentally ill or seriously mentally ill inmates. Eastin has experience in this topic, having worked as a teacher for incarcerated youth. Currently, California is ranked 11th in the nation for the highest number of incarcerated youth, equaling about 271 out of every 100,000 young people. “I think we have to have a better play for keeping kids from getting in trouble in the first place […] A lot of these kids, we don’t even know they’re hurting,” Eastin said. “Some of these kids […] need a lot more scaffolding to succeed.” If elected governor, Eastin will also be in charge of maintaining and overseeing the state’s budget. “Budgets are a statement of value,” Eastin said. “If you look at the budget of a family, of a state, or a city, you can see EASTIN on 10


THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 | 5

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

A N H-TR A M B U I / AGGIE FILE

GEN ESIA TIN G / AGG IE

Staying true to a doctor’s oath Alternative medicine, lifestyle changes supplement biomedicine, maintain health BY SAH IT I VEMULA features@theaggie.org

One for the books Logos Books changes ownership, holds grand opening BY KA ELYN T UE RM E R - L E E city@theaggie.org

After running Logos Books for seven years, owners Peter and Susan Linz decided to transfer ownership of the store to Friends of the Davis Public Library (FOL). Logos Books is a completely non profit organization that raises money to donate to charities and benefits people all over the world. Mr. and Mrs. Linz’s retirement comes with the welcoming of a new grandchild into their family. While they owned the bookstore, however, there were about 8,000 books in stock, many of which they had purchased themselves. The couple searched for books together on weekends. The only criteria: books that were curious and of interest and that hadn’t been seen before. And of course, the bookstore had the classics –– well-known books that were widely read by the community. The Linz family’s favorite memories over the past seven years have to do with watching younger people enter the bookstore to find a good book, and having to browse the store since not every book was readily available, unlike online shopping. They would hear people looking at the shelves, whispering to each other that they had read a certain book, and recommending it to their other friends. Conversations about authors or books that they had enjoyed sparked others’ interests to read the same book or find one with a backstory that they could personally relate to. “We probably sold 2,000 to 3,000 books a month –– the turnover is rapid in a business like that,” Mrs. Linz said. “We got books donated every day. It’s an ongoing process, and that’s why one of the reasons why FOL is going to do a very good job of this; they’ll have a constant influx of books on their shelves.” Profits from the book sales went toward two major organizations –– Doctors Without Bor-

ders and Save the Children, which helps with children’s programs all around the world. FOL signed a three-year lease for Logos Books. “The former owners have owned the bookstore for seven years,” said Hank Wyman, FOL manager. “[...] First of all, we didn’t want to see the last used bookstore in Davis disappear –– there were almost a dozen bookstores that had gone in the city. One objective was to help keep that tradition in the city, the other one was to provide an outlet for a sale of donated books that we get for the Friends, other than the sales we get every two months from the book sales.” Logos Books is staffed with about 25-30 volunteers; no positions are paid. Some have one shift per month, while others do a shift every week. These positions are crucial to the upkeep of the bookstore, as it is a completely non profit organization that raises money to donate to other organizations and charities. Logos Books held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, sponsored by the Davis Chamber of Commerce, as a grand opening on March 23. Over 100 people were in attendance, including board members of the FOL, Chamber members and volunteer employees. “I started [volunteering at Logos Books] maybe three to four years ago, and the FOL assumed running it on February 1,” said Sandy Shaw, a volunteer at Logos Books. “I love books, I love used books and recycling books, and I really enjoy giving service for the first years to Doctors Without Borders. I’m thrilled that Logos didn’t close down and that the FOL assumed ownership, and that all proceeds will go to the Davis Public Library. I think for a lot of reasons, it’s wonderful to have a used bookstore in Davis. People love to get books for a bargain price and people love donating money, knowing that it’ll fund very good things for the community and the world.”

Some doctors view reaching a dead end in treatment options as an opportunity to look into alternative forms of medicine and therapy. The Integrative Medicine program, founded in 2010 under the Institute for Population Health Improvement, focuses on educating the UC Davis community and larger global audience on the value of everyday lifestyle changes in preventing disease and maintaining health.

“The focus has been education, [and] we’ve been very successful with that,” said Dr. Rosane Oliveira, the director of Integrative Medicine. “We started a blog and we post articles every week — we had more than three million people visit the website and read the articles and in the past two years.” Although the program doesn’t directly see and treat patients, it still teaches readers how to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Every year they run the ‘’21 Day Food Day Challenge’’ and coach people online to ALT MED on 8

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6 | THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

Opinion from the editorial board

the California Aggie

DECIDING ON DAVIS Members of Editorial Board share why they chose UC Davis

EDITORIAL BOARD

SCOTT DRESSER Editor in Chief ELLIE DIERKING Managing Editor ALYSSA VANDENBERG Campus News Editor SAMANTHA SOLOMON City News Editor ELI FLESCH Opinion Editor EMILIE DEFAZIO Features Editor AMANDA ONG Arts & Culture Editor BRYAN SYKES Sports Editor ARIEL ROBBINS Science & Tech Editor

With Decision Day 2017 this Saturday, prospective students may be seeing campus for the first time. They’ll weigh the pros and cons of going to one of the highest-ranked public universities in the world. Here, members of The Aggie’s Editorial Board share moments and stories that helped them decide that UC Davis was the right school for them:

We were listening to the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” on the ride over and, when I opened the car door, Band-Uh! was playing the same song. I decided it was fate, so I came to UC Davis. I am so happy with my choice, because I love this quirky town and the friendly people in it.

Scott Dresser

My first time in Davis was actually Picnic Day 2014 because my poor mother thought it would be lively and spirited, which it was, but it was also, well, Picnic Day. I saw a couple drunkenly making out on a couch, which freaked me out a little. However, that fateful day was my deciding factor, as I saw a campus that was large and bright, full of people having a good time. I liked the quintessential college vibe, and just walking around on Picnic Day showed me the vastness of the campus. I also got to meet the cows, which was a life-changing experience.

My first time in Davis, I went to class with my older sister, who was a senior at the time. I was amazed that people actually seemed to care about what they were learning, a stark contrast from my high school experience. We then walked through campus to the Quad, and, while sitting on the grass eating CoHo tacos, I knew then I wanted to go to school at UC Davis. The sprawling campus, the looming, protective oak trees lining the bike routes and the students playing frisbee on the Quad immediately told me that this campus was where I wanted to spend the most defining years of my life. I feel the same appreciation for the campus (asbestos aside) and its inhabitants now as I did then, and I know that coming to UC Davis (and joining The Aggie!!!) are the best decisions I ever made. Ellie Dierking

CHIARA ALVES New Media Manager JAY GELVEZON Photo Director HANNAH LEE Design Director EMILY STACK Copy Chief OLIVIA ROCKEMAN Copy Chief VERONICA VARGO Website Manager ALEX GUZMÁN Social Media Mangager MADELINE ONG Newsletter Manager LAURIE PEDERSON Business Development Manager

It was springtime when I first set foot on campus. So, obviously, I fell instantly in love: the abounding trees on the Quad, the classic brick of Wellman Hall, the hustle and bustle of the CoHo, the serenity of the Arboretum and my parents' unrelenting requests to take a picture of me by “that rock-egg thing,” “that London bus” and “that squirrel." Looking back at those pictures, I was blissfully unaware of how many times I’d later walk past those rock-egg things, ride those London buses and Snapchat those squirrels as they fearlessly approached me on the Quad. Nevertheless, being at Davis felt right — I knew it was where I wanted to be. I still have the pic collage from my first visit that I posted on Instagram with the embarrassing caption, “This place is the coolest, ever.” And although that was a whole four years ago now, I can still say wholeheartedly that this place is the coolest, ever. Alyssa Vandenberg I visited UC Davis for the first time during week one of Spring Quarter. I stopped by an English class in Wellman (little did I know at that time that I’d have classes in Wellman every single quarter and would end up writing a story for The Aggie about Wellman being plagued with asbestos the summer before my junior year). I came back about a week later for Decision Day with my dad again.

Sam Solomon

Eli Flesch Well, my dad went to UC Santa Barbara and it was a little close to Los Angeles. Plus, I wasn’t really feeling the “Keanu Reeves in Point Break” vibe of that campus. I wanted to study, apparently. So I visited Davis and was immediately struck by how unnervingly, disgustingly friendly everybody was. Was the economics program good? Yup. English? Sure. Okay then. I didn’t fall in love until my second year. What happened? Not sure. But Davis is good. Come. Emilie DeFazio Though the recyclable cardboard pen they gave me at Decision Day 2013 was pretty cool, what really convinced me to come to Davis was its location. Other UCs love to say how our campus is in the middle of nowhere — “cow country,” if you will — but have no idea what northern California beauty surrounds the area. Yeah, there are the bike trails, but those paths can show you sprawling vineyards and fields, open expanses of clear blue sky that show off the white caps of the Sierras and incredible sunsets that remind you of just how lovely it is to be alive, even as a stressed-out college student. I grew up in the area, and knowing that I would have the opportunity to go to a school in the region I love that was close to my family and had everything I could hope for in a university, I couldn't bear to leave just yet. Bryan Sykes I’m from a rural mountain town in the Sierra Foothills, so when I heard that I had gotten accepted into UC Davis I was thrilled — finally, after 18 years, I was going to live in a bustling metropolis.

Davis was (to me) a massive urban environment, larger, busier and unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. I was close enough to home where I would regularly get food care packages, I could see my family while retaining my independence and I could wash my clothes in my childhood home. Also taken into consideration: Cows were cool, Picnic Day was cool and bikes were cool. Amanda Ong The drive from Los Angeles to Davis is boring, dusty and devoid of any charm. But my first impression of Davis itself was quite the opposite, and after driving up for Decision Day 2013, I knew I wanted to spend the next four years of my life learning and growing in this charming college town. I, like Alyssa, was instantly won over by the Band-Uh's delightful rendition of "I Want It That Way." I was in marching band all throughout high school and I thought I'd join the band in college too, but instead, I ended up trying out something I'd never done in high school: writing for the paper. I think that's the beauty of of a big school like Davis; it may seem like a large, intimidating campus at first but there's so many opportunities for personal growth, for trying something new, and for you to find your own niche. I thought I wanted to attend a small liberal arts college, but after four years here, I can honestly say that Davis has been everything I hoped for and more. True, the route up from L.A. is still mind-numbingly dull, but the wonderful university awaiting you at the end of the drive makes it all worth it. Ariel Robbins I knew UC Davis was the right choice for me after this particular anomaly, which happened to me as follows: It was my first week. I hadn't ridden a bike since my mom gave away my childhood one for $5 at a garage sale without me knowing. So, there I was, back in the saddle, locking my wheels up in front of the CoHo before going to class. Or so I thought. In my first-week, flurried state, I rushed to class and upon re-emerging, realized I forgot exactly where I locked my bike in the sea of bikes surrounding the CoHo. I searched for my dear two-tired friend for 20 long minutes before a kindly stranger chirped behind me, "Hey, are you looking for your bike? Do you need help finding it?" I sure was, and I sure did. To cut to the chase, I ended up with a gaggle of 10 or so strangers taking time out of their busy days to help me find a bike I really shouldn't have lost in the first place. And, turns out, it was across the street the whole time. Lol. Moral of the story: 1. Pay attention when you lock your bike, 2. If you don’t, your fellow Davisfolk will have your back.

Meet the Spring Quarter columnists MILLENNIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND AGRICULTURAL ADVOCACY AMONG DIVERSE ARRAY OF TOPICS

BY EL I F L ESC H ekflesch@ucdavis.edu

It’s Spring Quarter! Finally. There’s no better time to open up a copy of The Aggie on the Quad, flip a few pages to the opinion section and cheerily read about what people are complaining about. This quarter we have a decidedly diverse set of topics, ranging from how Millennials interact with each other to the prevalence of mental health issues in our society. Readers will both learn about the need for agricultural advocacy and how science fiction has provided the perfect medium for understanding

some of today’s most pressing problems, like climate change. It’s a thrilling time to be in journalism, and this quarter’s writers and their passions show why. But columnists can only contribute so much to the discourse on a college campus. As always, The Aggie welcomes and encourages guest submissions from the Davis community. Are you seeing something that bothers you? Write about it. Do you take contention with an article we ran? We want to publish your reaction. A healthy paper depends on the active participation of its readers. Email opinion@theaggie.org to submit an op-ed for consideration. Make your voice heard.

HERE ARE THE SPRING QUARTER COLUMNISTS AND THEIR TOPICS: Marisol Beas

Brody Fernandez

Third-year sociology major Marisol Beas understands that mental health permeates and influences all aspects of a person’s life, from sleep to school and everything in between. Her column will focus in part of self-care for individuals who might be experiencing varying levels of mental illness or stress. With more and more students seeking mental health services, Beas’ column promises to shine light on an issue and problems that are increasingly hard to ignore.

How do Millennials connect? It might not be through an abundance of sex, according to third-year communication major Brody Fernandez. And if we are connecting, Facebook and Twitter and text messaging make it clear that we’re not connecting intimately. Fernandez will be looking at how members of Generation Y interact with each other. With an eye for how culture evolves over long periods of time, Fernandez hopes paint a picture of Millennial interpersonal relationships.

Camille Chargois Noah Pflueger-Peters For first-year communication major Camille Chargois, agricultural advocacy has long been a personal passion. With a special focus on the Davis, Sacramento and Woodland areas, Chargois will illustrate how agriculture is intimately tied to issues like food security and sustainable living. In doing so, she hopes to impart to readers the importance of the intersection between agriculture and community service — often overlooked and underappreciated, even at a school known for its environmentally-conscious student body.

If there’s a genre of art or film that can best help contextualize our political environment, fourth-year English major Noah Pflueger-Peters would argue it’s science fiction. Dystopian governments, rising seas and oppressed mutants all in some way reflect the anxieties shared by Americans in this critical moment in history. Pflueger-Peters wants to show how it’s not a coincidence that science fiction has become one of the world’s most popular genres in a time that might best be described as surreal.

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.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 | 7

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

SCIENCE+TECH Academy Day prompts discussion between researchers and community UC Davis Environmental Health Science Center hosts collaboration event to examine water safety, toxicity in Central Valley BY S HI VA N I KA M AL s ci en ce@ th e a ggi e .o r g

The first ever UC Davis Environmental Health Science (EHS) Academy Day on March 21 brought together multi-disciplinary researchers and community organizations to better address and discuss concerns of environmental health impacts, specifically those centered around water safety and contamination issues in the Central Valley. In California, about 20 percent of all groundwater is contaminated, impacting safe drinking water, as well as water for agriculture and recreational purposes. Contamination can come from pesticides, toxic metals, chemicals in personal care products or a change in climate. There are a variety of human health issues prevalent in the Central Valley including infant death syndrome, blue baby syndrome, a syndrome associated with nitrates from drinking water decreasing the body’s capacity to carry oxygen, developmental cancer and immunological problems. However, they have not been scientifically proven to correlate with exposure to environmental risks. “People don’t know how to decide if their water is safe to drink, and the lack of information can cause fear and concern that feeds the rumor mill on health impacts,” said Ryan Jensen, a community water solutions manager at the Community Water Center (CWC). Attendants of the event included researchers with pilot projects at the center to community stakeholders and outreach organizations such as CWC and the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water. The goal of EHS Academy Day was to bring together researchers in the field of environmental health and community outreach members to create an open dialogue about concerns specific to Sacramento and the San Joaquin Valley. In addition, all members were invited to a field trip to Vet Med Sciences 3B to see the fish facility that supplies models for research about impacts of water contamination on health. “The questions we want to pose include: how can researchers engage with communities and make it culturally relevant, what’s the public health impact of certain chemicals that cause latent health effects and how do scientists go about proving or associating certain chemicals with human health impacts,” said Jonathan London, an associate professor of human ecology and community and regional development at UC Davis. Community members were able to voice their concerns about the lack of access to safe drinking water for rural, farming and underserved populations. Researchers at the Environmental Health Science Center (EHSC) presented the history and importance of using fish model systems to study environmental health. Studying adverse effects of contaminants in aquatic environments and fish models in the Sacramento River and San Francisco Estuary can be applied to humans as well because of our exposure to the same water. After an experiment observing the embryos of fish placed in specific sites along the San Francisco Estuary, concerning findings suggested something in the water is inhibiting proper growth and development of the fish. Genetic and hormonal

factors were affected, as some fish had a lack of body development in embryos. In one case, immature eggs were found in testes of male fish. Academy Day presented the science behind pilot projects as well as generated questions for an environmental health scientist. The aim was to get individuals thinking about how scientists may engage in community related issues and how community issues can generate questions about science and policy. Environmental health is associated with public health, just more broadly defined. It is associated with how the environment influences human health and disease. Humans can be exposed to risk factors in their home, community and workplaces. Examples include air pollution, chemicals from pesticides and inadequate water and poor sanitation. “Our mission is to promote and protect the wellbeing of all species and their environments,” said Swee Teh, the director of the Aquatic Health Program and an adjunct professor in the UC Davis Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology. Teh highlighted important ongoing projects including researching natural toxic algal blooms in the water, as well as the impact that plastic debris’ infiltration of aquatic habits has on a global scale. “The first toxic algae sighting was in 1999, and has become increasing in size and frequency in Delta and Bay region over the years,” Teh said. These sites can shift due to water level and climate, especially cycles in drought and rain. Factors that contribute to toxic algae include water level and temperature. The study of plastic debris infiltration on aquatic habitats globally is significant because various plastics are ingested by hundreds of species. “Large plastics cause strangulation of aquatic organisms,” Teh said. “Micro-plastics, plastic chemicals, are toxic in aquatic life and can affect development and behavior.” The ingestion of large plastics can cause a bird or fish to think it is full. Since plastic doesn’t degrade easily and stays in the stomach, the animal dies of starvation. Academy Day opened the doors for communication between researchers and community outreach groups. In addition, the researchers were able to hear the needs and concerns within the environmental health community. “Notice that many questions generated from different groups can be applied to short term and long term time scale,” London said. “For example, the same issue such as pesticides association with human health may be immediate for scientists but long term for policy.” Groups such as the CWC perform community outreach, such as community meetings, encouraging people to participate in policy in Sacramento, and bringing people to communities impacted from these factors, specifically those lacking safe and affordable drinking water. “We provide state-wide advocacy to insure that everyone has basic access to safe water because often decision makers are not responsible to the needs of communities like farmers and low income families,” Jensen said.

“Bamboo”zled by pandas’ colors no more UC Davis, CSU Long Beach scientists discover why pandas are black and white BY H A RN OO R G I L L s ci en ce@ th e a ggi e .o r g

Pandas, while charismatic and fascinating, have tantalized humankind with one age-old question: why are they black and white? A new study conducted by scientists at UC Davis and CSU Long Beach has presented us with the answer to this enigma. “We started by breaking down a general mammalian carnivore body into 13 regions and a general face into 12 regions,” said Theodore Stankowich, co-author of the study and an assistant professor at CSU Long Beach. “We then gathered about 2,500 photos of animals covering 195 species of mammalian carnivores, and gave each body region a color score in every picture. We compared these colors to the environmental factors, like snowfall, temperature, habitat type that each species experienced, as well as the type of social system they live in.” According to the researchers, examining each region of the panda’s body independently was a major asset in the success of this study. Using

HANNAH LEE / AGGIE

this approach, researchers could assign different functions to different regions of the panda body by comparing them to those of related species. “If one tries to find similar species to the great panda, there are virtually none,” said Tim Caro, the lead author of the paper and a professor in the UC Davis Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology. “But if one breaks up the body into regions — say white backs, black legs — there are many carnivores with similar coloration in those areas. Now one can ask what biological factors are associated with darks legs and white backs across carnivores.” The scientists found that the panda’s face, stomach, neck and hind were white so the the panda could camouflage in the snow. The arms and legs were black so that it could hide from predators in the shade. This combination of black and white coloration is due to an interesting handicap of the great panda. Because the great panda consumes a very low-quality diet of bamboo, it cannot hibernate and must remain active all year. To get a sufficient amount of bamboo, it lives in both

shady and snowy habitats throughout the year and therefore requires the dual coat coloration to hide from predators in both environments. “Their body coloration is really a compromise between those two habitats to be camouflaged from potential predators during the entire year,” Stankowich said. That still leaves the question of the panda’s endearing black eye patches and dark ears. The scientists determined that these regions of the panda’s head signified the function of communication. The dark eye patches help pandas recognize one another or signal aggression towards competitors, while the dark ears serve as a warning for predators. “Now when someone wonders ‘why does a panda look like that?’ they actually have an answer,” said Zoe Rossman, another co-author of the paper. “It’s an easy way to introduce or expand on knowledge of evolution and animal behavior from kids to adults, and the more people know about these topics, the more people will hopefully care about protecting animals and the environment.”


THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

8 | THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

ARTS & Culture JAY GELV EZON / AGG IE

A QUARTER OF CONCERTS From throwback music to one of rap’s biggest names BY CAR AJ OY KLEI NR OCK arts@theaggie.org

Three documentaries to break your TV rut Titles that entertain and educate After binge-watching Parks and Recreation for the third time on Netflix, I decided it was time for me to move onto watching some new content. I delved into the documentary section of Netflix and was pleasantly surprised. These are not the stuffy documentaries of your tortured middleschool science class days. Netflix offers an array of impressive titles with a dynamic range of topics perfect to overcome any entertainment rut. Here are my top three picks.

junction with old film and photography as well as in-depth interviews with some of the civil rights movement’s most prominent figures, including Angela Davis. I enjoyed the documentary’s thought-provoking dialogue, as it discusses a subject that continues to develop and persist in our society. This is definitely a great documentary to watch with others interested in unpacking civil injustices, or even just those who are totally clueless and are looking to learn more. Although it is a heavy subject, director Ava DuVernay presents the information in a way that is both informative and inspiring.

13th: Named for the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery except as punishment for a crime, this documentary explores how this amendment utilizes the U.S. prison system to function as a modern slavery. The film presents shocking statistics, telling that although the United States makes up 5 percent of the world’s population, 25 percent of the global prison population is incarcerated in the United States. It sheds light on a lot of hidden history and analyzes systematic issues that have plagued the United States since the earliest days of the country’s existence. This history is presented in con-

Hip-Hop Evolution: Definitely more of a light pick that introduces viewers to some amazing music, Hip-Hop Evolution is a four-part documentary series that does exactly what the title suggests. The film travels back in time with each part focusing on a different era of hip-hop, from the very beginning to the present day. MC and travel journalist Shad Kabango interviews some of hip-hop’s greats to explore its climb in the music industry. The documentary features people from the hip-hop community and showcases their amazing, funny and heartwarming stories. The soundtrack is incredible, and the docu-

BY AB I G A I L WA N G arts@theaggie.org

mentary offers a perfect balance between history, music and personal insight. It is a great pick for those who are newbies to the documentary world as the storyline is easily followed and deeply engaging throughout. Twinsters: It’s a story we’ve all probably read on Daily Mail but never quite believed: two identical twins separated at birth, who grew up in different countries, discover one another by chance online. This is the basic storyline for Twinsters as it follows Anaïs and Samantha, who begin chatting online after Anaïs sees a YouTube video featuring Samantha.The film is sweet and demonstrates the power of the online world. The style of the documentary is very relaxed and does not follow the traditional interview style of most in this genre. This gives it an almost “home-video” feel, which might have been director Samantha Futerman’s intention, as the story is especially personal. The documentary also uncovers larger themes of the adoption process, transnational identity and the implications this presents. Overall, the story is touching and sometimes humorous as viewers get a glimpse into two women’s intertwined lives and their developing relationship as they discover more about one another.

SYDNE Y O DMAN arts@theaggie.org

JAY G E LV E ZO N / AGGI E

T4, the newest addition to the Davis boba scene Popular boba tea chain brings newest store to downtown Davis

In a town like Davis, there can never be too many boba places. For many Aggies, bubble tea is a staple drink. The craze for boba stems not only from its deliciousness, but also from the social atmosphere that comes along with the boba-going experience. In a small town, sometimes all there is to do is go out with friends to get some milk tea. For this reason, I believe that Tea 4 U (T4), Davis’ newest addition to the boba scene, will fit in perfectly among its fellow tea houses. “I was so happy when I found out a T4 was opening up in Davis,” said Annika Sabaratnam, a first-year global disease biology major. “There’s one in my hometown, and I love it.”

BY PARI SAG AFI arts@theaggie.org

Sudwerk Brewery and Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan host Cherry Blossom Festival Celebrate the arrival of spring with activities, food, beer

When UC Davis’ Anthropology Museum coworkers Greg Wada and Kathleen Brandl grabbed a beer to bounce event ideas off each other, they knew that they’d struck gold with their brainchild — bringing the traditional Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival to Davis and hosting it at Sudwerk Brewery. Brandl is the dock store manager at Sudwerk Brewing Co., and Wada is a first-year anthropology graduate student who has been involved in the Japanese percussion art form of taiko for five years, which made this partnership a match made in heaven. “We got together and thought that it would an awesome idea if we did this, because we’re both passionate about the work we do,” Wada said. “But the greater impact of this — at least for me as an artist and a person of color — is the diversity of the American experience and highlighting that through a festival where you get to experience different cultures just coming together and enjoying each other’s company.” Sudwerk held the first Davis cherry blossom festival last year. “We are trying to make it even bigger and better this year,” Brandl noted. This year’s festival will feature a variety of performances, exhibits, game booths and food vendors. There will be exciting Taiko performances by UC Davis’ own Bakuhatsu

It’s Spring Quarter, meaning it’s finally time to have some fun. The Golden1 Center, conveniently located in Sacramento, is holding plenty of concerts over the next few weeks to choose from. To kick off the quarter, here are a few concerts that might provide recovery from those Winter Quarter blues. Chance the Rapper Spring Tour If you missed his stop at UC Davis this past fall, fret no more. Chance the Rapper will be holding his first-ever arena headlining tour, and one of the stops is at Golden 1 Center on April 27 at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. The Chainsmokers’ Memories: Do Not Open Tour The Chainsmokers are embarking on their biggest tour to date, covering 40 cities. Their Sacramento concert will be held on May 4 at 7 p.m., and Kiiara will join them as a special guest for all dates. Tickets are on sale now, starting at around $40, and all tickets purchased online will include a copy of the Chainsmokers’ debut album, which is coming out later this year. The Total Package Tour: NKOTB with Paula Abdul and Boyz II Men For all of you who want a little throwback this quarter, this is the concert for you. It will be held on June 3, which will be a nice little treat before the final stretch of Spring Quarter. Tickets are on sale now for $96.95. Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull with CNCO Grab your dancing shoes and make your way over on June 8 at 7:30 p.m. for the Sacramento date of this 16city tour. A duo like Enrique Iglesias and Mr. Worldwide will surely deliver what promises to be a fun and energetic show. Tickets are on sale now. Visit the Golden1 Center website for a full calendar of events.

With its official grand opening on April 2, T4 has already been slammed with business throughout their soft opening in the last weeks of March. I visited on a Friday afternoon, and to my surprise, there was a line nearly out the door. However, service was quick and efficient, and I didn’t find myself waiting very long to order. At first glance, I noticed that the place was extremely spacious with plenty of available seating, despite the large crowd that was forming in the store. Customers sat in the comfortable lounging areas surrounded by bright turquoise walls, sipping on their bubble tea and playing the variety of board games provided by T4. By the time it was my turn to order, workers and customers alike were bustling about. On the wall, there was a poster listing all the popular drink rec-

Taiko Dan group, UC Berkeley’s Cal Raijin Taiko, Stanford Taiko and Jiten Taiko as well as a mini taiko lesson for the community. Local percussive finger style guitarist katgrüvs will be providing background instrumentation for Ikebana International, which will be demonstrating the Japanese art of flower arrangement, and the Anthropology museum will host an exhibit of Japanese artifacts. There are many more activities and performances throughout the day as well as a variety of food options. Sacramento’s Roaming Spoon will have vegan eats, Koizora will offer a more traditional Japanese sushi experience and Puros Churros will be offering some sweet desserts. And of course — who could forget the beer? Those who are 21 and older have Sudwerk’s two specialty beers to get excited about. Last year, Brendl helped brew a seasonal Sakura beer — which sold out in less than two hours — and she will be brewing this beer again, along with a special plum beer. With both cherries and plums being symbolic in the celebration of spring in Japan, these beers will help tie the whole festival together. The Cherry Blossom Festival is a wonderful opportunity for the community to experience multicultural activities and to celebrate diversity in the Davis community. Janice Yamaoka Luszczak, who is a member of the Japanese American Citizens League, a civil rights and cultural organization, will be tabling at the festival and ready to answer any

ommendations, and with these in mind, I elected to try the Mango Royal Tea with lychee coconut jelly. As a self-proclaimed boba connoisseur, I have to say that the drink was pretty tasty. The tea was the perfect amount of sweetness, and the ratio of tea to toppings within the cup was just the right amount. At T4, they allow you to adjust the level of sweetness in your drink to your own tastes, which was extremely helpful. They also offer an assortment of different snacks and finger foods, in addition to their drink menu. In comparison to other boba joints in Davis, I’ll definitely be adding T4 to my list. With its high-quality tea and convenient location right in downtown Davis, it’s no surprise that Tea 4 U is already booming with business. T4 is located at 132 E St. and is open from noon to 10 p.m.

questions in hopes of fostering an open dialogue. She is concerned with the recent string of events concerning minorities and immigration, referencing the inhumane internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. “We’ve been trying to get more and more involved in terms of some of the things going on with the national issues that have been coming up recently and doing what we can to support other organizations and communities that might be threatened,” Luszczak said. “Our organization has been more of a cultural rather than a political organization, but I think the time is right to be changing that as much as we can because the more people that speak out for people who are being targeted, the better.” Wada expressed a similar opinion. “Genuine human interaction is an important part of the process to overcome social prejudice, and the broader impact of it is this: can we get people together to have fun and witness parts of different cultures that they haven’t experienced before,” Wada said. So for those who’d like to start the new quarter by celebrating the arrival of spring in the traditional Japanese spirit and appreciating the diversity of the Davis community, stop by Sudwerk’s free Cherry Blossom Festival event on Saturday, April 8 from 2 to 8 p.m. to enjoy various activities, performances, food and beer! For more information, check out the event page.


THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017| 9

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

SPRING QUAD PLAYLIST

An Earful MUSIC IN TIME OF CONFLICT Musicians collaborate after the 2016 election, use their work to express discontent

A N H-TR A M B U I / AGGIE

After storms, clouds and finals, we’re walking on sunshine and listening to this burning playlist BY CAROL I N E RUT T E N arts@theaggie.org

love for the quad during the spring “is deeper than the oceans of waters.”

As the wise Katy Perry once said, “after a hurricane, there’s a rainbow.” What better way to celebrate the rainbow that is Spring Quarter than by soaking in the sun on the Quad with a hot playlist?

“Salad Days” — Mac Demarco There’s something special and nostalgic about the ease of sitting on the grass, bliss and nothingness that make you remember the beauty of youth. Moments of simplicity on the grass are your salad days, moments to remember when older and “just to tell ‘em ‘so long.’” Introspection aside, salads from the neighboring CoHo are scientifically proven to taste better while sitting outside on grass.

“Paradise Waiting” — Vacationer The last few weeks of Winter Quarter chaos bring daydreams of the beauty that is Spring Quarter hangout seshes on the quad. Times when all of us can “unwind/don’t worry [our] mind[s].” But no need to worry now because “paradise is waiting for us.” “Hit the Quan” — iLoveMemphis Now it’s finally here — the sun is out after a quarter of hibernation. It’s time to “hit the [quad].” The bustle of conversation is muted by the serenity of the scene and the calm expressions on everyone’s faces. What better way to complement it than with a trendy dance, song and a sweet pun? “Past Lives” — BØRNS With the transitional stage of Fall Quarter and the insanity of Winter Quarter, you almost forget the sweet taste of Spring Quarter — your past life of sunshine, happiness and naps under a canopy of trees, squirrels and iconic duck couples. Our almost-forgotten

“Open Your Eyes” — STRFKR The warmth of the sun seems to have a hypnotic hold on those enjoying the quad. It’s true, it seems harder to get anything done when beautiful weather and friends await you outside. It’s easy to give in, to “let it take me.” It also seems to have a physical hold; sunburns suck. “Ultralight Beam ” — Kanye West Feelings about the Quad can only be summarized as such: “an ultralight beam,” “a god dream,” “Hallelujah.” Word. “The Only Place” — Best Coast It’s clear at this point: springtime on the quad is one of the best things about Davis — it’s “the only place for me.”

CIN DY CHEU N G / AGG IE

BY ALLY OVE RB AY arts@theaggie.org

Bob Marley demands we “get up, stand up” for our rights in his eponymous 1973 track; The Beatles’ track “Revolution” was the battle-cry for the counterculture movement of the 1960s; Green Day mocks American discontent over George W. Bush’s presidency in “American Idiot”; and now Kendrick Lamar is rhyming “Trump” with “chump” in his newly released track, “The Heart Part 4.” Political commentary through music is not a novel concept; the political climate has always served as catalyst for art. And because lyrics are an explicit mode of communication, music is a primary source of such expression. “Donald Trump is a chump / Know how we feel, punk? Tell ‘em that God comin’ / And Russia need a replay button, y’all up to somethin’ / Electorial votes look like memorial votes,” raps Lamar in the 78-line verse of “The Heart Part 4.” Lamar isn’t alone in the musical tirade against the President. Fellow Compton rapper YG released “FDT” in the months preceding the election. “FDT Part 2” was later released featuring G-Eazy and Macklemore, taking a humorous approach to somber subject matter. But discontent over the 2016 election extends beyond the hiphop community. Musicians of all genres contributed to the “30 Days, 30 Songs” project that launched a month before the election. The project released one song every day before the November election, with standout tracks by musicians like Death Cab for Cutie, R.E.M., Andrew Bird and Cold War Kids. The project has since evolved into “1,000 Days, 1,000 Songs,” and includes songs from a variety of genres and time periods (you can find “Street Fighting

Man” by the Rolling Stones and “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen on the playlist, among others). Death Cab for Cutie contributed the track “Million Dollar Loan,” which takes a sarcastic approach to their musical commentary. Lead singer Ben Gibbard croons, “Nobody makes it on their own / Without a million dollar loan / To cast the first stone / You’ll need a million dollar loan.” This was the first song released under the project, but it didn’t take long for other musicians to join the project. Indie-rock band Cold War Kids later contributed the song “Locker Room Talk,” which mocks the recordings of Trump speaking degradingly about women — and, as the title implies, was later dismissed by Trump as “locker room banter.” The chorus is lyrically simple, primarily playing off the idea that the singer would rather “give his trust to the girl I love” than the President. “At this point in the game, taking a shot at Trump almost feels unnecessary,” said Cold War Kids in a statement with the 30 Days project. “Too easy. More negativity. We’re all so tired of him. But when I heard Death Cab’s song, I realized that’s a mistake. It’s important to state the obvious, to express those feelings in a song. Even if it’s maybe redundant, it feels great to let it all out!” History infamously repeats itself, and this pattern of art-follows-political-conflict is no exception. Times of war, political discontent and social injustice are often followed by a spike in art and creativity, whether it’s 60’s rock bands preaching unity during the civil rights movement or the now-iconic “Hope” poster from Obama’s 2008 election. These mini, modern “renaissances” are not to serve as a silver lining to Trump’s presidency. They should, however, serve as a symbol of perseverance and solidarity — a means of causing change through creative expression.

Master of Arts in Food Studies I N

S A N

F R A N C I S C O

Training and resources to master the skills necessary for success in food-related professions Learn more: Pacific.edu/UCDfoodstudies


10 | THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

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VETERINARY

BASKETBALL

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2nd Opportunity Summer Research Scholarship, believes UC Davis’ veterinary medicine education provides both optimal research and a well-rounded curriculum. “I believe that UC Davis veterinary medicine consistently ranks first because it is a program focused on conducting research to better the lives of animals and the people that interact with them,” Fousse said via email. “Additionally the program provides hands on training, community outreach opportunities, and a well-rounded curriculum that is consistently seeks feedback from its students.” As a student in VTSP, Fousse believes that the veterinary medicine program helped to identify and support her research goals. “The VSTP program helped me to succeed because it provided multiple networking opportunities, research rotations, and workshops that helped me identify a research project that I am interested in pursuing further,” Fousse said. “It is a program full of supportive mentors that want the best for their students.”

Conley emphasized how UC Davis fully supports the research and teaching of the high ranking veterinary sciences program. “Faculty are recruited to an environment that attracts the best and the brightest,” Conley said. “No one can stay on top without a teaching program that ranks with the best, and that attracts the best and brightest students. Ours does. Our administration supports these efforts, both research and teaching and we would not continue to be successful without that support.” Additionally, QS World University Rankings ranked UC Davis highly in other subjects: 13th in environmental sciences, 27th in biological sciences, 28th in anatomy and physiology, 29th in earth and marine sciences and 47th in development studies. “Whether or not we are in fact the very best vet school in the world, the faculty in the School together with a raft of fantastic faculty across this campus, the DVM and graduate students, our residents and the administration that supports the entire enterprise, make it a place to want to be,” Conley said via email.

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over 100 years ago, a decision made in part because of the staff of the local newspaper receiving unwanted mail from nearby Dansville. The sudden name change proved to have lasting effects, as “Davis” quickly caught on. And of course, The Enterprise is joining in on the historical fervour, publishing a three-part series on Davis’ history and a fun weekly column of news which reaches back into the archives of The Enterprise from 100 years ago. While things have changed in the Davis community over the last 100 years, Debbie Davis, editor and assistant publisher of The Davis Enterprise, appreciates the city’s continued encouragement. “Davis is a wonderful town for a journalist,” Davis said. “There’s a new appetite for sound, well-researched journalism in this country, and Davis is no different. We appreciate the support our community

gives this venerable institution, and we look forward to covering Davis for 100 more years!” Planners of The City of Davis’ centennial are encouraging all residents to join in on the festivities. Community members can attend Picnic Day, in which city members will parade with high-wheel bikes as a nod to Davis’ prolific biking past. Or, on July 4, Davis residents can join the party to officially ring in 100 years of the City of Davis by scavenging through old memorabilia to find the dusty past of the city. “We’re encouraging people to look into their archives and see if they can find people riding bikes […] and certainly if they have something on Davis film of people riding high wheel bikes,” Bowen said. To find out more information about the centennial, visit the official centennial page on the City of Davis website.

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adopt a completely plant-based diet for three weeks. Last year, they had over 25,000 participants. Oliveira’s background in nutritional genomics — the study of how diet can affect gene expression — influenced her proposition to create this program at UC Davis. “The food we eat changes gene expression and may cause diseases or prevent diseases such as obesity, typetwo diabetes, cancer or cardiovascular disease,” Oliveira said. Integrative medicine emphasizes the role of daily choices in one’s health, reminding patients that they have agency over our bodies. “The focus is on more definable lifestyle factors that are under control by each individual, which I think is very liberating for most patients,” Oliveira said. “If you do your best, your chances of preventing one of those disease are very, very high.” Health consciousness is for everyone; the earlier we begin to adopt these healthy habits, the better assimilated they will become into our daily lives. “Making better lifestyle choices every single day starts when we are very young because [...] most of the things we do on a daily basis are based on habit,” Oliveira said. “Making sure we adopt healthier habits when we are young is going to pay off when we are older.” Having formed just two quarters ago, the Naturopathic Exploration Club (NEC) works to raise awareness about alternative medicine disciplines, such as naturopathic medicine and acupuncture. “I have an international background coming from an eastern country, so we have a lot of alternative treatment in my culture’s background,” said Sunny Zhang, a thirdyear neurobiology, physiology and behavior major and NEC president. “When I came to America I noticed the difference and I noticed this part missing in our healthcare system so I thought it we needed to raise awareness, letting future doctors know about the existence of these [alternative] treatments.” To offer their patients the best treatment possible, doctors need to be aware of all the possible options that are available. “It’s even more important for students who are planning to go the conventional way for medicine to widen their horizons and know [about] these unique aspects of medicine to keep an open mind,” Zhang said. The club has brought in professionals to speak about their paths in order to break stereotypes and dispel misconceptions. “We want to keep it really professional and educational instead of just promoting something,” Zhang said. “I know right now there are so many misunderstanding of alternative medical treatments, especially in the U.S. I think people need to just talk and be more

informed.” Alternative medicine faces a lot of skepticism in western society, where the dominant discourse revolves around biomedicine, shunning most everything that is not “scientifically proven.” “I encountered people with very skeptical views or very much just disliked this entire idea of naturopathic medicine,” Zhang said. “They don’t think it’s medicine — they think it’s pseudoscience — and I think that’s exactly why we want to bring actual professional doctors with licenses and a medical school education. I can’t say whether or not it’s pseudoscience, but I would like to know more about it. That’s our goal.” Other forms of treatment, such as art therapy as a form of psychotherapy, can promote wellness for those who seek it. This option is employed by therapists who use the art process as a means for communication and self-expression. “Its essentially beneficial for people that don’t typically communicate verbally or are looking for another way to express themselves,” said Katie Lorain, an art therapist at UC Davis’ Children’s Hospital. “[It allows them] to have a therapeutic relationship that is not the typical one.” Lorain was inspired to pursue this unique path when witnessing the power that art has in unifying children with disabilities by providing them with a language that allowed them to interact in a different way. “My first internship was at the VA [Veteran’s Association] in the Bronx working in a nursing home,” Lorain said. “I was able to do a lot of video therapy, documentaries and autobiographical documentaries where some of our patients were able to tell war stories [or] just document their lives for their children and grandchildren. They were typically nearing end of life, so it was a way of [creating] something permanent for them and their families [to] hold on to.” Lorain was able to work at the California Medical Facility prison in Vacaville to provide psychiatric patients with this necessary outlet. “We had incarcerated males that were acutely psychotic or needed inpatient psychiatric help, so they would come to our prison from all over California for stabilization and art therapy, music therapy, or recreational therapy,” Lorain said. “We helped them find different coping tactics to use.” In the viewpoints of people such as Oliveira and Lorain, doctors and patients would limit their resources by disregarding alternative medicine such as art therapy, naturopathic medicine or other forms of integrative medicine. “It’s never too early to start learning how to take care of yourself,” Oliveira said. “Sometimes change starting with us will touch the lives of those we love.”

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Moneke and Brynton Lemar, also have some artistic passions up their sleeves. “If you are talking about hidden talents, I can rap and beatbox too,” said Moneke, a thirdyear communication major. “I write about whatever is on my mind. I wrote about a breakup, being doubted, even about hating basketball at one point.” The Australian-raised forward is influenced by his brothers as well as popular rap and hip-hop artists. “I have five older brothers, and two of them were in a rap group back in Australia,” Moneke said. “I took after them because I thought they were dope [...] J. Cole is my favorite artist by far. Every game day I listen to him, and every Wednesday on Twitter I post a J. Cole lyric.” Moneke has posted some of his rap online, including his “So Gone” beat challenge on Twitter. Lemar, a fourth-year communication major, enjoys rapping as well. “I made a mixtape my freshman year and that is when I started writing lyrics,” said Lemar, a guard on the team. “It’s not like we did this professionally, we just did it for fun. We didn’t do it in the studio or anything.” Lemar has put out his work online and is working on new material for this upcoming season. “I have one single where we got a real rapper and everything which is on Soundcloud,” Lemar said. “For the most part I rap to myself and write alone in my room, but I am working on some stuff for this spring, and I ask my friends for their honest opinions.” Friends, family and authority figures all seem to be huge influencers in the players’ lives. AJ John, a third-year sociology major, takes inspiration from several sources in his poetry. “One of my teachers in high school inspired me to do more with my writing,” said John, a forward for the Aggies. “I write a lot about my grandfather. One of the things we talked about was this affinity he had for flying [...] he believed that when you die, your spirit can do all of the things your body couldn’t do in life, so I wrote a poem about it. “ John believes poetry is a great way to get out emotions and loves to hear other’s poetic works as well. “I’m not some master poet, but I really do like poetry,” John said. “I have been to a few open mic nights here at Davis. It is cool to experience other people’s stuff and put yourself out there.” TRADITIONS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

for four years and studying for four years, [...] you want [...] to be able to enjoy your time without having to feel like you’re rushing through your four years. I think some of the traditions allow students to be able to do that, [...] to have a good, well-rounded experience while you’re on campus and so when you leave campus it gives you that warm and fuzzy good memories of your time here.” EASTIN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

where their values are.” Currently, Gov. Brown’s proposed budget cuts public school spending down to the national minimum, adds a $16.1 billion subsidy to the provision of the Affordable Care Act that provides for the disadvantaged, and dedicates significantly more toward climate change adaptations. Eastin stated that, if she is elected, budget cuts will be less likely in order to compensate for the shortfall. Instead, she proposed that taxes be changed or imposed at a local level, similar to parcel taxes in Davis, or raised in small amounts, such as in gas taxes. In addition, she proposed “reassessing properties” as they’re sold in order to compensate. “If you blow your tire on the freeway because you hit a pothole, would you rather pay to fix any damages on your car, or pay a couple more cents of a gas tax to fix the pothole?” Eastin said. Beyond economic matters, Eastin is a strong supporter of civil rights movements in California. She is adamantly opposed to President Trump’s recent attempt to ban immigration from five countries in the Middle East, as well as Trump’s vilification of immigrants from Mexico. “I think it’s absolutely outrageous,” Eastin said. “Trump is such a hypocrite that I can barely speak about it. Two of his three wives were immigrants. With the size of California and all of the work we have, I think we would be in real deep if we didn’t have a robust population of immigrants in California.” California, as the largest democratic state in the union, has so far shown itself to be the greatest adversary to the new administration in its views on immigration and countless other things. “The vast majority of these immigrants are good people […] they’re contributing members of our society,” Eastin said. “If anything, they’re more careful. The people who I know who have immigrated here have been the most hardworking, the most compassionate, and the most law-abiding people I have ever met.” As for other matters of civil rights, Eastin maintained that she would support those in the LGBT community, for women and for the disabled. “I’m going to fight for all manner of people, whether they’re disabled or enabled, if they’re LGBT,” Eastin said. “I’m an advocate for electing more women and certainly more women of color to office […] the attitude is that the state of California needs to be an open and compassionate place where we exhibit real caring and real concern. We need to think about making tomorrow better. I have the ability to stand up for what’s right, and I’ll always do that.” Eastin encourages political activism, whether it be in California or anywhere else in the United States. She stressed the importance of small groups making a difference politically, expressing that “we all knew somebody who didn’t vote”, in the recent presidential election. “Major decisions turn on a small amount of people to get involved […] There were just a few thousand votes in a few states that helped Trump win the electoral college,” Eastin said. “He did not win the popular vote. If we had been a little better organized, maybe we could have turned the day and changed California and this country for the better. Now, we just have to keep California working to be a better place.” In closing, Eastin, a long time resident in the City of Davis, noted the ability of people in Davis to make a difference, and expressed her faith in the political activity of Davis residents and students at the university. “I say to each of the students [at Davis]: register, vote, and get involved,” Eastin said. “Do you know what the Constitution says if there’s a tie in an election? You have a game of chance. Don’t leave this to chance.”

reduce. reuse. recycle.

The aggie


THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 | 11

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

N ICKI PA DA R / AGG IE

Women’s tennis (Marya Welch Tennis Center)

Friday, April 7 vs. UC Riverside at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8 vs. Long Beach State at 10:30 a.m.

Women’s water polo (Schaal Aquatics Center)

Saturday, April 8 vs. Hawai’i at 12 p.m.

Men’s tennis (Marya Welch Tennis Center)

Saturday, April 8 vs. UC Santa Barbara at 2 p.m.

LU CY KNOWL E S / AGG IE

SPRING IS NO VACATION FOR TRACK AND FIELD With successful March, April looks busy for UC Davis track and field team

BY DOMINIC FARIA sports@theaggie.org

Spring has finally arrived, and at UC Davis the turning of the season brings with it the most competitive meets of the Aggies’ track and field schedule. With several meets already under their belt this season, the Aggies look to utilize this early competition experience to fuel success in coming matches. The Aggie Open — UC Davis’ first home meet, which took place back on March 11 — was a definitive success for the team. Both the UC Davis men’s and women’s teams won their respective competitions, defeating the likes of Sacramento State, Saint Mary’s and Nevada. Standout performances came from all over the event schedule. Three Aggies earned top-four finishes in the women’s 100 meter, led by sophomore sprinter Natsumi McGee, who finished first. The women also saw success in the field events, as UC Davis athletes finished first in pole vault, triple jump, hammer throw and discus throw. For the men, junior sprinter Brian Thomas carried the day, with first-place finishes in both the 200 meter and 400 meter runs. Experience is something that the team does not lack — 27 of the team’s 86 athletes are seniors, and plenty of them are stars. The senior sister tandem of Rianna and Olivia Goins have been successful in their distance events so far this season: Rianna was named Big West Conference Women’s Track Athlete of the Week on March 14 and Olivia placed first in her section of the 3,000 meter steeplechase at San Francisco State on Friday, March 31. For the men, seniors Jordan Rushing and Nick Ratto

JAY G E LV E ZO N / AG GI E

have been especially impressive. Both Rushing and Ratto placed in the top 10 of their respected long-distance events at the first day of the Stanford Invitational this past Friday, and Rushing finished first in the 2,000 meter steeplechase at the Aggie Open last month. Make no mistake: the Aggies possess a wealth of young talent as well. A contingent of UC Davis athletes competed at Las Vegas on March 18, when freshman star sprinter Kierra Davis showed off her athleticism in the 200 meter and 100 meter runs, in which she currently ranks third and fifth in the conference, respectively. Junior sprinter Emma Redick also had an impressive showing in Las Vegas, where her time in the 400 meter hurdles placed her at the top of the conference in that event. The season’s pace has continued to accelerate. Last weekend, the Aggies faced grueling competition from athletes all over the country in three separate events located in the Bay Area and in Sacramento. A fairly quick turnaround will have the Aggies travel out to the desert to compete in the Mesa Classic and the Sun Angel Classic at Arizona State, beginning Friday. From here, the Aggies will have several other key meets in the month of April, including the Woody Wilson Classic on April 14 and 15 in Davis. The Aggies will also participate in meets in Long Beach, Azusa and Berkeley, to name a few, before they begin competing for the Big West Championships in May. April looks to be a grueling month for the UC Davis track and field team, but the depth and talent that the team seems to possess early on in this season might be enough to carry these athletes to springtime glory come May.

JAY GELVEZON / AGGIE

Aggies clinch series with victory over Matadors UC Davis baseball team wins series against CSU Northridge 2-1 with final score of 7-5 BY LIZ JACOBSON sports@theaggie.org

The UC Davis baseball team won the weekend’s Big West Conference series over Cal State Northridge with a score of 7-5 in the finale. After a 8-2 win on March 31 and a 4-2 loss on April 1, the Aggies needed a win to secure the series. “I thought that the first game we played really well,” senior catcher Ignacio Diaz said. “Yesterday we only had four hits, the pitcher kept us a little off balance, but we stayed hopeful and optimistic.” Redshirt junior pinch hitter Guillermo Salazar echoed his teammate’s sentiments. “We knew we needed to win today, obviously,” Salazar said. “We lost yesterday in a tight one, but we kept the confidence that we were the better team the entire time, so that’s what really helped today.” Senior pitcher Justin Mullins started the game on the mound with Diaz behind the plate. Going into the bottom half of the first inning, senior shortstop Jacob Thomas scored on a pass ball. The inning ended with the Aggies leading by one. Mullins stayed on the mound for seven innings, only allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts. “[I felt] good, prepared, just been working all week to get ready,” Mullins said. “But [my] body felt good and I was just ready to help my team win the series.” After a scoreless top half, leadoff batter Diaz increased the Aggies’ lead with a home run. Uneventful third, fourth and fifth innings set the stage for an exciting sixth. The Matadors scored three runs on two hits, and the Aggies responded with two runs, with Diaz batting in sophomore designated hitter Caleb Van

Blake and sophomore left fielder Ryan Anderson. The Matadors tied the score and took the lead during the seventh and eighth, with one run in each. The eighth inning saw two UC Davis pitching changes, with junior Connor Loar and sophomore Chris Brown both stepping up to the mound. The Aggies rallied in the bottom of the eighth. Redshirt junior center fielder Alex Aguiar batted in Anderson for the tying run, bringing the score to five to five. Salazar’s pinch-hit base hit for sophomore second baseman Cameron Briggs scored the winning two runs. Soon after, both Diaz and Aguiar scored, lifting the game’s tally to 7-5. The Aggies kept a defensive edge during the top of the ninth and secured the win. “That was a fun game,” Diaz said “We started off early, then it kind of settled down a little and they started scoring and we then we kind of just fed off of that.” Head coach Matt Vaughn weighed in with a similar sentiment about the series finale win. “This was a really, really good win,” Vaughn said. “I mean, they’re all good, but the way that we lost yesterday at the end of the game, to come out today and kind of have the same scenario playing out in the seventh inning, to come back, it makes this one a little bigger than others.” The UC Davis baseball team now heads to another three-game series down south against defending conference champions Cal State Fullerton on Friday, April 7. “We’ve been very good offensively in games,” Vaughn said. “We had a lot more quality at-bats today, so we’re going to practice tomorrow. We’re going to try to stay on it and try to put two straight games together of good offense.”

Predic t ions for MLB season

Aggie columnist explores potential award winners for upcoming season BY MI CHAEL WEXLER sports@theaggie.org

National League MVP: Nolan Arenado Nolan Arenado is my prediction to win the National League MVP. But he will have significant competition, as Kris Bryant continues to be the cog in the lineup of the reigning World Series champions, and Bryce Harper looks to bounce back from a lackluster season. With Arenado’s otherworldly defense at third base and amazing power-stroke that has amounted to two 40-home-run seasons in the last couple years, he is a great bet. Additionally, the Colorado Rockies are a sleeper team this year and are banking on significant improvement that — if it ends up happening — will fare well for their best player. American League MVP: Manny Machado Mike Trout is the consensus pick for the best player in baseball and has definitely been robbed of a few MVP awards in his six seasons of professional baseball, but Machado will be this year’s MVP. I predict that this season, Machado will crack the 40-home-run mark for the first time in his career, since he has improved upon his total every season of his career without sacrificing batting average. Also, his OPS has climbed every season since his rookie campaign, and he is a dominant defensive force at third base (and a little bit of shortstop, too). In order for this to happen for Manny, he must better his plate discipline and get on base at a higher clip, but I still believe he will take this one home. National League Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw Never bet against Clayton Kershaw to win the Cy Young. He is miles ahead of every other pitcher in Major League Baseball, and the only reason he didn’t come up with it last year was because of a back injury that limited him to only 149 innings pitched. In spring training, Kershaw has looked healthy, and hopefully these back issues are a thing of the past

for the 29-year-old who hopes to carry the Los Angeles Dodgers all the way to the World Series this year. In terms of metrics, this pick doesn’t really need any explanation. He’s pretty much a lock for a sub 2.50 ERA (a conservative estimate) and 200 strikeouts. American League Cy Young: Chris Sale Chris Sale has been one of the very best pitchers in baseball, but has flown under the radar due to being a member of the Chicago White Sox, who have been consistently bad in recent memory. Fortunately for Sale, he was shipped to Boston this offseason in a blockbuster trade that sent a package of prospects to Chicago for Sale’s services. Sale is now the ace on a championship contender and he will be in a prime position to take home his first-ever Cy Young. American League Rookie of the Year: Andrew Benintendi I have yet to get a good look at Andrew Benintendi, but, from what I’ve heard, he seems legit. Benintendi is nearly everyone’s pick to win Rookie of the Year in 2017, and he also played very well in the majors when he was briefly called up last year. I can’t argue with the .295/.359/.476 slash line. The 22-year-old left fielder is set up to have quite the career out in Boston. National League Rookie of the Year: Dansby Swanson Swanson was the first overall pick in the 2015 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks but was sent over to Atlanta in a heist of a trade for Shelby Miller, who had a disastrous first year with the Diamondbacks. Swanson, on the other hand, has been very good and looks like a player mature beyond his years. The Vanderbilt product didn’t need much time in the minors to show off his talent, and now he is firmly entrenched as the starting shortstop for a young Atlanta team. He will be this year’s National League Rookie of the Year. World Series Winner: Boston Red Sox 4, Chicago Cubs 2 Repeats in baseball are hard to come by unless you are the New York Yankees, and with the acquisition of Sale and the full season of Andrew Benintendi, the Red Sox are primed to make another World Series run. They are going to need star pitcher David Price to make this happen, whose health has been a concern with a flare-up in his elbow that has kept him sidelined. If Price can return to full strength and be the innings-eater that he has been throughout his career, Boston is my pick.


12 | THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

916-693-9782


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