October 12, 2011

serving the uc davis campus and community since 1915

www.theaggie.org

volume 130, number 96

wednesday, october 12, 2011

We the students in order to form a more perfect Association ASUCD election season starts this week

By JUSTIN GOSS Campus News Writer

On Monday, petitions for the upcoming ASUCD elections were released. Yet yearly averages show that 85 percent of the UC Davis student body was unaware of past election cycles. Like the latent crash of thunder, so low and distant it hardly registers in the human auditory canal, petitions were released, and UC Davis campus politics awoke from its slumber.

Election season began this week, and despite the prominent electoral indicators

— including A-Frames, fliers, candidate presentations and ASUCD Coffee House (CoHo) debates — most students will remain unaware of the politics taking place around them. This, in turn, could lead to low electoral participation.

Voter turnout is typically low. In a university of approximately 25,000 eligible undergraduate voters, only about 3,000 to 4,500 students (10 to 15 percent) vote on a quarterly basis. What’s more, few students aren’t even aware of their student government or its elections. Kevin Tsukamoto, a first-year design major, did not know when

elections began, or how the electoral process functioned. He did, however, know ASUCD stood for Associated Students of UC Davis.

Other students, like Hong Hochung, a first-year molecular biology major, were similarly nonplussed. Such ambivalence has ASUCD Elections Committee Chair, Stephanie Wong, worried.

“The Senate does do important things, but the average student doesn’t care or is far too busy to notice,” Wong said.

These important things include ASUCD’s $11 million budget used to facil-

Downtown Davis helps women bundle up in style

itate major student services like the CoHo, Unitrans, campus radio station KDVS and the town’s much beloved Picnic Day. The Association is also responsible for maintaining the post office in the Memorial Union and subsidizing the Pantry in Lower Freeborn. Despite these significant offerings, many students like Tsukanodo and Hochung don’t know how their elected representatives are chosen.

Elections take place during Fall and Winter quarters, with six Senate seats up

See ELECTIONS, page 4

ask katehi Editor’s Note: Ask Katehi is a weekly column where students get a chance to ask the UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi questions.

wine or a shot of ouzo — an anise-flavored liquor often served with Greek foods or appetizers. But there’s nothing like sitting in a Greek island café on a warm What is your favorsummer evening ite Greek food and munching on a why? leg of charbroiled There are so many octopus as you wonderful Greek watch the sunset dishes to choose or boats sail by, from and, although or while having a I do not eat meat lively conversaand tend to be a tion with friends light eater, I do eat or relatives about dairy products and Linda Katehi addressing the seafood. With that Chancellor world’s problems. said, my favorite Everything then Greek food is charbroiled octopus. This might seems possible and there is surprise many of you be- nothing that can spoil the cause this dish is not com- atmosphere. monly served in the U.S. If you ever find yourself Even in Greek restaurants in Greece in the summer, I here where they do serve it, encourage you to try it and it differs greatly from what you will see what I mean. you get in Greece, both be- You will need a Greek nacause of the quality of the tive friend, though, to take cephalopod and the way it you to the right place. is prepared.

This dish goes well with Want to ask Katehi a question? E-mail your a glass of chilled white questions to campus@theaggie.org.

Local stores offer cool winter fashion

News iN Brief

Shazib Haq / Aggie

Pinkadot, located downtown E. Street, offers shirts, pants and jackets for winter layering.

BY LANI CHAN

Aggie Features Writer

It is just like Davis to be in the scorching upper nineties during Welcome Week, followed by gray skies and rain just two weeks later. Such extreme fluctuations in weather have a significant effect on students’ daily routines, from figuring out how to get to and from

campus to deciding what to wear to avoid soggy jeans.

But adding on more clothing and weatherproof gear doesn’t have to translate to bulky and awkward.

Sure, a hasty trip to the Corral to purchase rain boots and frantic scrambling to cover up with plastic bags will undoubtedly happen over the course of the unpredictable fall and winter. However, there

are plenty of seasonal clothing options available for purchase here in Davis that are just as comfortable as a summer wardrobe.

Pinkadot 238 E St. Cutoff denim shorts, sandals, camisoles and sundresses are hard to

See WINTER, page 6

Fall Internship and Career Fair Thursday The Fall Internship and Career Fair will take place on Thursday at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students from all ma-

jors are invited to come learn about intern and career opportunities from over 165 companies.

— Hannah Strumwasser

iPhone 4S will be available Oct. 14 New features include iOS 5, Siri and iCloud

By CLAIRE TAN Aggie News Writer

Apple held an event presenting the iPhone 4S on Oct. 4. It was the first Apple event in which Tim Cook presented as Apple’s new CEO since Aug. 24.

Many have expressed disappointment, believing that the company would present the iPhone 5 at the Oct. 4 event.

“The [trends] on the new Apple seem to think the [iPhone] 4S will be a failure, even if it is faster, has a better interface and platform for running apps,” said associate professor of technocultural studies Kriss Ravetto-Biagioli in an e-mail. “The issue seems to be design, why does it still look like the previous model?”

Apple’s website boasts that the iPhone 4S is even more powerful than its predecessor.

“The dual-core A5 chip delivers more power. The 8 megapixel camera with all-new optics also shoots 1080p HD video. And with Siri, iPhone 4S does what you ask,” the website states.

Other main features are the iOS 5 (Apple’s device operating system), an

Today’s weather Sunny High 82 Low 58

enhanced retina display and iCloud.

According to Apple, the A5 CPU has twofold processing power, allowing for better gaming, quicker browsing and faster app launching. Apple said that because of the power efficiency of the chip, there is a longer battery life.

The iPhone 4S’s camera is a step up from the camera features previous iPhones had. Apple said the camera boasts 8 megapixels, 60 percent more pixels than the iPhone 4’s camera. The company said that it has a refined LED flash and a backside illumination sensor that gives brighter color and more detail.

In addition, the volume-up key can now be used to take a photo and photos can be directly edited on the phone. iPhone 4S’s Siri is the newest main attraction. Siri is currently a beta version; users of the phone will be able to test it for its efficacy.

“Siri on iPhone 4S lets you use your voice to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls and more,” Apple said. “Siri understands what you say, knows what you mean and even talks back.”

Siri is the replacement for the previous voice control function that was introduced with the iPhone 3GS in 2009, becoming the new voice

See IPHONE, page 2

iPhone 4S

Forecast The days to come will be beautiful, but be careful with the full moon tomorrow evening, the werewolves might come out. Enjoy the nice weather and nice temperatures while they last!

Tyson Tilmont, atmospheric science major Aggie Forecasting Team

courtesy

Thursday

Friday

Sunny

Sunny

High 83 Low 60

High 80 Low 59

Dear pedestrians, The bike paths are for BIKES so move yourselves to the side and get the hell out of the way. Also, if you’re walking in a group STOP lining up next to each other and blocking entire lanes.

Rantings from the Night Crew

page two

2 wednesday, october 12, 2011

daily calendar dailycal@theaggie.org

TODAY

THURSDAY

Student Organization Showcase

Fall Internship and Career Fair

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

West Quad Join 180+ clubs at the annual student organization showcase! Groups can recruit members, give demonstrations, perform and let the campus community know who they are and what they have to offer. The Aggie Pack booth will release a limited number of brand-new Homecoming shirts.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

ARC Pavilion Over 165 companies — including Cisco, Teach for America and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising — will provide information about career and internship opportunities for students.

Science Café: Medicines from Nature: Drugs that Changed the World 5:15 p.m.

Wyatt Deck, UC Davis Arboretum Professor Ted Molinski of the department of chemistry and biochemistry at UC San Diego and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will provide an overview of the development of medicines from plants and other natural sources. He will discuss the historical impact of this research and several recent breakthroughs that have helped lead to cures for diseases.

Circle K International Meeting 6 p.m.

206 Olson Want to make a difference in your community? Interested in community service? Then Circle K is the club for you.

Student Investors and Entrepreneurs Workshop 7 to 8 p.m.

1150 Hart UC Davis alumnus lead a workshop portfolio building. bonds, insurance, and more.

Robert L. Woods will about investing and Learn about stocks, retirement planning

Vet Aide Club Meeting

Shinkoskey Noon Concert 12:05 p.m.

Yocha Dehe Grand Lobby, Mondavi Center This free recital by the Percussion Studio is titled “What I Did on My Summer Vacation.”

Women’s Soccer v. Pacific 3 p.m.

Aggie Soccer Field The first 250 students will receive free Homecoming shirts.

American Red Cross Club General Meeting 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.

118 Olson Missed the first general meeting? No worries! Just come to the second meeting of the year and learn about volunteer opportunities around Davis and the Yolo community.

FRIDAY Ninety-ninth Annual Pajamarino 6 to 8 p.m.

Amtrak Station, 840 Second St. In 1912, pajama-clad students first sneaked out of their dorms to greet returning alumni at the train station the night before Homecoming. Free food, fun and entertainment will be provided by the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh!, Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan Drummers, the Liquid Hotplates, the UC Davis Spirit Squad and more.

7:30 p.m.

176 Everson Join the Vet Aide Club at UC Davis to hear veterinary speakers discuss career opportunities in food animal medicine.

Also, come for information regarding the beef, llama and poultry handling workshops.

To receive placement in the AGGIE DAILY CALENDAR, e-mail dailycal@theaggie. org or stop by 25 Lower Freeborn by noon the day prior to your event. Due to space constraints, all event descriptions are subject to editing, and priority will be given to events that are free of charge and geared toward the campus community.

IPHONE

and wirelessly transfer them to different Apple devices. People can back up and restore their devices without needing to use a Mac or PC. “Apple has often taken technologies that already existed in research labs, ranging from windowbased GUIs [graphic user interfaces] to multi-touch, and though excellent design and execution, made them ubiquitous,” said Assistant Professor for the Department of Computer Science and Program in Technocultural Studies Michael Neff, in an e-mail.

The iPhone 4S, available in black or white, starts from $199 for a 16 GB and will be carried by AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint.

Cont. from front page recognition tool that can also convert words into text.

OS 5 will also be made available for download for the iPhone 3GS or later iPhone models on Oct. 12.

The new iOS offers over 200 new features, including Notification Center, iMessage and Reminders.

Notification Center puts all notifications into one location as opposed to the respective app locations, iMessage gives users unlimited texting among fellow iOS 5 users and Reminders is a virtual todo list. iCloud is another new main feature of the iPhone 4S. According to Apple, iCloud will store music, CLAIRE TAN can be reached at city@ photos, documents, apps theaggie.org.

accuracy The California Aggie strives to ensure that all of its facts and details are accurate. Please bring any corrections to our attention by calling (530) 752-0208.

Jason Alpert Editor in Chief

Amy Stewart Science Editor

Becky Peterson Managing Editor

Melissa Freeman Opinion Editor

Alex Tervo Business Manager

Kamry Zhang Copy Chief

Grace Sprague Advertising Manager

Jasna Hodzic Photography Editor

Hannah Strumwasser Campus Editor Angela Swartz City Editor Uyen Cao Arts Editor Erin Migdol Features Editor Trevor Cramer Sports Editor

Michelle Huey Design Director Tani Wong Asst. Design Director Mimi Vo Night Editor Amanda Nguyen Asst. Night Editor Irisa Tam Art Director

One Shields Ave. 25 Lower Freeborn, UCD Davis, CA 95616 Editorial (530) 752-0208 Advertising (530) 752-0365 Fax (530) 752-0355

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friends really have risen from the depths of hell and your frustration tank is about to overflow, rather than dashing out of college to avoid the decades Zenita of aging they will etch Singh onto your lovely face, I demand you to quit your trembling and be a (wo) man!

Feeble souls may hastily pack their belongings, hitchhike to the nearest airport and book the next flight home … but you are not among the weak. ou came to college, If you have been able to eager to escape padeal with your roommates rental authority thus far without spontaand enjoy the never-endneously (or even expecting sleepovers of life with edly) combusting, you friends, but what happens most likely have the willwhen these friends begin power to endure a few eroding your patience? more months of misery.

You may have thrown tan- After you have honesttrums back at home, but ly exhausted every possiyou shouldn’t risk pissing ble method in the quest off the only pals you have to reconcile the differ… Eight? ences be If you tween you If you’d like your friendship to and your often find yourself slide along as smoothly as a roomwaking to mates, you freshly-oiled closet door ... the boishave my terous enpermission trance of drunken budto isolate yourself in the dies; if mere thoughts of nearest bookstore availyour roommates have able and saturate a few your head crashing into dozen encyclopedias with your desk; if you’d like to large, salty spouts of tears. visit a counselor to dis Once your eyes are cuss your newfound deas dry as sand in the sire to strangle fellow resSaharan sun, howevidents; or if you’ve reer, you must pick yoursorted to studying in the self up and stop allowing dusty corners of quiet anjerkish friends to be the tique shops downtown to rain on your picnic. You avoid your hellish dorm or may not have realized apartment … the time is this in your cozy, shelripe for action! tered life with family, but Before you jump the the real world is full of gun and charge toward obstacles in every form. your friends with a fly Though dealing with swatter and set of sharpobnoxiously difficult peoened pencils at your disple may scratch sharpposal, remember that the ly at the boundaries of positive correlation beyour patience, it will give tween your stress levels you people skills that riand roommate exposure val those of CEOs. Rather means your blood presthan taking this burden sure is nearly as high as as a curse, consider it a cirrus clouds. Also, remchance to become a better nants of any sleep-depriperson. vation-induced cranki According to my inner ness may skew your judg- statistical genius, the odds ment into a convolutare against roommates beed chaos reminiscent of ing grotesque, carnivorous cubist artwork. goblins in disguise. So keep Take a few deep breaths trying to unscrew their and settle those angry thinking caps and twist waves of panic crashing a few cogs in their menpainfully against the tal machinery. Do not hesinsides of your stomach. itate to cowardly camouThough it would certainly flage yourself in the hustle be more fun to incinerate and bustle of coffee shops their possessions and around campus when teninterminably pester them sions have surpassed your with whacks from your tolerance. badminton racket, your If the prospect of sponfriends probably wouldn’t taneous human combusappreciate so subtle a tion is keeping you up at gesture. night, reduce your likeli If you’d like your hood of becoming a vicfriendship to slide along tim by forging new friendas smoothly as a freshships wherever you go ly-oiled closet door, and gathering some good you’ll do things in a more karma points by being the tasteful way. Toss your rainbow of everyone’s day. passive aggression off The more positive and the nearest cliff and unfriendly you are to others, clench your sweaty fists: the more likely they are to actions may speak louder return the favor. than words, but lawsuits And for those lucky few are more expensive than who have never been troucompromises. bled by a housemate, you So drink some tea, light might just be the evil trolls a candle and cremate your bursting the ears of those infinite list of grievancaround you and spreades. Approach your rooming disorder like butter mates once your anger is on toast. Be conscious of as tame as a bunny rabyour actions and try not bit, gently requesting that to shove your roommates they be more courteous into the dreary depths of and accommodating to despair — or worse, insanyour needs. After you poity. Good luck, all! litely explain the implications their actions have on ZENITA SINGH will generously read any you, they’ll (hopefully) be gossip, melodramatic life revelations or pleas for help you send to zensingh@ happy to comply… ucdavis.edu!

But if your fiendish

Roomies from hell

Y

The california Aggie

clever names like Peach Delight or Country Apple.

And lastly, on the higher end of the soap spectrum, you have refined brands that cater to the elite — the Michelle ones who refuse to use the Nguyen same soap as the plebian herd, and are willing to spend a good chunk extra to cleanse themselves.

These smell of lavish botanicals and include costly ingredients like milk or rosemary. he Vietnam War end I found myself in possesed in 1975, but its sion of one of these soaps devastating impact not too long ago. A friend lasted several decades. came back from Provence, In 1990, my parents were France and gave me a bar among the many still fleeof lavender rose from a ing the communist coun“savon boutique” (soap try. They miraculousstore), wrapped in fine paly made it to Malaysia and per and tied with a tweed soon thereafter I was born. bow.

All I know of the island and I was eager to pamper of the refugee camp is that myself, to experience the soap was scarce. exotic notes of the French When our family relocountryside. But guilt arcated to the States a few rested me. months latIt was the er, I had They have nothing to choose guilt of a the luxury of bathing from while we have too many girl who was accuswith soap choices tomed to twice a day. using only My parents what is necessary. never ceased to remind me Does this feeling of of how lucky I was to have guilt sound familiar? I’m it. sure we’ve all heard it And no reminder served ring once or twice in our to be more touching and consciences: more memorable than our “Don’t throw away your yearly Christmas shopping food. There are people when, instead of buying starving out there.” chocolates or perfume sets “$130 jeans! $30 could to give as gifts, we bought get you a pair that looks plain bar soap by the tons just the same.” and shipped them to fami And for me: “An lies in Vietnam. expensive bar of soap is For those of you reading this, buying soap most like- too excessive. It can’t do any better than a cheaper ly doesn’t carry the same alternative.” joy that comes with buying It’s apparent. Living in new makeup or a new stesuch a privileged society, reo system. It’s not a rare we are blessed with a treat or a valued commodwide variety of choices ity, especially if you’re buyranging from the simply ing the bulk packages from necessary to the obscenely Costco. But for those who exorbitant. live in places we cannot But should our pronounce, soap (of any brand) is a cherished prod- abundance be a cause for guilt? Should we buy uct, an indulgence among only what is necessary indulgences. and feel ashamed if we In fact, while many do otherwise? Absolutely people struggle to find not. Instead of feeling anything at all to clean bad for being blessed themselves with, we with prosperity, we could struggle with choosing try appreciating our between moisturizing, brightening or exfoliating bounty.

Now, this by no means soap. They have nothing implies that you should to choose from while we buy $80 Polos of every have too many choices. color just because you The plethora of choices can, or spend 10 bucks is indeed a daunting task for first-world consumers on another shade of pink polish that looks like ourselves. almost identical to the To start off, we have one you already have. multiple brands of run-ofThose 10 bucks could feed the-mill soaps advertised a famished child for a with exalted claims on month. our television screen, But if there is a pair of promising better skin or a earrings you’ve been eyegreat time in the shower. ing for quite some time, a A woman lathers herself great set of speakers you up and is immediately want installed in your car, immersed in ecstasy or a really luxurious bar of and swept away to some soap, don’t hesitate to get tropical paradise. it.

Next, you have your spe Part of being blessed cially scented soaps, only with choices is learning sold in body shops. These how to discern between are strongly fragranced what is frivolous and what so that you’ll walk around is damn well deserved. smelling like candy all day long. They come out with a new scent every season Tell MICHELLE NGUYEN about the and christen their newunnecessary things you like to buy at michellen1990@yahoo.com. ly developed mélange with

Soap

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wednesday, october 12, 2011 3

The california aggie

Long-distance lovers make geography work Communication, sharing keeps the fire burning

Sarena Grossjan / Aggie

Despite miles between the two, sophomore Tiffany Hsieh is still able to spend some quality time with her boyfriend.

BY MICHELLE STAUFFER Aggie Features Writer

Many students find moving away to college to be an exciting, nerve-wracking time in their lives. For some it’s a time to meet new friends, and maybe even that special someone.

For others, however, it could mean having to leave that special someone behind.

A study published in the journal Communication Research in 2010 by the University of Kentucky’s Laura Stafford stated that as many as half of all college students are currently in long-distance relationships, and up to 75 percent will be in such a relationship at some point.

Stefanie DeLaCruz, junior psychology and human development double major, was with her boyfriend for two years before she left her hometown to attend UC Davis.

“The hardest part is probably just missing him and adjusting to not seeing and

talking to him all the time like we did before I left for college,” DeLaCruz said. “I have work, school and internships and he works 56 hours a week and goes to school full time, so it is really hard for us to find times that don’t conflict with our schedules to talk or Skype.”

Senior human development major Chilly Her agreed that simply missing her boyfriend has been the hardest part.

“We were basically high school sweethearts so the transition of seeing him practically everyday to seeing him only once a month was hard, and it still is,” Her said.

Both DeLaCruz and Her, however, said neither of them lack support from their boyfriends they left behind. While both couples admit that it gets tough, they would never seriously consider calling it quits.

Maybe these two couples are just lucky enough to know they will survive the distance, but Counseling and Psychological Services psychologist Bedford Palmer sug-

gested that all long-distance couples can last if they are willing to try.

“Like in all relationships, communication is key,” Palmer said. “Small things like assuring your partner in terms of your feelings [for example, “I love you,” “I miss you,” “Can’t wait to see you”], being positive, sharing the things that have happened in your life that they were not present for.”

Palmer also suggests that these longdistance relationships have the potential to be viewed in a positive light, and don’t necessarily have to interfere with schooling.

“Being in a long-distance relationship can provide a level of autonomy, which can allow students to be more focused on their work at school, and more focused on the relationship when they are with their partner,” Palmer said.

Palmer also reminded students that couples are going to have problems within their relationships regardless of whether there is a large distance between

INSIDE

the game with...

By KIM CARR

Aggie Sports Writer

Lisa Kemp kicked her first soccer ball 18 years ago and fortunately for the Aggies, she never stopped.

Kemp earned a starting spot her sophomore year and she has started every game since. She led the Aggies in scoring her junior year, totaling five goals on the season.

UC Davis is only halfway through their season and Kemp has already matched her five goal record from last year. She took some time off from scoring goals to sit down with Aggie Sports Writer Kim Carr and reflect on her time as an Aggie and to look forward to what she still hopes to accomplish.

You’re from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. How in the world did you end up at Davis?

I know! It’s a really random story but basically I have a lot of family in California and I don’t really like the cold weather. I kind of liked the idea of moving around so I ended up here.

How long have you been playing soccer?

I’ve been playing since I was four so that’s 18 years now.

This is your last year as an Aggie.

What are your personal goals for the season?

It’s kind of a personal goal and a team goal. My ultimate goal would to make the Big West Tournament so finishing top four in conference is definitely the number one goal.

Coach Robinson really wants to see the Aggies in the tournament too. What does the team need to do to make that happen?

Well we need to be consistent.

That’s our biggest issue because there’s some days where we will show up with a ton of energy and we’ll have a great outcome but the days where we don’t have as much energy — it’s not always as positive. Our main issue is consistency so if we can manage that I think we have a definite chance.

You and Allison Kelly are back and forth for leading scorer this season and several of your teammates have multiple goals. What’s your offense doing differently this year to create all this productivity?

Lisa Kemp

I think we have a lot more experience, which is the main thing that’s helped us out. I think a lot more people are more confident and more comfortable taking the hard shots or passing it to whoever and trusting that they will finish the opportunity. We believe in each other more.

What was it like to earn your first conference win over UC Riverside — a team the Aggies had never beaten before?

That was big for us because it’s always been really frustrating playing them. We always felt like we were the better team without a doubt but for whatever reason we were never been able to finish it out against them [prior to this season]. So going down there we really, really, really wanted to win it, especially the seniors.

What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?

Probably tying [UC] Irvine just because last year it didn’t go so well and they’re known as the top-dogs in the conference. Even though we wanted to win, it set a good tone that ‘we’re here and we can compete with you guys.’

What are you most proud of this season?

MICHELLE STAUFFER can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

Study links Facebook Posts, drinking

By Anh Dao, Abby Meredith and Emily Stephen Cavalier Daily (University of Virginia)

You have played a lot of minutes this year. How are you feeling fitness-wise?

Fitness-wise I feel pretty good.

There’s always a bit of a hump in the middle of the season that you have to get over but I think I’ve gotten over it and I’m feeling pretty good.

There are several key seniors on your team this year, with you, defender Aisha Lott, your goalie Maria Magana and others. Where do you see the Aggies going next year when all of you have graduated?

I think it’s going to be really exciting because we have a lot of girls on the team who aren’t getting as much time right now because they’re young and the seniors are playing more but they match us just as well in practice and everything else so I think that even though Davis is losing a lot of players we’re going to bring in a lot of fresh faces and I don’t think it will drop the program at all.

them or not.

“Some researchers have explained that relationship stressors happen at around the same frequency regardless of the distance; however, the types of stressors are different,” Palmer said. “For folks that are in long-distance relationships, the stress seems to come from being absent from one’s partner whereas in geographically close relationships, stress seems to come from daily hassles.”

Regardless of the distance, DeLaCruz believes that if the love is strong enough, couples will always be able to work through the issues.

“We have never thought about calling it quits, but of course there have been some hard times for the both of us,” DeLaCruz said. “But in the end we are always reminded how much we love each other and how our love can always overcome the hard times.”

Her also agreed that sometimes the relationships may just need to make a few adjustments.

“You grow up and you change. Your goals probably changed, too. The problem is that usually going into a relationship you already have an image of what kind of person your boyfriend or girlfriend will someday become, and when they don’t turn out that way you need to either adjust or let go.

It looks like we’re adjusting,” Her said.

Both Her and DeLaCruz agreed that there are a lot of things they miss about spending the majority of their time with their significant others.

Since Her has been with her boyfriend for six-and-a-half years, and DeLaCruz with hers for four years, both students have gotten very attached to the idea of having their other halves around.

“I miss everything about him! Not only is he an amazing boyfriend, but he is an amazing person,” DeLaCruz said.

“What I probably miss most is the simple things that we’d usually do for one another; when I need to carry heavy things or get things from high to reach places. It’s the simple things like that that makes you say, ‘If only he was here, he would do this for me…’ That kind of stuff,” Her said.

Palmer had one last piece of advice for any couples out there enduring the trials of a long-distance relationship.

“Sharing activities, like studying together or cooking a meal while on video chat, can be good ways to stay engaged. All this can be done in a healthy way, if you manage your time and remember that people need to get their work done, regardless of if their partner lives close by or far away,” Palmer said.

Jeff Perry / Aggie

Lisa Kemp has been a pivotal part of the Aggie offense this season, scoring five goals including two in the Aggies first ever win over UC Riverside.

I’m most proud of our ability to play together and we just have a lot of really good positive energy and a lot of really good team dynamic this year. I think that’s helped us a lot and it’s been playing into what we’ve been doing. I’m definitely happy with the positive attitude and the cohesion on the team.

You’re graduating with a major in sociology. What are your plans after Davis?

I have no idea [laughs]. I have no plans as of right now other than to maybe travel.

Well let’s talk about your time at Davis. Did you have a favorite class?

Beer and Brewing is always a fun one. Human Sexuality is fun because you have a lot of friends in your class and it’s not too heavy of a workload.

Well if you could meet any professional athlete who would it be?

Kevin Garnett. Without a doubt.

KIM CARR can be reached at theaggie.org.

A study published this week in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine reported a link between public Facebook habits and personal drinking problems. “[The study] found that underage college students who referenced dangerous drinking habits, such as intoxication or blacking out, [on public Facebook profiles] were more likely to have scores that indicate problem drinking or alcohol-related injury,” Dr. Megan Moreno, author of the study and assistant professor of adolescent medicine at U. WisconsinMadison School of Medicine and Public Health, said in a National Institutes of Health press release.

Researchers from U. Wisconsin-Madison and U. Washington, Seattle polled undergraduates with public Facebook profiles from two different state universities. A total of 224 users participated, of whom 54.5 percent were female and 67.9 percent were white. The average age of the participants was 18.8 years old.

The profiles of the participants were classified into three distinct categories — 64.3 percent were nondisplayers without any signs of alcohol references, 19.6 percent were displayers with minor alcohol references and 16.1 percent were intoxication/problem drinking displayers with references to “being drunk” or “getting wasted.”

The study found that the intoxication/problem drinking “displayers were more likely to be white compared with other races,” but there were no differences based on age, sex or universities.

The researchers then invited the participants to fill out an online version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, or AUDIT, a 10-question scale designed to assess alcohol consumption and dependence. AUDIT scores can range from 0 to 40 and a score of 8 or higher typically indicates a risk of problem drinking.

On average, intoxication/problem drinking displayers scored 1.48 times higher on the AUDIT test when compared to alcohol displayers. The intoxication/problem drinking displayers were also the only group among all three to show average AUDIT scores which reached into the problem drinking category. There was no statistically significant difference found between the nondisplayers and the displayers with minor alcohol references.

In their report, the authors suggest using Facebook as a “complementary and innovative screening tool” to assess possible drinking problems in student populations and diagnose the potential need for counseling or intervention efforts.

Moreno said the study also “suggests that parents and college health care providers who note references to problem drinking on the Facebook profiles of adolescents should consider discussing drinking habits with their children and patients.”

Dr. James Thomson, a psychiatrist at U. Virginia’s Student Health Center, said the study could be useful for dealing with student drinking problems. “[It is] an innovative study,” he said. “Since denial of any problem is a prominent characteristic of alcohol and substance abuse, being able to find ways to reach students at risk will aid early treatment and maybe save some students from the serious consequences.”

4 wednesday, october 12, 2011

Elections Cont. from front page for grabs each time. The president and vice president are elected in Winter. Beginning in the third week of the quarter, prospective candidates are issued petitions, which they must return to the Elections Committee one week later with 125 student signatures.

The campaign period then lasts until the seventh week of the quarter when voting takes place.

Voting is done online in a format known as ranked choice voting. In this system, voters rank their candidate choices one through six. When a candidate receives a predetermined number of first place votes, they are elected. From there all second rank votes are counted until another candidate is elected, and so on until all the open seats are filled.

It’s a complicated system, and it comes with its own unique advantages and disadvantages.

The california Aggie

“It’s a system that causes every vote to count,” Wong said.

Ranked choice voting allows voters to cast their number one vote for an underdog candidate without simultaneously throwing away their ballot. This is opposed to American politics, where individuals rarely vote for a third party because they know only major party candidates have a legitimate chance to win.

“It’s a way of people getting to express their true preferences and not having to vote tactically,” said political science Professor Ethan Scheiner. “Rather, they don’t have to cast their ballot for someone they don’t really like.”

The main detractor from ranked choice voting is that its complexity drives away the uninformed.

“In general people don’t know all that much about what’s going on when they vote,” Scheiner said. “That gets even more complicated if you ask them to rank their preferences in any kind of way.”

Because most voters are only familiar

with one or two candidates, asking voters to rank six choices can send some running from the ballot boxes.

As a result, the 15 percent who do vote each quarter tend to be very well informed.

But many feel student government should represent more than the campus’ political avant garde.

“ASUCD is meant to cater to the students — we want to know what the people want,” Wong said.

One of the reasons students don’t know much about their student government is the lack of prominent information. Firstyear students enter with little to no knowledge of ASUCD. “I only found out about ASUCD because I was looking on their jobs website,” Hong Hochung told me.

To combat the information shortage, ASUCD is working to expand its online presence by creating a Facebook page, among other improvements. The Elections Committee also has the means to advertise itself, albeit with a limited budget of ap-

proximately $3,000.

Another way to raise turnout would be to involve more students in their student government. ASUCD President Adam Thongsavat said he would like nothing better than to increase student involvement.

“I love seeing qualified people get jobs in ASUCD. Working on a commission or as an intern is great because you work with a team and you learn a lot,” he said.

In the end, however, the onus for raising turnout is on ASUCD. “What is most important is that students are aware of the services ASUCD provides,” said ASUCD Senator Matt Provencher.

By improving the quality of its offerings, members of the association hope to draw more people toward it.

“Do things that matter and people take notice — do things that matter,” Thongsavat said.

JUSTIN GOSS can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

classifieds Bus Full of Nuns

by Beau Borek bmborek@ucdavis.edu 25 Lower Freeborn Hall, UCD One Shields Ave. Davis, CA 95616 Editorial: (530) 752-0208 Advertising: (530) 752-0365 Fax: (530) 752-0355 Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

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Further, the Publisher will not be responsible for any claim resulting from an agreement made between the consumer and advertiser.

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Lost & Found FOUND: Raleigh Bicycle on Sunday 10/09/2011. Contact (530) 218-5148 for more

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Science&Technology

wednesDAY, october 12, 2011 5

Keeping clean with light Exposure to light activates cleaning agent in fabric

By ERIC C. LIPSKY Aggie Science Writer

New research from UC Davis scientists reveals how useful a self-cleaning fabric — more specifically, cotton — can be for many professions. The fabric is able to fight off bacteria as a result of its production of hydrogen peroxide.

“When we put the chemical on the fabric and then put it into the light, hydrogen peroxide is produced,” said Gang Sun, professor of textiles and clothing at UC Davis.

According to Sun, the chemical he and his colleagues used is called 2-anthraquinone carboxylic acid, which is able to bond chemically to fabrics. He said that one of the advantages of this chemical is that it can be put into the dyes that are used in clothing, allowing for an easier method of incorporation of the chemical with the fabric.

“When the molecules in the chemical absorb different electromagnetic wavelengths, they become excited and jump to becoming excited molecules, which allows for interaction with oxygen,” Sun said.

He said that it is this interaction in which molecules become excited as a result of absorbing visible light that produces the bacteria-fighting effect.

“The fact that it is environmentally-friendly and doesn’t need anything but light means we can do this to other polymers as well,” Sun said.

He believes that there could be many more applications for this chemical, even though durability of the chemical on the fabrics is uncertain. One of the

concerns is that scientists do not know how much light the fabric can be exposed to before the chemical’s effects begin to dwindle.

“We tested it under certain conditions, but not all. One of problems is that every time you expose it to light, the durability and efficacy may be reduced,” Sun said.

Ning Liu, a doctoral researcher in Sun’s group, said that the efficacy of the chemical could decline at a faster rate for people who work outside.

“It is expected that the chemical will lose its function faster for people who work outside because sunlight is much more powerful,” Liu said.

Even though the chemical is expected to lose its function faster in outside environments, it is also the place where the chemical is expected to produce its best effects.

“Normal indoor lighting works, but the chemical works better when outside because the chemical becomes more powerful as a result of the sunlight,” Liu said.

In terms of the fabric being washable, Liu said that the fabric could be washed without worry, since the chemical is bound to the fabric.

She believes that this self-cleaning fabric can be of particular use for the medical and agricultural industries.

“It is advantageous for farmers who come in contact with pesticides, but also for medical professionals,” Liu said.

According to the California Department of Public Health, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) often plague patients and

Pencils and deodorant

O

Courtesy of Andy Fell

Gang Sun holds his cotton sample. hospitals. “[HAIs] are the most common complication of hospital care, occurring in approximately one in every 20 patients,” states the California Department of Public Health website.

According to Liu, some other good uses of the self-cleaning fabric might be as curtains that surround beds in hospitals or even as the fabric in the living room couch — something which could prove especially useful for households with children.

“It has many applications — we’re not sure what the best fit is,” Liu said.

With Liu’s estimate of the selfcleaning fabric becoming commercially available in three to five years, it is possible that the public may receive an added method of protection against infections.

ERIC C. LIPSKY can be reached science@theaggie.org.

Many are unaware of internet information filtering Google and Facebook tailor what you see online

By JAMES O’HARA Aggie News Writer

At a recent Technology Entertainment and Design (TED) conference, speaker Eli Pariser discussed the nature of information distribution over the contemporary internet, marking it as an increasingly personal and notably removed process.

Speaking particularly of Facebook and Google, Pariser identified two of the internet’s most prominent information brokers as companies increasingly engaged in what he calls “information filtering”— information catered and delivered to users per their specifics tastes.

“There’s this kind of shift in how information is flowing online, and it’s invisible,” Pariser said at the conference. “If we don’t pay attention to it, it could be a real problem.”

Pariser’s warning comes after his discovery that Facebook, well known for catering advertisements to user’s specific interests and narrowing friend “relevancy” based on levels of interactivity, is now algorithmically engaged in the silent editing out of information.

As Pariser frames it, as a self-professed progressive he began to discern a noticeable gap in conservative opinion within his flow of Facebook information.

“I noticed one day that the conservatives had disappeared from my Facebook feed,” he said.

He went on to discover that Facebook, via algorithmic “gatekeepers,” is sys-

tematically removing opposing, conflicting, and other information it deems not to the users tastes or political alignment from a given “feed.”

“This moves us very quickly to a world where the internet is showing us things we want to see, not necessarily what we need to see,” Pariser elaborated, expressing a concern that Facebook and others are catering too greatly to an instant gratification, consumerist society.

“Facebook isn’t the only place doing this invisible algorithmic editing of the web,” he said.

Expanding the issue beyond just Facebook, Pariser argued that, “There are a whole host of companies doing this kind of personalization … different people get different things.”

Even Google, Pariser claimed, citing a Google keyword search experiment in which different friends turned up radically different results, no longer yields identical information.

“There are 57 signals that Google looks at to personally tailor your query results,” he said. “There is no standard Google anymore.”

When asked whether aware of the type of information filtering and editing taking place over popular sites like Google and Facebook, senior political science major Baldeep Sidhu was taken aback at the realization.

“I’m really surprised,” Sidhu said when confronted with the idea that he was being silently censored. “I understand why they would do

know if you’ve ever used a pencil (hopefully a fairly large percentage of readers), graphite is a rather soft, dark material.

Graphite and graphene are Amyboth composed completeStewart ly of carbon, but once you purify large sheets of graphene things start to get interesting. Despite one sheet being about an atom thick, it can still be seen by the naked eye (though it isn’t dark like graphite).

Navrotsky herself does not work specifically with graphene, but does work ften, the best new with a very large variety of technology comes from learning about other materials.

Navrotsky’s work in the everyday phenomena. lab is largely focused on the For instance, take graphene. Graphene is a sheet heat and energy properties of nanomaterials. Though of carbon atoms that are she works mostly with synstructured in a way simithetic nanomaterials, nalar to chicken wire, except this carbon “chicken wire” ture still has the lead in production. is less than half of a nano “Synthetic samples are meter wide. A nanomemore controlled than natter is 0.000000001 meter, or (as is the common refer- ural samples, but the environment ence point) always about Despite one sheet being about will have nano1/1,000 the an atom thick, it can still be seen materials,” width of Navrotsky a human by the naked eye ... said. hair. Its “Nature’s structure been doing as a sheet this for millions of years.” could lend it many differ Nanomaterials are ent possibilities dependspewed from volcanoes, ing on how it is folded or rolled, from lasers to build- thrown upward from ocean spray and created in the ating materials in vehicles. mosphere between gas Such a material must be es and dust particles. Both really difficult to manufacture, right? Actually, you’ve natural and synthetic nanoprobably accidentally made materials have been used in products we use every a tiny amount today while day. taking notes. Graphene Do you wear deodoris derived from graphite, ant? Most of them are comwhich is what pencils use today instead of lead. When posed of aluminum inside of a nano-sized cluster of graphite is worn down, atoms. Ever see a fabric adsuch as when you write on paper, a tiny amount of that vertised as antibacterial? A graphite is torn off in atom- lot of them work by having particles that trigger reacic sheets of graphene. tions that kill bacteria.

Graphene is what is Navrotsky does encourknown as a nanomateriage caution in using nanoal, a class of substances materials, particularly synthat are being eagerly rethetic ones. searched for their many “When introducing new human applications. materials into the environ One of those researchers is Alexandra Navrotsky, ment, one should always be concerned with the efa professor of ceramic, fects,” Navrotsky said. earth and environmental According to Navrotsky, materials chemistry at UC Davis. She is also the direc- a new nanomaterial can affect the environment in tor of the Nanomaterials two ways: chemically or in the Environment, Agriculture and Technology biologically. A new reac— Organized Research Unit tion in an environment not adapted to it can affect (NEAT ORU) at UC Davis.

“The fundamental defini- both the chemistry of the environment or the biolotion of a nanomaterial is a material whose dimensions gy of the surrounding life are small enough to change forms. their properties,” Navrotsky “There has been a discussion on silver particles said. and how they affect life Navrotsky explained forms,” Navrotsky said. “It that this doesn’t necessaris interesting, but the jury ily occur at a certain size, is still out. Each chemical but rather, depends on the has to be considered sepmaterial used. Normally, arately, as silver may do though, it happens at one thing while aluminum around the nanometer does another.” scale (hence, the name).

Synthetic and natural “[The nanomaterial] may change color, magnet- nanomaterials are here to stay; if we’re careful with ic or structural properties. how we use them, tiny maThe reactivity on the surterials can help us do big face and the biological acthings. tivity may also change,” Navrotsky said.

Again, graphene illusAMY STEWART can be reached at science@ theaggie.org. trates the change. As you

Evan Davis / Aggie

Websites such as Facebook and Google perform “information filtering” — information catered and brought to users based on their specifics tastes. that, but I think that’s really dangerous because if you can’t get information that is external to your vices it creates bias.”

Sidhu was not alone in his surprise. Senior political science and environmental policy double major Baxter Boeh-Sobon was equally taken aback to learn that Facebook and others were silently editing his information flow.

“It appeals to your comfort zone,” Boeh-Sobon said after learning about the practice. “But you are being limited. The reason I hadn’t realized it I guess was because I feel so comfortable with the information I see.”

Sophomore electrical engineering major Edwin Wong, also saw it as a possible form of censorship when challenged with the idea.

“I can see it as a possible subliminal manipulation method,” he said.

No doubt these Davis students are not alone in their realization. Many presumably have no idea that Facebook, Google and others are silently creating information bubbles catered to each individual user.

“If algorithms are going to curate the world for us, then we need to make sure they’re not just keyed to relevance,” Pariser said. “We need to make sure that they also show us things that are uncomfortable, or challenging, or important. The best editing gives us a bit of both. Some information vegetables some information desert.”

JAMES O’HARA can be reached city@theaggie. org.

Tech Tips Keep your air fresh Humans need oxygen.

When the weather is warm we can leave our windows open and get all the oxygen we could ever want, but when the weather turns chilly, we close the windows and cut off our unlimited supply.

When we do not have suitable oxygen levels, our brain functions decrease noticeably.

Researchers at NASA have been trying to figure out an efficient way to keep the International Space Station adequately oxygenated and discovered that just a few simple houseplants can make a significant difference.

By adding just three

medium-sized plants to a room, you can keep oxygen levels high, and your brain working at its best.

The most beneficial plants are the Areca Palm, which removes large amounts of CO2 and releases a proportionately large amount of oxygen; the Snake Plant, which produces oxygen during the night; and the Peace Lily, which removes acetone, formaldehyde and ammonia from the air. The Peace Lily even flowers if you take care of it.

Combining these three plants can keep the air in your house or apartment fresh and healthy.

— Hudson Lofchie

6 wednesday, october 12, 2011

winter Cont. from front page replace, but this small boutique offers items that help bridge the gap between stylish and functional when the fall chill forces a few added layers.

The selection is reminiscent of department store collections, being a little on the pricy side but subject to decent sales as well.

“This is California — we never know what our weather is going to be like,” said Shelli Ramos, the shop’s owner. “Layering is key. We’ve got a lot of cute options in here to do that.”

Pinkadot carries several racks of three-quarter length tops and blouses that fit under their blazers or looser cardigans.

“You want to be able to take layers off, so that you’re not hot when you go inside,” Ramos said.

The items in the store are a cozier take on many summer trends, made of a mid-weight fabric and warm enough to get through the fall.

“This season we have a lot of items that are looser on top to pair with skinny jeans tucked into boots on the bottom,” Ramos said.

Pinkadot stocks oversized knit ponchos with hoods, lined blazers and longer wool sweaters to help create this easy style. Also in the store are dresses for the holidays, many that are long sleeve, longer length and are made out of a thicker material.

layering.

Gap also offers a selection of outerwear items to layer over sweaters.

“We have a collection of vests and jackets we call ‘puffers’,” Vue said.

“Both are $98 and very warm.”

Just as functional is their lightweight warmth jacket, also $98. On the pricier side, Gap offers a line of leather jackets, ranging from $298-$350.

For bottoms, Gap has produced a sizeable collection of legging jeans.

“Many don’t really like the idea of jeggings because they’re snug,” Vue said. “But ours fit really well, very much like actual jeans. They have actual pockets, not fake pockets, and are much easier to fit into boots than regular jeans.”

The jeggings come in a wide variety of denimlike washes and textures, even including snakeskin. They are also available in corduroy, a warmer fabric for the cooler seasons. Each pair costs $59.95.

Renew Denim 222 D St. Long pants are almost unheard of during summers in Davis, but fall is the time to break out the beloved pairs that have become staples or, if the part-time paycheck allows for it, invest in new ones. Renew Denim features designer jeans in a complete range of sizes, all of which are sold below retail price.

“For fall we just got in a bunch of skinny and cigarette-leg jeans in all the great fall colors,” said Samantha Ballard, the store’s owner and manager. “We have jeans and legging jeans in rust, espresso, black and in plenty of dark washes.”

Ballard’s store has a wide selection of quality denim that her connections in the industry have allowed her to sell for low prices. Brands include James Jeans, Rich & Skinny, 7 for all Mankind and True Religion.

Renew Denim also carries a variety of soft, reasonably priced knit layers.

“We have a whole shipment of turtlenecks coming in,” Ballard said. “And we can order any color we want, which goes for our v-necks and tanks, too. We sell them for only $20.”

For the rest of this month, Renew Denim will be continuing its partnership with FORCE, a non-profit dedicated to breast cancer research and awareness. By donating $10, or purchasing a used pair of jeans for $10, customers will receive 50 percent off a brand-new pair of jeans.

Gap 500 First St., in Davis Commons Many students take the Davis Gap for granted.

It’s one of the only retail chain clothing stores in the downtown area, and its location in a gaggle of popular restaurants makes it often simply a business to pass by on the way to lunch. A trip inside the store, however, reveals the extent to which the company has been preparing for the fall season with a vast array of sweaters, puffy down jackets and vests, basic knit layers and jeans.

“We have a ton of different sweaters- cable knit, cardigans, wool.

And, all of them are super soft,” said Kauchua Vue, one of the store’s managers. “Every year they are a huge hit.”

Indeed, the store is stocked with sweaters in every corner and wall, suitable for every occasion. They come in a range of weights, from the lighter cashmere v-neck ($59.95) to the heavier, chunky knit boat neck sweater (also $59.95). Colors are mostly muted neutrals, conve- LANI CHAN can be reached at features@ nient for matching when theaggie.org.

The california Aggie

‘Sexting’ messages , images grows popular among college students

By Melissa Brown

The Crimson White (University of Alabama)

From Scarlett Johansson to Anthony Weiner, there are often high profile “sexting” incidents in the news. For celebrities, it can provide a much needed publicity boost. For politicians, it can ruin careers.

But a recent U. Rhode Island survey shows that sexting is not just reserved for public figures: four out of five college students do it, too.

The study, reported earlier this summer in Time’s Healthland, found that 78 percent of students admit to receiving sexually explicit messages, while 56 percent said they’ve received explicit images.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at least 21 states have introduced bills or resolutions aimed at sexting among minors in 2011, and at least 14 states have enacted bills to address the issue. Alabama has not.

Between adults, though, sexting is legal. And while most would classify sexting as a private and personal choice, the fact remains that any missteps in the process can make the act very public.

Weiner accidently exposed his pictures on Twitter when attempting to send a private message. Johansson and other celebrities fell prey to phone hackers. Jaded exes have been known to release explicit videos.

So why do people continue to make themselves susceptible to this literal public exposure?

Mary Katharine Alsip, a researcher for the University of Alabama Institute

for Communication and Information Research, said it has to do with younger generations’ affinity for technology.

“Many students who sext think that they are more tech-savvy than someone like Anthony Weiner,” Alsip said. “This gives them a false sense of security that they know more than the people who are victims of hacking, theft or simply losing a phone.”

The University of Rhode Island study reports 73 percent of sexting messages were sent to a current romantic partner – a fact Alsip said does not safeguard your privacy. Citing pop culture references, Alsip said students might have a skewed sense of real life consequences, even when sexting a trusted partner.

“In ‘Gossip Girl,’ one character was applauded for pointing out that, ‘Sexting is…off limits until you’re in a relationship.’ The problem with this advice is that it assumes that there is no chance that a bitter breakup [could happen] or accidentally misplacing a phone could still result in those exchanges falling into the wrong hands,” Alsip said.

Alsip said she believes pop culture examples of sexting without any consequences can lead people to underestimate the possible ramifications of their actions.

“Viewers are coming of age, watching characters make flippant remarks and acting without fear of repercussions, so they feel like not only is this behavior safe and okay, it’s normal and expected of them,” Alsip said. “Just as many television characters who have promiscuous sex almost never face

pregnancy, STDs or other serious consequences unless it is a key part of story arc.”

In addition, the world of texting and cyberspace offers a sense of anonymity. Most students would never sneak around an ex’s house to spy on them, but Facebook “stalking” has become a basic social media institution.

The feeling that sitting behind a screen and doing something is less embarrassing than doing it in person may contribute to the current trend.

“If you take your clothes off in a room with six other people, they’re the only ones who are going to see it,” Alsip said.

“If pictures of you with your clothes off are sent to six people who then send it to their friends, pretty soon what felt like a less embarrassing situation has become a disaster.”

In the end, while it might make for a funny storyline in a sitcom or a racy news clip, sexting can have very real and very embarrassing consequences.

Alsip offers common sense advice to avoid any distressing mishaps: don’t keep revealing images on your phone or social media accounts.

“This is a recipe for disaster, whether or not you intend to send them to someone else. If you wouldn’t want to see it posted on your best friend’s Facebook wall, you probably don’t want it to be accessible to other people,” she said. “Sync your phone with your computer and forget to tell it not to import that picture? Now there’s one more copy of it for someone – a hacker, an irritated ex, or even a drunk buddy – to find and pass along.”

Professor refutes claim that clouds cause global warming

By Jessica Orwig

The Battalion (Texas A&M University)

In August, Texas A&M University atmospheric sciences professor Andrew Dessler’s work concerning clouds’ influence on climate change attracted media outlets not for its mainstream results, but for its direct criticism of an earlier paper.

“I looked at what effects clouds have on the overall energy of the planet and found that clouds cannot be causing climate change over the last 10 years,” Dessler said.

Roy Spencer, proclaimed skeptic of climate change and climatologist at U. AlabamaHuntsville, coauthored a paper that was published in July suggesting that clouds were the primary reason for temperature changes in the last decade.

“It is widely accepted in the climatology community that clouds play a very small role in climate change over short periods of time [such as a decade],” Dessler said.

“Spencer’s paper suggested that there should be major revisions to climate change theory.”

Less than six weeks after Spencer published his paper, Dessler released his refute. Due to Dessler’s quick

response, critics said his refutation is invalid because Dessler’s published his results too quickly. Dessler said he knew about Spencer’s argument as early as last December, and started working on his own version in January.

“When Spencer’s paper came out, I looked at it and adjusted what I had already written,” Dessler said.

Because climate change is communicated as controversial within the media, both Spencer and Dessler received coverage.

“Every month, hundreds of papers come out that are either explicitly or implicitly in agreement with mainstream climate theory that humans are in the driver’s seat of the climate and that future warmings could be really large,” Dessler said. “And those papers don’t get any traction in the media. But then a handful of papers published every year by hard-core skeptics do get a lot of traction because there’s a huge sympathetic media for those papers.”

Dessler said Spencer’s paper received the media attraction because it falls under the category of “hardcore” skepticism.

Fox News picked up the story about Spencer’s paper, addressing the topic on its

website.

“Has a central tenant of global warming just collapsed?” the story began, and continued, “the planet isn’t heating up, in other words.”

Dessler said someone needed to refute Spencer’s article because of the media traction it gained.

“It was necessary for me to write my paper because even though no scientists believe Spencer’s work, it was important to get a rebuttal out there so that policy makers wouldn’t be able to trumpet this,” Dessler said.

An article that appeared in Scientific American Magazine in early September compared the scientific validity in Spencer’s and Dessler’s works.

Although both scientists used the same data set, their approaches in data analysis varied, leading to differing outcomes.

Using data collected by a NASA satellite for Earth’s atmospheric and oceanic temperatures from 2000 to 2010, both climatologists calculated whether the atmosphere or the ocean had a more significant effect on the earth’s surface temperatures. They then fit their data to climate models. “…[Spencer and colleagues] plotted only six [cli-

mate] models [from 14 total] and the particular observational data set that provided maximum support for their hypothesis. Plotting all of the models and all of the data provided a much different conclusion,” Dessler stated in his paper, which was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters on Oct. 1.

Dessler went on to show that it was ocean heat, from the El Niño/La Niña-Southern Oscillations, that influenced temperature evolution for the last decade, and that the ocean is 20 times more influential on climate change than clouds.

These oscillations represent cyclical changes in the southern Pacific Ocean’s surface temperatures that occur approximately every five years. El Niño means the warming of the water’s surface, and La Niña means the cooling.

Although Dessler said he believes Spencer’s paper holds no significance in the climatology community, he wrote his own as an outreach to ensure that the public does not get the wrong idea about climate change.

“Someone who is not in the trenches of this research could get the wrong idea,” Dessler said.

wednesday, october 12, 2011 7

The california aggie

University of Missouri researcher finds atism hope in pill

By Corinne Kennedy The Maneater (University of Missouri)

A researcher at University of Missouri has found that propranolol, a drug commonly prescribed for high blood pressure and anxiety, might help adolescents and adults with autism improve their language skills and social interactions.

David Beversdorf, associate professor in the department of radiology and Thompson Endowed Chairman at the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, said only pilot studies have been conducted so far.

“Thus far we’ve looked at word fluency,” he said. “So we’ll give

you a category like animals and ask how many you can come up with. Prior to that in a smaller pilot study, we had also done verbal problem solving and saw the same beneficial effect.”

Another pilot study showed that propranolol might improve eye contact, he said.

“We’ve done this only in mild autism thus far, because they can do the word fluency test and the word puzzles,” Beversdorf said.

Beversdorf said he would love to expand his research to people with severe autism and Asperger’s Syndrome in a later clinical trial.

Beversdorf has applied for a grant to start a clinical study and if he is awarded the grant the study will be completed and might yield results in about three years.

“We’re excited because it’s a generic drug which means it’s not going to cost anybody a ton of money to do this if it works,” he said.

Propranolol, which has multiple off-label uses including relieving migraine headaches and reducing tremors, has been on the market for decades and has few side effects.

“There is an increased risk of depression, so if somebody has a history of depression we want to be very cautious,” Beversdorf said.

“It could make asthma worse.”

There is no evidence these risks increase or decrease in persons with autism, he said.

Beversdorf became interested in the effects of propranolol on people with autism after reading a

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paper that linked the two.

“About 15 years ago, somebody wrote a paper and said ‘I gave propranolol to 10 people and it made some of their language and some of their social skills better,’” Beversdorf said. “There were no controls. There was no blinding. There were no specific measures, but it was kind of interesting.”

This paper was part of the motivation for starting his own study, Beversdorf said.

“A big part of it was when I became interested in its role for test anxiety and performance anxiety,” he said. “We selected only people that didn’t have anxiety problems and gave them a public speaking stressor.”

Participants in the study were

asked to speak in front of a panel of researchers wearing white coats who had been told to “look serious and take notes,” Beversdorf said.

“Then we’d interrupt them and ask them to do verbal puzzles and they tanked on their ability to do verbal puzzles,” he said. “But if we gave them propranolol first, they preformed as if there was no stressor.”

There have been studies that show the interaction between distant regions of the brain is decreased in people with autism, Beversdorf said.

“Individuals with autism are very rigid in their processing of language,” he said. “I thought, ‘Why don’t we see if propranolol helps them too?’”

8 wednesday, october 12, 2011

The california Aggie