congratulations class of 2012!
Aggie Athletes of the Year
Check out the graduation feature on the inside of today’s paper.
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serving the uc davis campus and community since 1915
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volume 131, number 79
News iN Brief Committee to present report on alleged breach of academic freedom tomorrow UC Davis medical school professor Michael Wilkes was informed that he would be removed as professor of a program that taught better patient care, and support for the Hungarian student exchange program that he led would be cancelled, after he wrote an op-ed for The San Francisco Chronicle that questioned the efficacy of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening tests. The op-ed was published Sept. 30, 2010, days after faculty members at the University were involved in an event that promoted the test. According to Inside Higher Ed, which investigated the situation, Wilkes was told that he would be removed as the director of global health for the UC Davis Health System and also received letters from the health system counsel, stating that the school could sue him for defamation. Wilkes filed a written complaint to the UC Davis Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility, and the committee found allegations of intimidation and harassment to be true. The committee investigated, drafted a report and have asked officials at the UC Davis School of Medicine to write letters of apology to Wilkes and take action to prevent other future violations of academic freedom. The committee’s report only identifies the medical school’s administrators by position title, but Inside Higher Ed contacted School of Medicine administrators. The administrators said it would be inappropriate to comment on personnel matters. The committee will present its report to the UC Davis Academic Senate at a meeting tomorrow. Academic Senate representatives are also expected to vote on related resolutions. Gregory Pasternack, a member of the committee and professor of hydrology, said the threats against Wilkes were unwarranted. “University policy encourages faculty to use their expertise to help the public, and the threat of a lawsuit is in fact, therefore, a violation of University policy,” Pasternack said. “After the pepper spray investigation, the administration told our community they would take community concerns to heart and change the way they operate. I believe the administration will recognize that they made mistakes and they will take the steps we recommend to apologize and learn from this. If they don’t, then we all have to wonder whether the words we were told were real or just lip service.” — Muna Sadek
Dan Wolk, Lucas Frerichs and Brett Lee win Davis City Council election The Yolo County Elections Office recently released the results from Tuesday’s City of Davis General Municipal and Special Election. The election of three members to City Council for a term of four years each and Measure D, the Park Maintenance Tax Extension, were on the ballot. Incumbent Dan Wolk dominated the race with 8,708 votes, or 29.1 percent. Newcomers Lucas Frerichs and Brett Lee came in after with 5,827 votes, or 19.5 percent, and 5,368 votes, or 17.9 percent, respectively. Incumbent Sue Greenwald received 5,138 votes, or 17.2 percent, and Stephen Souza received 4,880 votes, or 16.3 percent. Of the 33,355 registered voters in Davis, 12,645, or 37.9 percent, voted. — Claire Tan
Today’s weather Sunny High 87 Low 55
thursday, june 7, 2012
Proposed ASUCD senate bill to restructure Student-Police Relations Committee
Addition of two members to facilitate communication between students, police officers By STEPHANIE B. NGUYEN Aggie News Writer
A proposal for an ASUCD senate bill is currently underway, pending legislation, to restructure the Student-Police
Relations Committee. Senate Bill 112 would add two other atlarge members alongside the current chairperson. The Student-Police Relations Committee was created in 2005 to address police issues on cam-
pus and to foster relationships between the UC Davis community and the UC Davis Police Department (UCDPD) as well as the Davis Police Department. The committee serves as a forum for various groups and or-
ganizations on campus to discuss student-police relations. Current chairperson and sophomore managerial economics major Daniel Connor
See RELATIONS, page A4
Senator Zokaie plans to continue with ASUCD from law school President Sterling does not approve of decision
By DANIELLE HUDDLESTUN Aggie News Writer
After receiving a full scholarship to University of San Diego Law School, ASUCD senator Yara Zokaie has decided not to
defer her admission, but also has chosen to remain in her position as an ASUCD senator. “When running for senate, I had already applied for law school, but had planned to defer. I told the senate and then should have resigned; howev-
er, I am not resigning,” Zokaie said. Zokaie ran for ASUCD on the BOLD platform with current president Rebecca Sterling, and originally planned to defer any admissions she received to law school. She has decided not to,
City of Davis site hosts a new gadget The new GIS map enables community with data on city traffic
because she would lose the full ride to law school. “Yara has chosen not to resign … as an ASUCD Senator, but instead to simply leave the Association with one fewer
See ZOKAIE, page A3
Middle Class Scholarship act passed Assembly Bill 1500 must pass for bill to take effect By LILIANA NAVA OCHOA Aggie News Writer
The city of Davis website holds an interactive data map that provides in-depth information on the city’s traffic. Developed on a geographical information system (GIS), the new tool was designed by
On May 30, the Assembly passed the $1 billion Middle Class Scholarship with a vote of 55-17. The Middle Class Scholarship, also known as Assembly Bill (AB) 1501, aims to provide approximately $1 billion in scholarships to California State Universities (CSU), University of California (UC) campuses and community colleges. The Middle Class Scholarship would take effect, if Assembly Bill 1500 passes, by the next tax cycle according to University of California Student Association (UCSA) president Claudia Magaña. “It’s based off the sales tax formula, one billion is what we have seen last year or so based on the performance from sales tax, but that’s just a projection at this point. It’s a projection based off of the revenues of state law when the loophole went into effect so we’re very confident that it will be a billion dollars and that if the economy improves in the out years, potentially more,” said spokesperson to California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, John Vigna. The projected $1 billion for the Middle Class Scholarship
See TRAFFIC, page A2
See SCHOLARSHIP, page A3
GIS map of the City of Davis and UC Davis.
courtesy
By ANI UCAR
Aggie News Writer
Fraternity-led charitable obstacle course succeeds in leaps and bounds Sigma Fitness Challenge raises money as well as awareness By EINAT GILBOA Aggie Staff Writer
Over 50 participants worked up a storm on Sunday at the Sigma Challenge for Shriners Hospital. The event, hosted by the National Panhellenic Council and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, featured a timed obstacle course in which teams of five overcame eight stations. Competitors raised $200 for the hospital as well as $50 in donations. “We’re supporting a good cause,” said senior sociology major Kevyn Lewis. Lewis is also the president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and a member of Phi Beta Sigma. “As a member of the football team we go out there a lot. The kids appreciate all the help they can get,” he said. Bijan Agahi / Aggie Participants of the Sigma Fitness Challenge attempt to flip tires in the timed
See FITNESS, page A5
Forecast Sunny weather is here to stay this week. It has been a pleasure serving you guys as your weather forecaster. All in all it has been fun. Good luck with finals and hope your future is as sunny and bright as this forecast. Matthew Little, atmospheric science major Aggie Forecasting Team
obstacle race. The event was held to raise money for the Shriners Hospital.
Friday
Saturday
Sunny
Sunny
High 85 Low 53
High 86 Low 53
Good luck to next year’s staff. I know you’ll do amazing. One last piece of advice: don’t put Twinkies on your pizza. Former Editor in Chief, Jason Alpert
page two
A2 Thursday, June 7, 2012
daily calendar dailycal@theaggie.org
TODAY Poetry Night Reading Series 8 to 10 p.m. John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 First St. Listen to Troy Jollimore at this free poetry reading. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure a seat and sign up for a spot on the Open Mic list. The Poetry Night Reading Series is organized and hosted by Andy Jones and produced by Pia Baur.
FRIDAY Folk Music Jam Session Noon to 1 p.m. Wyatt Deck, Old Davis Road Pull out your fiddles, guitars, mandolins, penny whistles, pipes, flutes, squeezeboxes (you name it) and join your fellow musicians for a little bluegrass, old-time, blues, Celtic, klezmer and world music over the lunch hour. All skill levels and listeners welcome. For more information, call 752-4880 or visit arboretum.ucdavis. edu.
Informal folk dancing 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Central Park Unwind at the end of the day by trying some very easy dances from around the world. Members of the Davis International Folk dancers will informally do some of their favorite folk dances in the grass by the farmers market structure. All are welcome.
Unlimited Iced Tea 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thai Canteen, 117 E St. Present your student ID and the event flyer to receive unlimited Thai iced tea. The ASUCD External Affairs Commission and Thai Canteen are sponsoring the event in preparation of finals week. Visit their Facebook page for more information at facebook.com/ events/217973761656867.
SUNDAY
Katie Dillard, Nick Falgout, Jon Ford, Julia Halprin Jackson, Evan Jones, Kitty Liang, Alex Russell, David Semonchik, Marissa Tinloy and Greg Wlasiuk. For more information, please call 752-4880 or visit arboretum.ucdavis.edu. The event is sponsored by the UC Davis Arboretum and the UC Davis department of English.
FRIDAY, JUNE 15 Campfire 7:30to 8:30 p.m. Maidu Museum Enjoy an evening in the museum amphitheater with family and friends around a campfire. Listen to native stories and songs under the stars and roast marshmallows for a sweet ending to the perfect family gathering. No reservations required. Cost is $5 per person or $16 for a family of four — $5 each additional. Children under two are free.
SATURDAY, JUNE 16 Rock Art Myseries 8 to 9 p.m. Maidu Museum Look to the past with the help of Native American Elder Rick Adams. As the sun sets, ancient petroglyphs located on-site are highlighted by lantern to reveal secrets of long forgotten knowledge. It costs $6 per person.
Art Walk: A Night Out at the Museum 6:30to 8:30 p.m. Maidu Museum Boarding School survivor Bill Wright of the Cortina Rancheria, Kletsel Dehe Band of Wintun Indians will share stories of his experiences while living at the Stewart Indian Boarding School in Carson, Nevada from 1944 to 1952. Music will be performed by Maidu Independent Theater 6:30 to 7 p.m. and 8 to 8:30 p.m. This is a free event with light refreshments.
MONDAY, JUNE 18 ITS-Davis Special Summer Seminar
Zorba’s Dance 7 to 10 p.m. Davis Art Center, 1919 F St. at Covell, Studio E The Davis International Folkdancers will teach Hasapikos, part of Zorba’s dance from the movie Zorba the Greek, as part of their ongoing class. Free for first-timers. Bring grit-free, non-marking shoes.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13 Walk With Warren Noon to 2 p.m. Arboretum Gazebo, Garrod Drive Join Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus Warren Roberts for a lunchtime stroll. Enjoy the glorious late spring weather, see the demonstration flower gardens in bloom, and get a little exercise. There is no charge for the tour. For more information, please call 752-4880 or visit arboretum. ucdavis.edu.
Graduate Creative Writing Spring Symposium 7 to 8 p.m. Wyatt Deck, Old Davis Road Graduate student fiction writers and poets will read from their work in the UC Davis Arboretum in celebration of their 2012 graduation. Participating writers include Nora Bergamino, Ryan Croken,
1:30 to 3 p.m. Ali Abbaszadeh Lecture Hall, Gallagher Join Mark Finley, General Manager, Global Energy Markets and U.S. Economics, BP, as he discusses BP Statistical Review of World Energy, 2012. There is no cost and all are welcome to attend.
Linux Users’ Group of Davis meeting “Wikimedia and Wikipedia” 7 to 9 p.m. Yolo County Public Library, Blanchard Community Meeting Room, 315 East 14th St. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. is the nonprofit organization behind Wikipedia and several other online collaborative wiki projects. The foundation’s goal is to develop and maintain open content, wiki-based projects and to provide the full contents of those projects to the public free of charge. For more information go to lugod.org/meeting/upcoming/ or call 902-7416. 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.
The california Aggie
Savage is the seventh mostplayed song on my iTunes. Give other music genres a chance. Everyone has their preference, but I promise your ears can handle diversiAndy ty. Don’t be the person at the Verderosa party who has never heard the rap song because you’ve been too busy downloading indie folk-rock. That doesn’t make you cool or hip, it makes you one-dimensional. You won’t meet a successful indie music writer who can’t break down all of Drake’s Take Care. his is actually the last Respect DJing as an art column of the year, so form. You wouldn’t ask I guess you can say I Rembrandt to paint a Jackson have the last word, or I guess Pollack; stop asking the DJ to I could say. My goal this past play a different song. Don’t quarter has been to provide complain or ask for somemy readers with valuable in- thing else; simply nod your sight into the things we find head, shuffle your feet and entertaining. I’ve always be- hope there’s some artistic lieved pop culture can be statement being made. talked about in a smart way Don’t be Republican on sobecause the things that we cial media. It looks weird. use to enYou tertain ourshould care Popular things are popular selves often about and reveal somebecause people really enjoy read conthing importent on them tant about the interour society. net. This Because there are just so Web of ours contains some many things that I didn’t have of the best writing man has a chance to cover, I wanted ever produced. And it keeps to use this last column as an on coming. Every day when opportunity to provide some you wake up there are 30 new tips, and tell you what to care articles talking about exactabout and look out for in your ly your interest, whatever dealings with pop culture in that may be. Please find blogs the future. and sites that write about You should care about the the things you care about. I representation of women in promise they are out there. popular culture. Don’t laugh There are people like me who at thoughtless, dumb sexist want to compare Don Draper jokes; instead, point out steto Lil Wayne and this just isn’t reotyped roles that women possible if you guys only read play in commercials to your the Yahoo! stories about the relatives. Don’t be on #team“10 best places to live if you breezy; don’t buy his albums have allergies.” and try as best you can not to Stop complaining about dance to his songs. reality television and enjoy You should watch preit. There’s never been a show mium cable TV shows bemore about escapism than cause they are becoming bet- “Teen Mom.” Don’t waste ter story-telling mediums your time criticizing somethan movies. People now thing that’s so clearly meant talk about television shows to be criticized. Enjoy the the same way we talk about absurdity. books, and though this may A song enters a state of sound like a bad thing, it real- staleness for about 4-5 years ly isn’t. These shows are rich after it becomes popular. At a in plot and character and certain point it becomes cool provide for deep, multifacto play that song again. Right eted stories that make our now, I’m getting back into the minds work. We simply need Justified album. more than two hours to deI can’t believe I have to velop these complex charac- say this, but stop posting the ters and form relationships Gotye video. Try as hard as with them. We’re not replacyou can never to wear saning books; we’re replacing TV dals. You can’t say swag ever shows like “Miami 5-0” and again. Don’t brag about unmovies like Man on a Ledge. paid internships and better Have a three-hour conversa- yet, don’t take unpaid interntion about the season four fi- ships. Get a Twitter. Stop renale of “Breaking Bad” and ferring to yourself as a foodyou’ll understand. It’s not a ie. Santa Fe chicken salad coincidence that the best four till I die. Oscar Wilde once television shows of all time said, “You can never be overhave come out in the last 10 dressed or over educated.” years. Get on this, now. Go. Don’t ever accidentally sit in You shouldn’t knock some- the wrong seat at a sporting thing just because it’s popuevent. Don’t do the wave at a lar. Popular things are popu- sporting event. Vote for stem lar because people really encell research. joy them. You’re actually the If you want more ANDY VERDEROSA you minority. Ease up. If you’re can e-mail him at asverderosa@ucdavis. worried about ruining your edu or follow him at @andyverderosa, rep by listening to Katy Perry, andyverderosa.tumblr.com and then your rep isn’t very stable andyverderosa.wordpress.com. Get at ur in the first place. “Swing” by boy.
To recap
T
were the only things I could think of. Then I got here and suddenly I didn’t have to worry about any of that stuff anymore. My constant Kristina over-thinking normally Simonaityte would have messed it all up. But being totally unprepared, I was thrown into this whirlwind of everything new: new relationships, new activities, new environments — and only for the better. But now it’s all familiar and the sheer thought that I might never come back to hen are you Davis or see some of the leaving?” people that I’ve grown so Nowadays close to in these past nine that’s the most common months is unbearable. question you hear at exBut then again, there change students’ get-togethers. We’re going home are so many people who would kill to come here very soon and everyand be in our place and do one’s freaking out. If you what we did. As my mom thought it was bad two months ago when I started says, the last thing we writing this column, imag- should do is mourn having to leave. We ine what’s happened happening Yes, we’re excited about going to be in a now. So how back to our normal lives, but ... right place at a right are we copwe’re still outsiders ... time and ing? Mostly we made by doing an effort to take this opall the things we like to portunity. We should only do together: socializing, appreciate and celebrate dancing, eating, watchthat, and look forward to ing movies. There are future adventures. also other things to worLast fall, a column ry about: planning last about experiences of an trips, all our stuff fitting American student on exinto our suitcases, selling stuff that has accumu- change in Belgium made lated throughout the year. me realize that the lives of international students in And finals, of course! But there’s always someone to Davis are just as interesting remind us that something and that I really wanted to is our last this or last that. share it with others. Since I began this spring, I have You know, just to keep had a great time writing things in perspective. these columns, from the In three weeks I’ll be very moment I was hired back home in Lithuania. on the phone while standNo more biking home at ing in some back street night from pool parties, of University District in ice cream from Baskin Seattle, WA. Robbins, sunbathing on I feel like writing these the Quad and studying at columns was a way for me the Student Community to reflect on my year in Center. And just like that Davis and record not only there will be no more California while those who my personal experiences, but also those of the peomade it that much more special will be scattered all ple that were closest to me throughout my stay. over the world. There was so much of us, Although we always knew that this wouldn’t last us foreign exchange stuforever, there are moments dents, in these columns. I when we wish that it would. quoted directly from our Yes, we’re excited about go- conversations, built upon the topics that we’ve talked ing back to our normal lives, but just like we’re still about among ourselves, inoutsiders here, we will now cluded various references that only we would get and be outsiders back home, used my friends’ experitoo. At least for a while. ences as examples. Without Because we lived here for them, there would have so long, we’ve grown close to California and its people been no column to begin with. and we created this closeI want to thank them for knit international family. The transition will be pain- the inspiration, but most of ful and not only because of all for making me feel as if I were on Friends. I’m sure the jet lag. that in 20 years when we’ll Before coming here I wasn’t really thinking about have our reunion here in Davis that feeling will still making friends or havbe there. ing fun. That part simply slipped my mind. Applications, course choicKRISTINA SIMONAITYTE is hoping that her es, visa nightmares, bookcolumns were an inspiration to another ing plane tickets, accombudding writer or future foreign exchange modation searching and student. Also if you’re interested in a U-lock, most of all the thought of bike helmet or large comforter you can going away for 10 months reach her at ksimonaityte@ucdavis.edu.
Out of California
“W
campus judicial report Under pressure
accuracy A Letter to the Editor ran on Tuesday titled “Search for chancellor” by Linda Fairfield. The article was, in fact, a press release sent by Linda Fairfield, not intended to be a Letter to the Editor. The release has been revised into a news brief online. The Aggie regrets this error.
A student was referred to Student Judicial Affairs (SJA) for allegedly plagiarizing a paper in a UWP class. The professor noticed that numerous sections of the paper were taken verbatim from other sources. The student admitted that she was very stressed and did not have time to paraphrase her sources. The student agreed to be placed on Deferred Separation until graduation, meaning that if she is found in violation again, she will likely be suspended or dismissed from the University. Instead of completing 15 hours of community service, the student chose to submit a sanction payment of $150 ($10 for every hour).
Collaboration
A student was referred to SJA for allegedly copying or collaborating on multiple quizzes, a midterm and a final exam for an economics class after the professor was told anonymously that he and another student were seen working together during the final exam. When the professor reviewed the students’ work, he realized that not only the finals but all of the students’ previous tests had similar or identical answers. When referred to SJA, this student alleged that he did not copy from anyone during the tests and was not aware that anyone was copying from him. The other referred student admitted that she had copied from the student without his knowledge. Although doubts still remain about the conduct of the first student, the University agreed to drop the charges and give him an Administrative Notice. An Administrative Notice is not
a disciplinary sanction, but means that SJA will keep a record of the incident. This record could aggravate disciplinary sanctions if the student is found in violation for academic misconduct in the future.
In place of another A professor referred a student to SJA for allegedly taking two exams for himself and another person in a Statistics class. When the student met with a Judicial Officer, the student initially denied any form of misconduct. In later meetings, however, the student admitted to taking the tests for another person, as well as signing the name and ID of the other student on the attendance sheet. The student agreed to accept a one-year suspension for taking the exams for the other student. The student will also be placed on Deferred Separation until graduation.
In the June 6 story titled “‘Helping Janet’ uses social media to save a life” Alyssa Ng was incorrectly identified as Alysson Ng. The Aggie regrets this error.
traffic Janelle Bitker Editor in Chief
Matthew Yuen Sports Editor
Hannah Strumwasser Managing Editor
Hudson Lofchie Science Editor
Jonathan Wester Business Manager
Dylan Gallagher Opinion Editor
Caelum Shove Advertising Manager Muna Sadek Campus Editor Claire Tan City Editor Elizabeth Orpina Arts Editor Devon Bohart Features Editor
Joey Chen Copy Chief Brian Nguyen Photography Editor Janice Pang Design Director Amanda Nguyen 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
The California Aggie is entered as first-class mail with the United States Post Office, Davis, Calif., 95616. Printed Monday through Thursday during the academic year and once a week during Summer Session II at The Davis Enterprise, Davis, Calif., 95616. Accounting services are provided by ASUCD. The Aggie is distributed free on the UC Davis campus and in the Davis community. Mail subscriptions are $100 per academic year, $35 per quarter and $25 for the summer. Views or opinions expressed in The Aggie by editors or columnists regarding legislation or candidates for political office or other matters are those of the editors or columnist alone. They are not those of the University of California or any department of UC. Advertisements appearing in The Aggie reflect the views of advertisers only; they are not an expression of editorial opinion by The Aggie. The Aggie shall not be liable for any error in published advertising unless an advertising proof is clearly marked for corrections by the advertiser. If the error is not corrected by The Aggie, its liability, if any, shall not exceed the value of the space occupied by the error. Further, The Aggie shall not be liable for any omission of an advertisement ordered published. All claims for adjustment must be made within 30 days of the date of publication. In no case shall The Aggie be liable for any general, special or consequential damages. © 2009 by The California Aggie. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form whatsoever is forbidden without the expressed written permission of the copyright owner.
The California Aggie is printed on recycled paper
Cont. from front page the city’s engineering technician, Matt Wolf, in an effort to provide the community a new source of convenience. “It is a way for me to make available all the information we have in-house to the public,” Wolf said. The map details information on traffic counts — number of vehicles that travel down a specific stretch of road — including areas of vehicle-, pedestrian- and bicycle-involved collisions from 2008 to 2010. “Much of the data is organized annually, biennially or quadrennially based on the frequency at which we collect information on those locations,” Wolf said.
Also displaying locations for on-street bike parking, time-restricted parking and permit parking, the map serves to be a tool of versatility. “A common concern among community members is the amount of speeding that may occur down residential streets,” Wolf said. “With this map, residents can now go to the speed survey layer and access all the numbers without the hassle of going through the city to find out.” “Before this map, that data really wasn’t all that available to the public,” said Bruce Boyd, the GIS coordinator for the city. “Matt collected all that traffic data and converted it to a visual framework.” The aesthetically pleasing framework has proved to be
of use to not only community members but other city officials as well. Deanne Machado, crime analyst of the Davis Police Department, said the GIS map compliments the city’s crime mapper. “We use the data on that map to help us focus our areas of enforcement and thus improving safety in the city,” Machado said. In conjunction with the service the map lends to traffic and transportation, it also has the option of serving community members on a personal level. “Individuals can create their own maps with whatever data they want; for instance, plots of their favorite hiking spots,” Wolf said. Any spatial information an individual would like to
transform into visual form can be done through this site. Let’s say you would like to find a common location among your teammates. You may plot the addresses of each member onto the map and it will calculate a point that is equidistant among each person. “The map is very userfriendly and people don’t need any training to utilize the site,” Boyd said. All traffic data is collected and maintained by the City of Davis Public Works Department. The GIS map is a free service available to the public and can be found at cityofdavis.org/gis/traffic.cfm. ANI UCAR can be reached at city@theaggie. org.
OPINION
The california aggie
thursday, june 7, 2012 A3
editorials
Davis police
Tasering unnecessary A UC Davis student was Tasered by Davis City Police, May 23, for allegedly resisting a police arrest when confronted during a verbal altercation between himself and friend Tatiana Bush. The police attempted to detain the male subject in the car, who, according to a police press release, broke free of his handcuffs and punched the officer in the face. Bush also inserted herself between police and her friend, which resulted in her being detained against a police car which said lead to large bruises and a concussion. It is unsettling when police officials, who have sworn to “serve and protect” citizens, continue to act inappropriately in seemingly harmless situations. After the notorious incident of November 18, we should be wary of any event that brings about police involvement, especially since many a time it appears unwarranted. The attempt to arrest the male student later led to the
summoning of a grand total of nine police cars. This was unnecessary, considering both students involved were unarmed. It seems as though the police are willing to make a production out of any event, regardless of its severity, to justify any possible arrest, or in this case, the use of a Taser. Tasering of students in a situation such as this, without full knowledge of what was going on, is not okay. However, being the skeptical reporters that we are, we realize that the police have yet to state the findings of the investigation looking into the use of force. We are waiting for a report and bad cell phone videos from the group of onlookers that were attracted by the allure of excessive police lights. Investigation is good, unless we have to wait another five months. Hopefully, the report is released promptly without bias, so the public can make their own judgments.
Ed Board Town hall
#occupylower freeborn The Aggie has been through a lot of crap this year. So much so, the outgoing editorial board felt the need to hold a Festivus-style Airing of Grievances, town hall style. Members of the public were not invited or allowed to speak, and everything said was ignored by the administration (The Aggie Editorial Board). Editor 1: Welcome to this year’s last town hall. Let’s make it quick. Editor 2: What are we even talking about? I have a Giants game to be at. Editor 3: It doesn’t matter what we talk about; nothing gets done at these town halls anyway. Editor 4: I think that Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi would disagree. Editor 5: Did we ever find out if Linda P.B. Katehi’s middle initials stand for peanut butter? Editor 1: Come on, let’s stay on task. How’s our list of complaints looking today? #thingsthatpisseditor1off Editor 3: What’s that hashtag thing? This doesn’t have something to do with Twitter, does it? Editor 4: You’d probably know that if you ever read an Aggie column. Editor 5: No one reads those, do they? Editor 8: Only our most loyal readers. Editor 2: Right. So what happened this year that’s worth
complaining about? Editor 1: Well, the police did pepper spray students on the Quad. Editor 3: That’s what started all these town halls! Editor 4: And all those memes. Can people stop already? Editor 3: What’s a meme? Editor 5: You know, that pepper spray they used wasn’t even really pepper spray. It was a completely different chemical compound! Editor 6: I’m pretty sure pepper spray is just a food product, anyway. Editor 2: That whole pepper spraying incident was messed up. We should write a resolution against it! Editor 1: Are we allowed to do that in our semi-independent student-run newspaper? Editor 3: Who knows? Editor 2: OK, well let’s wrap this up, I have to go to the bank before I go to the game. Editor 5: What bank? Editor 3: I need to go buy some overpriced tea from the CoHo, so let’s finish up. Editor 7: (Starts singing Carly Rae Jepsen) Editor 2: You should go to the Starbucks at the Silo. We need to protect the corporate interests on our campus; they do supply good income to the University. Editor 8: I just need sunlight. Editor 1: This whole year has really been just one giant occupation of Lower Freeborn. WHEN WILL WE GET WINDOWS?
Editorial Board Janelle Bitker Editor in Chief Hannah Strumwasser Managing Editor Dylan Gallagher Opinion Editor
Muna Sadek Campus Editor Claire Tan City Editor Devon Bohart Features Editor
Elizabeth Orpina Arts Editor Matthew Yuen Sports Editor
Hudson Lofchie Science Editor Brian Nguyen Photography Editor
courtesy newsday.com
Democrat, so he gets a pass from mass protest. Recently, Ph.D. stubourgeois liberals. dent Isabel Call was denied docAlready, the news has slipped tor-recommended cancer treatinto the mouth-breathing ment by student health insurance, Manichaeanism of the election Anthem Blue Cross. But, when a Jordan S. season. In the pundits’ eyes, noth- petition on her behalf went viral, Carroll ing happens in the world that isn’t Anthem was forced to change its somehow a reflection of the duelmind. ing candidates. When dismal job Victories like these show that, numbers come out, the question is despite the slowdown in the tempo not how will this hurt the working of the movement, we must mainpoor but, rather, how will this hurt tain what Gramsci called “pessithe president’s mism of the inpoll numbers. tellect, optimism n my last column, I’d like to ... the current UC Davis The loss of meof the will.” reflect on the year and think The figureabout what’s next. As the school dia attention and administration is fighting back by heads of the reyear draws to a close, it’s worth re- the disappearcriminalizing dissent ance of squishpressive system membering a parable by Italian we live in mainpolitical theorist Antonio Gramsci. ier Democrats tain themselves entirely through Gramsci pointed out that everyone will probably stifle the national Occupy movement for at least a our labor and our passive conwants to make history in an insent. If we all withheld those, the stant, to be the “ploughman of his- few months. Still, it’s a form of rank philosystem would soon vanish like an tory,” but first the fields have to be sophical idealism to assert with afterimage. fertilized. Someone has to be the certainty that politics will subBegging reforms from adminis“‘manure’ of history,” preparing mit to theoretical prediction. trators and even presidential canthe way for the plough blade in a The Occupy movement has dedidates, however, only leaves them long and unglamorous slog. fied expectation again and again. in power to undo them. It’s a bit It’s true that there are still Perhaps occupiers will storm the like the medieval peasant revolts: fierce glimmers of hope for rapDemocratic National Convention. an army of rebels storms the capid change. Egyptians are retakWe can dream. itol — to deliver a petition to the ing Tahrir Square and students in But whatever happens to othking. Quebec are retaking the streets. er occupations, the student movePolitical columns and campus But in the United States coordiment at UC Davis has a blazdebates won’t bring about change, nated police repression has sucing bright future. From the ejeceither. Most of the reactionaries cessfully eliminated most permation of U.S. Bank to the censure of and concern trolls can’t even be nent Occupy encampments, and bothered to read what the movesoon the full fury of electoral poli- Chancellor Katehi, campus protics will be upon us. Now, we are in testers were stronger this year than ment has written. If even this minever before. And, if past is proimal effort proves too much, what the manure. logue, a new cycle of struggles will use would they be if we convinced As I argued in a previous colbegin again in the fall. them? Vigorous argument and viumn, the debate between At the moment, though, the brant propaganda are necessary Democrats and Republicans will but not sufficient to reclaim the prove to be dimwitted as always. If current UC Davis administration is fighting back by criminalizing university. you’re still reading this, you probdissent. Though UC Davis is now instiably don’t need me to review Mitt The Banker’s Dozen have borne tuting the best reforms money can Romney’s faults. President Barack the brunt of this anti-protest strat- buy, when fees go up this summer Obama, on the other hand, isn’t egy, facing years of possible prisand police arrest the next group of that much better. on time for allegedly obstructing a protesters, students will think of During his term in office, this year. In that moment, they’ll Obama has deported record num- public hallway. This is an obvious overreach that will quickly blow up remember that collective direct acbers of immigrants and prosecuttion is the most effective form of ed more whistleblowers under the in administrators’ faces if it ever goes to trial. In the meantime, we politics right now, because we are Espionage Act than all other prescan protest, publicize and put a lit- many and they are few. idents combined. Overseas, the tle more cash in the protesters’ leThank you for this year. President has proved to be neargal fund. ly as warlike as his predecessor, Indeed, events of the fall and maintaining a growing “kill list” of JORDAN S. CARROLL is a Ph.D. student in English. He spring have shown the power of can be reached at jscarroll@ucdavis.edu. assassination targets. But, he’s a
Retrospective
I
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
GUEST OPINIONS
The California Aggie welcomes guest opinions from its readers. Guest opinions must be typed with an approximate word count of 600 to 800, or character count around 3,000 to 4,000. The same standards of letters to the editor apply to guest opinions. Guest opinions may reflect a variety of viewpoints. Any member of the campus community is eligible and encouraged to highlight issues regarding UC Davis, regional or national issues. Address letters or guest opinions to the Opinion Editor, The California Aggie, 25 Lower Freeborn, UC Davis, CA 95616. Letters may also be faxed to (530) 752-0355 or sent via e-mail to opinion@theaggie.org.
The California Aggie welcomes letters from its readers. Letters must be typed and no longer than 200 words. As The Aggie attempts to represent a diversity of viewpoints on its letters page, we reserve the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Publication is not guaranteed, and letters become the property of The California Aggie. All correspondence must be signed with the author’s name and telephone number. Unsigned letters will not be considered for publication, although names may be withheld upon request.
zokaie Cont. from front page representative for the student body. Not only does this leave the Association in a lurch with fewer individuals to serve on hiring committees and other areas of necessary representation, it more significantly acts as a disservice to the student body who are left with one fewer elected official serving them and working to better campus life and represent student interests,” Sterling said. Though they ran on the same platform previously, Zokaie does not agree with everything Sterling is doing. Zokaie plans to attend about half of the meetings and Skype in for the others. ASUCD Senators are allowed to remain in their positions a quarter after they have graduated,
according to the general UC policy regarding UC jobs. Senators will only receive their paycheck if they attend meetings. According to Zokaie, money from senate would be used to pay for gas in making the trip to Davis. “I respect senator Zokaie and her decision, which I believe helps to uphold our values of democracy. If she were to resign, and a presidential appointment made for her seat, it would disrupt the delicate balance of power within ASUCD. This would be severely detrimental to the student body,” Senator Jared Crisologo-Smith said. Zokaie said she feels Sterling would not necessarily appoint someone she’d be satisfied with to her position. She also said she has lived up to her platforms so far. “I don’t want to give power [to Sterling]. I still have my seat and I will be there half of the time,”
Zokaie said. According to Zokaie there has been a divide between people who support Rebecca, but there is also a group that is in favor of her keeping her seat. To those who disagree, it seems as though Zokaie should have resigned, because she will not be in Davis. However, ASUCD is moving on without allowing the change to affect them. “Our role as an Association is to best represent the student body as we can, put our personal interests aside and work to further this mission in any capacity we can. I fail to see this action following in line with this mission; however, it will not hinder our Association and the current elected officials from keeping this main goal in mind,” Sterling said. DANIELLE HUDDLESTUN can be reached at campus@ theaggie.org.
Editorials represent the collective opinions of The California Aggie editorial board. The Opinion page appears Tuesdays and Thursdays.
scholarship Cont. from front page would be derived from closing the corporate tax loophole. “This isn’t just creating money out of nowhere. It’s using money that’s getting lost in the budget and the state,” Magaña said. According to Vigna, it is more beneficial to close the corporate tax loophole instead of keeping it because the outcome would be an investment in California students’ higher education. Students from middle-class families with an income between $70,000 and $150,000 will be eligible to receive the scholarship, according to former Davis College Democrats president Sam Mahood. AB 1501 would save an estimated 150,000 CSU students over $4,000 annually and up to $8,169 for approximately 42,000 UC stu-
dents. Community colleges would also benefit from Assembly Bill 1501 by receiving an estimated $150 million. “For the folks at the very top of the spectrum — over the $150,000 mark — they will not be eligible because again they are doing well in a difficult era … The flip-side to that is students who come from low-income backgrounds are already to a very large extent subsidized mostly or completely through Cal Grants for their education. So it’s really for families in the middle, where their families make too much to qualify for any meaningful financial assistance but too little to simply write a check for their kids’ education,” Vigna said. In order for the Middle Class Scholarship to be disbursed to help middle class students, AB 1500, which is what will provide the funding for AB 1501, must pass with two-thirds of the vote.
“I feel like this legislation is about helping people and too often you hear opponents say ‘Oh, we can’t, closing this tax loophole will hurt jobs.’ Well, the governor needs to stand up for people instead of corporations,” Mahood said. The distinction between AB 1501 and 1500 is that AB 1501 is the scholarship that proposed to cut tuition while AB 1500 will fund it. “If that bill doesn’t pass, the scholarship is not funded; both bills have requirements within the language of the bill that say they don’t take effect unless the other one does because they don’t want to create this and then not have the means to pay for it,” Vigna said. Although AB 1500 will pass by senators’ votes, students can help make sure the bill goes into effect by voicing their concerns and opinions to assembly members and senators. Students and parents can ensure
that their voices are heard and that senators comprehend the importance this scholarship will have in helping higher education be more affordable for middle-class students by contacting senators and assembly members. They can also upload their stories to the Middle Class Scholarship website and sign the petition. “We need to do something to address the tuition increases for all of California. We’ve seen that too often the middle class is left out and that’s the real engine for California; that’s what made the state great ... and if we don’t do something to change that our generation might not have the same prospects that our parents did,” Mahood said. For more information about the Middle Class Scholarship please visit middleclassscholarship.com. LILIANA NAVA OCHOA can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.
THE BACKSTOP A4 thursday, june 7, 2012
The california Aggie
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
GAME OF THE YEAR
Sarah Sumpter It is rare for an athlete to take conference titles in multiple sports during the course of a single school year, but that is just what Sarah Sumpter did. The junior distance runner anchored both the women’s cross country team and the women’s track and field team as they both won Big West Conference championships. And all of that came after sitting out the 2010-2011 campaigns for medical reasons. “It’s a testament to her work ethic and her perseverance,” said cross country and track and field head coach Drew Wartenburg. “She’s an example of someone who sets high goals and then does the work necessary to achieve them.” Sumpter finished second at the Big West cross country finals in the fall, leading the Aggies to victory. She then proceeded to place 28th at the NCAA Regional, where the team finished eighth.
MEN’S SOCCER
She continued her tremendous run in the track season, as she was a constant force in the distance races. Sumpter finished first in the 10,000 meter in the first day of the Big West Track and Field Championships, then followed that up with a first-place finish in the 5,000 meter the next day. “Things have gone her way this season,” Wartenburg said. “She’s killing it on the track and she’s reaping the rewards, which is very gratifying to see as a coach.” And even with all of her accomplishments, Sumpter’s season is still not over. Her 12th place finish in the 10,000m at the NCAA Regional netted her a spot in the NCAA Finals, where she will compete today as the last UC Davis runner standing in the 2011-12 school year. — Trevor Cramer
Jasna Hodzic / Aggie
UC Davis stunned then-ranked No.6 UCLA in a dramatic fashion earlier this season.
Courtesy of Glenn Feingerts
Sarah Sumpter ran her way to The California Aggie’s Female Athlete of the Year award.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Male freshman of the year
Kevin Peat
Matt Wiesenfarth
Madison Dunitz / Aggie
Kevin Peat has played for the Aggie for the past four seasons. After four seasons as the starter, senior Kevin Peat departs UC Davis men’s water polo as arguably the best goalkeeper in history. The Walnut Creek, Calif. native saved his best season for last, finishing the year with a school-record 335 saves. He became just the third Aggie to surpass the 1,000-save milestone, amassing 1,011 stops over the course of his career. “He is like a coach on the field and calls his own plays,” said head coach Steve Doten. “He is not only reliable in the cage, but in the weight room, the classroom and the locker room. He is a great teammate and leader. Not having the team captain and one of the best goalies in UC Davis history will be the biggest change in 2012.” Peat’s biggest performance of the season came in the Western Water Polo Association Conference Tournament, against the four-time defending champions, Loyola Marymount. He put the team on his shoulders with a 17-save performance, leading the
Aggies to an upset in triple overtime. “I’m incredibly honored and grateful. I have always been proud to call myself an Aggie and this instance is no exception,” Peat said. “From the successes of Jonathan Peterson to Dayne Quist, Aggie athletes have had great seasons. So to be selected for this award in such a successful year and after a long career is quite meaningful for me.” Peat’s leadership is not just seen in the water, but in the classroom as well. Peat was named to the WWPA All-Academic team, as well as earning honorable mention for academics from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches All-America. “I will always come back and visit my old teammates and friends,” Peat said. “I could not have asked for better teammates over the last five years, and it will be difficult to watch them go into games and only be able to support them with my voice instead of my play.”
RELATIONS Cont. from front page stressed the importance of communication. “The committee’s goal is to connect students and police more fluidly, taking ideas and opinions from each and sharing them in order to get a more unified campus, as well as a more informed campus,” Connor said. “The relations are very distant and students are very reluctant to put their faith in the police force after what they have seen and heard, so it is my job to help give the students a direct voice to influence how the police carry out their interactions with students.” By adding two new members, ASUCD members hope to increase the amount of communication between students and police officers. “It is crucial more students have the opportunity to get involved with such an important committee,” said Sergio Cano, senior applied mathematics major, Internal Affairs Commission (IAC) chair and author of the bill.
— Russell Eisenman
clutch dramatic Freshman Matt goals were the Wiesenfarth didn’t second. get chosen to parIt seemed ticipate in the U.S. that need-based Under-20 National scoring was Training Camp for W i e s e n f a r t h’s nothing. specialty, as sevThe Sacramento eral of his goals native was one of were late-game the standouts for points that the young roster of Matt Wiesenfarth propelled the the UC Davis men’s freshman Aggies to oversoccer program. The 2011 Big West time or a victory. Wiesenfarth was also Freshman of the Year was named such for his of- selected for the College fensive prowess, as his 18 Soccer News All-Freshman shots on goal, three assists second team. If there is and five goals all led the one thing UC Davis fans are hoping, it is that these Aggies. Gaining a starting job won’t be the last awards the as a freshman was the first young Wiesenfarth earns in indicator that Wiesenfarth a UC Davis uniform. would have a large impact — Matthew Yuen on the program, and his
FEMALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
UC Davis’s sports are improving, but what business do they have playing with perennial powerhouses like UCLA? We may have witnessed the beginning of the end of statements like this one. The UC Davis men’s soccer program pulled out one of the biggest upsets in school history, possibly in any sport, when it took down the then-No. 6 Bruins in a 2-1 overtime victory. The Aggies were entering just their third game of the new season having posted an ugly 6-12 mark the previous year. Eight freshmen and five sophomores made it onto the field against UCLA while only four of the UC Davis players that saw playing time were upperclassmen. The Bruins were ranked No. 6 in the country. Enough said. “UCLA is a very good team; they’ve got some pros on the team, but in the game of soccer, you always have a chance to win,” said head coach Dwayne Shaffer. In a mismatch that could not have been more pronounced, UC Davis looked outmatched in the
first half — it seemed like just a matter of time that the Bruins would squash the young Aggies’ hopes. Sophomore Alex Aguiar knocked in a goal two minutes into the second half to give UC Davis a 1-0 advantage, but the Aggies could not protect their lead. UCLA scored with three minutes remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. As the first overtime period neared a close, neither team was able to pull ahead. Then, the upsetminded Aggies pulled some late-game magic that would stun the college soccer world. Sophomore Alex Henry nailed a shot from the left side into the opposite corner of the net to give UC Davis the golden goal victory. “Beating UCLA at our place is a huge win for our program as well as the entire athletic program,” Shaffer said. “If you looked at the players that played that game, they’re all young — it’s a young team that’s only going to get better and better as we go.” — Matthew Yuen
COACH OF THE YEAR Drew Wartenburg
Justine Vela In her first season as an Aggie, Justine Vela was the epitome of dominance. With 272 strikeouts, 15th most in the country and fifth most ever in Big West Conference Justine Vela history, the freshman Bakersfield native led UC Davis to an impressive third-place league finish — just two games behind champion Long Beach State. After holding opposing teams to a .206 batting average this year, Vela became only the third player ever to win both Big West
“This allows more ex-officio members to be involved with student-police relations, such as the chairperson of Gender and Sexuality Commission (GASC) and the chairperson of Ethnic and Cultural Affairs Commission (ECAC), which generally bring up valid concerns at the ASUCD senate meetings in regards to police issues on campus.” Current ex-officio members include those from the Cross-Cultural Center (CCC); the Collegiate Panhellenic Association; the Interfraternity Council; the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center (LGBTRC); among others. “The bill [would] give me two other committee members in order to accomplish more in the department of communication with the other organizations on my committee,” Connor said. “There are nearly 20 organizations that are a part of the committee, and it is difficult for one person to manage the communication from all of them.” In addition, the bill proposes that the committee be required to hold
Freshman Pitcher of the Year and Big West Pitcher of the Year in the same season. Her accomplishments have also been recognized on the national level where she was recently named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Pacific AllRegion Second Team. With Vela set to lead the Aggies for years to come, UC Davis Softball’s future seems brighter than ever. — Doug Bonham
meetings at least twice a month. “This [would] allow students to have more opportunities to bring up concerns, questions and suggestions to the UCDPD and Davis Police Department,” said Kabir Kapur, sophomore political science and philosophy double major, ASUCD senator and co-author of the bill. Students are encouraged to attend the meetings and bring forth concerns or ideas for the committee to address. Currently, the Student-Police Relations Committee operates on a $200 budget, which the committee uses to put on programs and projects that educate students regarding their rights, police procedures and safety practices. “The overarching goal is to better the UC Davis campus by having a spectrum of opinions from different areas of campus bringing issues to the meetings,” Cano said. STEPHANIE B. NGUYEN can be reached at campus@ theaggie.org.
Courtesy of Mark Honbo
Drew Wartenburg guided both the Cross Country and Track and Field teams to successful seasons. UC Davis’ men and women’s track and field coach, Drew Wartenburg, captured the 2011-12 season “Coach of the Year” award for leading the team to the Big West Championships. In 2009, UC Davis’ first season in the Division 1, Wartenburg was honored as the league’s Men’s Coach of the Year. In only his first year at the helm of the entire UC Davis program, Wartenburg guided the team to a spot at the Big West following a series of successful meets, such as the Hornet Invitational and the Sacramento State Open. During the Big West Championships, Wartenburg led the women’s team to its first track title. The Aggies won this year’s title by a half-point over UC Santa Barbara (170-169.5) in a competition that came down to the last event: the 4x400 relay. UC Davis won sev-
en individual titles en route to the team championship and had scorers throughout both the track and the field events on Saturday afternoon. Throughout the season, Wartenburg has inspired Track Athlete of the Year Sarah Sumpter, Ashley Hearn and the rest of the Aggies to new heights and generated positive acclamation for the UC Davis track and field team. “Everything is relative,” Wartenburg said. “But any year that you set goals for team success and you’re able to come together and collaborate to achieve them is really rewarding.” “It’s a situation of taking pleasure rather than taking credit for me, because credit does not go to me,” he said. “But I’d be severely understating it if I said this wasn’t an extremely pleasing year as a coach.” — Veena Bansal
THE BACKSTOP The california Aggie
thursday, june 7, 2012
TEAM OF THE YEAR WOMEN’S GOLF
Courtesy of Steve Chen
The women’s golf team boast their hardware after winning their third straight Big West title.
Coming off a Big West Conference title and the loss of two key seniors in 2010-11, the Aggies did not miss a beat as they entered the 2011-12 season. UC Davis opened its season with a first-place finish in the Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic in September, and followed that up with second place at the Golfweek Conference Challenge. Overall the Aggies won a total of three tournaments in the 2011-12 season and finished in the top three of three more. UC Davis golfers also finished in the top five on 10 different occasions as individuals. “It’s all about hard work and competition,” said head coach Anne Walker. The Aggies were consistent in their play throughout the season, and they completed their campaign with their third straight Big West Championship, as they beat out UC Irvine by the sizeable margin of 13
A5
strokes. UC Davis then made its way to the NCAA Regional, where it finished 12th. Overall the Aggies finished the 2011-2012 season ranked 23rd in the National Golf Coaches Association Poll and 31st by golfweek.com. Possibly the most impressive part of UC Davis’ season, however, is that it was able to accomplish so much with such a young team. The Aggies did not have a single senior on their roster this season, and their sixplayer roster included three freshmen — including Big West individual champion Beverly Vatananugulkit. “The immediate future is looking really great,” Walker said. “We’re really excited. Everyone will be even more experienced and we’re going to bring in some new golfers, so I’m really looking forward to it. Hopefully we can set the bar even higher.” — Trevor Cramer
Honorable Mention samantha meggison
DEMI RUNAS
In a program with as rich a history as games-played leader. the UC Davis women’s basketball The senior led the team team, it is difficult to accomplish in total rebounds and points, anything that hasn’t been done with 149 and 323, respectively, before. this past season. Her stance on UC Davis’ top-10 all-time steals Yet senior Samantha Meggison list completes her profile of the had a career with the Aggies that ultimate all-around player. can truly be described as unprecedented. Meggison was awarded All-Big West Conference first Meggison came to UC Davis in team honors for her perforthe midst of the transition from mance this year, which was an Division II to Division I and took embodiment of an illustrious everything in stride. From the Samantha Meggison career with the Aggies. start, she gained playing time, senior and after four years, now stands — Matthew Yuen as UC Davis’s all-time career-
Demi Runas performed the way she was A victory at the Ptarmigan Ram Fall expected to this season. Which is Classic with a five-under-par to say, she was exceptional. to open the season marked Runas’ first collegiate title of The junior has been the most her career. Her second would consistent performer for the come a couple months later, UC Davis women’s golf team in when she seized the PING/ASU her three years here. It is no coInvitational. incidence that the Aggies have The Torrance, Calif. native had won the Big West Conference four top-five finishes on the year Championship each of her three to lead UC Davis, who will look years here. forward to seeing what Runas Runas ended her impressive Demi Runas can do in her final season with year as the No. 50-ranked player junior the Aggies next year. in the nation, putting together a season that garnered her a second — Matthew Yuen straight Big West Player of the Year award.
BETSY SEDLAK
Kayleigh Foley
Senior Betsy Sedlak will go school history. In 2011 Sedlak led the down as one of the greatteam with a .321 hitting est players in UC Davis percentage, while netvolleyball history. ting 261 kills and 124 As one of just two seblocks. niors on a team that went The Pleasanton, Calif. 21-10 this season, Sedlak native took two Big West was hailed by her coach Conference Player of the and her teammates as a Week awards this seavital team leader. son, and her accom In just three years as plishments netted her an Aggie after transferBig West first team recring from Oregon, Sedlak Betsy Sedlak ognition for the second set the UC Davis record senior year in a row. for career attack percentage at .336 and tallied 393 — Trevor Cramer career blocks, good for second in
fitness Cont. from front page The physically and mentally challenging event was also a way for the fraternity and council to promote health and fitness within the community. “As we all know, obesity is a pretty big deal, especially in the United States,” Lewis said. “We chose to put it on Russell Field because it’s on one of the busiest streets. That way people from the community could see us out there having fun and working out.” As for prizes for the fastest-finishing team, Sodexo provided rewards in the form of Silo and Coffee House gift cards. “It’s funny because we’re doing a fitness event to promote not being obese, so we’re hoping that they don’t use the gift certificates to buy fast food,” Lewis said. Despite Sunday’s heat, Lewis reported a great turnout for the event and a good time had by all. “A diverse group came out and represented,” Lewis
said. “Everybody had a lot of fun.” Lewis’s fraternity brothers from Phi Beta Sigma echoed the event’s success. “We were happy with the turnout and it was really fun,” said senior psychology major Frederick Rice. “We were very humbled and excited that we had the opportunity to do an event like this.” The fraternity has a history of community involvement in the past, organizing events ranging from cleanups to building homes for the homeless. “Our fraternity is founded upon the principle of service,” said senior history major and Spanish minor Kevin Grant. Grant is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma. “This year we committed ourselves to monthly community cleanups. We build homes for Habitat for Humanity and organized a homeless feed in Central Park.” As an African American fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma also hosts events catered to making the African American population at
Kayleigh Foley has dominated a time of 7:20.23. the lanes of Schaal Aquatics Center The Pleasanton, Calif. native during her four years as a repeated the performember of the UC Davis mance as a sophomore women’s swimming and when the Aggies trandiving team. sitioned over to their current conference, Foley has nevthe Mountain Pacific er ended a season Sports Federation. She without claiming at also brought home vicleast one Conference tories in the 100-yard Championship title. freestyle and the 400As a freshman she anyard relay medley. As chored the 800-yard Kayleigh Foley a junior she hauled in freestyle relay squad senior five conference chamthat earned the Big pionships, including West title and set a new school record for the event with repeat triumphs in the 100-yard
UC Davis feel more at home. “We don’t limit ourselves, but we do reach out to the black community seeing as they only represent one percent of the Davis campus,” Lewis explained. In the past, the fraternity organized a speech with a former Black Panther member. It brought a predominantly African American Sacramento middle school to the campus for a tour. But regardless of the type of event, the fraternity always tries to make it purposeful. “Because we are a smaller frat and are often overlooked, this was a great opportunity,” Lewis said. “When we do throw events they always have a charitable cause.” This was the first-ever Sigma Fitness Challenge, but it won’t be the last. Phi Beta Sigma hopes to turn it into an annual tradition. “I hope we can make it better and build upon what we did on Sunday,” Rice said. EINAT GILBOA can be reached city@ theaggie.org.
summer
free, the 400-yard relay medley and the 800-yard free relay. Foley also earned titles in the 50-yard free and the 400-yard free relay as well. Foley rounded out her senior year by earning four more conference championships. She excelled in the 200-yard freestyle where she set a new school record with her time of 1:47.29. As Foley hangs up her goggles, her fellow Aggies must find a way to say goodbye to a teammate who has excelled over the last four seasons. — Kim Carr
they’re immortal. “I’m extremely excited to see Red Hot Chili Peppers in August,” said Jessica Huang, senior animal science major. “They’ve been one of my favorite bands for a really long time and they’re finally touring again. I can’t wait to hear some of their new album live, but I’m definitely the most excited about hearing the older classic tracks like ‘Scar Tissue’ and ‘Road Trippin.’” Hard L.A. will also be hitting Los Angeles in early August. With Boys Noize, Skrillex, Bloc Party and Nero, to list a few, it too promises to demand your time and bodily commitment to the intense gladiatorial ring that is the rave dance floor. Other festivals worth checking out? Identity Festival will be in San Diego in early September and Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay in October (Yes, a long way off, but it doesn’t hurt to get planning).
Cont. from page A7 it’s in the middle of Golden Gate Park, so it feels like you’re in the middle of a concert in a surreal fairy forest. Not to mention, their headliner this year is Sigur Ros, so it only adds to my dream of prancing around, sprinkling fairy dust everywhere.” If you do enough of certain things, you too can feel like sprinkling fairy dust at Outside Lands (not an endorsement to do drugs). I will, however, endorse attendance to Outside Lands, which will be at the Golden Gate Park and guarantees to be a great weekend of varied musical talent. It’s also late in the summer, which gives plenty of time to recover from finals. What else is on the musical horizon? Well, to name one special case, Red Hot Chili Peppers are back on tour and will be in L.A. and Oakland this summer. Quite simply, JAMES O’HARA can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
henry
and Midsummer Night’s Dream, and this year will be directing Henry V. With all the new changes the Ensemble has implemented, this year’s production of Henry V is unique, especially with the use of only five actors instead of the 13 in the original play. “Everyone is playing about four to five parts in the show,” Goehring said. Tickets are $12 for students and seniors, $10 for children 12 and under and $15 for adults. For more information about Henry V and the 2012 Festival visit shakespearedavis.com. The shows will run Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6:30 p.m. On June 14, all ticket prices will be $5 off and shows will run until July 1.
Cont. from page A7 Goehring, who graduated from Chico State University in 2009, is currently a graduate student at UC Davis and has been friends with the founding managing director of the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble, Stephanie Hankinson, since high school. “I talked to Hankinson about the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble and wanted to produce,” Goehring said. Salas, one of the artistic directors of the company, received his bachelor’s degree in English and dramatic arts from Harvard University. He has previously directed the Ensemble’s productions of Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night KARINA CONTRERAS can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
A6 THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012
The california Aggie
By STEPHANIE B. NGUYEN
It’s just a bunch of my favorite items in one outfit.”
Jasmine Yang, first-year design major
Where do you find inspiration? “Other people, especially my friends — they’re all really stylish. And I look at fashion blogs, too.”
Aggie News Writer
The Aggie: What are you wearing? Yang: “My skirt and necklace are from Forever 21, and my flatforms were a birthday gift from my friends. They’re from Go Jane.” How did you decide what to wear today? “I woke up twenty minutes before class, so I just threw this on.
campus CHIC.
What’s your favorite item in your closet? “I recently thrifted a pair of red shorts that I dip-dyed and then studded. I really like them. It was a good DIY project.”
Jeanna Gindi
Stephanie Nguyen/ Aggie
STEPHANIE B. NGUYEN can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.
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Services Rent a Rower from the UCD Men’s Rowing Team to take care of your around the house projects! Visit www. ucdcrew.org. GRADUATING Spring? Take your senior portrait at our studio in Davis now! Cap and gowns provided. www.vipportraits.com
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Help Wanted STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid Survey Takers Needed in Davis. 100% FREE to join! Click on Surveys. EXPERIMENTAL SUBJECTS participants needed for easy 60-90 min. experiment. Perform group decisionmaking task. Must be 18 years or older to participate. Register: www.experimetrix2.com/ucdesp. One time participation only. You will be compensated $10-20. Payment determined in part by individual success in task. Egg Donors Needed. Healthy females ages 18-30. Donate to infertile couples some of the many eggs your body disposes monthly. Compensation $6,000. Call Reproductive Solutions (818) 832-1494 donor.eggreproductive.com. Reproductive Solutions abide by all federal and state guidelines regarding egg donation as well as all ASRM guidelines.
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A7
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6, number 18
I’ll be back
Seven MFA graduates to present work from June 8 to June 29 By MICHELLE RUAN
N
Let ELIZABETH ORPINA know who you want to perform at UC Davis next year in hopes that she can somehow influence Justin Bieber to perform at the Mondavi Center through her connections at arts@theaggie.org.
Aggie Arts Writer
courtesy
Dani Galietti, How to Do a Forward Crossover, 2012, a performance.
courtesy
Kyle Dunn, Pipes, 2012, acrylic on PVC pipe, 34 inches by 110 inches by 58 inches.
They will also be showing a video of his performances in which he is wearing a costume made of netted ceramic trinkets and a headdress and sings about the outdoors. “In performance, the erect piece is tethered to the ceiling, and the actor in the lower piece is free to nuzzle, sniff around at and flirt with it. The viewer is given access to a private reverie, a drug-free opium dream, an otherwise private playground of the artist’s memory,” Pritikin wrote. Nulicek will be presenting a threepart exhibition that showcases the different elements in her paintings as well as her interests in sculpture, papermaking and even set design. Dunn, a sculptor and painter, will be showing his series of sculptures which are metal- and plasticcolored. Peterson will be presenting his kinetic sculpture, created from materials which include commercial plastic tarps and bags. Romero, an artist who investigates illusion and reality through tromp l’oeil painting and minimalist sculptures, will be presenting a series of paintings and sculptures she has done so far. She also recently won the Miguel Velez Fellowship and is planning to continue her work overseas. “Moving to a place where it is unfamiliar and unknown makes everyone uncomfortable. However, as an artist, I believe it can make my work move in unknown and more challenging directions,” Romero said. MICHELLE RUAN can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
Upcoming shows and festivals in California By JAMES O’HARA Aggie Arts Writer
InroughlyoneweekitwillbesummerforDavis students and most of the UC system, which for many of us means summer plans, summer fun and summer concerts. Yes, music will b e in the air throughout California — it will be prominent and some festival you won’t be able to attend will dictate the topic of your friend’s conversation longer than you’d probably prefer. Just this weekend, the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) will kick things off with a bang. Last year, EDC moved from L.A. to Las Vegas (it was too unhinged for ie L.A. to handle, apparently) and m / Agg got things bumping in the risa Ta I deserts of Sin City. There, no doubt, sweat was shed by the bucket-ton and the bass was so proficient and intimidat-
ing it gave concussions. For the many insane among us, it all sounds deliriously entertaining as we look forward to this year’s event. While this article will be mostly focused on shows throughout California, EDC is making the list because, really, it should still belong to us Californians if the universe were a fair and decent place. Have you heard of a DJ? Then the answer is yes, they are at EDC. Above a n d Beyond?
Yes, at EDC. Kaskade? Yes, at EDC. Rusko? Yes, at EDC. Major Lazer? Yes, yes and yes. They’re all at EDC. So if you like electronic music and raves and you’re not going, clearly you’ve missed the memo or have, in some crazy use of logic, prioritized finals and the preservation of your wallet. Does that make you a boring person? Yes! That is, unless you’re planning on some other festival instead. Some other festivals include Outside Lands, which will be in San Francisco starting in early August and feature the likes of Stevie Wonder, Foo Fighters, Sigur Ros, Metallica, Justice and a bunch of other eclectic talents that we all have no business missing. “I’m excited about Outside Lands,” said Linh Banh, a senior English and film studies double major. “I guess what I really like about Outside Lands is the venue. It’s not only in the middle of the coolest city on earth (besides L.A.), but
See SUMMER, page A5
Third annual Davis Shakespeare Festival Features Shakespeare’s Henry V By KARINA CONTRERAS Aggie Arts Writer
Starting June 14, Davis Shakespeare Ensemble will be presenting Shakespeare’s Henry V. Directed by Rob Salas, this show will take place at the UC Davis Arboretum Gazebo. For the first time in Davis Shakespeare Ensemble history, the shows will also be shown in Sacramento. “Henry V will be our first production to ever branch out to Sacramento,” said Katie Goehring, associate producer of Davis Shakespeare Ensemble. Not only will Davisites be able to enjoy this play about one of England’s legendary kings but, this year, Sacramento
UC Davis 2012 MFA Exhibition Tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. to June 29, free The Nelson Gallery Seven students are going to receive their master of fine arts — there will be a degree exhibition at UC Davis’ Nelson Gallery starting tomorrow night. Come check out these students’ work before they enter careers as visual artists.
June, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday
Art is an ever-changing form, especially when reviewing paintings and sculptures throughout the ages. There was Michelangelo, who created cherub angels and lush scenery. Leonardo da Vinci was renowned for his lifelike sketches of the human body as well as the eternal Mona Lisa, who has the faintest of a smile on her face. Vincent Van Gogh, plagued by depression, celebrated the brightness of life and the world around him. However, as the timeline for art goes on, everything begins to change. Artists began to take charge and create their perspectives to share with viewers, hence Warhol’s “Pop-Art” or Georgia O’Keefe’s abstract paintings of flowers. Former UC Davis professor and painter Roy De Forest has observed how events could greatly influence art, especially war. “In a time of social disruption, scientific rationalization, and political instability, the creation of art is an act of dangerous faith,” De Forest wrote in an MFA catalogue. On Friday, the Nelson Gallery will celebrate its Master of Fine Arts Degree Exhibition in which seven students will be showcasing their work. The exhibition will run from June 8 to 29, allowing faculty, students and art lovers time to drop by and marvel at the students’ creations as well as see how today’s world, with its crumbling political regimes and tension, have impact-
ed the artists’ perspectives. The seven students who are featured in the exhibition are Dani Galietti, Daniel Brickman, Kyle Dunn, Katherine Nulicek, Terry Peterson, Erika Romero and Jared Theis. Renny Pritikin, the director of the Nelson Gallery, commented on the assortment of different focuses that the artists have. “This is an unusually multidisciplinary group. There are two performance artists who make sculpture and video, two painters who also make sculpture, two sculptors who make installations and one artist who makes kinetic sculpture,” Pritikin said. “The end result is a jam-packed gallery full of surprises at every turn.” In addition, Pritikin has written short essays about each of the artists. “Dani Galietti is a young woman deeply invested in understanding the social roles women still have imposed upon them well into the 21st century,” Pritikin wrote. Galietti will be showing a video of her performances gathered from recent months at the MFA show. Brickman’s work for the MFA exhibition is an enormous circle that is black and is around 15 feet in both diameter and height. “Its crisp black line in space focuses the eye on the whiteness beyond; we’re forced to be a shrunken Alice looking through a keyhole at a gigantic world beyond, an art that we look through as much as at. Together his black objects are, like a murder of crows, both ominous and malleable in space,” Pritikin wrote.
The summer in music:
Gallery 1855, Davis Cemetery District Office 820 Pole Line Road
Oliver Gagliani
7, 2012
MFA Student Exhibition at Nelson Gallery
Elizabeth Orpina
ormally this would be the time for the Arts Editor to write a farewell; as the year comes to an end, so does the position at The Aggie. This year is a little different. Goodbyes were said at the end of Winter Quarter, when Uyen Cao left for Spain and introduced me as the new Arts Desk editor. So instead of packing up my things and training my successor, I’m making plans for next year. The returning Copy Chief and I already have plans for decorations in our little corner of Lower Freeborn, honoring some of the greatest artists of our time: Rebecca Black, One Direction and Justin Bieber. With these inspirational surroundings, The California Aggie is sure to produce some top-notch entertainment, news and writing. (That’s what we’re telling ourselves, anyway.) Writing for this paper provides everything you could ever want from college: friends, free stuff, improved writing techniques and in some cases, paid labor. I’m going to utilize these 15 inches of a column to convince you to apply to work at the Arts desk slash why arts and entertainment is on the rise here at UC Davis. Here, we get promotional items from Hollywood promoting movies and television shows (think Fox’s New Girl’s Douchebag Jar). We get free tickets to concerts, such as Allen Stone, Florence + The Machine, Drake and Bon Iver. We get to interview famous people — think the Mythbusters guys, Bon Iver’s Sean Carey and Steve Aoki. Being connected to the Arts e-mail address is basically an insider’s look at everything entertaining in Davis and Sacramento. With constant press releases, movie screenings, free music and gallery invites, this desk is a fast-pass to a cultured life. All of these connections have proved extremely rewarding, especially because this year in entertainment has been pretty damn exciting. We had an amazing lineup of lectures, concerts, performances and famous people visiting our school this year. Tickets sold out for shows faster than ever before, Entertainment Council kept announcing surprising shows every quarter and the music world introduced a plethora of unique and fascinating music. And since I’m a vampire at heart with the sun “forcing” me to sit inside all summer, you can bet I’m thrilled to watch all of my summer television shows. The greatest thing about arts and entertainment is that they are constantly changing and always surprising. I’m excited to hear about what kind of arts and entertainment will grace our campus next year. I’m even more excited for a summer of concerts and movies. And let’s be real: I’m still waiting for Rebecca Black’s new release.
thursday , J une
the california aggie ’ s arts and entertainment magazine
Internationally renowned photographer Oliver Gagliani’s work will be on display. A colleague of Ansel Adams, Paul Strand and the Westons, Gagliani’s work hangs in the Smithsonian, the Oakland Museum of Art, the S.F. Museum of Modern Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. This work hasn’t been shown for a quarter of a century, since the death of Gagliani, and this is your only chance to see it before it will be acquired by a museum in Arizona.
residents won’t have to leave their city to enjoy Shakespeare’s Henry V. “The Davis Shakespeare Ensemble is a non-profit organization whose focus is to fill a hole present in the city of Davis,” Goehring said. This year marks a year of change for the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble, that, for the first time, held auditions for other people not involved in the group. “This is the first year the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble has been trying to get more people involved,” Goehring said. They currently have a Shakespeare summer camp, for seven- to 15-year-olds, that is almost at full capacity.”
See HENRY, page A5
Spring Theatre Festival: A Night of Original One Acts Friday at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.) Wyatt Pavillion, free The Dead Arts Society presents A Night of Original One Acts as part of its Spring Theatre Festival. These evenings will feature The Blood Law by Rachel Pevsner and All Dried Up by Jenny Adler. Both shows will be performed on the same night with an intermission in between.
Henry V June 14 to July 1, Thursday to Sunday at 8 p.m., Sundays at 6:30 p.m. 1 Garrod Drive, $15 adults, $12 students and seniors, $10 children
Henry V
The Davis Shakespeare Festival and the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum present the Third Annual Davis Shakespeare Festival, featuring Shakespeare’s Henry V. The Ensemble will shed new light on this classic by making this war epic into a suspenseful experience.
Technocultural & Film Studies End-of-the-Year Party Tomorrow, 6 p.m. Art Annex, free Come see what TCS and Film Studies are all about at the end-of-the-year party that celebrates student work. Come by for free food, student films, animations, live performances, experimental music, home brew economics, art installations, face painting and an awards ceremony.
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Folk Dance in the Park Friday at 5:10 p.m. Central Park, free Unwind at the end of the quarter by doing some easy folk dances from Greece, Israel, Russia, Japan and other countries. The Davis International Folkdancers will lead an informal get-together near the Farmer’s Market structure for an hour just for fun.
@aggiearts
A8 thursday, june 7, 2012
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section b
THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012
First-generation graduates reflect on journey to commencement First in their families to graduate, students pave the way for others
Evelyn Garcia, Bree Rombi and Ricardo Buenrosto are three of the many seniors who are the first in their families to graduate from college.
By LANI CHAN Aggie Staff Writer
Friends, family and mentors will gather this weekend to witness graduation, an event of such grandiosity that attendees might forget the complexity of what it symbolizes for many students. Although graduates will be grouped together in massive commencements to receive their diplomas in identical caps and gowns, the feeling of accomplishment will be different to each. Some students have
faced challenges, first in the process of getting to college, and then while navigating their path towards graduation. For students who are the first in their families to graduate from college, in particular, completing their bachelor’s degree means reaching a milestone yet to be surpassed, serving as role models and paving the way for future family generations to go to college. “Growing up, my parents always told me that education was important, but didn’t have a reason why,” said Ricardo
It’s almost commencement: Do YOU have a plan?
Buenrostro, senior economics and psychology double major, whose parents immigrated from Mexico after completing a middle school education. “So I always wanted to go to college, but didn’t have the know-how to make it happen. Today, graduation is important, but not just for me; I have a younger sister and three brothers, and I now have the knowledge and experience to help them.” Lauren Ilano, psychology and women and gender studies double major and student director of the Bridge Program at
Anna Oh / Aggie
the UC Davis Student Recruitment and Retention Center (SRRC), said that graduation for students like Buenrostro is significant not just for the students, but also creates a lot of pride for the mentors that helped to get them there. “They do want to strive for higher education, it’s just structural things that get in the way,” Ilano said. “There are parts of the process such as SATs, finances, that they don’t have anyone to guide them through
See FIRST, page B2
Commencement 2012 looks back and ahead Speakers to describe experiences, advice, fears
Partying, family dinners on graduates’ agendas By ISAIAH SHELTON Aggie Features Writer
From daddy’s promise of that new two-seater to the comfort of having recently landed a real adult job, college graduation can be quite the cloud nine. Just as easily, the thought alone can be quite a nuisance. All it takes is that fear of getting your name butchered before you walk across the stage or the worry of finding a place to fit all those empty handles of alcohol memorabilia before your parents arrive to turn commencement into resentment. Perhaps the unsure nature of it all is what causes these emotions. No one knows exactly how graduation day will pan out, yet everyone still imagines a plan — be it a bunch of baloney or not. “I’m not looking forward to my mom’s face when she meets my boyfriend,” said Evelyn Larson, senior economics major. “She always frowned upon the idea of me having a boyfriend in college, and here we are, three years strong, and she has no idea that he exists.” Larson hopes that her honors status, graduating with a reputable 3.6 GPA, will outweigh her surprise boyfriend. She plans on attending an early breakfast with her mom that morning, feathering her mom’s mood by reminding her of what a smart, beautiful and hardworking daughter she has. “I hope some good food and a talk reminding her of how ‘I couldn’t have done this without you’ will be good enough preparation for what I’m going to drop on her when we get to the ceremony,” Larson said. “I think I’ll first introduce him as a good friend, and hopefully she’ll get the point. I hope she gets
the point.” Luckily for senior English major Matthew Hunt, his girlfriend and parents are already well acquainted. “I don’t know if I’m looking forward to graduation as much as I am the day before when my mom, dad and girl get out here from Fresno,” Hunt said. “I haven’t seen them all in a few months. Hopefully my graduating will be the perfect reunion.” After the commencement ceremony, Hunt plans to attend dinner with the three of them at a nice restaurant in downtown Davis or Sacramento, right before he ditches his parents for an intimate sunset with his girlfriend at the UC Davis Arboretum. “Graduation is a big thing for me,” Hunt said. “That time at the Arboretum will hopefully be a time where my girl and I can reflect on our two years together as well as an opportunity for me to confide in her my emotions about closing this chapter in my life. It’s still very surreal now, but I believe at that moment I’ll be able to put this whirlwind called college into better perspective.” But while some graduates relish in having etched out intimate plans, others are viewing graduation as yet another (perhaps final) opportunity to rage with their friends. Joshua Dicini, a senior international relations major, said he could do all the retrospective stuff later. On graduation day, he’s trying to keep the party going. “I don’t envision myself getting all emotional,” Dicini said. “I’ll probably wake up to my housemate Joey – who is also graduating – asking me how much
See PLANS, page B2
2012 graduates
Brian Nguyen and Jasna Hodzic / Aggie
By CHELSEA MEHRA Aggie Features Writer
UC Davis will celebrate its graduates with 13 commencements from May 17 to June 17. The theme of history will certainly run a bloodline through this year’s speeches, as both students and professionals think about how UC Davis can connect to its past and future. Kathryn Hempstead, a College of Letters and Sciences (L&S) commencement speaker this year, columnist for The Aggie and senior sociology major, wants us to remember Socrates and his sage words when thinking about how extraordinary a place Davis is. “I’m pretty sure Socrates said, ‘The unexamined life is not worth living,’ and while it’s not generally a goal of mine to live by the precepts of dead Greek guys, I think
that the purpose of a grad speech is to do a bit of examining and a bit of inspiring. So I hope very much I live up to my own expectations,” Hempstead said. Aaron Heuckroth, one of two College of Biological Sciences (CBS) speakers and winner of the 2012 CBS College Medal, may not be thumbing through history books, but he will revive students’ memories through song. “I don’t know how much I can reveal about the song without spoiling the surprise, but it’s called ‘The Ballad of UC Davis,’ and it’s meant to be a humorous look back at our experiences as biology majors here at UC Davis and the things that make this university really special. If I can squeeze even a little bit of entertainment and humor into the
See COMMENCEMENT, page B4
B2 thursday, june 7, 2012
FIRST
The california Aggie
month of STEP. Such a network of social and academic support, which continues to be available throughout the year, has made the difference in students’ success at Davis, Chede said. “[With our help], they’re not homesick, they don’t feel like they don’t belong here, or doubt that they can do this,” Chede said. “I got a lot out of the program when I went through it, so I wanted to be able to give that to someone else, to let them know that they can do it.” Evelyn Garcia, senior community and regional development major, took advantage of resources the EOP had to offer and said that it certainly helped her plan out her college career. “During my freshman year I was really worried about things like not being able to write at the college level,” Garcia said. “I was worried it might not be for me. One of the challenges is definitely being confident in yourself. I went to the EOP peer counselors before my pass time every quarter before I figured out what I really wanted to do.” Persevering through the challenges that the college experience presents can be difficult enough even if students are following in the footsteps of their parents and older siblings, which makes this weekend’s commencements the recognition of not only the milestone it is for all graduates, but for some, one that is unprecedented. “For me it was just about surviving, finding something I was good at and to get to the end,” Buenrostro said. “My grandparents and younger siblings will be here [at graduation], and for most of them, it’ll be the first time they’ve ever stepped onto a college campus.” Rombi said that her invaluable experience at UC Davis has shaped her into a better person in the four years since high school. “There’s something about coming to a university that keeps you in it,” Rombi said. “It shapes you. I got away from home and made a new community here.” So, for many, the endurance paid off. Graduation, for first-generation students, is a symbol of success for a community, for those who made the resources available for them to complete a higher education. “It’s going to feel really good,” Chede said. “The whole time, you’ve got this burden when everyone’s just looking up to you to finish, so when you do, it’s amazing because you’re doing it for something bigger than yourself.”
Cont. from page B2 through with because they are first-generation. In this way the students’ graduation is an accomplishment for the community that assists them as well.” Ilano acknowledged how broad the challenge of recruiting first-generation students is. To help mitigate it, the SRRC aims to promote all forms of higher education to underrepresented groups, with the message that a college degree is attainable and that resources do exist to help get there. “Some students work, or are involved in their communities and families to the extent that they don’t consider college as an option,” Ilano said. The outreach on behalf of the SRRC to bring kids to college works in tandem with the knowledge and experience of teachers, who serve as a primary inspiration for those trying to move into the university setting. “I had great teachers who told me exactly what I had to do to get into a university,” said Bree Rombi, senior communication and Spanish double major, whose parents never had the opportunity to finish college. “For this reason, I’m doing the Teach for America program after graduation — I want to be able to be a motivation and inspiration for students the way that my teachers were for me. Knowledge is power.” But even after getting to UC Davis, many students have found that staying at UC Davis is an equally, if not more daunting, challenge. To help retention rates, the UC Davis Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) leads the Special Transitional Enrichment Program (STEP), a monthlong orientation for firstyears coming from low-income households or who are first-generation college students in their families. “Dropout rates are high among first-generation students,” said AlJerometta Chede, junior biochemistry and medical biology major who participated in STEP and now works as a peer counselor for the EOP. “Students can come and not know how to balance classes, and their parents don’t have the knowledge to help them.” To help guide students to succeed with a rigorous course load, counselors put on mock classes run by tutors at the Student Academic Success Center, lead skill development workshops and provide ac- LANI CHAN can be reached at features@ ademic advising during the theaggie.org. XXX
2011-12 California Aggie Staff
Jasna Hodzic / Aggie
Editor in Chief Jason Alpert Managing Editor Becky Peterson Arts Editor Uyen Cao Elizabeth Orpina Arts Writers Peter An Karina Contreras James O’Hara Brittany Pearlman Michelle Ruan Rudy Sanchez Sasha Sharma Paayal Zaveri
City Editor Angela Swartz City Associate Editor Claire Tan City Staff Writer Einat Gilboa City Writers Andrew Poh Ani Ucar Chloe Brezsny James O’Hara Kelley Rees Mee Yang Paayal Zaveri Ramon Solis Sara Islas Zander Wold Sports Editor Trevor Cramer Sports Associate Editor Matt Yuen Sports Writers Kim Carr Veena Bansal Russell Eisenman Jason Min Features Editor Erin Migdol Features Associate Editor Devon Bohart Features Staff Writer Lani Chan Features Writers Isaiah Shelton Dominick Costabile
Kelsey Smoot Chelsea Mehra Grace Benefield Rachel Riley Claire Maldarelli Casey Specht Priscilla Wong Christina Novakov-Ritchey Michelle Stauffer Campus Editor Hannah Strumwasser Campus Associate Editor Muna Sadek Campus Staff Writer Danielle Huddlestun Campus Writers Adam Khan Dylan Gallagher Gheed Saeed Justin Abraham Lily Nava Max Russer Michelle Murphy Rohit Ravikumar Stephanie Nguyen Opinion Editor Melissa Freeman Columnists Pamela Nonga Ngue Nolan Sheldon Jazz Trice Jonathan Nelson Matan Shelomi Andy Verderosa Kristina Simonaityte Jordan S. Carroll Nicole Nguyen Katelyn Hempstead Rajiv Narayan Dylan Gallagher Janelle Bitker Danny Brawer Theresa Richardson Sam Hoel Sam Wall Chelsea Mehra Victor Beigelman Aaron Weiss Science Editor Amy Stewart Science Writers Hudson Lofchie Brian Riley Claire Maldarelli
plans Cont. from page B1 water to put in the iron, since four years of college still hasn’t taught the kid anything. I know I’ll miss stuff like that later, so in that moment, everything is going to be appreciated.” For Dicini, that same old song every high school kid was told came true: the friends he made in college will be his friends for the rest of his life. But he realizes things will never be the same as in undergraduate years, so graduation day and night will hold as his pre-nostalgic bash. “My parents will be staying for a day or two after graduation, so I don’t think it’ll
freeman
Rachel Kubica Eric Lipsky Alex Stanton Chelsea Mehra Eva Tan Sasha Sharma
Art Director Irisa Tam Graphic Artists Veronica Brookshaw James Kim Michelle Huey
Photo Editor Jasna Hodzic Staff Photographers Evan Davis Zach Land-Miller Photographers Nathan Chan Brian Nguyen Aaron Juarez Anna Oh Shazib Haq Kristina Geddert Yash Nagda Bijan Agahi Copy Chief Kamry Zhang Joey Chen Assistant Copy Chief Stephanie Chon Copyreaders Richard Truong Natalie Kammerman Justin Chan Jennifer Drouillard Emma Luk Design Director Michelle Huey Assistant Design Director Janice Pang Tani Wong Layout Artists Uyen Cao Kimberly Carr Adrienne Cheng James Kim Claire Tan Amanda Nguyen Amy Vu Business Manager
be a big deal if after the ceremony I want to have a few drinks and hit a few bars with my friends,” Dicini said.“Graduation day will be filled with laughs and frivolity; nothing productive, but just raw fun and celebration. My friends and I are going to live like freshmen once more.” Larson has an inkling that one of her good friends might be throwing her a surprise graduation party. “One of my younger friends, Tiffany, has been constantly asking me about my plans for graduation day from like start to finish,” Larson said. “It’s like she’s trying to find an empty slot or something. As much as I need to focus on this whole boyfriend thing, I would be stoked about a surprise party. I envision everyone in Davis who I
comfortable doing it. Seek out people who complement you – who bring out the qualities you lack but wish to have, or have, but that lie latent after the stifling pressures of your high school years – and you’ll find you’ll begin to feel more complete. And when you do, leaving college will feel a little less scary because you’ll know you’ve gotten everything out of it that you possibly could have, that you’ve conquered it all and you can’t fail; and if you do, it won’t hurt quite so bad because at the end of the day you’ll know that you’ll always have your friends.
Cont. from page B7 how to dream big and go hard. They’ve taught me to go with the flow, to take chances and to let go of the little things. They’ve both let me be myself and helped me to become exactly who I want to be. So why should you care? I tell you all this because college is so much more than your classes or your internships or the diploma you’ll get at the end of it all. College is about finding yourself and consciously molding yourself into the person you always wished you were — and friends are a big part of that. Find friends MELISSA FREEMAN can only offer her perspective. that will push you out of your Tell her what you’ve gotten most out of college at comfort zone, but make you feel mnfreeman@ucdavis.edu.
Alex Tervo Distributers Long Nguyen Zac Miller-Smith Sales Clerks Jonathan Wester Chevelle Jackson Charisse Ceballos Robert Martinez Night Editor Mimi Vo Assistant Night Editor Amanda Nguyen Ad Manager Grace Sprague Ad Representatives Caelum Shove Steven Vote
2012-13 California Aggie Managing Staff Editor in Chief Janelle Bitker Managing Editor Hannah Strumwasser Business Editor Jonathan Wester Ad Manager Caelum Shove Campus Editor Muna Sadek City Editor Claire Tan Features Editor Devon Bohart Opinion Editor Dylan Gallagher Sports Editor Matthew Yuen Arts Editor Elizabeth Orpina Science Editor Hudson Lofchie Photo Editor Brian Nguyen Copy Chief Joey Chen Night Editor Amanda Nguyen Design Director Janice Pang Art Director Irisa Tam
care about to be there. That would be an awesome way to go out.” While surrounding plans and circumstances may be altered, there is one thing that will surely occur during this spring’s graduation ceremony: graduation itself. “The one thing that is certain about how that day will go is that my undergraduate career will be over,” Hunt said. “The word ‘over’ never gave me such mixed, ambiguous feelings before. It’s the same feeling I had when graduating from high school and going to college, except I’m in such a different place now. I wonder when will be the next time I’ll have this feeling.” ISAIAH SHELTON can be reached at features@theaggie.org.
risbud Cont. from page B7 Risbud: The way to sell yourself is to say all the things you’ve done that are not necessarily degree-related but you did on your own initiative. If you did an internship and you didn’t complain about it being unpaid, what you accomplish there is a very good reflection of how you will actually work a full-time paid position. To push that would be the essential part. That’s another mistake people make, to talk about transcripts and their work at UC Davis, which everyone knows anyway. So I would stay away from speaking about that, because they want to know about extracurricular stuff. What you did over and beyond the homework, midterms — they assume you did that. What else did you do? ERIN MIGDOL can be reached at features@theaggie.org.
thursday, june 7, 2012 B3
The california aggie
City News Highlights Brown signs final piece of DREAM Act Oct. 10 — Gov. Jerry Brown signed the California DREAM Act, Assembly Bill 131, into law. The measure allows for undocumented immigrant students to receive scholarships and aid, including Cal Grants, at public universities. — Originally reported by Angela Swartz Occupy Wall Street groups continue organizing Oct. 20 — Occupy became an international movement numbered in the thousands. Those in Davis began to meet at Davis’ Central Park to lend their voice to the Occupy protests. Tents were set up and an occupation of a part of the park began. — Originally reported by James O’Hara First Davis Flea Market brings crowds downtown Jan. 30 — The inaugural Davis Flea Market opened on Jan. 29 in E Street Plaza, continuing on the last Sunday of every month. It has since been moved to Central Park to allow for more vendors. — Originally reported by Kelley Rees Federal appeals court upholds gay marriage in California Feb. 8 — A three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals court ruled 2008’s Proposition 8, California’s ban on same-sex marriage, unconstitutional. The court
voted 2-1 against the proposition. — Originally reported by Angela Swartz Davis residents to decide surface water project’s future Feb. 2 — The Davis City Council decided to allow city of Davis residents to finalize what direction the surface water project should take. The main debate centering on the water project is the cost. Additionally, there is the question of whether surface water is needed by 2016. — Originally reported by Claire Tan City council votes to extend Safety Enhancement Zone March 8 — The Davis City Council approved the same Safety Enhancement Zone as 2011, with an extension to include the Old North Davis neighborhood. Fines for violations of certain municipal codes, such as public alcohol use, doubled in these areas. — Originally reported by Einat Gilboa Proposed Minor Alcohol Preclusion Ordinance put on the backburner March 13 — Amid strong opposition to the measure, the Davis City Council unanimously decided to postpone the alcohol ordinance until further changes could be made. The proposed restrictions to underage drinking would have granted Davis police the ability to cite those under the age of 21 who are intoxicated in public. — Originally reported by Andrew Poh
Suspect arrested for string of residential burglaries in Davis April 5 — Davis police arrested 37-year-old Kyle Frank of Placerville, Calif. for a residential burglary on Layton Drive. He is suspected of being involved in at least two other burglaries in town. The suspect is considering a plea deal. — Originally reported by Paayal Zaveri Cooperatives reject City Council’s settlement offer in DACHA dispute April 9 — Neighborhood Partners and Twin Pines Cooperatives refused Davis City Council’s settlement offers. The offers came in April 2010 for $300,000 and in January of this year for $280,000. They aimed to resolve the conflict between the city, Davis Area Cooperative Housing Association (DACHA) and the two organizations over dissolution of the co-op. A trial is set for October if a deal isn’t reached before then. — Originally reported by Sara Islas Legislation plans to lower federal Stafford Loan interest rates May 3 — Congress began working on legislation to prevent federal, or subsidized, Stafford Loan interest rates doubling from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1. Measures are still in the works. — Originally reported by Claire Tan CITY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS 2011-12 was compiled by ANGELA SWARTZ. She can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
Campus News Highlights Police pepper spray student protesters, community outraged Nov. 19 — On Nov. 18, police officers pepper sprayed a group of student protesters on the Quad. The event came after students camped out on the Quad as part of the Occupy UC Davis movement. Ten individuals were arrested, nine of whom were UC Davis students. — Originally reported by Uyen Cao Students take back the Quad, Monday rally draws thousands Nov. 22 — On Nov. 21, over 5,000 people rallied on the Quad in solidarity with the protesters who had been pepper sprayed. The rally involved multiple speeches from student protesters, faculty and Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi. After the rally, students re-occupied the Quad, and over 30 tents were pitched by nightfall. — Originally reported by Hannah Strumwasser, Angela Swartz and Becky Peterson Students speak with UC Regents at meeting Nov. 29 — The November Regents meeting was held via teleconference, with Regents located at UC Davis, UC Merced, UCLA and UCSF. Much of the conversation surround-
ed the recent police violence at UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Protesters at UC Davis and other campuses interrupted the meeting, and the Regents moved to different rooms to continue discussing the budget and other issues. — Originally reported by Melissa Freeman and Max Russer Residents move back into the Domes Jan. 24 — After the Domes were temporarily closed for five months, students began to move back into the on-campus community in January. The Domes were closed after the University said that they did not meet the university’s safety regulations, including structural degradation and fire code issues. However, after the Solar Community Housing Association got a ground lease from the University and began repairs, students were allowed to move back into seven of the 14 domes. — Originally reported by Stephanie B. Nguyen Competitive election season comes to a close, victors announced Feb. 27 — On Feb. 24, the winners of the ASUCD Winter 2012 election were announced. Former senators Rebecca Sterling and Yena Bae were elected ASUCD President and
Vice President, respectively. Out of the 15 senate candidates, Joyce Han, Paul Min, Bradley Bottoms, Donkeyonta Gilbert, Beatriz Anguiano and Kabir Kapur won. — Originally reported by Max Garrity Russer U.S. Bank announces closure of on-campus branch March 19 — After protesters blockaded the U.S. Bank on campus for more than two months, U.S. Bank announced that they would be closing their doors. Protesters had taken to arriving at the bank at noon each day and sitting outside, not allowing people to enter. The bank either closed early or did not open when the protesters were blockading. Some students supported the protesters, while others found it frustrating that they could not use the bank. — Originally reported by Richard Chang Twelve U.S. Bank protesters ordered to court for misdemeanor charges April 2 — After the U.S. Bank blockade, 12 protesters were ordered to the Yolo County Superior Court on charges of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor and a misdemeanor by “willfully and maliciously” obstructing the free movement of any person on any street, sidewalk or other
public place. — Orignally reported by Hannah Strumwasser Reynoso pepper spray task force results released April 11 — After the pepper spray incident, UC President Mark Yudof put together a task force to investigate the events of Nov. 18. After multiple delays, the results of the task force investigation were released on April 11. The task force ultimately said that the event could and should have been avoided. The task force also said that Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi, along with other administrators, and the UC Davis Police force held much of the responsibility for the event. — Orignally reported by Hannah Strumwasser UC Regents meet in the capital May 21 — On May 16, the UC Regents meeting was held in Sacramento for the first time in many years. The Regents met and discussed an impending 6 percent tuition hike if Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiative does not pass. Protesters interrupted the meeting. — Originally reported by Justin Abraham CAMPUS NEWS HIGHLIGHTS 2011-2012 was compiled by HANNAH STRUMWASSER. She can be reached at campus@theaggie. org.
Best of the Police Briefs Oct. 18
E Street.
Feb. 14
That’s fishy There was a loud party with lots of bass on Anderson Road.
Nov. 1 Party to die for There was loud music coming from the cemetery on Pole Line Road.
Nov. 3 Baseless attack Someone poured acid on a vehicle on Mazanita Lane.
Nov. 17
Good time for reflection
Someone shot a Canadian goose in a field near Bermuda Avenue.
Jan. 19
Going through withdrawals Someone was sleeping in an ATM kiosk on
“I’m pretty sure I saw Hagrid once, with a full beard, hat and trenchcoat, but he was wearing a Hawaiian print shirt.” Paige Minichiello, senior religious studies major on people-watching at the Quad
“I really like the idea that we don’t have one set of goals. To me it’s more of a wake-up call … It’s about all these issues we think we’ve overcome … but the truth is, we haven’t.” Sophia Kamran, senior philosophy and comparative literature double major on the Occupy movement
“This will come as no surprise to anyone who spent more than three minutes with me this weekend, but ‘Call Me Maybe’ by Carly Rae Jepsen may just be the crowning achievement of the human race.” Andy Verderosa, Aggie columnist on Jepsen’s hit song
“The pepper spraying incident that took place on Nov. 18, 2011 should and could have been prevented.” Former California Supreme Court Associate Justice Cruz Reynoso’s pepper spray task force report
“Students should come for the sultry singing. I have seen all of these groups perform and they are sexy good.” Omri Kruvi, sophomore landscape architecture major on Occupella: LocalTones 2012
“There’s obviously something much bigger here than just me. The Delta has her own vibe to her. I’m interested in her becoming everything that she’s trying to become and helping her, more than me dictating her life.” Lee Walthall, owner of Delta of Venus on Delta of Venus’ evolution
“Personally, though, I’d avoid doing more damage than you’ve already done. 1) Maybe the insect will recover, depending on how damaged it is. 2) Some faiths do forbid taking animal lives, so why go out of your way to kill? 3) You’ll stain your shoe.” Matan Shelomi, Aggie columnist and UC Davis entomology Ph.D. student on what to do if you injure an insect
“It’s a more exciting time. The environment has completely changed. All of the genres are breaking their own rules.” Steve Aoki on the future of house music
Feb. 28
“My awareness of people’s general ability to suck becomes especially heightened while working on the receiving end of the rotating dish return.” Dylan Gallagher, Aggie columnist
Crimes against fashion Someone wearing a multicolored poncho stole alcohol on Cowell Boulevard.
March 6
on his job in a dish room
Can’t hit high seas A girl was singing loudly and badly on a pirate ship in a park on Pastal Way.
April 24 It was an emergency
Took the sign literally
on the Nov. 18 pepper spraying of students
An irate person attempted to throw a mirror at someone on Russell Boulevard.
Horn of plenty Someone had a sign saying “Honk and we’ll take a shot” on F Street.
“We were sitting there peacefully. I didn’t even hear a warning for the spraying, just by the students telling us all to turn around, and then we turned and we were sprayed, just like that. One of the cops was yelling at a guy saying he’s going to spray him in the face and then grabs him in the face and sprays him. They grabbed one of the protesters and sprayed it directly in his mouth. We were there peacefully, the tents were down, they had no reason to spray us.” Fatima Sbeih, senior international relations major
Someone called 9-1-1 to discuss which drinking games to play on Russell Boulevard. The Best of the Police Briefs was compiled by TRACY HARRIS. Contact TRACY HARRIS at city@theaggie.org.
“I am here to apologize. I feel horrible for what happened on Friday. If you think you don’t want to be students in a university like we had on Friday, I am just telling you, I don’t want to be the chancellor of the university we had on Friday.” Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi at the rally on the Quad after the Nov. 18 pepper spraying
“If you took everything away and just left nematodes in place, it would outline the world.” James Carey, UC Davis entomology professor on the importance of nematodes to the ecosystem
— Compiled by Erin Migdol
B4 thursday, june 7, 2012
The california Aggie
commencement Cont. from front page long commencement ceremony, I’ll feel like I’ve done my job,” Heuckroth said. Daniel Turner, another L&S speaker and senior psychology major, similarly thinks back to all the times he spent with fellow students and is most enamored by a very existential idea: parts coming together as a whole. “I think what I find most exciting about commencement in general is the idea that all the students who I’ve shared classes with (considering we’re in the same grade) are all convening in one room at one time. It’s a unique experience to think that each separate relationship you created with your peers in each different classroom will all be coming together now,” Turner said. When asked if his speech will be any different from any other graduation addresses, he answered, “No.” “It shouldn’t be. I feel my job as the commencement speaker is to be a representative of every graduate and so I try not to deviate from that expected role,” Turner said. Neal Van Alfen, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (A&ES) said that their commencement speaker, SecretaryGeneral Chris Buijink of the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the Netherlands, is the type of leader that will help students understand the importance of intellectual diversity. Van Alfen’s perspective is not just on UC Davis’ previous accomplishments, but on what lies ahead. “Secretar y-General Buijink leads a ministry that combines economic development, innovation and agriculture. As we look to the future, countries such as the Netherlands serve as a model for what is possible in economic development based on innovation in food and agriculture while maintaining very high environmental quality standards,” Van Alfen said. “Inviting a leader from another country demonstrates to our students the global connections of UC Davis and importance of UC Davis in addressing global issues.” Austin Sendek, the third L&S speaker and senior applied physics major, had a similar message as Dean Van Alfen. “The basic message of my speech is a reminder that what we’ve learned outside the classroom during our college experience is just as important as what we’ve learned inside the classroom,” Sendek said. Heuckroth already knows how to get students up out of their desks and onto the international stage. “I think the trick is to just keep saying ‘yes’ when
cool opportunities present themselves — UC Davis is full of them. It’s an amazing feeling to take classes with people who care about the material as much as you do. We love this stuff, and it shows,” Heuckroth said. In regards to actually performing their speeches, some are nervous, while others dread the more mundane aspects of graduation. Hempstead admitted forthright that nudity may unintentionally be involved during her address. “I fear I’ll trip over my own feet and expose my undergarments to a stage full of professors and administrators. But on another level, I also fear I’ll pull my punches. I want to be honest about how scary real life is, and the fact that in many ways we will undoubtedly fail, and not achieve what we set out to do. Hopefully I don’t chicken out,” Hempstead said. She plans on reciting her speech to trees or ducks in the Arboretum, and sleeping with her speech under her pillow. She will also most likely have a “panicky cry” in the bathroom earlier in the day, but said it’s less a ritual and more a neurosis. Both Turner and Sendek aren’t looking forward to some of the traditional, albeit less interesting, practices of commencement. “[What’s most boring is] hearing countless names of people you have no clue who they are. And realizing that the only real opportunity for excitement is that you’ll hear a name you know be called,” Turner said. Sendek said he will work hard to make the event as exciting as possible. “I guess I was mostly driven by the desire to make commencement memorable for my class. I didn’t want us to have to suffer through a boring speech with too many Dr. Seuss quotes that we’d all forget within a week. Graduation is a celebration of our accomplishments, so I just want to make everybody smile at least once,” Sendek said. Jean Wigglesworth, who has been an event manager at the Office of Ceremonies and Events for 11 years, choked up a bit when asked about her favorite part of commencement. “I actually love each and every one because it’s an ending and a new beginning. I can cry even if I don’t know anybody walking! They celebrate what they’ve done in four or five years and then they also think about what is coming,” Wigglesworth said. “For me, it’s about the people, the kids, and making it a good experience for everybody.”
game on my DVR at my apartment. Whenever I had a bad day — and there’ve been a good amount of those this year — I put it on and watch Edgar Renteria’s Jason seventh-inning bomb, or Alpert Brian Wilson’s dirty cutter to close the game out. It always cheers me up. OK, I need to focus. I should write about all the people that have helped me throughout the year. My dad, mom, sister and girlfriend listened to me complain about random crap throughout the year and had a hard time thinkonly offered advice. My ing of what to write my roommates would help me outgoing editor in chief to relieve stress by playcolumn about. Below is ing basketball or raquetthe thought process I went ball or watching “Game of through. Thrones.” Oh man, what should I write about for my last col- Dude, “Game of Thrones” is a great show. HBO just umn of the year? So much knows how to make tophas happened during my notch television. My friend term. Town halls, pepper spraying, protests. This was from high school got me hooked a pretty important year I’ve gone through too much and on “The Wire,” for The Aggie too, so I gained too many experiences to — I should watched probably fit into a 500-word column all 60 epwrite about isodes of that. the greatest show in the his Or I could write about the tory of television (no joke) San Francisco Giants. Yeah, that would be easy. I can talk in the span of three months about the Giants for days on this year. Season five of days on days. I do check my “The Wire” is all about The Baltimore Sun and funcTwitter every five minutes for breaking Giants updates. tions of a major newspaper; that’s relatable. I am a little obsessed. That would actually be a No, Jason, get back to good column idea. I could the topic at hand. You can write about how the skills use this space to divulge I’ve learned this past year the cosmic truth of stucan translate to the real dent journalism. Describe world. And by real world, the leadership and flexiI mean life outside of UC bility needed to succeed in Davis. Yeah, that would be a struggling industry. Talk good. Like dealing with about the adversity you the Nov. 18 pepper sprayfaced this year, being a 20year-old running a $200,000 ing and managing its coverage? I’m sure I can think of business. I could talk about the Foo a real-world translation for that. Fighters! Oh, man, I love I think I know what the me some Foo. Remember problem is. There has been their concert you went to too much going on this year. with your girlfriend? They I’ve gone through too much tore the house down. You and gained too many expehave to admit, screaming riences to fit into a 500-word “Everlong” to close out the show was probably your fa- column. I wouldn’t be able to do justice for what I’ve vorite concert experience learned. As the great Ron ever. They have a lot of influential songs that you can Swanson says, “Don’t halfuse to relate to your time in ass two things; whole-ass one thing.” charge. “Times like These” That’s what I’ll write is about looking past the about. I’ll tell my loyal struggles and stresses of a reader(s) that there is no situation and finding the such thing as too much exlight at the end of the tunperience and if you have nel. That has some cosmic any opportunity to boost truthiness to it, doesn’t it? the resume, do it. That’s I just remembered that what college is all about, concert was on Nov. 1! Oh, right? I think there’s some man, do I love that day so cosmic truth in that ... I freaking much. It’s probathink … maybe ... bly my favorite day of the year (non-holiday, and yes, Man, screw it, I’m just going to write about the I consider my birthday a Giants. holiday). Nov. 1, 2010 was probably the happiest I’ve And that’s that for JASON ALPERT at The ever been, no joke. Don’t believe me? I still have that Aggie. It’s been fun, see y’all around.
How I think
I
I apologize profusely if my office in Lower Freeborn does not bear a single San Francisco Giants poster. Truly. That said, my office door Janelle is open for you. Yes, you. Bitker The California Aggie is not some weird, secret club full of vampires out to make you look bad. If we look pale, it’s only because our office is in a basement. And if you have concerns about our coverage, I want to discuss them with you. There is no journalism department at UC Davis, so he outgoing Editor in Chief of this news- The California Aggie is the paper is a white male best way for students interested in the field to obtain former sports writer. The that learning experience. Key Chief before him? White. words: learning experience. Male. Former sports writ We’re all learning here. er. The Chief before him? White. Male. Former sports We are students, not professionals. In fact, most of our writer. The Chief before writers don’t even get paid. him? White. Male. Former We’re a financially indepencampus news writer, but dent newspaper, and like later, turned sports writer. most finan What cially inhave I gotCan I even do this job without dependent ten myself newspapers into? bailing on an afternoon of in the world Maybe editing for the Super Bowl? right now, you can’t we’re kind tell by my of broke. little mug shot, but I am a On that note, we’d probafemale minority who has bly like to hire you. a writing background that Are you a UC Davis stuspreads across news, features, art, opinion and food. dent? Do you like to write? Edit? Read? Talk? Listen? I’m the first female Editor Learn? in Chief in at least a decade. I’m not accusing any- Do you like to create? one of being sexist here — I Photograph? Design? am merely stating facts and Graphically excite? Are you on Facebook I am merely proud. all the time and consider A few weeks ago, I reyourself to be a social turned from a year abroad media expert? in Brussels, Belgium. I learned a lot there — how to Do you have not-so-secret dreams of being Don navigate public transportation, how to avoid confusion Draper? when reading signs that are Do you have not-sosecret dreams of workin both Dutch and French, ing alongside Don Draper how to live off of waffles for and then secretly sleepa day without feeling sick ing with Don Draper in a and plenty more. secret darkroom not se Obviously I can use cretly known as The these skills in leading The Orgasmatron? I’m not conCalifornia Aggie. Along doning such behavior, and with my new internationplease be advised that you al perspective. And expewould really, really need to rience at The Aggie as forkeep such activity a secret. mer Campus News Editor, Or maybe you just like the who has completed variidea of having a boss who ous daunting tasks like rebakes you cookies! (Me.) porting on ASUCD Senate I’ll admit to being sad meetings that last from leaving Belgium and my 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., coveryear studying abroad. But ing protests at the Capitol I’m more than excited to be or trying to explain “techstarting this venture. I came nocultural studies” to UC back because I love the UC President Mark Yudof. Davis community and The Part of me, though, is Aggie, and I want to see them nervous. Maybe I’m not thrive. I came back because qualified enough. Can I I strongly believe in free stueven do this job without dent media, and after the bailing on an afternoon of editing for the Super Bowl? events of Nov. 18, it has never What if I don’t want to work been more important. for the Sacramento River Cats after I graduate? Is JANELLE BITKER genuinely hopes you are my one-year stint as a conot more concerned about the fate of The Sports Editor for my high California Aggie after reading this column. school newspaper enough Be reassured by e-mailing editor@theaggie. to prepare me for next year? org.
Against all odds
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CHELSEA MEHRA can be reached at features@theaggie.org.
Irisa Tam / Aggie
thursday, june 7, 2012 B5
The california aggie
‘What are you doing after graduation?’ Soon-to-be-graduates discuss post-UC Davis plans By KELSEY SMOOT Aggie Features Writer
By now, the Class of 2012 has no doubt heard the classic question “What are your plans after graduation?” ad nauseum. Though many respond to the query with blank stares, some do in fact have an answer. Read on to discover what three graduates have lined up post-commencement.
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Wilson To, doctorate in comparative pathology While some of UC Davis’ Class of 2012 will graduate this year and wonder “What happens next?” Wilson To will be receiving a doctorate for his studies in comparative pathology and continuing his work with cellular phone technology that can detect life-threatening illness. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego in 2009, To came to UC Davis to pursue a doctorate in comparative pathology. He said that one of the most interesting parts of his studies at UC Davis has been working alongside veterinary students. “One day we’re looking at diabetes in a human, the next day we’ll look at it in an animal. Veterinary and human medicine are two very different approaches, but it’s cool to see the similarities,” To said. To has also been a Microsoft student partner for four years, educating students and faculty on how they can seamlessly integrate Microsoft’s technology into a classroom setting. In addi-
tion, To and a team of friends developed Lifelens, diagnostic technology that utilizes an augmented Windows 7 phone application to detect malaria. The team entered the project in Microsoft’s 2011 Imagine Cup, a worldwide competition in which student innovations, created to address difficult global issues, are judged. After placing third in the international competition, To’s team became recipients of the Imagine Cup Grant program. Microsoft introduced the three-year, $3 million grant initiative in order to help teams like To’s continue developing their prototypes into accessible pieces of technology. To said that he hopes more students will follow in his footsteps, working to develop technology that combat the spread of disease and other seemingly insurmountable problems. “Not that many people are excited by research. It’s discouraging. You run into problems that make you feel stupid. But you’re rightfully stupid. No one has done this before. And as long as you’re trying, you’re helping to change the world,” To said. To also said that he would advise any aspiring researchers to humble themselves when it comes to personal honors and to focus on helping the world at large. “Don’t judge yourself on professional accomplishments alone; rather, how you have worked to address the world’s biggest problems,” he said.
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Deborah Schrimmer, bachelor of arts in community and regional development It’s no secret that Davis is home to many biking enthusiasts; however, UC Davis senior Deborah Schrimmer is taking her passion to the maximum this summer — she is biking 3,757 miles from New Hampshire to Vancouver, Canada. The community and regional development major will be flying to the East Coast two days after graduation to participate in a two-and-a-half-month-long cross-country bike ride. The purpose of the ride is to raise money for Bike & Build, a non-profit organization that strives to provide affordable housing. On the days that Schrimmer is not riding, she will be helping to build houses with the local Habitat for Humanity. In addition to the adventure of a cross-country bike ride and building houses along the way, Schrimmer and the 20 other riders in her group will be camping for the majority of the trip. “Some nights will be spent in community centers, churches and with families that have agreed to house us. Otherwise, we will be camping. We’re not staying at any hotels, motels or hostels. It’s the ultimate adventure,” Schrimmer said. As she is expected to average around 70 miles per day, Schrimmer said she has been training. She also said that she is more nervous about making friends than her ability to finish the ride. “I’m really determined. A lot of it is mental. I think that if you can see yourself doing it, that’s half of it. I think the more intimidating thing is going to be making friends. You’re spending all of this time with 20 strangers. But they’re all young adults, and
we all self-selected to participate in this ride, so I think we’ll find that we have things in common,” Schrimmer said. After the summer, Schrimmer hopes to land a position in urban planning or at an architectural firm. Her goal is to focus on sustainable living. She said that she doesn’t see her lack of a concrete plan as a negative thing. “Being OK with the uncertainty in your life and not knowing where your life is going can be an opportunity for yourself and others if you let it,” Schrimmer said.
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Cameron Brown, bachelor of arts in economics Senior economics major Cameron Brown is eagerly anticipating summer, as he will be participating in a residential pre-law program called Trials at New York University. The program is five weeks long and is sponsored by both NYU and Harvard. Following the summer program, Brown will be moving to Los Angeles to begin a year-long position at Munger, Tolles, and Olson LLP in preparation for law
school. Brown hopes that the year following his time spent working at Munger, Tolles, and Olson LLP will bring an acceptance to Yale, Harvard or NYU’s law schools. He is interested in eventually working in corporate law, more specifically entertainment law. Brown said that his background in economics will be an important tool to his success in the legal world. “Being an economics major trains you to think a certain way, which I think will definitely help me as a lawyer. You are taught to recognize the different aspects of a problem, and analyze the solutions. Entertainment law also involves contracts and financial gains and losses, so my knowledge of economics is really applicable,” Brown said. While the graduating senior says his years at UC Davis are filled with memories, his most memorable moment was singing with his a cappella group at last year’s Picnic Day. “We were singing ‘Everybody Knows’ and I had a solo. The Quad was packed with people. It was the biggest crowd I had ever sung in front of, but it was a lot of fun,” Brown said. Brown’s best advice for someone who is just entering college is to keep your eyes open, follow your intuition and always try. “To me, this means not closing the door on yourself. People constantly stop themselves from doing things and they don’t really know what they can accomplish,” Brown said. “Don’t give up. Don’t stop. Put forth your best efforts, and if a door is going to be closed on an opportunity, don’t be the one to close it for yourself.” KELSEY SMOOT can be reached at features@ theaggie.org.
Explore the nooks and crannies of Yolo County this summer Trains, theatre and bats await
Sacramento River Train
By DOMINICK COSTABILE
Aggie Features Writer
As summer seeps into Davis, almost the entire campus population is gearing up to head home and not come back until September. But what about the ones who are sticking around, working in the area and looking for things to do during the summer in Yolo County? There are so many nooks and crannies in the area offering one-of-a-kind entertainment, especially during the summer. More importantly, the history of Yolo County is so intertwined with these activities that one is also bound to learn something new while having fun. For starters, the Sacramento River Train has been conducting murder mysteries, romantic sun-
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Barnyard Theatre
set dinners, relaxed Sunday brunches and the old west Great Train Robberies since 2005. “A train is a great venue for a Murder Mystery show,” said Chris Hart, president of the Sierra Railroad Dinner Train. “The show is a fun, sometimes over-thetop whodunnit where you try to figure out who killed who. And while this fun show takes place in your car, you are served a delicious three-course dinner while you ride through the countryside.” The Great Train Robbery is another classic show. “The trip features a trip back to the old west with sheriffs and bandits,” Hart said. “There is usually a lot of action around Robber’s Roost so keep your head down! The train stops at a park along the Sacramento River where an [old-fashioned] barbecue lunch is served.”
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The Sierra Railroad has just recently added some new trips to the Sacramento River Train’s summer schedule such as the Sunset Happy Hour Trips and the Graduate Train, which is on June 9. All new graduates ride the train for free. To learn more about the Sacramento River Train, go to www.sacramentorivertrain.com. Another Yolo County attraction is the Barnyard Theatre.The 120-year-old Schmeiser barn is located off County Road 31 between Davis and Winters. During the summer, the barn is completely renovated by the Barnard Theatre production team. The barn becomes a theatre, hosting plays for the Yolo County Community as well as workshops for next year’s play. This year’s play will be Psyche by Meghan Brown.
Bat Talk and Walk
“There’s the excitement of theatre, the excitement of seeing new theatre, the elaborate production itself; then there’s the strangeness of seeing theatre in a barn, then there’s whatever it is to be out in the country,” said Briandaniel Oglesby, the literary manager of Barnyard Theatre and organizer of the Nights of New Plays Festival (NNPF). Besides attracting audiences for a unique showing of an original play, Barnyard Theatre also welcomes people who have a passion for theatre to attend the NNPF workshops. “NNPF pieces may be written by emerging or professional playwrights, Barnyard folks, UC Davis students or other members of the community,” Oglesby said. “Artistically, I believe that it’s important to develop and celebrate new work. I find original work by living
playwrights exciting. We’ve built a playwright-centered workshop model over the years. Last year, we workshopped Psyche during the NNPF, and the results are a phenomenal script and excellent relationship with the playwright.” To learn more about the Barnyard Theatre, visit www.barnyardtheatre.org. Last but not least is the Yolo County Basin Foundation’s Bat Talk and Walk 2012. Every summer, a little more than a quarter million Mexican Free-Tailed Bats sleep under the threemile-long Yolo Causeway during the day, flying out in great colonies during every summer sunset. It is possible to watch the bats fly out around the west end of the bridge on your own accord. But the Bat Talk and Walk provides a 45minute indoor presentation
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on the local history of bats as well as an offroad tour to see the 250,000 bats that fly out at the east end of the bridge. Yolo Basin asks for a $10 donation for adults age 16 and over. “All the live bats that we show at the indoor presentation come through the wildlife rescue,” said Corky Quirk, the Yolo Basin Foundation’s education associate and founder of Norcal Bats. “The presentation helps people to understand the importance of these animals for the ecosystem, and watching their movements and interactions kind of helps to get rid of those preconceived notions that are produced by big Hollywood movies.” To learn more about the Bat Talk and Walk, visit www.yolobasin.org. DOMINICK COSTABILE can be reached at features@theaggie.org.
Avoid awkward conversations on the bus. Read The Aggie.
B6 thursday, june 7, 2012
The california Aggie
Graduates, what will you remember and miss the most about Davis? “I’m going to miss the liveliness of a college town, the people, and I’m really going to miss the Coffee House.” Erik Chow wildlife fish and conservation biology major and a student manager of the ASUCD Coffee House (CoHo)
Text by Lani Chan Photos by Evan Davis
“The type of people that are here — everybody is so open and welcoming. And the friends that I made here — they shaped my college experience and made it unforgettable.” Hunter Launer neurology, physiology and behavior major
“Goofing around with my friends and doing stupid things, and not really having to care that much about the future. Cutting class and getting beer ... well, having class to cut to get beer. Coming home at 4 a.m. from work and finding my roommates still awake and hanging out.”
“The friendliness of everyone around me. At other campuses, people put their heads down, and I assume the real world is like that too. I’ll miss being next to my friends whenever I need them. And Davis Farmers Market apple juice, Burgers & Brew, Taqueria Davis and, of course, the Sleaze.”
Timothy Chin
Katlyn Doran
technocultural studies major
international relations major
“The people. Everyone here has always been so nice. On multiple occasions I’ve lost things and returned to where I left them to find them actually put off to the side somewhere for me.”
“My apartment complex from sophomore and junior year, living together with all my friends from the dorms and celebrating Picnic Day in the courtyard with everyone there.” Alexis Cashman
Alex Stanton
biology and history double major
cell biology major
“I’ll remember spending a ton of time on campus. I’ll miss the library — even though that sounds weird, a lot of memories were made there. I’ll remember the feeling of the beginning of Fall Quarter, when everyone is pumped for the coming year. And being able to come back to the dorms as a freshman.” Evelyn Garcia community and regional development major
“I’ll remember what it was like getting used to a small town, and how friendly everyone is. I’ll miss all the types of plants that gave me allergies for the first time but are also so pretty! Also those giant fat mutant squirrels.” Liana Ramos landscape architecture major
Angela Swartz
Really great expectations
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s the final days of college approach for us graduating seniors, the inevitable “what comes next” question looms in most of our sweet little hearts and heads. This time can be both overwhelming and exciting, as we cling to fleeting memories of these past years in Collegeland. For some, anxiety about life after university has transformed into apathy, or just plain fear of uncertain plans. Perhaps it’s the fear of a future spent sitting in a box outside of your parents’ residence, after refusing to move back into their home, but lacking the funds to rent
Amy Stewart
Back to the bottom
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his weekend was, as I paged through Aggie Job Link looking for internships I might be interested in, when I started feeling wistful about working as the science editor and columnist. I’m currently on the hunt for internship positions at labs doing research in microbiology. Right now I’m still on the first step of sifting
“I’ll miss having so many people who are my age and on the same wavelength because everyone’s doing the same thing. And I’ll miss my co-workers at the CoHo.” Akash Kumar political science major
an apartment. Maybe it’s a feeling of apcause for the first time in our lives we prehension to continue applying to jobs have this incredible choice to do whatafter feeling constantly rejected, quickly ever we want. There’s no certainty of golosing the sense that you’re a very special ing off to school for four years. There’s snowflake. no marking in my planner comparable to “History 111B test” on Jan. 25 that says But continuously worrying about “you will receive job offer from blahblahwhether these decisions are right in the blah” on June 17. eyes of others is simply unproductive. One particularly dreary Winter Quarter I’ve sometimes felt like I needed to be a morning I found myself at lawyer or a doctor to prethe breakfast table practiserve, and support, the ... we need to be generous to rights of women that past cally crying into my bowl of cereal, beginning to feel ourselves as we stumble into the generations fought so hard the pressure to live up to for. At the same time, I’ve real world expectations of what I felt come to accept that it’s not I should do after college. necessarily about what you After being accepted to every journalism choose to do with your life, but ultimategraduate school I applied to, I realized the ly, that you have a choice in the first place. financial costs and simply the need for a These are rights that were being taken break from school were barriers to going away, not privileges, and it’s really best to straight to graduate school. not constantly question what we choose. In a recent standard post-graduation We need to make choices because conversation with a friend, the “what are they’re what are not only best for us, but you doing after graduation?” question that also allow us to attain a chunk of came up. “Dinner” he quickly replied, then happiness. paused and corrected himself, “Oh, you Sometimes the hardest person to be mean what I’m going to do with my life?” kind to is oneself and as difficult as it may This refreshing response demonstrates an seem, we need to be generous to ourselves hour-by-hour, day-at-a-time approach to as we stumble into the real world. managing the possibly daunting post-col- So, as we bike off into the proverbilege timeline. al post-graduation sunset, let’s try not to worry so much about what lies beyond af I guess mostly I’ve been scared be-
through a bunch of different listings and finding some that I qualify for. My experience, once I find a lab, will be analogous to what I did here at The California Aggie. First, I was an unpaid science writer for a year. My stories were assigned by my editor — though she did welcome story proposals when I had my own ideas. Likewise, when people start out in labs, they are usually unpaid interns, doing small jobs for the main researchers (usually graduate students or professors). This can take the form of manual labor, like washing and sterilizing dishes, to help with some aspects of the research, like putting samples into the machinery. There are probably labs that are exceptions to this who may want interns for other reasons. For the most part, though, this seems to be the pattern. It may seem a bit dull when your job at a lab is to wash dishes, but it’s necessary for work to continue.
ter darkness falls and uncertainty replaces that very sure sun that was college. In a piece by author Augusten Burroughs, he writes about how our bones came from stars, meaning we are all made from recycled bits and pieces of the universe. He states that it’s important to consider that billions of years before we were students and mothers and dog trainers and priests, we were particles that would form into star after star after star until forever passed. Instead of a star, what formed was life: simplistic, crude, miraculous. He writes that after another infinity, there we were. And this is why for us, anything is possible, because we are made out of everything. Take comfort in the fact that it’s okay to be a little wistful – all of your experiences will remain a tiny bit a part of you – like the calcium in your bones that came from the stars. Take comfort in the fact that what awaits you, beyond this sun, though it may not be definite, is a bigger and brighter future that beckons because you really are a special snowflake, or rather a special star. ANGELA SWARTZ wants to thank all her lovely co-workers, and other kind humans, for a wonderful four years working at The Aggie. She can no longer be reached at city@theaggie.org, but at akswartz@ ucdavis.edu.
write the paper on the results of After a while, once a person has their experiments. proven that they can wash dishes without breaking each one and can It can seem like a lot of hoops put samples where they need to go, to jump through unless you it’s hopefully time to move up. look at the bigger picture. The When working at The California goal here is to get enough experience that those in charge of Aggie, after writing for a year, I the lab trust you to do your own was able to apply to be an editor experiments by myself. After goyourself. ing through the It may seem a bit dull when your That is what I’m application projob at a lab is to wash dishes, but excited for. The cess and being hired, it was time it’s necessary for work to continue best thing about to take on some this job, as scinew responsience editor, was bilities while the previous sciin how much I learned about reence editor watched and helped. search, about science and a litToward the end of last year, I was tle bit more about how the world editing the other writers’ stories works. Writers strive to connect while the previous editor gave me stories to real-world applications, tips and answered my questions. but I always find basic research fascinating on its own. Similarly, after doing the basic jobs for a while, labs start giving At this point in time, I’m probamore and more autonomy. They bly much more of an idealist about allow the intern to help the perresearch than I may be after a few son leading the research more di- months of working. I may find burectly, giving co-author credit to reaucratic problems to complain the intern after the researchers about, other interns who irritate
me, certain repetitive tasks that I grow to dread. That’s just a part of life; even the best job in the world would have these problems. However, I consider myself fortunate that being an undergraduate hasn’t stopped my love of learning about how the world works. I still have one more year to go, but so far that pattern doesn’t look to be changing. When I first started as science editor, I felt as though I was messing everything up. It took me several weeks to become confident in how I did. I fully expect that when I start an internship, I’ll have the same feelings. Starting from the bottom of a new field, with new tasks to perform, such feelings are normal. The fact that I’ll be doing all of this at the same time as a paying job, however, will definitely be interesting. AMY STEWART can be reached at science@theaggie. org.
thursday, june 7, 2012
The california Aggie
Q&A with Internship and Career Center Director Subhash Risbud reveals best advice for new grads have a rich database of people that you can contact right away. And then when you talk to that person, then it’s no longer a cold call. Aggie: What should graduates do if they are not sure what career they want to pursue?
Subhash Risbud
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By ERIN MIGDOL Aggie Features Editor
After the ceremonies, parties and post-commencement vacations are over, it’s time for new graduates to join the real (working) world. Enter Subhash Risbud, director of the Internship and Career Center (ICC). Though Risbud said the ICC has been under strain this year due to budget cuts and layoffs, he encouraged students to drop by South Hall for career advising, interview and resume workshops, and networking. The Aggie asked him to share his tips for successful job-searching. The Aggie: What should graduates be doing right now if they don’t have a job yet? Risbud: Try to come to one of the ICC coordinators or staff people, who, depending on their discipline, may have a networking contact they can suggest. Or, more likely than not, they will say, “Here’s a database of people who have been looking for jobs through us.” Try to get a name of a person; don’t just send a resume on a website. It’s almost too late for that. At this point it’s got to be a oneon-one contact. Directly get the hiring manager or CEO or CFO. I’ve been in this job seven years, and my experience is when you load your resume onto a website, even then you need to do this other step. I’m not saying it’s useless to upload your resume to a website, but the time lag is so large. If you were to talk to someone at the ICC and say, “I’m graduating, is there a person” – I emphasize that – “a person I can contact who you know through your network?” Make a one-on-one appointment. They
Risbud: Going back in time for a junior or sophomore, there are workshops for that that we conduct, like one workshop called “What in the world should I do?” Or, there is a program called Career Discovery Groups. It’s not for credit, but they give you a span of career options that you get exposed to. One hundred or 200 students take the class and they are encouraged through a series of seminar discussions to figure out what does this career mean, what that career means. We bring in people from those careers to tell students what they are. One of my principle opinions is that if you explore 10 different things or talk to people who are working in those 10 fields then it helps you focus on your own career. Branch out into different things. We don’t have infinite lives; we can’t try each career. Imagine a career for yourself, and you can even offer your services initially on a volunteer basis. Aggie: Many students have a “dream job.” Should they hold out for that when looking for their first job, or should they just take the first job they can get? Risbud: I think for the first job, what you get you should take. The world isn’t designed so that we can wait for our dreams. Although it’s good to dream all the time, but you can dream while you are doing another job. Because your dream job will come — but the evolution of that will be battling with the evolution of your personality. You will change, too. In alignment with that, your dream job will also change. What you dream of now won’t be what you dream of five years from now. My first thing is to make a living. Aggie: What should students keep in mind about using social media? Risbud: We’ve been discussing that at the ICC because many staff report that it comes back to haunt students. Adequate caution of what you put on
it is extremely important. People think only their friends are looking at their Facebooks because of the privacy settings, but they’re really not. So when you put something on Facebook, or even on e-mail, you should consider it public domain because there is no way to protect that kind of information. Put on professional information, but don’t put stuff on there that you don’t want everyone to know. We have been told by students who have been interviewed by companies that human resources do look at your Facebook page, and somehow they do get access whether you like it or not. Facebook privacy is not guaranteed, so be careful. Aggie: What are some of the biggest mistakes new graduates make in their job search? Risbud: Starting too late is number one, and putting together a resume that is too focused and narrow. You have to market yourself as having education from a well-known university and being a bright, young person willing to learn new things. So you don’t want to box yourself in. It gives the employer the impression that you can’t be retrained in something else, and you want to give the impression that you’re willing to be flexible. In our resume writing workshops the ICC conducts that’s the first message you get. But resume writing has only limited value after you get past the first hurdle of human resources. I think it’s there people make a bigger mistake, in the interview step. If you say, “I want to do communications” and the person says, “How about if you did a photographic assignment in Nepal for a while, would you like to do that?” You should be willing to say, “Yeah, that’d be fine!” Go into an interview with some degree of rehearsal, not in the sense of memorized lines, but rehearsal in a sense of how the scenario will evolve when you start interviewing. The majority of errors are made in the first 30 to 50 seconds. So be conscious of that. When you interview they have to see you as a colleague right away. Aggie: How do you present yourself in an interview if you don’t have a lot of experience in the job you’re applying for?
See RISBUD, page B2
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ally wanted to write about was my friends. My friends are the friends that I know will ignore me when I yell at them at 3 a.m. for makMelissa ing me watch a scary movFreeman ie, and then laugh at me when we wake up. They’re the friends that will make fun of me relentlessly when I pronounce “Snooki” wrong and proclaim that the Super Bowl is a day to eat bagels, so that I no longer repeat such travesties. For the wo weeks away from last four years, my friends have been my family, and graduating, a few of my friends and I de- they’ve taught me what it really means to live with cided to re-live our midno regrets. dle school days and have Before there was YOLO, a campout in someone’s I was bombarded most backyard. It was a little nights of the weekend bit different without pawith “you can sleep when rental supervision, free as we were to experiment (in you’re dead” or “the night true 8-year-old style) with is young and so are we.” I was never allowed to sulk lighter fluid as we figured in selfout how to pity for light the They’ve proved me wrong when my “overgrill, and I told them their ideas were packed to accomschedule” pany our impossible ... (was I seris’mores ous, sophwith cold omore self?) and every beers. “Never have I ever” night had to be accomwas more of an attack panied by a theme. There against one another for were Arabian fiestas, oldthe embarrassing things we’ve done than a getting- school kickbacks and living room forts. We threw to-know-you game, and surprise parties that nevwe changed our clothes er remained surprises for without the discomfort long, and started a dance of hiding newly budding party wherever a dance breasts. When my friends decid- party could be started. ed to put a scary movie on, But the best nights were I begrudgingly agreed, and the ones spent in our living room for hours on then spent the next two end, watching YouTube hours complaining about it. When the internet froze videos, making fun of with 30 minutes left to go, lame Facebook statuses or harping on stupid I let out a sigh of relief. We exchanged some snip- comments by inept politicians. We talked about the py words and then a few Middle East, the future of laughs and we all driftantibiotics and gay mared off to sleep. I awoke in a state of panic, still need- riage. We shared what we ing to write this column — learned in our classes and challenged each other on that I had no idea how to our views on race, sex and write — and in an obnoxreligion. ious flurry of stress I fled My friends are world the house. How do you sum up the travelers and Davisbest four years of your life enthusiasts, comedians and good Samaritans, acin a few hundred words? ademics and completeI thought about writing ly crazy. They’ve proved this column in so many me wrong when I told ways: giving advice, sharing what I’ve learned or re- them their ideas were impossible, showing me flecting on my experiences. But I realized as I was See FREEMAN, page B2 driving home that all I re-
As we go on
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B8 thursday, june 7, 2012
The california Aggie
A year in photos: 2011-2012 Student and campus life captured through the eyes of Aggie photographers
Evan Davis / Aggie
Students occupied Mrak Hall overnight following a rally that brought out hundreds of students on Nov. 15 in response to the beatings at UC Berkeley that previous Friday.
Yash Nagda / Aggie
Steve Aoki entertained the crowd not only with his signature electronic music but with his antics such as spraying champagne, throwing cake, and rafting over the crowd.
Brian Nguyen / Aggie
Lt. Pike pepper sprays students after the police were prevented from leaving the Quad with their arrestees. The incident brought national notoriety to UC Davis.
Anna Oh / Aggie
Therapy dogs were brought to campus by the Student Health and Wellness Center before finals week to help students relieve stress.
Brian Nguyen / Aggie
Quarterback Randy Wright throws a pass during the Golden Horseshoe game. UC Davis went on to win 24-17. Jasna Hodzic / Aggie
Students rallied on the Quad following the November 18 Pepper Spray incident. Thousands of students came out to show their solidarity.