January 15, 2013

serving the uc davis campus and community since 1915

www.theaggie.org

volume 132, number 6

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

University of Beer hosts grand opening

News iN Brief

Mikuni looking for suggestions for random act of kindness

Venue offers selection of 60 beers

Until the end of January, Mikuni Charitable Foundation is requesting that restaurant goers, Facebook fans and Twitter followers recommend their favorite charity for a random act of kindness. The charities have to be nonprofit 501(c) (3) organizations that have been active for at least three years.

The foundation has already donated over $1.1 million to charities across the Sacramento area in the first week of January.

Mikuni is a small restaurant chain that serves Japanese cuisine. The restaurants are located in six areas, with one at 500 First St. in the Davis Commons.

— Claire Tan

Exercise with Mrak series begins Thursday Madison Dunitz / Aggie

The University of Beer opened last Thursday on the corner of Third and E streets. It offers 60 types beer on tap.

By JOE STEPTOE Aggie City Writer

Last Thursday evening, downtown revelers and beer aficionados alike attended the grand opening of the University of Beer, the latest addition to an increasing number of drinking venues in downtown Davis. The new craft beer shop, located at 615 Third St., will serve only beer, with 60 different taps offering an extensive menu.

“What I want the customer to focus on is the beer. If you love beer, we have everything you’re looking for,” said Nate Yungvanitsait, the proprietor of the University of Beer, as well as downtown venues Red 88 Noodle Bar and KetMoRee. “It’s good to have a nice ambience, comfortable atmosphere and a cozy place to be, but if we don’t choose good beer it doesn’t matter how nice the place is. The beer is the experience.”

As the beers on offer are rotated regularly, the venue incorporates new digital technology, such as plasma screens and iPads, to keep its customers continually updated and informed as to which beers are currently being served.

It is hoped that the comprehensive range of beer will facilitate an informative learning experience, with pa-

trons utilizing two free samples to formulate their own beer preferences.

“We want to get customers to try different beers so they can learn and find something they actually like.

University of Beer is not just a place to drink. We want you to engage in an active learning experience about beer,” Yungvanitsait said.

Plans in the future to enhance the educational element include informative visits from local breweries and the implementation of a “study hour,” in place of the more familiar “happy hour” tradition associated with drinking haunts.

Although formally open two weeks prior to the event, Thursday’s opening was intended to coincide with the return of college students to Davis following the winter break who, as the venue’s name suggests, will make up a significant part of the bar’s clientele.

While initial feedback on online forums presented a mixed reception to the bar, patrons attending Thursday’s event were much more positive.

“It turned out a lot more comfortable and relaxed. We were skeptical mainly because of the feedback on Davis Wiki, but so far it’s exceeded our expectations,” said Sarah Lewis, an attendee at the opening.

Others celebrated the fact the

new bar provides revelers with more choice of where to go on a night out.

“About five or six years ago, there weren’t very many bars in the downtown area. Now more are opening, which is great because you don’t end up spending your evenings at the same places,” said Clay Delong, another attendee at Thursday’s event.

It remains to be seen how the University of Beer may affect local businesses, though competing bars remain optimistic that having more people out on the town can form the basis of a mutually beneficial relationship.

“It’s yet to be determined how University of Beer will impact us.

They have a great selection of beer and facilities, but the more traffic there is downtown, the better it is for all of us,” said Taylor Ramos, manager at The Davis Beer Shoppe.

That the two bars could thrive from increased footfall in the downtown area was a sentiment echoed by Yungvanitsait.

“As far as competition goes, enjoying beer is more important,” Yungvanitsait said. “I hope the customer can enjoy beer here, but if they want to go someplace else, as long as they’re enjoying beer, that’s OK.” JOE STEPTOE can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

Humans and zombies and wizards, oh my UC Davis sporting clubs provide community for like-minded enthusiasts

By HANNAH KRAMER Aggie Features Writer

Bundled up against the cold, brandishing plastic Nerf blasters (some tactically stealthy, others brash) they gather at night to fight to the dart-death. Others meet in warmer weather to sprint, dodge and throw balls — all with a broom tucked between their legs.

It’s not the chaos or nonsense that it seems; it is just another example of the diversity and creativity of students at Davis.

Self-started sport clubs such as the Davis Urban Gaming Group and Muggle Quidditch provide a creative and competitive outlet beyond traditional sports offered at Davis, each of them catering to different crowds of active individuals.

“People want other forms of entertainment on campus besides getting drunk at parties,” said ASUCD Senator Maxwell Kappes, a fourth-

Today’s weather Clear High 55 Low 31

year political science and applied statistics double major.

Kappes is the president of the Davis Underground Gaming Group (known by players simply as DUGG) which is an open club that meets every Saturday night at the Death Star to play a variety of foam-dart shooting games. The group currently averages an attendance of around 40 students per night.

“DUGG is active, it’s fun, and you’re shooting each other with Nerf blasters on a Saturday night. Really, what could be more fun?” Kappes said.

Getting started in the DUGG community is as easy as showing up and jumping into the fray. Communal blasters are made available for new members by Kappes and others, opening up the club to any and all who want to play.

Ease of access to the required equipment, coupled with lack of strict play-

er commitment, are the cornerstones of both clubs, which invite players to come as their schedule allows.

“Quidditch isn’t a super dedicated, five-day-a-week team. It’s great for people who aren’t really into sports, but want to be active,” said Evan Rothstein, president of Muggle Quidditch and a second-year transfer economics major.

“It’s laid-back, it’s a bunch of friends getting together to play,” Rothstein said.

Quidditch, which was first described in the Harry Potter series as a game played while flying on broomsticks, gained international popularity in past years, and has become a fully fledged sport. Each of the team’s seven players run with brooms between their legs, one-handed, trying to out-score, out-hit and outtag their opponents.

“A bit of mysticism and confusion surrounds Quidditch and how to play it, because, obviously, we can’t Forecast

It’s a bit nippy, and not much else. While you may think it is cold, much of the rest of the country is enjoying high temperatures more similar to our low temperatures. Sadly, there is no rain expected for a while so it will be this brittle dry weather as well, but at least it will warm up about 5 degrees.

Tyson Tilmont, atmospheric science major Aggie Forecasting Team

fly,” Rothstein said. “But it’s a very familiar game once you start. It’s almost like soccer within a game of dodgeball within a game of tag.”

With such unique gameplay, both Muggle Quidditch and DUGG players have found creativity within their sport. Rothstein and others must think outside the box to construct light, yet durable hoops required for play, while DUGG allows for the use of modified blasters.

Some engineering students take DUGG blastermodding a step further by creating everything from sniper blasters with extended PVC barrels to automatically-firing blasters with modified cogs to air-canister-powered foam bombs.

“Through modding, DUGG becomes a crafthobby. You gain skills with power tools, you learn about air dynamics, all while trying to improve efficiency. It

Organized by the Student Assistants to the Chancellor (SAC), the Exercise with Mrak series is beginning Thursday and will run until March 15.

The series is comprised of seven events.

“Exercise with Mrak is a way in which students and campus administrators can engage in an activity that is more fluid and active,” said Student Assistant to the Chancellor Artem Trotsyuk.

According to the online registration page, the series will feature activities such as bowling, yoga/Pilates, walking and basketball, in the company of various University administrators including Ralph Hexter, provost and executive vice chancellor; Adela de la Torre, vice chancellor for Student Affairs; Rich Shintaku, assistant vice chancellor for Student Affairs; Emily Galindo, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Walter Robinson, associate vice chancellor for Undergraduate Admissions.

The events will take place from 12 to 3 p.m. in the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC), with the exception of bowling, which is scheduled to take place in the Memorial Union.

Students who wish to participate much register online at ucdsac.wufoo.com/forms/winter2013-exercise-with-mrak, as space is limited.

— Muna Sadek

Wellness Carnival tomorrow The sixth annual Wellness Carnival will take place at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) lobby tomorrow from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Co-sponsored by Health Education and Promotion with Campus Recreation and Unions, the event aims to promote a well-balanced lifestyle as well as the Seven Realms of Wellness, according to the online event page. This includes emotional, environmental, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual wellness.

The carnival will also feature a raffle, prizes and free coffee for those in attendance with a reusable mug.

— Muna Sadek

Alumnus to be interviewed tomorrow at bookstore, select spectators to receive free ramen Chris Johnson, a UC Davis graduate and the inventor of the Rapid Ramen Bowl is scheduled to be interviewed by the Sacramento news station KCRA, 8:30 a.m. at the UC Davis bookstore.

The first 20 spectators will receive a free bowl of hot ramen.

— Muna Sadek

See CLUBS, page 2

Wednesday

Thursday

Mostly clear

Clear

High 56 Low 33

High 58 Low 32

This is a public service announcement.

Tuition for 2012-13, including fees, is $15,257.46 for an in-state full-time undergraduate. Tuition and fees in 2007-08 were $8,925.49.

Carry on.

Written By Becky Peterson

page two

2 tuesday, january 15, 2013

daily calendar dailycal@theaggie.org

Experience Information Session

TUESDAY Orientation Leader & First-Year Experience Information Session 3 to 3:45 p.m.

Student Community Center, Meeting Room E Do you want to share your Aggie Pride?

Then consider applying for orientation leader or first-year experience peer adviser positions in Student Housing. This info session will outline the positions, selection process and application instructions. For more information, search for the Facebook event page.

Garth Lenz TED talk 5 to 6 p.m.

2 Wellman Join Garth Lenz, a prolific photojournalist who has recently documented the changes to the Alberta Tar Sands in the boreal forests of Canada.

4 to 4:45 p.m.

Tercero Main Lounge Do you want to share your Aggie Pride?

Then consider applying for orientation leader or first-year experience peer adviser positions in Student Housing. This info session will outline the positions, selection process and application instructions. For more information, search for the Facebook event page.

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Davis United Methodist Church Join Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, a 12-step fellowship based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Meetings are open and free to the public. Visit foodaddicts. org for other meeting locations.

THURSDAY

The Science of Food Talk 6 to 7 p.m.

Pence Art Gallery Join the “Science of Food: A Talk” for its unique and insightful look into your diet and your life.

Pre-Public Health Panel 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

226 Wellman Interested in pre-health? Come join a panel led by a public health professional. Kaplan will also be speaking about their services for pre-health students. There will also be other events, fun activities and free food, so start off your winter quarter right.

WEDNESDAY Orientation Leader & First-Year

Transfer Re-entry Veteran Center Internship Workshop 3 to 4 p.m.

16 South Transfer Re-entry Veteran Center (TRV) invites all transfer students to join us with guest speaker Kay Nelson from the Internship and Career Center. Learn how to find, apply for and secure internships.

Please email trv@ucdavis.edu to RSVP. To receive placement in the AGGIE DAILY CALENDAR, email 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.

Police Briefs FRIDAY

hers, worth $2,490, on Cranbrook Court.

Meals on the steal

Someone was concerned an unknown subject may be entering her residence and taking her food and other belongings on Cowell Boulevard.

Free advertising A female was passed out in front of The Beer Shoppe on G Street.

SUNDAY

Hide yo kids

Hold your horses

A person in a vehicle pulled over asking if there were many children in the neighborhood since he was moving in, and somebody wanted to confirm that he was actually moving into the neighborhood on El Dorado Place.

A person in a black Mustang was speeding, swerving and driving in the bike lane on Anderson Road.

Lawn party

SATURDAY

There were loud parties with subjects outside urinating on the lawn on Rice Lane.

A woman’s ex-boyfriend came to her house when she wasn’t home and removed his items as well as some of

Police briefs are compiled from the City of Davis daily crime bulletins. Contact EINAT GILBOA at city@theaggie.org.

Redefining petty theft

Or, maybe you have an arrangement where one person is in charge of making sure there’s always condoms and the Sam other makes sure there’s Wall always lube. The specifics of this are really up to Sex Ed the people involved, but it’s good to have them in place just so you don’t get all hot and heavy only to go, “shit, we’re out of dental dams.”

Before we move on to the various ways you can acquire your contraceptive of choice, I want to don’t know about you, address a comment I can but I love to spend my hear some of you making. evenings reading my This comment sounds old sex advice columns. something like, “but, While doing so, I had one like, talking about proof those moments where tection is just super awkmy brain goes, “bad sex ward, plus it, like, totalcolumnist, no biscuit!” ly kills the moment and if You see, I realized that in I break the aura of suavithe past I never devoted ty and mystery I’ve creatmore than a few sentences to protection and birth ed, no one will ever sleep with me.” control. So, in penance, I My immediate response will be doing a two-part to is to bang my head respecial on contraception. peatedly on the nearest Let’s begin by examinflat surface. However, my ing one of those debates real and useful response that’s always trotted out is to reiterate an idea that in the “love and sex” foI’ve said so many times, rums of online magaboth here and in othzines: who is responsible er places, that I ought to for bringing the contraget it tattooed: An awkception to the party?

For me this question, like ward moment now is better than an unhappy one so many things in life, delater. As with consent, pends on context. Now, I if talking about somewant to caveat that by saything as iming that portant as unless ... let me add that they’ve protecting you’re tryyourself and ing to recently discovered an the person make a antibiotic resistant strain of you’re with baby, you gonorrhea ruins the need conmoment, traception. then that moment wasn’t And, unless you and your worth much in the first partner(s) are 100 percent sure that you’re all STI-free, place.

Getting back to the topthat contraception should ic of contraception acinclude a barrier method quisition, you have quite (such as a condom). a few options on cam If you’re in a situation pus alone. Of course, I’d where you meet new sexbe remiss if I didn’t menual partners frequenttion the Love Lab (LL). ly, I’d make sure that you I mean, it has its own have your protection of Facebook page. In addichoice with you whention to charging a whopever you seek out sexy ping $0 for 10 condoms, times. If everyone follows the Love Lab’s variety of this approach, it means offerings means that you that when you meet up have plenty of chances with a like-minded partto experiment and find ner, you’ll both be prethe style of condom that pared. And, even if you and your partner like they’re not, you will be. best. Plus, the LL also of If you need an added fers latex-free and inincentive to follow this sertive (aka female) conadvice, consider the fact doms and dental dams. that if you get into a sexy Love Lab love letsituation and no one has ter aside, you can also protection, it’s going to get condoms from the limit your options for the Student Health and evening. So it’s better to Wellness Center pharbe on the safe side. And, macy (generally 10 for should you not believe that to be true, let me add $1.50). And pretty much any drug store (and many that they’ve recently disgrocery stores) will carry covered an antibiotic resome condoms and safe sistant strain of gonorsex supplies. To find one rhea. Just saying. near you, check out HEP’s If, on the other hand, condom map. If your inyou’re in a longer-term terest is in hormonsexual relationship, it’s a al birth control, I suggood idea to discuss how gest starting your quest you’re going to acquire at the Student Health and and pay for protection.

Wellness center. That, For instance, if someone and that you check out in the relationship is usnext week’s column. ing hormonal birth control (like the pill), the other partner may ofSAM WALL wants you to send your sex questions to sewall@ucdavis.edu. fer to help cover the cost.

Protect yourself

I

CLUBS

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Cont. from front page requires a lot of ingenuity,” said Thanh Vu, a fifth-year biotechnology major.

Style of play determines what direction seasoned players take with their blasters.

“My strategy is to move with the group, blend in with the crowd. On my revolver, I have removed the air restrictors and replaced a spring, so it shoots farther, but the accuracy is more inconsistent,” said Patrick Felsher, a first-year undeclared major.

Safety always comes first, however.

“If anyone wants to mod something, we want them to bring it in first and shoot it at one of the moderators and we’ll determine if it’s too strong to use in the game,” Kappes said.

In addition to the regular, loose gameplay, each club periodically hosts largerscale games. DUGG hosts Humans vs. Zombies, a variety of themed missions spread out over multiple days with the area of play expanded to all of campus, and last spring, Quidditch made its debut as an Intramural Tournament through UC Davis Campus Recreation.

These larger games open up

The california Aggie

would pick through newspaper rack after newspaper rack. It paints a slightly sad scene, I know. But in Andrew retrospect, I appreciate the Poh things that my mom chose Financially to do and the sacrifices she chose to make to save whatfit ever money our household could manage.

She also found it both therapeutic and enjoyable, so it was never really a chore or an embarrassment to her.

Throughout the early years, the trips didn’t quite faze me either. But as the ost guys grew up years wore on, I grew less with poignant, and less interested in them, pleasant memoand by the time I was on ries of fishing trips on placthe precipice of becoming id lakes or hunting expedian angsty teenager, I would tions in the bucolic counjust sit in the car and play tryside with ol’ Pop. During Gameboy while she tendsuch trips, they would nured to the task alone and unture and build the innate accompanied. By the age of skills that all men require: 13, I stopped going with her bloodlust, chest hair growentirely. ing, bravado and sports Only now does the signifmanship. But best of all, icance of those trips really they would create an everlasting bond that they could hit home with me.

For many of us, this is unshare with their father. doubtedly our first time liv “Remember back when ing alone — a glimpse of you took me fishing Dad? Those sure were some really what the rest of life will be like from here on out. Once memorable memories!” you’re weaned off of dorm Alas, such was not the food you will inevitably case for this young lad, oh have to use your own monno. ey (or I guess your parents’ My dad never had any in some cases) to purchase real hobbies so to speak. food.

Well, he liked to tend to the I’m sure most of us know backyard. So there were, what couof course, pons are days spent ... my dearest mother began and what watering the lawn to take me out with her on her they do, but honestly, or digging up soil coupon trips every Sunday of how many every week of us utilize mindlessly them on a whilst my regular basis? There’s most dad actually tilled and cullikely a stigma against coutivated the earth. But these weren’t the activities a bud- pons in which the frequent use of them comes off as ding buck yearned for, nor miserly and stingy. After all, were they enough to sate no one really wants to go on my craving for paternal a date in which the guy pays bonding. for a portion of the check That’s where my mom with a coupon, do they? comes in. I’m not entirely sure how the tradition start- With that aside, there really isn’t much of a reason ed, but it was one that lastto not use coupons. I mean, ed for a good four to five I’m not suggesting you go years. Beginning at the age out every Sunday and dig of eight or nine, my dearest through piles of newspamother began to take me pers like my mom did, but out with her on her coupon if you happen upon some, trips every Sunday of every why not use them? They’re week. especially easy to access in Yes, coupon trips. It was today’s world since a lot of aptly dubbed “Mother and shops will end up acceptson time.” ing coupons displayed on a What, you may ask, is a smartphone screen. coupon trip? Simply put, it It doesn’t hurt at all to was a circuit of establishsave a couple bucks here ments my mom would visand there. And trust me, it’ll it in which she would solereally add up. My mom’s ly go to in order to rumcoupons used to be able mage through the Sunday to knock off a solid $50 to edition of the newspaper. $75 during some of our bigNo, she didn’t want to read ger grocery excursions. I kid the Business section or the you not.

Sports section.

My only disclaimer is that She wasn’t interested in you shouldn’t get somethe news at all, in fact. What thing you don’t really need she did want was that “50 just because you’re saving a cents off your sixth 2-licouple of nickels and dimes ter bottle of Coke after you with a coupon. You can do purchase five for full price” without that power Tropical coupon tucked away in the Sunburst Tsunami from many folds of the papers.

Jamba Juice.

Back in the heyday of double coupons, that 50 cent discount would become a ANDREW POH would like to hear some dollar! stories of things that people did to bond And I, blessed simpleton with their parents, so if you have an interesting one, please share it with that I was, would follow her apoh@ucdavis.edu. obediently around as she

Motherson time

M

the clubs to more people, who in turn come back for the regular games.

“With intramural, it’s not just for Harry Potter fans.

We had these huge football players coming out and playing, and they were just as excited as we were,” said Muggle Quidditch player Valarie Mores, a fourth-year design major.

Both Humans vs. Zombies and the IM tournament require a significant amount of time commitment by those in charge, but it’s done for the love of the game.

“On the player end, [for Humans vs. Zombies] it is as easy as showing up. On

the moderating and planning side side, we put in more work than we probably should. Before each quarter, we put in at least 10 or 15 hours [of] planning,” said DUGG moderator Max Wilt, a fourth-year linguistics and Latin double major.

Quidditch returns to the IM league Spring Quarter and Humans vs. Zombies is being played from Jan. 22 to Jan. 25. For more information, or to join in on the action, visit the DUGG and Muggle Quidditch at UC Davis Facebook groups.

HANNAH KRAMER can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

OPINION

The california aggie

tuesday, january 15, 2013 3

editorials

Pepper spray

In support of settlement At last, the $1 million pepper spray settlement was finalized last week.

The lawsuit argues that the University used force that violated constitutional protections, including First Amendment rights, on Nov. 18 of last year.

Much has already been said about the incident and the settlement. We don’t wish to sound repetitive, but it is always worth declaring our support for the students involved in the lawsuit.

We’ve heard some murmurs around campus passing judgment on the plaintiffs, suggesting that they should have continued fighting — they shouldn’t have settled and they shouldn’t accept the University’s money.

We disagree. It’s unrealistic to expect students to put their lives on hold for a lawsuit that probably would have taken years. It’s impossible

to expect students, who were originally protesting tuition hikes and decreasing quality in higher education, to ignore their classes, goals and responsibilities.

And it’s important to reiterate, the $1 million comes from a designated fund set up to deal with legal issues the University faces. It’s not from student fees or anywhere else symbolically problematic.

The 21 plaintiffs will receive $30,000 each. Another 38 individuals made claims, and among those, 15 will receive $6,666 each. Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi will also be issuing personal apologies.

It’s unfortunate that the financial cap means not everyone who was affected by the pepper spray incident — directly or indirectly — can be compensated. Nonetheless, we hope it will provide some much-needed closure on this campus.

General education

Generally inflexible It’s that time of year again.

Desperate upperclassmen are filling their schedules with leftover general education requirements that teach them skills long ago developed in the natural process of taking classes that directly pertain to their interests.

If you are one of those students, you have just sat through a week of Comparative Literature 001 with a graduate student merely two years your senior.

This grad student cares just as much as you do about Books of the Ancient World. They are only teaching to pay off their master’s degree. You will run into them after class at The Davis Beer Shoppe — the only real reprieve after two hours of discussing symbolism with 18-year-olds.

Yes, yes. There was a time when this class would have been useful. But for many upperclassmen, that time has long passed with the days when bong-hits were a novelty and frat parties were fun.

The problem of GEs is really a problem of our impersonal education system.

Freshmen don’t have access to the advising necessary to understand the consequences of putting off GEs until their final quarters. And advisors don’t have the time or relationships with students to know when they would benefit from an exception to the requirements.

As a totally random example, the Editorial Board has this friend … and this friend put off their writing requirements until senior year. And even though this friend has taken four upper-division English classes, this friend still has to take ENL 003 to fill the lower-division writing re-

quirement. This friend still has one last English class to finish the minor.

Instead, they are in academic purgatory, relearning sentence structure.

This friend may or may not be an editor at the school newspaper.

This friend KNOWS sentence structure!

Personal problems aside, there are other confusing stipulations that make it difficult to stay on track. Many students wonder why some of their science classes, such as the geology class “Dinosaurs” (Geology 12) don’t fill their GE science requirement. While theoretically we were taught at orientation to check for the abbreviated, italicized “Sci/ Eng” in the course catalog, it’s not always intuitive which classes count.

(Of course these codes are different from the new system used by first-years and sophomores, further proving the confusion.)

This is not to say that general education requirements should be eliminated. Ideally, these classes benefit students and help expand their understanding of the world. They bridge the gaps that incomprehensive primary education left, and they encourage interest in areas students may not have known they would enjoy.

However, they should not be an inflexible necessity that cock-blocks juniors and seniors from taking classes that will directly benefit their education. There should be encouragement to substitute classes that would logically teach the same skills, allowing students to graduate on time while still taking classes at their grade-level.

Editorial Board Janelle Bitker Editor in Chief Hannah Strumwasser Managing Editor Rebecca Peterson Opinion Editor

Muna Sadek Campus Editor Claire Tan City Editor Adam Khan Features Editor

Elizabeth Orpina Arts Editor Matthew Yuen Sports Editor

Hudson Lofchie Science Editor Brian Nguyen Photography Editor

Editorials represent the collective opinions of The California Aggie editorial board. The Opinion page appears Tuesdays and Thursdays.

feeling strongly about something? submit a letter to the editor to have your opinion printed in

The California Aggie.

courtesy newsday.com

Tristan de Liège The Tree of Liberty

Why I’m not an anarchist What is anarchism? Anarchism is the view that “... holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, or harmful, or, alternatively, as opposing authority or hierarchical organization in the conduct of human relations.” (Wikipedia) There are many variants of anarchism. Sometimes, anarchism is packaged with capitalism as a view known as anarcho-capitalism. Other times anarchism is associated with some form of socialism (see the column by Brian Moen on Thursdays).

All of these variants, for a variety of reasons, tend to be skeptical of concentrations of power, especially in governments. In this way, anarchists share a similar attitude to many libertarians, who generally support reducing the state to a great extent, or even completely.

I want to distinguish myself from these views — while I think our government is now corrupt insofar as it violates our rights, I think government is good and important insofar as it protects our rights. Moreover, I think the size of government is inconsequential; what matters is whether it is fulfilling its proper purpose (which may require it to be large, or not).

We need government for a variety of reasons, but basically the case for government can be grasped by observing that in a state of anarchy, as Thomas Hobbes once keenly observed, life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” What he correctly identified is that without government to establish the rule of law, humans must rely on themselves

to defend against the use of force. tions of power more generally?

In a lawless society, humans canWell, it depends on what we not flourish. Who would plant a mean. Some hierarchies, like the field, build a factory or design an caste system in ancient India or iPhone if their security even in the the marginalization of black peonext day were not guaranteed? It is ple caused by racism in the postinconceivable. reconstruction South, were irratioMore fundamentally, as Ayn nal and, to that extent, should be Rand wrote in her essay “The opposed. Other hierarchies result Nature of Government,” “Since from the rational behavior of human’s mind is his basic tool of sur- mans interacting in a social convival, his means of gaining knowl- text: It is proper that the person edge to guide his that owns a busiactions — the baness has more inBut the benefits of living in sic condition he come than a new requires is the employee, and society can only exist if that freedom to think that an employee society is secure ... and to act accordwho has worked ing to his rational longer is less likejudgment.” ly to be dismissed than one who Humans, unlike the other an- has worked less, etc. imals or plants that rely on what Sometimes, when people speak is already available in their envi- of the “accumulation of power” ronment, need to produce goods by individuals or institutions, to survive, by rearranging the ma- they are guilty of equivocation. terial of nature to create artificial If power in this context means objects such as boats, skyscrap- “the influence that one has over ers, furniture and computers. In others,” then there is at least one turn, this requires the use of rea- crucial distinction worth makson — the advanced level of con- ing: economic power vs. politisciousness that allows us to use cal power. language, engage in science, think Economic power is the powabout causes and effects and have er that capitalists in a free society an abstract understanding of rela- have: the power of wealth, or captionships between classes of ob- ital. This just means that to the exjects in our world. tent that they can persuade othSociety is supremely beneficial ers (by offering them money or a to us insofar as others are produc- job, for instance), capitalists can tive and rational and don’t expro- get people to do what they want priate our values or our lives. We them to. benefit from a division of labor Political power is the legal powwhereby different people produce er to use force. Ideally, the governdifferent things and we can en- ment uses this power only against gage in trade. those who violate our rights, by But the benefits of living in soci- putting them in jail or chargety can only exist if that society is ing them fines. This is the kind of secure; a society where our rights power, when used improperly, is a can be violated at any moment, or threat to our lives and our pursuit our ability to use our reason inde- of happiness. pendently and pursue our values Once again, the essential proband interests can be curtailed with lem is not where power as such is impunity is not a society that can concentrated, or whether we have flourish. hierarchies, or how big the governGovernment, the institution that ment is. The pertinent issue is our (ideally) primarily punishes those ability to pursue values and live who violate our rights, is therefore the best possible lives we can; to a precondition for a flourishing, do this, we need a proper, limited government. advanced society.

So much for opposing power in the hands of government. What TRISTAN DE LIÈGE can be found not being an anarchist about hierarchies, or concentra- at tflenaerts@ucdavis.edu.

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4 tuesday, january 15, 2013

The california Aggie

Aggie Swimmers dominate Pacific UC Davis takes down Tigers, divers perform at Bruin Diving Invitational

Bijan Agahi / Aggie

Sophomore Sam Rados and junior Karley Troup compete against Pacific at the Schaal Aquatics Center. The Aggies won 176.5 to 106.5.

By VEENA BANSAL Aggie Sports Writer

The Aggies prevailed over Pacific in a home meet at the Schaal Aquatic Center 176.5-106.5. With the win, the

team maintains a 5-2 record this season.

The Aggies opened the meet on a strong note, winning the first nine events against the Tigers to create a sizable advantage. Sophomore Hilary Hunt

and junior Haley Porter captured two events each, while six different Aggies won their individual events to seal the victory.

Hunt posted top times in the 100-yard (58.00) and 200-yard (2:04.75) backstroke events, while Porter captured the 50- and 100-yard freestyles with times of 24.41 and 53.44 respectively.

In addition, junior Liliana Alvarez captured the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:05.28 and sophomore Marilyn Carey clocked a 10:26.58 in the 1000-yard free. Junior Megan Leung posted 2:06.08 in the 200-yard butterfly and junior Samantha Shellem swam the 200-yard free in 1:52.39.

“The game kind of came down to the wire,” said head coach Barbara Jahn. “We could have had a larger lead, but we were definitely in racing mode.”

Senior Bridget Bugbee and

junior Katie Edwards rounded out of the 200 free. Junior Sabrina Cochrane and sophomore Lauren Damian posted the next fastest times in the 100 back. Junior Karley Troup and sophomore Sam Rados finished second and third in the 200 fly, respectively.

While the swimmers were competing against the Tigers, the Aggie divers were wrapping up the final day of competition in the Bruin Diving Invitational.

Because UC Davis could not compete with a split squad Saturday afternoon, the diving teams performed at the Bruin Invitational at the Spieker Aquatics Center in Los Angeles.

Freshman Lucy Lafranchise earned 18 points for the Aggies by achieving the top scores in both the one-meter and threemeter diving events. She posted a new season-high mark by scor-

ing a 272.05 in the three-meter competition.

Freshmen Hanna Tears and Audrey DeNeffe finished second and third, respectively, in the one- and three-meter diving events.

On the second day of the Bruin Diving Invitational, four Aggies competed on the one-meter board. Sophomore Shannon Stewart led all of the Aggies by finishing 35th with a score of 199.60. Tears and LaFranchise placed 41st and 42nd, with junior Lauren Jesse finishing 48th.

The swimming and diving team will face Cal State Bakersfield in the second home meet on Saturday at the Schaal Aquatics Center and the graduating class of 2013 will be commemorated.

VEENA BANSAL can be reached at sports@ theaggie.org.

FOR RELEASE MARCH 13, 2010

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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 “Scram!”

10 Orly sight 15 Got very sore, maybe 16 Eva of “57Across: Miami” 17 If often requires a bedroom set 18 Montana motto word 19 Seventh-century date 20 Cooper’s creation 21 Accepted without question 22 Pines 25 Kung __ chicken 27 Group that “had decayed to a mere beautiful futility”: Wells 28 Features of some hotels 29 Effort 30 King deposed in 1964 31 Go along with 34 Vane reading: Abbr.

35 Sudafed alternative 38 Sight from Marie Byrd Land 40 Took off 41 Singer in the 1954 film “Secret of the Incas” 43 Like the Kalahari 45 Town inland of the IJsselmeer 46 Actress Gershon et al.

50 It may be chased by un perro 51 Lake Thun feeder 52 Studio renamed Paramount Television in 1967 53 1986 N.L. batting champ Tim 55 R&B group __ Hill 57 Show with DNA testing 58 __-garde 59 Team with a flaming ball in its logo 62 Paramecium features 63 All in all 64 Test track challenges

By Robert A. Doll

65 Living end DOWN 1 Know-it-all’s taunt 2 Long-legged shore bird 3 Body armor fiber 4 Poet’s preposition 5 Things to zap 6 Bumpkins 7 __ fixe 8 Top dog 9 Hiver’s opposite 10 Chop House Originals brand 11 Societal concerns 12 “This American Life” host 13 Rustic place to go?

14 “Very clever!”

21 Duff 23 Inlets 24 Cold and rainy, say 26 Anatomical cavity 29 “Gracias” reply 32 Just like, with “the” 33 Truman Dam river 35 Contest that’s usually over in less than 20 seconds

3/13/10

Monday’s puzzleSolved solved Friday’s Puzzle

(c)2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

36 One in a million 37 Approves, in a way 39 Some H.S. courses 42 Certain rush hour commuter, metaphorically 44 “__ Darko”: 2001 sci-fi film 47 Christianity’s __ Creed

3/13/10

48 French region along the Rhine 49 Bach compositions 52 “The Count of Monte Cristo” author 54 LAX postings 56 Broccoli __ 59 Hit-making group?

60 Kind 61 Solo in space

Sudoku

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