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volume 132, number 18
Concert lineup turns campus into “MiniChella”
Postal Service, Vampire Weekend and Phoenix to come to Davis
courtesy
By ANDREW RUSSELL Aggie Arts Writer
Fans of indie music (or music in general, for that matter) found reason to rejoice this week, following a series of announcements on ASUCD Entertainment Council’s Facebook page earlier in the week. The first concert will be Phoenix, playing with Mac Demarco at Freeborn Hall on Apr. 2. The second is The Postal Service, featuring all of the original members from their 2003 album Give Up, playing with electronic artist Baths at the Mondavi Center on Apr. 10. And the third is Vampire Weekend, playing with up-andcoming indie/electronic artist Tanlines, at Freeborn Hall on Apr. 16. “The Postal Service reuniting. And I get to live my middle school fantasy,” said fourth-year art history major Elizabeth Joelson.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013
Surface water project campaign coming to a close Project to be voted on in March By CLAIRE TAN Aggie City Editor
Since the formation of the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency (WDCWA) in 2009, the surface water project has gone through multiple bumps in the road to finalization. The past three years have been a whirlwind of city council meetings, hashing out ways to decrease water rates as well as slash the cost of the project for the City of Davis. An indicator of the project progressing was a public forum held on Saturday at City Hall, in which the community was allowed to question opponents and proponents of the project. The proposed surface water project plans to replace the groundwater currently used with treated water from the Sacramento River. Pipelines would transport water from the river’s surface water to the water treatment plant in Woodland. From there, the water would be sent to Woodland, Davis and UC Davis. The project is also known as Measure I, which Davis residents will be able to vote on in the March 5 special election. Ballots were sent out on Monday. Measure I asks if residents approve of the city advancing the joint surface water project with Woodland. The measure requires a majority vote to pass, in which at least half of the estimated 16,500 property owners in Davis need to approve. “In addition, in accordance with Proposition 218, all property owners will be sent notices about the public hearing on March 19, during which they may offer testimony about the proposed new water rates,” said a City
Irisa Tam / Aggie
of Davis press release. Prop. 218 was passed in November 1996. A draft of the proposition on the California Secretary of State’s website said the proposition requires voter approval before any water, refuse or sewer rates are increased. Notice of a public hearing must be mailed out 45 days in advance. The public hearing will be on March 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Chambers at City Hall. “The water project proposed isn’t necessary,” said Pam Nieberg, a Davis
resident and a part of the No on Measure I campaign. “It’s costly and there are huge impacts on the people in Davis. According to the city, costs will triple by 2018 — a huge increase in five years.” In November 2012, Woodland and Davis came to an agreement to split the consumption-based costs 60-40. The overall project will cost roughly $245 million, a decrease from the estimated $325 million in 2009. The proposed
See CAMPAIGN, page 6
ObamaCare loophole has bearing on UC students Legislation mandates some form of health insurance
See CONCERT, page 7
News iN Brief
UC Davis places on Business Insider’s “Best Colleges in America” list UC Davis was ranked No. 49 of 50 on Business Insider’s “Best Colleges in America” list. This is the first time the university placed on the list in the four years since the start of the release of the rankings. UC Davis also received a rating of 2.75 of 5. According to the Business Insider website, the ratings are based on a survey that examined the degree at which a school will help students succeed after graduation. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., was ranked No. 1 for a third year, with a rating of 4.50 out of 5. — Muna Sadek
Police arrest 17-yearold near Birch Lane Elementary
Mark Allinder / Aggie
The Student Health and Wellness Center provides healthcare for UC Davis students.
By NATASHA QABAZARD Aggie News Writer
On Monday at around 1:55 p.m., Davis Police responded to a call about a pepper spray assault near Birch Lane Elementary School. The police notified the school of the assault. School officials decided to put the school on a lockdown as a precaution. The police investigated the area and walked through the school. The 17-year-old male suspect was found away from the school. He was arrested for the illegal use of pepper spray, possession of an illegal knife and brandishing. He was booked at Yolo County Juvenile Hall. — Claire Tan
Today’s weather Showers High 54 Low 37
ObamaCare, formally known as The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, will impose new legislation that mandates all citizens to have a form of health insurance and prohibits insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on insurance policies. However, this act exempts selffunded programs, like the one at the University of California, where the system takes on the financial risk of medical expenses. According to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle, thousands of UC students are demanding that the University lift its insurance caps through a petition drive. Universities have always offered student health coverage to ensure students have access to health care. In the Forecast
The bad news: it looks like rain today. The good news: we’re halfway through the quarter! That was fast. Good luck on midterms! Brian Rico, atmospheric science major Aggie Forecasting Team
fall 2012 term, more than 138,000 people were enrolled in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP). The average premium for undergraduates is $1,275 per year and $2,172 for graduate students, according to Shelly Meron, media specialist at the UC Office of the President. “We're absolutely committed to providing our students with strong medical coverage and helping them ensure health care costs don't become a financial barrier to completing their education. In order to continue providing good coverage, we have to keep UC SHIP financially viable. That means balancing the benefit levels with the cost to all the students who are enrolled,” Meron said. “Making changes to benefits very likely would mean an increase in premiums and, again, we have to make sure those premiums don't become a financial barrier for
Friday
Saturday
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those enrolled. We're continually evaluating the coverage we offer and looking at how to best serve our students.” The exact benefits and lifetime caps vary by campus. Most campuses have a lifetime benefits cap of $400,000, which includes UC Davis. The exceptions are UCLA graduate and undergraduate students, who have a $600,000 cap, and UC San Diego graduate students, who have a $750,000 cap. “As a plan it is best for us to get to an unlimited cap because it is what’s best for the students. When you think about it, $400,000 is not enough to cover medical expenses,” said Todd Atwood, insurance services supervisor at UC Davis. UC officials are weighing their options but are hesitant to lift the caps
See OBAMA, page 7
Who else is on that summer internship grind? Get ready, the career fair is just around the corner (meaning next Wednesday)! Amanda Nguyen
page two
2 THURSDAY, february 7, 2013
daily calendar dailycal@theaggie.org
THURSDAY Pancake Info Session at the TriCo-ops 10 to 11 a.m. Davis Student Co-ops Come down for free pancakes and find out more about cooperative living on campus.
Student Community Center, multipurpose room Come for an informative lecture and reception with Roger Geiger, the foremost historian on the American research university.
Radiate Art
12:05 to 1 p.m. 115 Music Come down for an afternoon of free music with David Deffner, organist.
5:30 to 9 p.m. 231 G St. Radiate Art will be holding an Open House during the 2nd Friday Art About. Come and visit with the artists and see the renovation of studio spaces that has occurred. Live music by Neon Lite. Refreshments will be served.
TCS Club General Meeting
2nd Friday Art About
6:30 to 7 p.m. 115 Hutchison Join Technocultural Studies professor Bob Ostertag as he discusses his decade in Central America involved in the revolutions of the 1980s.
6 to 9 p.m. Downtown Take a stroll through lovely downtown Davis for the 2nd Friday Art About. Businesses will open their doors to reveal new works of art for all to see.
Undergraduate Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities Conference Information Session
Lights Low with the Afterglow
Shinkoskey Noon Concert Presents: David Deffner
3:10 to 4 p.m. Student Community Center, Meeting Room D Join us if you’re interested in presenting your research at the 24th Annual Undergraduate Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities Conference.
Sex and the Cinema Presents: Skyfall 7:30 to 9 p.m. 123 Sciences Lecture Hall Come see a free screening with Sex and the Cinema. This year’s featured movie will be Skyfall, and we will feature a trivia quiz with prizes before the film.
FRIDAY Yolo County Animal Shelter Adoption Sale 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed 1 to 2 p.m.) Woodland Animal Shelter Celebrate “My Furry Valentine” with discounted adoption rates for all dogs and cats from the Woodland Animal Shelter. Help save a life for the same price as buying a coffee — all adoptions are $5. For more information or to see pictures of the adoptable animals, go to their Facebook page at facebook.com/YCAS.Shelter.
Folk Music Jam Session Noon to 1 p.m. Wyatt Deck Folk musicians are invited to play together informally during an acoustic jam session. Pull out your fiddles, guitars, mandolins, penny whistles, pipes, flutes and squeezeboxes 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 are welcome. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880.
Roger Geiger Lecture 3 to 4 p.m.
8 to 9 p.m. 123 Sciences Lecture Come join the suave men of UC Davis for their second annual Valentine’s Day show, with special guest performances by the Spokes, the Hightones of UC Santa Cruz and The UC Men’s Octet of UC Berkeley. Tickets are available at ucdavistickets.com or can be purchased at the door.
SATURDAY Cool Home Workshop 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mary L. Stephens Library Join Cool Davis for their free Cool Home Workshop featuring fresh quality food, healthy play for the kids and cool home prizes! Bike, walk or ride to the library in Davis to learn home energy savings and assessment skills and play at our sustainable washing station.
SUNDAY The Visual Art of Bob Bralove: Cross Pollinating Music with Paint 1 to 2 p.m. Gallery 1855, Davis Cemetery District Come to Gallery 1855, featuring exhibit pieces from three different Bob Bralove series during the month of February. Bralove’s vision, filled with shifting perspectives and unexpected turns, may have been influenced by his years with Stevie Wonder and Wayne Petersen, as well as the Grateful Dead. He has worked on numerous television and film soundtracks and has toured his multimedia performances throughout the United States and Japan. 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.
CAMPUS JUDICIAL REPORT A professor recently referred two students to Student Judicial Affairs (SJA) for what appeared to be unauthorized collaboration during a computer science exam. Another student taking the exam had observed the two students whispering to each other and brought it to the professor’s attention. When the professor compared the two exams after the fact, he also found lengthy identical wrong answers. When the students met individually with an SJA officer, they both stated that one of them had copied from the other during the exam. When asked about the report that they had been talking during the test, both stated that the whispering occurred when the copier asked for help from the other student who responded with "no" and told her to be quiet. What appeared to be unauthorized collaboration was in reality one student copying off of another student without her permission. The student who copied from her friend was placed on Disciplinary Probation and required to complete 10 hours of community service. A group of graduate students were referred by their professor for suspected unauthorized collaboration on a take-home final after the professor noticed many similarities in their answers while grading the exams. During the students’ individual meetings with a Judicial Officer, they all admitted that they had met up at a group member's apartment before the exam. They stated that they had intended to
complete their take-home exams individually and had only gotten together for the purpose of going out afterwards to celebrate the end of the quarter. However, the exam proved very difficult and the students eventually gave in to temptation and began working together on the exam. The professor had explicitly told the class that the exam was strictly to be taken individually, and had reminded them about integrity and the Code of Academic Conduct. Some of the students involved in the unauthorized collaboration were on provisional acceptance, and they were dismissed from the graduate program. The others were placed on Deferred Separation status. Two students were referred to SJA for suspected unauthorized collaboration during two exams in a lower-division science class. The professor observed what appeared to be the two students looking at each other's test papers and working on answers together. Upon inspection of the tests, the professor discovered a substantial number of shared wrong answers and shared odd misspellings on both tests. During meetings with a Judicial Officer, the students stated that they are good friends and admitted to collaborating during both exams. The students agreed to be placed on Disciplinary Probation, to complete 30 hours of community service each and not to sit next to each other or with other friends or study partners for all future exams at UC Davis.
accuracy The California Aggie strives to ensure that all of its facts and details are accurate. Please bring any corrections to our attention by calling (530) 752-0208.
Janelle Bitker Editor in Chief Hannah Strumwasser Managing Editor
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people, albeit slightly less washed, more haggard ones) care about issues when they Justin have information, and a Goss stake in the matter. Well, stuSandox dents have an $18 million Politico stake in athletics, that’s big enough to wipe out the cast of Twilight (god willing), and yet we still don’t care. Why not? Because we lack information and transparency on the issue. Gee, if only there existed some rhetorically forcewas raised with three heful document calling for just roes, two of them fictionthat. Oh wait. al: Joe Montana, Barry Which brings us to Bonds and Batman. So like the largest issue at hand: many northern Californians, Senators putting their own this past Sunday’s Super egos above student welfare. Bowl loss still lingers on my Say what you want, athpalate, barely dulled by the letics are important. Yes, beer I attempted to chase it sports are shallow, vapid and away with. at times brutish, but there’s “But Justin,” you cry, “this something beautiful about column is about ASUCD, being a fan. who cares about sports?” I This Sunday was proofdo friends, and to a degree so positive a group of athletes does your senate. can bring together a room You may recall Senate of strangers, living breathResolution 2, calling for agto-breath with the success gressive overhauls in transor failure of their team. A parency for the $18 million we send in student fees strong UC Davis ICA could go a long way towards revivto UC Davis athletics. That ing the elusive entity known resolution was vetoed and as Aggie Pride, and fostering died. a broader sense of campus Last Thursday, the Senate community. saw another bill, SR 6, a Dissenting Senators Ong, redux of 2, calling for far Bottoms and Topf, why milder and aggressively powould you vote to kill such a lite reforms to athletics. That worthy effort? bill skated by with a 9-3 vote, Senator Ong informed me two more dissenting votes by email that than the she only votes original, I never thought I’d see the for bills she more asseris “110 perday when ASUCD behaved tive resoluin agreetion. like disconnected Washington cent ance…and This politicians ... support of.” whole arNot good gument enough, not even close. What sounds extremely trivial. It’s a nonbinding resolution about about the 110’s of students intercollegiate athletics (ICA) you represent; how did they feel? And if the Senator only — a rhetorical slap on the feels confident backing rhewrist by ASUCD asking ICA torical statements she’s that to be a little more student confident in, I would advise friendly. But upon closer exher to never open her mouth. amination, there are actually Forgive me for flippancy, several interesting themes. but a no-vote is akin to sayFirst, why do resolutions ing, “No, I want less transparhave value? I refer you back to last week’s column where I ency; no, I want less control over my money.” talked about the power of tiCouple that with Senator tles (yes, I know self-referencDon Gilbert, former athlete, es are douchey). Resolutions emailing me, “I took some are effective because they time to ask how athletes and consolidate titles with the entirety of the senate backing coaches felt … they were bewildered at why … the presithem — if one title is good, dent would veto such a mestwelve titles are better. sage and how senate could Which is why resolutions uphold the veto.” are only worth anything if I never thought I’d see they pass unanimously. Any the day when ASUCD bedissent makes ASUCD look haved like disconnected divided and fractious, sendWashington politicians, and ing a poor message to the cast votes with themselves administration. in mind ahead of student Second, why did this spewelfare. cific resolution matter? The The naysayers ought to be average UC Davis student ashamed. Not merely for ofisn’t particularly concerned fering no reasonable arguwith our sports teams. Yes, ments against the resolution, we’re Division I, but our but also for failing to considlast major football victory er just how much was on the came in 2005 when we upset line. Stanford; not the most imI beseech the Senate pressive body of work. Sadly, sports are trapped to overturn the veto from in a vicious cycle. Students President Sterling when it comes, and it will. are indifferent to athletLet’s not allow SR 6 to conics because we don’t win, clude as the Niners’ quest but we don’t win because did on Sunday: hard-fought, students don’t care. Many but inevitably just a little bit top-tier athletes only want to go to schools with thriv- short of the goal. ing sports programs … problematic. JUSTIN GOSS dares you to condemn him How do we break the for his one-sided analysis and, in so doing, legitimate his arguments. You can do so at cycle? jjgoss@ucdavis.edu. People (and students are
Quest for SR 6
I
Daniel Watts
Watts Legal? Question: My lease ended on Jan. 1. My landlord is refusing to return my security deposit. He says I need to collect it from the new tenant who’s replacing me. I don’t want to have to deal with whoever the new person is. Can the landlord make me do this? — Kalin M., Sacramento. Answer: No, your landlord can’t make you chase after the new tenants for the security deposit. That’s messed up. And illegal. As I said in this column a couple weeks ago, within 21 days of you vacating the apartment, the landlord must refund your security deposit. If he doesn’t, or he refunds only part of it, he has to tell you why he did that. He needs to mail or personally hand to you an itemized list of the amounts of any deductions and the reasons for the deductions. He should also include copies of documents showing the charges incurred to clean or repair the apartment.
This list of deductions must be reasonable. He can’t just deduct for anything he wants. Before you move out, you’re supposed to restore the apartment to the same level of cleanliness as it was in at the time you first moved in. Does the landlord want to steam clean the whole place? He can’t charge you for that, unless steamcleaning is indeed necessary to return it to the previous level of cleanliness. The portion of the security deposit that wasn’t necessary to return the apartment to its original condition must be returned to you by the landlord. Why can’t the landlord tell you to get this from the new tenant? Because you don’t have a contract with the new tenant. You’ve probably never met the new tenant. The new tenant has no idea how clean the apartment was when you first moved in, so he has no way of refunding you the correct amount. You have a contract with your landlord. That means that if something goes wrong with that contract, you can sue only the landlord. The law requires the landlord to hang onto that security deposit during the entire time you
The california Aggie
tion in Canterbury Tales (1386) when he puns “cunt” with “quaint” Marisa (queynte), which origMassara inates from the Latin Sex & root “cognitus,” meaning Society “known.” Still others cite the word “cunctipotent,” meaning “all-powerful,” and the myriad of deities sharing the “cu” root, like the In a classic episode of Japanese goddess Cunda, “30 Rock,” Liz Lemon overthe Korean goddess Quani, hears a co-worker calland the Indian goding her a “cunt.” She is hurt dess Cunti. The Ancient and insulted, because even Egyptian official Ptahhotep though she “loves sweareven addresses a goddess ing,” there is nothing she in writing as “quefen-t.” can call the male writThe first recorded user back that has the same age of the word in English power. was in 1230, when London’s “Cunt” — otherwise red-light district featured a known as “The C-Word,” street called — no joke — “the monosyllable” or “a “Gropecunt Lane”. nasty name for a nasty By Shakespeare’s time, thing” (Francis Grose, 1785) “cunt” was considered — is one of the few words rude, though not as obin the English language scene as it is today. The that still has any genuine playwright loved to slip the shock value. Like He-Whoword into his plays, like Must-Not-Be-Named, most Twelfth Night (“There be would rather this word go her very C’s, her U’s, and unsaid because of its vulgar her T’s: and thus she makes connotations. great P’s”) and Hamlet The Oxford English (when Hamlet asks Ophelia Dictionary’s entry on to lie in her lap, and upon “cunt” provides two defiher refusal, feigns shock nitions: “1. The female external genital organs,” and and says, “Do you think I meant country matters?”). “2. Applied to a person, The increasingly peresp. a woman, as a term of ceived rudeness of “cunt” vulgar abuse.” even drove other words out What I want to know is of the English language. why, of all the dirty words Sometime in our lanbefore the guage, the “Cunt” is a word with a rich 18th cenone genand complex history, and tury, “cunerally recame garded as also a word of unparalleled ny” into use as the most power ... an alterfoul is a nate form synonym of the word. Because it was for female genitalia. Why not “shit,” or “piss”? Surely pronounced similarly to “coney,” which meant rabexcrement is less pleasbit, the pronunciation of the ant than a vulva. Why not latter shifted to “CONE-y”. “dick” or “cock”? Why not By the 19th century, how“fuck”? ever, it had disappeared alThe answer is in the genmost entirely and was redered nature of the word itplaced by “rabbit.” self: In our society, female “Pussy,” which used to sexuality is still something mean cat or rabbit, suffered people would prefer to rea similar fate. In the 18th main unspoken. century it was also used as “Vagina” is generally regarded as the polite alterna- a term of endearment for girls, but by the 1900s was tive. It is a far less intimidatso steeped in sexual connoing word, but only because tation that “cat” became the it does not refer to the same preferred term. thing. While “cunt” encom“Cunt” is a word with a passes all external genitarich and complex histolia (including the pleasurery, and also a word of unpacked clitoris), “vagina” paralleled power, sexuonly includes the birth caal agency and femininity. nal, emphasizing function But a word of this magniand penetration. Because tude also has the poten“cunt” implies female sexutial to cause great pain. al agency and gratification, By using it as an insult, it is threatening. “Cunt” was not always an you reduce a woman to a sexual part, and that is insult. Most linguists agree that it came from the Proto- inexcusable. By refusing to say it, you Germanic word “kunto,” are contributing to its excluwhich came either from the sive usage as an insult, and Proto-Indo-European root increasing your own vulnergen/gon, meaning “creability to the word. ate, become” (as seen in But by reclaiming “cunt” “genital” and “genetic”) or as something to be emgwneh/guneh, meaning braced and celebrated, you “woman.” can chip away at the fear of Others trace it all the way female sexuality. back to prehistoric IndoIn the immortal words European, linking it to the of Albus Dumbledore: “Call root cu/koo, which simply him Voldemort, Harry. meant “feminine.” Always use the proper Some linguists even name for things. Fear of a connect the word with name increases fear of the knowledge and powthing itself.” er. The word “can” also came from the “cu” root, MARISA MASSARA is taking full advantage and Geoffrey Chaucer of her linguistics minor. She can be makes the same connec-
The C-Word
reached at mvmassara@ucdavis.edu.
live there. California Civil Code Section 1950.5(D) states that any security deposit “shall be held by the landlord for the tenant who is party to the lease or agreement.” Get your refund from the landlord, not the new tenant. He’s the one with the security deposit, so he’s the one who should give you the refund. A landlord who withholds your deposit in bad faith is liable for triple damages plus your attorney fees. Question: I hate my boss and I hate the customers where I work. My boss can’t fire me if I flip him off (or flip off the customer), right? Isn’t that free speech? —Tatiana K. Answer: Unless you’ve got a contract with your employer that says it’s cool to flip the bird, no, you don’t have a free speech right to flip off your boss. Or the customers. In fact, the First Amendment — the “free speech” part of the Constitution — doesn’t apply at all in a private workplace. That’s why radio host Don Imus got fired for making derogatory comments about a women’s basketball team a couple years ago. And if the First
Amendment applied to private employers, Rush Limbaugh might have been the Superbowl announcer this year. He had a brief stint as a football commentator in 2003 but was fired for controversial comments. Free speech? Not for private employers. A public employer is a different matter. The Constitution restrains the government, not private employers, which means the University of California needs to tread lightly when deciding whether to fire its employees for something they say. This, along with union-sponsored contractual protections, is why the Occupyfriendly professors still work here. The administration doesn’t like rabble rousers, but they can’t easily get rid of them. Your boss can fire you for flipping off customers, posting drunken photos on Facebook or tweeting threats to Justin Bieber. Restrain yourself, because the First Amendment will not restrain your boss. Daniel is a Sacramento attorney, former Davis City Council candidate and graduate of UC Davis School of Law. He’ll answer questions sent to him at governorwatts@gmail.com or tweeted to @governorwatts.
OPINION
The california aggie
thursday, FEBRUARY 7, 2013 3
editorials
GE REQUIREMENTS
Topical breadth, core literacies, what? Beginning with the class of 2015, all students are required to take general education classes under the GE3 framework. This framework increases the units necessary to fulfill requirements while adding additional and more specific requirements than what was required under the GE2 framework. GE3 was created to address GE2’s inability to fulfill its objective, “to create people capable of living and working in an increasingly international society,” according to the task report on GE3. A year after its implementation, GE3 has only served to convolute the general education process. While it may serve lofty goals, GE3, in reality, has only confused and pushed students off track from graduating in a timely manner. When tuition is already so expensive, it does not make sense to make it more difficult for students to graduate. The increased unit load pushes students closer to the unit cap, and for those of us still unsure what we want to major in — it could be the difference between graduation and a sixth year. There is a problem when advisors are confused and have trouble implementing a general education framework. Students rely on advisors to guide them through an increasingly bureaucratic system. When students already face
two-week waiting periods just to see their advisor, a general education framework that is as intuitive as multivariable calculus is ludicrous. A feature of the GE3 framework is that double-dipping is limited between topical breadths and core literacies (confused about this? The California Aggie’s editorial board is too and would love for an adviser to explain this to us — but we’d rather not wait two weeks). This only makes it harder to graduate on time. There is an easy solution to these problems. The fog of general education can be cleared through easier access to advisors. An annual checkup, to make sure a student is on track, should be done to prevent confusion. Instead of laboring through countless pages to see which courses we have taken fulfill which requirements, a simple Sisweb program could be developed to tell students which requirements they have fulfilled and which requirements they must fulfill. This would allow for students to take classes efficiently and alleviate the burden on advisors. While we already have the Degree Navigator program, it is generally unclear and hard to use. If it is too much for us to be able to see an advisor to have our questions answered, then at least a computer can do it. This is the 21st century, right?
CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Music to our ears This week, the ASUCD Entertainment Council announced three upcoming shows at UC Davis: The Postal Service, Vampire Weekend and Phoenix. And they’ve promised us at least one more. We are, in a word, excited. In lots of words, we’re really, really, really, really, really excited. All year we’ve been waiting patiently for a big-name concert to be announced — and now we have three. For those of us who can’t make it to Coachella, Entertainment Council has brought us our very own music festival in the month of April. We have a chance to beat all those Coachella-goers and see these bands before they do. The lisztomania, if you will, of bands that are coming are well-known, talented and unique. The Postal Service is back together after 10 years for a reunion tour, and Vampire
Weekend and Phoenix are supporting new albums. It’s unfortunate that the three concerts have all been scheduled in the same month, leaving little time for our ringing ears (and wallets) to recover. We’ll definitely be sleeping in the next day, and potentially will be missing some of those morning classes. And we wish the promoters had allowed for student tickets to be available, since we are broke. But let’s be real, we’re not complaining. It’s exciting that Davis is the only Northern California tour stop for the Postal Service’s 10-year reunion, and to Phoenix, bienvenue à Davis. Vampire Weekend, we want you to know that WE give a fuck about Oxford commas. And we can’t wait to see you at Freeborn Hall. So, next concert ... Beyoncé?
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.
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Reconsider slacklining policy On occasion you’ve likely seen a handful of people relaxing outside on campus, doing what appears to be tightrope walking. We are not members of the circus, we are not performing stunts for spare change, we’re simply a few students that love to appreciate Davis sunshine. What we’re up to is called slacklining, and I’ll give you the crash course description so that you can understand why anti-slacklining policy is unfounded. Slacklining was created some 27 years ago by climbers in Yosemite as a pasttime, consisting of climbing equipment and the desire for a new way to unwind. Around Davis, the typical slackline is essentially a span of nylon webbing (ranging between 20 to 60 feet long and 1 to 2 inches wide) connected to two trees and tensioned to be able to hold a person’s weight. From that description, you’re probably thinking two things: 1) “Isn’t that going to hurt tree trunks?” and 2) “Isn’t that super dangerous?” These are the two questions that UC Davis Facilities Management and Campus Counsel went ahead and
answered for themselves before being informed. Here’s why the answer to both the questions above is no, and why prevention of campus slacklining needs to be replaced with regulation. Yosemite Camp 4, the very origin of slacklining, where the activity has been going on longer than anywhere else, allows it to this day. That’s right, Yosemite National Park recognizes that with proper use of padding around the tree, the circulation of the tree is not restricted and the bark is not abraded. Tree padding is not something that slackliners argue against, it just makes sense to protect equipment from rough bark, and the bark from equipment. Additionally, slackliners take consideration to set up using large hard-bark trees, which are the vast majority in Davis, because after all, it is in our best interest for the trees to not be harmed. Born from a community of people that trust their lives on the strength of equipment, slacklining harbors the same discipline. Every type of equipment involved in the setup has been tested
Brian Moen The Anarchist
Socialist anarchism
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efore having any political discussion, it is obvious that we need to be clear about what our terms mean. This is some critical thinking 101, something everyone knows. Well, sometimes it seems like everyone knows it, but there is one sense in which a very large segment of the population fails to apply this rule, this seemingly elementary rule. You may be quite clear and quite sure about what you mean when you say a word like “capitalism,” but the major mistake lies in the very common assumption that others necessarily mean the same thing that you do when they use that word. Instead of getting what they mean to say, you instead hear something else. This makes it so that people cannot communicate. Let’s say there is some new great idea that someone writes — some idea that challenges real, illegitimate power. Now let’s say that when you read this great new idea, you fail to get the message because you ascribe different meanings to the words. This could easily happen. Changing the meaning of only one word in an argument can change the entire message. Human beings have probably been making this mistake in interpreting each other for a long time. Powerful groups, though, have cashed in on this mistake and used it to quelch dissenting ideas, and it has been an extremely effective tool in instilling prohierarchy ideology. Remember, only a small fac-
to its breaking strength, which is multiple times the force being applied while slacklining. My personal equipment combines webbing rated at 4,400 pound-force and carabiners rated at 5,300 pound-force, while the tension applied very rarely exceeds 1,000 pounds. Given the use of reliable equipment, which is always used, the likelihood of injury that presents liability to the campus is almost nonexistent. Let’s not forget that slacklining occurs only a handful of feet off of soft ground and at a pace slower than walking. A student biking on campus or in a chemistry lab is under higher likelihood of injury, but these are both allowed within safety regulations like speed limits and protective gear. Slacklining, on the other hand, is met with heavy-handedness regardless of existing precaution. Additionally, the assumption that an uninstructed person will spontaneously approach a slackline and injure themselves is an unrealistic dramatization. Would you yourself walk up and jump on a slackline with-
out preparation? Of course not, and that is why people never give it a shot without being taught how. Plus, a slackline isn’t exactly cheap, and simply out of concern for my property I wouldn’t allow someone to use it unsafely. I urge that given the innocuous nature of slacklining, policy regarding its presence on campus be revisited. What the campus needs are simple rules to ensure that slacklining continues to be done in good form, such as requiring the use of tree-padding and preventing the obstruction of walking or biking paths (both practices that are already in place). Slackliners really are just looking for a peaceful atmosphere, and it’s unfortunate that instead of approaching slackliners to reasonably discuss policy, the administration chooses instead to use the police department as a tool of intimidation. For more information on slacklining, there are boundless resources online. SAM RUSOFF is a second-year evolution, ecology, and biodiversity major. He can be reached at serusoff@ucdavis.edu.
tion of the society, the elite class, in anarchism, would not have deowns the institutional mechascribed anarchism as “no governnisms which distribute informament,” but instead would have tion, and their interests are natu- described it as “freedom from rally most prevalent. So, what we (private) property.” get is a way of using words that Socialism, contrary to the popuupholds their interests. lar conception, does not mean “toWe get a framework of distal government control of induscourse. The entire way of talktry.” That is one thing that the term ing and understanding words is is used to pick out. Just as in the set out so that we can never recase of anarchism, the main advoally hear those arguments that cates of this view do not endorse would underthe popular conmine their powception. er. We would sim- Human beings have probably been Socialism ply write them making this mistake in interpreting means that peooff because we ple own the ineach other for a long time would only undustry, as in the derstand a strawpeople who work man version of them. for the company, rather than a sinWe are taught, by the language- gle capitalist. It can be a matter of use imposed by the elite classes, degree as well. A mostly capitalisto treat language this way. Once tic society might have small socialagain, the parallels to Newspeak ist tendencies, such as collective are overwhelming. bargaining of workers. This whole problem becomes Since anarchism generalvery clear when looking at a very ly means the reduction or elimbothersome scenario which freination of hierarchies — not “no quently befalls me. People say, “If government” — it does, in fact, you are an anarchist, you could naturally lead us to socialism. not possibly be a socialist!” Capitalist industry is naturally hiIt’s such a shining example of erarchical, with the capitalist class the problem of people simply asat the top of the hierarchy, and suming that the way they define a since anarchism wants to elimiterm is the only definition. nate hierarchies, replacing them It is an especially funny example, with equality in negotiation, anbecause people sooner assume that archism demands the elimination another rational adult would hold of capitalist hierarchies. as core beliefs two extremely conSo, how did the general populatradictory views, than they would tion come to regard these terms in guess that the other person is using such a different way than the peothe terms in another way. I think ple who have historically identithat the anarchism/socialism case fied with them? Simple: that is how is a striking example of how people the terms were used in the primafail to understand each other, and ry discourse that people were exthey do it in just the way that they posed to, the barrage of informaare taught. tion provided by the institutions First I want to explain just how owned by the elite classes. it is possible to be a socialist and Furthermore, the discourse iman anarchist at the same time, and posed by the elite class encouragthen I want to push further on how es us to treat terms as though they this shows that elite groups use only have one meaning. We are this to their advantage. taught to think of a term in a way Many people hear “anarchism” that neutralizes its threat to power, and think “no government.” while we are also taught to treat it Furthermore, they take that to only that way. be the only meaning. This would We do speak Newspeak. seem very strange to anyone who reads the foundational literature BRIAN MOEN thinks that he is doing “meta-politics,” but on the subject. Emma Goldman, realizes that the term is annoying. He can be reached at bkmoen@ucdavis.edu. considered a foundational figure
4
volume
7, number 5
thursday , february
the california aggie ’ s arts and entertainment magazine
7, 2013
Elizabeth Orpina
Interpret this
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elebrities are people too. And when I say “celebrities,” I am of course referring to me, myself and I. The above sentence is a basic statement in my glossary of famous phrases. And the statement you just read is an over-exaggeration of how much I love myself. Yes, I love myself. That, my friends, is confidence. Not narcissism. The previous two paragraphs begin the conversation I want to have about something I call “Elizabeth Orpina humor.” Now, I thought I explained this last year (yes, I was qualified enough to be Arts Editor last year too) and at the beginning of this year. Please. Don’t ever take me seriously. What you unfortunately chose to read just now is sadly a short reaction to the number of angry letters I received in response to last week’s column (not news article, just in case you were confused about why a newspaper would print my diary) about show etiquette. I made some harsh remarks about some students I had to sit next to, mentioning their possible major and inserting my flowing negative thoughts of the evening. Considering the fact that I got more positive feedback than I ever have on any other humorous piece I’ve published, I was taken aback by the fact that I might have offended a number of you. Not only were these letters a reminder that I tend to say what no one else dares to say, but they proved to me that I have readers! Welcome back, all five of you. And before I make this entire column a reply to the numerous offensive (by calling me tasteless, btw, you are being a hypocrite) comments I have sitting in my inbox, I want to thank one of you. I walked into the office and was greeted by a printed letter that not only peacefully reminded me that my dry commentary could be interpreted in a bitchy tone, but one that restored my faith in humanity. If I offended you because you think I overgeneralized and attacked students, I want to take the time to make it clear that I was just trying to make a point. I make it a point to only comment on people I can relate to on some level (you should know how qualified I am to criticize certain groups if you take the time to read my work), and guess what? I almost minored in theater. I’ve taken the classes; I attend most shows. But I shouldn’t have to explain or defend myself. Because this is what I should have expected, putting my opinions, humor, name and face out there in a campus publication. And this is what artists, musicians, performers and comics have to deal with all of the time. Art should be examined, interpreted in multiple ways and be able to create conversation between the artist and the audience. In my case, my art is my writing/humor. I stand by it; my friends, coworkers and colleagues respect and relate to my opinions and can realize that in order to fully enjoy life, one must never take themselves seriously. Perhaps art shouldn’t even be taken seriously. The show I attended wasn’t entirely serious. The dancers even admitted that they couldn’t stand the “music” they had to dance to. It’s about experiencing artistic projects in a different way each time. Every once in a while, you’ll read a more serious Elizabeth column. But most of the time, I’ll be making snarky remarks about celebrities. Rarely will you read an opinionated rant, as I’ve learned that my rants garner more laughs when shared aloud.
See ORPINA, page 7
Your weekly dose of video games By ANTHONY LABELLA Aggie Arts Writer
Game of the week I wouldn’t call myself a fan of scary video games, but there have been releases that effectively manage to instill an overwhelming sense of fear and dread with tense atmosphere and obligatory jump scares. The first two Dead Space games are examples of this, and Dead Space 3 looks to continue the trend this week. The third entry in the series wraps up the story of Isaac Clarke, but I’ve found the core game play mechanic of necromorph dismemberment to be far more compelling than the overall Dead Space narrative. Luckily the gory combat remains intact, but developer Visceral Games has made a few notable additions to the Dead Space formula. One of the most notable additions is the new weapons crafting system, which replaces the upgrade bench from the first two games. Now players must seek out resources to help create useful weapons — this is especially important considering the change from four to two weapon slots. Those weapons can be put
to good use in numerous side quests featured throughout the Dead Space 3 campaign. Also new to the series is the inclusion of drop-in/drop-out cooperative play for up to two players. This change has been met with mixed feedback from critics — much of the game seems to be designed specifically with co-op play in mind, which in turn hampers the single-player experience. Personally, I can’t help but suspect that the tension established in the first two titles slowly dissipates with the help of a cooperative partner. Even if Dead Space 3 does fall short of its predecessors — and that seems to be the consensus judging by reviews so far — I imagine fans like myself will still get some enjoyment out of title. This week in news After last week’s edition of the Aggie Arcade, Sony released a cryptic teaser video with practically no information and a single date: Feb. 20, 2013. Following this, numerous video game publications and websites were invited to a Sony event in New York City on the aforementioned date to “see the future.” The news
is still buzzing around the video game community this week, so cue the next-generation console rumors. Only this time, those rumors will likely turn out to be true. Sources have contacted The Wall Street Journal to confirm that Sony is in fact revealing the successor to the PlayStation 3 at the Feb. 20 event. The sources went on to claim that the new console will focus more on social and user interaction in addition to hardware features. Video game website EDGE revealed controller details from anonymous sources following the announcement of the upcoming event. According to those sources, the controller will be similar in size to the current Dual Shock model but will feature a brandnew design. That includes a small touch pad in place of the start and select buttons and a share button that allows players to upload ingame screenshots and videos. Obviously these are not official reports, so we won’t know the actual details until Feb. 20. But nearly all signs point to this event being the announcement of the PS3’s successor. ANTHONY LABELLA can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
2nd Friday HeArtAbout Davis businesses to host Valentine’s Day-themed art events By CRISTINA FRIES Aggie Arts Writer
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Friday’s 2nd Friday HeArtAbout will be a day of romantically-themed art viewings and artists’ receptions in participating businesses around Davis. The public is invited to participate in Davis downtown’s monthly celebration of the arts through free art installations and live music events. In a phone interview with Katrina Wong, Davis downtown’s ArtAbout Coordinator, she discussed ArtAbout’s purpose. “We do it to promote art in our local environment. It showcases new and local artists in venues where you might not necessarily expect to experience art,” Wong said. Friday’s HeArtAbout event includes receptions in over 25 different venues. Front desk clerk at Armadillo Music and second-year political science major Lauren James described the reception to happen at Armadillo. “The indie-folk band The Young Vintage Band is going to perform from 6:30 to 7:30, and the event is being catered by Sugar Daddies, serving free sweet treats for Valentine’s Day,” James said. “Much like our other in-store shows, it’s free, people can come in and bring in their own drinks and get to talk to the band after the show.” The Pence Gallery will have the reception and award ceremony for competing artists featured in the exhibition By Hand: Extraordinary Fine Craft in California from 6 to 9 p.m. Stacy Hilton, marketing and program assistant at the Pence Gallery, discussed the type of work to be featured at the event in an interview. “The exhibit features fine handcraft made by artists residing in California. Some of the media used include ceramics, wood, acrylic, metal, textiles and mixed media,” Hilton said. “On Friday, we will be having the juried competition, and the three winners will be announced.”
Irisa Tam / Aggie
Hilton also discussed the Valentine’s Day-themed group exhibit, Love Lingers: Valentine’s Day Exhibit, which will also have a reception for the ArtAbout. “We have lots of pieces made with different media, like paper-cuts, watercolor, jewelry, textiles and a steam-punk style piece made of found machine parts,” Hilton said. The Best Western Plus: Palm Court will be featuring abstract paintings by local painter and muralist Kerry Roland-Avrech, photography by Michelle Goodenough, live music and complimentary refreshments. Lenor Nuñez, sales and marketing manager of the Best Western Plus: Palm Court Hotel, described the details of their event in a phone interview. “Roland-Avrech’s paintings are abstract
representations of fire, and the photographs are of the front of businesses in winter,” Nuñez said. “From 7 to 9:30 the musicians Diana Craig and Sergei Shkurkin will be there. They will be playing easy listening, romantic jazz music, and we will be serving wine, hors d’oeuvres and chocolate, all for free.” With over 25 different businesses in and around downtown participating in the event, the public is invited to indulge in a plethora of art receptions and Valentine’s Day treats all day long. For maps and detailed descriptions of the events, visit davisdowntown.com. CRISTINA FRIES can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
New Year’s resolution: Stay SickSpits as ever UC Davis’s slam poetry team discusses plans for 2013 It’s Tuesday at 7 p.m. and you’re under attack. “In my dreams, metaphors are sparking at me. Dancing rhythmically inside my brain,” said second-year philosophy and communication double major, human rights minor Blake Deal. “So I grab them, and, taking aim at the audience, fire noisefilled rockets at ear holes looking like just mere words when in fact they are a message. A message heard a thousand times over in your head. You’ve got the illness. The addiction. And there is only one way to be rid of this poetic affliction so please, pick up a pen, and write.”
Deal is a member of SickSpits, UC Davis’ resident slam poetry group. He’s not just waxing poetic for no reason — he’s performing and opening the stage for the other slam poets. “I grab this blank pen to paper, and I stab through the flesh,” said Jordan Schaub, second-year transfer sociology major. “Just to make sure I can feel these shards of parchment ensuring my existence as a purpose for something much greater.” At this point, it’s okay to be shell-shocked. Awe, amazement and realization are all symptoms of getting hit by a Griot. No need to fear, vegans, no one’s throwing
any cheese at your head (that’s gruyere) — a Griot is a poetic technique that SickSpits uses to open their performances. The Griots are a way for the group to give people a sense of their individual style, while also presenting themselves as a collective. The words change every year, along with the mouths and minds that they come from. Since graduations have taken member after member of SickSpits outside of the UC, the group currently has only 5 students at its core, with others occasionally contributing. “They’ve always made sure they’ve had enough members to
‘be alive,’” said Deal. The living organisms in this SickSpits’ system right now all have different styles and different ways of keeping the group alive. Deal is SickSpits’ resident “funny guy” poet, while Schaub identifies as a socially-conscious lyricist. Medina Stanackzai, fourthyear sociology major, speaks to both feminist and ethnic identities. The latter is also a theme for Ben Trinh, third-year sociology major, who’s also been known to lay heavy on “the love shit.” And all the other members, central or
See SICKSPITS, page 7
thursday , february
5
7, 2013
Studio 301 presents John Ford’s classic play of intrigue and tragedy ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore running this month By BEAUGART GERBER Aggie Arts Writer
If you are interested in intellectual finery of the bawdy sort,‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore, the new production by Davis’ own theater group Studio 301, is exactly what you need. Studio 301 reinvents John Ford’s classic drama in a contemporary setting. The play retains the Elizabethan language while drawing out its dark comedy elements. Studio 301’s version will capture the interest of the modern viewer and invite them on a journey of rural intrigue. Mitchell VanLandingham, a fourth-year linguistics major, had the chance to direct this reimagining of Ford’s work. A veteran of Studio 301, VanLandingham had only positive words to say of the student-organized and acted troupe. “Whenever you read a book about Shakespeare, John Ford pops up. I love Shakespeare and I’ve directed his plays, but it was nice to see this play that is so infrequently done come to life,”
VanLandingham said on the matter of choosing to direct such a unique piece as ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore. He went on to explain that even among his contemporaries, Shakespeare’s writing can be viewed as dense. In contrast, even after his first reading, Mitchell was struck by the modern prose and the humor easily accessible in John Ford’s work. The play possesses many macabre elements that will appeal to our modern disposition. “It’s a bloody play with really gory stuff. It’s a lot of fun to do,” VanLandingham said. Though he moved the play to a modern setting, VanLandingham attempted to retain the play’s purity. Due to the play’s incestuous relationship, he saw it as only fitting to move the setting to a modern Appalachia or Ozarks. He wanted to retain the interpersonal relationships between the audience and especially the minor characters. “Pay attentions to the asides. There are so many different side characters that pop up; it will in-
vite the audience into the play,” VanLandingham said. Robert Hansen plays Giovanni in ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore. This second-year genetics major noted the dedicated professionalism of Studio 301’s production. Compared to other performances he’s been a part of, Hansen noted everyone was off book extremely early and really immersing themselves in their respective characters. He also noted the small interchanges between characters. “Watch out for the little tiffs. Pay close attention. You’ll catch those clever moments and think ‘oh I’m so smart’ — I love that feeling,” Hansen said. Despite the archaic language, Robert noted how quickly the troupe picked up the prose. There was a tough learning curve, but they all stayed focused and firmly asserted their roles. Third-year dramatic arts major Toni Postell ran stage management on the production. She was at first hesitant to the production’s location change. It was hard to envision a 17th century
play being reimagined in a modern setting while still retaining the language. Despite the fact that such an undertaking was daunting, Toni was shocked at the alacrity with which Mitchell captured the setting. She noted VanLandingham’s background as a linguistics major as being essential in the learning curve of the cast. Besides the challenge of language, Toni discussed the difficulty of staging the play in Sciences Lecture Hall 123 instead of a classic theater. She noted that despite all its shortcomings, the group has utilized the Greek amphitheater style of the space. With creative costume design and a simple set, the group has worked the room to their advantage. “We will be ready; we are ahead of our game. Vengeance!” Postell said with assurance. Gouged-out eyes, tragedy, bandits and danger, for only $5 — how could you miss it?
Acapella group adds personal touch to Valentine’s Day Aggie Arts Writer
Here’s one way to make your Valentine’s Day more memorable: Serenade that special someone. And if your singing isn’t up to snuff, don’t worry. That’s where the Liquid Hotplates come in. “The Liquid Hotplates are a co-ed a cappella group on campus. We’ve been hosting shows and events, and right now we’re selling singing valentines for $10 each,” said second-year environmental planning major Tiffany Wang, a Hotplates member. The songs will be delivered on Saturday. According to the official website, the Hotplates’ origins extend back to the fall
of 2000, when Scott Whitacre, a UC Davis voice teacher, formed a jazz octet called the Davis Aces. After Whitacre passed on leadership of the group to graduate student and Aces member Steve Gellar, the newly student-run group began recruiting new members and made the transition from jazz to an a cappella style. Since then, they have traveled and performed all over California, recorded an album and continued their annual tradition of delivering singing valentines, which they will deliver to anywhere in Davis or via phone or Skype. “We’ll be in Hellacappella on March 1 at the Mondavi Center,” said communication major Jess Welsh when asked about the
group’s plans for the rest of the quarter. Finally, if for some reason you need more reason to buy a singing valentine, the Hotplates put all their money toward cancer research. “It’s really sentimental, and all of our proceeds go to the American Cancer Society,” said biology major Cindy Kovacs. To learn more about the Hotplates, visit their website at theliquidhotplates.com. To order a singing valentine and view the available songs, either find them on Facebook or visit their table at the Memorial Union this week. BRETT BUNGE can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
UC Davis club educates public on women’s health Members raise awareness through outreach events
Unknown Mortal Orchestra II
12345 Second albums can often be a treacherous step for independent bands who’ve gained acclaim on the Net; the continual quest in the blogosphere for a new sound or the single of the day from among a multitude of interesting groups can often result in a band’s sophomore effort being dismissed as too similar (or worse: too “produced”) in comparison to the first. Luckily, Unknown Mortal Orchestra sidesteps this folly, with II providing an even-tempered expansion of the style laid out on their selftitled debut in 2011. The sound can be described as a sunbaked ride through faded 1960s West Coast utopia; fuzzy bass interlocks with drum breaks worthy of hip-hop instrumentals, centered around distorted, classically psychedelic guitars and reverby, sibilating vocals. On some tracks, the inclusion of piano and synthesizer adds a degree of depth not heard on their even more lo-fi first album. Nevertheless, II does not immediately grab one’s attention as much as the previous album, whose abandoned, uptempo summer-of-love melodies were endlessly repeatable. Despite these facts, II is a solid effort that may improve one’s opinion further upon more intent listening. Overall, the album is more downtempo and expressive than its predecessor, and is more than adequate for long gazes into a sunrise (or sunset). Give These Tracks a Listen: “Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark),” “Monki” For Fans Of: Tame Impala, The Flaming Lips, MGMT — Andrew Russell
Aggie News Writer
In Fall 2011, two UC Davis students and best friends Liz Johnson and Sarah Yang founded the Women’s Health Initiative Club at UC Davis. The club has presented sex education to several schools in Yolo County, as well as donated and fundraised for the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center (SADVC) in Woodland. “The Women’s Health [Initiative] Club focuses on informing the community on women’s health-related issues, and offering support to women and girls who have been sexually assaulted,” said Parisa Esfahani, a first-year creative writing major and member of the club. The club works with CommuniCare, a Davis teen clinic, to train the club members in presenting sexuallytransmitted infections (STIs) and birth-control awareness in high schools and middle schools around Yolo County. They also work with the SADVC, where they volunteer and raise money for their club’s events and the shelter. “Working with these two establishments also helps the members of the club gain experience working in environments where women have gone through domestic abuse or need a place to go,” said Melissa Dittrich, a first-year English major and member of the club. Sex education presentations for middle schools and high schools occur once a month. “We have found that the pregnancy presentations we
give at Davis High School are not as effective as other high schools around Davis. The students at Davis already have health care coverage and do not have problems with rising pregnancy rates,” Yang said. Yang, a fourth-year neurology, physiology and behavior and sexuality studies double major, and Johnson, a sixthyear managerial economics major, said that there needs to be more focus on sex edu-
James Kim / Aggie
By MELISSA GAHERTY
Today, 8:00 p.m., free John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 First St.
Currently working on her third book of poetry, Zara Raab is a poet, essayist and reviewer, who has been published in numerous literary magazines. Born and raised in California, she also teaches a poetry class at the city of Berkeley’s Hillside Club. Raab will be joined by the UC Davis theatre and dance MFA candidate performers.
Armadillo Music & KDVS Record Swap Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., free Davis Senior Center, 646 A St.
Over 50 tables of used and new CDs, tapes, DVDs and vinyl records will be present at this music swap, put on by KDVS, Armadillo Music and the city of Davis. Tables are available to the general public to purchase in order to sell their wares, and the event is open to anyone wishing to purchase music in all of its forms.
D’Amore Duo Friday, 8:00 p.m., $5 (tickets required) Davis Art Center, 1919 F St.
Musicians William Feasley and Yeon Jee Sohn will be opening the Davis Art Center’s Fourth Annual Classical Guitar Ensemble Series with a guitar and oboe performance. The Duo has travelled around the globe to expose music lovers everywhere to their unique fusion of oboe and guitar in chamber music.
BEAUGART GERBER can be reached at arts@ theaggie.org.
Liquid Hotplates sell singing Valentines By BRETT BUNGE
Zara Raab
cation in schools around Yolo County instead of Davis itself. “In other high schools in Yolo County, I have presented while there has been a pregnant student sitting in class. Davis High School is pretty affluent in comparison,” Johnson said. Out of the 30 club members, there are three males. “It [the club] really opened my eyes to many of the hardships some women have to go through and all I wanted to do was to be able to help somehow,” said Richard Galvin, a fourth-year managerial economics major and club member. “I was raised by a single mother and have always been really close with her, and it was always hard to see how much she had to deal with and
persevere through to raise my two brothers and me. I know that many women experience even worse than her, so I really want to do anything that I can to help.” The club generally does one project per quarter. For the upcoming spring quarter, its plan is to coordinate “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” an event in which men will walk a mile around the City of Davis in high heels. The event is open for the public to participate. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is a national organization that will sponsor the event by donating high heels in men’s sizes to raise awareness for sexual violence. “I’m planning on getting both the rugby team and my work at the ASUCD Coffee House involved in this event. I’m also hoping to get some of the other sports teams on campus to get involved as well,” Galvin said. So far, the club has done “Baskets of Love” with the SADVC in May 2012. Curves, a fitness program for women, donated soap, lotion, makeup and nail polish for homeless women on Mother’s Day. The club has also held a clothing drive this past winter quarter for homeless women. “Usually people start clubs because they need credit or it will be good for their resume, but all of us wanted volunteer opportunities to do something good for the community. I think we have really started something out of nothing here,” Johnson said. MELISSA GAHERTY can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
Bark! Opening Reception Friday, 7:00 p.m., free John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 First St.
The opening reception for Bark! will include music, refreshments, and a book signing for Cameron Woo’s Photobooth Dogs. Bark! is a multimedia homage to the dog, with works of art ranging from painting to sculpture. The show will feature works from numerous artists, including a solo show by artist Roy de Forest.
Cirque Mechanics Sunday, 3:00 p.m., $12.50-27 student ticket Mondavi Center
A cog-and-wheels American Circus, the 9-year-old Cirque Mechanics will be performing its show Birdhouse Factory at the Mondavi Center. The performance is inspired in part by the creations of Rube Goldberg and Charlie Chaplin, and is directed by the troupe’s founder, Chris Lashua.
Isabel Wilkerson: UCD Campus Community Book Project Tuesday, 8:00 p.m., $10-20 student ticket Mondavi Center
Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of the bestseller The Warmth of Other Suns, will be speaking on her book and the years of research that went into it. The Warmth of Other Suns was chosen for the 2012-2013 UC Davis Campus Community Book Project. — Tanya Azari
6 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013
The california Aggie
CAMpAIGN Cont. from front page
water project will cost Davis about $103 million, down from the original $113 million. “There’s no public oversight and the city council introduced high rates despite 5,800 protests,” Nieberg said. Nieberg said she believes there are alternatives that need to be discussed, such as the West Sacramento water project Davis was initially considering. She said that the West Sacramento option would confer better advantages and be cheaper. “We can’t vote on a specific project without knowing the rates,” Nieberg said. “The rates are constantly fluctuating.” A fellow No on Measure I supporter and Davis resident Ernie Head said although he acknowledges the city tried to make rates more reasonable, their decisions did not, in fact, make the rates any more reasonable. “We don’t know the actual cost of construction,” Head said. “After adding everything to the equation, we’re talking about [the project costing] $600 million. The city manager determined it’ll cost
$30 million for 30 years.” Head said he’s concerned for students as well, since many students are already having trouble meeting financial obligations. “Well, over half of students can’t afford increases in water fees,” he said. “The city’s not being honest. The way they use Prop. 218 is the most un-American, dishonest way of getting their way.” Head said the city sends out the proposition notices to all property owners, but not all voters own properties. Additionally, some people own multiple properties so they receive more votes. “[The] vast majority [sees] it as junk mail,” Head said. “If they don’t vote, then it’s counted as a ‘yes’ vote.” Another argument the No campaign made was that the water quality in Davis isn’t bad enough to be an issue. “We have adequate groundwater; there’s no problem with salinity or selenium,” said Nancy Price, a Davis resident and supporter of the No on Measure I campaign. “There’s very little accountability to people. We need verified facts and time to negotiate.” Price said the Water Advisory Committee (WAC) has already reduced the size and cost of the project signifi-
cantly, but she believes there are there more savings to be made. The WAC operates with the city to analyze the water policy and offer its recommendations. Elaine Musser, part of the Yes on I campaign and chair of the WAC, said going through with the project or not going through with the project would still increase rates. “We considered the West Sac project, but because we would be a customer instead of a partner, we decided against it even though it was cheaper,” Musser said. “Students should care [about this project] because they’re rent payers; they might find an increase in rent — although some landlords are thinking of sharing costs.” Musser said she thinks there’s a good chance of the measure passing. In a recent poll the Yes on Measure I campaign published, 85 percent were aware of the project and 70 percent were for Measure I. The poll surveyed 300 likely voters in late December 2012. Diane Phillips, senior civil engineer for the City of Davis, said the city has been trying to find ways to meet the regulatory side, the government side that affects the project and determines the best way possible to help ratepayers.
“We downsized the project and cut back,” Phillips said. “We try to be more sensitive to what will be a very big burden to ratepayers. More recently, the city council got together with the WAC and the public; lately, the public’s definitely been more involved.” Phillips said projects start with large budgets, and as they go along, they reduce in scope. “We understand how much pipeline might be laid and how much environmental work has to be done because we’ve talked to people,” Phillips said. “The price has gone down a little bit because of those things.” Five community meetings are being held at 7 p.m. throughout February to provide additional information about the proposed water rates. The first two meetings were on Monday and Tuesday. Today, a meeting will be held at the Senior Citizen’s Center at 646 A St. On Feb. 20, it will be held at the South Davis Fire Station at 425 Mace Blvd. The last meeting will be held on Feb. 21 at Birch Lane Elementary at 1600 Birch Lane. CLAIRE TAN can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
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Websites/Internet Overpopulation is sexually transmitted. http://population.sierraclub.org/ population/
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FOR RELEASE MARCH 29, 2010
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 Calligrapher’s need 4 Hilton alternative 9 Fragrant wood 14 Lair 15 Surrounding glows 16 Fuming 17 Day “Grey’s Anatomy” airs: Abbr. 18 Gyroscopic toy 20 Archery projectile 22 Time past 23 Comic Philips 24 Central American fishing mecca 28 At liberty 29 “Flying kangaroo” airline 33 The Beatles’ “__ the Walrus” 36 Skin layer 39 British nobleman 40 Pretender in a ten-gallon hat and boots 44 Division word 45 __ Bruce, ’30s’40s Dr. Watson portrayer 46 Scand. nation 47 Be lenient 50 Chinese leader? 52 Proverbial backbreaker for a camel 58 IV squared 61 The same, on the Seine 62 Bush successor 63 Arctic solar phenomenon 67 __ alai 68 Kindle download 69 Gizmo 70 Ques. response 71 Homes in trees 72 Letters after thetas 73 The last word of this puzzle’s five longest answers is a type of one DOWN 1 Dog collar attachment 2 India’s first prime minister 3 Small knob 4 Argues 5 “Fer sure!”
By Barry C. Silk
6 The Diamondbacks, on scoreboards 7 Tucker of country music 8 Part of a carpenter’s joint 9 Movie theater 10 Fraction of a joule 11 Dinner and a movie, say 12 Tiny particle 13 Seized auto, for short 19 Big oil exporter 21 Not quite right 25 There are three in every yard 26 Eva of Argentina 27 From square one 30 Folder features 31 Get one’s ducks in __ 32 Leonard __: Roy Rogers’s birth name 33 “Got it, man!” 34 Pisa’s river 35 “Turn off the sound” button 37 X-ray cousin, briefly 38 Auspices 41 Nanny __
3/29/10
Wednesday’s puzzleSolved solved Saturday’s Puzzle
(c)2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
42 Penny 43 Numbers on 45s 48 Arab chieftains 49 Safecracker 51 Gambling parlor letters 53 “Chicago Hope” actress Christine 54 Even if, informally 55 Indian prince
3/29/10
56 Kenmore competitor 57 Spot for a belt 58 Mutant superhero group 59 Hard-to-describe feeling 60 Nuptial vows 64 “Wayne’s World” catchword 65 Get off one’s 25-Down 66 Italian article
Sudoku
VERY HARD
Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square. Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing.
Thursday, FEBRUARY 7, 2013 7
The california aggie
UC Davis pictorial history published Hundreds of images relay university’s history By LILIANA NAVA OCHOA Aggie News Writer
A pictorial history of UC Davis was released Jan. 14. The work, compiled by Dennis Dingemans and Ann Foley Scheuring, is entitled University of California, Davis and is the latest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s Campus History Series. “The UC Davis book is a perfect representation of our Campus History series,” said Suzanne Lynch, Arcadia Publishing sales and marketing specialist. “The book celebrates the history of generations of students, professors and events through vintage images and descriptive captions. With their extensive knowledge of the university’s history, [Dingemans] and [Foley] were the perfect authors for the book.” The book features 230 photographs obtained from 19 sources. The UC Davis University Library Special Collections published 142 images, making it the primary source for the pictorial history. According to Dingemans, the idea for University of California, Davis came from an Arcadia book about Woodland. He said the success of the book reflected an interest in Arcadia products applied to the local history scene. “I was interested in working on the pictorial history of UC Davis because when I wrote Abundant Harvest, the [UC Davis] narrative history (2001), I was unable to include as many pictures as I would have liked. While the narrative is detailed and comprehensive, it takes more sustained concentration to read. A pictorial history is more immediately accessible and can trigger memories more quickly,” Scheuring said. The book is available for purchase online, at Davis and UC Davis bookstores or through Arcadia Publishing. “I hope the book will appeal to campus people who wouldn't read a lon-
courtesy
The pictorial history features photos throughout UC Davis history. ger book and help them appreciate just what a rich and diversified place UC Davis is,” Scheuring said. University of California, Davis is expected to have greater sales during Spring Quarter due to graduations and weekend festivals that attract alumni and visitors to UC Davis.
“The book is dedicated to the university's librarians — past and present,” Dingemans said. John Skarstad, a university archivist, assisted in compiling images for University of California, Davis. “The book provides a handy visual reference to the historical campus
and shows many of the events and traditions that have shaped the [UC Davis] experience,” he said in an email interview. “You will be tempted to race through this short book. Don't. These are images to savor.” LILIANA NAVA OCHOA can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.
Sex Harassment Education with James Bond Sex and the Cinema Program to show ‘Skyfall’ By MARIA MARCELINA CRYSTAL VEGA Aggie Features Writer
A free screening of the film Skyfall will be held tonight by The Harassment and Discrimination Assistance and Prevention Program (HDAPP) as another installment of their Sex and the Cinema Program. It will be shown at 7:30 p.m. in 123 Sciences Lecture Hall. “It is a very light-hearted event,” said Lisa Brodkey, director of HDAPP, in a phone interview. The Sex and the Cinema Program was an idea inspired by UC San Diego’s Sex in the Cinema, which is run by a department similar to HDAPP. Both aim to raise awareness of the issues surrounding sexual harassment and discrimination including gender, sexuality, relationships and racism through their film of choosing. These movies are usually not yet available for rent to the general public. Previous picks have included The Help, Black Swan, Precious and Milk. During the event, attendees take part in a short trivia game before the screening and are eligible to win
prizes. “First, we want them to have fun. Second, we want students to learn about our program so that they can find us if they need us,” Brodkey said. HDAPP, formerly the Sexual Harassment Education Program, is a resource on campus where students, staff and faculty members can go to find support after being sexually harassed. It is also the place where staff can report discrimination. HDAPP works closely with other centers on campus so that even if they are not the right resource for an individual, they can lead them to where they need to go. Beyond this, HDAPP is also available to do trainings for departments, organizations and clubs on campus on these topics. “We always hope no one needs our services, but that they know where to come if they do,” Brodkey said. Sexual harassment, as defined by Ivy Griffin, the Education Specialist of HDAPP, is behavior that is unwelcome and sexual in nature. It can take on verbal, physical or visual forms and negatively interferes with an individual’s work or learning environment. Griffin
OBAMA
sickspits
Cont. from front page until they know what it would cost and how much it would raise the price of student health care. UC switched to a self-funded system in 2011. “UC SHIP has always had a cap on it, so there’s nothing lost or gained from the implementation of ObamaCare, but I do think that these caps should be lifted because it would offer students better coverage,” said Darnell Acquah, a fourth-year economics major. ObamaCare will go into full effect by Jan. 1 of 2014.
Cont. from page 5 otherwise, bring their own individual flavor to the table. But, like how Julia Child can never have too much butter, SickSpits can never have too many poets. The group is always looking for and welcoming of new members to their team. “It’s never been a formal process,” said Schaub. “Like, just come talk to us, show us what you’ve been working on. We really just want to hear you perform.” With or without new members, SickSpits has plans for 2013. “It’s a group I’d like to see restored to its former glory,” said Deal. He’s playing with suggestions like how he plays with his words, coming up with ideas like flashmob-esque surprise performances, anonymously submitted slams and collaborations with other on-campus poetry groups.
NATASHA QABAZARD can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.
CONCERT Cont. from front page major Elizabeth Joelson. The unexpected spike in buzzworthy music events caused a flurry of reactions, nearly all of them positive, from students both online and off. “This lineup keeps piling itself higher. At this rate, we might as well go all the way and get Daft Punk over here. Keep bringing the beats, EC,” said third-year ecological engineering major Anthony Beck. The remarkable Coachella-like lineup was made possible in part by Another Planet Entertainment, which promotes many large-profile shows in the Sacramento and Bay Area. With their efforts, April is shaping up to be quite a happening month at UC Davis. “We are very excited to be co-sponsoring [these shows] alongside APE this spring ... we have a few more tricks up our sleeves, so be sure to like our Facebook page and check our site for more show announcements,” said Nadra Widatalla, the social media director for EC, of the upcoming events. As of today, presale tickets for The Postal Service and Vampire Weekend are available online, with general tickets for all concerts available on Friday. ANDREW RUSSELL can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
ORPINA Cont. from page 4 What I want all five of you readers to take from this is that not everything you encounter will please you. Some things will
WOMEN’S Cont. from page 8 Did you know: The Aggies are averaging close to 700 fans per game at the Pavilion which is quite impressive compared to the number they get when they don’t play on their home court.
When UC Davis plays on other teams’ courts, they pull in crowds of just over 400. Part of the reason why UC Davis’ home court attendance average is so high is because of the 2,612 fans it brought in when Stanford came to the Pavilion on Nov. 30. Preview: Despite the Aggies’
also explained that discrimination is an adverse action based on a protected category. Protected categories include things like medical conditions, disabilities, pregnancy, age and ethnicity. Moira Delgado, current Outreach Coordinator for Services for International Students and Scholars and former Education Specialist for HDAPP, hopes that it is becoming a more approachable unit and students are more apt to seeking help in sexual harassment cases. “I hope that they feel more confident recognizing it and addressing it directly instead of just letting it continue … Often students feel unsupported … but it can be very damaging emotionally and sometimes physically if you take the most extreme form,” Delgado said. HDAPP is currently located in TB-169 near Tercero and across from Giedt Hall. It is advised that you call in advance either through their anonymous call line at (530) 752-2255 or their general call line at (530) 752-9255. You can find more information on their website at hdapp.ucdavis.edu.
The poets are going to keep up their tradition of events like Tuesday night Open Mics and the end-of-the-year homage to hip-hop culture, “The Movement,” but Deal and the others also want to “bring back all the extra stuff we used to do before open mics.” They speak and spit for whoever asks them to, from California high schools to social justice events. Trying to keep their roots in Davis, the group wants more student organizations to come forward and feature them in events. But more than just that, they want to get back the family feel. Change is inevitable for the collaborative; along with the departure of famed spitters like Fong Tran and Ruby Ibarra, they’ve moved the location of their Open Mics from the Griffin Lounge of the MU to the Multipurpose Room of the SCC. The usage of Griffin Longue was paid for by SickSpits’ sponsors, but budget cuts and a desire to keep Griffin as a study lounge, SickSpits didn’t have a space any more.
With help from Tran, who now works for the Cross Cultural Center, the group got access to the SCC’s Multipurpose Room. With the new location came a new atmosphere; as the event is no longer centrally located on campus, SickSpits’ sounds don’t draw the same crowds. “But the crowd is always great,” Deal said. “It’s all about the crowd, and all of ours have been the best ever. In all of my performances, I’ve never heard a ‘boo.’” SickSpits’ next Open Mic will be this Tuesday from 6:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Delta of Venus. In honor of Valentine’s Day, the event is love themed, and calls for any and all raps, poems, songs or stand-up comedy stories. For information on more events, keep your eye on the SickSpits group on Facebook, and for questions, comments, compliments, community event requests or a chance to be a core member, email ucdavissickspitz@gmail.com.
disturb you, offend you or cause you to rethink your life. Art is embedded in everyday things. Art can take form in a person, place or thing. Art is whatever you make it out to be. So, you walk away from this column with life advice, while I walk away considering
writing inspirational self-help books or becoming a comedy writer. Either way, I’ll still be publishing art. At least my cats will think so.
sub- .500 overall and conference records, they are by no means out of the race for the Big West conference title. The Aggies stand at 9-11 and 4-5 in conference, placing them in seventh place in the Big West. Still, two of UC Davis’ wins have been over teams that are ahead of them in conference. Recently, the Aggies split two weekend games with a victory over Long Beach State and a loss to UC Irvine. Senior Cortney French provided most of the offensive firepower for the Aggies on the weekend with 37 total points and was aided by sophomore Sydnee Fipps’ 29 points in the
TANYA AZARI can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
Never take ELIZABETH ORPINA seriously, as she’s usually rolling around on a floor somewhere moaning and groaning about how hard life is. Email her fan mail at arts@theaggie.org.
first game. UC Davis has several tough match ups ahead of them. The Aggies have already matched up with both Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara this season, and dropped both games. The Mustangs took down UC Davis in an extremely tight game by a score of 73-71 back on Jan. 10 and the Gauchos beat the Aggies 58-43 two days later. Yet, playing at the Pavilion could provide the environment the Aggies need to pull out victories. UC Davis is rounding out the last two games of a four game home-stand as the season nears an end. Their opponents will defi-
nitely provide substantial challenges. The Gauchos’ most recent outing resulted in a victory over Cal State Fullerton, while Cal Poly won its last two games by scoring close to 80 points each game. The Aggies will have the task of putting points on the board, but this usually spurns from their shut-down defense that, if successful, will provide energy on both sides of the court. The Aggies stand at seventh place in the conference at the moment, but two victories this weekend could flip the conference standings around. — Matthew Yuen
THE LINEUP 8 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013
The california Aggie
Men’s basketball preview Teams: UC Davis at UC Santa Barbara; at Cal Poly Records: Aggies 8-12 (4-5); Gauchos 7-14 (3-7); Mustangs 9-11 (5-5) Where: The Thunderdome — Santa Barbara, Calif.; Robert A. Mott Gymnasium — San Luis Obispo, Calif. When: Thursday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 7 p.m. Who to watch: Junior Josh Ritchart scored a season-high 22 points during last week’s loss to Pacific. He will be tasked with the challenge of repeating that performance this week. The Aggies are faced with two tough road games this week, and as if they needed more pressure, they may have to perform without leading scorer sophomore Corey Hawkins. Head coach Jim Les told his players they had to step up to fill the gap left by Hawkins’ absence and Ritchart took that message to heart. The junior landed shots from the field, beyond the arc and the free throw line to spearhead the Aggies’ offense. The best thing about the Auburn, Calif. native is his ability to be a threat from anywhere on the court, even those his 6’9” frame typecasts him as a center. His accuracy allows coach Les to have two big men on the floor at the same time. By stacking Ritchart and sophomore J.T. Adenrele on the court at the same time, UC Davis has the option of running with either center, and using the other to run screens or take perimeter shots that are difficult to contest due to their size advantages. Did you know? Sophomore Corey Hawkins became the first player in school history to score more than 40 points in a single game. Hawkins landed 40 points against Hawai’i on Jan. 19, breaking the previous
Lucas Bolster / Aggie
Junior Josh Ritchart scored 22 points against Pacific last game. single game scoring record for UC Davis. Former record holder Mike Lien managed to bank 39 points in a 1979 contest against Cal State Stanislaus. Preview: UC Davis needs wins. They have a chance at sweeping this week’s contests, moving them to 6-5 in Big West Conference play. They face the Gauchos on Sunday, and whether they have Hawkins or not, they need to find a way to spread the ball and score. Fortunately, there is no lack of offensive weapons in Les’ arsenal. Junior
Women’s Basketball Preview
Mark Allinder / Aggie
Ryan Sypkens is simply magic from beyond the three-point line, and he is earning national recognition for his accuracy and production as a three-point shooter. Sypkens’ agility also allows him to skirt around the court and land shots from the paint as well. Adenrele continues to shine as a center. His newfound strength is allowing him to establish dominance in the paint, and it is earning him plenty of dunks. The best thing about Adenrele is his shocking success from the free-point line. As a center, it
does not pay to foul him because he rarely misses a free throw. “J.T. has worked really hard on free throws in the offseason and it’s wonderful to see the payout,” Les said. Of course there is Les’ own son, junior Tyler Les, who is best known for his energy on defense and his knack for making big shots to recharge the offense. However, Tyler is more than an explosive shooter; he is excellent at moving the ball and finding the open man. He recently set a new career-high for himself, ending the game against UC Riverside with 7 assists. UC Davis can beat UCSB. If they hold onto their defensive focus, they should be able to walk away victorious. The trip to Cal Poly will be slightly more challenging. The game against the Mustangs was a continuous back and forth that was only finished when Hawkins managed to make a miraculous fall-away, buzzer beater to give UC Davis a one-point advantage. Cal Poly’s Chris Eversely was constantly finding new ways to break through the Aggie defense and their biggest task will be trying to find an effective way to neutralize his play. The Aggies will also need to keep their own offensive productivity up. A good defense is key, but they need to find ways to make up for the points they will lack if Hawkins is stuck on the bench. This week will really nail down the final conference placings and it will certainly be tough for them to walk away with two wins. They are a hard-working group with talent; they just need to apply their corrections and maintain focus throughout the game. — Kim Carr
Softball Preview
Brian Nguyen / Aggie
Freshman Molly Greubel has the highest free-throw percentage on the team.
Sophomore Justine Vela placed third in all-time strikeout totals in UC Davis history in her freshman year.
Teams: UC Davis vs. UC Santa Barbara; vs. Cal Poly Records: Aggies, 9-11 (4-5); Gauchos, 9-12 (5-4); Mustangs, 12-8 (6-3) Where: The Pavilion — Davis, Calif. When: Thursday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. Who to watch: The Aggies’ free-throw percentage is nothing too special, but what is most impressive about it is where most of those buckets have come from. Freshman Molly Greubel has the
Event: Fresno State Kick-off Teams: UC Davis vs. Southern Miss.; vs. Fresno State; vs. UTEP; vs. Southern Miss.; vs. Sacramento State Records: Aggies (0-0); Golden Eagles (0-0); Bulldogs (0-0); Miners (0-0); Hornets (0-0) Where: Bulldog Stadium — Fresno, CA When: Friday at 9 a.m.; Saturday at 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.; Sunday at 11:15 p.m.and 1:30 p.m. Who to watch: When Shakespeare wrote the words, “Though she be but little, she is fierce,” little did he know that the phrase would apply to sophomore pitcher Justine Vela. Last year, the 5’5” freshman sensation grabbed numerous honors, highlighted by the title of Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year, and Big West Pitcher of the Year. After her freshman season, Vela became the queen of the pitcher’s circle with 272 strikeouts on the year, placing her third in all-time strikeout totals in UC Davis history. By the end of the season, Vela boasted a 20-17 record complete with nine shutouts, and even a no-hitter against Idaho State. Vela will not only serve as a force on the mound, but also as a mentor and an example to her teammates this upcoming season. Did you know? Last season, the Aggies upset the then eighth-ranked Stanford Cardinals. The win went down as Stanford’s only loss to the Aggies in 17 years. The triumph was made possible by the pitching brilliance of current senior Jessica Thweatt and the timely hitting of Cassandra Ginnis in her freshman season. This season, the Aggies will have multiple opportunities to repeat their good fortune against the Cardinal at the Stanford Invitational, as well as during conference play. Preview: The Aggies will embark on their season with only three out of their first 29 games at home. Frightening for most? Sure. Frightening for our Aggie fast pitch studs? Never. In fact, surprisingly, Coach Karen Yoder and her team feel quite at home on the road and plan to perform at their best despite the constant travel scheduled for the beginning of the season. “We have always had a program that has played well on the road. We bond well and there’s not as much distraction. We have study hall, then eat, sleep and play softball,” Yoder said.
highest free-throw percentage on the team, sinking 45 out of 54 this season. The Santa Ana, Calif. native pieced together a neat 22 free-throws in a row before missing one last game against UC Irvine. Greubel has emerged as one of the Aggies’ most prominent offensive presence, seeing that she has scored in every game she has appeared in, with double-digit totals in five of those.
See WOMEN’S, page 7
Women’s tennis team heading to Oregon Difficult schedule has led to 1-4 start The UC Davis women’s tennis team has had a rough start to its season thus far. With a record of 1-4, the team has spent the majority of its time playing on the road. After winning its first match against Northern Arizona, it has lost four consecutive matches to No. 29 Arizona, No. 37 Arizona State, No. 5 Stanford and Santa Clara. Freshman Tiffany Pham and senior Ellie Edles won in straight sets against Santa Clara on Feb. 3, while also winning their doubles match. However, the team could not overcome the strong play by their opponents, losing by a score of 4-3. The team has been hit with one of the most challenging schedules that it has ever faced, with four Pac-12 teams in its first five matches. The Pac-12 is known as the powerhouse of collegiate athletics on the West Coast with the likes of California and
the University of Southern California, while receiving constant national recognition. Coach Bill Maze continues to be optimistic in the early going of the season. “I think the season is going pretty well. Even though we are currently 1-4, we’ve played well in every match with positive attitudes and great guts,” he said. In a typical tennis match between two teams, there is a total of seven points to be earned. Within the overall match, six singles matches are played accounting for one point apiece and three doubles matches accounting for one point. Whichever team wins two of the three doubles matches earns the point, contributing to the team’s overall score. Maze emphasizes improvement in the doubles category. He made his point clear that this aspect will be his team’s focus. “Three things: doubles,
doubles and more doubles,” he said. “If you win the doubles point, you only have to win three singles matches instead of four to win the overall match. So the doubles point is huge and even though we are getting better every day, our doubles still needs work.” The team will head north to Oregon to play two matches in as many days. Starting on Saturday, the team will play against the University of Oregon (6-0) and will finish off playing against the University of Portland (1-2) the following day. Maze made his philosophy of preparation sound simple, as he and his team will get ready for the twomatch set. “The same way we always prepare — get ahead in school, work hard, eat and sleep well and support each other on and off the court,” Maze said. — Luke Bae
In addition to the countless travel days, the Aggies’ schedule is highlighted by numerous historically successful teams including California, Arizona State, Stanford and Hawai’i. Despite any potential intimidation, Yoder has total confidence in her squad to handle the pressure and remain focused. “There are exciting games on the schedule, but we will not take anyone lightly,” Yoder said. With the addition of a star-studded schedule, the Aggies’ have also increased their squad size due to Yoder’s decision to permanently expand the roster two years ago. As a result, this season the Aggies plan to capitalize on their depth as a team. “I am so extremely excited about this season…We have added speed and some very capable and exciting defensive players to add to our depth,” Yoder said. “We have added to our pitching staff, and our offense is far stronger than the past seven years. I just think that all around our program has taken it up a notch in all areas.” With the addition of ten freshmen to their active roster, the Aggies will have a solid blend of experienced veterans and talented underclassmen to create a lethal combination. Notable veterans that Yoder plans to rely on include Vela and junior Kelly Schulze; however, the team’s chemistry as a whole is what truly motivates the team. “There are just so many [leaders] to think of, but I think that chemistry-wise we bring a lot together. I think that they are going to be amazing,” Yoder said. In addition to their predicted success on the field, Coach Yoder regards her players not only as remarkable athletes, but also as remarkable students and representatives of our university. “They are a special group of young ladies that will represent our university. We had so many with over a 3.0 GPA last quarter. It is a complement of them being academically strong, as well as athletically strong,” Yoder said. The Aggies have all the tools for success this season, and the only role the audience has is to sit back and watch the magic unfold. “If you like fast-paced-type, intense athletic competition, we are the team to come watch,” Yoder said. — Alli Kopas