Davis Cemetery hosts Dia de los Muertos celebration
Davis families and students gather to honor the dead and preserve the history and traditions of this holiday for future generations
BY MATTHEW MCELDOWNEY city@theaggie.org
For the frst time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Davis Cemetery District & Arboretum hosted a Dia de los Muertos celebration on Nov. 2 with prominent local Chicanx artists, vendors, performers and customs essential to this Mesoamerican holiday.
Tis family-friendly, freefor-all event provided an “Ofrenda,” an altar decorated with marigolds, papel picado, food and candles, for Davis families to honor their deceased loved ones. Tese Davis families were provided with oferings, grave cleaning supplies and face paint to authentically pay tribute to the departed.
Jessica Smithers, the district superintendent of the Davis Cemetery District & Arboretum, helped set up the event and coordinated cemetery staf to help make this event a reality. Smithers said that it was encouraging to see the turnout of people celebrating this holiday at the cemetery.
“It is really important to us to not just use this space for those that have passed but also for the living,” Smithers said.
For this reason, the Davis Cemetery invited Folklorico Latino de Woodland, Davis’ local Mariachi del Valle, and prominent Chicanx artists to perform and express their
culture through art. Francisco Franco, an artist and professor from San Francisco, and ROB-O, a sugar skull artist, conveyed the signifcance of their heritage and the Dia de los Muertos holiday through the art they showcased. In addition to these artists, Smithers expressed the importance of inviting
educational speakers. Sheila Allen, the District 4 supervisor, stressed the importance of Dia de los Muertos and its history of cultural perseverance which is inseparable from its identity.
“Te reason why we really focus on having educational speakers is because of how some may believe that it is just
UC Davis students and staff discuss the unique role of social media on this election cycle
Both new and experienced voters make sense of new political landscape
BY EMME DUNNING features@theaggie.org
To say that the 2024 United States presidential election has been unusual would certainly be an understatement. With a Republican candidate facing multiple felony convictions and a Democratic candidate who entered the race mere months ago, a victory for either party would be a historic event.
Te candidates for this election have been unique to say the least, and their methods of reaching potential voters has refected this. Te Kamala Harris campaign in particular has used social media trends to appeal to young voters, connecting her image with popular musical artists like Chappell Roan and Charli XCX and capitalizing on relevant TikTok trends. Voters and academics alike are taking note.
Amber Boydstun, a professor of political science and communications at UC Davis, has signifcant experience analyzing the link between media and politics. In this particular election, Boydstun believes that a lack of policy information could be responsible for the increase in trend-related election content consumers have been seeing on social media.
“We’re in a relatively lowinformation political environment compared to other elections,” Boydstun said. “I’ve never been alive in an election where we know so little about both candidates’ concrete policy proposals. What [social media trends] have done in this low-information environment is to give people a diferent heuristic to grab onto.”
In low-information elections such as this one, Boydstun notes that many voters are drawn to candidates based on their personality and personability — particularly in terms of how these things ft in with their personal identity and values.
“When we don’t have information about policies, then we really do go based on vibes,” Boydstun said. “We go based on whether they’re a Republican or a Democrat and what we stereotype those labels with, or whether they are a man or woman or what their race is. At the end of the day, are they someone we’d like to have a beer or a cofee with?”
Boydstun also asserted that although social media has streamlined the process of reaching young constituents, using media to connect to potential voters is an established practice.
“Tis is nothing new, right?”
Boydstun said. “Te entertainment space has been a place where presidential candidates have hoped to try to make a personal connection with people, and so it makes sense that social media would be the natural extension of that.”
Andrea Guillen, a fourth-year political science major, has seen this change in outreach tactics frst hand.
“Social media has defnitely afected the way I see this presidential election,” Guillen said. “[In past elections], a lot of the time they would just hold press conferences, and you’d see it on live TV. Now It’s obvious that they’re trying to reach a specifc audience that wouldn’t typically go out of their way to watch a presidential rally or debate.”
Although Guillen understands the important role of social media in politics, she also is acutely aware of the unique dangers it may present.
“Like a lot of people my age, I consume a lot of content on the internet,” Guillen said. “Social media is defnitely one of the best ways to keep voters informed, but it can be tricky because misinformation is so easily spread.”
To combat this, she recommends that potential voters continue to do research on candidates and policies outside of social media.
like celebrating Halloween and may not understand that there is a cultural history and tradition to honoring those who have passed,” Smithers said. “It was important to us to have people understand what exactly is happening during this holiday and why it is celebrated today in the United States.”
Zaid Arroyos, a UC Davis alum and intern for the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, reached out to the artists, speakers and local businesses as an organizer for this event. Among these speakers was Professor Kevin Johnson who was selected to talk about cultural preservation.
“It is important to have these events because Davis and the rest of Yolo County have a large Latino population, and we should be doing more to have these ways to celebrate that culture,” Arroyos said. “Dia de los Muertos is especially important for all of us to reconnect with those we have lost.”
Tis spirit of reconnection in the face of grief best captures the essence of Dia de los Muertos, and it is through this authenticity that this holiday, one of the few remaining Mesoamerican traditions that are prevalent today, can endure, according to Arroyos.
With a focus on cultural appreciation, Arroyos and the staf of Davis Cemetery made an efort to support local businesses and vendors that share or contribute to this heritage.
One such vendor was Ailani Corona-Miramontes, a third-year design major, who sold crochets of marigolds and stufed animals at the crafts corner of the event.
Student fans recount their 2024 MLB World Series experiences
Yankees and Dodgers fans describe their favorite parts about watching the series
BY GRACIELA TIU features@theaggie.org
On Oct. 30, the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series against the New York Yankees, fnishing of the annual Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason championship series between the winning teams of the National League and the American League. Te series, which is played for a best of seven, ended in the ffth game at Yankee Stadium, with the Dodgers winning their fourth game 7-6. Dodgers and Yankees fans here at UC Davis, despite being far from Los Angeles and New York, still felt the excitement surrounding the series, especially after the fnal game.
“I was at the library when they won, and it was funny to see other people jump out of their seats to celebrate it,” Carlos Gonzalez, a second-year human development major, said. “As soon as they won, I FaceTimed my parents just to get their reactions. It’s crazy to think that a game can make you feel those emotions.”
Although Dodgers and Yankees fans were especially thrilled this year because of the World Series, Roman Kuznetsov,
a second-year aerospace engineering major, said he has been passionately rooting for their teams for years.
“Back when I was like three years old, I saw a Yankee hat in my wardrobe that I think my mom bought for me,” Kuznetsov said. “I also saw a lot of people around me wearing Yankees hats because I grew up in the Bronx, which is where Yankee Stadium is. So I was just, you know, indoctrinated into the culture of being a Yankee fan.” Gonzalez also said his afliation with the Dodgers stemmed from his relationship with his family.
“I’ve been a lifelong fan, because there’s some history behind it regarding my dad living in LA,” Gonzalez said. “I grew up watching all of the teams that he supported, so they became my teams.” As a Yankees fan, Kuznetsov also recounted the sad but emotionally connecting experience of being in Davis during the Yankees’ loss.
“A lot of people that I know are Yankees fans back home,” Kuznetsov said. “Losing the World Series was very much a heartbreaker for us.
Ofrenda at the Dia de Los Muertos celebration hosted by the Davis Cemetery District. (Sacha Chickering / Aggie)
KAYLA TRAN / AGGIE
DARIXA VARELA MEDRANO / AGGIE
Sudwerk Brewing Co. hosts annual Halloween
Extravaganza
The popular Davis brewery welcomed everyone for a Halloween celebration
BY OLIVIA HOKR city@theaggie.org
On Oct. 26, families, students and community members dressed up in costume and gathered at Sudwerk Brewing Co. for a Halloween Extravaganza. Te annual event included live music from local musicians on Te Dock, pumpkins available to paint, a party brunch inside the restaurant, costume contests and more.
Alex Fisher-Wagner is the events
strategist at Sudwerk Brewing and was also the emcee for the extravaganza.
Troughout the month of October, Sudwerk ofered special Halloween cocktails called the Experiment and Vampire Bite to embrace the spooky season.
“For October, we’ve been running these special Halloween cocktails on theme with decor,” Fisher-Wagner said.
Tose two Halloween cocktails were the Experiment, which was an Earl Grey whiskey cocktail that is topped with a gummy eyeball, and then our Vampire Bite which is a shooter that
was white rum, blackberry liqueur and lime juice, garnished with a black sugar rim.”
Fisher-Wagner also shared details of the exciting collaboration with RockBand University at this year’s event.
“Our annual Halloween Extravaganza is a free event that is put on at Sudwerk that’s family-friendly and open to all,” Fisher-Wagner said.
“Tis year was really exciting, because we got to partner with RockBand University for their kid’s Halloween concert showcase which featured seven
diferent rock bands from their afterschool program.”
Among the kids from RockBand University were two who dressed up as band members from Green Day and ended up winning the kid’s costume contest.
In addition to Halloween parties, Sudwerk brings the community together with celebrations such as Oktoberfest. Sudwerk was founded by German descendants and takes pride in their traditional German brewing methods.
“We just had our Oktoberfest at
the end of September,” Fisher-Wagner said. “It is an annual event that brings about four to fve-hundred people every year. We’re a German restaurant and brewery, so there’s a big German celebration there.”
Sudwerk Brewing Co. is known for hosting celebrations for every holiday throughout the year, and then some. From Halloween Extravaganzas to Cherry Blossom Festivals to weekly trivia nights and live music concerts, Sudwerk always has something going on for everyone in the community.
Davis rides into the Halloween spirit with annual Zombie Bike Parade and Festival
BY ALMA CULVERWELL
city@theaggie.org
the highly anticipated annual Zombie Bike Parade and Festival. Tis event, now a beloved local tradition, ofered a fun, family-friendly way for Davis residents to celebrate Halloween while supporting meaningful causes. Community members attended for free with the event being fully
sponsored by the organizing groups. Te day’s activities began at 11:30 a.m. with the Zombie Bike Parade — a fve-mile bike ride starting at the Davis Community Park. Participants, many dressed up in costume, biked through town to reach Mace Ranch Park in North Davis. Upon arrival, the crowd enjoyed a bike motocross (BMX) stunt show with professional riders. After the show, community members made their way back to Community Park where the main festival awaited them at around 1 p.m. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Community Park festival ofered something for everyone. Te event featured over 15 entertainment
stations, including professional DJs spinning music, food stalls with curated “zombie circus” treats and various live performances. Participants of all ages and abilities were welcome, refecting the event’s inclusive atmosphere. Attendees could also visit the Haunted Photo Booth to capture photos, and children could explore the provided Halloween crafts, games and face painting as part of the “Zombie Zone.”
Fundraising was a key aspect of the event as well, with proceeds going to several local organizations. NorCal Trykers, which provides custom tricycles for children with disabilities, was the primary benefciary.
Additionally, the event raised funds for Friends of Watermelon Music Nonproft, an organization supporting local music initiatives, and Toys for Tots, which provides holiday gifts to children in need.
Another highlight of the festival was the costumes, with over 25 prizes awarded to individuals and groups for creative costumes. Te Zombie Bike Parade has grown considerably since its creation.
Initially created by Davis Odd Fellows member Dave Rosenburg and his wife Lea Rosenburg to raise funds for NorCal Trykers, the event quickly gained traction. Local cycling enthusiast Aaron Wedra joined forces
with the Rosenbergs, solidifying the event’s structure and collaborating with the Odd Fellows to expand its scope. Today, the Zombie Bike Parade is a dynamic event with dedicated volunteers and staf members constantly evolving its oferings. Tis year, the event was part of a city-wide Halloween celebration, with additional festivities over the weekend, including the fourth annual Trunk or Treat Extravaganza, the Davis Zombie Ball and the Zombie Mash Afterparty. Tese events underscored Davis’ commitment to creating an inclusive, festive environment for families and individuals of all ages.
Adults section of the costume contest held at the Sudwerk Brewing Co. Halloween Extravaganza. (Julia Heron-Watts / Aggie)
puts Student
Bill of Rights expansion on upcoming ballot, appoints members to the Ethical Spending Committee at Oct. 31 meeting
Senator Jacob Klein also addressed “misinformation” printed in The Aggie regarding his conduct during a vice chair confirmation the previous week
BY VINCE BASADA campus@theaggie.org
ASUCD Internal Vice President
(IVP) Aaminah Mohammad called the Oct. 31 meeting to order at 6:12 p.m. before reading the UC Davis Land Acknowledgement.
Te senate frst moved to fll the four remaining seats on the Housing and Transportation and Advocacy Committee (HTAC). Christina Smith, the HTAC chair and fourthyear political science — public service major, noted that it was a “very competitive round” for applicants and added that the chosen confrmees were all impressive applicants.
Talha Shafk, a fourth-year data science major, was unanimously confrmed as the vice chair, joined by HTAC members Chad Pugliese, a second-year community and regional development (CRD) major, Jasmine Stowers, a second-year CRD major, and Will Brooks, a fourth-year political science major, who were also confrmed without objection.
The Gender and Sexuality Commission Vice Chair Catalina SilvaOliveira, a frst-year communications major, and Student Sustainability Career Fair Committee Member Nitika Sathiya, a frst-year civil engineering major, were also confirmed at the meeting.
External Afairs Commission (EAC) Chair Henry Rosenbach then gave his quarterly report and said that he was working with the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment on securing opportunities for UC Davis students through its network, as well as forming a Rally Committee. Rosenbach, the only EAC member at this time, also informed the table that he had posted vacancies to fll the commission’s seven open seats.
Afterward, Senate Pro Tempore Asif Ahmed asked if any senators would be interested in joining the new Ethical Spending Committee (ESC) created by SB#6. Senator Mia Cohen, who had voted against making the committee a permanent entity at the previous week’s meeting, then asked to join the ESC.
“I would love to work with other senators and other committee members to see how we can spend ASUCD’s money in a way that’s ethically right, and I’d love to learn about other people’s viewpoints,” Cohen said. “Also, I think having my input would be nice, because I represent a diferent community on campus.”
Her appointment was immediately approved by Ahmed.
Te senate then heard a presentation from the Cross Cultural Center (CCC) Director Joseph Martinez, M.A., who talked about ways to spur ASUCDCCC cooperation and show gratitude for ASUCD’s continued support. His presentation, which included outreach information, was praised by the Ethnic and Cultural Afairs Commission Chair Reem Suleiman and ASUCD President Gaius Ilupeju.
After a break and ex-ofcio reports, the meeting moved to introduction of new legislation, namely SB#8 to expand the number of protected classes against bias.
Moving onto new legislation, the senate discussed and unanimously passed CA#92 to place a constitutional amendment to include the right to privacy in the ASUCD Student Bill of Rights on the upcoming ASUCD fall ballot.
“You have the right to privacy,” the amendment reads, in part. “Your personal information’s confdentiality, including contact information, academic records, medical history, fnancial data and all other sensitive information, shall be protected. Te University and ASUCD shall not disclose your personal information without your explicit consent, except when required by law or in accordance
Davis Food Co-op holds Halloween Block Party highlighting local artists and businesses
The event featured local restaurants, small businesses and non-profits
like olive oil.”
with other existing University policies. If your privacy rights have been infringed, ASUCD and the University are required to take any necessary and appropriate action to respect your privacy.”
Te table considered weakening the wording in certain sections of the amendment from “shall” to “should” or “may” based on the recommendation of the Ofce of the Campus Counsel, but ultimately decided to keep the stronger wording.
Te senate also discussed SB#9, which would have placed a survey on the fall 2024 ASUCD ballot to gauge student interest on a possible Student Equity Fee Referendum that might charge students $60 annually. However, the legislation was ultimately withdrawn due to concerns from the UC Davis Ofce of Student Afairs that students flling out their ballots would be confused and think they were voting on passing such a referendum instead of simply giving their thoughts on the bill. Ilupeju indicated that the survey might be released to students via email in the near future instead.
During open comment, Senator Jacob Klein addressed an “inaccurate” description printed in Te California Aggie on his conduct during the confrmation of Emily Setiobudi, a third-year clinical nutrition major, as the vice chair of the ECAC during the Oct. 24 senate meeting.
He quoted the article, which read, “Senator Jacob Klein raised his concern over the appointment due to the politics of the constituency. His concern was widely dismissed by the table.”
Klein proceeded to explain his side of the situation.
“Let me clarify what actually happened,” Klein said. “I asked the [ECAC] vice chair candidate the following question: ‘What do you think the biggest issue facing our campus is when it comes to ethnic and cultural afairs, and how do you plan to work to address it?’ [Setiobudi] provided a great answer that included comments about how many students remain apolitical and how ECAC should hold workshops on cultural appropriation, among other things.”
“I did not raise my ‘concern over the appointment due to the politics of the constituency,’” Klein said. “Tis is because, A) I did not have any concerns about the nominee and B) my constituency did not play a role in this conversation whatsoever, whatever that may be. Second of all, I have spoken to almost half of the senate table that was present at this meeting, [and they] have all agreed that my concern was not ‘widely dismissed by the table’ and that the author indeed misrepresented what actually happened.”
“In other words,” Klein said, “[Te] interpretation of my interaction with the ECAC vice chair was categorically false and seriously misleading.” Klein said that he had clarifed the issue with Te Aggie’s managing editor, Alyssa Crevoiserat, earlier that day and that his “goal is not to interfere with personnel matters as they pertain to a particular journalist, but more so to emphasize the need for truth and accurate reporting.”
Additionally, Te Aggie has added an editor’s note to the end of the article, recognizing the mistake: “Due to sound difculties and the absence of microphones for every speaker, there was an error reporting a statement made by Senator Klein in an earlier version of this article. He later shared a statement with Te Aggie that is included in this article.”
Chris Ponce, Te Aggie’s editorin-chief, and Crevoiserat provided a comment. “Te California Aggie values truth and accuracy in the articles we publish, and we will always accept criticism and make adjustments when necessary,” the statement reads.
BY RORY CONLON rhconlon@ucdavis.edu
The Davis Food Co-op hosted their Halloween Block Party open to Davis community members on Oct. 26. Te event featured booths from local businesses and organizations, Halloween-themed activities and live music from the Davis-based band Cowboys After Dark.
Te block party is one of two events the Davis Food Co-op, the only locally owned and operated grocery store in the city, holds each year. Lilliana Agredano, the marketing manager for the Co-op, said the Halloween-themed event has expanded since they started it two years ago.
“Years ago, it was mainly a gathering where we gave private invitations to members,” Agredano said. “Part of our [purpose] is to be a gathering space for the community, so that’s [why] we decided to expand it to be a bigger event and invite the whole community.”
Agredano said the Co-op started reaching out to local businesses four months before the event.
“We make sure to promote small and local businesses,” Agredano said. “So, if any of them want to come out — like Te Hive, Te Growing Groves or Kindness Trift [Mobile Shoppe] — we welcome them. It’s all free for vendors, and our main purpose is to bring the community together.”
Besides local businesses, non-proft organizations like the Yolo County Library also had booths at the event. Xochilt Romo, who tabled for the Yolo County Library, said it was her frst time at the block party.
“It’s way bigger than I expected,” Romo said. “It’s only been like an hour, and to be honest, I didn’t expect this many people because it’s such a small parking lot. It’s completely packed.”
On their table, the library ofered candy to trick-or-treaters as well as Halloween-themed bubbles, pencils and stress balls. Romo said she wanted to promote the library’s weekday and weekend programs to kids attending the block party.
“We call them Sunday Fundays because we always host something different — sometimes it’s movies
and sometimes we have crafts,” Romo said. “We have beaded jewelry for the Indigenous [Storytime and Craft], Reading Buddies, Makerspace and tutoring for the kids. I know we’re very popular, especially because we’re surrounded by schools.”
Te Graduate Students Association (GSA) at UC Davis also ran a booth at the event. Sicily Lerner, the secretary for the organization, said she wanted to provide more information and support to graduate students at UC Davis.
“We want to help better build community and get grad students out and into the city,” Lerner said. “I know that it’s really hard for that to happen when you’re in graduate school, so we’re hoping this is just another way to get people out and about, especially working to support local businesses.”
Lerner said that in addition to handing out pens and stickers at the event, the GSA also displayed a pizza cutter on their table to advertise the food and basic needs pantry for graduate students.
“We’ve also partnered with the Co-op, which has generously donated a basket full of food and other goodies that we’re rafing of to all graduate students and professional students at Davis,” Lerner said. “It’s a whole mixture of all sorts of things the Coop has put together for us — there’s tea, snacks and other things for cooking,
Te event also featured Halloweenthemed activities that included a costume contest, pumpkin decorating contest, squash fest sampling and a photo booth for people to get photos with their costumes on. Local band Cowboys After Dark played covers of “Triller,” “Electric Slide” and “Ain’t No Sunshine” for people on the dance foor. Kyra Cvitanich, a fourth-year communications major, first heard about the block party through one of her friends. She said she liked Cowboys After Dark’s rock cover of “Ain’t No Sunshine.”
“I thought they were really good,” Cvitanich said. “Tey surprised me because I typically don’t see a saxophone and a trumpet in a band. I thought it was really neat that they were able to blend those instruments into rock in a new way.”
Cvitanich said she explored several booths at the event, including a booth for Te Growing Groves Plant Shop and Unitrans. She said community events like the block party bring out a diferent side of Davis.
“I think they represent togetherness, like a chance to meet your neighbors, to have fun and be in community with each other,” Cvitanich said. “It’s not very often that you get to see people come together in this way except for moments like [this].”
Middle East/South Asian Studies holds
first
ever Evening on the Quad event
The event promoted Arab culture and solidarity
BY RIVERS STOUT campus@theaggie.org
On Oct. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m., Middle East/South Asian Studies (ME/ SA) held the frst-ever Evening on the Quad festival. Te event was organized with the purpose of embracing Arab culture and inter-Arab solidarity. Many organizations participated in the event, including the Lebanese Student Association, Dabket Watan, Students for Justice in Palestine, the Asian American Studies Department and more. Live music, free food and henna tattoos were also featured.
An organizer of the event, who has chosen to remain anonymous, shared the festival’s goals.
“I think a showing [of solidarity] like this on campus show[s] not only Arab students but Arab faculty and staf as well, that we have Arab life here in Davis,” the anonymous organizer said. “We have partnerships not only here in Davis but across our community. Tese relationships have been years in the making. Something that we aim to do through this event is to get students and community members plugged into Arab life in whatever way they see ft.” From children to the elderly, people of all ages attended the event. Faculty
also participated, both in hosting booths and enjoying the evening.
The anonymous organizer elaborated on the purpose of the event.
“It’s the beginning of the school year, so part of the event is kind of an orientation for Arab students to see themselves on campus and make themselves known,” the organizer said.
“Tat’s something that people are looking to be involved in, [to] cherish the Arab community and the Arab people. [It’s also] about cultivating our identity not just culturally but also academically.”
Amani, a frst-year political science major, shared her experience as a Palestinian attendee.
“It’s really nice to feel like there’s a community around you,” Amani said. “I hope [the event] becomes annual.”
The aforementioned organizer expanded on the overall impact of the event.
“I would love to continue highlighting and showcasing Arab life, whether it looks like this or not,” the organizer said. “I think it is a priority that we show our community that we’re here and that we’re going to continue to serve [them] in whatever way [they] want [by] being responsive and attentive to the needs of our community beyond tonight.”
Many community members came out to participate throughout the night and enjoy the various live music performances.
Abdullah Haitham, a third-year computer science major and the president of UC Davis Iraqi Student Union (ISU), spoke on the ISU’s role in the event.
“Today we’re part of the Arab Involvement Fair and we’re tabling to spread the word about our club,” Haitham said. “I founded [the club] a few months ago, so we’ve ofcially been around for about three months. We had our frst event a month and a half ago, and it was a great success.” Haitham then talked about the community support the ISU has generated.
“It was too much support,” Haitham said. “It’s been great, it’s been so good. All of the clubs here at Davis have shown their respect and admiration for us, they’ve supported us even though we just started. We posted our stories, they’ve given us words of admiration, they’ve been such great people, and we have nothing but love for them.”
Te festival served as a way for the ISU and other clubs to promote themselves but also for members to mingle and meet each other for possibly the frst time in person.
“We’re hoping to connect all cultures of all backgrounds because Iraq is a melting pot of all cultures, religions, ethnicities — just like the U.S. in some aspects,” Haitham said. “We want to connect people through our ideals and beliefs.”
Haitham continued by sharing how welcome he felt by students and faculty on campus.
Tere is really no diference in the treatment of how I am because of where I’m from in Davis, it’s very inclusive, and I’m proud to say it’s one of Davis’ great strengths,” Haitham said. “Student life as an Arab here is great.”
Te anonymous organizer said that the event was exceptionally successful in that it brought many diferent people together.
“People are interacting with folks they otherwise wouldn’t, and talking to them about what it is they do on campus or here in Davis,” the organizer said.
AGGIE FILE
Davis locals dress up for the Davis Food Co-op’s annual Halloween Block Party. (Andrew Huang / Aggie)
Students gather to celebrate first “An Evening on the Quad” event. (Aggie File )
Dance as a language, not just an art or a sport
BY MOLLY THOMPSON mmtthompson@ucdavis.edu
“Athlete. Artist. Dancer.”
Tat’s what the glittery t-shirt my 11-year-old self lived in proclaimed. Is dance a sport? Is it an art? My t-shirt said both, but it’s an age-old question. Maybe it’s an artistic sport? An athletic art? Conversations around how to categorize dance have fuctuated in tandem with the development of dance and society over the past few centuries, but we’ve never arrived at a defnitive conclusion.
I propose a third option: I say that dance is a language.
Te primary purpose of language is communication. Ballet (and dance as a greater medium) is also primarily a method of communication — the best performers are able to express wild and frenzied lore without speaking a word. Dance has its history in storytelling; ballets have always painted dramatic tales of love, loss and whimsy, and audiences are drawn to watch because of the visceral, poignant feelings they can absorb from the performers.
Stuart Carroll is the artistic director of the Sacramento-based Capitol Ballet Company and a ballet instructor at UC Davis. I’ve been taking his class here on campus since my frst quarter as a frst-year, and even though I came in with 15 years of ballet experience, I’ve truly learned so much from his guidance and training. During class last week, he stopped the combination we were working on.
“Te purpose of all of this is communication,” Carroll said, urging us to use our movements as a means of expression rather than simply executing the steps with the sole goal of being technically profcient. “Sometimes it’s the dancer to the audience, sometimes it’s the choreographer to the audience through the dancer. But that’s why expression is so important, because we can’t talk, so we communicate through movement.”
Yes, ballet is inherently artistic, but I would argue that language as a concept is also an art form. Poetry, songwriting and literature are all products of language as an artistic medium, and I argue that dance is
the same — language as an artistic medium.
In order to be classifed as a language, there must be grammar: a system and set of rules that dictate the structure of the language and how it’s used. Ballet has a clear set of rules. We always turn out our legs, we always point our toes, we have a clear formula for where we hold our arms and head in accordance with diferent body positions — everything is set on a foundation of basic rules that allow us to build complex serial patterns to convey meaning. Tis is exactly like the way we use the rules of syntax to form complex sentences out of smaller building blocks, which have a
semantic value that’s greater than the sum of its parts. In the early stages of learning a language, we’re taught to strictly adhere to the rules and follow the grammatical guidelines by the book. Once you master the language and gain a fuent understanding of how it lives and breathes and operates, you can start to break the rules for the sake of artistic liberty. And before you know it, you’re allowed to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction because that’s your creative decision — even though your high school English teachers told you it wasn’t allowed. Once you’ve mastered the basics of ballet technique (granted that, just
like with spoken language, we’ll all be students forever), you’re allowed to break the rules for deliberate choreography. Sometimes classical technique isn’t adequate for what you’re trying to convey, so you alter it to suit your creative vision. Tat’s where the artistry comes in. Tat’s when it graduates from being a string of movements and becomes a story —- that’s when it becomes art.
Just like with any language, learning is a lifelong endeavor. Every day we continue to learn new words that elevate our communication skills; in every dance class we learn new moves that allow us to express ourselves in more sophisticated ways. It takes years of practice to accumulate the skills necessary to be truly eloquent; it takes years of practice to accumulate the skills necessary to be an exceptional dancer. Language changes as society develops. Ballet looks diferent today than it did in the early days of its conception. Arbitrary letters become a vessel for a story when we string them together. Movements that seem meaningless in isolation become a narrative arc when we play them out in succession. Language is an art. Dance is a language.
Disclaimer: Te views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by Te California Aggie
I’ve spent the entirety of this quarter trying to fgure out my professor. On the frst day of class, he gave us a two-hour lecture on his life story, which isn’t entirely unusual because plenty of professors will choose to do that on the frst day.
But then, it just kept on getting more and more strange by the day. He would reference his life story multiple times in class and even ask questions in lecture about himself. Following one of these questions, he would say something like “You should know this, we covered it in lecture.” I always thought that he was simply trying to be funny. Again, it’s normal for professors to have somewhat strange senses of humor.
However, after the midterm he gave, I am ready to expose this
professor. In the midterm, it was a 100 question exam all about himself.
Tis is a physics class. One of them was: “What’s my favorite tie to wear to lectures?” Sadly, I got this one right — it was the magenta one. If his ego wasn’t already high enough, I would ask him where he got it. I intend to report this to the administration, but I fgured I would start in Te California Aggie. Here’s what my professor does regularly:
1. Whenever he makes a particularly important point, he will look directly into the lecture capture camera and give a little smile. Tis one was pretty difcult to spot because the smile is almost unnoticeable. However, once you see it on the lecture capture, it’s impossible to ignore it. He’s like Jim from the Ofce. It’s weird.
2. If someone ever tries to take a picture of the board while he is teaching, he will pose for the camera.
Tis happens rather frequently during lectures since he doesn’t post his lecture slides on Canvas. I have a feeling that he doesn’t post them on purpose.
3. Te professor requires that homework is submitted on physical print copies so that he can grade them individually with a pen. At the end of each homework, he will draw his own signature in very large lettering.
Once he made the joke that it would be worth something someday, but now I’m pretty sure he wasn’t joking.
4. Whenever he has his ofce hours over Zoom, you can tell that he’s constantly looking at himself on the screen rather than what he is teaching. One time, when I asked a question, it took him a second to pull away from his dazzling refection. Now, my loyal readers are probably wondering how attractive my professor must be to warrant this behavior. I am not going to answer that question because I am uncomfortable.
However, he is alright at best. Te following situation is very embarrassing and hard to read, so I would recommend skipping this paragraph if you sufer from secondhand anxiety. Last week in class, someone took a picture of the board with my professor in the frame. Ten, they began giggling over the phone with their friends. My professor clocked this immediately. He demanded to see the phone. Finally, the phone was fipped around and it was revealed that my professor was making a very unattractive face in the photo. “DELETE IT!” he screamed. “DELETE IT! DELETE IT! DELETE IT!” Everyone sort of went silent and we all tried to pretend it never happened. However, after that midterm, I must end my silence. Him and his magenta tie are going to pay for what they did
to my grade.
Disclaimer: (Tis article is humor and/or satire, and its content is purely fctional. Te story and the names of “sources” are fctionalized.)
SANDHYA PFILE
VERONICA THEN / AGGIE
SAVANNAH BURGER / AGGIE
Why you should vote in the ASUCD elections
ASUCD elections are happening next week, and so is your chance to have a say in campus politics
WRITTEN BY THE
EDITORIAL BOARD
With general elections consuming everyday media, it can be easy to overlook the elections that are closer to home. Te ASUCD fall quarter elections are happening next week from Nov. 12 to 16, and the Editorial Board urges you to utilize your vote. If you truly want to have a say in what happens on campus, voting in the ASUCD elections is the perfect way for your voice to be heard.
ASUCD elections occur every school year, in the fall and spring quarters respectively, and are open to all undergraduate students. Te overarching branch of ASUCD consists of the compilation of units, such as Unitrans and the Cofee House, that provide services and events to students, and the student government which allocates funds and manages the organization as a whole. Te main point of the elections is to not only elect new ASUCD government ofcials but to also vote on measures that directly afect the student body.
Tis election cycle, there is only one measure on the ballot: ASUCD Constitutional Amendment #92. Tis
Read our online editorial about boosting your employment prospects! EDITORIAL
amendment aims to encode students’ right to privacy into the Student Bill of Rights. Additionally, it will expand the reach of this protection to “caste, class, native language etc.,” according to the amendment text. In addition to ballot measures, one of the most exciting aspects of the ASUCD elections is the senate appointments. Te senate is the primary student legislative body on campus that allocates student fees and votes on legislation that aims to suit the best interests of the student body.
Tis quarter, there are 10 candidates on the ballot: Solana Rodriguez, Ryan Weber, Zack Dollins, Ilias Benomar, Umar Shaikh, Jorge Diuaz, Jenna Younes, Nanki Kaur, Kenneth Dupont and Alexa Raben. Even though only six of these candidates will be elected to serve on the senate, the ballot follows a choice voting format which allows you to rank all of the candidates in order of preference. Tis way, you can advocate for as many candidates as you would like.
For those who wish to learn more about the candidates, keep an eye out for Te California California Aggie’s “Meet the Candidates” article that introduces the senate candidates and their respective platforms. Additionally, the Editorial Board will be writing endorsements for the candidates that we deem best ft for the senate positions.
Students who want to be more involved in student government beyond voting can also attend the weekly senate meetings every Tursday at 6:10 p.m. in the Mee Room on the third foor of the Memorial Union. Each meeting there is an open forum, where students and members of the community can ask questions directly to the senators.
Despite ASUCD elections having a large impact on campus life, UC Davis currently has the smallest student voter turnout of all the UCs, with percentages as low as 2.69% (or 1,499 students) in 2021. Te election
cycle of spring quarter 2024 only showed a 23.7% voter turnout, the highest the campus has seen in years. Tis poses a problem, because ballot measures that involve student fees need a voter turnout of at least 20% to pass, an occurrence that does not happen very often.
Te Editorial Board wants to emphasize that your vote matters and can make the diference in keeping essential programs on campus. Past measures such as Te Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) that support valuable programs, like Sheep Mowers and Arboretum Waterway projects, have barely passed over multiple years of advocacy, solely due to low voter participation rates.
Many students on campus are unaware that ASUCD elections exist, which can possibly be attributed to a lack of advertising in past years. Various ASUCD units have advocated for increased promotions for the elections to spur voter turnout, and the ASUCD Elections Committee is currently working to expand outreach and engagement.
Te Editorial Board urges you as student voters to be proactive in campus politics and vote in the fall quarter elections, so that you can see your opinions visibly refected around you. To cast your vote, you can scan any of the QR codes around campus or go to the ASUCD elections website at elections.ucdavis.edu. Voting will open on Nov. 12 and close on Nov. 16, so make sure to get your ballot in by the deadline.
Voting on campus is a right and a privilege. It can mean the start or end of various programs on campus and decides who represents our student politics. ASUCD keeps our buses running, dictates how our $18 million of student fees are spent and even supports the success of our very own Cal Aggie newspaper. For the greater good of our campus politics and student population, get out there and vote!
Letter from the editor
Introducing The Aggie Angle: A California Aggie podcast
Dear Reader,
Te way we consume media is constantly evolving and changing.
In our busy lives it can be difcult to read every article in the paper every Tursday. In the same vein, the importance of being informed with local news remains just as important. Tat is why we are happy to announce the launching of our new weekly podcast, Te Aggie Angle.
Te Aggie Angle, which is available on Spotify, hopes to provide the news in a more digestible way. Having a busy day but biking to campus? Commuting to work or classes? Or do you just want to have something on in the background while you clean your room?
Te Aggie Angle is your answer.
Our frst episode is a collaboration between the Features, City and Campus News editors and their staf writers. Te editors discuss a student arrest, reproductive rights and the skateboard scene in Davis. Later this week you can check out our second episode featuring Arts Editor Ana Bach to discuss pop culture related news.
Not every podcast becomes “Te Daily” overnight, but we hope we can provide a vital service in being a podcast that serves both the campus and Davis community. Tis project has taken many iterations over the last couple of years, it has been the efort of our endlessly working staf and leadership who can now bring this podcast to you.
So grab a pair of headphones, listen to Te Aggie Angle and enjoy your day as you walk, drive or bike around our beautiful campus.
Best,
Chris Ponce Editor-in-Chief
If you ever wish to reach out to me, please send me an email at editor@theaggie.org.
Editorial Board
CHRIS PONCE Editor-in-Chief
ALYSSA CREVOISERAT Managing Editor
MADISON PETERS Campus News Editor
HANNAH SCHRADER City News Editor
MAYA KORNYEYEVA Opinion Editor
ZOEY MORTAZAVI Features Editor
ANA BACH Arts & Culture Editor
MEGAN JOSEPH Sports Editor
KATIE HELLMAN Science Editor
JENNA LEE Photo Director
ARIANA NOBLE Layout Director
LANHUI ZHEN Design Director
JOANNE SUN Social Media Manager
AARON POTTER Website Manager
CASSIDY GILLIS Distribution & Outreach Director
TIFFANY HE Copy Chief
JENNY DYE Copy Chief
SAMUEL RUIZ Translation Director
ILEANA MERAZ Translation Director
LAURIE PEDERSON Business Development Manager
BY ELIZABETH BUNT arts@theaggie.org
Song: “Junk Food Chimney” by Ezra Bell (2013)
Ezra Bell is an indie band that was founded in 2013 and slowly picked up popularity until COVID-19 ended touring. Since then, Ezra Bell rarely performs, preferring to record and self-release independent music. Tis particular song is from the band’s very frst EP entitled “Don’t All Look Up At Once.” “Junk Food Chimney” itself is only one minute and eight seconds long, so it’s over just as you really begin to love it. Te song describes the experience of reconnecting with an old lover while knowing it won’t last. It’s simple and beautiful and lead singer Benjamin Wuamatt’s unique voice ties the whole song together.
Book: “Te Passion” by Jeanette Winterson (1987)
I frst came across Jeanette Winterson’s work in a literature class here at UC Davis. Her debut novel, “Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit,” was assigned as an example of postmodernist, feminist innovation in prose. Since that class, I have read three other Winterson novels with “Te Passion” being the most recent. “Te Passion” is set in Napoleon’s Europe in the early 1800s and follows a young French soldier, Henri, as he follows confict into Russia. Te second plotline traces the life of Villanelle, a young Venetian woman with webbed toes, who is running from a violent ex-husband. Tough nominally historic, Winterson uses considerable creative license. Like much of her work, “Te Passion” draws from magical realism and surrealism which blends seamlessly with the gritty details of the Napoleonic wars. At the heart of the novel is the contrast between Henri and Villanelle’s difering defnitions of passion and their interplay of gender and sexuality.
Album: “Songs of Leonard Cohen” by Leonard Cohen (1967)
Every fall, I fnd myself gravitating back to Leonard Cohen. In my opinion, he may be the most perfect songwriter/artist who has ever lived. His lyrics are incredibly written, his voice is unconventional and there’s enough variation in sound across his dozens of albums that it’s impossible to get tired of hearing him. “Songs of Leonard Cohen” was both Cohen’s frst album and frst foray into writing music. Te 10 song album contains some of his most well-known hits like “Suzanne,” “So Long, Marianne” and “One of Us Cannot be Wrong.”
Te style of these songs is sparse and pared down, more like spoken word poetry than music in some places. Cohen’s personality shines through in these early bits of writing: his sincerity, his insecurities and his religion — they all come to light in the meandering tunes of this frst album.
Movie: “Fantastic Mr. Fox” dir. by Wes Anderson (2009)
Tis movie is one of my all-time favorites. I can and will rewatch it at the slightest provocation. It’s based of of the Roald Dahl novella and done in a claymation style. Te cast is stacked with George Clooney and Meryl Streep voicing the lead roles. Te soundtrack is bouncy and folksy and comforting in a silly, familiar way. Te plot follows Mr. Fox as he breaks a promise to his wife and begins stealing birds from neighbors Boggis, Bunce and Bean, endangering his family and friends. Te foxes are driven underground, and Mr. Fox must use his cunning to save them all. I cannot say enough good things about this movie. It may seem like a children’s movie from description alone, but there is so much more to this flm. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is a masterful adaptation of page to screen.
Review: ‘We Live in Time’
reminds
us to live in the moment
‘We Live in Time’ stars Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield as they navigate illness, love and the uncertainty of the future
BY AALIYAH ESPAÑOL-RIVAS arts@theaggie.org
With only six months to live, the flm “We Live in Time” follows Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) as they navigate the last months of Almut’s life. With a mix of jump cuts from past to present, the flm alternates from showing a tumultuous but loving relationship between the two while cutting to scenes of their present life as Almut tries to achieve her dreams in a short period of time. Te flm opens with a fashback sequence where Almut stops to smell the fowers on a run before picking some to use in a recipe. Te quaint and dimly lit sequence is almost immediately interrupted, as if Tobias had woken up from a dream, to Almut pregnant and in pain. Te audience is then taken through a jump in time again to the present day as Almut begins to have unexplainable pain during her work as a chef.
Subsequently, the film cuts to Almut’s diagnosis. Up until that point, this flm — that seemed like any other romance flm — takes a heavy turn as it is revealed that Almut’s stage three ovarian cancer has returned. Following the diagnosis, Almut and Tobias share an intimate scene as they discuss the future ahead.
Lighting, a major storyteller in the flm, plays a role in almost every intimate scene. Particularly in the scene where they discuss Almut’s life plan following her diagnosis, the outside lighting dims and only a parking structure light illuminates the scene. Almut expresses her desire to live life to the fullest in six months as opposed to going through chemotherapy again with the possibility of it not working.
Following the conversation, the flm fashes back to tell the story of how Almut and Tobias met. While in the middle of a divorce, Tobias gets hit by a car on the way back to his hotel by Almut. Waking up in the hospital, they soon have a blossoming relationship as they go back and forth from diferent views on children, marriage and goals — but ultimately they always fnd their way back to their love. With dimly lit intimate scenes, brightly colored moments abundantly flled with love and dark scenes of defeat, the flm jumps from major life events as it brings viewers to the present day. In the fnal act of the flm, the flm stays in the present as Almut grapples with the uncertainty of her life as she chooses to compete in the cooking competition against Tobias’ wishes to leave a legacy for herself. But after fnishing the competition, Almut walks out with Tobias and their child as they embark on the unclear road ahead. Instead of giving up on her dreams, Almut took charge and achieved what she wanted to. And with nothing left but time to spend with her loved ones, the three enjoy ice skating, which was a previous passion of Almut’s. Te flm encapsulates how quickly life can pass you by. Tough Almut’s and Tobias’ relationship has its ups and downs, there is no denying the love they have for each other. While their chemistry is understated amongst other romance flms, the focus of the flm isn’t their romance but rather the respect and unselfsh love the two have for each other. And while the flm jumps from scene to scene, it is not quick or displaced; it’s little moments of life that are cherished between the two. Hold your loved ones close, and grab tissues if you decide to watch “We Live in Time” in a theater near you.
Theatrical release poster for “We Live in Time,” starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. (Courtesy of StudioCanal / fair use)
English Department guest speaker Adam Miyashiro connects medieval studies to presentday Palestine
The Stockton University professor discussed division within the academic field and the influence of The Crusades on modern-day settler colonialism
BY SAVANNAH ANNO arts@theaggie.org
On Nov. 1, the UC Davis Department of English hosted the frst installment of its annual University English Department Speaker Series, welcoming Professor of Literature Adam Miyashiro from Stockton University in New Jersey.
With published works focusing on race, masculinity and biopolitics within the context of medieval studies, Miyashiro has spent much of his academic career bringing new perspectives to an academic feld he describes as mostly Conservative.
“It’s a feld that picks up on trends later than all others,” Miyashiro said. “When I started to work on race in the early 2000s, it was generally not considered to be a topic for study in the pre-modern period. We were constantly getting blocked by our feld from talking about not only how race was constructed in the medieval period but also how medieval studies structures contemporary problems within race and settler colonialism.”
Beginning his presentation titled “From Iona to Al-Quds: How Medieval Studies Intersects with Palestine,” Miyashiro dove into a discussion of Palestinian history, its erasure within the academic feld and how Te Crusades are appropriated in modern-day militaries.
Miyashiro said Palestine has a bigger presence in the pre-modern world than most people may think.
“In contrast to many
contemporary assertions, mainly by politicians, media fgures and online commentators, Arab-Palestinian identity was already well known throughout the Muslim world in the medieval period,” Miyashiro said. Miyashiro also said that while
medievalists have largely avoided the role of Palestine in medieval literary and historical texts, the word “Palestine” has actually been used to identify both people and place for over 2,000 years, most likely originating from an ancient Egyptian word
Five songs to add to your playlist as the cold weather ramps up
This fall and winter, embrace the spirit of the season by listening to this beautiful selection of music
BY NATALIE SALTER
arts@theaggie.org
Te last hot days of October have fnally ended, and with a cold chill beginning to take over the season, you may feel like the aesthetic of your life has shifted with the seasons. Sweaters have taken the place of shirts, the leaves have gone from crowning the trees in green to covering the ground in browns and yellows and lazy afternoons in the summer have become busy with classes and holiday preparations. One of the best ways to embrace this movement from one era to the next is to change up the music you listen to each day, and this article might help you fnd your new favorite for this fall and winter.
“Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star (1993) If you’re looking for music that fts the melancholic feeling of colder weather, you can’t go wrong with anything in Mazzy Star’s discography — the band’s hit “Fade Into You” is beloved for a good reason. From the moment the song’s hauntingly beautiful yet comforting instrumental begins, you’ll be completely mesmerized. It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by the emotion and atmosphere of this piece, nor can you avoid being struck by the deep longing for love that is woven into every single lyric. “Fade Into You” feels perfectly
matched to the quiet melancholia of autumn and winter, and thus deserves a place on your playlist for the season.
“For Emma” by Bon Iver (2008) Bon Iver’s immersive “For Emma” feels to exist within a similar realm as “Fade Into You” with an immensely catchy yet wistful tune that starts and does not let up for the song’s entire run. Listening to “For Emma” might feel most at place on a long, winding car ride through an autumn forest, while you bundle yourself up in a knit sweater and watch the world blur by. Te song is strangely at once uplifting and saddening, and these feelings melt together throughout its three minute run to create a listening experience that will stick with you long after it ends.
“Ditto” by NewJeans (2022)
One of the more recent Kpop sensations, NewJeans have consistently released infectious hits which are sure to get stuck in your head. However their 2022 release “Ditto” is far more gentle and alluring. The song is a gorgeously crafted ode to unrequited love, with a sound that is hypnotic and nostalgic, like a fond memory or a sweet dream. Te song’s soft beat and pleasant melody work together to create a sensation of emotion and longing that is nearly indescribable. When listening to “Ditto,” you won’t only feel a sense of harmony with the winter weather but also a powerful sense of yearning
for the memories of your past or the fantasies of your future that’s hard to fnd anywhere else.
“‘tis the damn season” by Taylor Swift (2020)
Late autumn and early winter are full of holidays, but they can also have a certain melancholy thanks to the gray days that come with them. Tough Taylor Swift’s entire “evermore” album is exceptionally well ftted to this time of year, it is her song “‘tis the damn season” that encapsulates the feeling of November and December the best. With a rather nostalgic and resonant sound and plenty of Swift’s signature heart-aching lyricism, this is an excellent song for those slow, quiet days of the holiday season.
“seasons” by wave to earth (2020)
Popular South Korean band wave to earth is known for their catalog of calming yet addictive songs, and if any one is to be considered their crowning achievement as songwriters and performers, it is undoubtedly “seasons.” Tis slow and soothing piece has a certain emotional atmosphere that is perfectly matched to quiet fall and winter nights when the sun has set and the world slumbers. Its lyrics are heartaching and its melody sad yet beautiful, making one of the most enchanting listening experiences the band has ever created.
Eastern Mediterranean which brought Palestine further into the European imaginary as a site of colonial aspirations,” Miyashiro said.
Miyashiro then went into depth on Te Crusades (1095-1270) and their modern day representations in military, Zionist and alt-right ideologies, defning this infuence as “Crusades appropriation.” Te Crusades were organized by European Christians in an attempt to, in their perspective, liberate Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim control through necessary violence.
Romanticized in the modernday, Miyashiro refected on the ways current colonial powers view themselves in relation to Crusaders in order to justify acts of violence, particularly within the ongoing occupation of Palestine.
“Crusades appropriation is a major component in how Zionism gets put into medieval spaces and how Crusade historians themselves have enabled the erasure of Palestinian identity,” Miyashiro said. “Te appropriation intersects with settler colonial states to produce an erasure of colonial victims, notably Palestinians and other Muslims, who sufer at the hands of Western military regimes.”
meaning “sea people.”
“Palestinian identity was quite common throughout Europe and the Arab world in this early period all the way up to what we know as Te Crusades, a historic series of European military incursions in the
Miyashiro presented multiple examples of this appropriation, which typically occurs through images and language that we may not notice being used on a regular basis within the digital landscape or by political fgures at frst.
Facing the irony epidemic
Ethel Cain’s upcoming album “Perverts” demands unabashed sincerity from its listeners
BY JULIE HUANG arts@theaggie.org
Within the current landscape of short-form entertainment and social media, many artists release their works with the anticipation — or perhaps even the expectation — that their creations will inspire online trends, internet inside jokes and general social media buzz. In sharp contrast to the self-aware, ironic attitude that seems to reign over the state of art today, Ethel Cain’s upcoming album, “Perverts,” aims to ofer timelessness and unapologetic passion — but the full potency of Cain’s work can only be achieved if people are willing to listen. Cain has established a well-deserved reputation of handling heavy, raw and sensitive themes throughout her discography, which features concepts of intergenerational trauma, religious trauma, domestic abuse and sexual abuse. Her debut studio album, “Preacher’s Daughter,” is a concept album revolving around the tragic life of the character “Ethel Cain” (a separate entity from the artist, who shares the name as her stage name) as she faces domestic abuse at the hands of family and lovers, kidnapping, drugging, prostitution, rape, murder and eventual cannibalization by her murderer. Te horrifying nature and heaviness of these topics necessitate a level of respect and willingness to sit with feelings of disgust and discomfort when interacting with Cain’s music. Obviously, she does not shy away from the grotesque, the macabre and the darkest aspects of humanity — and neither does she attempt to sugarcoat or lighten the gravity of these themes through humor or irony. Rather than trying to make her work lighter or more palatable to audiences in any way, Cain dives headfrst into unpacking the extent of her character’s circumstances and how she reacts to them, sonically and lyrically forcing listeners to face the tragedy and horror but also humanity present in her songs. Cain’s work may sometimes be viewed as hard to digest, but it is raw
and it is passionate, never minimizing or downplaying topics that are hard to discuss, and instead seeing them through genuine eyes and facing them with solemn acceptance.
Although Cain has stated that her sophomore album “Perverts” will not follow fctional Ethel Cain’s story, it seems to promise similar themes as the concepts featured in “Preacher’s Daughter,” especially judging by the lyrics of its lead single “Punish.” However, instead of anticipating its content, which is sure to be thoughtprovoking and genuine, some fans have chosen to focus on the name of the album, deeming it strange and unsettling due to its connotations as a pejorative term used to describe people whose sexual behavior or preferences are thought of as unnatural or unacceptable. Jokes have been made about how merchandise for this upcoming album cannot be shown in public due to its strange associations and potential judgment from others. Cain has explained that the album name “Perverts” is meant to refer to the alteration of something from its original course, changing what was intended into something else, something distorted. Ironically, in the wake of fan reception to that meaningful name, it has become clear that the pervasive attitudes and desensitizing qualities of digital culture has had this very efect on how artistic work is viewed and discussed. Creators like Cain feel the fatigue of fghting to protect the authenticity and genuine thought put into their creations when that passion becomes the punchline of a short-lived TikTok joke.
Rather than acknowledging and respecting the fact that topics such as death and sexual abuse must be processed with time and discussed with care, online culture ofers fast-paced irony and overused joke formats that allow people to minimize topics that are inherently complex and sensitive for many. Furthermore, the phenomenon of dismissing heavy topics with humorous treatment extends beyond the artistic world and into reactions towards real-
news and events.
EMILY TRAN / AGGIE
CHRISTINA LIU / AGGIE
A photo of the English and Medieval Studies department at UC Davis. (Aggie File)
Small humanities departments foster community and connection on campus
Students and faculty highlight the importance of close-knit collaboration within smaller departments
BY RACHEL GAUER features@theaggie.org
In the bustling academic landscape of UC Davis, where sustainability, agriculture and STEM often dominate the university’s spotlight, a handful of small humanities departments quietly fourish and foster passion and community amongst students and faculty.
Te least populated majors for undergraduate students include a variety of foreign language and cultural studies including French, Italian, German and Russian, as well as medieval and modern studies and Native American studies, according to UC Davis’ Aggie Data for the 2023-24 academic year.
Te experience of completing a bachelor’s degree in a small department inevitably poses signifcant diferences compared to pursuing a degree in a department composed of hundreds of students and faculty. In these departments, students noted that they have been able to fnd more opportunities for personalized interactions with professors and peers.
Eric Louis Russell, who serves as both the undergraduate faculty advisor for Italian and a professor of French and Italian, emphasized the welcoming environment that both departments cultivate.
“We foster community in ways that I think are really hard for large departments to do,” Russell said. “Our students feel like they’re really part of something — their professors know their names, and they know their classmates really well.” Russell also expressed that in a school which primarily focuses on STEM-related subjects, hosting closeknit communities in the humanities is a way to create academic balance for
students.
“We see students especially in the STEM feld being drawn to the humanities for some balance — balance in terms of how they are using their minds and their intellects and balance also for how they are doing these four years as a university student,” Russell said. “I think it’s a really great thing that we ofer that especially on a campus that is very STEM focused.”
Nestor Perez, a second-year Russian and Italian double major, also noted the more personable relationships with professors that are inevitably fostered in smaller courses.
“I often run into my Russian professor from last year, and we always say hello and catch up,” Perez said. “It’s very nice compared to other professors who I’ve taken for [general education classes] that have 150 or 200 students; I don’t know them and they don’t know me. With small classes, they know you and they’re not going to forget you.”
As a heritage Italian speaker, Perez knew he wanted to study the language in university and applied to Davis under the major. Within his frst year, he declared Russian as his second major, which he explained that he was drawn to for both his general interest in learning languages and his love for Russian music.
Tough some students, like Perez, begin their undergraduate studies majoring in a language, other language students tend to add the major later on or alongside their frst area of study.
Alexa Arredondo-Aguilar, a fourth-year political science and Italian double major, registered for her frst Italian class during her frst year after growing a passion for cooking Italian cuisine.
“During [COVID-19], I got really into cooking Italian food, and I
really wanted to learn how to read the recipes,” Arredondo-Aguilar said. “I thought maybe taking an Italian class would help.”
As a native Spanish speaker, Arredondo-Aguilar began her journey with ITA 031, Beginning Italian for Spanish Speakers, and followed the course’s series throughout her frst year. With growing interest and encouragement from the department, she continued pursuing higher-level Italian courses.
“Because I was taking a bunch of classes, I got to know the professors in the department and eventually they all inspired me to major in Italian,” Arredondo-Aguilar said.
Since declaring the major, Arredondo-Aguilar has served as an Italian language tutor for the department and now holds the position as one of the department’s peer advisors. She also highlighted the department’s welcoming atmosphere.
“I feel as if I’m in a family, rather than [being] lost in a big maze I can’t get through in a department,” Arredondo-Aguilar said.
Tough many have found advantages in being in a small department, some disadvantages also arise. One signifcant challenge Russell noted within the departments is their perceived invisibility within a broader university context. Russell emphasized that this lack of visibility often translates into limited resources. Perez also highlighted this sentiment, noting limited physical resources for the Italian department:
“In the tutoring room we have a blackboard that is falling apart,” Perez said. “How much does a whiteboard replacement really cost? Compared to the investments for some of the huge faculties, it’s like, we’re here too, can’t we get something?”
Despite the lack of visibility across
campus, the enthusiasm for language learning remains strong among some students. Russell, who has been employed by the university for 20 years, has noticed a shift away from interest in language studies, which he attributes to broader national trends as opposed to specifc issues at the university. However, Russell remains optimistic about the importance of language education in higher learning.
“Having the ability to study languages and cultures and to develop translinguistic and transcultural competence is something really valuable that should be part of public education,” Russell said. “We are here to serve the people of California, and we are not serving them well if we don’t at least have that available to them.”
DJ YNOT lights up UC Davis party scene
The recent UC Davis graduate discussed her experience since becoming a local DJ
BY LAILA AZHAR
features@theaggie.org
Yordan Scalas, better known as DJ YNOT, knows how to get a party started. Te vivacious presence behind the DJ booth at an array of Davis events, her past several weekends have been a furry of clustered dance foors.
Scalas, a 2024 UC Davis graduate, became a DJ to solve a problem of her own.
“I used to throw a lot of parties at my house last year, and I just felt like something was always missing,” Scalas said.
Hoping a DJ would fll that void, she began searching for someone to enhance her parties. But when no one met her standards, she had only one option.
“Fuck it, I’ll be the DJ,” Scalas said.
Her father — also a DJ — began teaching her on his board and speakers this February. Less than a year later, Scalas has played recent events including UCD Fits and Yesterday Vintage Store’s Costume Kickback, Davis Snow Club’s Halloween Crawl and Teta Xi and Five Percent Studio’s Nightmare on First Street.
Scalas has already racked up fans in Davis, including Stephanie Maravilla, a second-year political science — public service major.
“I saw DJ YNOT play at a Snow Club party,” Maravilla said. “Good music can make or break the energy of a party, so it was really cool how she set the vibes with her set.”
Ivan Lai, a fourth-year human biology major, helped plan the recent Nightmare on First Street event, and said DJ YNOT kept the crowd’s energy up throughout the night.
“She’s not just locked into one genre, which is huge for us,” Lai said.
“We want our parties to keep everyone moving, and she’s exactly the kind of DJ who can deliver that. Her set feels like this perfect wave, keeping everyone hyped and engaged from start to fnish.”
Along with her training, Scalas’ DJ name also came from her father. Serendipitously, “DJ YNOT” was the frst name he came up with. As soon as he said it, Scalas knew the name was the one. Tis DJ name has inspired its own line of merchandise, which can be seen on her Instagram page.
“YNOT was so fre, I just had to put it on a shirt,” Scalas said.
Her clothing line includes a tank top with the name
“YNOT” in grafti script — a piece inspired by her experience as a grafti artist.
In terms of creating her music, Scalas listens to music constantly and is always crafting the perfect playlist for each event. But for the most part, her process is very go-with-the-fow.
“Honestly, I kind of just YOLO it,” Scalas said. “It’s like, this song sounds good, I’ll go from there.” Her friends often attend her shows, and she shared that watching them enjoy themselves is her favorite part of every set.
“I hardly look up from my board, but whenever I do they’re always there, and I can spot them out dancing,”
CRYSTAL CHEN / AGGIE
DJ YNOT at a recent event hosted by UC Davis’ Snow Club. (Yordan Scales / Courtesy)
Sudoku
Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row, column and 3x3 square must contain each digit. Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing.
Answer to previous
Crossword
DIADELOSMUERTOS
FROM FRONT COVER
Corona-Miramontes started her small business, @artsy_ailani on Instagram, in 2018 to make sustainable candles before transitioning into crochet crafts relatively recently. As a vendor for other events such as SoCo Market in Santa Rosa, Corona-Miramontes had learned about this Dia de los Muertos event through the craft community in Davis.
Tis was more of a smaller event than others that I have done, but it made up for it by the ways I was able to connect with the community,” CoronaMiramontes said. “I was able to meet people and actually get to know them and interact with them on a personal level, which as a vendor, I love doing.”
As it is her frst year as a transfer, Corona-Miramontes felt the hardest part was the transition into student life. However, thanks to events like these that recruit students and vendors from the local craft community, she felt that she was able to meet a lot of like-minded people. For Corona-Miramontes’ frst event in Davis, she felt welcomed as the community was there to share about other events, trade their merchandise or simply talk about their creative passions.
Aspiring to run her own business that incorporates her creative passions after college, Corona-Miramontes stressed the importance of engaging with the community as a student.
“As a UC Davis student, there’s more than just our studies,” CoronaMiramontes said. “Tere’s also our responsibilities past our education, and one of the things that I took away from my design courses is how do we build a society that is sustainable and inclusive for people. And the only way to do that is if you go out into the community and understand your community.”
ELECTIONTRENDS FROM FRONT COVER
To that end, pursuing information about individual candidates’ policies is a crucial part of participating in local and presidential elections.
Megan Van Note, a third-year international relations major, agrees that politicians engaging in social media trends can be a great asset to reaching voters, so long as it is done sensibly.
“I do think that trends tying together candidates or policies can make them relatable and relevant to young adults and can encourage them to vote,” Van Note said. “If done correctly, I think it can really help promote democracy.”
In order to ensure that voters make informed decisions, Van Note encourages young voters to reach beyond social media for election information and content.
“Read, listen and watch diferent perspectives from diferent sites,” Van Note said. “By only relying on news channels or social media, you are doing yourself a disservice.”
While social media has proven itself to be a powerful way of reaching young voters, experts and UC Davis students alike assert that it should be coupled with personal refection and outside research in order to be an efective tool.
WORLDSERIES FROM FRONT COVER
all share the same sense of melancholy.”
Daksh Shekar, a second-year human development major, said he noticed how watching the game can bring him closer to his friends and loved ones.
“I would say watching baseball has defnitely brought me closer to my housemates, because it gives us a chance to bond over wanting the same team to win,” Shekar said.
Student fans often have diferent game-watching habits, with some of them watching by themselves and others watching with their friends.
“I typically watch them by myself, because I’m the only baseball fan in the house, and because I’m really tense and I typically tend to yell at the game,” Gonzalez said. “I did watch one game with one of my friends back home from San Diego, and that was like a bonding thing.”
Kuznetsov also mentioned the various places he watched the games throughout the series.
“Sometimes I’m watching it on my laptop, sometimes I’m watching it on my phone,” Kuznetsov said. “Sometimes I go to my friend’s place and watch it on their TV. Tey’re Dodgers fans, so that creates an interesting dynamic.”
Despite series-based excitement, students from both major cities watching the series here in Davis agree that they wish they could experience it in their hometowns.
“Everybody gets crazy in New York,” Kuznetsov said. “Everybody’s jumping up and down out of their seats for a routine play. It’s just absolutely insane, and if I could go back to New York and experience this right now, I would.”
The series being between two historic MLB rivals in two major cities also sparked a lot of enthusiasm among fans.
“I think it’s the people in major cities, especially two big cities like Los Angeles and New York, that feel very strongly for their team,” Kuznetsov said.
“Even if they’re not actually baseball fans, it’s just a historic rivalry that has been around for decades.”
Both teams also had a lot of star players that made watching the series more enticing to fans.
“Te amount of superstars on both teams during this World Series made it appealing to me as a viewer,” Shekar said. “I loved watching Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernandez from the Dodgers, and I liked watching Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton from the Yankees.”
Many fans also enjoy watching their favorite players during each game and learning about their inspiring stories.
“My favorite player is Mookie Betts,” Gonzalez said. “He’s one of my favorite players, because [he] proves that people from diferent ethnicities can go above and beyond. He had a harsh childhood growing up; he wasn’t supposed to play and they told him that he would never make it because he was too short. Overall, I just really enjoyed his perseverance and his story of going to the World Series.”
All in all, watching baseball can be a thrilling and electrifying experience, no matter how you view the game.
“I think baseball is just a game that [can] fip,” Gonzalez said. “Tere’s no script and it could fip out of nowhere, and it’s happened so many times. You could be up 5-0, like in the last game, and then the other team somehow manages to bring it back. I really enjoy it, because it’s just a rollercoaster of emotions, and it’s cool seeing people that get to experience that at the stadium, that feeling of knowing your team is winning.”
SENATE5 FROM PAGE 3
“The work of journalists is not always perfect, and we take accountability when there are mistakes. We afrm that the reporting of our staf is made in good faith and prioritizes the needs of the student population and the Davis community.”
In a separate comment, Suleiman expressed “behemoth disapproval” of Cohen’s appointment to the Ethical Spending Committee.
“Senator Cohen did not vote in favor of the formation of the [ESC] and that there were other candidates that were interested in sitting on that committee that were, in my opinion, more qualifed to be there and had been part of the process of [creating] the ESC,” Suleiman said. Suleiman expanded on her thoughts, saying that the issue of ethical spending should not be viewed as a political one.
“I also have a really major concern with the ESC turning into this fgurehead space for people to have meaningless conversations about ‘political issues,’ when it’s really dealing with human rights issues that do not have two sides to them. If an individual is concerned with their own personal
learning and growth, I suggest reading a book.” Te meeting was adjourned soon afterward at 8:43 p.m.
3
“I’m really happy with the turnout; to me this is a huge success. Stepping away from the event, I hear the Tabla playing — which is an instrument that is common in our music. If a student is walking by and hears it, I hope it’s enticing to come by and participate in the event. For me it’s really meaningful, I will never not get excited when something like this happens.”
In the words of Cain herself, “We are in an irony epidemic. Tere is such a loss of sincerity and everything has to be a joke at all times.” This dismissive attitude may sometimes feel comforting or simply funny, but when it’s applied to subject matter that involves the genuine emotions and pain of human beings, it can become a callous rejection of those emotions and the chance to connect with the people feeling them. When people embrace an ironic attitude and the perspective that nothing matters enough to take seriously, they are also embracing ignorance and carelessness towards creators who seek to represent those topics as well as the people whose lives are touched by them. In a social landscape where irony reigns supreme, who will receive raw passion and genuine care with an equal amount of sincerity?
Of course, although it has reached a worrying point of prevalence, irony has not entirely subjugated sincerity. Many remain receptive or outright appreciative of creative works that are unashamed of delving into serious topics, demonstrated by those who eagerly anticipate the release of “Perverts” in January. In order to maintain the output of such works, there should always be those who defend the value of a sincere attitude and willingness to engage with topics and themes that may cause them to feel unsettled or uncomfortable. In essence, safeguarding the value of sincerity also safeguards the deeper ways in which people can connect to media, art and other human beings.
Get to know the people serving your coffee every
morning
Student employees of the CoHo
share their experiences at one of the busiest areas on campus
BY NOAH HARRIS features@theaggie.org
Te Cofee House, better known as the CoHo, is located in the Memorial Union (MU) — the heart of UC Davis’ vibrant campus. It serves thousands of students, staf and visitors every day. Te majority of its workers are students, and some have begun to share their thoughts and experiences since working at the CoHo.
Te CoHo is open as early as 7:30 a.m. and closes as late as 8 p.m., providing many options for students who are on campus during varying times of the day. Tey are committed to serving the UC Davis community during “non-peak hours when all other food services are closed.”
While many students might think that the CoHo just consists of the Cofee House, the organization encompasses all of the food in the MU area, including the Ciao pizza area, TxMx Grill, the Fickle Pickle Deli and the recently added Chickpea. Te CoHo has approximately 250 student workers, 40 student supervisors and fve full-time employees. Tey experience a rush of 7,000 customers daily, according to their website.
Tey describe themselves as a break-even operation that operates with both a budget and income of over four million dollars. Last year, they held exactly at break even, with 4,894,525 dollars both received and expended, according to their budget. Tey seem to have been able to virtually achieve their goal of breaking even since 2019, according to the furthest-back available public data.
Darin Schleup, the Associated Students Dining Services director, responded to several questions via
email and shared details about the CoHo’s break-even policy.
“I’m not 100% sure of the origins of the break-even model for the Cofee House, but anecdotally I believe it was part of the initial start-up of the CoHo in the late 1960s,” Schleup said. “We are not proft-driven, but rather focus on breaking even budgetarily each year.”
While this is a high achievement for the establishment, this has allegedly created stress for cashiers — as one supervisor, who wished to remain anonymous, shared.
“Some customers, they don’t want to keep their change so we go over, and a lot of people get scared that they’ll get in trouble [because] we’re not breaking or that it’s not exact change.
Tere’s a big scare factor now,” the supervisor said.
Te anonymous supervisor also shared information regarding employees being able to get time of as well as about leniency with shifts and scheduling.
“[Now], they’re not being very lenient with time of, but last year, it was a mess,” the supervisor said.
“Everyone could get away with anything. People are kind of mad that they’re getting in trouble for [missing shifts].”
Tey were additionally asked if people could simply not show up for work in the past without getting coverage, to which they responded that “there were basically no consequences.”
An anonymous employee referred to the rising prices as uncomfortable for the workers due to certain customers’ reactions.
“Tere’s been adults and students that have yelled and got angry at my coworkers, and it’s just not fair because
we are not the ones in charge of that,” the employee said. “You’re giving the violence, or whatever you want to say, to the wrong crowd. Tat’s obviously [had] a negative efect on morale [at work].”
Schleup also shared information about overall price increases that the CoHo has seen in recent years.
Te last signifcant, across the board price increase for the Cofee House was in Fall 2022,” Schleup said. “We have heard of some dissatisfaction with the price increases this fall. Tis is not uncommon. Any time there is a change in pricing we have folks who express displeasure.”
Mohamed Alghaithi, a fourthyear psychology major and student supervisor at the CoHo, believes that it could take a long time for student employees to become supervisors.
“One major thing with [the] CoHo is that [the] CoHo can’t hire students right away to become supervisors,” Alghaithi said. “Tat position isn’t available until you have been working at the CoHo for a year at least, to be promoted as a supervisor. As a supervisor working in a team of supervisors, [in my opinion] we are very understafed.”
Alghaithi also ofered a suggestion that could help the CoHo improve this perceived issue.
“I think if the CoHo is able to hire people who have had prior experience [in food service] and who are skilled enough to become supervisors and [quickly] get [into] the rhythm [of the job,] I think [that would] be very, very helpful,” Alghaithi said.
Alghaithi mentioned additional scheduling issues that have allegedly caused problems for some workers.
“I’ve heard a lot of issues with a lot of employees getting scheduled over
their class or right up to where their class starts,” Alghaithi said. “Teir class could be across campus, where they will have to leave [work] really early, and that can afect the workplace itself.”
Given there are over 250 workers, issues like this will undoubtedly arise. However, the anonymous worker was appreciative of the eforts being put in toward making improvements.
Tey do listen to us,” the worker said. “I had a little meeting with the head boss where we were talking about our concerns and what we should change. Tey are trying to make it a better place.”
Alghaithi works in the back of the CoHo making food. One aspect he wishes could be changed are the rules regarding food consumption.
“As someone who’s cooking, I can’t take food to eat,” Alghaithi said. “I can’t taste the food. Let’s say I’m cooking rice, beans [and] chicken, and I’m like, let me get a box, put some food for me on the side, and have a little breakfast. I can’t do that. If the manager sees that, they will count it as theft.”
However, Schleup’s view was diferent to Alghaithi.
“Our employee food policy states that employees must get their food as if they were any regular customer, must order of of our menu, and must process payment at the register like any other customer,” Schleup said.
“It is a potential food safety issue to serve yourself as an employee, and it is generally not a best practice in customer service to have the servers making their own food behind the line.”
One anonymous CoHo worker mentioned that they have gotten away with working well over the permitted
number of work hours per week.
“I do exceed the 30 hours a week here at CoHo, and I’m sure there are a lot of students who have [also] exceeded the 30 hours a week,” the worker said.
Tis was due to wanting to earn extra money, as well as an alleged lack of supervisors working at certain times of the day.
Te UC Davis Career Center states on their website that students at UC Davis can work a maximum of 19.5 hours per week during the quarter and 40 hours during breaks: summer, winter and spring.
As with many on-campus jobs, working in close proximity to fellow workers has been benefcial in terms of personal relationships, according to student workers.
“It’s so fun, I love it. I’m a very social person,” the anonymous student said. “Everyone’s very accepting — we’re all in the same boat, pretty much. We’re all a team, we’re always trying to help each other out.”
For Schleup, there are many diferent aspects he likes about his job.
“My favorite part of working here at the CoHo is seeing our students grow as individuals in their time with us, and beyond,” Schleup said. “We have a tagline we live by, which is ‘Serving Students, Fostering Community,’ and I think that sums up what makes this unique food service operation such an amazing part of the UC Davis experience.” As these student sources imply, there are both good and bad elements of operating a student-run establishment with so many moving parts. However, rain or shine, the UC Davis Cofee House continues to be a focal point of our lively campus.
Exterior dining area at the Memorial Union. Students purchase food from The Coffee House and other vendors in between classes. (Ojas Mishra / Aggie)
SCIENCE AND TECH
Gene editing has the potential to fix neurodevelopmental disorders before they arise
New technology can deliver mRNA to to cells in-utero and correct faulty genes
BY KATIE HELLMAN science@theaggie.org
We’ve probably all heard about gene editing at some point or another, either in the context of a novel scientifc breakthrough or a far-fetched sci-f story. If you’re not sure what gene editing entails, it is essentially this: making changes to DNA either by inserting, replacing or deleting a DNA sequence, you can observe the efects in the living organism after birth.
Tis technology has a variety of applications in the medical feld; not only could it be used to alter physical features (like eye color and height), but it can also be utilized to eliminate or lessen the impact of genetic disorders.
A new study, published in the American Chemical Society
(ACS) Nano, has made progress in developing the technology to make this happen. Te tool is being used in fetal brain cells to alter faulty genes and correct arising neurodevelopmental conditions, including Angelman syndrome and Rett syndrome. Tese genetic disorders comprise part of the spectrum of neurologic disorders associated with autism and cause issues with speech, communication and movement.
“Neurodevelopmental disorders are devastating diseases that impair cognitive, emotional, and motor development and afect about 15% of children and adolescents globally,” the study reads. “[Tey] are challenging to treat because disease onset frequently occurs early in life and damage to the brain tissue is permanent. Terefore, treating neurodevelopmental disorders during the fetal stages before disease onset occurs is desirable.”
Te gene editing treatment, which is being developed through the collaboration of the Wang Lab at UC Davis and the Murthy Lab at UC Berkeley, would be administered in the womb; when administered early in the process of the organism’s development, the associated risks are lower due to the presence of fewer cells.
To deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) — which will eventually be translated into proteins — to cells, this technology uses a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formula. Te mRNA in the cells is taken into the body via endocytosis, where the LNP carrier is broken and the mRNA is released. It’s crucial to monitor the amount of LNP carriers needed for the treatment, as high doses can cause problems with toxicity and infammation.
Aijun Wang, professor of surgery and biomedical engineering, explained the biology behind mRNA’s impact in an interview with UC Davis Health.
“When the cells uptake the LNPs, the particles get degraded in the acidic environment of the cell’s endosome,” Wang said. “Tis causes a more efcient and early release of mRNA to the cytosol, the liquid component inside the cell where the mRNA will be translated into proteins. Tat is where we want to have the mRNA to be efective and functional.”
Tis method of gene editing has been tested in a mouse model thus far; when LNP with mRNA was introduced into a fetal mouse brain’s ventricles, the mRNA was translated into proteins that edited the genes responsible for the development of Angelman syndrome. Te nanoparticles were taken up in the
brain and resulted in the editing of 30% of brain stem cells, 60% of hippocampus neurons and 40% of cortex neurons. Te mRNA is like the Lego manual that has instructions to put the pieces together to form functional proteins,” Wang said. “Te cell itself has all the pieces to build CAS9 [a protein that aids in the process of gene editing]. We just have to supply the mRNA sequence, and the cell will take and translate it into proteins.”
Te goal of the treatment is to eventually be successful enough to prevent genetic conditions from developing while still in-utero. If enough neurons are corrected with the use of gene editing, infants with the original genetic makeup for these conditions could be born without symptoms.
FROM PAGE 7
Notable
of a Crusader knight. Miyashiro explains
that these images, especially within the context of the U.S. government, assert a dominant Christian perspective and perpetuate Islamophobia.
“Medieval studies defnitely has a deep complicity in a lot of this, centering on Christian European identity in this attempt to exceptionalize Europe and the European past at the expense of others,” Miyashiro said. “When I gave another version of this talk in Arizona, a Crusade historian stopped taking notes the moment I said the word ‘Palestine.’ He turned to my colleague
and said, ‘Oh, this is about Palestine?’ and put down his pen.”
Miyashiro also recounted the impact of Richard Landes, another medieval historian and an ex-professor at Boston University. Landes created the derogatory term “Pallywood” during the second Palestinian intifada in the early 2000s in an attempt to “debunk” photo and video evidence of Palestinian civilians being killed as staged content to gain international sympathy. Te impact of the term is still being felt today, with Rolling Stone fnding that “Pallywood” was
mentioned over 146,000 times across social media platforms between Oct. 7 and Oct. 27 of 2023.
Finishing his lecture with a short Q&A period, Miyashiro got to the heart of why he believes the feld of medieval studies consists of scholars traditionally complicit in instances of Islamophobia and colonialism.
“It’s whiteness,” Miyashiro said.
“It’s an overwhelmingly white feld. Medieval studies used to pride itself on having this really tight-knit community, but that community was all white people.”
Today, Miyashiro and his colleagues are currently working to build a more inclusive feld of medieval studies. A founding member of the Medievalists of Color Collective and having recently completed a Mellon-funded project to provide free resources for teaching race in pre-modern classrooms, Miyashiro is ensuring the outward growth of the program and the normalization of discussions like the one he provided to UC Davis students on Nov. 1.
Gene editing is a growing field of research with significant implications for treating genetic conditions. (Gerd Altman / Courtesy)
BY DIEGO CERNA sports@theaggie.org
designated hitter. Tis decision showcased his ofensive skill set even more, as he became the only player in baseball history to record 50 home runs and 50 steals in one season. Te World Series MVP, Freddie Freeman, was the most impactful
player for the Dodgers in the series.
Tis is Freeman’s second World Series victory and World Series MVP title.
Te former Atlanta Brave extended his World Series home run streak to six consecutive games with a home run, setting a new MLB record.
Te most iconic home run happened in the frst game of the series, when Freeman hit the frstever walk-of home run in World Series history. Not only was it a home run but also a grand slam, giving the Dodgers a 6-3 game one victory over the Yankees. Freeman was also able to hit three home runs in the next three games.
Arguably the strongest aspect that led the Dodgers were the starting pitchers and bullpen. Relief pitcher Blake Treinen was a huge help throughout the series, namely the series-clinching win where Dave Roberts trusted him to lead the Dodgers into the ninth inning and not give up the 7-6 lead they held. Tat decision paid of in the end. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler also had impressive outings in game two and three, holding the Dodgers to no runs in their time pitching.
As for the Yankees, there are many questions lurking in the ofseason.
Newly acquired left felder Juan Soto helped lead the Yankees to their frst
World Series appearance since 2009 and was a key contributor in the postseason. Soto was a key member in keeping the Yankees’ ofense afoat in the World Series as well. Soto’s contract has ofcially expired, and he plans to head into free agency this coming ofseason.
Te Yankees’ center felder, Aaron Judge, also struggled this postseason, only hitting a batting average of .184 after batting over .300 and hitting 58 home runs in the regular season. Te biggest mistake came in the Yankees felding error in the ffth inning, as Judge missed catching a routine fy ball to keep the Dodgers inning alive, leading to the fve-run collapse.
“I think falling short in the World Series will stay with me until I die,” Judge said in a postgame interview.
After not being able to celebrate their 2020 championship season due to COVID-19, the Dodgers were fnally able to celebrate in the streets of Los Angeles on Nov. 1. LA fans came to support with over 2 million attendees showing up in downtown LA and about 40,000 fans attending the rally at Dodger Stadium.
With the most talented roster in the MLB, it’s safe to say that the Dodgers look forward to winning more championships in their future.
Aggie Senior Day for the UC Davis field hockey team ends in a loss
UC Davis pulls out two goals against the Cardinals
BY KRISTA HAJJAR sports@theaggie.org
On Oct. 27, the UC Davis Aggies feld hockey team went against the University of Louisville Cardinals.
Fans were on the edge of their seats throughout the entire match anticipating which team would come out with the victory. Te Cardinals held the lead for the entirety of the game making UC Davis fans question if this was going to be a victory for the Aggies. Despite their eforts in the fourth quarter, the Aggies lost 2-6 against the Cardinals.
Te game was tough as each team worked hard to keep possession and take on-frame shots at the opposing team’s goal. Te Aggies seemed to be having trouble in the frst quarter as they didn’t have any on-frame shots compared to the Cardinals’ seven.
Starting of early, the Cardinals managed to connect with the back of the net in the ffth minute of the game.
Tis created the perfect start for the Cardinals as they continued with their momentum and put up two more goals within the frst quarter. Te frst quarter ended with the Aggies trailing behind the Cardinals by three points.
Starting of the second quarter with a bang, the Cardinals secured their fourth goal of the match. However, the Aggies answered by securing their own goal by Liselotte Koop, a fourthyear managerial economics major. Koop had a shot of of a great pass by teammate MK Lutz, a frst-year undeclared major. Koop and Lutz gave the Aggies their frst goal of the match and last goal of the quarter as neither team managed to score another goal in the rest of the second quarter.
Te second quarter ended on a
more positive note for the Aggies as they had three on-frame shots against Louisville’s four. Additionally, both teams had a total of two important saves in the quarter with the match still far from over.
Te third quarter proved to be a little more challenging for UC Davis as Louisville tried to prevent them from having a chance to come back. At 42 and 43 minutes into the game, the Cardinals secured two goals, increasing their lead over the Aggies to 5-1. Unfortunately for the Aggies, they were unable to answer these goals and complete any shots. Tey did, however, have three saves, three penalty corners and three on-frame shots. Immediately into the fourth and fnal quarter, the Aggies made a play that ended with a goal. Koop was the fnal player to take the shot and secure the goal for the Aggies, assisted by Beth Munro-Morris, a third-year design major, and Audrey Lee, a fourth-year statistical data science major. Following the UC Davis goal, neither team was able to score again, making the fnal score of the match 2-6 in favor of the Cardinals. Although it ended in a loss for the Aggies, the team played a great game and held their own against their strong competitor. Te Aggies have ofcially fnished their fall season as they had one last game against University of Massachusetts (UMass) Lowell on Nov. 3. Te game resulted in another loss for the Aggies with a fnal score of 1-4 in favor of UMass Lowell. While the season is over, the teams they’ve battled have been challenging, and they still scored many goals and won four games. Te UC Aggies now look forward to their of-season training to focus on their weaknesses and come back better than ever next season.
A photo of Shohei Ohtani during the Dodgers Yankees World Series. (Courtesy)
Forward Skyler Richards (23) defends the ball against the Louisville Cardinals. The Aggies lost 6-2 to the Cardinals on October 27, 2024. (Sacha Chickering / Aggie)