Nov. 14, 2024

U.S. presidential election results stir anxiety and reflection within the Davis community

UC Davis students, professors and residents express their opinions on the 2024 election

BY EVELYN SANCHEZ features@theaggie.org

“Besides policy measures, the rhetoric that dehumanizes

kinda knew that our society was lowkey fucked and Trump had a possibility [of winning].”

James F. Adams, a political science professor at UC Davis, shared a similar sentiment.

“I’m not surprised that Kamala Harris lost,” Adams said. “I am surprised it was as decisive as it was.”

Compared to the Biden Campaign of 2020, there was a shift of +3.2 percentage points in favor of Republicans. Tis is a dramatic change compared to the 2020 Democratic shift of +1.9 points that resulted in the blue victory.

“It was the frst time the Republicans won the popular vote for 30 years,” Adams said. “In retrospect, Kamala Harris was in a difcult situation for three reasons. One: about 50% of Americans think America is on the right track. Two: Biden is already an unpopular president and both combined would’ve already made it hard for Harris to win the election [...] Tree: Harris got a historically late start, barely 100 days before Election Day.” Previously in 2020, Trump won 49% of the men’s vote. For this election cycle, he secured the votes of 55% of men in the country. Trump also saw an increase of two percentage points

Meet the candidates

to 45% for the women’s vote despite running on anti-reproductive rights policies. Even longtime Democratic states like New Jersey swung red in favor of Trump. California also saw an increase in counties voting Republican with areas like San Bernardino and Riverside, which had previously voted blue in 2020. Harris ended up losing every key swing state that would’ve helped facilitate a blue shift. Te swing state counties that Kamala did win were won through a slimmer margin compared to the 2020 election. Essentially, this election was called early. Why was this?

“[Trump] won a lot of rural people that say, ‘Gosh nobody cares about me,’” Kevin R. Johnson, the former dean for the UC Davis School of Law and current distinguished professor of law, said.

“Trump tapped into a sense of frustration that a majority of the voters held and found attractive.”

Tis election has also been a time of fear and anxiety for many marginalized groups, according to Johnson.

“One big distinction between President Trump and President-elect Trump is the way he talks about immigrants at very disparaging rates,” Johnson said.

Learn about who is vying to be your next student government senator

BY VINCE BASADA campus@theaggie.org

Te fall ASUCD elections will open on Tuesday, Nov. 12 and close on Saturday, Nov. 16. Tis cycle features 10 candidates and three slates — temporary political coalitions that will dissolve after the election is over.

Te California Aggie interviewed the candidates running to be one of your six student senators and have compiled everything you need to know to make an informed decision this election cycle.

Elevate Slate Priorities: Bringing communities together and promoting sustainability initiatives.

Lexi Bekar, a frst-year environmental sciences and management major, is focused on sustainability and fostering community between students. Her platform includes implementing a system to reuse/donate lab supplies and equipment, advocating for longer hours in Shields Library and creating community tables and increased seating in the CoHo and Dining Commons to foster conversation. As a high schooler, she was involved in YMCA Youth and Government, as well as Model UN.

“I’m advocating for [the] increasing of campus community,” Bekar said. “Even though a lot of people do have diferences at UC Davis, I still believe that it is crucial for us to be able to work together at the end of the day.”

Independent (No Slate)

Kenneth DuPont, a third-year political science — public service and sociology double major, is running a focused campaign inspired by personal experience. He is running on combating spiking and has called for the distribution of drink covers to students. He is also looking to cap the fees of campus parking tickets and increase cultural and ethnic outreach by the student government.

DuPont is the founder of Optimistic Coloring Books International Gifting Organization, which donates coloring books to over 100 hospitals in over 10 countries. For this work, he and his sister have received a commendation from the city of San Diego (which included getting a day named after them) and an accolade from President Joe Biden. He is currently an intern at California Strategies, a Sacramento-based policy and public afairs consulting frm.

“I’m running because all of [my platform] problems have very simple solutions that can be very easily enforced,” DuPont said. “If it changes just one person’s life, if it just prevents one person from being spiked, that’s all I need. I just want to make sure this campus is safer.”

Ilias Benomar, a frst-year

political science and history double major, is running on a “humanity”focused campaign. He wants to improve the accessibility of feminine hygiene products on campus and aid UC-wide goals to reduce single-use plastics. Benomar was a community organizer for California Assemblymember Esmerelda Soria and former Assemblymember Adam

Gray. In high school, he was president of his school’s speech and debate club and its Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) club. He also helped organize Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protests at UC Merced, his hometown. “I think that I can bring something positive to the table and that I can make a positive change for my community and my fellow students,” Benomar said. Zack Dollins, a frst-year political science major, is focused on spreading compassion and hopes to establish himself as a student advocate. His platform includes plans to expand basic needs resources and access to school supplies, improve student

resulting in 1.9 million fewer votes within the largest Democratic counties in comparison to 2020. For many voters, Harris’ policies did not lean far enough to the left — her stance on the military, promising to build the American military as “the most lethal fghting force in the world,” and her stance on the Palestinian-Israeli confict isolated important groups of voters.

safety, enact sustainability initiatives, protect cultural expression and call for greater student government transparency.

In high school, Dollins founded the Kindness Collective Club focused on world betterment and hopes to start a UC Davis chapter in the coming year. He is a member of the Davis College Democrats and the UC Davis Alt Protein Project.

“I’m driven by the unshakable belief that my purpose in life is to better the world,” Dollins said. “I hope to be a beacon of love for every person I come across.”Zaytuna Slate

Priorities: Improving campus safety and freedom of expression and

building closer relationships between ASUCD and identity-based Registered Student Organizations (RSOs). Nanki Kaur, a third-year biomedical engineering and South Asian studies double major, seeks to bring a STEM perspective to the student senate and represent the Sikh community. Her priorities are to create more 24/7 study spaces on campus, improve the current study room in Shields Library, spread information about available Title IX and harassment resources and advocate for culturally sensitive academic and mental health services.

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President-elect Donald Trump speaking at a convention in 2020. (Creative Commons/Courtesy)

Headshots of the 10 candidates running for the six available ASUCD Senate positions in the fall 2024 election cycle. (Dr. Florie Wild / Courtesy)

Acai Fresh opens in Downtown Davis

Davis’ lack of authentic acai bowls has finally been reconciled

BY OLIVIA HOKR city@theaggie.org

Last month, Davis welcomed a new business to the downtown area. Acai Fresh recently opened at 431 G Street, ofering bowls made with authentic acai soft serve and a variety of toppings including fresh fruits, nuts, granola, coconut, chocolate and more.

Acai Fresh is owned and operated by the same owner of YoloBerry Yogurt, Lee Pfugrath. YoloBerry is a staple for many Davis residents, and Pfugrath saw an opportunity to provide the city with another shop to satisfy acai cravings. After three years of thinking about how to execute his concept, Acai Fresh came into existence.

“I wanted to do another brand, another concept that would compliment YoloBerry in a way,” Pfugrath said. “We were going to put it in YoloBerry, but I think it would’ve taken away the concept of the acai bowl. I felt that it would really stand on its own as a business and so I couldn’t do self-serve with it.” Throughout Davis, there are minimal options for acai bowls. Pfugrath discovered that the majority of those options resemble more of a smoothie bowl rather than a traditional acai bowl. As he worked on the concept for Acai Fresh, Pfugrath paid special attention to the authenticity and freshness of the brand. To ensure a consistently satisfactory bowl, the acai is poured from a soft serve machine.

“With the versions [of acai] around the area, most folks are used to bowls that are blended or scooped, and then the consistency of that product is more watery and soupy, and the texture is more runny,” Pfugrath said. “I felt that the texture and taste and everything of the market out there wasn’t sufcient for what we were trying to do. Our bowls come out of a soft serve machine, like the ones at YoloBerry.”

Te menu items at Acai Fresh are made up of organic, nutrient-rich and

high-quality ingredients.

“We use 100% Brazilian Acai Berry organic soft serve,” Pfugrath said. “We promote a healthy lifestyle with our brand. Our [acai] mix is very diferent from others. We don’t put any fllers in there or corn syrup or any of that type of stuf. We cut all of our fruit fresh

daily. All of our berries and toppings come in daily so we really emphasize freshness and great quality.”

UC Davis students have shown great appreciation for the new acai shop. Being away from home can mean being away from your favorite foods, which for a lot of people is acai bowls.

Sahaya International celebrates 25 years and thousands of people who made change happen

The Davis-based nonprofit hosted speakers and performers to reflect on their history and fundraise for future efforts

BY RORY CONLON city@theaggie.org

Sahaya International, a Davisbased non-proft that funds schools, HIV/AIDS programs and basic needs assistance, celebrated its 25th anniversary in the Veterans Memorial Teatre on Nov. 2. During the event, they screened a 2013 documentary made about their organization, hosted speakers to discuss their mission and recruited students to perform cultural dances.

Ramin Yazdani, the president of Sahaya International, introduced the organization’s goals to attendees.

“Tonight is about honoring the impact we’ve made together, empowering children, transforming communities and building hope in places where there is really big need,” Yazdani said. “We are excited to share these stories and lives that have been changed and to recognize the people whose dedication has brought the Sahaya mission to life.”

Sahaya International is a program that runs in fve main locations: India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Kenya and Uganda.

Durai Selvam, the founder of the Rural Education and Action Development Program (READ), started on his own by establishing a school for children in the rural districts of Tamil Nadu in Southern India. After meeting with Koen Van Rompay, the founder and executive director of Sahaya, Selvam expanded his goals to tackle another prominent issue in Tamil Nadu: the spread and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

“We got a grant from the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and we gave peer education to women groups, to men through barbers and to young children through barbers and public people,” Selvam said. “Before that, for three or four years, we could not get [to] any HIV-infected people, very few. Only

after giving that tremendous awareness program to all our districts, immediately more than 300 people came out, and we started to support them to get free medicine from the Tamil hospital 250 kilometers away.”

His efforts to raise awareness laid the foundation for a program supporting basic home-based care, income generation programs and nutrition support for people with HIV.

Selvam told the story of a young HIVpositive girl named Monisha, who he frst met in 2003.

“She lost her parents, so we supported her through a sponsorship program,” Selvam said. “After 16 years, she graduated with a diploma in nursing and was appointed as a nursing staf [member] in Reeds Health Center. In 2021, during the lockdown period, she got married to a young man also living with HIV, and she now has a two-yearold boy who is HIV-negative.”

Chuong Truong, who leads Sahaya’s work in Vietnam, refected on how escaping from Vietnam in 1979 and his refugee identity shaped him.

“We build houses for people who are homeless and living in shacks,” Truong said. “As an infant, I realized that I was living in a shack myself for a whole year [...] I’m thankful to come in today to present this [documentary] and also to come full circle — escaping a country and being able to come and give back to the people who are still there.”

In the documentary, Truong described the conditions families are living in.

Tese families are living in shelters made up of rubbish and the foor is pavement,” Truong said. “A lot of these families sufer from depression and insomnia — when it rains, they can’t sleep. Tropical rain [happens] for at least four or fve months out of the year.”

Families who receive housing are chosen based on interviews conducted by nuns at a local Buddhist temple. Te documentary followed two young

families receiving homes through the program and orphans at a local school who received grants they needed to pursue their education.

Koen Van Rompay, the founder and executive director of Sahaya, closed out the night by discussing the organization’s work in Uganda.

In October and November of 2022, a series of storms struck Uganda, causing major fooding that destroyed homes and displaced many children.

Rompay said that Akiikih Appolo, the leader of the Banyabutumbi Cultural Heritage Organization (BACHO-K), took those children in.

“Almost every week, there was another storm, and the situation just got worse,” Rompay said. “Akiikih and his wife have such a big heart: they took all of those children into their little house, and they were sleeping like sardines every night. But of course, for them, it was a really big challenge, so we knew we had to do something.”

Last December, Sahaya built dormitories to house some of those children.

However, since then, more children have been displaced from a village in the north hit by fooding, creating the need for more housing.

Rompay thanked attendees for their support. He refected on how an organization that started at his kitchen table turned into an organization that spanned continents.

“When I started Sahaya, my expectations were humble,” Rompay said. “I thought, ‘If we are really successful, we may raise a few thousand dollars per year.’

Of course, we have far exceeded that thanks to your support. What’s really behind the success of Sahaya is this quote: ‘Each of us really has that power in us to be a drop that can create a new ripple.’ Tat’s really what happened, the ripple efect.”

Huang, a third-year design and cognitive science double major, made her way to Acai Fresh the frst week they opened. “I’ve been wanting an acai shop in Davis since I frst came to university here, so I was so excited to hear about Acai Fresh,” Huang said. “I’ve already

tried the Yolo Bowl with my friends, and I can’t wait to go back for more.” Acai Fresh has not had an ofcial grand opening yet but hopes to have one in the upcoming months. Visit Acai Fresh’s website for more information regarding their hours of operation, location and menu.

The city of Davis hosts forum to raise awareness for domestic violence survivors

Community event highlights warning signs, resources and the importance of a united response to a growing public health crisis

BY ALMA CULVERWELL city@theaggie.org

In honor of Domestic Violence

Awareness Month, Yolo County, the Davis Police Department, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, Empower Yolo, Yolo Crisis Nursery and others hosted an educational Domestic Violence Awareness Forum on Oct. 21 at the Davis Veterans Memorial Center. Te event aimed to raise awareness about the prevalence and severity of domestic violence while providing community members with adequate tools and resources to respond efectively.

Attendees learned how to recognize warning signs of abuse, create safety plans and access available resources.

Presentations also covered how law enforcement handles domestic violence cases, emphasizing the importance of a coordinated community response.

Melinda Aiello, the Yolo County assistant chief deputy district attorney and coordinator for the event, explained the goals of hosting the forum.

“Te primary goal was to educate, raise awareness and provide resources,” Aiello said. “Domestic violence remains a huge societal issue, and so it is important to have these forums.” Te forum featured informational

tables from local non-profit organizations, a presentation by the Yolo County District Attorney’s Ofce and a panel discussion with domestic violence experts. Te discussion underscored the importance of awareness, support and intervention in addressing domestic violence, an issue afecting millions across the U.S. Domestic Violence Awareness Month began in 1987 to shed light on a signifcant public health crisis, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the U.S., and over one in four women and one in 10 men experience partner abuse in their lifetimes.

Te forum also highlighted the ongoing work of the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office’s Victim Services Program, which provides advocacy, court accompaniment and other vital services to survivors.

Aiello explained more specific planning details of the forum. Te only challenge [in organizing the forum] was trying to decide on an agenda that is thorough, informative and concise,” Aiello said.

CRYSTAL CHEN / AGGIE

Sahaya International celebrates their 25th anniversary with cultural performances and a screening of the documentary, “A Journey Home — The Story of Sahaya Vietnam.” (Sahaya International / Courtesy)

Jolina

Promotional poster for the Domestic Violence Awareness Forum hosted at the Davis Veterans Memorial Center. (Melinda Aiello / Courtesy)

Senate hears quarterly reports and expresses concerns over student journalism at Nov. 7 meeting

ASUCD Senate hosted their quarterly town hall meeting and passed SB#11, creating a rally pack committee at UC Davis

BY JORDAN POLTORAK campus@theaggie.org

Te quarterly ASUCD town hall began in the Cofee House (CoHo) around 6:10 p.m. after the reading of the UC Davis Land Acknowledgement. Former Senator Chasa Monica, a fourth-year molecular and medical microbiology and philosophy double major, asked the frst question.

“Is there any way to reform town halls and fnd a better way to connect with the student population?” Monica said.

Multiple senators suggested engaging Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) to attend or send representatives.

Alexander Jackson, a third-year chemistry major, asked about how the UC Davis community is impacted by the results of the election.

“How do we as a community stay

committed to our shared principles, and how do we move forward and continue to recommit ourselves to change at the local level?” Jackson said.

The senators then provided reassurance that they will be part of positive change within the UC Davis community. Senator Amrita Julka expanded on the senate’s plans to support students.

“It’s hard not to lose hope, but what we can do is things to help students,” Julka said. “Specifcally with the Student Health and Wellness [SHAW] unit, they will be talking with different resource centers on campus such as the LGBTQIA+ [Resource] Center, Women’s Resource[s] [and Research] Center, Cross Cultural [...] Center and gauge how they will be afected [while] ofer[ing] mental health resources.”

External Affairs Vice President (EAVP) Zeph Schendlebach addressed concerns regarding how the presidentelect would afect the UC system.

Te UC Ofce of the President

[UCOP] is already looking into alternative sources of funding for the UC system,” Schendlebach said. “Te UCOP is already looking for grants and long-term funding sources to receive supplemental scholarship funding for students, especially for students that qualify for the Cal Grant and the Pell Grant.”

To spark more student participation in the town hall, ASUCD President Gaius Ilupeju walked around to various students in the CoHo and asked them what mattered most to them. The answers ranged from costs to eforts toward basic needs to freedom of protest and feeling like their voice is heard politically.

After the town hall, the senators moved to the Mee Room of the Memorial Union for their weekly senate meeting.

Te senators proceeded to confrm a new Housing and Transportation Advocacy Committee (HTAC) Member, Sexual Assault Awareness

Advocacy Committee (SAAAC)

Vice Chair, two SAAAC Committee

Members, the STEM Committee Vice Chair and three Gender and Sexuality Committee (GASC) Commissioners.

Justin Hurst, the ASUCD President during the 2019 to 2020 school year, presented on behalf of the ASUCD Alumni Network.

Hurst explained their mission statement for their current board.

“Our goal is to foster a real sense of community amongst the alumni of ASUCD to help translate the skills and experiences gained through our ASUCD experiences into future growth, both personal and professional.”

The senate then moved into quarterly reports from various units, the frst being the Entertainment Council.

Te Unit Director, Johnny Ng, and the Assistant Unit Director, Binh Do, recapped the success of Sunset Fest with 8,000 to 9,000 people in attendance, more money raised in sponsorships than the last fve years combined and the frst

time the event was held at UC Davis Health Stadium since 2021.

SB#12 was then introduced in order to gauge the support of the table. Te bill proposes taking $25,000 in order to sponsor a “Pop Up” concert with Mike Sherm. Students would pay $5 for concert entry, with their ticket funds being donated to Te Pantry.

Internal Affairs Commissioner Amanda Clark expressed concern about revenue.

“Tere are unexpected events that make units need more money,” Clark said. “We just went to town hall and listened to how students are concerned about everything that has happened. Tere are other external factors that go into addressing concerns of the student body.”

Unit Director Ng responded.

“To students who don’t know what ASUCD is and what we do, this is an opportunity to give money to a good cause,” Ng said. “In doing so, we can give you something you might have never experienced, and an artist.”

Te California Aggie then moved into their quarterly report presented by Editor-in-Chief Chris Ponce. He informed the senate of “Te Aggie Angle” podcast and the launch of Te Aggie’s social media account on TikTok. Ponce also responded to Julka’s concerns on student privacy.

“The Society of Professional Journalist guidelines require us to use our best judgment to minimize harm,” Ponce said. “Tis is a priority to us. We want to see the safety of students but we also want to see transparency when we report.”

Multiple senators also expressed concerns about being misquoted by Te Aggie.

“Journalism is a case-by-case basis,” Ponce said. “We do keep an eye on this, and the quality of our journalism matters to us.”

Te Student Advocate Ofce gave their report and informed the senate that since spring 2023, about half of all of their cases have come from Artifcial Intelligence (AI) plagiarism.

Next, the various members of the table encouraged the Innovation and Research Lab to promote ASUCD more in regards to their branding and events.

After reports, SB#11 was passed unanimously. Te bill creates a rally pack committee that would organize events to promote athletics and ASUCD while featuring the marching band and dance team.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 p.m.

The ASUCD Aggie Reuse Store reopens after being closed for months

After facing hiring delays, the store will continue to provide clothing, lab coats, books and other items to the Davis community

BY JESSICA YUNG campus@theaggie.org

On Oct. 28, the ASUCD Aggie Reuse Store reopened after being closed for nearly half of the quarter due to hiring delays.

Te reuse store ofers secondhand goods including water bottles, shirts, pants, shoes, lab coats and various other items. Te goods that the reuse store provides are free to all students and the larger community and are made available through donations. Te store is located at Memorial Union #154 with new hours Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kate Richards, the Aggie Reuse Store unit director and a second-year history major, expanded on the reason for the delayed opening.

“Because ASUCD hires for all their units at the same time and employs so many students on campus, it’s hard for them to process all the applications,” Richards said.

Richards described the collaborations the store was having with a local downtown business.

“Currently, we are partnering with Yesterday Vintage, so if you donate three or more items to Aggie Reuse you get a 15% of coupon to Yesterday,” Richards said.

Te mission of the Aggie Reuse Store is to “promote sustainable fashion and creative upcycling by providing a source for basic needs to the overall community and therefore discouraging fast fashion,” according to their website. Richards further elaborated on the goals of the establishment, including its unique and community-oriented business model.

“Aggie Reuse runs on a mutual-aid model, which means that everything is free,” Richards said. “We provide an incredibly important basic needs resource to many people living in Davis. We help alleviate any fnancial burdens students face. Te other purpose is to try and make sustainable living accessible to everyone. Tere is no limit to the amount of things that people can take from the store.”

However, Aggie Reuse does have policies on their donations: “No rips, holes, [and] stains. Please wash clothes before donating,” according to their website. Richards further explained these donation policies in detail.

“You can stop by and drop of donations anytime we’re open,” Richards said. “We take everything we can but are unable to accept undergarments/bathing suits, large furniture, children’s clothing, technology — such as computers/ phones/headphones, although we will take phone chargers or

and the rest of the Memorial Union. Since

it’s so diferent, people walking by get curious and take a peek inside.” Te volunteer staf is composed of “Data Analytics, Design, Social Media, Sales, and Marketing,” and applications are open to anyone, according to the Aggie Reuse website. Richards talked about the process of becoming a volunteer for the organization.

“We hire volunteers at the beginning of each quarter, and our spaces are almost full, but you can apply at any time, and we’ll let you know when there’s space on the team,” Richards said. “Te volunteering info/application can be found on our Instagram.” Richards encouraged anyone who is interested to reach out and join their cause.

“If you have any questions about donations, volunteering, potential collaborations or anything else, feel free to email aggiereuse@asucd.ucdavis. edu,” Richards said.

The Aggie Reuse Store, located in the Memorial Union, advertises its newest goods. (Veda Jadaprolu / Aggie)

AGGIE FILE

What can we learn from impressionist artists?

Impressionist art is rebellious, intuitive and imperfect

BY MAYA KORNYEYEVA mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu

“Impression Sunrise,” Claude Monet’s beautifully complex debut painting, captivated me from the moment I frst saw it.

Depicting a lonely boat foating on a waterway, a blazing orange sun and the plumes of industrial life in the distance, “Impression Sunrise” conveys a notion of both new beginnings and stillful foreboding through its creative mixture of warm and cool tones. Te painting also ofers a sense of full immersion through its depiction of light; with one glance at “Impression Sunrise,” I can imagine myself there on the water, looking out over a vast

city and experiencing the frst light of the rising sun as it breaks through the clouded morning mist.

Impressionism, named after Monet’s “Impression Sunrise,” is largely regarded as one of the most infuential art movements in history. Springing forth from the rapid modernization of the 19th century, this style of painting is all about gentle strokes on canvas, the playful banter between light and shadow and the layering of dozens of colors to capture a sense of motion and serenity within everyday life.

Despite the contemporary respect for the movement, its birth, as with any new wave of art, was fraught with opposition. Initially met with critique and ridicule, founding artists Monet,

Edgar Degas and Pierre-August Renoir (among others) persevered and became immortalized through their, at the time, revolutionary approach to capturing daily life through painting.

Even though we exist hundreds of years after this “rebellious” style of art, what impressionists brought to the table in 19th century France is not so far removed from the world of today. We can learn so much from the paintings, techniques and motivations of these talented artists: from Alfred Sisley to Cecilia Beaux.

A key feature that set impressionist artists apart was their “rough” brushwork, which was vastly diferent from the predominant art styles circulating France in the late 19th century. Artists like Sisley, Renoir, Monet and Degas used “broken” color, a color theory technique that involved adding a brush of color to the canvas and allowing it to set without blending it. Often, they would put two opposite colors together, flling their chosen composition with vibrancy.

From this technique, we can learn the importance of embracing imperfection in our lives. Not everything needs to be picture-perfect, and what may seem like a mistake can actually add to your overall experience and give you the opportunity to learn and improve.

“Broken” color also carries the lesson of restraint and patience; anything you do takes time and conscious efort, and it is important to trust the process and not fall into the trap of self-doubt. What may seem like chaos — for instance, two opposite colors together — can have the efect of serenity. Along with the way impressionist artists worked with color, their asymmetrical, non-idealized fgures and compositions contradicted centuries of Roman and Renaissance artistic tradition. Rather than striving for perfection, they allowed their intuition to infuence their paintings and lean into a new artistic style. Tis “parting with tradition” is another major lesson to be gleaned from impressionism; beautiful art can be created using novel strategies and with motivations that deviate from the “norm.” Social progress is driven with the introduction of avant-garde methods, ideas and innovations, and the same can be said for the world of art.

Impressionism also encourages a symbiotic relationship with the natural world. Impressionists held a special love for the outdoors and chose to work outside whenever possible, painting in the elements and allowing themselves to be infuenced by them.

Tis method is called painting “en plein air.”

Contrary to the values of impressionists, today we are continuously driven further into the indoors. I’ve noticed that I almost never get a chance to just take a walk outside, to get away from work or classes and allow myself to reconnect with nature. I often take the natural world for granted, and impressionist artists urge us to see its beauty and experience it more frequently. At the end of the day, you don’t have to be a painter, artist or designer: you just need to be yourself. Impressionism is all about capturing singular moments in time — snapshots of reality which are neither photorealistic nor abstract, but which refect the mood, energy and vibrancy of a singular moment in time. Impressionism nudges you to live in the moment. So, view the world as an impressionist painter would: flled with raw feeling and an overwhelming sense of humanity.

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.

There’s something lurking in the Craft Center

Next time you go to the Craft Center, make sure you say hi

BY ALLISON KELEHER

adkeleher@ucdavis.edu

Te other day, I went to the ceramics room in the Craft Center to visit all of the artistic people here at UC Davis. As an accounting student, I try to keep in touch with creative people to feel fulflled. I think the Craft Center managers are onto me though, because every time I walk through the door a resounding sigh sounds around the lobby.

As I was making my rounds around the Craft Center, saying “hello” to all of my creative friends, I heard a grumble echo from the ceramics studio. I fgured it was a frustrated artist, which made me excited because I don’t run into those too often. However, when I walked in, it was empty and the lights were of As soon as I walked into the studio, a manager was running after me yelling: “Te ceramics studio is closed!”

I was a little ofended, because I felt like they should make an exception for me. In a way, I feel like I’m the Craft Center mascot. I show up sometimes and walk around to make an appearance, and then I leave. I’m basically the mascot.

I ask, “Why is it closed?”

Te drain is overfowing, so it’s out of order.”

Tis made me mad, because some of the most creative people are in ceramics. Tink of all of the friends I’m missing out on. So, I decided to investigate.

I waited out in the lobby until closing, much to the dismay of all the Craft Center employees. During that time, I pretended to study, however I was really studying the dynamics of the Craft Center. Tey’re hiding something for sure. At one point, I

made eye contact with someone at the front desk over the edge of my laptop, so I had to pull back a little on the investigation. I decided to actually do some homework which was painful. Once the coast was clear, I continued spying on everyone in the Craft Center.

Troughout my spying, I took pictures of various people that entered the establishment because I needed style inspo. In addition to the lack of creative people, there’s also a style inspo drought in my accounting classes. It’s really hard carrying all the creativity and cute outfts on my back. Anyways, as the Craft Center was closing, the manager was basically pushing me out with a broom. I dragged my feet through the door because I hadn’t gathered enough evidence. But then, someone arrived at the door and they were let in immediately. “Why does he get to go in?!” I exclaimed.

“He works here!” the manager hufed in annoyance. Aha. More evidence. Tis so-called “employee” wasn’t carrying any cleaning supplies or anything really, so there’s no reason for him to work here.

I waited in the darkness for everyone to leave, except the strange man that was let in. Ten, I took out my grappling hook and rope and scaled the building with ease. I let myself in through the second foor and snuck downstairs to the ceramics studio.

Te door was cracked and a light was coming through the doorway into the hall. I tiptoed my way down the hallway to get a peek into the studio. No one will ever believe what I saw — the man was reading a bedtime story. To whom you may ask? To a giant clay monster the size of a large SUV. Te monster was actually kind

of cute — he had a round face with big cheeks and a button nose. Not sure why clay would need to smell anything, but oh well. He was sitting politely with his hands folded in his lap, listening intently to the story. I wasn’t paying attention to the story, but apparently something funny happened, because the monster let out a resounding laugh and melted into a pool of clay oobleck. When he was done laughing, he reformed into his old self and was ready for the rest of the story.

I wasn’t sure what to do with this information, so I continued to watch. What I saw was that the clay monster would get smaller and smaller with every laugh until he was the size of a

I love Schedule Builder!!!

BY SANDHYA PFILE sbpfile@ucdavis.edu

pumpkin. Finally, when the story was over and the monster was fast asleep, he would melt into a pool of clay and slip back into the grate under the sink. I forgot about my stealth mission because the storyteller noticed me pretty quickly after putting the monster to sleep. After apologizing profusely, he said it was okay as long as I didn’t tell anyone. I agreed, but of course that doesn’t include Te California Aggie. Apparently, as people use the ceramics studio, the clay that slips down into the grate will build up and this little monster friend will appear. Tey discovered that he would shrink down with a bedtime story so the Craft Center began telling stories

regularly to maintain his size.

Te monster’s name is Burt, and he’s actually really friendly, so I recommend that everyone go say hi and become acquainted. Currently, I’m trying to see how I can sign up to read him bedtime stories. However, the Craft Center is reluctant to allow me, since I broke into their building. So, I guess I’ll have to break in again to read him a bedtime story. To all my readers from the Craft Center: you can’t keep Burt away from me.

Disclaimer: (This article is humor and/or satire, and its content is purely fictional. The story and the names of “sources” are fictionalized.)

are fictionalized.)

MAYA KORNYEYEVA / AGGIE

NOVA MAI/ AGGIE

OPINION

Fall 2024 ASUCD endorsements: consider the following

The Editorial Board encourages you to consider student safety on campus, spending transparency and free speech when casting your ballot

BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD

From Tuesday, Nov. 12 to Saturday, Nov. 16, students at UC Davis have the opportunity — for many, their frst — to vote in the fall ASUCD elections. Te California Aggie’s Editorial Board strongly encourages you to exercise your right to vote in student government elections, as the results of these elections have direct efects on you and other students at UC Davis. However, with 10 candidates running for the ASUCD Senate and one proposed amendment to the constitution, it is easy to feel overwhelmed when deciding how to cast your vote.

After holding interviews with the candidates, Te California Aggie’s Editorial Board has compiled a list of endorsements for the fall election cycle but encourages you to thoroughly seek out information on each of the 10 candidates and come to your own conclusion when utilizing your right to vote. Undergraduate students can cast their digital ballot for six senators and Constitutional Amendment #92 on the ASUCD Elections website.

Note: Candidates Ryan Weber and Jorge Diaz were not able to participate in the endorsement interviews for this piece.

Solana Rodriguez (second-year, political science — public service):

While she isn’t one herself, Solana Rodriguez has prioritized improving opportunities for transfer students at UC Davis. In her work as a community advisor at Te Green, Rodriguez has seen the need to improve outreach to these students. Te Editorial Board was impressed by Rodriguez’s detailed platform and vision for ASUCD. She hopes to bring more awareness to cultural events on campus, such as highlighting El Centro and other Latino organizations in Davis. Her other priorities include improving housing and transportation issues, expanding lighting in dimly lit areas for campus safety and ensuring the senate has more fscal responsibility in its spending bills. She believes that ASUCD can better use its budget by prioritizing student services over entertainment.

“Students can’t truly enjoy themselves if they feel unsafe or if their basic needs aren’t met,” Rodriguez said.

Given concerns about student safety, outreach and the budget — Rodriguez is exactly the kind of voice needed in the senate right now.

Nanki Kaur (third-year, biomedical engineering):

Despite it being her second time running for the senate, Nanki Kaur demonstrates her continued passion for the position along with her resilience.

Te Editorial Board was impressed by how well spoken and knowledgeable Kaur is on her proposed policies, which include creating a hotline for women’s safety on campus, increasing STEM representation and improving funding for basic needs. If elected, Kaur aims to expand the number of 24/7 study spaces available on campus, as well as work toward greater transparency between the student body, the senate and Te California Aggie. Her priorities also include increasing specialized mental health resources and bringing awareness to Title IX and women’s resources on campus. With her strong voice and previous leadership experience, Te Editorial Board believes she is a qualifed candidate who is sure to serve the student population with their needs, thoughts and ideas in mind.

Umar Shaikh (second-year, political science):

Te California Aggie has decided to endorse Umar Shaikh, a second-year political science major who is running for ASUCD Senate. Shaikh presented thorough knowledge on ASUCD units and expressed passion about enforcing student protections on campus in the face of recent policy changes, which majorly infuenced his decision to run. His willingness to criticize the UC system and on-campus police involvement — as well as his belief that the UC system can be bettered as a result of student-given pressure — served as a refreshing reminder of the impacts students can directly have on their universities. He promoted EBT and food accessibility for students on campus and explained his plans to adopt the CoHo in order to work with the ASUCD unit that students likely interact with the most. In addition, Shaikh expressed that clarity and transparency among ASUCD and UC Davis administration is a key step to strengthening student-tofaculty relationships. His knowledge of specifc legislation, prioritization of identity-based Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) on campus, his intent to fulfll transparency of student government processes and bridge the gap between students and the ASUCD make him a very compelling candidate for ASUCD Senate.

Jenna Younes (third-year, international relations):

Jenna Younes was inspired to run for senate after seeing the impact senators have made on campus. As a part of student leadership roles in multiple RSOs, Younes hopes to use her leadership skills for her position in the senate to be a voice for marginalized communities. Te Editorial Board was impressed with Younes’ passion for transparency and ethical spending of the ASUCD budget. A priority for Younes is ensuring that the companies ASUCD does business with are environmentally and socially

just. In addition to ensuring the ethical and transparent allocation of ASUCD funds, Younes emphasized the importance of allocating funds to basic needs services. One of Younes’ priorities is to address food insecurity and aims to accomplish this through work with Te Pantry. Younes also hopes to enhance the outreach of ASUCD and increase social media representation. If elected to the senate, Younes hopes to adopt the Creative Media unit, Ethnic and Cultural Afairs Commission, the External Afairs Commission and Te Pantry. Younes is an experienced leader and has an all-around students-frst platform, which is why the Editorial Board backs Jenna Younes in this upcoming ASUCD Senate election.

Our thoughts on Constitutional Amendment #92:

Te Editorial Board wants legislation passed that protects the privacy and security of all students on campus. Especially given the University Ofce of Te President’s new policies with regards to protesting, an amendment protecting student privacy is more important than ever.

However, due to vague language in the proposed amendment, the Editorial Board does not ofer Constitutional Amendment #92 a full endorsement. Instead, we recommend students read the full legislation and use their best judgment.

Te proposed amendment should include a more detailed procedure for the ramifcations of infringing on student privacy. Te language of “ASUCD and the University are required to take any necessary and appropriate action to respect your privacy” does not provide a clear outline of how disciplinary action will be taken and the consequences administered.

Te exception of “...when required by law or in accordance with other existing University policies” is vague and leaves room for interpretation on what situations are protected by the amendment. Tere is no example of existing University policies that would be exempt from this amendment.

Te wording of “Te University and ASUCD shall not disclose your personal information without your explicit consent,” is unclear and could easily be misinterpreted. Te process for determining when explicit consent has been given is not present in the amendment and can make it difcult to ascertain when student privacy has been infringed upon.

Due to the subjective language and unclear procedures, the Editorial Board is concerned with what impact this amendment may have on free speech and press protections in the local community. Te Editorial Board fully supports a constitutional amendment that protects student privacy but one that is specifc and clear on how it could afect existing university policies and organizations.

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

The Editorial Board’s response to a second Trump Administration and Republican supermajority

A glimpse into the next four years and how to stay hopeful

Te results of the 2024 presidential election have left many feeling disappointed, frustrated and overwhelmed — a sentiment shared by Te California Aggie’s Editorial Board. In the race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Republican nominee has won the 270 electoral votes needed to secure the presidency. Amid this trepidation and fear, it is vitally important to remain vigilant, educated and committed — now more than ever. Te Editorial Board encourages you to do research on how the United States government operates, understand what a second Trump Administration means and commit yourself to remaining politically involved.

While the focus during an election is often centered on the soon-to-be United States President, the U.S. system of checks and balances make other branches of government just as important. Alongside Trump’s return to the White House is the expected Republican supermajority in all three branches of government: Legislative (Congress, including the Senate and House of Representatives), Executive

(the U.S. President) and Judicial (the Supreme Court).

Te other branches of government serve to reduce the singular power of the president, but a Republican majority in all branches of government increases the ability of the Trump Administration to enact harmful policies and legislation. For more information on the specifc powers of each branch, USAGov has a guide provided on its website.

President-elect Trump has made many promises throughout his campaign — ones he plans on keeping. On topics of reproductive rights, immigration and economic policy, Trump has promised to harm American people and American freedoms. While many right-leaning voters focused on Trump’s plans to leave decisions on abortion bans to the states, “control the border” and reduce infation, the lack of education and abundance of disinformation was prevalent during the election.

A common argument seen during the Trump Campaign was that reproductive freedoms were not being called into question — instead of a nationwide abortion ban, he decided to leave it to the states. However, to assume that a woman’s reproductive freedom is protected would be a

mistake. After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, a constitutional right upheld for almost half a century, the Supreme Court put the lives of women in the hands of the states. Te Republican majority in the Supreme Court made this happen, with three of the six Republican justices appointed by Trump in his frst term. As of right now, 17 states have abortion bans — spanning from conditional to complete. Make no mistake, allowing the states to control reproductive rights or a national abortion ban will lead to a greater loss of life. In states with higher abortion restrictions, studies have shown a higher maternal mortality rate. In other words, abortion bans do not decrease the prevalence of abortions — abortion bans increase the deaths of women.

Another aspect of Trump’s campaign was his promise to boost the American economy and reduce infation through imposing tarifs and tax cuts on the wealthy. Te misconception that tarifs are taxes against other countries rather than taxes on imports — a cost then directly applied to consumers — is extensive and, as it turns out, Trump’s economic plan is set to cause higher infation, a decrease in employment

and a lower national income. Tis, alongside Trump’s promise to enact mass deportation, will have an overall negative impact on the United States’ economic trajectory. Trump’s stance on immigration is at best economically unsound and at worst racist and rooted in bigotry. Te president-elect has prioritized border control and mass deportation as one of the frst actions of his return to ofce — stating that there is “no price tag” on mass deportation. Additionally, Trump has pledged to end the fundamental right of individuals born in the United States: birthright citizenship. Tere is only one outcome of Trump’s racist rhetoric against immigrants: the destabilization of families and economic fallout.

It’s unsurprisingly difcult to sum up all of the Trump Administration’s harmful promises and policies, and this editorial barely scratches the surface. From international relations — including the Palestinian-Israeli confict and the Russia-Ukraine war — to the rights of the LGBTQ+ community to the status of Project 2025 — the list of communities set to be harmed by a second Trump term is not short. So, where does that leave us? While the impacts the results of this

election will have on both domestic and foreign afairs have the potential to be devastating, it is important to not lose yourself to hopelessness and complacency. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom recently called a special session to protect state residents and uphold state values, including reproductive freedom, civil rights, climate action and immigrant families. Additionally, several states in the U.S. voted to protect a woman’s right to choose, including Colorado, New York and Nevada. Te Editorial Board acknowledges and shares your grief and fear, but we strongly encourage you to choose action over complacency. It is not enough to tune into politics and current events in the months leading up to the presidential election, and it is not enough to be upset after the race is called. Instead, channel your frustration into action: vote locally and not just every four years, challenge the thoughts of the people around you and keep yourself updated on new government policies and who they afect. We can control our actions, who we interact with and how we choose to spend the next four years of our lives: resigned and powerless, or dedicated and united.

The Editorial Board has endorsed four candidates for The ASUCD Senate this fall. (Courtesy / Sriya Batchu)

ARTS & CULTURE

Four Broadway-tofilm adaptations to watch as you prepare for ‘Wicked’

As the highly anticipated film adaptation of the musical releases later this month, watch these four films to get you in the musical spirit

BY AALIYAH ESPAÑOL-RIVAS arts@theaggie.org

“Hairspray” (2007) dir. Adam Shankman

“Hairspray,” originally debuting on Broadway in 2003 as an adaptation of a 1988 John Waters flm, follows 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) who dreams of becoming a dancer on the popular variety show, Te Corny Collins Show.” However, Tracy’s weight and political views become a topic of conversation when she gains a spot on the show much to the dismay of the community. With an overarching theme of acceptance, the flm brings viewers through the hardships of racial segregation and prejudice in the ‘60s. However, despite the ongoing tensions, Tracy begins to shake up the show with her forward thinking, advocating for racial integration on the show and body positivity.

Te flm features many catchy songs, such as “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” “Good Morning Baltimore” and “Without Love.” With other big names at the time, the flm also features actors Zac Efron (Link Larkin), Amanda Bynes (Penny Pingelton) and Elijah Kelley (Seaweed). Te flm is vibrant and grand, a fun watch if you’re just getting into Broadway musicals.

“West Side Story” (2021) dir. Steven Spielberg

“West Side Story,” originally debuting on Broadway in 1957 by Stephen Sondhiem, is a modern retelling of the Shakespearean story of “Romeo and Juliet.” However, instead of Capulets and Montagues, there are the Jets, known as the white New Yorkers, and the Sharks, the newly immigrated Puerto Ricans. Te flm follows Maria (Rachel Zegler), whose family are all Sharks, and Tony (Ansel Elgort), who is a member of the Jets, as they fall in love much to the dismay of their family and friends. As race and turf tensions begin to arise between the two gangs, Maria and Tony have to decide: Is their love worth fghting over?

Despite the popular flm adaption of the musical in 1961, director Steven Spielberg aimed to reinvent the story to correct the racist depictions from the original flm and musical. Despite the flm fopping at the box ofce due to casting choices for the role of Tony, the flm is absolutely breathtaking and enhanced with the vocals from Zegler and Ariana DeBose (Anita). Te song

sequence of “America” alone perfectly encapsulates Spielberg’s aim to create a powerful and accurate depiction of Puerto Rican immigration in a racially polarized time period of the ‘50s.

“Dreamgirls” (2006) dir. Bill Condon

“Dreamgirls,” originally debuting on Broadway in 1981, tells the semi-fctional story of many Black R&B acts in the time period of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Te flm follows “Te Dreamettes,” loosely based of of the real life group “Te Supremes,” as they make their rise in the music industry. Tey experience problems with the lead singer of the group not appealing to white audiences due to her weight, looks and soulful voice as well as issues with money laundering. Te flm takes multiple twists and turns to show the barriers Black singers had to overcome in the music industry.

Te flm is also backed by an impressive all-Black cast, with powerhouse vocals from Jennifer Hudson (Efe), Beyonce (Deena) and Anika Noni Rose (Lorell). Songs such as “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” “Listen” and “One Night Only” are absolutely heart wrenching.

Te flm serves as a vast reminder of the resilience of the Black women who fought for visibility in the music industry and the challenges they had to overcome.

“Te Last Five Years” (2014) dir. Richard LaGravenese

“Te Last Five Years,” originally debuting of-Broadway in 2002 but now slated for an ofcial Broadway debut in March 2025, is an underrated pick amongst musical movies. Starring Anna Kendrick (Cathy) and Jeremy Jordan (Jamie), the flm follows a nonlinear plot to tell the fve-year relationship between Cathy and Jamie. For Cathy, the order of songs she sings goes from their divorce to the beginnings of the relationship, whereas Jamie’s songs start from the beginnings of their relationship to its eventual downfall.

Te songs such as “I Can Do Better Tan Tat,” “Moving Too Fast” and “See I’m Smiling,” are beautiful songs that encapsulate the harrowing relationship problems the two characters face as they grapple with their past and present. Jordan and Kendrick, two previous Broadway actors, show the two perspectives of a breakup incredibly well, proving there are always two sides to every story.

BY SAVANNAH ANNO arts@theaggie.org

Album: “Bright Future” by Adrianne Lenker (2024)

Tere’s a specifc feeling I get whenever I listen to Adrianne Lenker’s “Bright Future”: It’s the way your cheeks feel when you’re walking around and it’s freezing outside or the lightness in your chest watching a winter sunset. Refreshing and whimsical, “Bright Future” is just the latest in Lenker’s long list of masterpieces, reading like poetry and sounding like magic. Using the tiniest of details, pulling from nature and her own experiences, Lenker creates the most intimate of listening spaces. You feel like you’ve entered a newer, more beautiful reality. Moss covers stones, meadows bloom, stars fall from the sky and Lenker continues to spin worlds with tracks like “Real House” and “No Machine.” Her skillful wordplay comes out in “Evol,” and her love for traditional folk sound in “Sadness as a Gift” and “Vampire Empire.” If you need a new album for staring at the ceiling or chilly walks to class, you won’t regret stepping into Lenker’s Grammy-nominated sonic universe.

Book: “Te Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison (1970)

Singular in her craft, Toni Morrison creates worlds from the ground up in each of her novels, forming entire communities bursting with life, secrets and histories going back decades. “Te Bluest Eye,” Morrison’s frst novel, was the product of her dissatisfaction with the literature that surrounded her as an editor. Nobody was writing the book that she wanted to read, so she wrote it herself. “Te Bluest Eye” surrounds the complexities of Black girlhood, centering on two sisters and Pecola Breedlove, a girl in their class who — after her father burns down their family’s apartment — moves in to stay with them. Te three girls are faced with the terrible truths of the world, experiencing the brunt of eurocentric beauty standards while simultaneously having to deal with being oversexualized by the men around them. While the novel can be heavy at times, Morrison’s legendary prose, impeccable sense of rhythm and critical eye pushes you through. With the conficts of Te Bluest Eye” still relevant today, it may not be a story you’ll always enjoy reading, but it’s one you absolutely have to read.

Song: “It Ain’t Me Babe” by Joan Baez (1998)

My absolute favorite Joan Baez cover, “It Ain’t Me Babe,” is the fourth track of “Baez Sings Dylan,” a compilation of various songs debuted by songwriting legend Bob Dylan. Baez, however, has proved to be a folk legend all her own, still playing sold out shows at 83 years old. Probably what proves to be most interesting about “It Ain’t Me Babe,” is the way it speaks so directly to Baez and Dylan’s rich history — playing music together, having an incredibly close relationship, but eventually realizing they had to let each other go. Te sound is warm and somber at the same time, with Baez choosing to bring out her lower register rather than her usual haunting soprano. With just her and the guitar, the simplicity highlights the track’s fowing melody and Dylan’s meticulous lyrics as he explains to a lover, perhaps Baez, that she deserves better than he could ever ofer. If you need a new song to add to that “sad girl autumn” playlist I know you’re working on, this is the one.

TV Show: “Interview with the Vampire” dir. Rolin Jones (2022)

Originally published as a novel by Anne Rice (1976), then developed into a 1994 flm starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, “Interview With the Vampire” is a story that has surpassed decades. As the title suggests, the show follows the life of vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac as he conducts an interview with once-revered and now washed-up journalist Daniel Molloy. With du Lac’s story beginning in 1910s New Orleans, the show gives viewers the taste of the American gothic as well as the clean cut future, as it moves between fashbacks and the modern interview setting. Of course, it wouldn’t be a true vampire tale without romance. As du Lac tells his tale, it becomes apparent that much of his history revolves around the hypnotizing Lestat, the vampire who frst turned him and remained his lover for decades. As he recounts their tumultuous relationship and the life of their eventual daughter, “Interview with the Vampire” proves to be visually stunning, heartbreaking and steamy all at once.

Ariana DeBose and David Alvarez in the 2021 adaptation of West Side Story.

(Courtesy of 20th Century Studios / fair use)

Here’s your recap on the annual Davis Film Festival

Film buffs descend on Davis to check out a wide variety of independent movies

BY ELIZABETH BUNT arts@theaggie.org

Film lovers packed into the red velvet seats at the Davis Veterans Memorial Teater for a series of independent movies, short features and documentaries on Nov. 3 from 2 to 9 p.m. Members from the production crews of each flm were required to be in attendance and entered the stage at several points to receive awards and answer questions.

Te festival had two sections: one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Te afternoon portion was open to all and showcased 11 short flms, all under 25 minutes.

Te highlighted flm of this section was “A Journey Home: Te Story of Sahaya Vietnam,” a documentary that tells the story of a Davis-based non-proft organization that grew to be a major force of education and housing projects in Vietnam. After the showing, director Andy Lauer spoke about the project, took questions and accepted the Best Cinematography Award on behalf of his team.

A brief intermission was called at 5 p.m., and attendees were ofered dinner and music from Americana band “According to Bazooka.” As an alternative to the live show, three extra flms were played quietly in the theater.

Te evening section of the festival began after dinner and was restricted to mature audiences. Te evening schedule featured three flms: “Te First Rule,” “Vasomotor Rhinitus” and “Sally!” which was the main event on the playbill.

“Sally!” — directed by Deborah Craig — tells the biographical story of lesbian, feminist activist Sally Gearhart. Gearhart spearheaded the lesbian feminist movement in San Francisco in the ‘70s and ‘80s. With the help of Harvey Milk, she defeated the Briggs Initiative in 1978, a proposition that would have banned gay and lesbian individuals from teaching in California public schools. Additionally, Gearhart was hired by San Francisco University in the ‘70s and established one of the frst women’s studies departments in the country while also being the frst openly lesbian professor in the

Celebrating ‘Tías and Primas’ with author Prisca Dorcas

Mojica Rodríguez at The Avid Reader

The event highlighted the community-building quality of Mojica Rodríguez’s work, especially in its representation of Latina women and their experiences

BY JULIE HUANG arts@theaggie.org

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, Te Avid Reader invited Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez to speak in celebration of the release of her second book, “Tías and Primas,” a follow-up to her debut, “For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts.”

As in her first release, Mojica Rodríguez continues to represent and uplift the Latinx community in her latest book, examining the pivotal roles that Latina women play in their communities and families, as well as the infuence they have on girls in the process of developing their own worldviews.

She was joined by Reyna Grande, an author from Woodland who has written memoirs, such as “Te Distance Between Us” and “A Dream Called Home.” Grande began the conversation by asking about Mojica Rodríguez’s personal writing journey and how it eventually led to the publication of “Tías and Primas.”

“I think mine has been really weird,” Mojica Rodríguez said. “I started out writing Instagram captions. After a few months, Te Hufngton Post reached out, telling me I’m a beautiful writer, and I was like, ‘Tat’s a lie.’”

Despite her disbelief, Mojica Rodríguez became a contributor for Te Hufngton Post in 2015. When one of her posts, “Dear Woke Brown Girl,” went viral, it sparked a wave of other publications reaching out, causing Mojica Rodríguez to enter a period of prolifc writing.

Traditionally, writers may take months or even years to complete manuscripts to sell to publishers. Mojica Rodríguez followed a more unconventional path to authorhood due to her unusual beginning, unsure for a while that she even wanted the label.

“My writing journey was all a surprise,” Mojica Rodríguez said. “It took me a while to even accept that I was a writer, and now I say I’m an author.” Before the publication of her frst book, Mojica Rodríguez perceived writing as a highly personal and individual activity, using it to make sense of and process her own emotions.

“I never thought people cared about what I wrote,” Mojica Rodríguez said. “I was writing just to piece myself together. I thought, ‘I’m writing, I’m writing, I’m writing for my life.’”

When she started to garner a wider audience, Mojica Rodríguez realized that her writing held power outside of herself. As a Latina woman writing about her personal experiences within white patriarchal structures, Mojica Rodríguez’s writing resonated with other Latina women as well as people of diferent minority groups.

“Writing can be very solitary, and it can be quite a lonely experience,” Grande said. “One of the beautiful things about it is when you get to interact with other writers and the literary community and support one another.”

As a fellow Latina author, Grande pointed out how for writers, sharing their writing becomes a way to connect with others and establish communities by fnding those who feel recognized and represented by their work.

“We have to read each other, we have so much to learn from one another,” Grande said. “That’s the power of literature: it builds bridges between us.”

In “Tías and Primas,” Mojica Rodríguez sought to break down twodimensional stereotypes often foisted upon Latina women, instead ofering complex portrayals of the women that she has known throughout her life, acknowledging their quirks and faws without judgment.

Naming her second book “Tías and Primas” was an intentional choice that Mojica Rodríguez made to shine the spotlight on Latina women and their stories, making it clear that she was specifcally addressing them as an audience.

“For my frst book, they didn’t want the title to be ‘A Love Letter to Latinas,’ because they didn’t think Latinas would buy the book,” Mojica Rodríguez said. “I had no say in the subtitle back then. It is a love letter to women of color, but I wrote it especially for Latinas.”

When penning “Tías and Primas,” Mojica Rodríguez also wrote with her mother as an audience in her mind, although they are currently estranged in reality and have not spoken in a year.

“My parents don’t read my stuf or acknowledge my career,” Mojica Rodríguez said. “I think they don’t want me to exist the way that I do and instead be like them.”

Despite her parents’ lack of involvement with her writing, Mojica Rodríguez still views it as a way to connect to them emotionally.

“I’ve spent years trying to make sense of our relationship and have found a lot of peace in it all,” Mojica

Rodríguez said. “Te book is meant to explain things [to my parents] but not to say that they are not accountable. Just because I have critiques doesn’t mean I think you’re a bad person.”

Mojica Rodríguez also hoped to explore how intergenerational trauma manifests within Latinx families and how it afects girls growing up in those families.

“We talk about intergenerational trauma conceptually, but I wanted to give it bones,” Mojica Rodríguez said. “What does it look like, what does it feel like?”

One of the observations that she made was that those existing under white, patriarchal structures can themselves support ideas that uphold those structures.

“We know this about our [Latinx] communities, that colorism is a thing, and the girls seen as ‘pretty’ within our community tend to be whiter and look more European,” Mojica Rodríguez said. Issues like colorism had an adverse efect on Mojica Rodríguez when she was younger, and she used the process of writing “Tías and Primas” as a means of catharsis.

“I had to feel grief for the little girl in me who never got to feel pretty because no one told her that Indigeneity is beautiful,” Mojica Rodríguez said. “Writing that chapter was hard because I could only get there if I felt all the anger, all the emotion.”

As a Latina author that has now published two books specifically speaking on her experiences, Mojica Rodríguez said she is deeply aware of the impact that her work may have, especially on young Latina girls who may recognize pieces of their own lives in the pages of her books.

“I’m not an author because I want to write books but because I come from a context where I wished that I had access to the kind of books that I write,” Mojica Rodríguez said. “I donate my books to the local bookstores hoping some Latina will like the cover and pick it up and be radicalized.”

Whether writing for herself or writing for a wider audience, Mojica Rodríguez fundamentally understands her writing as a way to explore and record the expansive range of human emotions.

“We’re human beings, and we’re going to feel very deeply about many diferent things,” Mojica Rodríguez said. “Te healing begins when we start to understand why we feel those things.”

nation to receive tenure. Despite these accomplishments, Gearhart’s name has been largely lost to history, along with many of the details of the lesbian feminist movement that took place so near and so recently. Craig’s adaptation of Gearhart’s story in “Sally!” hopes to reintroduce the movement and its key fgures to collective memory. After the showing of Craig’s flm, there was a second set of awards and Q&As. For her work, Craig was

awarded Best Director of the Davis Film Festival. In the past month, “Sally!” has also won the Audience Award at the Seattle Queer Film Festival, Way Out West Film Fest and Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Fest. Once the fnal awards had been handed out, the audience shufed out, talking in groups of three or four about the flms they’d watched over the course of the evening. Te concession stand shut of its popcorn machine, and the theater closed and locked its doors. Te little crowd dispersed, and after a few minutes it looked as if nothing at all had happened at the Veterans Memorial Teater that day. Te Davis Film Festival occurred quietly, tucked away amongst residential neighborhoods. Its advertising was sparse; there were only one or two small signs outside of the theater itself. Te people in attendance seemed mostly to be traveling the flm festival circuit or associated with one or another flm’s production. Still, it was not just an event for those entrenched in the independent flm world. Te Davis Film Festival showcased a handful of flms you can’t see anywhere else as well as people who love to talk about them. Anyone who has any love for movies should mark their calendars for next year’s festival; it is a uniquely Davis event and ofers an experience you won’t fnd at any other theaters in town.

Review: K-pop sensations, aespa, stun on latest release ‘Whiplash’

Girl group aespa continues to prove their worth as musical stars with their latest musical release

BY NATALIE SALTER arts@theaggie.org

Since their fashy debut with “Black Mamba” in 2020, the K-pop quartet aespa — composed of members Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning — have made it clear that they are not content to simply blend in with the rest of the industry. With a distinctive techno sound and uniquely futuristic visuals, aespa’s aesthetic is unforgettable in every aspect. Now, the group has created yet another splash with “Whiplash,” a powerful album packed with infectious and otherworldly hits. Te album’s titular track is relentless in its catchiness and energy, strengthened by an intense beat and rhythm that does not let up for the song’s entire run. It wouldn’t be out of place on a runway, and the group makes it clear that they know they are operating in a league of their own.

Te track is laden with snappy lyrics about the quartet’s star power and their standout infuence, teasing those who would try to imitate their original musical and aesthetic identity. Te group has earned seats at high-status events beyond the realm of K-pop, such as their own Coachella set in 2022 and a space on the 76th Cannes Film Festival’s star-studded red carpet, so it’s easy to believe in their infectious confdence.

Te album’s next track “Kill It” is in a similar vein to “Whiplash,” with its own fast-paced, hard-hitting sound and sharp lyrics. Immediately following it, “Flights Not Feelings” steers the album’s sound into a diferent direction, falling into a slower tempo after such an electric start. Lyrically, the song’s encouragement of independence and

embracing life for yourself every day is a well-placed touch that enhances the album’s inspiring sense of selfempowerment.

On “Pink Hoodie,” aespa takes yet another turn, this time with the intent to prove that while they usually paint a picture of confdence and edge, lighthearted fun is by no means out of their reach. It’s a bright, lovably cute track that adds a burst of sunshine to the album.

One of the album’s most standout tracks arrives next with “Flowers,” an atmospheric, almost hauntingly beautiful ode to love and yearning that feels like a dream. It’s concrete evidence that while aespa is best known for the unrelenting industrial sounds of their title tracks, they are just as capable of expertly creating more withdrawn and melodic sounds that will resonate with listeners deeply.

Te album’s closer is “Just Another Girl,” a dose of pop rock that leaves the six-track run of on a high. It’s infectiously catchy, and on it the members insist that they refuse to settle for anything less than the best in their personal relationships.

The impression left behind by “Whiplash” is strong: aespa knows they are unforgettable, and they don’t plan on letting you forget them in the future, either. Teir unbreakable selfassurance inspires confdence in any listener, and their unique blending of real life with the striking, aesthetically complex world of technology makes them stand out in the K-pop industry. If you don’t already have an eye on aespa as their fame continues to rise, this album might just be your sign to do so. If “Whiplash” is any indicator of the direction their career is set to take, their future is brighter than ever.

Author Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez sits down with Reyna Grande at The Avid Reader Bookstore to talk about her new book, “Tías and Primas.” (Julia Heron-Watts / Aggie)

aespa posing at their K-Link Festival performance. (Courtesy of Plumflower Snow / Creative Commons, CC by 2.0)

The Best Cinematography-winning team behind “A Journey Home: The Story of Sahaya Vietnam” holding their award at the Davis Film Festival on Nov. 3. (Judith Plank / Courtesy)

A community grief ritual held in the Village Homes Community Center

Dr. Florie Wild invited Davis students and locals to come together as a community and grieve

BY MATTHEW MCELDOWNEY city@theaggie.org

Whether it be for the loss of a loved one or the results of a contentious election, Dr. Florie Wild hosted a safe space to release these feelings of grief on Nov. 9. Tis event was free for all to attend in the Village Homes Community Center.

Dr. Florie Wild, formerly a grief specialist for the UC Davis Student Health & Wellness Center, emphasized group therapy and grief work as she moved to being a private practitioner.

“I just love getting people to care for each other,” Wild said. “Because a lot of what I do is not necessarily exclusive to what we can do for one another.”

Wild began the grief ritual by addressing the collective grief of the world as countries are in confict and the environment undergoes irreversible change. Participants were then asked to break out into smaller groups to talk about what brought them here.

Tose comfortable enough to share with the whole group were given the opportunity to do so with the support of one another.

Tere was another exercise where

people were invited to hold hands in a circle and let go once the age at which they felt that they would pass away was announced. Herein, many participants described the pain of seeing those around them leave the circle before them while those who had left felt inspired by those who stayed, especially the younger folks.

During the ritual itself, Wild invited all to express their grief alongside one another through tears, anger or silence.

Meanwhile, Wild read poetry and played music for the group.

“Oftentimes it feels as though these drag on a little too long, but it was diferent,” Wild said. “Most if not everybody was crying, and it was wonderful to see the men that were able to feel vulnerable hug each other and cry.”

Afterward, blindfolded participants rotated in a circle to ofer one another anonymous afrmations and care. From this group overall, there was a sense of accomplishment and appreciation for each other for making it to this ritual.

For some, they described a picture or a poem, but for many, it was enough to have a helping hand or hug with someone there to say, “You are enough.”

Trough these exercises, Wild hoped

to achieve her mission of encouraging a society that is willing to tackle their grief without shame or support from others.

“It is awkward because we do not normally do this as a culture,” Wild said. “But, awkward is not bad. It is just something we have not done before. After all, the other side of awkwardness is awesome.

Wild is hosting another grief ritual in Forest Love, Berkeley on Nov. 23, as well as a free Soul Journey Workshop on Dec. 7 at the Village Homes Community Center in Davis. Tis workshop is meant to introduce the Wild Women Rising group which is dedicated to fostering community and expressing womanhood. Wild hopes for another grief ritual event like this to return to Davis by spring; however, she has not confrmed a specifc date for its return. Up-to-date information regarding events and her work can be accessed on her ofcial website.

In her closing thoughts, Dr. Florie Wild described the strongest takeaway from the grief ritual and what she would want for all those who attended to have taken away that day.

“You are not alone, and you do not have to be alone with it,” Wild said.

UC Davis’ Outdoor Crew helps students explore the outdoors, get back into nature

The on and off-campus club gives students social and emotional benefits

BY EMME DUNNING features@theaggie.org

College provides many new and unexplored opportunities for undergraduate students. From dorm life to new classes to getting to know the layout of downtown, there are endless ways to immerse yourself into the UC Davis college experience. Despite these opportunities, fnding ways to explore the outdoors, particularly in a small college town like ours, can feel daunting and inaccessible. Outdoor Crew, commonly referred to as ODC, hopes to provide all students a solution to this lack of access. Te student-run club aims to help foster an inclusive environment centered around outdoor activities through hikes, camping trips, socials and more for over 450 current members. Kelly Kankowski, a fourthyear design major and the current

What do UC Davis professors think of Rate My Professors and student course evaluations?

Exploring professors’ thoughts on two main ways students can voice course and instructor feedback

BY NOAH HARRIS features@theaggie.org

Every year, students at UC Davis have the opportunity to fll out course evaluations to give their professors and teaching assistants feedback on how well they taught the course during the quarter. Students at UC Davis have two main ways to share their opinions of their teachers online. Te frst is through Rate My Professors, a website where college students give their instructors and courses ratings, and the second is through end-of-quarter evaluations.

Rate My Professors allows students to post their thoughts on a professor to share with other students. In 2018, there were 1.7 million professors being reviewed, as well as four million users — numbers which have likely grown since.

Dr. Marc Facciotti, a professor in biomedical engineering, said the Rate My Professors feedback system is not as sound as the end-of-quarter reviews.

“What I found was [that] a lot of the [Rate My Professors] critique was factually wrong,” Facciotti said. “[However,] I do fnd the end-of-quarter evaluations much more informative. Tere [are] some nasty comments in there too, but [as a] whole, they’re much more focused on what happened that quarter.”

Dr. Laci Gerhart, an associate professor of teaching in the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences, has a very high rating of 4.8 on Rate My Professors — a fact that she accepts alongside a strong amount of caution.

“Students who do feel strongly go to Rate My Professors, and the majority of students who feel strongly about me [seem to] feel strongly positive,” Gerhart said.

She continued by sharing some of her concerns about the overall accuracy of the reviews to the experiences of her students.

Tat also means that students who go there to fll out a negative review maybe don’t because it’s pretty clear to them that they are in the minority,” Gerhart said. “I don’t necessarily think that students generally liking me actually means that they’re learning more. So I don’t pat myself on the back too much.”

Dr. Julia Chamberlain, an associate professor in chemistry, has seen both polite and rude comments while using the website.

Several studies back up this claim of bias. One study found that on average, students gave more favorable evaluations to classes that gave higher grades without remarking on the abilities of the instructor.

Another study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania found that female professors are negatively evaluated more often, and that gender and student grade expectations are what students take most predominantly into account. Tis study, to this end, recommended that student evaluations should not be used to influence personnel decisions. At UC Davis, student evaluations do have tangible efects, according to Facciotti.

“So, the way the evaluations work on campus is that there are two mandatory questions that get asked [to students], and the results from those questions go directly into a faculty member’s merit and promotion package,” Facciotti said.

The order in which evaluation questions are asked can influence students’ responses, according to Facciotti.

“We have to put [the mandatory questions] frst, because the campus wants to make sure that, you know, if students drop out halfway through a survey, they’ve at least answered those two mandatory ones,” Facciotti said. “So, they’re the least informative [but] they’re the most impactful for your merit and promotion. If you give the student a moment to think about the elements of the class, and then they refect on the value of the class and the instructor, they’re usually a little more generous.”

Chamberlain expressed his own doubts about the evaluations.

“I think it’s difcult for anybody to separate the course and the professor,” Chamberlain said. “You could take the same course for two diferent professors and have diferent experiences and that would give you more perspective. But most people don’t do that.”

Te average response rate from students is 65%, according to Academic Course Evaluation (ACE) — a site which UC Davis uses for end-of-quarter evaluations. Te two mandatory questions that impact an instructor’s merit and promotion are: “Please indicate the overall educational value of the course” and “Please indicate the overall teaching efectiveness of the instructor.”

membership director of Outdoor Crew, believes that the club can help provide an accessible way to explore the outdoors.

“I think it’s a really great way for people to get outside,” Kankowski said.

“Tere’s so much in California and in our surrounding area that is so beautiful and wonderful and so diferent from Davis, and we really want to provide the opportunity for people to explore the outdoors.” Kankowski also stressed that all skill and experience levels are welcome in Outdoor Crew.

“The club environment is very welcoming and open to anyone that has any sort of experience or just wants to be outdoors, whether they love camping and hiking or have never done it before,” Kankowski said. “[To] anyone that has any inkling to explore the outdoors, I would defnitely recommend joining.”

Tis sentiment is refected in the club’s activities, which range in difculty from beginner to advanced, and ofer

a wide variety of ways to explore the outdoors.

Gina Stevens, a fourth-year clinical nutrition major, has always been a proponent of the outdoors. Growing up camping and hiking with family, joining Outdoor Crew was a natural next step for Stevens when she came to Davis.

“Every time I went on a hike, I’d make a new friend,” Stevens said. “I get to meet people who are interested in the same thing I am, and it was just really fun and enriching.”

Stevens also understands that a large club like Outdoor Crew might feel intimidating but insists that there’s no need to worry.

“Joining a new club in a new school is always [going to] feel a little bit intimidating,” Stevens said.

“[Rate My Professors] really is like going on a hate page,” Chamberlain said. “Even though there [will] be some positive comments, when someone says something nice about you to your face, it feels good. And when someone says something super mean to you, it feels like 10 times worse than the good thing.”

Student evaluations provide a way to anonymously give feedback to professors about their courses. On the site, students are unable to view one another’s responses. However, Gerhart said evaluations have a risk of being biased.

“I make a lot of jokes,” Gerhart said. “And I do a lot of explicit encouraging a student to, you know, reach out to me and to talk to me. So how much of the positive aspects of my evaluations are just those personality and identity traits, and [are they] not really correlated at all with how much students are actually learning in the class?”

Tese questions ask for a ranking on a scale from zero to fve. Both answers on average are between 4.0 and 4.1. Chamberlain also shared her thoughts on the diference between the comments she receives.

“Interestingly, the feedback on ACE, the university platform [for student evaluations], to me feels much more constructive and/or polite,” Chamberlain said. “Te feedback that I saw in the past on Rate My Professors felt way more hurtful — like it was a person venting. Te phrasing is more hurtful, even if it’s the same sentiment.” Facciotti, who teaches a chemistry class with hundreds of students every year, described the extreme diference in responses he receives on Rate My Professors.

“In [one review, I could be] the greatest instructor that somebody’s ever had [and have] changed their life,” Facciotti said.

Outdoor Crew on their trip to Pinnacles National Park in February. (Outdoor Crew / Courtesy)

Attendees of Dr. Florie Wild’s grief ritual at the Village Homes Community Center holding hands and offering anonymous affirmations and care on Nov. 9.

DARIXA VARELA MEDRANO / AGGIE

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

urges students to be cautious moving forward.

“It is important for people to be vigilant and pay attention to their rights,” Johnson said. “Immigrant students have to be especially careful.”

Additionally, the Democratic loss has made many frustrated toward marginalized groups that voted red and third party, while others have focused more on the other demographics of Republican voters that secured his win. Te Democratic party hasn’t always been efective at conveying the fact that they understand the struggles of the working class and less educated people,” Adams said.

“Harris doesn’t make it clear that they’re working for them. Te same people feel like Trump sees them and will work for them.”

Te Davis campus, with help from Student Afairs, hosted an in-person voting center at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC). With three other in-person voting options in the city of Davis alone, Yolo County saw high numbers of provisional voting or same-day registration voting. Over 5,000 people registered to vote on Nov. 5 within the county.

“For future elections, if people do vote I encourage them to pre-register and don’t wait until the last day to vote,” Jesse Salinas, the Yolo County Clerk’s Ofce assessor and registrar of voters since 2016, said. “Tat’s a real problem. People only show up for the presidential election.”

With 118,000 registered Yolo County voters — not counting conditional ballots — the county had a healthy turnout. Te Yolo County Clerk’s Ofce will only certify election results on Dec. 3, but until then, the ofce will continue counting votes until the last day.

Olivia Arnold, a frst-year animal science major, voted for the frst time this presidential election.

“I’m worried about the future,” Arnold said. “We’re gonna lose our voices. [Te election] is going to afect the relationships diferent communities have with each other.” In a similar sentiment, Johnson

Jelani Renner, a second-year economics major, shared what he has noticed about on-campus climate since the election results were made public.

“It’s defnitely very depressing. You can feel that everyone is really sad,” Renner said. “I think [almost] everyone shares the same sentiment — it came as a huge shock for sure. It’s [been] hard to deal with the results while also having to deal with midterms and other interpersonal stuf. It really is just a lot.”

With Trump’s promises to follow through on anti-immigration policies, there is a wariness present amongst undocumented students. Likewise, individuals able to get pregnant are expressing fear over the loss of reproductive freedoms.

Gavin Newsom has declared to protect California’s liberal policies, and has begun to organize to ensure protection against the future administration’s conservative policies. With all three branches of government having a Republican majority, Newsom’s goals may be more difcult to accomplish going into the new presidential term.

California additionally voted not to pass propositions that would outlaw slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime and raise the minimum wage.

“We are more polarized now than at any other time in the last ffty years,”

Adams said. “Tere has been a trend of increasing hate and distrust over party lines for well over a hundred years.”

Te UC Ofce of the President released a statement promising their commitment to diversity and inclusion in higher education, stating they will “stand ready” to support all student and staf communities.

Johnson urges individuals to participate politically, now more than ever.

“We can’t just abandon our eforts to promote justice wherever we can,”

Johnson said. “It is not helpful to throw in the towel and say nothing can be done.”

Another way to take action before the next presidential election is to vote in local and county elections and not just every four years. If you fnd yourself struggling, feel free to reach out to Counseling Services or fnd a cultural center within your vicinity.

Kaur previously ran as a candidate in this year’s spring election. She has been involved with multiple RSOs and worked as a Coalition and Solidarity Membership with hopes to build connections between diferent organizations and ethnic groups. She is currently the chief of staf to Transfer Student Representative Safa Mohammad.

“I’m representing the Sikh community, who right now has a lot of concerns about their safety on campus due to a lot of transnational repression that’s happening politically,” Kaur said. “I think they want to make sure their voice is heard.”

Umar Shaikh, a second-year political science major, wants to ensure minority voices are heard and sees the student senate as the best way to express minority concerns directly to university administration. His platform includes protecting students’ rights to freedom of expression, as well as improving relationships with identity-based RSOs to make the student government more integrated with the student body.

Shaikh is the director of the UC Davis Muslim Student Association’s Political Power Committee and has experience as a competitive debater.

“If I am elected, my No. 1 priority is going to be the students,” Shaikh said. “It’s important that people know

[ASUCD] exists, that we have these decision making powers and that we use them in the best way possible.”

Jenna Younes, a third-year international relations major, has been a longtime observer of the senate and hopes to improve other students’ engagement with ASUCD. Her platform is focused on maintaining ethical and transparent student government spending, building ASUCD-RSO relationships, improving student and campus safety and reducing harassment.

In the past, Younes has done media and marketing for several identitybased student organizations, including the UC Davis Arab Student Union, and has worked with the Human RIghts Department.

“To be a representative for my community, a community that’s pretty marginalized — it [is] really important for me to step up,” Younes said.

For students who wish to cast their vote or learn more about the candidates and ballot measure, visit elections. ucdavis.edu. Students can also follow @ucdelections on Instagram for daily election updates.

Note: Candidates Ryan Weber (Elevate Slate) and Jorge Diaz (Independent) were not able to participate in this piece.

DOMESTICVIOLENCEFORUM

FROM PAGE 2

During COVID-19, domestic violence reports in Yolo County surged, with over 700 reports of domestic violence and 100 reports of sexual assault received by the District Attorney’s Ofce in 2020. Isolation and economic challenges created barriers for those seeking to leave abusive relationships, making community awareness and support more important than ever.

Local organizations like Empower Yolo have been pivotal in providing housing, legal assistance and counseling for survivors. Community members were encouraged to support these eforts by donating to Empower Yolo or participating in awareness events such as clothing drives and educational forums.

Julia Hernandez, a senior social worker for the Yolo County District Attorney’s Ofce, explained her greatest piece of advice to people struggling with domestic violence in their lives.

“[Reach] out to get help whether that means reaching out to Empower Yolo or reaching out to us at victims services,” Hernandez said. “We definitely do not want someone thinking that they have to stay in that environment, but at the same time, we know that a person has to feel safe to

be able to do that. If they were to call us or Empower Yolo they can remain anonymous, they don’t have to say who they are. Empower Yolo has a 24-hour crisis line and we are here 8-5.” Hernandez then discussed the kinds of support Empower Yolo provides through their 24-hour crisis line.

“While we’re on the phone with them, we can do safety planning, we can ask what-if questions, like what if I’m not ready to leave right now?” Hernandez said. “There’s different things that they can be asking us, and we’re never gonna tell a person you have to leave now, because we’re not in their shoes, but it is just so that they know that there are people out there who will be ready to help when they are ready.” For more information about support services and other local resources, community members are encouraged to contact Empower Yolo or the Yolo County District Attorney’s O f ce’s Victim Services.

“And [in another review] I’m a faming pile of shit [that] should be reported to the dean.” Gerhart mentioned a controversial part of Rate My Professors that was removed in 2018, several years after the website was created.

Tey used to have a chili pepper where you could rate how attractive your professor was,” Gerhart said. “Tis was universally viewed by faculty as inappropriate, demeaning and kind of gross.”

On

Rate My Professors, Chamberlain is listed as one of the most rated professors at UC Davis. Her students have posted nearly 400 ratings based on diferent courses she instructs here, and that number increases every quarter. Rate My Professors and quarterly evaluations are the two main ways that students can rate their instructors. Tey may look diferent, but they continue to inform students and professors about courses, instructors and overall processes here at UC Davis and beyond.

Exploring the gender gap in modern U.S. presidential elections

The gender gap’s impact in voting behavior and its causes, according to UC Davis students and staff

BY GRACIELA TIU features@theaggie.org

In the weeks leading up to the 2024 presidential election, many political figures predicted that the gender gap in voting behavior would widen significantly compared to previous election years. Defned by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) as “the di f erence between the percentage of women and the percentage of men voting for a given candidate,” the gender gap quantifes the efects of variances in political beliefs and voting practices across the gender binary. Since 1996, women have statistically preferred the democratic candidate in presidential elections, with the gap fuctuating each election year but remaining present, according to CAWP. Additionally, after 2000, men and women have overall favored diferent presidential candidates, with one exception in 2008.

However, categorizing men and women into monoliths in their voting behavior would not thoroughly explain their electoral choices. Many demographic diferences beyond gender such as race, socioeconomic class, age and religion can also infuence a person’s vote. Still, examining the di f erent factors contributing to the overall gender gap can point out interesting dynamics about gender and politics in contemporary American society.

Although widely predicted to increase, the gender gap in the 2024

presidential election shrank slightly from 2020, according to Associated Press Votecast data, with Vice President Kamala Harris winning a smaller percentage of women in 2024 compared to President Joe Biden in 2020. Even so, the gender gap remained at a large and observable size, similar to the past 20 years.

Policies and campaign promises prioritized by the two presidential candidates seemed to be one reason men and women largely voted diferently. Harris’ campaign often primarily focused on the importance of reproductive justice and bodily autonomy, starkly contrasting former President Donald Trump’s campaign.

For Sydney Carlson, a fourth-year environmental policy analysis and planning major, this issue heavily infuenced her choice on the ballot.

“Roe v. Wade played a role in my perspective for the election,” Carlson said. “There were so many other rights protected under Roe v. Wade which made women safer throughout the U.S. To me, the idea of voting for someone who is so publicly proud of overturning this right broke my heart.”

of traditional gender ideals, often using hateful rhetoric to push against transgender rights in many rallies and campaign ads.

Tese attacks are consistent with the gender beliefs that have fueled Trump’s support, whereby fear of gender disruption motivates a

Te Trump Campaign also zeroed in on its anti-transgender platform and subsequently its push for the upholding

policing of sex and gender binaries that constrains conceptions of gender, promotes conformity and upholds an unequal balance of power to men over women,” a recent Forbes

article reads. With these two signifcant topics of reproductive justice and transgender rights, American men and women have shown their difering beliefs and priorities on a large scale. Although many other demographic factors can contribute, gender undoubtedly plays a signifcant role in developing these platform-based opinions.

Along with caring about platforms and policy positions, many voters — particularly women — felt concerned about Trump’s long history of disrespectful commentary toward women and the multitude of sexual misconduct allegations he has faced since the 1970s, leading some to prefer Harris instead. Carlson also described how she thought some of the negative rhetoric Trump used against Harris led some male voters to make their decisions accordingly.

“He referred to [Harris] in a disrespectful way, which I think caused a lot of people to follow [those] beliefs as well,” Carlson said.

Bias, whether unconscious or explicit, may have also contributed to gender-based diferences in voting patterns. Both voters and candidates can exhibit forms of bias that impact their perceptions and opinions, particularly toward female candidates like Harris.

“In Western society, we have

a prevailing notion of what power means that is inherently masculine,” Dr. Amber E. Boydstun, a professor and a chair of the UC Davis Department of Political Science, said. “Tat comes from our storybooks and our history and all of it. And so I think that any female candidate is going to have an uphill battle because we don’t have the same kind of mental model for what a powerful woman looks like in a positive way that we do for a male leader.”

Even if a female candidate like Harris did not focus her campaign on her gender identity, voters still might display these biases and blur the lines between true political preferences and expressions of gender-based biases.

“I think even when we break down individuals to their qualities, their qualifcations [and] their background, it’s still hard for some people to separate them from the traditionality of how we view men and women,” Mia Hamilton, a second-year sustainable environmental design major, said.

Another notable driver of the gender gap is the idea that social identities heavily infuence party alignment.

“Gender shapes experiences, expectations, and interests and, consequently, infuences the US political system in a multitude of ways,” Heather L. Ondercin, an assistant professor in the Department of Government and Justice Studies at Appalachian State University, said in a 2017 journal article for Political Research Quarterly.

Pete Scully documents the details of Davis

The local artist discusses his work as an urban sketcher

BY LAILA AZHAR features@theaggie.org

Pete Scully has been drawing for as long as he can remember. Te Davisbased artist — who also serves as the management services ofcer of the UC Davis department of statistics — holds his pen with a slightly odd, childlike grasp.

“I think it’s because I was holding [a pen] before they taught me how to not hold it like that,” Scully said. “Which I never learned.”

Originally from London, Scully can recall early memories of bringing his sketchbook to Primrose Hill, with the British cold freezing his fngers as he drew. But it was when he moved from London to Davis in 2005 that his passion for sketching took of

“It gave me a way to look at the new place where I lived,” Scully said.

Scully specializes in urban sketching: the practice of drawing one’s surroundings. His pieces include sketches of Davis’ Arboretum, Armadillo Music and the Bike Barn, to name a few.

Tis form of sketching requires careful focus and attention to detail — a potentially dying art in an age of ubiquitous distractions. As social media erodes people’s attention spans, it can be rare to fnd someone grounded enough to take the time to soak in their surroundings enough to capture them on paper.

“The way I look at keeping a sketchbook is that it is what keeps me able to focus on everything else,” Scully said. “I kind of think that, maybe, that’s my way of ascertaining a little bit of control over my world.”

His art feels true to the spirit of Davis, the details so accurate and vivid they often invoke a sense of nostalgia — perhaps due to the human elements

of his drawings. Rather than depicting polished, sterile versions of a location, Scully prefers to draw scenes exactly as they are.

“I don’t make things up when I draw; I try to draw what I see,” Scully said. “I don’t leave out garbage cans — in fact, I prefer to have the garbage cans.”

Tis is quite literal; while drawing the construction of Walker Hall, Scully had to stand on a bench in order to look over the fence. Faced with two garbage cans in the way, he ultimately decided to leave them in the sketch.

“You know what, that’s part of the story,” Scully said.

Along with being an urban sketcher himself, Scully has worked to share this practice with the Davis community. In 2008, he served as one of the original correspondents for the Davis chapter of Urban Sketchers: “a global community of sketchers dedicated to the practice of on-location drawing,” according to

their website. In 2010, after attending the Urban Sketching Symposium in Portland, he was inspired to create “Let’s Draw Davis,” a monthly sketch crawl that is still active today, in which participants sketch diferent locations in Davis. For him, inclusivity is a key part of the group.

Tis is something that anyone can do,” Scully said. “It’s something you can be part of if you fancy drawing.”

He has also organized events in London, including a Jack the Ripperthemed sketch crawl in Whitechapel.

“Not glorifying Jack the Ripper,” Scully said, but rather focusing on the history of the area, and the ways in which things have changed and stayed the same.

When moving between cities — which he often does, as he enjoys “seek[ing] out diferent favors of city” — he fnds himself approaching his art diferently. In Davis, he’s familiar with the local scenery. In a skyscraper-flled city such as New York, he has to adjust his perspective.

Wherever he is in the world, however, Scully said that it’s often the shadows that catch his eye. He fnds himself drawn to interesting shapes or patterns of light.

“As long as I’ve got somewhere to stand,” Scully said, referencing that as the most important factor in choosing where to draw.

In line with this, he’s spent a lot of time drawing the trees of Davis.

“If you ignore the trees, you might miss all the interesting shapes they have,” Scully said. “Tese trees are beautiful, if you really look at the bark and the textures and the shapes.”

He recalled that Davis lost several trees in a storm a few years back.

“I realized that some of them I’ve drawn before, and now I’ve got them on paper,” Scully said.

One memory in particular stands out; after drawing a double-page spread of a tree, he returned the next day only to fnd the tree gone.

“I’ve found myself, especially lately, drawing loads of trees, just because I’m

worried — what if they fall down?” Scully said.

By capturing specifc moments in time, his work has created a record of the many changes that have taken place in Davis.

“I like to record the changes in cities, not just the static things,” Scully said.

It is precisely this appreciation for change that has sparked a love for drawing construction sites. Scully is quite well known for this — so much so that people on campus often give him advance notice on where they’ll be.

Trough drawing these construction sites, he’s able to record cities in their often-forgotten transitory phases.

“I love the in-between bit, because it will never look like that again,” Scully said. “Tat’s a big motivator for me to get out and draw.”

It is precisely this change that he wants viewers to keep in mind as they view his work, hoping people recall their own stories associated with the places he draws.

When displayed in the Pence Gallery downtown, a viewer looking at Scully’s sketch of Te Mustard Seed, a restaurant in Downtown Davis didn’t see Te Mustard Seed at all. Instead, as he told Scully, the picture evoked memories of the friends who lived in the house in the 1960s, before it was turned into a restaurant.

“I don’t see that. I drew it, but I don’t see that,” Scully said, noting that his perspective on a location is limited to his own memories. “Tink of how [the pictures] relate to your own story and your own experiences in Davis.”

Scully’s work, from his drawings to his initiatives focused on getting others to draw, encourage a greater connection to one’s local community. His work highlights the details of Davis, making it impossible not to notice the speckled leaves of an arboretum tree or the vibrant display in a shop window. As he succinctly put it:“Tis is where you live.”

Artwork of Hart Hall by Pete Scully, a local artist who’s art illustrates Davis sights. (Courtesy / Scully)

SAVANNAH BURGER / AGGIE

SCIENCE AND TECH

Could new elements be in our future?

Research

from the Lawrence Berkeley Lab hints at a new way to create element 120

BY NAREN KRISHNA JEGAN science@theaggie.org

Recent news from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has demonstrated a new way to create superheavy element 116 (livermorium) using a 50-titanium beam targeting a 244-plutonium atom. Using the same technique, these same researchers intend to create element 120, marking the frst new element discovery in over 20 years. Dr. Jacklyn Gates, the lead researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley Lab, and Dr. Eric Prebys, the head of the Crocker Nuclear Laboratory at UC Davis, discussed these fndings.

A Crash Course on Atomic Teory

Atoms are composed of three subatomic particles: positively charged protons, neutrally charged neutrons and negatively charged electrons. Te protons and neutrons are clustered together in the center of the atom — the nucleus — while the electrons are found fying around the nucleus.

Te number of protons in an atom determines the name of the element. While changing the number of protons changes the physical name of the element and thereby its properties, changing the number of neutrons or electrons does not change the element.

Changing the number of electrons causes a change in the overall charge of the atom; if the total number of electrons is not equal to the number of protons, it’s an atomic ion.

You can create either an overall positive or negative charge by removing electrons from a neutral atom or adding more electrons to an atom while maintaining a constant number of protons, respectively. Changing the number of neutrons in an atom while keeping the proton and electron count constant creates atomic isotopes — alternative forms of the same element that can display certain forms of decay due to instability.

New research

Gates said that although superheavy

ELECTIONGENDERGAP FROM PAGE 10

“Furthermore, men’s and women’s social identities are fundamentally linked to their sex and form the basis of their partisan identifcation. Tis theory implies the gender gap’s formation is at least partially a result of men and women adjusting their partisan preferences based on the representation of their gendered social identity in the political parties.”

Tis linkage of gender and partisan identity seems to make many voters resonate with the candidate or party that appeals most directly to how they want to feel represented politically.

“I think Harris really appeals to the people in the women’s sense, like she’s backing us up on account of our rights as women,” Hamilton said. “I think a lot of the stuf that Trump votes for is very progressive in the male sense — like it kind of gives power to the men versus power to the women. Although [we] defnitely see a lot of men voting for Kamala and a lot of women voting for Trump, I think it’s really easy to kind of identify them with their gender identity.”

Similarly, many men identifed with the Trump campaign’s centering around traditional masculinity.

“I think in this particular election,

elements — chemical elements with an atomic number larger than 104 — do not have many applications, the creation of these elements suggests an expansive future of discovery.

“[Te creation of these elements] allows us to refne our understanding of atomic theory and what happens on a small scale,” Gates said. “Elements are the building blocks of everything that we have here on Earth [...] We are focused on what are the limits of those building blocks — how big of a block can you make and where can you stop?”

Prebys said that in order to create these building blocks, there needs to be the right mix of substances such as concrete, water, sand and gravel to create a stable structure.

“Once you get past uranium, elements are not stable,” Prebys said. “However, there’s this belief that if you get heavy enough, there’s an island of stability.”

Te island of stability refers to the certain combinations of protons, neutrons and electrons that create relatively stable elements that one can determine the atomic properties of — the most stable compositions consist of magic numbers, a certain amount of protons and neutrons.

In order to physically create an element, high-energy beams need to bombard a target. Te Lawrence Berkeley Lab applied this principle to create element 116 by shooting high-energy titanium-50 beams into plutonium-244 to create a fusion reaction that produces livermorium-290.

Prebys said that using beams is pivotal to create elements.

“Nuclei are repulsive,” Prebys said. “You can’t make two protons stick together because they are repulsive. However, the stronger nuclear forces overpower the electromagnetic forces only at considerably small distances.”

Te nuclear force causes naturally repulsive protons to stick together in a high-energy interaction; In order to break something of high energy, you would need greater amounts of energy. Currently, one of the most common ways to create superheavy elements is to use calcium-48 beams. Tis method

one of the aspects of President Trump’s candidacy that had a lot of draw for a lot of people across genders and across races was this a sense of masculinity,”

Boydstun said. “Even though Harris, I think, tried very hard not to make gender the center of her campaign, I think that the kind of machismo element of Trump’s messaging meant that gender was very much at the center of this election.”

An additional factor that may have led some men to vote for Trump could have been that the Harris Campaign’s focus on women’s rights and progress led some men to feel left behind, potentially fearing the loss of their privilege and power.

“Frustrated at not feeling understood, many then get sucked into a bro-culture of Donald Trump or Elon Musk,” John Della Volpe, the director of polling at the Harvard Institute of Politics, said in a BBC news article.

T ey look at who the Democrats prioritize — women, abortion rights, LGTBQ culture — and they ask ‘what about us?’”

Tis “bro-culture” aligns with the pushback against women’s progress that some American men have been demonstrating in the past few years.

“Donald Trump has emphasized a traditional — and even toxic -–masculinity in each of his presidential campaigns, feeding on and fueling the backlash to gender progress already evident among Americans,” Kelly

has only been used to create elements up to element 118 (oganesson). However, by irradiating the titanium-50 isotope and shooting it into beams of plutonium–244, Gates’ team was able to create livermorium-290.

Te choice to use titanium-50 is due to it being doubly magic — meaning that the atom contains a magic number for both protons and neutrons. By pairing this with the plutonium-244

isotope, the most stable isotope of plutonium, the researchers were able to expect a higher percentage of a detectable reaction. By bombarding titanium-50 to the californium-249 isotope and accounting for some decay patterns, the team aims to create element 120. Because of titanium50’s inherent stability, coupled with its higher tendency to create nuclear fusion reactions, Gates and her team

hope to push beyond the current scope of our periodic table. If successful, this work can open up new avenues for nuclear research. Scientists can explore the multitude of ways to create superheavy elements that last for longer periods of time, enabling us to better understand the atomic theory that governs them and their potential applications.

Dittmar’s Forbes article reads. “In 2016, for example, more than two-thirds of Trump supporters told the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) that ‘society is becoming too soft and feminine.’ Multiple researchers found that hostile sexism, which encompasses perceptions that women’s advancement comes at a cost to men, was a signifcant predictor of votes for Donald Trump among men and women alike.”

Overall opinions about gender inequality and partisan support have been proven to correlate, with 84% of Trump voters believing gender equality eforts are “going too far” and 86% of Harris supporters believing that they are “not going far enough,” according to a CBS News poll.

Te gender gap, infuenced by these numerous factors, serves as a striking reminder that American attitudes and beliefs about gender permeate our daily lives — not just the presidential election.

“I think for a lot of women, it’s not that surprising,” Hamilton said. “Just because I don’t think it’s a particularly unique experience to be a woman who feels qualifed for a certain role or a reward and have that blindsided by a male counterpart.”

OUTDOORCREW FROM PAGE 8

“Know that when you surround yourself with people who generally really like to go outside and experience nature and hike and be social, you’re probably gonna get a really good match of people. Everyone else who joined is also looking to make connections and make friends and meet people in that realm — you’re not the only one.”

Emmeline Thomsen, a fourthyear design and sociology major, has worked hard to ensure Outdoor Club is inclusive and fun for all. Tomsen is the co-president of Outdoor Crew along with Patrick Farrell and has been a member of Outdoor Crew since her frst year at UC Davis. “I’ve met some of my closest friends there,” Tomsen said. “We really want everyone to be able to hang out, be friends and promote inclusion.”

While exploring the outdoors, conditions can be unpredictable. Outdoor Crew experienced this unpredictability frst hand last year when they faced unexpected snow on a Yosemite camping trip. Despite the challenges it presented, Tomsen said that the situation brought the club closer together.

“It was super challenging, but it was super cool to see how all the ofcers responded,” Tomsen said. “We all work together super well so it was really cool having a team all support each other. All the ofcers were just amazing and super considerate and on top of everything, and all the members

were super understanding and open.” In addition to providing social connection and physical activity, Outdoor Crew also strives to improve mental health through their activities. Harrison Oseguera, a fourth-year Chicano studies and psychology double major as well as the current planning ofcer for Outdoor Crew, said he felt his mentality change while in Outdoor Crew.

“My experience with Outdoor Crew has been very life changing,” Oseguera said. “It’s an environment of positivity.”

Oseguera also noted that going outdoors can teach students important lessons outside of the classroom.

“It’s a great opportunity to ground yourself,” Oseguera said. “In an environment so consumed in academic growth, it’s important to check back in with yourself and grow as an individual and grow in your relationship with nature.”

Although new membership registration has ended for the fall quarter, it will reopen at the beginning of winter quarter — just in time for snowshoeing season. In the meantime, to stay updated about general meetings and membership information, feel free to follow Outdoor Crew on instagram, @outdoorcrewdavis.

JASON XIE / AGGIE

SPORTS

WOMAN BEACH VOLLEYBALL

UC Davis women’s volleyball interim head coach’s vision and new talent set the stage for a strong 2025 season

A recap of the 2024 beach volleyball season, new coaching staff and what’s to come

BY DIEGO CERNA sports@theaggie.org

The UC Davis women’s beach volleyball team is gearing up for a promising season, coming off an impressive performance last year with an 18-17 record overall. Last season in April, the team competed as the No.3ranked team in the Big West Beach Volleyball Championship in Long Beach. Tey were able to beat No. 6-ranked California State University, Bakersfield in the quarterfinals but conceded to the No. 4-ranked University of Hawaii in the semifnals. Entering the 2025 season, the team is

looking to win it all.

Tis will be Interim Head Coach

Lisa Gathright’s f rst season as the head coach for the UC Davis Aggies.

Gathright, a native of Stevensville, Michigan, was brought along with former Head Coach Joe Rich in June 2023 as an assistant coach. When Rich resigned from the head coaching spot, Gathright flled the role to serve as not only the women’s beach volleyball coach but the indoor volleyball coach as well.

Gathright began her professional career with the Bud Light 4 Women Beach Tour and later that year moved indoors, joining TSG Tuebingen in Germany’s First League. In 1994, Gathright returned to the U.S. to

compete on the Pro Beach Tour. She most recently served as the owner and director of the Southwest Volleyball Club in Michigan.

Newly appointed Coach Alex Singelyn, a third-year managerial economics major, will be taking Gathright’s assistant coaching spot. He started out as the team manager where he helped flm past seasons and has four years of high school volleyball experience under his belt.

Two 2024 All-Conference Team players, Kylie Miller, a fourthyear managerial economics major, and Lindsay Heller, a fourth-year communications major, will be returning to the team.

Miller competed in all 35 regular and postseason matches during the 2024 season with UC Davis alum Colleen McGuire, holding a record of 21-14. Miller was selected to be a part of the All-Big West Second Team, but will need to fnd a new partner for this upcoming season. Heller competed in 34 out of the 35 games last season and fnished with a 17-17 overall record. She received a 2024 All-Big West Honorable Mention with former partner and alum Morgan Coolbaugh. The women’s beach volleyball regular season doesn’t start until April, but they have already competed in the Huntington Beach Invite and Saint

Mary’s Tournament and will compete in the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Championship in Huntsville, Alabama from Nov. 15 to 17. Te UC Davis women’s volleyball team aims to build on last season’s successes and will be supported by Gathright’s experience, a strong group of returning players and an exciting roster that includes over 10 incoming frst-year students. Aggie fans can look forward to an action-packed season as the team fgures out new pairs of duos for the season and prepares themselves for the beginning of the season in April.

FOOTBALL

Finger guns are just the start of banned gestures from the ‘No Fun League’

NFL celebrations face serious crackdowns amidst the 2024-25 season

BY MEGAN JOSEPH sports@theaggie.org

The football arena can have an electric atmosphere, especially when your favorite player makes his way to the end zone. Every fan is on the edge of their seats waiting for that moment when he crosses the line and the stadium erupts into cheers — the player then does a signature or impromptu celebratory dance.

But wait, a referee comes sprinting over throwing a flag on the play, and the player is getting a fine. This last part might not sound so familiar, but it will start to. The National Football League (NFL), often also referred to as the “No Fun League” for its strict rules, has started to crack down on end zone celebration dances again. The NFL has been turning back to rules put in place starting in 2006 when former NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in charge. In 2006, the NFL cracked down on celebrations that used props including the football or performing choreographed dances, essentially targeting any celebration that was deemed over the top or excessive. Crackdowns included an automatic 15-yard penalty and a potential fine. Additionally, continuing on with the 2006 crackdown, the NFL hit with yet another ban on celebrations saying that if celebrations were deemed disrespectful, they would face a penalty. In other words, even if the celebration itself wasn’t overly long or offensive, the player and team could still face repercussions for actions such as “showboating” or group celebrations.

After many years with these new rules and a deepened frustration by players for not being able to celebrate their victories and successes, the NFL lightened their celebration bans. Starting in the fall 2017 season, the NFL announced it would no longer be overly penalizing player celebrations.

“We are relaxing our rules on celebrations to allow players more room to have fun after they make big plays,” then-NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a message

from the NFL. Among the celebrations previously banned was using the football as a prop after a touchdown, celebrating on the ground and group demonstrations.

“It was clear how much our players care about sportsmanship,” Goodell said. “That is why offensive demonstrations, celebrations that are prolonged and delay the game, and those directed at an opponent, will still be penalized.” This decision to lift the ban on celebrations for players was a long-awaited relief for teams and fans alike who couldn’t watch their favorite players face repercussions for celebrating an achievement. It seemed like the NFL had taken a turn down a new path for the future, however, this was short-lived.

At the beginning of this 2024 to 2025 football season, NFL officials

have been asked by the league to crack down on celebrations yet again. The NFL officials have listened to these requests and started cracking down on arrow, gun and other weapon-type gestures during the current football season. Among the first players targeted with a penalty, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs faced a penalty during the Indianapolis Colts versus the Jacksonville Jaguars game for pointing fingers, or “finger guns,” toward the stadium on Oct. 6.

Downs has not been the only player to face repercussions for such actions this season. Among the others was most notably Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London who caught a seven-yard touchdown pass to tie the Sept. 14 Atlanta Falcons versus Philadelphia Eagles game in the last 34 seconds of regulation time.

To celebrate, London did a so-called “gun-inspired” hand signal that led to their team facing a 15-yard penalty.

Additionally, London received a $14,069 f ne for his gesture, showing the seriousness of the NFL this season in regards to “violent” celebrations. Similarly, Denver Broncos defensive lineman Malcolm Roach received his own punishment for a so-called “violent gesture” during the Denver Broncos’ recent game against the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 17. Roach was celebrating his coverage and success in breaking up a pass by the Saints, pretending to strap on a seatbelt and lift his jersey to show the seatbelt was locked, however, the NFL took this as Roach showing a gun. Te NFL mistook the celebration as a gun reference and fned Roach $14,069 for a “violent” gesture. Roach, claiming that was not his intent, has decided to

f le a claim appealing the f ne.

The NFL’s increasingly strict policies have shown its intent to bring back restrictions on touchdown celebrations and more speci f cally what they believe to be unsportsmanlike or “violent” gestures in order to establish a family-friendly and respectful image. While this may be the intent, players, fans and referees alike across the league have shown their dislike of these new regulations, arguing that the league has gone too far this time.

As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how the NFL tries to maintain control over player conduct and allow players to freely express their emotions. One thing is for sure, players will have to weigh the risk of expressing their emotions and celebrations with a potential penalty and heavy price.

Mia Olen (1) serves the ball at the Huntington Beach Invite, which took place on Oct. 26 and 27. (Ellen J. Holton / Courtesy)