January 11, 2018

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the California Aggie

SERVING THE UC DAVIS CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY SINCE 1915

VOLUME 136, ISSUE 11 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018

THEAGGIE.ORG

MARTÌN GIRON / COURTESY

Cross Cultural Center 2017-18 budget cut by 7 percent

JAY GELVEZON / STUDENT AFFAIRS MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Second student-run Mental Health Conference to offer accessible mental health information, resources

CCC programs such as REACH Retreat, International Retreat cancelled

Conference to be held Jan. 20 to 21 will include professionally-led workshops, keynotes, resource fair

Content warning: This piece contains references to mental illness and suicide.

From Jan. 20 to 21, the UC Davis Conference Center will host UC Davis’ second Mental Health Conference. The conference — bolstered by experts offering keynotes and workshops — is run by an “entirely student-led initiative that aims to engage students in destigmatization and education efforts, prompt attendees to organize around mental health issues and offer them the opportunity for self-reflection and healing through mental health discourse,” according to the event page.

The Mental Health Initiative that started as a ASUCD Senate project has grown into a platform for a two-day conference and other events such as performances, panels and a resource fair. Attendees will be given access to diverse therapeutic techniques such as coloring activities and digitallyguided meditation in a “healing space.” All activities are administered by volunteers who have received the national certification for mental health

first aid.

This year, the event’s closing keynote will be given by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, who was a driving force behind Prop. 63 — which was created to fund mental health services — and who also founded the Steinberg Institute. The Institute, according to its website, “was created to upend the status quo and dramatically raise the profile and increase the effectiveness of mental health policymaking in California.”

To Samantha Chiang, a fourth-year English major and the director of the initiative, the initiative and conference may not be groundbreaking, but she saw exceeding necessity within underrepresented communities where approaching mental health can be stigmatized, silenced or forgotten.

Chiang said she understands the complexity — and individuality — of unpacking mental health concerns with regard to both the cause and the cure. She said she views this conference as a specific way to provide immediate mental health assistance and resources to those who cannot afford or access individual professional mental health care.

“Is this revolutionary?” Chiang asked. “Not by any means. I don’t think it can tackle the root of

the problem. Yet, there are material needs of underrepresented communities that need more immediate assistance and the mental health community has historically been silenced and discriminated against.”

The Mental Health Initiative comprises 15 board members who coordinated and programmed the conference with the help of over 55 volunteers.

Chiang said that exploring mental health concerns is a passion for these members, all of whom have been affected by mental health issues. Following the first conference’s popularity, the initiative received an overwhelming amount of board applicants in 2018 — only a quarter of interested applicants were able to be accepted.

Chiang explained how an ASUCD Senate project of a mental health initiative became a programmatic committee, responsible for coordinating campus outreach and events that culminated in an annual conference.

“The board members applied through vacancy. ucdavis.edu and went through interviews, in which ASUCD leadership was courteous enough to give CONFERENCE on 11

Counseling psychologists demand market-level salaries during negotiations with UC UC Office of the President’s most recent salary proposal effective wage reduction

BY H A N N A H HO L ZE R campus@theaggie.org

This article is the first in a three-part series examining issues that counseling psychologists in the UC system are currently facing, including under-market wages, understaffing and high demand leading to systemwide recruitment and retention issues.

Bargaining negotiations are currently taking place between the UC Office of the President (UCOP) and University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) over terms relating to employment under the job titles Counseling Psychologist 2 and 3 in the UC system, including and perhaps most notably relating to the under-market pay scale these employees receive at the UC. When asked why several, if not all, UC campuses are severely understaffed in terms of counseling psychologists, Aron Katz, a psychologist at UC Davis’ Student Health and Counseling Services said “it comes down to money.”

“I love my work, I love being here, but you can go ten miles down the road in either direction and make 20 to 50 percent more,” Katz said. “It’s a tough sell.”

According to Jamie McDole, the vice president of UPTE, the below-market salaries counseling psychologists currently receive, in addition to heavy workloads, are the main factors behind the retention and recruitment issues UC campuses struggle with. McDole said counselors are “stressed, overworked and overburdened.”

“The only way to achieve adequate staffing is to have adequate salary to recruit competent therapists and then retain them,” McDole said.

______________________________________ In January, UPTE successfully petitioned the Public Employment Relations Board, a state agency, to add the job titles Counseling Psychologist (CP) 2 and 3 into union membership. Previously, counseling psychologists were not unionized. According to Katz, the distinction between CP2s and CP3s is not “meaningful” — currently, the title of CP3 is used to denote “semi-management positions.”

Two separate processes between UPTE and UCOP are now occurring. Accretion is the process of adding counseling psychologists to the preexisting healthcare contract (Hx). Since accretion negotiations began, the pre-existing Hx contract counseling psychologists are being added to ex-

pired on Oct. 31.

“Accretion negotiation began in January,” said Katz, who is also the UC Davis counseling psychologist representative for bargaining in the accretion process. “In the time it’s taken to negotiate this, the Hx contract has expired, so that also needs to be negotiated. We are fighting to keep those two negotiations separate, because if they were combined, counseling psychologist staff would have next to no influence on our terms because we would make up such a small proportion of Hx members.”

According to Katz, salary negotiations are the “major sticking point to resolving accretion.” The COUNSELOR on 12

Step 1, Entry Pay for Psychologist Among UC and non-UC Employers UCOP Proposed Pay Scale for Counseling Psychologist

$72,850.32

UCDMC Step 1 for Job Title “Psychologist 2”

$96,653.52

Kaiser Step 1 for Job Title “Psychologist”

$119,955.60

$0k

JAMIE CHEN / AGGIE

$10k

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$120k

BY CLAR A ZHAO campus@theaggie.org

In the 2017-18 school year, the UC Davis Cross Cultural Center received a significant cut to its budget.

According to the CCC’s website, the center “provides a community space promoting values such as advocacy, cultural competency and community.”

The CCC’s budget cut was part of a larger budget cut to the Division of Student Affairs, which affected the CCC as well as several other departments.

The CCC leadership team was given permission to internally decide what to cut. According to a post on the CCC’s Facebook page, the team was mainly concerned with “the possibility of losing a staff member that supported the International and ME/SA communities.”

As a result, the cut was applied to several programs and services the CCC usually holds, including the REACH Retreat, the International Community Retreat, the Asian American & Pacific Islander Leadership Retreat, Students of Diverse Affiliations and the Student Grant Program.

Programs such as the Asian Pacific Culture Night Market, Black Family Day, La Gran Tardeada, Powwow, P.E.A.C.E., Danzantes del Alma and the Graduate Students of Color Program were retained.

“Losing a staffing position is much more difficult to regain and we also felt that a staff member provides broader and more ongoing support for communities than a one-time program,” the CCC explained in its Facebook post.

The CCC advocated for keeping the program coordinator position and making it permanent, and was granted the request. Additionally, this year the CCC was able to secure a permanent position to serve the international and Asian Pacific Islander communities.

The total cut from the budget was $76,794 —approximately 7 percent of the budget. However, CCC Director Bruce Smail expressed some optimism in light of the situation.

“While this is a loss for the 2017-18 fiscal year, we enhanced our programming to support the communities we serve,” Smail said via email. “We created a new programming model to enhance our reach to the various communities we serve.”

The new programming model includes three key components: Themed Series Programming, which includes two major events and six smaller events in Fall and Winter Quarters, Community Specific Programming, which provides an opportunity for the community coordinators to address issues and events targeted to the various communities served by the CCC and Spring Cultural Days Pre-Events.

Since the budget cut decision was announced after the CCC’s student hiring season, the CCC will honor current employment agreements with the 28 student staff members hired for 2017-18 fiscal year.

“Although we experienced a budget reduction this year we have received a 214 percent programming budget increase over the last five years which demonstrates divisional support,” Smail said.

Sources: Anonymous source, Kaiser Permanente website and UPTE Hx Contract

FRESH • LOCAL • SUSTAINABLE • AFFORDABLE • ORGANIC • FRESH • LOCAL • SUSTAINABLE

DAVIS FOOD CO-OP • 620 G ST OPEN DAILY 7AM—10PM

BY AARON L I SS campus@theaggie.org

2 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

TERMS IN REVIEW: FOUR ASUCD SENATORS CONCLUDE THEIR FALL 2016-17 TERMS JOSE MENESES

JULIE JUNG

SIMRAN GREWAL

BY ELI Z A BE T H M E R C A DO campus@theaggie.org

The California Aggie reflects on four ASUCD senators who completed their 2016-17 terms in office. After each student’s respective victory in the 2016 Fall Elections, each of the four had a year in the Senate to address their platforms and efficiently represent their constituencies.

Julie Jung Julie Jung joined the ASUCD Senate

MATTHEW YAMAGUCHI

table in October of 2016 as an interim senator for Georgia Savage. She ran, and won, the Fall Election of that year and began her one-year Senate term with platforms on basic needs, security and advocacy for unit representation.

“The reason I applied for the interim seat was mainly because I had worked in former president Alex Lee’s staff, who was the president before Josh,” Jung said. “He had us focus a lot on units.”

As a full-time senator, Jung adopted 10 units — she worked primarily with

Reflecting on Julie Jung, Jose Meneses, Simran Grewal, Matthew Yamaguchi’s individual platforms, accomplishments, shortcomings Creative Media, Unitrans, the CoHo, Entertainment Council, The Pantry, Picnic Day, Aggie Reuse, Refrigerator Services and the Experimental College.

When asked if attention to units has become more prevalent in ASUCD, Jung said yes, citing the realigned focus onto units at the Senate table as a proud accomplishment of her term.

“It’s very rewarding when someone comes up to me and says, ‘I really appreciate how you focus [on] X Unit, it’s not seen very much on the table,’” Jung said.

Annie Wang, a second-year materials science engineering major, described her interaction with former Senator Jung.

Wang served on Jung’s staff and as an intern for Aggie Reuse.

“She really tried to mentor the people who were working for her,” Wang said.

Wang also said that Jung would host socials and mock Senate tables for staffers to get accustomed to how the ASUCD Senate works.

Former Pantry Director Maria Chang, a fifth-year pharmaceutical chemistry major, called Jung a support-oriented senator.

“She helped us navigate ASUCD and understand how things work and she put us in touch with people that had the resources to help us with what we need at the time,” Chang said.

Jung’s appointment to Senate pro tempore took time away from what she said would have gone to projects based on her platforms to prioritizing her new role.

“Pro tempore is so focused on making sure all the other senators are doing their jobs, so it was very hard to focus on my projects after Spring Quarter,” Jung said.

Jose Meneses Jose Meneses was elected during his second year at UC Davis on the platforms of sexual assault awareness, domestic violence awareness and legal representation on campus.

Meneses addressed access to legal counsel for students by corresponding with other UC campuses.

“With months of researching and meeting with admin and different groups across UCs, primarily UC Berkeley [and]

their student legal clinic, we found that we already have a lot of legal resources on campus,” Meneses said.

The former senator’s platform focused on increasing the accessibility of UC Davis’ legal counsel on the ASUCD website.

The project is up for approval by the campus’ office of legal counsel for initiation in Winter Quarter.

“It’s essentially looking for legal resources on campus we already have and just sort of making it easier for students to navigate and access,” Meneses said.

Meneses worked primarily with the Whole Earth Festival (WEF) and the Experimental Community Gardens units as an adopted senator.

“He, in general, was very proactive about reaching out to us in terms of knowing what’s going on with us and being informed with what’s going on at the WEF,” said Monica Dwight, a fourthyear Spanish and political science public service double major and the WEF unit director.

FALL TERM REVIEW on 11

UC DAVIS PROFESSOR STRIPPED OF TITLES AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS SURFACE | #MeToo movement inspired administrator to come forward UC DAVIS DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC / COURTESY

BY JAYASHRI PA D MA N A B H AN campus@theaggie.org

In December, The Sacramento Bee reported that former UC Davis professor D. Kern Holoman “was stripped of his distinguished professor and emeritus titles [...] after allegations surfaced that he assaulted

a college freshman 30 years ago.” Holoman was the former director of the UC Davis Symphony and chair of the Department of Music. He retired in 2013.

On Dec. 12, the former UC Davis student who came forward with these accusations — UC administrator Danny Gray — published a blog post titled “#MeToo Arrives at the University of California” detailing the allegations against Holoman. Gray alleged that Holoman had sexually assaulted him in a hot tub, later raped him and continued making unwelcome advances from 1987 through 1991. Gray claimed that he had reported the incidents to university officials but had no information as to whether any action against Holoman had been taken at the time.

Gray sent a copy of the post to university officials before it was published online. The university agreed to launch an investigation into Holoman’s actions.

Holoman denied the allegations and, in lieu of an

investigation into the allegations, agreed to have his titles removed.

According to The Bee, in a statement to Gray given by Holoman’s lawyer, Holoman wrote, “I am distressed and deeply apologetic for my role in any event that has harmed Danny Gray in any way, and heartsick at the thought of harm that has festered for 30 years. Our memories of that time differ markedly, but the remorse is very real. I continue to treasure memories of our long friendship and its focus on the beauties of art, literature and history.”

UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May issued a statement on Dec. 11 acknowledging the abusers and survivors on the UC Davis campus as well as including resources available to students, staff and faculty.

“Many of the reports of abuse emerge after years and sometimes decades of silence and shame,” May wrote. “In the past, few if any institutions had adequate reporting and investigative processes, UC Davis included. Our protocols and processes have

Police Logs:

‘Tis the season of taking Dec. 24 “Smoke from above location is entering yard that reporting party is currently at, causing her discomfort.”

“Reporting party’s mother hit her and not letting her leave the house. Mother knows police department has been called.”

Dec. 25 “Approximately 5 subjects in front of a white SUV in the parking lot talking loudly and using sparklers.”

“Vehicle taken overnight from residence.”

“Barricades for construction in the area have been removed and drivers are going through restricted areas.”

Dec. 26 “Occurred on 12/17 reporting party wallet was taken from business and credit cards were charged. ID theft packet complete.”

“Ongoing problem with neighbor blowing chicken waste with industrial fans into reporting party’s yard.

Dec. 27 “Reporting party advised her son’s bike was stolen on Christmas night.”

Dec. 29 “Two hour parking sign fell down across sidewalk.”

Dec. 30 “Possible illegal campfire.”

Jan. 1 “Loud explosion sound in the area of the park. Possibly a transformer.”

improved greatly over the years.”

Though the statement did not mention Gray or Holoman by name, UC Davis spokeswoman Dana Topousis confirmed to The Bee that May’s message was a response to Gray’s allegations and that the university expects more people to come forward with allegations.

In his statement, May wrote that he supports “those in our community who have come forward or who are thinking about doing so” and that “the safety and security of our community remains [a] priority for those who study, work and live here.”

Most recently, on Dec. 28, The Bee reported that Holoman’s predecessor, Christian Baldini, the conductor of the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra was put “on unpaid administrative leave after a university investigation found he engaged in unwanted sexual conduct toward an undergraduate student.”

Baldini has reportedly also denied the claims and labeled the allegations a misunderstanding.

SENATOR TERM REVIEW: RAHI SURYAWANSHI

NICOLE WASHINGTON / AGGIE FILE

BY ALLY RU SS E LL campus@theaggie.org

Senator Rahi Suryawanshi, a fourth-year international relations major, was elected as the fourth vote-getter during the 2017 ASUCD Winter Elections. Suryawanshi received an endorsement from The California Aggie for her experience with ASUCD as well as for her tangible platform.

As part of her platforms, Suryawanshi aimed to develop allyship workshops in firstyear dorms and host free self-defense classes on campus. Suryawanshi also hoped to establish a scholarship for other international students, like herself.

During her time in office, as Suryawanshi learned more about her reach and tangible capabilities as a senator and her original platform has adapted — something she said she is proud of.

“What I came in with, my ideas, have really evolved,” Suryawanshi said.

Suryawanshi shifted her focus toward tackling larger institutional issues working against students during her time as senator.

“When you’re running for Senate, the easiest thing to do is look at campus and ask, ‘How can I make it better?,’” Suryawanshi said. “But when you work a little longer, you realize if you add microwaves or something like that, how many people will it really impact? And you start thinking, ‘What can I really do that will truly impact even ten people?’”

Reflecting on time in office, Senator Suryawanshi discusses original platforms, successes, struggles With regard to her original platforms, Suryawanshi said she encountered many setbacks. “[Allyship workshops are] something that has been installed in orientation now, which is good, but I think I obviously wanted to go beyond that,” Suryawanshi said.

Suryawanshi worked with Brandon Pettit, the director of the Office of Student Development, but the two could not feasibly figure out a way to make the workshops mandated events.

Similarly, Suryawanshi encountered issues working to implement her free self-defense workshops at the Experimental College. Issues of liability prohibited the Experimental College from offering classes without paid instructors. In the future, Suryawanshi mentioned that if funds were allocated to pay instructors, but keep classes free for students, the classes could still become a reality.

“I started working on other stuff, but I made sure I was working,” Suryawanshi said.

“It’s very easy to get discouraged and not work on things.”

Suryawanshi said she hoped to foster a more transparent relationship between students and administration.

When asked what she felt her biggest accomplishment has been during her time as a senator, Suryawanshi immediately spoke about her long-term goal to add 115 blue emergency lights to UC Davis’ campus.

Currently, UC Davis, despite being the

largest UC campus, has the fewest number of blue emergency lights — currently, the number of lights on campus is eight.

Beyond this, true to UC Davis’ commitment to environmental sustainability, Suryawanshi developed a tangible plan to ensure the blue emergency lights added to campus are sustainable. Working with Vice President Adilla Jamaludin and the Davis Police chief, Suryawanshi has given the administration a clear plan of action to add blue emergency lights to campus by the end of the 2017-18 school year.

Furthermore, through her capacity as senator, Suryawanshi held an event last year titled “Decolonizing the Arts.” Suryawanshi, who is Indian, spoke about how hurtful it is to see people do Henna tattoos or other culturally symbolic art forms and who fail to recognize the significance of these art forms to Indian culture.

This year, Suryawanshi is working alongside the student directors of the Whole Earth Festival.

“We are really working on making Whole Earth Festival more inclusive this year,” Suryawanshi said. “If we do that, we will make that space open for so many more people.”

Additionally, Suryawanshi was one of 24 co-authors of Senate Resolution #2, which was presented and passed at the Senate meeting on Nov. 30. The resolution addressed the RAHI REVIEW on 11

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018 | 3

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

NEW OWNERSHIP FOR HISTORIC CITY HALL Engstrom Properties’ bid accepted for City Hall

BY STE L L A T RA N city@theaggie.org

The search for a steward to buy the Historic City Hall building in downtown Davis has ended, as Engstrom Properties’ bid was accepted on Nov. 21.

The bid was $3.5 million and will be split between the city and public entities, such as school districts.

Before the bid was accepted, the city was contracted with Turton Commercial Real Estate to sell the building. Scott Kingston, the vice president of the company, commented on Engstrom Properties taking ownership of City Hall.

“We are very fortunate to have received offers from many qualified buyers, and we couldn’t be more excited than to have Engstrom Properties in escrow to buy the building,” Kingston said. “They have a tremendous amount of local retail development and leasing experience.”

Engstrom Properties currently owns, leases and manages several other commercial properties in Davis, including the Covell Shopping Center and El Macero Center in South Davis.

As the City Hall building is now a restaurant, Kingston further elaborated on how Engstrom Properties has the experience necessary to own the building.

“The company also owns, operates and renovated the historic Hotel Woodland in downtown Wood-

land,” Kingston said. “They have the perfect combination of local presence, retail and restaurant experience and attention to stewardship of the property.”

Kingston noted that the city wanted to maintain the building’s historical presence.

“The City was very focused on finding the right buyer for the property — not just any buyer that could close escrow and collect rent — but finding a buyer that had a resume of owning and maintaining buildings with a similar sense of historic importance,” Kingston said.

As City Hall is in the heart of downtown Davis, Kingston noticed that buyers liked the location of the building and its historical significance.

“Local buyers love the history, timelessness and long-term legacy of the building, while regional and out-of-town buyers were intrigued by its proximity to the UC Davis campus, its unparalleled presence in downtown Davis and the popularity of Bistro 33,” Kingston said.

Since the building is still in its early stages of having new ownership, Kingston does not believe that there will be any instantaneous effects.

“I don’t believe the new ownership have any immediate plans for the building, as Bistro 33’s lease has a couple years remaining on its existing lease, with an option to extend for five additional years,” Kingston said. “I do imagine that little items will be cleaned up, restored or improved, but nothing sig-

DI A N A L I / AG G I E

Valuable resources hampered by issues with scheduling, continuing care

College can be a stressful environment, and young adulthood is often accompanied by the surfacing of various mental health issues. Many students might look to their school for help, and UC Davis prominently advertises the free mental health services provided by the Student Health and Counseling Center (SHCS). But despite their importance and prominence, these services remain difficult to access and unsatisfactory to some.

Students wishing to make a individual counseling appointments can either visit the Counseling Center at North Hall or call the Appointment Desk, which is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, except on Wednesdays when it opens at 9 a.m. Generally, appointments are scheduled for the same day, and the counseling center is usually busy, meaning students who call later in the day might not be able to make an appointment at all. There is a relatively narrow window in which to make appointments, and even this window doesn’t guarantee success.

Sedona Patterson, a second-year art history major, was met with frustration when she tried to make an appointment for counseling during her first quarter at UC Davis. She emailed SHCS to voice her displeasure.

“Unfortunately, it is now the end of the third week and after several attempts to make an appointment with somebody or anybody really I have only felt as though I have been turned away,” Patterson said. “I’ve called a couple of times and I tried to make an appointment online and each time there was something that kept me from being able to see somebody and has discouraged me [...] I am disappointed because I can only think of the other students here at UC Davis whose case may be worse than mine and are facing the same situation as I am.”

After this experience, Patterson was offered a counseling appointment, but she was left with a bad impression of the system.

nificant if Bistro ever vacates the property.”

Brett Lee, the mayor pro tempore of Davis, commented on Engstrom Properties’ ability to maintain the property.

“They also have the resources and staff to hopefully find good tenants and maintain the property and make sure that it’s well run and managed into the future,” Lee said.

Though the city hall building no longer serves its original purpose, the building remains a historical artifact that the city of Davis wants to uphold, according to Lee. “The city wants to maintain the historic design and look of it,” Lee said. “It’s nice to have something unique around downtown. We were able to make

sure that it was decently maintained, and we feel confident that the same thing will occur.”

Lee further stated that choosing Engstrom Properties was a rather easy decision.

“For the city, it wasn’t very difficult all,” Lee said.

“We had several different offers to choose from, and we thought that Engstrom’s offer was the best fit.

In the long run, they have plans to refurbish and upgrade it.”

Engstrom Properties was then chosen as part of a policy decision based on the city council.

“The selection of Engstrom was done at the city council level because it was a policy decision in BID on 11

AA R ON KEOKHA M / AG GIE F IL E

DIFFICULTIES WITH COUNSELING SERVICES

BY G ABRI EL M ULC A I R E features@theaggie.org

J EREMY DA N G / AG GIE

“It was the beginning of the quarter, it was just too difficult, too many hoops to jump through,” Patterson said. “After I submitted this complaint I got an appointment close to instantly. I didn’t understand why it couldn’t have been like that the first time around. Like I said, I understood how the system worked but it still didn’t feel right [...] making a same day appointment just isn’t very practical.”

It’s hard to determine the cause of problems with campus counseling services, or how they can be addressed. Patterson isn’t confident that the system has done everything it can to make mental health services more accessible and helpful.

“My twin sister goes to Duke University and I would call her complaining about it and she would tell me that she’s having the opposite experience at her school,” Patterson said. “I just kind of feel like the counseling center exists because it has to. But is there are money being put into it? Is the student’s health actually the priority?”

Immediate crisis assistance is always available from SHCS, but for people who don’t feel that they are in crisis, the available counseling can be difficult to schedule and is only available short-term. After a few sessions, those who want to continue counseling are usually referred to off-campus mental health services. Acacia Counseling and Wellness, located in downtown Davis, is one such service.

“Acacia Counseling and Wellness is primarily here for the Student Health and Counseling services to be able to refer students with the school insurance (UC SHIP) to us,” said Jonathan Truong, Acacia’s office manager.

Referrals to Acacia or other counseling practices don’t always guarantee access to counseling. Complications presented by insurance and a large population of people looking for counseling mean that finding counseling in or near Davis can be very difficult.

COUNSELING on 12

PLANNING FOR PICNIC DAY ON TRACK FOR 2018 Picnic Day organizers announce theme, grand marshals

BY SAB RINA HABCHI campus@theaggie.org

This year’s completely student-run Picnic Day will take place on April 21, 2018. The theme will be “Where the Sun Shines.” Aaron Garcia, a second-year biological science major and the publicity director for Picnic Day, commented on how the theme was chosen and the reasoning behind it.

“This year’s Picnic Day theme is a collective idea that the 16 directors of the Picnic Day board came up with,” Garcia said. “When we were brainstorming ideas, we tried to think of words that describe UC Davis and Picnic Day. Because Picnic Day is really a student-led event in terms of planning Picnic Day and the people that are participating in Picnic Day, we believe Picnic Day is a day where students can shine like the sun.”

Picnic Day is being advertised on a number of social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat. Instagram and Facebook have been used to share recent news about Picnic Day, and any one of these platforms may be used to contact those in charge of Picnic Day with questions.

Along with the theme, this year’s parade grand marshals have been announced as recently-retired Professor Thomas Famula and Director of Student Health Services Dr. Michelle Famula.

“We have chosen [Professor and Dr. Famula] as our parade marshals because of the long-lasting im-

Reduce.

Reuse.

Recycle the Aggie.

pact they have had on UC Davis and on our community,” Garcia said. “Professor Famula has taught the introductory animal science course in the past and many, many students have loved him. Dr. Famula has been trying to protect the health and safety of UC Davis students over her career at UC Davis. We also chose them because of their warm and welcoming personalities.”

Professor and Dr. Famula have been a part of UC Davis for over 30 years and have participated in countless past Picnic Days.

“We marched with the student health program and the peer health educators that would be represented in the parade dressed up as vegetables for healthy eating,” Dr. Famula said.

Professor Famula has helped with the animals used during the day and both he and Dr. Famula have participated and marched in the parade in the past.

“Whether it’s doing displays or participating in the parade, anything we’ve done in [the Department of Animal Science] has been because the students have asked us,” said Professor Famula.

The two said they are both very excited to be a part of this year’s Picnic Day. “When I first saw the email, I thought it was a hoax,” Professor Famula said. “We were stunned and so thankful to have this opportunity. It means so much, because it is really the students who do PICNIC DAY on 12

4 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

JER E MY DA N G / AG GIE

Union Pacific considering shutdown of popular I-80 shortcut Concern over transportation consequences

BY DYL A N SVOBO DA city@theaggie.org

Union Pacific, the U.S.’s largest freight-hauling railroad, is bidding to shut down or alter County Road 32A, which runs parallel to Interstate 80 across the Yolo Causeway.

Union Pacific points to a series of sharp turns on each side of the

railroad tracks at the Road 105 intersection, which make the road dangerous for motorists.

The road is used as a shortcut for commuters from Davis, Sacramento and the Bay Area. A shut down of the road would create one less avenue for drivers traveling across the causeway.

“I use [Road 32A] everyday to bypass the traffic,” said Patrick Maolini, a Sacramento resident who commutes by car across the causeway

TAYLOR LA POIN T / AGGIE

“To Boldly Go” campaign takes aim at UC Davis’ future 10-year strategic plan started by Chancellor May currently being drafted

BY G EORG E L I AO campus@theaggie.org

UC Davis Chancellor Gary May recently announced the creation of his “To Boldly Go” campaign, a 10-year strategic plan for the university.

The specific details included in the plan are currently being drafted and discussed.

“The strategic planning initiative started in October with the retreat of about 90 or so faculty, staff, students and alums,” May said. “It is now at the stage where we defined the steering committee to gather input of the community and to distill it into some actionable tasks for the plan, and will be drafted and ready for review sometime in April or so.”

The namesake for the strategic plan has its

roots in one of May’s most noted passions.

“We thought the title, ‘To Boldly Go,’ [would] be appropriate, because number one, I am a Star Trek aficionado,” May said. “Davis has historically been a place that has been very good in many areas, great at some areas but overall a pretty humble place.”

In regard to the drafting of the plan, May said “a lot of it still has to be determined.”

“The general objective is to raise the profile of the university,” May said. “Some of the early things that I am sure will be part of the plan [… include] stronger engagement [with] the city of Sacramento around innovation.”

A stronger partnership between UC Davis and Sacramento is at the forefront of the concept of Aggie Square.

to get to work in the Bay Area. “Causeway traffic in Davis and Sacramento is only going to become more congested if we shut down the road with any additional alternative transportation investments.”

Protests against Union Pacific’s bid have been filed by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, the city of Davis and the California Farm Bureau Federation. Each group is concerned about increased congestion on I-80 and a shift in vehicular traffic toward already densely traveled roads such as Mace Boulevard.

Road 32A is not only used for car commuters, but bike commuters as well.

“Although it gets a little unsafe at times, Road 32A is my only way to commute from Davis to Sacramento by bicycle conveniently,” said Leon Kelley, a bike commuter from Davis. “It’d be a shame if I had to find a different form of transportation because of one unsafe stretch of road.”

Recently, local biking advocacy group Bike Davis joined the debate over the potential closure of Road 32A. “In the spirit of compromise, Bike Davis has developed a proposal to close the westbound lane of County Road 32A to all but cyclists and farm equipment,” reads a legal motion signed by Bike Davis Executive Board President Dan Fuchs.

The possible closure of Road 32A was discussed at a Davis city council meeting on Dec. 5.

“The Road 32A crossing needs to be closed,” said Davis resident Alan Miller at the city council meeting. “It’s very dangerous. The thing is, to close that crossing and not have an alternative is unconscionable. The garbage trucks, ag vehicles and bicycles all trying to go through Mace Boulevard and use alternate routes? It’s insane.”

All five members of city council panel, Mayor Robb Davis, Mayor Pro Tempore Brett Lee, Will Arnold, Lucas Frerichs and Rochelle Swanson, expressed support for a new bicycle structure along the causeway.

Caltrans Deputy Director for Planning Marlon Flournoy stressed that a new bike route will be added before any changes are made to Road 32A. In November, Yolo County and Caltrans announced they were seeking federal funding for a pedestrian or bike structure for causeway commuters, along with additional carpool and bus lanes on I-80.

A decision on the fate of Road 32A is expected soon, according to Beth Gabor, a county spokeswoman.

“This idea of Aggie Square will certainly have some appearance in the plan in some form,” May said. “The idea there is for the university to partner with the City [of Sacramento] to engage with the business community and do a better job of taking the many wonderful ideas that come out of the laboratory and get it to the marketplace. One of the main motivations for doing [this] is economic development and job creation. I always thought that innovation [was] one of the most important and sustainable ways to create new industries, new jobs and new opportunities for not only our students but the region and the community.”

Professor Ken Burtis, a faculty advisor to the chancellor and provost and a co-chair of the campaign discussed the purpose and aims of the “To Boldly Go” campaign.

“What this process is about is, ‘Where does the university need to be in 10 years?’” Burtis asked. “We are seeking input to develop a plan. What goal do you have in mind for the university that is a 10-year goal?

Having named that goal, what strategies do you think the university should be engaging in in order to achieve that goal? At the level of the whole university, what should we be thinking about? What is out there? What is changing?”

Regarding the timeframe of the campaign, May said there are short-term plans in process at the moment.

“The short-term object is more or less to align all of the stakeholders in the UC Davis environment and get them rolling in the right direction,” May said. “We will probably come up with a small handful — five or six — broad objectives which all aspects of the campus can and should buy into and help them to steer in that direction.”

May also discussed the diversity of students and faculty members which comprise the steering committee.

“The steering committee has faculty and staff from across the university, and there are also [...] graduate and undergraduate student representatives as well,” May said. “We expect everyone [to have] an opportunity to be heard — [that] is the real goal. In addition to the committee, there is the website and the email

address where people can send in their ideas.”

Roy Taggueg, a Ph.D. candidate in sociology, the president of the Graduate Student Association and a member of the steering committee, offered a particular appreciation for the inclusiveness of the campaign.

“One thing that I particularly like as a student is that it is pretty comprehensive,” Taggueg said. “[Chancellor May] has somebody in every corner of UC Davis and beyond to basically do all the survey to get all of the information.”

Anthony Bulaclac, an MBA student in the Graduate School of Management and another member of the steering committee, expressed his excitement to be able to contribute to the campaign.

“It is great to be able to play my part in making sure that the leaders [who work] with the chancellor [...] make the right decision that will have a positive impact in allowing UC Davis to reach [its] potential for the next 10 years,” Bulaclac said.

Burtis discussed the activities of the steering committee in the upcoming months.

“We figure we are going to collect input over a couple of months, then the committees are going to work for a month to assimilate that input and see if we find some themes,” Burtis said. “And then we will produce a kind of a summary that summarizes what we have come up with [...] and [we will] be sending that around for feedback. By April or May, we begin to have [...] a finished document that the chancellor will have received.”

May also emphasized the impact strategic planning can have on a university.

“I [have] been involved in strategic planning at various levels for long time, and I always thought it was a good mechanism for not only setting a direction for whatever the organization is, in this case, the University of California, Davis, but also as a way for building the community,” May said. “Bringing people together and helping them drive the same direction. And in many cases, you find that the process of doing that is as valuable and sometimes more valuable than the final product.”

New contract allows UC Davis to continue cache slough study Solano County Water Agency taking over state contract to fund research

S O L A N O CO UNTY WATER AGENCY / COU RTESY

BY BEN JA M I N P O RT E R features@theaggie.org

In early December of 2017, it was announced that the Solano County Water Agency agreed to a $1.2 million three-year contract with UC Davis to study the Cache Slough Complex, a network of sloughs and creeks in the North San Joaquin River Delta.

This replaces the previous state contract with UC Davis that began in 2012.

“SCWA has been keeping millions of dollars in reserves for

many years,” said SCWA Board Chair and Mayor of Suisun City Pete Sanchez. “SCWA must invest some of those reserve monies in ventures like this UC Davis study. The bigger chunk must be devoted to levee management, flood control projects, habitat conservation and whatever other projects that will ultimately result in fulfilling SCWA’s declared goals.”

Since the Cache Slough Complex is crucial to the urban and agricultural water supply of Solano County, gaining a strong-

er understanding of the hydrodynamics and biodiversity of the Complex is an important goal.

However, it is difficult to draw more meaningful conclusions if the research cannot be continuously conducted over longer periods of time.

“It is important to continue funding this research so we can have a longer time series,” said Dr. John Durand, a researcher for UC Davis’s Center for Watershed Sciences and the principal investigator of the study. “We want to continue monitoring this area because of the high level of primary productivity from zooplankton and phytoplankton [and because] it was surprising to discover that there was such a high proportion of native fishes here.”

The Cache Slough Complex’s high productivity has helped it to be identified as an ideal location

for conserving and restoring habitats.

“There is great interest in this region because these waterways [in the North Delta] are remnants of historic slough networks that have largely been leveed and bypassed,” Durand said. “Compared to areas of the South Delta, the Cache Slough Complex is very productive [and] alien fishes have become naturalized and are able to coexist with native fishes.”

Roland Sanford, a general manager at the SCWA, also noted the historic significance of the Complex and explained other factors that make it unique to other areas of the Delta.

“The Cache Slough Complex is evidently one of the last large areas with significant ecological and physical remnants of the historic delta,” Sanford said. “Furthermore, much of the topography is

gently sloping, which better accommodates sea level rise vis-à-vis creation of tidal wetlands.”

This is in contrast with areas of the southern portion of the Delta that are complicated by more extreme land subsidence. Fish in the South Delta also face the challenge of getting pulled into the pumps that bring water from the Delta into the California Aqueduct. According to Durand, much of the South Delta is considered to be “lost,” but both he and Sanford are optimistic about the potential opportunities in the north.

“From our perspective, the fact that the results of the state sponsored study and others indicate that the Cache Slough Complex has significant ecological value and potential for restoration/enhancement is important, simply because so much of Solano County’s water is in some way connect-

ed to the Cache Slough Complex — either the water comes directly from the Cache Slough Complex or flows through it,” Sanford said.

“Through the continuing work of Dr. Durand and others, I am hopeful that we will identify actions that can be taken to preserve if not enhance the ecological value of the Cache Slough Complex while meeting critical water supply needs.”

The North Bay Aqueduct is responsible for transporting water from the Complex to urban and agricultural water users in Solano County. Unfortunately, this water is high in organics and has poor quality, and therefore must be treated more heavily than the cleaner water of the Sacramento River, but Sanford said that the study will do more water quality SOLANO WATER on 12

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018 | 5

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

BECCA RIDGE / AGGIE FILE

Incorporate art into your 2018 Ways every student can benefit from art

BY CEC I L I A M O RA L E S art@theaggie.org

Among family members, friends, peers and strangers alike, the onset of a new year sparks a rejuvenated spirit and a fresh hope in clean slates. Of course, the decision to make better or different personal life choices can be made at any point in the year with enough motivation. Nevertheless, one can successfully achieve a better version of themselves or simply a goal by the end of the year. This, at least, is something to appreciate — whether you support the concept of New Year’s resolutions or not.

And why not let art tag along on your new journey this year? Below are suggestions for how to tap into your artistic side (it’s in there somewhere) in 2018.

1. Visit local museums and art galleries Students can experience art through museums and galleries on campus, within Davis and in the Bay Area. To start off, there is the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, which is located right next to the UC Davis welcome center. On Jan. 16, there will be two new exhibitions to check out. There is also the C.N. Gorman Museum located in Hart Hall, the Design Museum in Cruess Hall and the Basement Gallery in the art building which features student work and is run by undergraduates.

Off campus and in the city of Davis, there’s the John Natsoulas Gallery (easily identifiable by the large cat sculpture in front of it) and the Pence Gallery downtown. In the office of the Davis Ceme-

ALLYSON KO / AGGIE FILE

8 ways to actually keep a New Year’s resolution Tips to stay on track with New Year’s goals

BY MA RLYS JE A N E features@theaggie.org

New Year’s resolutions are a time-old tradition we create for ourselves the second the clock strikes midnight on December 31. Many people ring in the new year with goals and desires in mind, but

research shows that about 80 percent of people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by the time February rolls around.

There are, however, a couple of tips and tricks to help those resolutions stick.

1. Get excited Oftentimes New Year’s resolutions are

ALEXA FONTANILLA / AGGIE

A closer look at the Silo’s new eateries UC Davis’ attempts to bring diversified food options to south campus

BY EM I LY N G UYE N features@theaggie.org

As students slowly acclimated themselves to the 2017-2018 school year during Fall Quarter, many discovered drastic changes since the last time they stepped foot on campus. Toward the end of last spring and into the beginning of summer, UC Davis launched multiple construction projects, one of which was the complete renovation of the Silo area and its accompanying restaurants. With the anticipation of these new restaurants resonating throughout the summer, eager students rejoiced when they finally got the chance to try out these new eateries as they opened their doors for fall

2017.

The newly renovated south campus dining joints include Spokes Grill, Crepe Bistro, The Gunrock and the Silo Market. UC Davis’ Student Housing and Dining Services carefully selected these restaurants in accordance with its ultimate goal of delivering a varied array of dining options to students.

“We launched a new program here at UC Davis and created all the concepts from scratch,” said Charles Irvin, the retail supervisor of Spokes Grill. “Spokes Grill was our quick-burger concept.

With Spokes Grill, we try to get people in and out as fast as possible with simple but still quality food.”

Spokes Grill tries to cater to students’

tery there is Gallery 1855, which features a different exhibition monthly.

In Sacramento, you can visit the Crocker Art Museum, the Sojourner Truth African American Museum and the Verge Center for the Arts. Two popular San Francisco destinations are the de Young museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Julie McGilvray, an academic advisor for the Arts Group Advising Center, explains how museums help display the world as it’s seen through different lenses.

“Visiting art museums, attending theatrical productions or music productions is a great way to learn how art intersects with everyday life from the artist’s perspective and to learn about the influences of cultures, politics, societies, ethnic groups, race and gender and social movements,” McGilvray said.

Adam Cochran, a first-year graduate student in the art studio program, appreciates the power of museums to connect people.

“Museums offer an inspiring, quiet place for reflection and to connect with other people from the past,” Cochran said. “Humans began making art thousands of years ago not just to decorate a wall, but because it also enriches and informs our lives. It is a means of expression and thus a record of culture and a visual way in which we can connect to it across time and distance.”

Keep in mind this is a short rundown of options, but there is much more to discover. All you need is a Google search to unveil a world of art. Frequently visiting sites like thedavisdirt.com or local venue websites (or even joining email lists) can help you keep up with nearby events and prevent you from missing out.

2. Take up painting, sculpting, photography, etc.

Starting an art practice might seem obvious or daunting as there are many options to experiment with, but you never know what artistic skill you may gain.

Cochran has some advice on where to begin.

“Each art form has its inherent qualities that others don’t, and this might help direct someone [...],” Cochran said. “My biggest recommendation would be to try a little of everything you can. What a person is interested in will become very obvious very quickly, even within just one or two projects.”

Patience is key for many things in life, including art. Keep that in mind if this endeavor proves more difficult than you had imagined “There is absolutely nothing wrong with trying something, not liking it and then trying something else,” Cochran said. “Remember there is a difference between trying something and stopping because it is unenjoyable and quitting because it’s frustrating at first.”

Another important note is to let loose and not worry so much about proper technique.

“A lot of students avoid art because they feel like they aren’t doing it ‘right’ as opposed to allowing themselves to relax and discover the joy that the medium can bring,” Cochran said.

Specifically for painting, Cochran suggests starting with a couple brushes, cheaper materials such as acrylic paints and less expensive canvases or a pad of canvas paper.

“Painting can be an expensive practice, so don’t buy the most expensive tools before you are ready,” Cochran said.

“By using the cheaper tools and gradually moving into the better ones, the student will appreciate why things are priced the way they are and will develop their skills without feeling as though they are wasting money. Wasting materials is an unavoidable part of the process of learning.”

events or fun things people want to happen that year. Some, though, are about resolving something about oneself, and those who stick to their personal resolutions establish the ‘why’ before the ‘how.’

The motivation to accomplish a resolution comes from true excitement and passion behind the goal-setting. When a resolution has more purpose, people are generally more motivated to complete it when there is a reason behind wanting to accomplish the goal.

take when creating resolutions, but focusing on simple changes rather than big life-alterations is a good approach in order to follow through with a goal.

achievable when coupled with a person’s contemporary lifestyle. If it’s a small daily goal, completing that goal with a regular activity that already exists is a surefire way to fit that resolution into a daily routine. When there is an existing foundation, it’s easier for people to grow and build upon that in order to accomplish their goals.

2. Write it down It sounds old school, but writing down a New Year’s resolution is a powerful strategy to accomplish it. Writing out a plan makes the end result less intimidating, and checking off what has already happened feels satisfying and motivating.

Those who can make lists, plan a strategy and review it everyday develop a sense of focus on the goals set before them and simultaneously bring order to the ideas in their head.

3. Keep it simple Although it’s understandable that the new year is a fitting opportunity to completely flip one’s life around, goals that are too grand are the ones hardest to achieve.

Self-improvement is a typical route to increasingly hectic schedules by offering a wide range of quick, hassle-free food options that can be eaten on-the-go.

Starting this quarter, the restaurant will launch a breakfast extension to its menu to try to encourage students to fuel up their minds and bodies bright and early with the most important meal of the day.

“Throughout the returning week into Winter Quarter, we’re going to be handing out coupons for $1 off our breakfast items,” Irvin said. “We have a fun breakfast menu that includes chicken and waffle sandwiches and other delicious ideas.”

All these efforts are made to ensure that students have stress-free dining experiences, especially taking into account the already mountainous pile of stress students handle on a daily basis.

“We understand that students have busy school schedules,” Irvin said. “We’re just trying to create a welcoming environment where students can come in, relax and enjoy their study time. Our primary goal is to make the Silo area feel more student-friendly and student-personalized.”

In addition to the opening of the brand new Spokes Grill, UC Davis also revamped one of its most well-loved restaurants, The Gunrock. Formerly known as The Gunrock Pub, The Gunrock has undergone several major changes, including its interior design and overall ambience, menu variety and hours of operation.

“We had our wood floors refurbished, we got new carpeting, new tables, new

4. Set realistic goals It’s important to consider one’s previous experiences with resolutions. If resolutions have failed in the past, the possible reasons behind that failure can help direct the person to create a more realistic goal. Setting goals that are aimed too high opens the door for giving up, which can lead to disappointment and guilt, yet these are the kinds of feelings New Year’s resolutions are designed to avoid.

5. Team up Some of those resolutions that involve activities like exercising more or eating a healthy diet can be intimidating to do alone. Not only can a friend give advice and tips, but it’s more fun to do the activities with another person as well as compare progress. A friend can be a motivating force behind achieving the goal, because you are going to try to avoid disappointing them and they can support you when times get tough.

3. Classes Classes at the Craft Center are an on-campus opportunity to get hands-on experience and special attention, with many to choose from every quarter. As described online, these classes provide “a comfortable, encouraging atmosphere in which you can explore and develop creative skills.” Pamela Pretell, an undergraduate advisor for the Arts Group Advising Center, suggests other classes as well.

“Students may also consider taking a course like ART 10, Fine Art Appreciation, which exposes students to a wide range of artists, or they could take a beginning studio in Art Studio,” Pretell said. “Art Studio provides multiple lower-division studios every year in drawing, ceramic sculpture, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture and video.”

4. Keep a sketchbook A notebook of paper provides a blank canvas to fill with anything that comes to mind. Carrying it with you wherever you go may motivate you to eliminate its empty pages. Plus, it keeps all spontaneous thoughts, ideas, poems, drawings, etc. in one place for inspiration. Often the best writing stems from streams of consciousness. As Cochran explains it, drawing can also serve as a stepping stone in the process of trying out other art platforms.

ART on 12

7. Stay true to yourself The quickest way to drop a resolution is if it doesn’t align with one’s values.

Therefore, it’s important to pick a goal that fits existing values in order to sustain a resolution over a long period of time.

Once this happens, it takes less effort and energy to think about the resolution, and it becomes less of a challenge and more of an enjoyable part of life.

6. Couple it with existing habits Some resolutions can be made more

8. Don’t give up Slip-ups happen, but that shouldn’t be an excuse to give up. It’s important to remember achievements and avoid becoming critical of oneself. Allowances for slip-ups are a helpful way to achieve the end result because perfect goals are too tough for even the most disciplined people to reach. Ultimately, confidence and high self-esteem are the keys to sticking with a New Year’s resolution.

lighting,” said Keith Luke, the manager of UC Davis Retail Dining. “We are working on new artwork — our design team is working on new interior design concepts to make [the restaurant] a little bit more new-aged and modern.”

Alongside changes to its interior design and decor, The Gunrock has altered its menu to focus on more local and seasonal flavors.

“Our menu has definitely changed,” Luke said. “We’re very focused on using our student farms here on campus and utilizing as much fresh produce from those student farms as possible. We’ve definitely focused in on the sustainability aspect as a whole, kind of moving in the direction that the entire campus is moving in. Rather than having the fast food chains that aren’t necessarily offering the healthiest food options, we wanted to focus on health-oriented, better-quality food.”

Having The Gunrock be a student-staffed, student-friendly eatery is imperative to Luke and his team, which is why they made it a priority to create a no-stress environment when they renovated The Gunrock.

“In the past, there has been a lot of staff and faculty, which is fine because we love our faculty members,” Luke said.

“But a lot of students didn’t know we were here, and if they did know that we were here, they didn’t really feel welcome.

We changed our service style to be a lot more casual. We want to get more students coming in.”

In past years, Gunrock Pub has re-

ceived critique, from both staff and students, for its brief hours of operation, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and then 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday.

Taking this concern into consideration, The Gunrock management team extended the restaurant’s hours to accommodate to its customers’ requests.

“From 11 to 2 we are going to be [providing] full service, where servers will come to your table, take your order, and provide the full dining experience,” Luke said. “From 2 to 5, we’re going to be changing our dynamics [to create] more of a casual feel. We want [The Gunrock] to be a place where people can hang out and enjoy the afternoon, kind of creating a happy-hour feel.”

The Silo’s close proximity to Bainer and Kemper halls makes it a prime dining location for students who have class in either halls, especially engineering students. Max Herrenbruck, fifth-year mechanical engineering major, spends much of his time on campus in or around Bainer Hall and appreciates the convenience of the Silo restaurants.

“I probably go to the Silo around two to three times a week for food,” Herrenbruck said. “I go [to the Silo] so often because of the convenience, and also because it’s got variety. If I want to grab something [to eat] around lunchtime, I have something.”

Herrenbruck especially finds himself gravitating toward Spokes Grill “Especially for Spokes Grill, I would say that the cost-for-quality ratio is great,” Herrenbruck said.

6 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

Opinion the California Aggie EDITORIAL BOARD BRYAN SYKES Editor-in-Chief EMILY STACK Managing Editor

editorial board

Fight to preserve children’s health care CHIP at risk of losing funding

HANNAH HOLZER Campus News Editor KAELYN TUERMER-LEE City News Editor TARYN DEOILERS Opinion Editor GILLIAN ALLEN Features Editor ALLY OVERBAY Arts & Culture Editor VERONICA VARGO Sports Editor HARNOOR GILL Science & Tech Editor

CHIARA ALVES New Media Manager BRIAN LANDRY Photo Director CHRISTIE NEO Design Director AMY YE Layout Director MAXINE MULVEY Copy Chief OLIVIA ROCKEMAN Copy Chief JAYASHRI PADMANABHAN Website Manager ALEX GUZMÁN Social Media Mangager CARAJOY KLEINROCK Newsletter Manager

The Children’s Health Insurance Program provides health care coverage for children from low-income families, specifically the subset of families whose incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid but not high enough to afford private insurance. Since its creation in 1997, the program has provided health care for 8.9 million children across the United States. Among the states, California has reaped the greatest benefit from the program, with over 2 million children enrolled in CHIP. But the continuance of the assistance program is currently in jeopardy. The temporary funding that the program has received since its expiration in the fall of 2017 is limited, and most states are expected to run out of money by the end of March. Meanwhile, Congress is in a state of disarray when it comes to renewing funding for the plan.

The Congressional Budget Office projects that it would cost $800 million to renew CHIP for another five years, which is drastically lower than the CBO’s previous cost estimate of $8.2 billion. This decreased financing of CHIP can be attributed to the repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate — which imposes tax penalties on those who don’t purchase health insurance — in the new tax law. Without the individual mandate in place, fewer people buy government-subsidized exchange health insurance plans. As a result, health insurance companies raise their premiums, which increases government spending.

Renewal of CHIP would lower federal costs because more people would be using the program instead of buying exchange insurances.

With tax plans, White House drama and the Russia probe making huge headlines, the attention of the general public might be diverted from the millions of children across the country who risk losing their health care coverage. The Editorial Board expects more from the federal government. The parents of these children depend on this form of low-cost insurance for everything from routine check-ups and immunizations to emergency visits. Few things are more important than making sure that a child with Type 1 diabetes receives their insulin shot or that a sick child gets the surgery that they desperately need.

The health and lives of children should not be partisan issues.

The dramatically lowered cost estimate for CHIP should pave a smooth path for bipartisanship in renewing funding. Prior to the release of the updated CBO cost estimate, some members of the Republican party asserted that government spending had already reached a maximum threshold and that there was difficulty in deciding how to pay for the program. Some wanted to strike a deal by reauthorizing CHIP in exchange to further cutting parts of the ACA. With or without the CBO’s modified cost estimate, the use of CHIP as a bargaining tool and the reluctance to make this program a priority on the legislative agenda reflects poorly on Congress.

The Editorial Board urges families — whether they are directly affected by this program or not — to push federal lawmakers to do the right thing and fund CHIP.

LAURIE PEDERSON Business Development Manager

The case against travel visas — and why they impede cultural exchange STRINGENT VISA POLICIES HARM THE AVERAGE CITIZEN MORE THAN WE REALIZE

SHEREEN LEE / AGGIE

BY NICK IRVIN ntirvin@ucdavis.edu Let it be known that travel visas are a nuisance. Sure, they mark passports in exotic hues of purple, green and red like trophies in your own personal case. To some, indeed, a chalked-up passport is the ultimate beacon of globetrotting success. Yet visas remind travelers how even the momentary thrill of traversing international boundaries can be marred by bureaucracy. They can also be agonizingly painful to get.

Documents allowing safe passage through foreign lands are nothing new. The book of Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible tells of an official who requests “letters” for his journey to Jerusalem, most likely in the 5th century B.C. Henry V of England issued a document of “safe conduct” in 1414. Following the First World War, what we call passports today became much more ubiquitous and standardized, deemed necessary by Western governments for managing the flow of

immigrants and refugees fleeing destruction in Europe. It’s this little booklet that determines who can go where in the global theater.

Buried within passports are the visa pages, where a sticker or stamp allows the traveler to cross national boundaries according to local rules (sometimes an electronic visa accomplishes this instead). There are short-term visas for things like tourism, business trips and medical visits as well as long-term visas that are issued for studying and working.

Visas, in their current form, allow immigration officials to siphon through and keep track of foreign visitors. There can be good reasons for doing this. Visas are often imposed on citizens from countries mired in unrest, violence and terrorism — an added layer of security that may prevent such hostile elements from spilling over.

On the other hand, diplomatic quid pro quo gives governments leverage over the actions of travelers when global politics takes center stage. If country X imposes strict entry requirements on citizens of country Y for its territorial aggression, for example, country Y can reciprocate by issuing more stringent visa policies in retaliation. Government egos may leave unscathed, but cooperation — and all its benefits — takes a hit.

Tourism also suffers. Bearers of an Israeli passport are barred from entering a host of Middle Eastern countries, and even presenting an Israeli entry stamp in a non-Israeli passport will prevent access to Iran, Kuwait and Lebanon, among others. Exploration and friendly overtures between cultures is more difficult with harsher visa and passport laws.

Many visa requirements are quite stringent, which can discourage potential visitors. To acquire a visa for Russia — which I’m in the middle of doing for my semester studying abroad — applicants must navigate a complex system of questions and bureaucratic backlogs.

Visa applicants must obtain an invitation letter from a Russian organization or host resident. (Mine took eight weeks to arrive, and I was helped by a third party.) The online questionnaire can take hours and includes personal questions about prior military service, work experience and whether the applicant has ever been involved in charitable or “civil” organizations. Those staying longer than 90 days are required to supply a blood test proving they don’t have HIV. To many travelers, this can seem daunting.

Though visas are required for many wanderlust-worthy journeys, there are some exceptions where diplomatic alliance-making has eased international travel. The Schengen Agreement — stemming from the resurgent friendliness of France and Germany in the decades following the Second World War — allows holders of the singular Schengen Visa to travel throughout its 26 European member states essentially visafree. The United States has a visa waiver program that allows nationals of 38 countries to visit with only an Electronic System for Travel Authorization form instead, which bypasses the entrenched slowdowns of the visa application.

Other such agreements exist, and they usually benefit everyone involved. Governments find an easy way to publicize their cooperation with one another. Citizens can forego the red tape and reap the rewards of simple travel. Businesses are allowed to expand into zones that once inhibited their growth potential (which is why the coming Brexit negotiations on trade are so consequential).

In the age of explosive border-wall talk and rocket men, the doors are closing on an era of openness and globalism. Visas are a case in point. They enhance the barriers between nations and do nothing to help the little guys — ordinary people looking for pleasure, knowledge or survival on the other side.

The scariest provision in the tax bill: Oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge A 40-YEAR DEBATE COMES TO A CLOSE, BUT THERE’S STILL HOPE DRILLING WILL BE STOPPED

BY JESSICA DRIVER jmdriver@ucdavis.edu

I wish I had a funny anecdote to make talking about oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge less depressing. I don’t.

The tax bill has been approved, along with one of the saddest provisions to affect the environment in recent years: authorization to lease sales of oil and and gas in the ANWR. The ANWR is part of 19 million acres of federally protected wilderness — which happens to contain an estimated 11.8 billion barrels of oil.

It’s known as “America's Serengeti” for its diversity of wildlife. It’s called the “Sacred Place Where Life Begins” by the native Gwich’in people.

It contains the largest designated wilderness within the National Wildlife Refuge System that remains “untrammeled by man.”

It’s one of two national refuges where polar bears, grizzly bears and black bears coexist.

It’s “the only national conservation area where polar bears regularly

den and the most consistently used polar bear land denning area in Alaska,” according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

It’s also home to nearly 200,000 Porcupine caribou, over 200 species of migratory birds, 42 fish species and 37 land mammal species.

Oil drilling would invade the home of native animals and people and wreck the refuge’s pristine wilderness.

But those in favor of the provision are excited about the so-called benefits of oil drilling — $1 billion over the next 10 years — and claim that the drilling will be done responsibly.

“If we are allowed to move forward with development, we will do it right,” said Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski. “We will take care of our lands. We will take care of our wildlife. We will take care of our people.”

I appreciate Murkowski’s statement — and I wish she could deliver on that promise. But there’s no way to “do it right.” The right thing to do is to stop development before it’s too late.

“Oil related activities such as seismic testing, aircraft and vehicle noise, or even the mere presence of humans nearby can drive mother polar bears away from their den and cubs,” Defenders of Wildlife said.

“Drilling the Arctic Refuge could alter the annual path of the Porcupine caribou herd, one of the longest land mammal migrations in the world. The critical breeding grounds for migratory birds would be severely impacted, and could cause population-scale impacts for many species.”

The provision tacked to the tax bill ended a 40-year debate between politicians, oil companies, environmentalists and Alaska residents.

Environmentalists reasoned with the American people before. Republicans and Democrats came together to protect and conserve one of the last truly wild places in our country.

“The crush of news out of the Trump White House and the focus on other elements of the tax bill has deflected attention from the fact that the measure would open up the refuge,” said Carl Hulse, The New York Times’ Washington correspondent.

Hulse’s statement reflects a recurring issue in American politics: Environmental issues aren’t given enough attention.

It’s important to know the risks that oil drilling poses to the ANWR. DRIVER on 11

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018 | 7

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

HUMOR

Bitcoin price inflation directly correlated with lack of parking spaces at UC Davis

BY L ARA LOPTMAN lrloptman@ucdavis.edu Ever wonder what makes bitcoin tick? Well, you’re in luck, because The Aggie has made a groundbreaking discovery about what has caused its recent price fluctuations.

You might be asking yourself right now, “What is a bitcoin?” This is a very good question that we figure we should define for our less sophisticated readers.

To put it simply, bitcoin is a very small coin. Some might even call it a baby coin. This baby coin is comprised of blockchain technology, which is a very long chain of blocks. Logically, your next question is probably, “Why would anyone want a baby coin made of blocks?” The answer is because babycoin has recently spiked in value after many years of existing as a niche, questionable form of currency similar to Monopoly dollars, but still somehow less valuable.

Many people question what exactly has caused its price surge, but after completing some deeply significant research, The Aggie has concluded that the rise and fall of bitcoin’s price is inversely corre-

lated with how many parking spaces are available at UC Davis.

As you can imagine, because the number of parking spaces has been getting smaller and smaller, the price of bitcoin has gone through the roof. With evidence like this, we only expect the price to get higher and higher in the future, so you should probably invest all of your money right now, quickly, before it’s too late.

At this point, it’s natural that you may have your doubts. After all, as young scholars we have all been informed that correlation does not imply causation. However, we do know that the university name “UC Davis” does imply a lack of parking spaces. We also know that the name “bitcoin” implies a very small amount of coin. You could even say a lack of coin. Therefore, the evidence is truly undeniable: UC Davis’ lack of parking spaces causes bitcoin’s price to increase, and the reverse is also true in that bitcoin’s price increase has caused a lack of parking available at UC Davis. Any other conclusion just doesn’t make sense.

Still, if you are questioning what a teeny coin and UC Davis’ parking spaces have in common, look no further than their stackable features. Teenycoin is made of blocks, which are most likely

CAITLYN SAMPLEY / AGGIE

GET READY TO BE SO RICH THAT YOU CAN BUY A CAR AND THEN HAVE NOWHERE TO PARK IT

stackable. As for the parking spaces, UC Davis believes that it is possible to stack many cars on top of one another in a single space, so theoretically they are stackable, too. Also, both smallcoin and UC Davis parking spaces don’t exist in nature.

So, citizens of Davis, if you’re even considering investing in babycoin, now is the perfect opportunity to blow all of your real-people dollars.

New Year’s resolution: Don’t listen to the globalist agenda of making the U.S. men’s soccer team better THIS IDEA FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT IS SO CUTE — AND SO EASY

BY AARON LEVINS adlevins@ucdavis.edu Perhaps you find yourself in the new year hazily gripping to reality through the fog of a hangover. Perhaps instead you’re simply buried in regret because Kyle called you up and you went to see him and it just made you feel bad because he just wanted someone to kiss at midnight, and like it’s not a big deal but you just kind of feel used…go to hell Kyle, I can’t and won’t be used by you anymore.

Anyways, wherever you find yourself this New Years, whether it be in a state of happiness and optimism or weary reluctance, I have

one very quick, easy and essential tip to help you make the most of this spanking-brand-new year.

Under no circumstances whatsoever — no matter what they say or try to use on you — believe the Globalist agenda that we must make the U.S. Men’s soccer team better. There are so many reasons why this is a problem, and I can list them if you aren’t willing to just take my word for it. Oh, okay fine I’ll say them, if you insist. Well, I will say at least one.

Soccer is a globalist sport because the ball is a sphere. Well, what does a spherical play thing have to do with geopolitical policy? If you are saying that to yourself right now, then you are probably not the most smart person. That’s okay, I’m going to tell you what it is

anyways.

Globalist: from that we get the word global. From global, globe.

From globe, we can think of the earth. From the earth, we may instead want to switch to something more spherical, since the earth is flat and really isn’t a great example of what I’m getting at. How about SPHERE. And what was it I said earlier about goddamn spheres?

A soccer ball is a SPHERE. So let's connect the dots if you are not following. Globes are spherical, soccer balls are spherical. Therefore, because of the mathematical rule of commutation, Globalists and soccer balls are directly related.

Use this cute fact to change the way you go about your new year.

I’m sure it will make your year much better!

How winter break drives you to insanity in 48 hours: a memoir RELAXATION AND REST COME AT THE COST OF INSANITY AND OVEREATING

BY OLIVIA LUCHINI ocluchini@ucdavis.edu Winter break, at a surface level, appears to be the height of luxury for the college experience. It’s long enough to recuperate after finals season roundhouse kicks you right in the gallbladder but not long enough to where you’re expected to get an internship, job or 401k.

Spending the holidays at home seems lovely… but at what cost?

I left Davis on Wednesday of finals week, as all of my finals were giant essays about books I would forget the plots of by Saturday. One parent came to pick me up, and thus the shame party began. You can’t let your parents see your room during finals week. That’s like letting someone see your 7th grade yearbook picture on the first date.

It’s too much and it’s gross.

My mom walked in to see what can only be described as “tornado chic.” My pillow was on fire and a goat was eating my backpack. I had begun to scratch tallies into the wall to count down the hours

until the week was over. I was wearing a potato sack and a head full of dry shampoo mixed with some stress sweat. It was the sexiest I’d ever looked. My mom couldn’t look me in the eyes. Sure, it was because they were closed because I fell asleep mid-introduction, but she was ashamed. I could smell it… or was that still me?

Once I got home, I assumed the madness would cease. Au contraire… au contraire.

You know how you eat the diet of a mouse watching its carb intake when you’re at school because you don’t have that one ingredient called “money?” Well, adults have that ingredient and a Costco membership. Immediately, I averaged like two to 10 bags of popcorn a day and throwing back packs of fruit snacks like they’re candy. (Author’s note: Fully aware that they are, in fact, candy.) I can’t be tamed or satisfied. It’s like a renaissance king just looking to have six wives and no male successors. That was a Henry VIII roast. He was plump.

I am now plump. It’s due to the popcorn. I digress.

Additionally, you realize that none of your friends from your life

before the War for Adulthood began, AKA high school, are home yet because they’re all on the semester system. You’ve got about one week to just sit on the couch at home, refresh Canvas and look out a window dramatically while shedding a single tear as “The Sound of Silence” plays in the background. Days go by and you see nothing, only to find out that your professors are some of those jokers who go right to Oasis with the final grade submission. Bastards. I wasted days refreshing when my fate had already been decided. I’m a mere fool.

Did I mention that it’s Christmas time? I have a family of four and a budget of $4. Everyone got a bottle of Dasani water. I got glares.

Most likely, the first two days of break are you at home and alone sitting in front of an episode of “Judge Judy” while praying to Gary May for a decent GPA. Solitary confinement? Indeed. A straitjacket?

On its way from Amazon Prime.

And, yes, you can buy straitjackets on Amazon.

D IS C L AI M E R : Th e v iews a n d op inions exp re ssed by individua l colum nists belong to t he co l umni st s a l o ne a nd d o no t necess a ri l y i nd ic ate t h e v iews an d op inions he ld by The Ca lifornia Aggie. Letters to t he ed i to r c a n b e a d d ress ed to o p i ni o n@ t hea g g i e.

ISSUE DESIGNED BY AMY YE | CHRISTIE NEO | CINDY CHEUNG | JONATHAN CHEN | PATTIE CHEN | SHEREEN NIKZAD | LILY LEAVESSEUR | GENESIA TING | NICKI PADAR

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

8 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018

SCIENCE+TECH ALLYSON KO / AGGIE

UC Davis microbiologists analyze microbes on International Space Station Microbiologists analyzed swabs taken by astronauts and found similar microbes to houses on Earth

BY KR I T I VA RG HES E science@theaggie.org

Microbiologists from Project MERCCURI, a collaboration between SciStarter, Science Cheerleader and UC Davis among other groups, sent swabs up to the International Space Station for astronauts to collect samples. The goal to increase public awareness of microbiology and research on the ISS was shared by the NASA scientists that Project MERCCURI teamed up with.

“In general, Project MERCCURI consisted of several parts,” said Dr. Wendy Brown, one of the scientists who conceptualized and designed the study. “We solicited the help of Citizen Scientists to help collect microbe samples from all over the United States. 48 of those microbes were selected, flown to the ISS, and grown in microgravity. Those same 48 microbes were also grown on Earth in Dr. Eisen’s lab.”

The DNA from the samples gave the scientists an idea of the bacterial community present on the ISS. While the scientists found that the ISS has a similar community of microbes to homes and people, there were some species that varied between the habitats.

“We were perhaps a bit surprised that there were so many species on the ISS... we expected to maybe see fewer types of bacteria since the environment is so enclosed,” said David Coil, a project scientist.

“We were not surprised that it looks like homes because in both cases, people are probably the primary source of bacteria in the space.”

Coordinating with the ISS proved to be a challenge, especially considering that the scientists weren’t able to meet the scientists they collaborated with at NASA. “Crew time is very precious, “ said Dr. Russell Neches of Jonathan Eisen’s laboratory. “Seemingly

simple operations, like opening and closing a ziplock bag, must be carefully scheduled. If you watch videos of people on ISS doing things like making lunch, you'll see that it's a very slow, tricky process.

If you move too quickly, or bump into something, or set something down for a moment, you can send everything zooming and bouncing around the room. It's very inconvenient! We take it for granted that things stay where we leave them. Many everyday activities, like making lunch, or writing a note on a label, or opening a ziplock bag actually involve myriad steps that all depend on small objects staying pinned to a work surface by gravity.”

Despite the difficulties, the beneficial results from Project MERCURRI reinforced NASA’s understanding of the sources of microorganisms aboard the ISS and the data is currently being evaluated.

“The data from the Project MERCCURI experiment in combination with other NASA research and operational data are being evaluated to determine what other experimental questions should be answered on ISS to help prepare for future spaceflight missions to the moon and Mars,” said Dr. Mark Ott, the lead microbiologist at the Human Health and Performance Directorate at NASA Johnson Space Center. “This knowledge will be used to develop better spacecraft designs and understand the proper microbial control precautions to take for these future missions.”

The data collected from Project MERCCURI creates an understanding of how our environment on Earth correlates with that of space.

“The results from Project MERCCURI experiment represent the type of excellent scientific experimentation and reporting that advance our understanding of spacecraft in a way that benefits both spaceflight programs and our understanding of our environment on Earth,” Ott said.

DAVID MADEY / COURTESY

MPALA RESEARCH CENTRE / COURTESY

Tracking Predator and Prey UC Davis primatologists study primates and predator interactions in a new way

BY RACHEL PAUL science@theaggie.org

It is often very difficult for researchers to study animals without influencing their behavior. Lynne Isbell and Laura Bidner, both professors in the UC Davis anthropology department, came up with a simple solution to study predator and prey interaction: remove themselves from the field. That was the idea behind their paper published in Behavior in 2016 on the latest research on primates in Laikipia, Kenya.

At the 130 square kilometer Mpala Research Centre, two species of primates were studied: olive baboons and vervet monkeys. The study also examined the activity of a common predator of both species: leopards.

“We know leopards avoid people and they’re shy,” Isbell said. “We follow primates around to study them and don’t see any leopard predation.”

Bidner and Isbell initially came up with the research idea in 2009, and in 2012 they received preliminary funding from the National Science Foundation. Bidner then spent five months in the study area to find out how many groups of primates lived, where they slept, and to estimate how many leopards hunted there.

“This data turned out to be critical for the bigger grant,” Bidner said.

To study how predator and prey interacted with each other, the team of researchers fit baboons, vervets and leopards with GPS radio collars. Two audio recorders were also placed near their sleeping sites for a year. Additionally, three camera traps were set up to monitor human activity near the animals’ sleeping sites.

“Studying the predator and primate interactions in this way will provide important insights into how and if primates alter their behavior when a

predator is around,” said Dena Clink, a recent UC Davis Ph.D. graduate researching primate ecology and primate conservation.

While leopards tend to be solitary, female primates rarely separate from their groups. Therefore, only 12 radio collars were needed to follow the five different groups of vervets, as adult females were captured in box traps, collared, and then let go.

Aside from using bigger cage traps, the same process occurred for the baboons. However, the team could only get six out of the eight planned collars on the female baboons.

“Olive baboon males and juveniles were crazy over the maize in the cages ,” Isbell said. “The females were a lot more hesitant.”

The collars still went to good use. The team was able to convert the leftover baboon collars to fit leopards, and replaced two of the collars that had died early on. However, looking through images in the camera traps, more uncollared leopards were found to frequent the study area.

“There were at least seven leopards in the area,” Isbell said, “They’re supposed to be territorial!”

While seven uncollared leopards were found on the camera traps, it is believed that even more resided in the area.

In two instances, collared leopards killed collared primates. One of those times, Bidner heard a vervet alarm call near the research center, and later realized what it meant.

“A few days later we figured out what happened after we uploaded the [GPS] data,” Bidner said.

Recordings at the vervets’ sleeping site revealed that they gave ‘leopard’ alarm calls most frequently near dusk and dawn. When those calls were made, the leopard’s GPS collars showed them leaving the area. The data shows leopards hunt vervets during PREY on 12

New Food Group For Chickens: Larvae?

UC Davis Poultry Farm supplements chickens’ diets with black soldier fly larvae to boost nutrition, make farm more sustainable

BY DAVID MADEY science@theaggie.org

Since the world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, food production will be a major challenge in the upcoming decades. Ongoing research at UC Davis is examining whether larvae can replace corn and soy in chicken feed, shifting those resources away from livestock and into human food production.

In 2015, the USDA allowed farmers to use synthetic protein in chicken feed to ensure that hens are obtaining the essential amino acids for their diets. Dr. Maurice Pitesky and his team of researchers are testing whether black soldier fly larvae can be used as an equivalent protein supplement.

Organic poultry diets tend to lack methionine, an essential amino acid required for egg production.

“So what we’re trying to do is find an organic supplement,” Pitesky said.

And that’s where the black soldier fly larvae came into play. The question is one of taste — whether fly larvae will affect the taste of eggs.

“We want to see if feeding the chickens black soldier fly larvae impact the productivity and welfare of the chickens and the taste and quality of the eggs,” said Pitesky, whose focus is on poultry health and food safety epidemiology. “A lot of that we can do in the lab, but the taste test we have to do in the field. The best way to measure any changes in the taste is via taste tests.”

The taste tests were performed at the Memorial Union about a month ago, hoping to unravel the mystery of this question. It was a double-blind test, which meant that the distributors and participants were unaware which eggs came from hens with and without the larvae supplement.

Each participant was given three pairs of sliced hard-boiled eggs on a paper plate, and asked if there was a difference in taste between each egg. Anny Huang, a recent UC Davis animal science graduate, and Nicole Fernandez, a fourth-year animal science undergraduate, tabled at the Memorial Union and shared their research scope with fellow Aggies.

“We’re trying to ensure there are no weird flavors in the eggs,” Fernandez said.

This sentiment is not surprising, as there have been effects on taste in the past.

The organic industry have used other forms of synthetic protein, like fish-meal, “and that’s actually affected the taste of the egg,” Huang said. “So we just want to make sure that isn’t happening with black soldier fly larvae.”

The next focus of the research will be on the taste of the chicken meat. The egg data is ready for analysis and the meat taste tests will soon follow.

Cost is a another relevant question. Naturally, egg producers want to know if using black soldier fly larvae as a supplement would increase or decrease costs.

“We are in the ‘proof of concept phase,’” Pitesky said.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018 | 9

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

12/7/2017 ANSWERS

Sudoku

Chess

Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row, column and 3x3 square must contain one of each digit.

Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing.

Tactics: In this puzzle we are trying to get an advantage of the position.

Black to move and create material advantage.

Hint: think that your opponent will take.

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

10 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018

ARTS & Culture H A N N A H L E E / AG G I E FI LE

2018 Grammy Awards Predictions

From Childish Gambino to Lorde, the greatest artists of the year are up for nomination

BY SY D N EY OD M A N arts@theaggie.org

With the beginning of a new year comes the review of all that has transpired in 2017.

And for those involved in the entertainment industry, that means awarding the industry’s stars for their greatest works and achievements. From the Academy Awards to the Golden Globes, awards season is a crucial time for the careers of many, in which they have the chance to be recognized on a global stage. In the world of music, the Grammy Awards honor the most accomplished musical artists and performers of the time. Set to be hosted by James Corden on Jan. 28, here are my predictions for how the night at Madison Square Garden will play out.

Album of the Year: “DAMN.” by Kendrick Lamar 2017 was a extraordinary year for music, with many artists often transcending the

mainstream sounds. New stars and veteran performers alike stunned audiences with fresh material that rose through the charts. Personally, I believe that Album of the Year should be awarded to Lorde for her second album, “Melodrama.” However, despite my admiration for the 21-year-old singer-songwriter, I also believe that Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN.” stands as a strong contender to take home the prize. The reality of the matter is that the nominations pool this year is extremely competitive with Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic,” JAY-Z’s “4:44” and Donald Glover’s unique “Awaken, My Love!” also being recognized.

But at the end of the day, “DAMN.” is some of Lamar’s best work, with many of the album’s tracks holding a deeper meaning not only in his personal life but also in the lives of his listeners.

Song of the Year: “1-800-273-8255” by Logic, Khalid, Alessia Cara It’s always hard to wrap my head around

the idea of there being one single greatest song throughout an entire year — there’s always so many great choices. In this year’s pool of contenders, the nominees include “1-800273-8255” by Logic, Khalid and Alessia Cara; “Issues” by Julia Michaels; “That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars; “Despacito (Remix)”

by Justin Bieber, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee and “4:44” by JAY-Z. While Logic’s suicide prevention awareness track strikes a deep chord lyrically and emotionally — thus seeming like the obvious choice — it’s hard to say who will win. Although a rap song has never won Song of the Year, we can’t count out JayZ just yet, as the rapper has earned a total of 21 Grammy Awards throughout his career.

Additionally, “Despacito (Remix)” topped the charts in the U.S. for several weeks, in addition to breaking multiple records in music video views and more. With all these factors in mind, my pick would still have to be “1800-273-8255,” despite “Despacito” and its far-reaching popularity.

Best New Artist: Khalid Throughout the past year, so many new artists emerged. From pop singers Alessia Cara and Julia Michaels to rapper Lil Uzi Vert, the category for Best New Artist holds a variety of different musicians. I believe that the front-runners this year are sure to be Khalid and Alessia Cara. Despite the fact that SZA may be a fan favorite for the win, I don’t believe her presence on the music scene was as well established as it could have been over the course of the year. As for my pick, I think Khalid deserves the award. With a completely unique sound that flows seamlessly from pop to soul to R&B, Khalid’s debut album “American Teen” held some of the greatest tracks of the year, especially coming from such a young artist. Khalid will be performing at UC Davis in early May. Record of the Year: “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars This category contains some of the year’s top tracks, many of which have maintained their presence on Billboard’s Top 100 for weeks on end. The nominees include “Humble” by Kendrick Lamar; “Redbone” by Childish Gambino; “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars; “The Story of O.J.” by JAY-Z and “Despacito (Remix)” by Justin Bieber, Luis

NIC HO L AS C H A N / AGGI E

Review: D Street Steakhouse New downtown steakhouse provides variety, struggles to excite

BY R OWA N O’CO NNE L L- GAT E S arts@theaggie.org

Davis welcomed its first steakhouse to the downtown area this fall. As many would guess,

D Street Steakhouse is located at the junction of D and 1st Streets. You’ll know you’ve found the

B RIA N L IB BY / [CC BY 2.0 ] _CREAT IV E COMMON S

An eclectic variety of local shows

From pop stars to circus stars, options are endless

BY CAR AJ OY KLEI NR OCK arts@theaggie.org

With the Golden1 Center being a 20-minute ride away and the Mondavi Center right at our doorsteps, these are some of the most accessible venues for UC Davis students. Winter is the time to bundle up, but here are a few concerts to entice homebodies to go out.

Golden1 Center: Katy Perry — Witness: The Tour Coming to Sacramento on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m., this concert will follow the release of her new album, “Witness.” Tickets range from $50 to $800 depending on seating.

Miranda Lambert — Livin’ like Hippies Tour For all the country fans, this concert follows Lambert’s doublesided 24-song album with special guests Jon Pardi and and Lucie Silvas. It will take place on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m., and tickets are still on sale.

Jeff Dunham — Passively Aggressive Anyone looking for some comedy in their life is in luck. On Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. America’s favorite ventriloquist is coming to Sacramento with his band of characters.

Lorde — Melodrama World Tour Tickets are on sale now for this concert, which will take place on March 12 at 7 p.m. This concert will showcase her second album as well as fan favorites from her first album.

GRAMMY on 12

spot when you turn the corner and spy the outdoor patio adorned with a large, beaming “Steakhouse & Bar” sign. The Aggie stopped by to see what D Street Steakhouse offers.

The moment you enter the steakhouse, you’re struck by the sweeping bar to the right and the intimate environment of the dimly lit tables just down the hall.

At times, D Street Steakhouse has had live music, and upon my arrival, there was a small jazz band playing in the corner of the bar area. Even after being seated in the back of the restaurant I could still hear the music throughout my meal. With live music in restaurants becoming an increasingly rare phenomenon, it was a lovely addition to the dining environment.

That being said, it quickly became apparent that D Street Steakhouse is understaffed. There were seemingly two employees with the responsibility of hosting, waiting and running the bar. It simply wasn’t enough. The wait for a table was long even with a reservation, service was slow and the employees were clearly (and understandably) stressed. While this is an easily fixable trait of the restaurant, it will negatively impact the entire D Street Steakhouse experience until addressed.

Given the nature of the restaurant, I ordered the “D

GOLDEN1 on 11

Street Sirloin” steak. However, there are many options on the menu including several other steak options, seafood, burgers, poultry, salad and more. The steaks come with a side of fries and a house salad. The fries were delicious and the salad, while small, was fine. The steak was quite good, slightly overcooked for the rare that I ordered, but nevertheless I could tell that the quality of meat was top notch, and I enjoyed the main course.

To round out the meal, I tried the tres leches cake.

The slice of cake arrived on its side in a bowl full of sweet milk. I was skeptical and rightfully so. While the taste was fine, the texture left much to be desired. I felt as though I was eating a bowl of cereal. To put it simply, the dish needs work.

Ultimately, my time at the D Street Steakhouse was positive. While my meal was not perfect, the steak was good and the atmosphere was nice. As a restaurant in its infancy, I see potential in the D Street Steakhouse. The space achieves elegance in a simple way that Davis residents will appreciate, and the restaurant’s cuisine and staff have plenty of time to grow. If you’re looking for a slightly upscale night in the downtown area, this can be your destination. However, be sure to temper your expectations, as this restaurant is a serious work in progress.

Films of 2017

Aggie writer takes his pick of 2017’s top 3 films

BY NICOL AS RAG O arts@theaggie.org

2017 produced a diverse list of first-rate films, evident in both the ironic yet hellish world of “Get Out” and the explosive seas and beaches of “Dunkirk.” Finding it hard to choose a definitive best movie of 2017, I’ve split my recommendation into three categories: Best Performance, Best Script and Best Design.

Best Performance: Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour” Gary Oldman adds to the near surplus of WWII films with a stunning performance as Britain’s Winston Churchill. Oldman displays a side to Churchill that is rarely touched upon: his doubt.

Churchill is typically seen as a decisive prime minister during a time of incredible need, yet Churchill’s famous “we shall fight on the beaches,” among his other exceptional speeches, wasn’t something that came easy. Oldman does not leave such a pursuit unsung, but instead paints Churchill’s approach to Dunkirk as countless meticulous decisions, each one displayed through precise and careful actions.

Oldman masterfully exhibits Churchill’s struggle

to serve the British people under the gun of an encroaching Germany.

Best Script: “Lady Bird” “Lady Bird” displays the awkward transition between high school and college in an effective way through the focus on Lady Bird and her mother. “Lady Bird” is a successful coming-ofage story, dodging the typical reliance on youthful relationships. “Lady Bird” fits much of the mold for a typical coming-of-age story (think “Superbad” and “Dazed and Confused”), yet stands alone in which relationship to follow. In “Superbad,” the story follows a small group of tight-knit friends; it focuses on their relationship. By contrast, “Lady Bird” examines the nuclear family — specifically, the mother-daughter relationship and how it changes with a daughter leaving the nest, showing the clashing dynamic between a rising child and a ruling matriarch.

This honest depiction of surpassing family life and budding into adulthood awards “Lady Bird” with the best script of the year.

A LLYSON KO / AGG IE

Best Design: “Bladerunner 2049” A futuristic Earth containing the dying throes of a failing civilization isn’t an uncommon premise, yet the execution of “Bladerunner 2049” is original. The slightly dystopian world is crafted through the normalization of current oddities — for example, their food.

According to the movie, the world, in order to provide nutrients for everyone, resorted to the consumption of worms. When these worms are consumed, they are alive and squirming: an uncomfortable sight, yet any charac-

ter who eats them is unfazed. Subtle design choices, like the worms, create a genuine apocalyptic world. If Ryan Gosling sits down to salad and steak, nothing is strange.

But once he sits down to a plate of worms, the world has truly moved on. This strategy of altering something as primary as food distinguishes the film’s setting, showing how something as familiar as home life is changed. The off-kilter world created in this film can be accredited to nothing but the stellar design, the focus on tweaking norms and what we are comfortable with today.

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CONFERENCE

RAHI REVIEW

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us relative autonomy in this process,” Chiang said.

The popularity of the 2017 Mental Health Conference prompted Chiang and other team members to expand this year’s event.

“Last year, we didn’t know how to use the venue to its fullest capacity, but this year, we’ve worked with Conference and Event Services to create a setup best suited to our need,” Chiang said. “As such, we are now proud to offer a full healing space, as opposed to one stuck in a back room. Additionally, we hope that our art display and photo booth will truly cement the nurturing, compassionate atmosphere that we strive to create in our conference and overall initiative.”

Since last year, the conference has tripled in size due to increased funding by UC Davis — registration increased from 150 to 420. But some students who want to attend will not be able to.

Tickets have already sold out online, and Chiang says the event’s physical capacity does not allow for any admission exceptions. She sees this unfortunate situation as a meeting point of extraordinary demand for mental healthcare with UC Davis’ lack of support for such student services on campus.

“With 125 people already on the waitlist, it is simply impractical and irresponsible of us to accept more attendees,” Chiang said. “I hope that the initiative can eventually come to a point where we can accept anyone who wants to attend; there’s such a high demand for educational mental health events and healing spaces. Yet due to inadequate funding for both counseling services, psychiatric services and student-led programming, our capacity to help students and community members simply cannot keep up with the university demand.”

According to Chiang, feedback from last year’s conference resulted in an increase in activities and programs led by non-student professionals and experts.

“We have mental health professionals coming to UC Davis from all over the state,” Chiang said.

“We are incredibly excited to offer suicide prevention training and certifications, [...] community-based programming regarding masculinity [and] the prison justice system as well as ethnicity and culture. In addition to modules centered on education, we also have ones touching on personal healing and growth, with topics such as yoga, anxiety management and compassionate communication.”

The conferences’ panel coordinator Katrina

Manrique, a fourth-year English major, discussed how the conference harnesses cost-free and destigmatized resources for students.

“The Mental Health Conference is important because it gives students with mental illness space and freedom,” Manrique said via email. ”Attendees with mental illness are able to freely and safely engage in workshops and resources which can benefit them. It is important for folx to realize that there are many different constraints which prevent a person with mental illness from understanding or confronting their illness within their day-to-day life. There are cultural, professional, social, and socioeconomic barriers which make it nearly impossible for someone with mental illness to express or confront their illness. This conference, for many, is one of the few spaces they can safely face their mental illness.”

Chiang talked about the conference’s needbased roots — prior to the creation of the Initiative and Conference, UC Davis students were disappointed in the campus’ lack of mental health conferences and support that other campuses have.

“Twelve [UC Davis] undergraduates attended the UC Irvine Mental Health Conference and realized the need for similar programming catered to the UC Davis community,” Chiang said. “They decided to go about working with an ASUCD Senate staff and from there, the UC Davis Mental Health Conference was born.”

For Chiang, championing the initiative and the conference intersected with her own mental health and identity. She said she seeks to unite the UC Davis community, composed of a diverse range of identities, especially those underrepresented, and strives for every individual to be recognized and validated as deserving mental health care.

“I am involved with the initiative due to my positionality in society as a Taiwanese American womxn with a complicated relationship to immigration that intersects with my bipolar disorder, PTSD, anxiety, panic disorder and substance abuse disorder,” Chiang said. “At the same time, I try to bear in mind that my mental health is not adversely affected by my sexual orientation, gender, physical ability, or socioeconomic status. No one person can fully understand all the intersections of mental health — our initiative tries to suture that divide in the mental health community by creating one space where people interested in mental health can convene on our campus.”

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When asked where he fell short in his term, Meneses said he overlooked opportunities to work with the Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) community on campus.

“I think AAPI students [...] get bunched up into this umbrella of ‘Asian’ and whatever stereotype that encompasses,” Meneses said. “I think the model minority myth is so prevalent on campus that a lot of the issues we’re facing — academic, mental health and [...] other issues that plague our communities — get overlooked because of those stereotypes.”

Meneses does not have any plans to continue with ASUCD now that his term has ended.

“In terms of being involved in school and students’ lives, I definitely look forward to that,” Meneses said. “I hope ASUCD keeps fighting for progressive issues. I hope that people don’t see [ASUCD] as political, [but] that people see it as human rights.”

Simran Grewal Simran Grewal, a third-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major began her term as a second-year. Her goals with a newly-acquired seat in Senate were to academically diversify the table.

“Something I really wanted to do was bridge the gap between ASUCD and many of the STEM majors, because there’s a really clear misconception that ASUCD is only meant for pre-law or political science students, but that’s definitely not the case,” Grewal said. “When you have a student government that serves the entire UC Davis undergraduate population, you should have a Senate table that thoroughly reflects that.”

Grewal marks her successful implementation of 24-hour library periods during finals week as a proud accomplishment of her term.

As the only remaining UC at the time to not have had a 24-hour library period for students, Grewal took on the project at the beginning of her Senate term.

“I was really glad to see [this project] accomplished within one term,” Grewal said.

“Oftentimes you see a lot of Senate platforms completed after terms, but to have it completed actually within the last week of my Senate term was something I was really proud about.”

Grewal focused on STS/Taxi, HAUS, the CoHo and The California Aggie for her adopted units.

Areas for improvement, according to Grewal, included time management for larger projects and greater collaboration between senators.

“Two is more than one,” Grewal said.

“When you have the time of two senators and their staff, two teams working together can accomplish a lot more than one.”

Grewal sees herself continuing her involvement in student government. She is considering advocating for the continuation of Punjabi language classes at UC Davis, which Grewal said she has been involved in since her freshman year.

Grewal also said she hopes to see greater numbers of STEM majors on the Senate table and further communication between senators and commissions.

Matthew Yamaguchi Matthew Yamaguchi is a fourth-year managerial economics major. On his Senate profile page, Yamaguchi describes himself “as a business and finance enthusiast.”

“Matthew had a strong understanding of business and economics,” said Alex Mirov, the former chair of the Business and Finance Commission, via email. “This allowed him to provide relevant and constructive insight to our discussions. Matthew also participated in the interviewing process to hire new B&F members. Matt’s opinions on applicants were also very helpful in deciding who to hire from our new member applicant pool.”

After multiple requests for comment, Yamaguchi was unavailable to provide a statement.

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terms of who we thought would best operate that property and maintain it as a historical sighting in the town,” Lee said.

A city news release stated that Engstrom Properties was chosen based on its competitive offer price, proven track record of owning and operating high-quality commercial and historic properties, extensive commercial leasing and property management staff, vision for the property, dedication to main-

taining the historic integrity of the building and understanding of Davis community values.

According to the city’s statement, Mayor Robb Davis also believes that Engstrom Properties was the right choice.

“We feel Engstrom Properties will be an excellent steward for our Historic City Hall building and are confident they will exceed our expectations,” Davis said.

“It’s Okay to be White” posters left around campus, labeling the act a hate crime. SR #2 also works to establish consequences for instances of hate crimes at UC Davis in the future. The involvement from members of the student body outside of ASUCD in the creation of SR #2 made the resolution distinct.

“I think it was beautiful, because we really tried to get more community support and I think this is how we should write every resolution,” Suryawanshi said.

“We, ASUCD, represent students, but we do not represent their thoughts, their voices and their styles. We don’t, we can’t, we don’t have that capacity. And so I think one thing we should always do when we’re writing resolutions is truly to go up to the SCC centers and actually make an effort to have community workshops like we did.”

Suryawanshi also worked with the StartupHub to hold a startup panel for students last quarter. This upcoming Spring Quarter, Suryawanshi said she is looking forward to holding a second Startup Summit aimed specifically at giving marginalized communities a platform for their ideas.

“The Startup culture I think is really important,” Suryawanshi said. “We need to benefit marginalized communities as best as we can. Last year, we didn’t market it solely to marginalized communities, but they will this year.”

Looking back on the year, Suryawanshi reflected on the highs and lows during her time in office.

“I had so much on my plate,” Suryawanshi said.

“My hands were overflowing.”

At the beginning of her term, Suryawanshi was juggling her roles as the Artistic Director of a Japanese drumming group, Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan, organizing the first Startup panel in addition to accepting a fellowship to present her social entrepreneurship at the Youth

United Nations in Europe.

Despite Suryawanshi’s critical view of her own performance as a senator, her ASUCD peers hold her in high regard.

ASUCD Vice President Adilla Jamaludin worked closely with Suryawanshi on many of her platforms, including plans to add blue lights to campus. “[Suryawanshi] has yet to deliver on some of her original platforms due to institutional changes,” Jamaludin said. “Something to keep in mind: [Suryawanshi] has been instrumental in initiatives outside of her platforms. Much of this work involves building coalitions, a skill that many senators have yet to nurture. I definitely think she is one of the most competent and hard-working senators of her cohort.”

ASUCD President Josh Dalavai also spoke very highly of Suryawanshi.

“Senator Suryawanshi was a warm, inviting presence to all visitors of the Senate and was extremely efficient in her pursuit of her student advocacy and outreach,” Dalavai said.

Dalavai also commented on Senator Suryawanshi’s ability to reach communities on campus otherwise left out of ASUCD. “She has been a valuable member of ASUCD in regards [to] international student outreach,” Dalavai said.

With her time in the Senate coming to an end this quarter, Suryawanshi plans to continue many of her projects she began with in her capacity as a senator.

When asked what she would like to be remembered for accomplishing, Suryawanshi pushed back.

“This whole perspective that we should do things to be remembered, that’s not the point,” Suryawanshi said. “It doesn’t matter what people remember you for.

Your work matters. Your passion matters.”

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Knowing the risks means that we can discuss ways to prevent harmful degradation to American wilderness and unnecessary harm to already-threatened wildlife, like polar bears. We can speak to our representatives in office or find other ways to push back.

“It’s still an open question about whether drilling will ever happen there,” said Matt Lee-Ashley, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. “It’s hard to image that drilling will occur in the next 10 years — or ever.”

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Mondavi Center The venue will host three circus performances over the course of Winter Quarter.

Circa II Ritorno This company has found a way to combine cirque and modern dance that is exciting for all. Accompanied by a string quartet and two singers performing excerpts of Monteverdi’s “Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria,” seven dancers all work together to make boundless movements and emotions. This show will be held on Jan. 26 at 8 p.m., and tickets are on sale now.

Circa Carnival of Animals

This company includes seven acrobats, two singers, four musicians and delightful animations of animals from both land and sea. Based on Camille Saint-Saëns’ beloved musical suite, “Carnival of the Animals” will be an amazing show for all the animal lovers out there.

You can catch this performance on Jan. 28 at 3:30 p.m., and tickets are still on sale.

Cirque Éloize Saloon This cirque show is a little different from the others, as it is a combination of theater and circus. Set to live folk and fiddle music, this western cirque show is as entertaining as it sounds. Meant for the whole family, this show can be seen on Feb. 11 at 3:30 p.m., and tickets are on sale now.

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more and more of a destination for high-profile college football games. The Foster Farms Bowl, previously held at San Francisco’s AT&T Park until 2013, has been the region’s lone bowl game since its inception in 2002.

Starting in 2014, Levi’s Stadium has been the host of

the annual Pac-12 Football Championship Game every December. Overall, hosting the sport’s most anticipated game of the year next January will only further contribute to the emergence of the Bay Area as one of the premier college football markets in the nation.

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teammates when he was doubled.

Sophomore guard Joe Mooney –– who recorded a game-high and career-high four steals in 19 minutes off the bench –– added another three to extend the Aggie run that eventually climaxed at 15 to 1.

Mooney’s extended minutes and productivity on the defensive side was something that did not surprise his head coach.

“Some of the rotations we had worked extensively on the last couple days, we talked about those guards,” Les explained. “They were going to be in the hole guarding those bigs when we doubled [...] [Mooney’s] ability to be in the right place and make a play on the ball, I thought that was huge.”

With seven minutes remaining, UC Davis had a 51-41 lead, which was more than enough for the Aggies to cruise to yet another home victory. The 11-point win did not come easily, however, as UC Davis had to adjust its offense to focus on getting good looks closer to the basket. UC Davis is generally a steady three-point shooting team, making around 39 percent of its shots from deep. Against UC Irvine, however, the Aggies shot just 23.5 percent from three, but outscored the Anteaters 34-20 inside the paint.

While the offense had its ups and downs, the Aggie

defense rarely broke down in this matchup. UC Davis was plus eight in points off turnovers, as they forced UC Irvine to lose the ball 22 times while recording 12 steals. The Aggies did not allow UC Irvine to record an offensive rebound in the first half and held the Anteaters to just 23 percent shooting the second half.

“I think that was the first time we brought it to [UC Irvine],” said Moneke. “We were ready for it, we anticipated it [...] the rebounding thing has been a big issue for us, so for us to hold them to [no offensive rebounds] in the first half is huge.”

Outside of Shorts’ 22 points, two other Aggies recorded double digit scoring figures. Moneke finished with 20 points (13 in the second half ) and 13 rebounds en route to his ninth double-double of the season in just his 14th game. Schneider added in 10 points and a game-high four assists –– and no turnovers.

After another sharp performance at home, UC Davis is now 10-5 overall and will be on the road for the next two games. Both of these away contests will be aired on ESPN 3, meaning that UC Davis fans will be able to watch the Aggies battle with UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton via national broadcast. The Aggies will not be returning to the Pavilion again until Jan. 17 to host Long Beach State.

reduce. reuse. recycle.

The aggie

12 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

COUNSELOR

SOLANO WATER

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current pay range for CP2s is $66,214 to $119,186 — “but no one is at either end” of the scale, Katz said, “so it’s terribly misleading.” Using the list of counselors posted on the SHCS website, The Sacramento Bee’s 2016 state worker salary database shows most of these full-time counselors received salaries in a range between $86,000 to $98,000.

At a local healthcare provider such as Kaiser, the job title “psychologist” has a pay range of $119,955 to $155,764. UPTE has presented UCOP with a step scale structure of pay ranges for counseling psychologists reflective of local markets. Each UC campus has a different salary structure it is presenting.

“The current step that has been presented to represent UCR is pretty much indicative of other community colleges [and] it also [...] takes all those different local pieces into consideration,” said a source from UC Riverside who wished to remain anonymous. “I think the biggest issue that UCOP has with the step salary is that it requires them to pay us more, basically comparable to what people are leaving the UC system for — people are leaving the UC system for higher paying jobs. The only argument is that they have no money or that there’s no funding for it, that it would require too much stretching of the budget to give us comparable pay.”

During negotiations, UCOP presented UPTE with three offers. UCOP has proposed a step 1 entry pay of $72,850.32, according to a source who wished to remain anonymous; for comparison, the UC Davis Medical Center’s entry pay for the job title “Psychologist 2” is $96,653.52 and the entry pay at Kaiser for the job title “Psychologist” is $119,955.60. Both UPTE and UCOP are proposing a step scale for salaries — UCOP’s salary proposition would place existing counseling psychologists on a salary step corresponding with the salary range they currently receive.

According to Katz, UCOP’s salary proposals are effective wage reductions. Although counseling psychologists could potentially receive a small raise, when union dues and an increased contribution to the UC Retirement Plan are taken into account, there is “a reduction in the take home pay.”

According to UC spokesperson Stephanie Beechem in an email interview, the UC has, since March, “offered multiple fair and reasonable proposals on wages, benefits and other employment matters in order to reach a settlement.”

In 2016, the UC Office of the President publicized and promoted a mandate which stated that, by 2018-19, an additional $18 million would be allocated to the mental health budget to “support hiring 85 mental health clinicians” UC-wide.

Counseling psychologists in the UC system are funded by student fees. The additional $18 million allocated to the UC’s student mental health budget is comprised of “an increase in the annual student services fees,” according to the UCOP website.

“UC states that salary funding is limited to student fees (which students recently voted to increase for additional availability of services),” McDole said via email. “That limit is set by the university and there is no reason, other than an arbitrary university decision, that mandates the limited funding source. We have brought this up many times in bargaining, but the University continues to limit funding.”

Beechem did not respond specifically to the question: “If there is an additional $18 million in the mental health budget, why is UCOP’s most recent salary proposal for counseling psychologists unreflective of local markets?” Beechem did say that the UC “continues to negotiate in good faith.”

McDole and Rodolfo Victoria, a senior staff psychologist and the bargaining representative from UC Irvine, however, both allege that UCOP has engaged in bad faith bargaining.

“We thought, coming into this, that we would be negotiating in good faith and that has not been

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the case,” Victoria said. “There seems to be a very strong reluctance to negotiate with us in any kind of meaningful way. They initially had offered to lower our salary and then now they’re at a place where they’re trying to present themselves as very generous and offering to give us a raise that we would have been entitled to under the [...] system that we were under. They’re trying to say that we are a valuable resource on campus, but yet, when we ask them to [...] at least give us fair and competitive market wages, they have been incredibly reluctant to do so.”

In a memo from June 1, composed and sent

by Dwaine Duckett, the vice president of human resources for UCOP, he claimed “UPTE has presented a wage demand UC believes is unrealistic that would almost double costs for our Counseling and Psychology Services and Student Health Centers.”

“That is false,” McDole said about Duckett’s claim. “I think if we did all the full calculations of what we are proposing, [it] is overall approximately a 30 percent increase in total costs. We did the math, they didn’t.”

Duckett was unavailable for comment.

An online petition titled “Petition for Good Faith Bargaining With Campus Counseling Psychologists” states that the “UC has lost staff due to the lack of competitive campus wages, which has substantially decreased the availability of mental health staff for students. The intensity of student needs is increasing to the point that we, the staff, fear for our safety and that of the students and campus community.”

A counseling psychologist from UCLA, who wished to remain anonymous, said they signed the online petition, which has over 200 signatures, because, after working “at a number of different counseling centers, [...] there’s something about the fear and dispirited, disjunctive culture that is palpable here.”

Several counselors at multiple UC campuses said both they and their colleagues feel that the UCOP sees counseling psychologists as replaceable. Victoria said, at UC Irvine, “there’s already a huge morale burnout issue on our campus.”

According to Katz, a UC employee asked UCOP’s Chief Negotiator Patty Donnelly at a meeting during negotiations “if recruitment and retention of counseling psychologists is a bargaining interest of UCOP” and Donnelly said “no.”

Donnelly was not available for comment.

Beechem did not respond to the specific question: “Is the recruitment and retention of counseling psychologists a bargaining interest of UCOP?” “We get the message that we should be grateful to work for UC and that if we’re not happy here for any reason, that we should just consider leaving,” said a counseling psychologist from UC San Diego who wished to remain anonymous.

The same UCSD counseling psychologist said, as negotiations drag, there is the risk of losing more staff — “I’ve already heard murmurings about people looking elsewhere and feeling frustrated.”

Another meeting for accretion negotiations is pending scheduling for Jan. 12. Asked how hopeful he was that negotiations would be completed within the next month or two, Victoria said “not very.” McDole said, most recently, “the university has proposed scant increases that in no way moves therapists toward market wages.”

At this point, there has been informal discussion of a strike among several individual campuses.

“I can say that [...] we are quite frustrated with how things are going and the lack of progress on UCOP’s end,” Victoria said. “There has been talk about [striking]. We obviously would like to avoid that at all costs — we don’t want the students and the campus community to be impacted by this.

But at some point, if this continues like it has been, that’s obviously an option we’ll have to consider.”

and biological sampling near the NBA’s intake at Barker Slough.

“At the moment it remains unclear what can be done to improve the NBA’s source water quality and more specifically, the degree to which ongoing and future habitat restoration efforts may or may not impact NBA source water quality,” Sanford said. “Hopefully Dr. Durand’s work will provide some insight to those questions.”

With the threat of climate change, there is more uncertainty about water levels in the Delta as well as water availability because of different patterns of severe wet and dry years. The researchers and stakeholders like Dr. Durand and water users served by the SCWA hope that this study will help reveal the best ways for agricultural operations and cities to sustainably coexist with healthy, productive ecosystems in the future.

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“I would recommend drawing as the springboard for all other art forms,” Cochran said. “Painting, sculpture, ceramics — their common ancestor, for lack of a better word, is drawing. From there, most people begin by just trying out what interests them.”

5. Attend live performances Live performances include events like concerts, underground shows and theater and dance productions. On the surface, these examples may seem more like opportunities for entertainment and not as outwardly artistic. If appreciated the right way though, music as art becomes very apparent and just as breathtaking as looking at a painting.

For music on campus, the Ann E. Pitzer Center holds free Shinkoskey Noon Concerts every Thursday for an hour. The Mondavi Center also hosts plenty of artists yearly, spanning many genres of music. Students can redeem one free ticket during their academic career at UC Davis, but other terms and conditions apply so visit their website to learn more.

Underground shows taking place in Davis and the surrounding area are listed on undietacos.org.

Along this line, Sofar Sounds can help you find “intimate gigs all around the world,” including San Francisco and Sacramento if you don’t want to travel very far.

The UC Davis Department of Theatre and

Dance holds free productions every quarter. All students are welcome to audition for the shows too.

It is clear there are many local, accessible ways to engage with art, in one form or another. Art “[...] offer[s] diverse perspectives in the human experience,” as Pretell puts it. Victoria Lee, a thirdyear art studio peer advisor, agrees.

“Art has a strong impact to reveal and revitalize the thought processes of those who seek to find out something new,” Lee said. “It can also be an opportunity for students to learn about history and the society we all live in, since one could say art is a reflection and the outcomes of our lives.”

Students can also benefit from art for other reasons. According to McGilvray, it is a way to enrich daily life.

“I feel the process of engaging in a creative activity or attending an event related to the arts can be a meditative, learning and social experience that can enhance the routine of everyday life,” McGilvray said.

Cochran, too, expands on the meditative quality of art.

“I find that intensely concentrating on creating artwork can have the same effect as meditating, in that by focusing intently on one activity, all of the worries and random thoughts that pop into our heads throughout the day stop for a while as we are working on the art,” Cochran said.

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the day, when fewer alarm calls were made to ward off the predators.

Baboons are hunted at night by leopards. This is naturally thought to be due to baboons not being able to fight off an attack while sleeping.

Olive baboons are larger and more aggressive than vervets. This suggests baboons may be less vulnerable to predation, but the study proves otherwise. Despite the differences between the two primates, they were both similarly targeted by the leopard.

“The predation rate for baboons and vervets was around 5 percent,” Isbell said.

In past studies, researchers have to look at several factors to estimate the rate of predation on a species. This includes counting the number of animals every day and searching for carcasses. Often, these traditional methods can be unreliable due to individuals moving or predators dragging their meal far away. In this study, the researchers were able to determine predation rate and observe predator and prey interaction more accurately.

“This is not necessarily groundbreaking,” Bidner said. “It’s more of a cautionary tale against assumptions made of predator and prey interactions.”

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“Once we have determined that the diet is effective, then we will address issues of scale.”

The hope is that the insect supplement will provide as many essential amino acids as traditional feed, and not affect the eggs and meat in the process. In a larger market, larvae could potentially replace traditional corn and soy in animal feed, shifting those resources away from livestock and into human grocery products.

“We’re trying to find a viable option,” Huang said.

One-third of all produced food goes to waste, while nearly 13 percent of the world population is undernourished.

“If we are able to displace 5,10, 15 or even 20 percent of a chickens ration, which is normally made up of corn and soy, with something that humans don’t consume, like black soldier fly larvae, then we can produce eggs in a more sustainable

fashion,” Pitesky said.

The UC Davis Poultry Farm, located off of Old Davis Road, houses 170 chickens, and each one lays about an egg per day.

“The goal is to make this farm as sustainable as possible economically […] and make the farm pay for itself. That’s the real challenge,” Pitesky said.

The poultry farm is also a local food provider, selling some of the meat and the eggs to Campus Dining Services as well as the Yolo County Food Bank. The eggs studied for research are not sold commercially. However, should the larvae not impact the taste of the egg or meat, the FDA could allow black soldier fly larvae in chicken feed.

In the spring, Huang and her colleagues, along with Pitesky, will be presenting some of the results at the Western Poultry Disease Conference.

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“It definitely can be difficult to accommodate the high volume of referrals,” Truong said. “Not many places accept insurance and that is why it can be so hard to find a provider in the area. We have done our best to hire accordingly to accommodate the volume of referrals, but it’s still hard because some people’s insurance don’t have out of network benefits all the time.”

The large amount of referrals and turnover from SHCS has affected practices even outside of Davis.

“I do work regularly with UC Davis students,”

said Laura Gidney, a therapist in Woodland. “I am a part time therapist and because I am a part time practitioner and because there are so few therapists who accept insurance, my practice is almost always full.”

Individual counseling may be difficult for many at UC Davis, but SHCS has other mental health services which may be more accessible; it offers group counseling, the Community Advising Network (CAN), and other resources and forms of counseling.

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everything for Picnic Day, including picking the grand marshals.”

The parade grand marshals are tasked with certain duties, which Dr. Famula elaborated upon.

“We have to judge the floats and give a little speech at the opening ceremonies, and we get to sit in a car and wave as marshals,” Dr. Famula said.

Those in charge of Picnic Day are attempting to incorporate improvements and new ideas into the event this year — a few of which Garcia mentioned.

“We had food trucks last year, but [...] 17 of them with very long lines,” Garcia said. “We are trying to have more food trucks come in so that we can avoid those long lines and have more of a variety of food. We’re also looking into the possibility of mobility vehicles to drive around the elderly and those with disabilities so that they could go to any events or activities they would like to more easily.”

Applications to assist with the planning and running of Picnic Day can be found on the UC Davis Picnic Day website and are due on Feb. 1.

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Fonsi and Daddy Yankee and “4:44” by JAY-Z. While Logic’s suicide prevention awareness track strikes a deep chord lyrically and emotionally — thus seeming like the obvious choice — it’s hard to say who will win. Although a rap song has never won Song of the Year, we can’t count out Jay-Z just yet, as the rapper has earned a total of 21 Grammy Awards throughout his career. Additionally, “Despacito (Remix)” topped the charts in the U.S. for several weeks, in addition to breaking multiple records in music video views and more. With all these factors in mind, my pick would still have to be “1-800-273-8255,” despite “Despacito” and its far-reaching popularity.

Best New Artist: Khalid Throughout the past year, so many new artists emerged. From pop singers Alessia Cara and Julia Michaels to rapper Lil Uzi Vert, the category for Best New Artist holds a variety of different musicians. I believe that the front-runners this year are sure to be Khalid and Alessia Cara. Despite the fact that SZA may be a fan favorite for the win, I don’t believe her presence on the music scene was as well established as it could have been over the course of

the year. As for my pick, I think Khalid deserves the award. With a completely unique sound that flows seamlessly from pop to soul to R&B, Khalid’s debut album “American Teen” held some of the greatest tracks of the year, especially coming from such a young artist. Khalid will be performing at UC Davis in early May. Record of the Year: “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars This category contains some of the year’s top tracks, many of which have maintained their presence on Billboard’s Top 100 for weeks on end. The nominees include “Humble” by Kendrick Lamar; “Redbone” by Childish Gambino; “24K Magic”

by Bruno Mars; “The Story of O.J.” by JAY-Z and “Despacito (Remix)” by Justin Bieber, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. While I’m torn between “Redbone” and “24K Magic,” I feel as if Childish Gambino should be honored for his exemplary talents as a recording artist but simply won’t be due to the historical nature of the Grammy Awards. As a previous winner in this category (“Uptown Funk” in 2016), Bruno Mars has the upper hand, which I think could potentially carry him to another victory.

13 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

SPORTS

AGGIES DOWN ANTEATERS Men’s basketball wins first conference battle of season, keeps home win streak alive

BY D O M I N I C FA RI A sports@theaggie.org

After two months of battling it out with non-conference opponents, the UC Davis men’s basketball team opened Big West conference play last Thursday night with a 64-53 win over the UC Irvine Anteaters.

This victory, in a contest that featured a rematch of last season’s conference championship game, marked the program’s 16th straight home win.

The game’s first half was a tightly contested one, as the teams began the evening trading scores. Usually a sharpshooter from behind the three-point line, junior guard Siler Schneider instead found his shots falling from inside the paint. Schneider’s six first half points all came within the game’s opening 10 minutes, as he slashed his way inside the Irvine defense for three tough baskets.

In an effort to tighten their interior defense, the Anteaters briefly switched from a man-to-man scheme to a zone. This change freed up the Aggie backcourt, where junior guard TJ Shorts took advantage. Shorts knocked down UC Davis’ first three of the game, putting the Aggies in front for the first time of the contest.

The Aggies benefitted from inside scoring, but outside of Shorts they uncharacteristically struggled from beyond the arc and fell behind early. The team

missed seven of its nine first half three-point shots, with Schneider failing to connect on all three of his attempts. This lack of outside firepower, however, did not seem to bother head coach Jim Les. “We know both teams are going to defend,” Les said. “I thought early, and especially in the first half, we had some really good looks. Good shots for us, the right guys taking them, they just didn’t go down.

What I liked about our team was just staying with it.

The defense didn’t suffer because shots weren’t going in.”

UC Davis proceeded to clamp down on the Anteaters, forcing 11 first half turnovers, off of which the Aggies scored ten points. Both its swarming defense and ability to get to the foul line helped UC Davis build on its lead. A flurry of points from Shorts, who led the Aggies with 15 in the first half, pushed the UC Davis lead to nine.

UC Irvine, however, closed out the period with a strong showing. The Anteaters intensified their defense and responded with a 12-4 run. As a result, the Aggies saw their lead shrink back to just one point, leading 31-30 at the break.

UC Irvine opened the second half with the same energy as it had closing out the first. The Anteaters made it a priority to get the ball in the hands of its very capable sophomore guard Eyassu Worku, who scored eight of his team’s first 10 points of the half.

DIA N A LI / AG GIE

UC Irvine reclaimed the lead, and went ahead by as much as four before the Aggies came storming back.

Already in foul trouble and behind by four, UC Davis needed to get things going again offensively.

The team found its scoring spark in Shorts, whose craftiness around the hoop and ability to finish ignited an ensuing Aggie run with a gliding, and-one layup in traffic. Shorts would finish the night with a team high 22 points –– just the third game of his career with 20 or more.

“Can’t say enough about [Shorts],” Les remarked.

“His ability to get the basket, get to the paint and make plays; finish at the rim, drop-offs for layups

–- he’s playing at a high level.”

After a relatively quiet first half, senior forward Chima Moneke took his turn providing some offensive fuel. Moneke scored seven of the Aggies’ next eight points, including scores on back-to-back possessions; his smooth up-and-under layup was immediately followed by his only three-point field goal of the evening. Despite Moneke’s six second-half turnovers, Les was still impressed with Moneke’s patience throughout the game, pleased with his ability to “pick and choose his opportunities” and find open MBB IRVINE on 11

BAY AREA BOWL GAME FULL OF LOCAL FACES Foster Farms Bowl homecoming for players, coaches alike

BY B REN DA N O G B U R N sports@theaggie.org

The 16th annual Foster Farms Bowl took place on the evening of Dec. 27 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, as Purdue captured its first bowl victory since 2011 with a 38-35 comeback win over the University of Arizona in a thrilling finish. After being shut out for the entirety of the second half, the Boilermakers scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:44 left in regulation on a 38-yard reception by senior wide receiver Anthony Mahoungou.

Trailing 31-14 at halftime, Arizona clamped down on defense in the second half and tallied a pair of touchdowns midway through the third quarter to get within striking distance. The two sides traded punts back and forth until late in the fourth quarter.

Arizona grabbed a late lead when sophomore quarterback Khalil Tate connected on a 24-yard touchdown throw to junior wide receiver Shun Brown with under three and a half minutes remaining in the game.

Purdue raced 75 yards down the field in just over 90 seconds to take the lead on Mahoungou’s touchdown catch, capping an eight-play, game-clinching drive.

Wednesday night’s victory marked the culmination of an incredible turnaround for the Purdue football program, led by first-year head coach Jeff Brohm, a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback in the mid-1990’s.

“That’s a memory you’ll cherish for the rest of your life and they definitely earned it because they’ve put

in the hard work and gone through the adversity,” Brohm said. “It’s a proud moment to be the coach of this football team and I couldn’t be happier.”

Brohm stepped in and led the Boilermakers to a 7-6 overall record, their largest win total since 2011, ending a stretch of four consecutive seasons of three wins or less. The season-ending win was significant for Purdue because it clinched a winning record for the season and now allows the players to go into the offseason on a high note.

“It’s huge,” said Purdue sophomore quarterback Elijah Sindelar. “It sets the tone for next year. Guys are in good spirits. They’ll be excited to go into spring ball instead of kind of moping around because we lost. We won, we got a winning record, we really flipped it around from last year, and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Tate garnered much of the attention leading into this game due to his breakout regular season. The young phenom took the nation by storm this fall with an incredible run of performances from the month of October through the end of the schedule.

Tate became the first quarterback in Pac-12 history to rush for over 1,000 yards and will be remembered for his unreal showing against Colorado in October when he ran for 327 yards, a FBS record for a quarterback in a single game.

Arizona was able to limit Tate to a mere 58 yards on the ground, forcing him to hang in the pocket and make plays downfield with his arm. He threw for a career-high five touchdowns, but ultimately fired an interception on the team’s final possession to seal the victory for the Boilermakers.

Throughout the years, the Arizona football program has largely been comprised of players from the state of California, the university’s most heavily recruited region, and this season was no different.

A grand total of 45 players on this year’s roster call California home, and the incoming recruiting class for 2018 has 10 new California natives. It’s fitting that the team would be selected to play in the Foster Farms Bowl, one of only three bowls in the state and the only one in Northern California.

There was a trio of players with ties to Northern California that all made an impact on the offensive side of the ball for the Wildcats, not only in this game but throughout the entire season.

Redshirt junior wide receiver Tony Ellison is a Granite Bay native, just a little under 40 miles from Davis. Ellison has endured quite the tumultuous journey to get to where his today. After tearing his ACL a mere four games into his senior season of high school, his prospects of playing at the next level took a sudden turn. Despite the injury, Arizona kept his scholarship offer on the table, giving the young receiver a chance to rehab and still play at a Division I program the following year. After a couple of upand-down seasons, Ellison enjoyed a breakout campaign this year, showing off big-play ability from the slot and averaging 15 yards per reception, which ranks him fifth among Pac-12 players.

“I’m so happy for him because he works so hard, and he’s been injured so many times,” said teammate Jacob Alsadek, a redshirt senior right guard and team captain. “He’s pushed through it and done really well.”

Ellison played the best game of his college career on Wednesday night, hauling in four receptions and two touchdowns for a total of 102 yards. Despite the tough loss, he has a lot to look forward to in the upcoming season at Arizona, as the majority of the young offense will be returning for at least another season or two.

Redshirt sophomore Cody Creason, from nearby Folsom, split time at right tackle this season for the Wildcats. He has appeared in every single game the past two seasons, racking up four starts last season and three this year.

“He’s done very well for himself,” Alsadek said.

“He plays hard and he’s so athletic. Hopefully he can have a good spring and continue doing well next year.”

In addition, redshirt sophomore Alex Kosinski saw action in six games this season, mainly at the right guard position. The Marin County native has shown versatility for the Wildcats, capable of playing multiple positions along the offensive line.

Both lineman were instrumental in paving the way for the top scoring team in the conference, which averaged over 41 points per game. Arizona’s offensive line, a dominant and experienced unit, also allowed the fewest number of sacks in the Pac-12.

Levi’s Stadium will be at the center of the college football universe exactly 12 months from now, when the Santa Clara venue hosts the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship. Over the last few years, the Bay Area has continued to become FOSTER FARMS on 11

AGGIE BASKETBALL ENTERS CONFERENCE WITH A BANG UC Davis men’s (10-5) and women’s (12-3) basketball teams begin season strong in Big West Conference play

BY RYA N BUG SC H sports@theaggie.org

It has been a strong start to the season for both the UC Davis men’s and women’s basketball teams, continuing to improve and flourish due to the hardworking coaching staffs and players on the court.

The men’s basketball team is performing well out of the gate this season, currently holding a 10-5 overall record and a 1-0 conference record after defeating UC Irvine at the Pavillion on Jan. 4 for its

first game of Big West Conference play. Currently, the men’s team holds a 16-game winning streak at home, five of those home wins coming from its current 2017-18 season.

However, before the season even began, there was one player in particular on most people’s radar: senior forward Chima Moneke. Collegeinsider.com added Moneke to its Lou Henson preseason watch list, the second Aggie ever to earn this recognition.

Moneke has not disappointed the Aggies this season, earning his league-high nine double-doubles on the year. He has also been named the Big West Player of the Week for the weeks of Nov. 20 and Dec. 4, 2017, while also being named the Lou Henson Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 4.

The UC Davis men’s team defeated the Washington State University Cougars on Dec. 2, the first time in 12 years that the Aggies have defeated a Pac-12 team. During this season, the team posted a program-high RPI by the NCAA when ranked number 20 on Dec. 3. The Rating Percentage Index is used to rank teams based on their wins, losses and strength of schedule. Currently, the Aggies are ranked 63 in RPI rankings. Also announced for the

THIS WEEK IN SPORTS

week of Dec. 5, the Aggies earned their way to be the 25th-ranked team in the nation by College Insider on its Mid-Major Top 25 Poll.

It is no secret that the men’s basketball team is here to compete this season and will continue to look to improve and capture another Big West Championship. The Aggies continue their conference play tonight at 7 p.m., as they play an away game against UC Riverside. The game can be viewed on ESPN 3 live.

The UC Davis men’s team isn’t the only Aggie basketball team that has shown up to compete this season, as the UC Davis women’s basketball team came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, winning its first 10 games of the 2017-18 season, the second season in a row the team has had a 10-game winning streak. This was the best start to the season that the Aggies have had since moving to Division I. They currently hold an overall record of 12-3 and a conference record of 2-0 after defeating UC Irvine away and Hawai’i at home on Jan. 4 and Jan. 6, respectively.

As far as impressive player performances for the women’s team this season, senior forward Pele Gi-

anotti was the first Aggie this season to record a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds on Nov. 20 against Pacific University. Junior forward Morgan Bertsch and senior guard Rachel Nagel earned Big West Conference Player of the Week honors for the weeks of Nov. 13 and Nov. 27, respectively, due to their outstanding performances on the season.

This was Bertsch’s second career Player of the Week honors and Nagel’s first. Bertsch currently has nine different games this season where she has scored at least 20 points.

On Nov. 10, the women’s team played Washington State and sunk 17 three-pointers, tying the school record in a single season game. They are currently ranked as the number 12 women’s team in the nation on the College Insider Women’s Mid-Major 25 Poll and ranked number 51 on the NCAA RPI women’s rankings, earning a ranking as high as number five on the week of Dec. 12.

The UC Davis women’s team continues its Big West Conference play tonight as well at home in the Pavillion against UC Riverside at 7 p.m. The Aggies will surely look to continue to dominate the season and earn a Big West Conference Championship.

TODAY, JA N UA RY 1 1

W E D NE S DAY, JANUARY 1 7

Women’s basketball vs. UC Riverside at 7 p.m.

Men’s basketball vs. Long Beach State at 7 p.m.

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