‘No
one is illegal’: Students protest in support of undocumented immigrants
Following the declaration of mass deporations, UC Davis Sin Fronteras organized a protest to support local communities
BY RIVERS STOUT campus@theaggie.org
Amidst an ongoing mass deportation efort by the Trump Administration, UC Davis student group Sin Fronteras organized a protest to show support for all immigrants and undocumented individuals in the United States. Occurring on Feb. 3 at the Memorial Union North Courtyard, protestors marched across the campus and city, eventually making their way to the overpass on Richards Boulevard that looks over the I-80.
Tis year, Feb. 3 has been labeled as the “Day Without Immigrants,” with calls for nationwide walkouts to protest the Trump Administration’s rhetoric against immigrant communities and mass deportations.
UC Davis Sin Fronteras is a new student-led organization that is focused on creating a space that advocates for immigrant students. Protest organizer Pureza Moreno explained the group’s motivation behind the protest.
“We’ve been seeing a lot
of protests at other [University of California] campuses, and it was heartbreaking to see that Davis was not very active,” Moreno said. “We wanted to take a step forward and support the cause. Today is a day about immigrants and we wanted to support and make a safe space for them.” Moreno continued by noting that
Davis mourns loss of local baker Tom Kilbourn
The owner of beloved bakery Davis Bread & Desserts passed away in early January
BY OLIVIA HOKR city@theaggie.org
The Davis Bread & Desserts booth at the Davis Farmers Market. (Jenna Lee / Aggie)
On Jan. 3, Tom Kilbourn, known throughout the city for his delicious pastries and pies, passed away. As the owner of Davis Bread & Desserts, Kilbourn spent 40 years selling his baked goods at the Davis Farmers Market and built a community of loyal customers. Davis Bread & Desserts was one of the frst bakeries at the Davis Farmers Market. Randii MacNear, the executive director of the Davis Farmers Market, considered his bakery an anchor in the market.
“We’re all struggling,” MacNear said. “I’m not family, but in some ways, I feel like there was a market family that he was a part of, and a lot of people felt that way about him.” MacNear said the holiday season didn’t feel complete without having one of his pies, specifcally the triple berry or the chocolate pecan pie.
After announcing the news on the Davis Farmers Market Facebook page, community members came together to share condolences and stories about their interactions with Kilbourn.
An anonymous market-goer expressed appreciation for Kilbourn’s work and the diference he made in the lives of Davis locals.
“I enjoyed seeing him working with staf and customers,” the anonymous individual said in a Facebook comment. “His baked goods
were a great contribution to the Davis Farmers Market. I appreciated the vegan turnover selection and the pecan rolls are my husband’s favorite way to start a Saturday. We are thankful for Tom’s contributions to our life and making Davis, Davis.”
Another community member expressed similar sentiments about Kilbourn’s character.
“I grew up at the market eating Tom’s sweets every week,” the anonymous individual said in a Facebook comment. “We made big Sunday morning breakfasts and his goods were the cornerstone. I am so sad to hear of his passing, the market will not be the same without him jogging about.”
Kilbourn will be missed dearly by the Davis community and the Davis Farmers Market customers. If you have yet to try the delightful variety of goods ofered by Davis Bread & Desserts, they could use the support now more than ever in continuing Kilbourn’s legacy.
“He had a family at the market,” MacNear said. “We’re going to miss him terribly. His customers are still coming even though he hasn’t been there personally for the last few weeks.
[...] Customers are honoring him and continuing to buy from him so we’re really happy about that.”
she has observed a lack of presence of the Hispanic community in Davis following the deportations.
“Honestly, with deportations and [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] (ICE) and everything that’s been going on, we have noticed that the Hispanic community has not been coming to the campus stores,”
Moreno said. “I’ve seen primarily white people. My usual regulars that show up who are Hispanic and Latinos, I have not seen them because of the fear they have that someone will call ICE on them or they’ll get deported.”
However, Moreno said that although people they knew were scared of deportation, they had to continue
going to work because they had no alternative.
During the protest, Sin Fronteras was met by overwhelming approval from onlookers, as many drivers honked in support of the protestors. Additionally, Chancellor Gary May spoke to protestors outside of Mrak Hall where he expressed his approval for the cause.
Protest organizer Leslie Tadeo described the interaction between the chancellor and the protestors.
“Chancellor Gary May came out and showed his support [and] gave some of his words to us,” Tadeo said. “He said that he was supporting from his own side, [and] there’s some websites and resources that he’s gathering for immigrants and students at UC Davis.”
Troughout their march, protestors shouted chants, such as “Power to the people, no one is illegal” and “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido,” which translates to: “Te people united will never be defeated.”
IMMIGRANTPROTEST on 11
Davis Human Relations Commission grapples with civil rights issues
Commission braces for impact after eventful weeks of national politics
BY YUENJO FAN city@theaggie.org
On Jan. 23, the Davis Human Relations Commission (HRC) convened to address concerns about community inclusion, hate crime reporting and Davis’ status as a sanctuary city.
Te meeting began with a public forum for members of the public to address the commission. Sawyer Vau, a DaVinci High School student and president of the school’s Gay Student Union, expressed her concern for the safety of students afected by the recent White House actions that altered America’s ofcial gender policy. Vau drew on a landmark Supreme Court case to voice her reasoning while urging the commission to take action.
“Te decision made in the Bodstock v. Clayton County case said that you cannot discriminate against a person on the basis of their sexual or gender identity,” Vau said. “At times like these, it’s super important that we educate people and make sure that we provide reassurances to our student body, that we will protect them, and we will work together to ensure that their rights are protected in California and Davis regardless of what is happening at a federal level.”
To further the conversation about civil rights, the HRC turned to its subcommittee on hate crime to discuss ways of reporting such ofenses.
Connor Gorman, the commission’s vice chair and subcommittee member, touched on the signifcance of having various places to access resources. While acknowledging the importance of police resources, Gorman voiced support for more outlets independent of law enforcement agencies.
Tere’s some bias in terms of who’s willing to report things,” Gorman said. “Tis is especially true of police options, which is one of the reasons for this subcommittee, because of the hesitation that some people have — and disproportionately people from more marginalized and oppressed communities [have] — with going to the police.”
Gorman provided new alternatives for reporting hate crimes while suggesting that the city change its online resources by combining police
resources and other independent outlets.
“Te city of Davis web page, if you search hate crimes, does come up with some resources, but they’re mainly police resources,” Gorman said. “So basically, what [the subcommittee] ended up deciding is that the best way forward as an initial step would be to list diferent resources on the HRC web page, and that might coincide with a broader project around kind of revamping the HRC web page as a whole, and listing diferent resources there. Tat could include police options, but also include other options as well.”
Tere was, however, public concern about increasing the ways of reporting hate crimes. Resident Alan Hirsch addressed the commission to express the potential blowbacks of having too many resources, such as infation in statistics making the situation look worse than it is.
“I’m quite concerned,” Hirsch said. “What will this fx? I don’t understand how this will make things better. [...] We’re going to get a lot more hate reports in Davis, [and people will say] ‘Davis has a tremendous increase in hate.’ Tat’s what’s going to happen. You can just see it; because we make it easier, we’ll get more reports. We encourage people, so we’ll get more reports and we’ll say, ‘We have a real problem.’”
Shortly after, the commission acknowledged Hirsch’s point, noting the importance of fnding balance to avoid any unwanted repercussions.
Following discussions of hate crime reports, the commission moved
to examine ways of addressing the recent executive orders targeting undocumented immigrants. As a sanctuary city, Davis law enforcement and city ofcials do not consider a person’s immigration status in regard to legal processes. With this stance potentially compromised, the HRC expressed concern for Davis’ undocumented population.
Commission member Leonie Pickett said that the city must uphold this while protecting those who may be vulnerable.
“My church is a sanctuary church, and so I think [it is important to] instigate conversation between as many Davis entities as we have that are already established as sanctuary entities, so we can have a larger group of people to brainstorm,” Pickett said. “It feels like there are specifc and concrete ways the city can enact practices that support being a sanctuary city more than [just] having a declaration. [...] Tere are going to be hot spots where, if [Immigrations and Customs Enforcement] comes here, they’re going to go right to the migrant center. So now we’re putting the migrants all kind of in one location where they could be easily targeted. We need to plan for that.”
At the moment, the HRC has not formed a concrete course of action for these contingencies, but it will be working on arranging potential initiatives. Te Davis HRC meets on the fourth Tursday of every month. More information about the commission can be found on the city of Davis’ website.
A protester for immigrant rights holds a sign that reads, “Families belong together.” (Rivers Stout / Aggie)
City commissioners discuss civil rights, Davis as a sanctuary city.
(Courtesy / City of Davis)
A protester holds a rally sign as the group marches downtown. (Rivers Stout / Aggie)
Trump’s inauguration
its impact on the Davis community
Davis residents and organizations take on the recent presidential inauguration and resulting policy changes
BY GIA LOOMIS city@theaggie.org
On Jan. 20, 2025, Donald Trump was sworn into ofce, an action marking the beginning of his second non-consecutive term as president. From cold weather pushing the event inside for the frst time since 1985 to Trump signing a high number of executive orders on the frst day, this inauguration day was signifcant.
At his inauguration, Trump was fanked by the biggest names in tech, including Mark Zuckerberg, Jef Bezos and Elon Musk, who occupied some of the most exclusive seats at the event. On Inauguration Day in the Oval Ofce, Trump issued a few statements regarding his connections to executives and companies.
Tey were all with him, every one of them, and now they are all with me,” Trump said. “Tey’re not going to get anything from me. I don’t need money, but I do want the nation to do well, and they’re smart people and they create a lot of jobs.” Davis resident Hazel Hillenburg viewed Trump’s decision as one meant to demonstrate his growing infuence in the nation.
“I think it was a power move on Trump’s part to show the control he has over the country and its most afuent,” Hillenburg said. “He is acting as though this is a petty feud between politicians and not an outright warning of Biden’s forewarning devastating implications of these billionaires for the future of the country.”
In his recent outgoing address, former President Joe Biden issued warnings to the United States people.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and infuence that really threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedom,” Biden said.
Trump also made a declaration that the United States government will henceforth only recognize two genders: male and female.
Te Davis Phoenix Coalition, a local organization that focuses on awareness, community engagement, advocacy and education in support of the LGBTQ+ community, was particularly afected by this declaration.
Te mission of the Phoenix Coalition is to engage the community to eliminate intolerance for the purpose of preventing hate motivated violence and cultivate a broader civic culture that embraces and promotes a diverse community,” the website’s mission statement reads.
Chair of the Davis Phoenix Coalition Anoosh Jorjorian took a strong stance against Trump’s twogender proclamation.
“How many genders there are is not up to Trump,” Jorjorian said.
“Gender is something defned at the level of the individual. Tere’s nothing biological about gender — it’s socially and culturally determined. So, despite whatever Trump says in terms of how many genders there are, there will continue to be trans and nonconforming people, and whether the government recognizes that or not is something most of us have been dealing with all our lives, and we will
continue to fght for our rights.”
Another aspect of Trump’s Inauguration Day came following his swearing-in and inaugural address. After attending the Capital One Arena flled with his supporters, Trump quickly moved on to his desk, ready to sign executive orders and pardons and combat Biden’s previous actions by rescinding 78 executive orders. Te president signed an additional 26 executive orders on Jan. 20 alone.
While the amount of executive orders signed on Trump’s frst day in ofce was viewed as extreme by some, it was also viewed as Trump taking quick action to follow through on promises by others. Davis resident Joshua Malvitz believes that this is a sign of Trump coming through on getting things done while in ofce.
“I do believe that Trump is just delivering as he promised,” Malvitz said. “As Trump said that he would get a lot of things done the moment he came into ofce, [...] he has delivered on his word. For the future, I would expect the same pacing. Yet I believe that this furry of executive orders is not too diferent from President [Barack] Obama’s second term, the Republican party had an outroar during his term, and now Democrats are doing the same to Trump.”
Many in Davis held varying opinions on Jan. 20 and its events, but regardless of diferences in perspectives, the event was seemingly very polarizing — particularly so for those directly afected by the executive actions Trump has already taken. Stay up to date with the Trump Administration’s most recent presidential actions at whitehouse.gov.
Village Bakery is relocating after 27 years and expanding offerings at new downtown location
Longtime Davis favorite to move into former Uncle Vito’s space, introduce Roman-style pizza, an espresso bar and outdoor dining
BY ALMA CULVERWELL city@theaggie.org
Village Bakery, a cherished establishment in Davis since 1997, is preparing for a signifcant transition.
Owner Aziz Fattahi has secured a lease for the former Uncle Vito’s Slice of N.Y. location at 524 2nd St., aiming to relocate his bakery there within the next few months. Tis move comes after Fattahi lost the lease to his current space at 814 2nd St., which he had rented since the start of the business in 1997.
In addition to Village Bakery, Fattahi owns Village Pizza & Pints at 236 B St., which specializes in Neapolitan-style pizzas. Uncle Vito’s Slice of N.Y., the previous occupant of 524 2nd St., closed during the pandemic and never reopened — the space has remained vacant since.
Village Bakery’s move into the new venue, which encompasses 2,200 square feet, will allow Fattahi to enhance its oferings.
Fattahi plans to continue serving their renowned New York-style pizzas, with slices sold by weight. Additionally, the menu will expand to include Roman-style pizza al taglio, featuring square slices with a variety of toppings. Te new establishment will also ofer beer, wine, an expanded selection of cofee drinks and a full espresso bar.
Fattahi envisions creating a covered, fenced patio along E Street, similar to the setup at Mikuni Sushi, to enhance the outdoor dining experience. He believes the new location will beneft from increased foot trafc.
Fattahi was not seeking a change but felt compelled to move after the new landlords of the Depot Building at 2nd and G Streets, Pratibha Realtors LLC, did not renew his lease.
Te group plans to open a new eatery in the space.
Village Bakery and Pizza & Pints are both staples for the community of Davis. As Village Bakery prepares for this new chapter, the Davis community anticipates the expanded oferings and continued quality that has made it a local favorite for over two decades.
Clarissa Carlos, a fourth-year English major, said she has enjoyed her dining experiences at Pizza & Pints.
“I really love the pizza they make,” Carlos said. “I tried it for the frst time this year, and I would defnitely say it is one of the best pizza places in Davis.”
Jane Fogarty, a recent UC Davis graduate, also commented on her positive dining experiences.
“Pizza & Pints is a fun place to get together with friends and have a simple yet tasty meal,” Fogarty said.
Davis City Council approves framework for down payment assistance program
The program will target low- to moderate-income households looking to invest in their first home
BY RORY CONLON city@theaggie.org
On Jan. 21, the Davis City Council approved the framework for a future down payment assistance program targeting frst-time homebuyers.
Assistant City Manager Kelly Stachowicz delivered a presentation on the draft ordinance that would provide this framework. She stated that approving the ordinance would mark the beginning of the process, with more program-specifc guidelines coming along later.
“What an ordinance would do is put the signal [out] to the public and others that the down payment assistance program is something the council is interested in and has the intent at some point to go forward with,” Stachowicz said. “It may also help to show the city’s commitment to this type of program, as we are seeking diferent kinds of funding sources.”
Te program would target lowto moderate-income households that make no more than 120% of the area’s median income. Program benefciaries would have to live in the home they purchase, prohibiting them from renting it out as an investment property.
Stachowicz said the down payment assistance amount, yet to be decided, would be paid of when the buyers eventually sell the home.
“At such time the household decides to sell the property, [...] that down payment assistance funding is repaid to the city with the proportionate amount of the equity that it’s earned,” Stachowicz said. “Tat money coming back to the city would be used to fund the next household looking to get into the market.”
Co-chair of Interfaith Housing Justice Davis Vera Sandronsky publicly supported the program. She revealed that a down payment assistance program had been in the works for years.
“Volunteers from the community developed a draft down payment
assistance program and met with city staf back in [the] fall of 2021,” Sandronsky said. “With Measure Q’s passage, there is [a] new urgency for the city to move forward and to make a downpayment assistance program a reality in Davis. I encourage you to allocate one million yearly to this program.”
Davis resident Elaine Roberts Musser listed nine criticisms of a down payment assistance program, ranging from a risk of foreclosure, which would lead to loss of the city’s investment, to the duplication of the same type of program at state and federal levels. Musser said the city needs to do more research before moving forward.
“Te city has dipped [its] toe into providing afordable housing assistance before, namely [Davis Area Cooperative Housing Association]( DACHA), and it was an unmitigated disaster,” Musser said. “I would know, because I represented the homeowners in that case. It’s a shameful part of the city’s history. Let’s not have a repeat performance.”
Former City Council Member Dan Carson urged the city council to reject the proposal and send it back to the Fiscal and Social Services commissions for review before adopting it. Carson said there are several problems with the proposal.
“Tere’s no estimate here about what it would cost to give these grants out and spend literal decades overseeing the operation of this program,” Carson said. “We don’t know why you should be allowing city funds to be used for people who don’t live in the city of Davis. Not a unit of housing would be generated by this program to satisfy the city’s very signifcant obligations to meet state requirements to increase the amount of afordable housing.”
Council members amended the ordinance to legally require funds to be used toward the purchase of a home in Davis.
City of Davis unveils G Street
renovations
Students and families gathered to watch the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the reopening of G Street
BY MATTHEW MCELDOWNEY city@theaggie.org
G Street renovations have been underway since August of last year, and on Jan. 26, the Davis City Council as well as Congressman Mike Tompson ofcially opened the street as a community space.
Tis million-dollar renovation project is adding improved lighting and new seating — some of which were designed by students at UC Davis. Students in UC Davis’ DES 166: Human-Centered Design course collaborated with faculty to conduct outreach with community members about how to best build G Street into a third space — a place separate from home and work — for people of all ages to enjoy.
During the ceremony, Davis Mayor Bapu Vaitla spoke on behalf of the city to provide more insight into the future of this G Street project.
Te frst phase of infrastructure is complete — it’s ready for the community to enjoy,” Vaitla said. “But, there is a second phase coming up. Te city is planning to implement further enhancements over time including additional furniture, group seating, art and family-friendly activities, music, special events, signage and more.”
Vaitla anticipates that graphics for the pavement will be implemented later this February. When asked about what may follow the G Street renovation, Vaitla was hopeful that G Street could set a precedent for pedestrian areas to be implemented in other places downtown if successful.
Vaitla believes G Street to be a space that sets a people-frst precedent and prioritizes providing for the physical and mental needs of the community. He discussed his hopes that this shift away from car-centric infrastructure is taken into consideration for future city planning decisions to promote safety, sustainable development and climate action.
Tis is a space for people — not cars,” Vaitla said. “Obviously, we need cars, but we also know that there are many deleterious, social and environmental impacts to designing our spaces for motor vehicles instead of people.”
Tompson was also in attendance at the event and spoke about the new building project, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Grant — a bill Tompson voted to pass back in 2021. He discussed the good that he hopes is to come from a new-andimproved G Street.
Tis is one of those great projects,” Tompson said. “And, to see what’s
happened, the transformation, is pretty outstanding. It speaks volumes for the insight and dedication of the community and businesses as well.” Brett Lee, the head of the Davis Downtown Business Association, also spoke on the implications of this project for the continued beautifcation and economic growth of Davis.
“As we look at the downtown, as we try to improve the atmosphere, as we try to make it more inviting and improve the business opportunities for those who choose to locate here, the question isn’t, ‘Is it perfect?’ Te question is, ‘Are we moving forward?’” Lee said.
Tese very improvements tie into a larger citywide efort to increase the accessibility and quality of life in Davis. It is this very sentiment that Vaitla hopes that Davis residents are able to leave with when visiting the new G Street.
“Our grand hope for G Street is that it’s going to be a hub for community life here in Davis,” Vaitla said. “A place where people can come and enjoy being together in this openair environment year-round while supporting the many small businesses that truly make our city.”
People enjoying the new public seating on G Street. (Christian Cendejas / Aggie)
Village Bakery, located by the Davis Amtrak Station. (Andrew Huang / Aggie)
STEPHANIE CHAN / AGGIE
ASUCD Senate asserts right to political speech, calls on university to provide info on PepsiCo contract at Jan. 30 meeting
The senate also awarded 10 scholarship awards and heard quarterly reports
BY VINCE BASADA campus@theaggie.org
ASUCD Internal Vice President
Aaminah Mohammad called the Jan. 30 senate meeting to order at 6:12 p.m. before reading the UC Davis Land Acknowledgement.
First, the table awarded the recipients of the ASUCD Scholarship, worth $1,000, open to all undergraduates and awarded based on merit and an essay. Te recipients are: Adeena Rahman, Rocio Luna Ayala, Noelle Law Huynh, Catherine Pham, Katherine Luong, Kailee Meade, Meher Khan, Gary Wang, Helen Januar and Michelle Feng.
Later in the night, the senate heard from the Center for Advocacy, Resources & Education (CARE), which provides crisis counseling, safety planning and other support services related to sexual assault, harassment and similar exploitation. Prevention Education Interns Deepa Bhat, a third-year design and cognitive science double major, and Ragavi Goyal, a second-year sociology and anthropology double major, provided the table with information on accessing resources and led a short training exercise.
Te table also unanimously confrmed Karla Carranza, a fourthyear political science and sociology double major, as deputy head justice of the Judicial Council.
Te Ethical Spending Committee, an ASUCD body created in February 2024, then presented on eforts to
divest from companies on the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) list.
Senator Siddharth Jasthi and Ethnic and Cultural Afairs Commission
Chair Reem Suleiman reported on continuing eforts to research alternatives and possible future outreach and events.
After, the Entertainment Council gave its quarterly report, with Unit Director Jonathan Ng, a third-year political science major, stating that their Brain Freeze concert with headliner Luna Li sold out in 18 minutes.
Unitrans General Manager Jefrey Flynn also gave a quarterly report, stating that with expanded service this winter, the system is now back to prepandemic operation levels. He also noted that with the arrival of four new buses in April, Unitrans will achieve its goal of making one-third of its feet electric.
Public comments were then heard, with several students voicing support for Senate Resolution (SR) #6, scheduled to be heard later that night. Te resolution asserts the right of ASUCD and its many entities to free speech and comes after a series of altercations between students and members of the community over political expression.
At last year’s Whole Earth Festival (WEF), a member of the Davis Oct. 7 Coalition confronted festival workers for hanging a Palestinian fag, refusing to leave when asked to do so by WEF stafers.
“It’s really important to the staf at [WEF] that we’re able to take stances about the oppression of voices within
our nation and the world,” Navya Bhakta, a fourth-year English and psychology double major and WEF co-coordinator for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, said. “Our desire to create a safe, inclusive and welcoming festival for everyone needs to have support through protective rights within a [resolution] like this — to hold political opinions and stances that difer from the stances of the university.”
SR #6, introduced as emergency legislation, was discussed for around 40 minutes, with several members of the table voicing concerns that the resolution would force immigrant and undocumented students to be associated with political movements that may jeopardize their status in the United States.
Te fact that we, as international students or as undocumented students in the United States, are forced to take a stance puts our migratory status at risk,” External Afairs Commission Chair Henry Rosenbach said. “Forcing students to participate in performative activism is not going to change what’s happening in this country.”
Another issue raised was language in the resolution that would have required units to get approval from the senate to make political statements or to justify past statements if brought into question.
“I don’t think [the] senate should have the ability to oversee what units should or should not be saying,” Senator Umar Shaikh said. “Tat seems kind of authoritarian and not our job. Instead, we should be focusing on protecting individuals
ASUCD Supporting Students event
provides students with campus resources and stress relief
Senator Julka, Student Health and Wellness provides resources for reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ support, undocumented student services and more
BY MEGAN PUSL campus@theaggie.org
On Tuesday, Jan. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. the ASUCD Supporting Students event took place in the Student Community Center on campus. ASUCD Senator Amrita Julka, a second-year political science and human development double major, planned this event for students seeking resources and support due to any current events that have put stress on the community.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the event had multiple organizations tabling in the multi-purpose room at the Student Community Center. Tese organizations included the Gender and Sexuality Commission (GASC), the Ofce of International Students Representative (OISR), the Transfer Students Representative (TSR), the Sexual Assault Awareness Advocacy Committee (SAAAC), Te Pantry, the Undocumented Student Resource Center (USRC), the Aggie Housing and Transportation Advocacy Committee (AHTAC), the External Afairs Commission (EAC), Student Health and Wellness (SHAW) and Students for Reproductive Freedom (SRF).
Gustavo Saldaña-Sanchez, a second-year psychology major, tabled for the UC Davis Undocumented Student Resource Center (USRC) at the event. Saldaña-Sanchez explained what resources the USRC can provide for undocumented students.
“[Te USRC provides] basic needs, legal resources and fnancial resources,” Saldaña-Sanchez said. “Our goal here is to promote that we are a center to help [undocumented students] and provide resources to them.”
Morsell Arghandiwal, a fourthyear sociology and political science — public service major, tabled for the University of California Immigrant Legal Resource Center. Arghandiwal explained how the UC Immigrant Legal Resources Center can help students and their families.
“We have a group of attorneys
Unitrans:
that help students looking to support an immediate family member,” Arghandiwal said. “We have branches all across the UC system.” Julka planned and invited all of the organizations to the event and said she chose these organizations based on recent events and common stressors of students.
“Another big [stressor] right now is reproductive rights,” Julka said. “People are scared about their access to contraceptives and Plan B. We had the students’ reproductive freedom come out. [...] Tey had a representative from Planned Parenthood as well.”
Vrinda Vutukury, a fourth-year economics and international relations double major, tabled for the SAAAC on campus. She explained what their organization hopes to provide for students.
“We help connect students to sexual assault prevention resources,” Vutukury said. “We go beyond just spreading resources and spreading awareness by displaying people’s stories and being a student body representative.”
Nika Ghomizadeh, a third-year science and technology studies major,
also tabled for SAAAC at the event. She explained how being a member of Greek life helps her contribute to the eforts of SAAAC.
“[I am] working with other people in Greek life and understanding where sexual assault lies on campus,” Ghomizadeh said. “On a campus level, [SAAAC] is a place where we have resources.”
Julka partnered with the ASUCD Student Health and Wellness unit to put on a de-stressing activity from 1 to 2 p.m. after the tabling portion of the event. Te Student Health and Wellness unit organized a coloring craft for students looking for stress relief and fun.
Julka expressed her appreciation for the success of the event and its impact on students.
“Seeing people engaging in the event, going to all the tables and learning about the diferent resources was defnitely the most rewarding part,” Julka said. “I love serving the community. Public service is something that is very important to me. Seeing people having their needs met was very heartwarming for me.”
within units instead of units abstractly because units don’t exist abstractly.”
Te clause was later removed and SR #6 passed 10-1, with Senator Mia Cohen providing the sole “no” vote. She had earlier expressed concern that the association taking political stances may alienate members of the student body.
Ten, the table unanimously passed SR #5, calling on the university to provide evidence that it had received an exemption from having to hear bids for its recently signed $10-million pouring rights contract (PRC) with PepsiCo. ASUCD’s Environmental Policy and Planning Commission (EPPC), which authored the resolution, has long opposed signing with PepsiCo.
EPPC Chair Annie Kanjamala said that SR #5 is their “last resort” to get information from the university regarding the contract bidding. A similar resolution, calling on UC Davis to abide by contractual bidding processes, was presented at the Jan. 16 meeting but was withdrawn after President Gaius Ilupeju said that there had been a Request for Proposal (RFP), to his knowledge. When reached for comment, a university spokesman told Te California Aggie that this information was shared with ASUCD at the Association’s request on Jan. 17. Tey also afrmed Ilupeju’s previous statement that there had been an RFP in the contract process.
“For this contract, UC Davis leveraged the public request for proposal (RFP) and resulting agreement executed by UC Berkeley,”
the university said in a statement to Te Aggie. “Tis is very common practice within the UC system, as each campus often takes point on a specifc good or service that other campuses also have a need for. It is considered redundant and unnecessarily expensive to administer multiple RFP events for the same scope of work.”
Te university also said that there has been much confusion over the contract being a renewal instead of an entirely new contract.
“In the case of the pouring rights RFP process, UC Berkeley conducted a public solicitation,” the statement reads. “Based on the scoring of the bids it received, it awarded the contract to PepsiCo. Te agreement was drafted allowing other campuses to join, with locally negotiated terms as needed. We note that this was not a renewal of an existing contract – although that term has been used in some reporting on the topic. Renewals are quite diferent. Te previous agreement expired and ended. Tis was a new contract.”
More information on the PepsiCo contract can be found on the UC Davis Supply Chain Management website.
Te senate also passed Senate Bill (SB) #38, allocating $1,040 to the Ofce of Senator Wickramasinghe for the ASUCD Sealed with Love event on Feb. 12, and SB #40, allocating $468 to the EPPC to establish a ban on purchasing foodware from sources outside of the ASUCD Cofee House and to buy a supply of compostable utensils.
Te meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m.
Students call for greater access to basic needs, increased funding for food and housing programs
The housing crisis and growing food insecurity leads students to advocate through UC Davis units, as well as for university funding
BY KHADEEJAH KHAN campus@theaggie.org
Amidst the housing crisis and growing food insecurity, University of California students advocate for basic needs, including food and housing, despite structural barriers on their campuses and systemwide.
At UC Davis, one in three students face food insecurity, according to a survey conducted by ASUCD Innovation and Research Lab (IRL) in 2024. Tis number has notably increased since a 2022 survey, which reported that one in four students experienced food insecurity. In a 2017 to 2018 survey conducted by UC Davis Graduate Student Association, almost 18% of students reported facing housing insecurity or homelessness, with 2% having lived in their car or a place not intended for housing.
Systemwide, students and staf from various campuses advocated for access and funding to basic needs programs on campuses at the Jan. 23 UC Board of Regents meeting at UC San Francisco during public comment.
One public commenter, Sherry Zhou, a UC Los Angeles alumna, called for the UC to invest in programs that take care of basic student needs, especially for students from underrepresented communities.
“44% report experiencing food insecurity while over 16% face housing insecurity while tuition and living costs continue to rise particularly for out-of-state and undocumented students,” Zhou said.
Calls for increased funding and intersectional advocacy is mirrored throughout UC Davis’ campus and student mobilization, through ASUCD units like Te Pantry. Established in 2010 and ofcially launched in 2011, Te Pantry serves 1,200 students with food and other essential items each week through the eforts of more than 100 volunteers.
an inside look at bus operations
Student bus drivers and administrators discuss operations this winter quarter
BY JENEVAH HARRISON features@theaggie.org
Each quarter, Unitrans, an ASUCD unit and student-run bus system at UC Davis, faces unique challenges in delivering reliable service to passengers while maintaining safety and comfort. Winter quarter 2025 has been no exception — but there have been notable improvements in service compared to prior quarters, according to student drivers and administrators.
Miles Henninger, a fourth-year environmental policy analysis and planning major and Unitrans driver, shared insights into the quarter’s performance so far, highlighting smoother operations and the
introduction of service enhancements.
“Overall, I’d say it’s been pretty good so far, generally better than last quarter,” Henninger said. “We’ve increased frequencies on the J/V/W, which are some of the most busy lines, [spreading] passenger load out to more buses. We also have more drivers this quarter with people coming out of training, so that has also helped things run more smoothly.”
Despite the improvements, Henninger acknowledged lingering issues, particularly on high-trafc routes like the M and W lines.
“Even with the increased service, we sometimes still have issues, especially with the M/W lines and rush-hour trafc on 1st Street and on the I-80 overpass,” Henninger said.
“But there isn’t much we can do about that without some pretty big changes to those lines.”
Olivia Doyle, a second-year anthropology major, described the issues she has experienced with bus punctuality this quarter.
“More often than not, my buses arrive late to the Silo and Memorial Union areas,” Doyle said.
Due to these delays, Doyle said that her commute to campus has increased from 10 minutes to over 30 minutes on several recent occasions.
As a product of the added time, Doyle recounts being over 20 minutes late to some of her classes this quarter.
Tis issue can be demotivating for many students, including Doyle, as it results in unnecessary absences.
Despite these setbacks, Unitrans has ofered new solutions that may improve these delays. One signifcant change this quarter was the increase in V line service. While benefcial overall, Henninger noted that implementing such changes comes with challenges. “We’ve been tweaking the times and such over the past couple of weeks so that it fows better, and I feel that the current iteration is pretty smooth and has efciently added a couple more buses each hour for passengers to use,” Henninger said. Te beginning of each quarter marks a transitional period for Unitrans, as new schedules and shifts are rolled out. Henninger explained that the winter quarter saw its share
Currently, Te Pantry is working on incorporating cultural food oferings, according to Te Pantry’s Unit Director Andie Tarabzooni. As a Muslim student, Tarabzooni found that there was a disparity in the price and access to halal meat. Now, they are working on establishing a Costco account to buy halal and kosher meat in bulk for Te Pantry, in addition to other culturally relevant foods.
In IRL’s survey for Te Pantry, Asian and Hispanic foods were the most-requested culturally relevant foods by students, with respondents requesting spices, dry noodles and tortillas.
“To make people feel seen and feel supported, it is important for the food itself to be more inclusive,” Te Pantry’s Satellite Operations Manager, Chitra Mukherjee, said. “People should have access to foods that they have grown up with and that remind them of home. Not having access to it can feel isolating.” Sara Molina, a second satellite operations manager for Te Pantry, wants students to know food insecurity extends beyond solely not being able to aford food — it can extend to the quality and nutrition of one’s food or the worries and emotions experienced when it comes to accessing food.
“It is not just, ‘Do you have access to food?’ It is, ‘Do you have access to nutritious food? Do you have access to nutritious food that you can cook?’” Molina said. “We don’t want students to feel guilty about the food they take from Te Pantry. Everyone should be able to access nutritious food and healthy food.”
Te biggest challenge for Te Pantry has been a lack of funding from the university. Te primary source of food supply comes from community donations, such as Yolo County Food Bank, UC Davis employees and food drives by the university.
of adjustments but managed to avoid signifcant disruptions.
“Te frst week is usually a bit rough, especially since it’s before students start to skip their classes, so all the getting used to is accompanied with some of our heaviest passenger loads, although it didn’t seem too bad this quarter,” Henninger said.
Unitrans Operations Manager Joshua Feil shared additional context on the logistical challenges and successes of this quarter, highlighting the benefts of frequency increases on J, V and W lines.
ASUCD staff at the Supporting Students event at the Student Community Center. (Ojas Mishra / Aggie)
EMILY TRAN / AGGIE
Executive orders: democracy or dictator chic?
Balancing necessity and the temptation of overreach
BY NEVAEH KARRAKER nakarraker@ucdavis.edu
Imagine one day the name for “sushi” is suddenly altered to “fsh-rice burritos” throughout all restaurants. An eruption of repulsion and anger rises — no one likes it. It neglects Japan’s infuential and unique culture. Similarly, President Donald Trump signed executive orders to legally rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and the Alaskan peak Denali to Mount McKinley. The Interior Department stands by the president’s expeditious orders claiming that the process of retitling preserves American heritage, reintroduces patriotism and honors former President William McKinley — the peak was referred to as McKinley until former President Barack Obama issued the name change to Denali. As far as the Gulf of America, there is an incentive to enforce a rigid, straight-line border across this large body of water.
However, it is doubtful that this change will be internationally accepted or even accepted within the United States. Alaskan senators have fought to recognize the indigenous cultural history of the mountain for years, as Denali has been a historical landmark cherished by the Alaskan people. Unfortunately, sometimes promoting one culture means rejecting another.
Additionally, declaring a national emergency on the southern border has sparked confict across America. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has swiftly detained thousands of suspected undocumented immigrants, sending the nation into a frenzy of terror. Tis fear was only amplifed when Trump announced plans for a mass detention camp. He then endeavored to freeze federal funding of grants and loans to remove remnants of the “woke ideologies” embedded within the system.
After a federal judge temporarily intercepted this bold stance, the White House rescinded the freeze. However, one thing has been made clear — executive orders are driven by preferences. Tis seems obvious, considering that the Republican and Democratic parties will institute opposing policies aligning with their political beliefs, but there’s another layer to it — traces of bias. When this bias is introduced,
the term democracy becomes very convoluted, and we have to remember that an election is a time for the people to vote for a representative. Regardless of the party, administered policies will possess a certain percentage of this quality. While federal actions like increasing job opportunities, improving the economy and protecting culture have favorable outcomes for all, oftentimes the integrity of the methods employed is controversial.
Hence, this is where we might perceive exploitation of power or, to a greater extreme, possible dictatorship.
To prevent this, the simple solution seems to be to completely do away with executive orders. Tat way, all future presidents won’t inherit unbalanced amounts of authority.
Yet, getting rid of executive orders would be undoing a whole governmental system. Te executive branch would lose an incredible amount of power. Some may prefer that, but the consequences of this implication should not be taken lightly.
Te purpose of executive orders is to direct the federal government to help mitigate national emergencies, like delegating wars and refning policies. Without it, the government would be at a severe disadvantage, as the branch would have no way of enforcing rapid legislation.
It is important to keep in mind that there are upstanding examples of executive orders. For example, the Emancipation Proclamation, the desegregation of the military and the formation of public schools were all executive orders issued by former presidents.
While there have been more than a few unethical resolutions passed, such as the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans and banning the LGBTQ+ community from the workforce, the process itself was intended to be virtuous.
Ultimately, there needs to be balance. Maybe the concern isn’t who is in power, but how they wield it. Executive orders have resulted in the documentation of both groundbreaking advancements and also controversy, revealing whether the decisions were based on personal or public preferences and whether they alienated entire communities or united them.
Trump’s authority is certainly characterized by a hint of excessiveness strikingly similar to Elle Woods from “Legally Blonde,” yet there is much more than pink frills and spirited speeches in his current administration — although it would surely be humorous if a legislature were passed for ofcials to wear more bright colors. A lack of executive orders weakens the executive branch, but unrestrained authority could lead to unwanted and harmful changes for the American people.
In the end, perhaps there should be a little less “main character energy” and a little more collaboration, such that executive orders refrain from being a mockery of political statements to advance one’s career.
Disclaimer: Te views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by Te California Aggie.
My take on modern self-care
With these tips, who needs to touch grass?
BY MADISON SEEMAN meseeman@ucdavis.edu
We live in rough times. Between today’s news, yesterday’s news, tomorrow’s news and the 10-week sprint that is the quarter system, there is a lot to process. When the going gets tough, it is important to put your needs frst and practice self-care. However, the self-care tips I see online only make me want to gag.
Staying hydrated? Getting eight hours of sleep? Touching grass? It all sounds completely unrealistic and immensely boring. Tey just don’t work for me, and I know I am not alone. Exercising is a hassle, and meditation takes too long. Not going on your phone frst thing in the morning is really just impossible, and you will never get me to eat kale. You just can’t!
Luckily for you all, this college student has been struggling, and, in that time, I have picked up a healthy habit or two. Here is my cultivated collection of universal self-care tips, tried and tested by yours truly.
1. Connect with your inner child and revive old childhood hobbies: It doesn’t matter if it is coloring pages, playing Minecraft or eating paper. Some of us used to roll in the mud, and some of us used to chew on crayons. Bring these classic pastimes back! Whatever works — I won’t judge.
2. Cut yourself some new bangs: An oldie, but a goodie. Yes, you probably will regret it in the long run. But the short-term satisfaction you will get from shaking up your life is totally worth the long-term pain and regret. Like, a little bit worth it at least. Just don’t think about it now; Tat’s a problem for you in the future.
3. Never touch Hinge ever again: Yes, happy early Valentine’s Day! But let’s be real — it is only doing damage to your faith in romance and humanity. Free yourself: Hinge is NOT the place to yearn.
4. But still, let yourself yearn: Just let it out.
5. Start a podcast: Journaling is out, podcasting is in. Why keep your thoughts private when you can release them for everyone to hear, permanently solidifed in your digital footprint? Te people deserve to know your thoughts on your biology professor’s oversharing problem!
6. Do not try to teach your friends any new board games: Don’t go chasing chutes and ladders, instead stick to the rivers and lakes that you
Failure is the best medicine
Using your defeat as a tool for improvement
BY VIOLET ZANZOT vmzanzot@ucdavis.edu
So, you failed. You let yourself down, got a failing grade in class, got broken up with or felt like the world might end, all because you messed up. I don’t actually know if you have experienced these things, but I can tell you for a fact that I certainly have. It was not pretty, fun or cute, and I definitely felt like I had failed — yet, here I stand. Failure as an action includes conditions we all seem to have signed on to. For instance, failure is measurable. This means that there is an alternative to failure: there could have been success. It also means that there is a standard, a determining factor that dictates whether some action is a failure or not.
Too often, that determining factor is society, and too often, the thing we use as a measuring stick is other people. Te alternative isn’t so great, either: We also use ourselves as the measuring stick. Either way, comparing our actions to other actions is futile. Yet, this comparison, which leads to inevitable failure, is everywhere — and it’s getting worse.
“The phenomenon of personal failure has grown exponentially over recent decades,” author Michael White said in an article by Informit. “Never before has the sense of being a failure to be an adequate person been so freely available to people, and never before has it been so willingly and routinely dispensed.” Things are getting harder. We compare ourselves more often because we have become hyper-socialized and grown overly accustomed to living in a competitive environment.
We reside in an anxious society that often feels divided between winners and losers, or those who succeed and those who fail.
are used to. It never goes as smoothly as you think it will.
7. Order a Shirley Temple: If you must make it dirty, I can’t stop you. But nothing is better for the soul than the perfect ratio of grenadine and Sprite. Joy is stored in the maraschino cherry.
8. Create rituals: Even better, get people to join your rituals. Even better than that, start a dedicated club where everyone can participate in these rituals. I recommend investing in robes and candles. You might get into some legal trouble if people start to think you’re a “cult,” so best to keep this ritual club a secret. And, if you are too lazy to start your own ritual club, try someone else’s!
9. Dig yourself a hole to hide in : We can’t stop bad things from happening, but we can temporarily hide
in a hole. Just for a few hours! Everyone needs a pick-me-up now and then, and, really, there is no onesize-fts-all answer. If you are one of those rare types who enjoys yoga or going to the gym — good for you, keep it up! As for the rest of us, we will just keep fnding comfort wherever we can. Maybe there is something to those online lists of self-care advice or maybe there is a perfect tip for you on my own list (try at your own risk). Whatever you do, just take care!
Disclaimer: (Tis article is humor and/or satire, and its content is purely fctional. Te story and the names of “sources” are fctionalized.)
How often in life do we actually get any real answers, especially to those philosophical questions we ask ourselves? Is our idea of failure just a way for us to reconcile with a truth we might be afraid of? However, if we settle on the idea that we are simply not good enough at something, that is a definitive answer. So, congratulations, you have failed at something. What that means is that you have an answer to a question. Are you good enough to be in the National Basketball Association (NBA)? Maybe Should you be afraid to try out for your community basketball team? Also, maybe not. Because in order to get the answer to the question, we have to try.
I think when I set out to write about failure, I intended to bash on comparison. To damn the word “should” to oblivion because it has just become another metric people use to compare things. Now that I’m nearing the end, I realize that I failed in condemning comparison. Failure is a way to get an answer, and trying is a way to ask a question. I certainly don’t think there are many better things than being inquisitive, except maybe just being kind. My point is, while on a personal scale it might feel like you’re failing, or maybe in the sociopolitical atmosphere it feels as though we are collectively failing, maybe that’s just an answer to a question. Your next question should be: How can we try harder? Or, better yet — what can we do diferently?
Disclaimer: Te views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by Te California Aggie.
I’m almost certain that I’m not the frst to say it, but as a society, we need to take a deep breath and get comfortable with failure. At its worst, it is a means of comparison by which we deem ourselves to be lesser. Comparison is nothing if not “the thief of joy.” I think that, if we need failure to be something, it can serve as an answer to one of our internal questions.
Are we running out of time?
The pressures of accomplishing certain life milestones “on time” is overwhelming
BY JHANA RHODES jsrho@ucdavis.edu
When I was younger, I always told myself that I would meet my future husband by the age of 20, marry him by 27 and have kids by 30. I am nearing 25 years of age and have made no progress in my goals. In the words of Jane Austen — “I’ve no money and no prospects.”
Nowadays, it seems like everyone has fgured out life, except for me. While most people my age already have college degrees, their frst salaried job and have been in a long-term relationship with their high school sweetheart — I have none of those things. Instead, I’m sitting at my desk complaining about my life in an opinion essay. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still at a young age where I can accomplish many things before I reach my midlife crisis. However, I can’t help but feel like I’m falling behind. And, unfortunately, I know that I’m not the only one that feels this way.
Tis feeling of falling behind stems from a much bigger problem in our society. Unrealistic social pressures create strict timelines that dictate how and when we should accomplish life goals. When this happens, it fosters a sense of competitiveness and comparison within our society, where the ones who are “on track” get the praise and those who are “falling behind” are condemned. It’s during the holidays when I come face to face with these demands most often.
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“What about marriage? You should hurry if you want to have kids.”
“My daughter is your age, and she’s engaged!”
From the outside, these questions appear harmless — but they are, in fact, the complete opposite. Tere have been so many times when I declined family get-togethers just so I could avoid being interrogated. Te few times that
Tanksgiving dinner was hosted at my house, I’d stay in my room all night just to avoid “harmless” discourse. If these questions were meant to encourage me, then why do I feel so bad? When external and internal influences pressure you to reach certain milestones, it can be extremely discouraging when you haven’t reached them. No matter how hard I wish I could be thrifty, firty and thriving with a high-paying job, a mega-mansion and the paycheck to prove it, I’m just not there (yet).
Reaching signifcant milestones, whether they are related to a career, marriage or having children, is a considerable accomplishment that should be celebrated. However, because of everyone’s diverse goals, aspirations and lifestyles, everyone’s journey will difer. No matter how old you are or where you are, no amount of time can determine when life will fall into place. Some of us start university late, some may not want to have kids and some don’t plan on getting married. It’s important to know that you aren’t “falling behind” — you are just going at your own pace. So, the next time you’re at a family get-together and they decide to set up a mock trial — make sure to set boundaries with them and yourself. Although it is imperative to work hard in every aspect of your life, don’t place unrealistic expectations on yourself. No matter how much of your life you have lived, when it comes down to accomplishing milestones, no time is correct if you aren’t ready to take that next step. Take your time and live your life the way you want to.
Disclaimer: Te views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by Te California Aggie.
STEPHANIE CHEN / AGGIE
HUMOR
CRYSTAL CHEN / AGGIE
SAVANNAH BURGER / AGGIE
EDITORIAL
The Trump Administration’s
inhumane mass deportation efforts are racially motivated and set a dangerous precedent
The executive office’s agenda was never about grocery prices
WRITTEN BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Te idealized concept of the “American Dream” is a fairly simple one — no matter where you came from, no matter when you left, people can call this place home and strive for a better life. Tis ideal has been forgotten as the Trump Administration embarks on what they plan to be the “largest deportation order” in American history.
As of Feb. 4, new White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confrmed the frst round of fights bringing undocumented immigrants to Guantánamo Bay. Trump announced his plans to jail 30,000 migrants from the United States to a facility overseas following the passage of the Laken Riley Act, legislation that requires the detention of undocumented migrants charged with specifc crimes. With major Republican support and 46 Democrat representatives voting for the bill, the Trump Administration has begun its operation.
“Today’s signings bring us one step closer to eradicating the scourge of migrant crime in our communities once and for all,” Trump said, announcing the passage of the bill.
Te Department of Homeland Security has declined to answer if women, children and families will be detained at Guantánamo, according to Reuters.
Te Editorial Board condemns the inhumanity of the Trump Administration and these mass deportation eforts.
Te available research shows time and time again that undocumented migrants are far less likely to commit crimes than U.S. citizens. Trump’s goal has never been to reduce crime or make this country safer — his goal
is to deport an entire population and culture of people.
Tese deportation eforts are rooted in bigotry and racism toward Latinos, and this can be clearly seen through the racial profling of citizens by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). During a raid in New Jersey, a former U.S. veteran was detained by ICE agents; Tey even refused to believe he was a citizen when shown his military documentation. In this same raid, ICE detained the workplace’s manager who was Puerto Rican (aka someone who is from the U.S.).
Even in places like Phoenix, Arizona, ICE has questioned and targeted Navajo Nation citizens — people who are indigenous to this land are being questioned and suspected of not being from the U.S..
In response to these raids, ICE has stated they might “encounter U.S. citizens while conducting feldwork and may request identifcation to establish an individual’s identity,” according to NBC News.
Our country’s treatment toward migrants has always been cruel; In 2019, the United Nations rights chief condemned the detaining of children in cages, even suggesting that it violated international law.
However, it’s still worth being aware of the dangerous precedent set by this new administration. On average, ICE has arrested 1,000 to 2,000 people suspected of being undocumented per day, far exceeding last year’s average. ICE has claimed in an email to their staf that the Trump Administration has enforced a daily quota of 1,200 arrests — however, a White House ofcial has denied these reports.
Tere has been large-scale pushback to these policies, with thousands of protesters gathering in
Yes, for the millionth time, this is my device!
Two-factor authentication will not save you
MAI / AGGIE BY ABHINAYA KASAGI akasagani@ucdavis.edu
I was greeted upon my return to campus this winter by being ousted from my very own Canvas, and with it, my student email, Oasis and Schedule Builder. 404 Access Denied. I exercised patience and restraint — yes, I have entered my one-time password (OTP) for the hundredth time; Yes, this is really my device; What do you mean I cannot regain access for the foreseeable future? Whatever, I give up!
Two-factor authentication (2FA) has, in recent years, become a standard measure to bolster security online. Requiring users to authenticate their identity with a password, app or device — something only they have access to — promises added protection against scams and fraud. Despite its widespread adoption, 2FA remains an incomplete solution to a much larger concern within tech infrastructure — the security vs. innovation paradox. By placing the onus of security onto individual users without addressing the deeper systemic faws in tech infrastructure, the system entrusts its users with the burden of safety and introduces new ethical concerns in the context of sensitive data like biometric information.
Te concept of security fatigue is fundamental to one’s understanding of cybersecurity. Essentially, as individuals become more inundated with security measures, they experience weariness or reluctance to engage with them. People can become burdened by security alerts, password change requests or warnings, causing them to greet this bombardment with ambivalence. Tey might also
Los Angeles and hundreds in Riverside and San Diego. During the LA rally, protesters even shut down the 101 Freeway, according to Te Los Angeles Times. Tose gathered held signs that read slogans such as “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” and “MAGA — Mexicans always get across,” according to reporting by Te LA Times.
As the nation is delving into unprecedented times, it is important to be aware of your rights. All of these rights and more can be found on the National Immigrant Justice Center and American Civil Liberties Union websites.
If you are pulled over during a trafc stop, you may ask the ofcer if they are from the Department of Immigration; It is likely they will introduce themselves to you as police — they are not.
Do not let ICE agents into your home without a warrant signed by a judge. If the warrant they show you is not signed by a judge, they have no authority to enter your home. Examples of the diferences between ICE warrants and valid judicial warrants can be seen on the National Immigrant Justice Center website. You have the right to remain silent and not reveal your immigration status to ofcers at any time.
With news developing day by day, it can become overwhelming to not know where things will go next. Te Editorial Board encourages you to look out for your community, speak out against these blatant injustices and not to become complicit with an executive branch that is violating basic human rights. When we look back on the political period we fnd ourselves in, be sure to do whatever you can to ensure you were on the right side of history.
give into multi-factor authentication systems — which use an authentication request that users must “accept” on their device — that can be easily exploited by attackers.
As businesses attempt to reconcile the need for robust security measures through innovation, they often fnd it difcult to avoid compromising one for the other. An example of this trade of occurs when users seek intuitive systems — ones that are easy to access and quick to use — which tend to have less stringent security protocols.
The University of California’s adoption of Duo is a prime example of how 2FA, while ofering additional security, is not a “one size fts all.” Te design of 2FA assumes that its users have access to modern technology or reliable internet — mind you, these are systems everyone is reliant on — which inadvertently frustrates and alienates users who are unable to use these tools efectively. Duo, which works by sending a one-time password to the user’s phone or requiring a code from its app, may be efective against certain attacks but does nothing to address issues such as insecure passwords, poorly designed databases and outdated software. Tis can be particularly worrisome in environments where sensitive data is at stake.
Additionally, one of the biggest ethical concerns with 2FA is its increasing use of biometric data — fngerprints or facial recognition — to verify its users. Despite these methods promising the user more enhanced security, they come with privacy risks that users might not fully comprehend.
Editorial Board
CHRIS PONCE Editor-in-Chief
ALYSSA CREVOISERAT Managing Editor
MADISON PETERS Campus News Editor
HANNAH SCHRADER City News Editor
MAYA KORNYEYEVA Opinion Editor
ZOEY MORTAZAVI Features Editor
ANA BACH Arts & Culture Editor
MEGAN JOSEPH Sports Editor
KATIE HELLMAN Science Editor
JENNA LEE Photo Director
ARIANA NOBLE Layout Director
LANHUI ZHEN Design Director
JOANNE SUN Social Media Manager
AARON POTTER Website Manager
CASSIDY GILLIS Distribution & Outreach Director
TIFFANY HE Copy Chief
JENNY DYE Copy Chief
SAMUEL RUIZ Translation Director
ILEANA MERAZ Translation Director
LAURIE PEDERSON Business Development Manager
All bite and no bark
American history is wrought with censorship
BY MOLLY THOMPSON mmtthompson@ucdavis.edu
Te road of American history is twisted, gnarled and winding. In the nearly 250 years since our official founding, we’ve traversed hills and valleys, glorious victories and bitter losses, periods of peace and periods of instability.
Troughout it all, the relationship between the American people and our government has shifted, morphed and developed just as our narrative events have. One of the most important linkage institutions — connection points between citizens and government — that shape our nation is the media: newspapers, books, radio, television, the Internet and beyond. Media, especially journalism, allows our population to hold the people in charge accountable, spread news and important information, communicate with each other and our administrations and express our needs and desires to our government. Media is unquestionably crucial to democracy.
The influence of the media is intrinsically cemented in the very fabric of our Constitution; the First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law […] prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”
Given the importance of unrestricted speech and the fact that our government recognizes it, it stands to reason that our leaders would uphold the promise made on that ruling document. And yet, our history is just as rooted in censorship as it is in freedom.
One of the earliest and most notable examples of censorship in American history is found in the Sedition Act (1798), which essentially outlawed public opposition to the central government. Anyone who dared to “write, print, utter, or publish […] any false, scandalous and malicious writing against the government” was at risk of fnes and imprisonment. Te Sedition Act was in blatant violation of the First Amendment, having preceded the establishment of judicial review — a check on central power that gave the Supreme Court the authority to consider the constitutionality of laws. Terefore, there was little to stop the Sedition Act’s censorship until the act was repealed, following the election of 1800. As one of the frst major instances in which the limits of First Amendment rights were challenged, the event set a precedent for future controversies.
Dating back to our nation’s conception, there are many examples of postal restrictions that call into question the First Amendment. In 1873, Congress passed the Comstock
Act ,which made mailing information, advertisements or materials deemed “obscene” (which included information about contraception and abortion) a crime. Many such restrictions were later removed, but those that remained came back into relevance when Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022 and reproductive freedom was called into jeopardy.
Te 20th century brought forth a slough of censorship. During World War I (1918), the American Library Association and the United States Department of War sent lists of titles deemed too pro-Socialist, pacifst or pro-German that needed to be removed from military camp libraries. Around the same time, it was not uncommon for public libraries to refuse to allow people of color through their doors or to stock periodicals curated by minority cultures. Book bans as a whole have consistently recurred for various reasons throughout American history, each with diferent resolutions.
During the Red Scare (1917 to 1920), government censorship was a prevalent response to widespread panic — President Woodrow Wilson pushed for multiple laws limiting free speech in the name of a national emergency. Te Espionage Act of 1917 criminalized conveying information meant to interfere with World War I. Te Sedition Act of 1918 cast a broad net over what forms of expression were legal during the crisis, penalizing speech against the government, the Constitution, the military and even the United States’ flag. While these restrictions were removed in later decades, the presiding Supreme Court upheld them as valid, even though they were clear violations of the Free Speech clause. A powerful but quiet form of censorship that the government often uses to its advantage is the simple act of gatekeeping. The White House controls how much of its inner workings it releases for journalists to publish, meaning that they can withhold what they don’t want the public to know. Tis occurs for multiple reasons, and, while it’s certainly true that ofcers restrict information for diplomatic efciency, administrative confidentiality and public defense, it has also been used insidiously. Tis can be difcult to parse, given that the line between restricting information for the sake of safety and restricting information for the sake of power is razor-thin. For example, journalists were not allowed to follow and cover U.S. troops as they invaded Grenada in 1983. Te government’s rationale was in the name of protecting the reporters themselves, but it also resulted in limited (and arguably less substantive) public
coverage of the event.
Our modern governments have rolled the dice on their own forms of censorship more frequently than is generally realized by the public. Today’s eforts tend to be more difcult to spot, though this isn’t always true — the Nixon administration’s attempt to withhold the Pentagon Papers, for example, became mainstream news. Tough Trump’s new administration claims to prioritize “freedom of speech and ending federal censorship,” some of their actions tell a diferent story. Already, he’s pardoned over a dozen individuals charged for attacking journalists during the Jan. 6, 2021 coup attempt, directly counteracting his goal of protecting the merits of the Free Speech clause. Only time will tell how those claims unfold. Te bottom line is that freedom of speech and freedom of press are both invaluable and fundamental to democracy. Already, the United States has declined from a 10 to a fve (between 2012 and 2020) on the Polity Democracy Index (on a scale from -10 to 10). Continued censorship is a surefre way to further this decline. Our country is no ingénue in the face of government media restrictions, but this behavior is never a sign of national health — censorship is a symptom of crisis.
Disclaimer: Te views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by Te California Aggie.
CRYSTAL CHEN / AGGIE
ARTS & CULTURE
BY ANA BACH arts@theaggie.org
Song: “Weird Fishes / Arpeggi” by Radiohead (2007)
Maybe it’s the recent rain pouring or the days darkening quicker, but my playlists have been fooded with Mazzy Star, Phoebe Bridgers and Radiohead. Like the rain, the instrumentals start slow in the beginning but quickly amp up with juxtaposing sounds. Layers of varying guitar chords coupled with quick drum beats create a somber, fast-paced tune, as Tom Yorke smoothly enters with soft vocals in a mumbled fashion — a Radiohead signature.
From their album “Rainbows,” the speaker talks about being seduced by love but ultimately descending back into a depressive state. “Te bottom of the sea” is something he mentions quite frequently, with weird or unnatural beings inhabiting a space within his actual sea of thought. Some think the “weird fshes” could be the new love mentioned, others theorize the narrative is from the perspective of someone who sufers from Stockholm Syndrome and is slowly disconnecting from an abusive relationship — there is no right answer. Te other portion of the title, “Arpeggi” is an Italian translation defned as a broken chord that builds of a descending tune, one chord at a time. Te title perfectly encapsulates the story and the structure of the song, even though a lot of the lyrics are subject to interpretation. I could not suggest a more ftting song as we descend into the season of winter depression — kidding, but not really.
Book: “Devotions: Te Selected Poems of Mary Oliver” by Mary Oliver (2017)
Dual Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner Mary Oliver makes her deep connection and understanding to the natural world known — capturing the reader in her efortless methods of making her words so simple, yet so contemplative. With over 200 selections of Oliver’s most compelling works, “Devotions” is composed of prose that gently assures you that hardships turn into enriching experiences when you shift your perspective. You might recognize works like “Summer Day” and “I am a Soft Animal,” some of her more nationally recognized writing. Posing eye-opening sentiments and asking us to think about the symbiotic nature between ourselves and the environment, Oliver boils down hard-toswallow concepts into something that just about everyone can understand.
TV Show: “Ted Lasso” (2020 to current)
If you have yet to see “Ted Lasso,” I will personally lend you my Apple TV+ account because guess what? — it is that good. Our giddy protagonist, Ted, lands a job as a professional soccer coach for an English Premier League team – except he doesn’t know anything about soccer. After seeing a video of the Kansas football coach go viral for his celebratory dance after their championship win, the club’s new owner, Rebecca Welton, hires Ted as a deliberate attempt to her ex-husband’s beloved Premier team: AFC Richmond.
In her efort to run the team into the ground (or as the English call it: the pitch), Ted’s unwavering optimism and kindness prevail, winning over his players and improving the team’s performance in the league. You rarely come across a show that makes you laugh as hard as you cry, walking away from each episode with sentiments that comfort you like a warm blanket or biscuit (watch the show, you’ll understand). Tankfully, season four is coming out some time in 2026, hopefully flled with more memorable one-liners. Te moral of the story is: Everyone needs a coach like Ted Lasso in their lives.
Movie: “Gladiator II” dir. Ridley Scott (2024)
No, I did not see this movie just because Paul Mescal was the protagonist, though it was one of many deciding factors. Decades after the release of “Gladiator,” director Ridley Scott circles back to deliver this thrilling sequel. After witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is thrown into the coliseum after the powerful twin emperors of Rome, Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), conquer his home. Troughout the flm, he battles countless other gladiators with Macrinus, the owner of a gladiator stable and arms dealer, by his side — or so you think. While I prefer the storyline of the frst flm to the second, Scott outdid himself with the cinematography, gracing audiences with gripping action scenes and an unbelievable set design. Safe to say, the flm is extremely entertaining and a must-see, even if you have yet to see the frst “Gladiator” installment.
The love language of love letters
Writing and sending love letters is a highly personal activity that can represent myriad forms of affection year-round
BY JULIE HUANG arts@theaggie.org
Feb. 14 is fast approaching, and as usual, the holiday privileges a specifc defnition of love. Often understood as a day celebrating the highs of romantic love, traditional Valentine’s Day activities call for showy displays of excess, including bouquets of fowers, rows of chocolates and dinners at candle-lit restaurants. It can be fun to indulge in going all out to declare your love for a partner on a day dedicated completely to them.
However, it is also true that there are many forms of love that people experience that do not ft into the typical Valentine’s defnition, nor is the traditional Valentine’s formula of “bigger is better” enjoyable to all. When it comes to a form of expression that suits any kind of afection, writing and sending love letters makes for an inclusive and versatile choice.
For one, letters are personalized by their nature. First of all, the physical appearance of the letter is completely up to the sender. Letters serve their function whether they were written using pencil and printer paper or fountain pens and intricate stationery. As such, their appearance can be modifed to suit either the sender’s or the receiver’s aesthetic tastes.
Perhaps the most obvious indicator of uniqueness is the individual decides what they want to include in their letter.
A letter could consist entirely of an inside joke known only by a couple of people or it could be a dozen long, sappy paragraphs topped of with original song lyrics. Te content and tone of the letter can be as extravagant or understated
as the writer prefers. By putting what you want to say on paper, it is hard to write a letter that’s not personalized in some way, except maybe if you’re asking ChatGPT for ideas on what to write.
At their best, love letters take work.
Tey take time to write, and what is more loving than sacrificing time, that precious resource that can never be regained? Furthermore, writing a good love letter necessitates a period of emotional refection during which one answers any questions that may arise during the writing process, such as: Why am I even writing this person a letter? To fgure out what you really want to say to the recipient of your letter, it is important to sit with your feelings and examine them to the best of your ability. The writing process can also involve sifting through dear and meaningful memories you have made with that person, which can be a pleasant experience in its own right.
Te emotional work that goes into the creation of a love letter ultimately makes it a valuable keepsake — physical, tangible evidence of tender emotions that existed at some point in time — and after it is sent, those emotions are shared with the recipient, which strengthens the already-cherished bond. Lastly, love letters can be written at any time, in nearly any environment.
Te only requirement is that the writer has the desire and the capacity to do so, which is a reminder that love in its most simple form is not exemplifed by a holiday, nor does it need to be amplifed by the spectacle of a big day.
Rather, love can always be found in its many forms, waiting to be called upon and expressed.
Toss the roses and look for something more personal this Valentine’s Day
Explore handpicked ideas of thoughtful gifts that go beyond the ordinary VERONICA THEN / AGGIE
BY IQRA AHMAD arts@theaggie.org
Roses are red, violets are blue, chocolates and fowers are classics, but it’s fun to think outside the (heartshaped) box, too. Valentine’s Day is all about appreciating the people who matter most, whether that’s a partner, a friend or even yourself. So, even if you’re pairing these ideas with a bouquet of roses or skipping the fowers altogether, here is a curated guide to meaningful gifts that go beyond the usual — but still pair wonderfully with chocolate.
For the art lovers: “Art must be an expression of love or it is nothing.”Marc Chagall Finding the perfect art piece or handcrafted item can feel daunting, so impress your creatively inclined friends or partner with a gift that is a means of self-expression.
For those who love a handson approach, painting kits are an unmatched gift. Tese kits come with everything you need to create something uniquely yours. One of the best options is a paint-your-own-mug set, which lets you design a completely custom piece — whether it’s a romantic message, a fun inside joke or an abstract masterpiece. Some kits even include oven-safe paints, so once you’re done designing, you can bake your work to make it permanent. For an interactive experience, turn it into a date night or gathering with friends: Set up a cozy painting station with snacks and drinks, put on a playlist and make something special together. Tese kits make for a heartfelt and memorable gift. Remember, the joy is in the process.
Now for those who fnd joy in every brush stroke and sketch, highquality tools make for both a practical
Valentine’s Day? No, Galentine’s Day.
and deeply meaningful gift. A set of engraved paint brushes and calligraphy pens, etched with their name or a quote, adds a thoughtful touch to their creative process. Sketchbooks or leather-bound journals also provide a beautiful space for doodling, brainstorming and bringing ideas from pen to paper. For those who love working with color, a set of watercolors or acrylic paints in vibrant shades might inspire their next piece. You can even make a set of carefully selected supplies from places like Te Paint Chip in Downtown Davis.
For the book reader: “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” - Stephen King
For those who fnd magic between the pages, a book-themed gift is the best way to show you care. Instead of picking up a bestseller, consider something more personal.
A personalized book box provides a curated experience, flled with carefully selected reads based on their favorite genres, along with cozy extras like candles, tea or literary-themed goodies. Many subscription services even ofer signed editions or exclusive covers. For those who love to have a cozy reading escape, a book nook is a charming addition to their shelf. Tese miniature diorama inserts ft between books and depict tiny, detailed worlds, ranging from magical alleyways to a tiny library or a scene from their favorite novel. Tey add a touch of whimsy to any bookcase. And of course, a beautiful book journal to track their reading, a custom embosser to mark their personal library or even a gift card to their favorite indie bookstore gives them the joy of picking out their next great read.
Give a little extra love to the special friendships in your life
BY DEVANSHI AGNIHOTRI arts@theaggie.org
Mark your calendars for Galentine’s Day on Feb. 13, a day dedicated to cherishing and prioritizing your platonic relationships. Even though Valentine’s Day prioritizes the romance in your life, Galentine’s Day opens the door for another type of love that deserves a special spotlight.
Te holiday’s origins can be traced to Leslie Knope, a character from the television series “Parks and Recreation.”
“Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands, and our boyfriends, at home, and we just come and kick it breakfast style, ladies celebrating ladies,” Knope said.
While Galentine’s Day began as a way to celebrate female friendships, that does not mean the holiday is limited — rather, the day before Valentine’s is about celebrating friendship as a whole. Here are some easy ways to celebrate Galentine’s Day and enjoy the company of your friends:
Set up a picnic at the Arboretum:
An easy way to get some fresh air and enjoy quality time with friends is to throw a picnic at the Arboretum. Everyone can bring their favorite treats, dress up and take some pictures to capture the moment. Take the time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings on campus, enjoy some delicious snacks, look out at the lake and reminisce on all of the shared memories while making new ones with those closest to you.
If photos aren’t your cup of tea, consider bringing a deck of cards or any board games that you have been wanting to revisit — Monopoly, Scrabble or Pictionary, to name a few. It’s easy to get caught up in social media and the distractions that technology bears, and reducing your screen time to focus on the people in front of you is way more
rewarding than any TikTok trend you recreate. Capture the moment, but make time for some playful activities away from your phone. Besides, who doesn’t love a little “friendly” competition?
Trow a movie night: Another fun way to spend time with your friends is by hosting a movie night. Grab a projector or your laptop and put on a movie that encompasses your friendship. If you are having trouble deciding, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” is a classic, “Booksmart” captures humorous adventure or “Stand By Me” is a great coming-of-age story about the strength of friendship. Pull out the fuzziest blankets you can fnd and spread out your favorite movie snacks across your laps. If you aren’t looking to stay in the comfort of your living room, you can
even take this movie night to the theater. Spoil yourselves with refills on movie theater popcorn and watch a recently released flm that is sure to scratch the Valentine’s itch. For those of you who aren’t in the horror mood with “Nosferatu” or the animated mood with “Moana 2,” there are a few more holiday-appropriate flms to watch with friends. If you decide to stay in after all, “Mean Girls,” “Legally Blonde” and “Bridesmaids” are just a couple of flms that spotlight female friendship in an endearing yet hilarious light. Host a spa day: A non-negotiable
KELLIE LU / AGGIE
Delta of Venus hosts
first-ever Trivia Night
Claire Kisliuk is Davis’ newest trivia master
BY ELIZABETH BUNT arts@theaggie.org
Delta of Venus, a staple of the Davis art scene that is located near the corner of B and 1st Street, hosted its very frst trivia competition on Jan. 23. Te café is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and hosts pub nights on Tursdays and Fridays from 5 to 10 p.m. Despite the limited hours, Delta of Venus hosts a large number of community events from live music of every genre to poetry readings to open mic nights.
Not only was Jan. 23 the frst time the café has o f ered trivia, the date also marked the debut performance for host and UC Davis alumna Claire Kisliuk. Over the course of three rounds, Kisliuk challenged players with questions that spanned a range of topics.
T e three categories chosen for the debut night were: the Sacramento Valley/World Geography, Mysticism and the Occult/Supercouples and Jumble. This made for a varied selection of questions that kept the audience engaged all the way to the end. Notably, players were asked to guess the music genre “yacht rock” simply from its descriptors and then turn around and identify the two members of “Bennifer” — it was intellectual whiplash in the best way.
Kisliuk provided information about her method for writing the trivia questions.
“I take inspiration from conversations I have or TV shows I watch to scour Wikipedia and take myself from one page to the next,” Kisliuk said. “When I come across something that I knew that I forgot about or I fnd something interesting that relates to something well-known or I’m reminded of something nostalgic, I’ll write a question as a way of sharing a fun fact with people or taking them back in time. It takes us out of our everyday lives for a second and puts us in the context of the world
where a lot of cool things go down.”
Tis thought process extends itself to the players of Kisliuk’s trivia — players are left feeling that the answer is on the tip of their tongue. When the answer is revealed, it feels as though it was something they should have known the whole time.
Delta of Venus has a few other qualities that separate it from other trivia nights in Davis, according to Kisliuk.
“When I’ve gone to other trivia nights, it’s late at night, it feels like a chaotic atmosphere and I’ve felt like the questions are really niche and nerdy,” Kisliuk said. “I think Delta of Venus trivia nights are nice because they’re earlier and chiller, and [...] I think the questions are a little less niche.”
Players were invited to check in starting at 6:30 p.m. to be ready for the f rst question at 7 p.m. T e event was over by 9 p.m., a time when Woodstock’s Pizza Trivia Night was only just beginning and Sophia’s T ai Kitchen was still half an hour away from getting started. Te earlier timing makes Delta of Venus trivia more friendly for students wanting to attend a midweek event or for Davis locals who are looking to have an early night.
Additionally, Delta of Venus’ Trivia Night is not a bar setting. Patrons were invited to buy a beer or glass of wine, but hard alcohol and cocktails were not on the menu. Likewise, there was no requirement to buy drinks as a trivia entry fee, making it not a strictly 21-and-older venue.
From here on out, Delta of Venus Trivia Nights will take place on the 2nd and 4th Tursdays of each month.
Te next event will be on Feb.13, and the start time will continue to be set at 7 p.m. For the Davis trivia lovers planning on being in attendance — the atmosphere is cozy, the venue classically Davis and the questions a perfect mix of entertaining and infuriating.
Review: the debut season of ‘Severance’
A mind-boggling office drama that will have you questioning your nine-to-five
BY BETH MUNRO-MORRIS arts@theaggie.org
If you thought Ben Stiller was confined to Hollywood acting, think again. Stiller takes a bold leap behind the camera and successfully makes the audience’s heads explode in his directorial debut, “Severance.”
Teaming up with writer Dan Erickson, he lets his imagination run wild in a nine-episode thriller streaming exclusively on Apple TV.
A psychological nightmare, “Severance” takes the concept of the work-life balance to an extremely terrifying hypothetical. In the show, the characters’ minds are split into two distinct personas: the Innie (work-self) and Outie (personal-self). When characters enter the ofce, they lose all knowledge of their personal life, and when they leave, they have no recollection of their workday. Although the division is enforced by Lumon, a dubious biotech company, its psychological implications extend beyond the company’s four walls.
In what is known as the “severance procedure,” a cerebral microchip is implanted into employees’ brains, with the activation point located in the elevator that leads to the headquarter’s severed foor. While each person’s Innie endures the monotony of a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday, their Outie is pardoned from the stresses of professional labor and blissfully unaware of any corporate information.
Each Innie is equally ignorant of their Outie’s life, but when questions arise and anxiety builds about life in the outside world, a group of severed
employees team up to uncover the truth about the unknown. Ultimately, their mission to access the real world breaks company protocols, propelling four individuals into a battle against a corporate empire.
As the season progresses, we learn about each employee’s complex history and why they initially volunteered to be “severed.” T e series is centered around Lumon’s Macro Data Refnement (MDR) team: Mark S., Irving B., Dylan G. and a new hire, Helly R.
As Helly begins to challenge the status quo upon her arrival, Mark capitalizes on the opening and uses his position as MDR supervisor to lead his coworkers on a dangerous road of self-discovery. Although season one does not reveal much about Irving and Dylan’s past, audiences learn early on that Mark is trying to escape the pain of his wife’s death. However, the real mystery lies in who his wife was, her connection to Lumon and the impossibility of Mark knowing her in both worlds.
Mark’s protagonistic arc is apparent through one of the show’s introductory shots, which tracks him walking through the maze of Lumon’s severed hallways. Te sequence gives the audience a taste of his mundane work routine, as its two-minute-long duration feels like a lifetime for those watching. Surrounded by enclosed, stark walls, the sufocating atmosphere is palpable as Mark navigates his way to yet another windowless space — his ofce.
Te MDR ofce, along with the rest of the severed f oor, is rooted in mid-20th-century design. To
accompany the program’s otherworldly narrative, set designers enhance the audience’s sense of confusion by combining 1970s-inspired furniture with futuristic innovations. After all, in what world would you f nd touchscreen CRT monitors?
T ese monitors serve as one of the program’s biggest enigmas: What exactly do Lumon employees do? Troughout season one, the MDR team is frequently shown sorting numbers on their screens. Yet, the purpose of these tasks remains frustratingly ambiguous with unanswered questions continuing to build in anticipation of season two. Similarly, the show offers no clear context or clues about where in America “Severance” takes place. Te creators of the series work hard to emulate an unfamiliarity that almost feels like a simulation, with very few references to the real world.
Tis robotic feel is embodied by the un-severed employees at Lumon, particularly superiors Mrs. Cobel and her assistant, Mr. Milchick. Te two share an expressionless demeanor and unyielding authority over their severed employees that is deeply unsettling to watch. Cobel’s sporadic outbursts only add to the program’s eeriness, leaving the audience with a growing discomfort leading up to season two. And after three long years of suspense and speculation, the wait for a second season is fnally over. As of Jan. 17, fans can return to the severed world, with weekly episodes to satisfy all of their burning questions. So, grab some snacks, dim the lights and prepare for another round of mindbending twists in the work world.
Tea is paving the way in the wellness industry, one sip at a time
The Global Tea Institute brings communities together at their 10th Annual Colloquium
BY SHREYA KUMAR
arts@theaggie.org
Tea lovers, researchers and cultural enthusiasts alike are brewing up excitement as the Global Tea Institute (GTI) celebrates a decade of innovation at its 10th Annual Colloquium with the theme “Tea and Peace: Bringing Communities Together.”
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 30, the UC Davis Conference Center hosted this year’s event and brought together experts from around the world to steep in the rich history,
science and artistry of tea. Whether you are a devoted tea connoisseur, a history or wellness enthusiast or simply looking to try something new, the event had something for everyone to enjoy.
If you have not heard of the GTI yet, you may know of its various iterations over the years. Te idea for it began in 2012, as the “All Tings Tea” faculty research cluster. Dr. Katharine Burnett, a UC Davis professor of Art History, the co-chair of the Art History Program and the director of the GTI, hosted the frst public tea colloquium here at UC Davis in 2013. In 2014, Burnett gave a talk at the Xiamen
International Tea Fair about her vision for a UC Davis tea center.
Public interest from both campus and industry leaders continued to grow, and by 2015, the provost and associate deans of the faculty in humanities and the social sciences provided a grant to allow the establishment of a Global Tea Initiative on the UC Davis campus. After receiving a global endowment fund, the name was changed to the Global Tea Institute for the Study of Tea Culture and Science in April 2023.
Te institute has since grown to include over 40 staf members and is supported by a Tea Advisory Committee consisting of some of the biggest names
in the tea industry, like Harney & Sons, Ito En, Mighty Leaf and more. Tey also established an afliated group of of-campus experts, Te International Society of Global Tea Scholars.
People from all of these groups come together with the local campus community each year to celebrate the diverse and ever-evolving world of tea at the Annual Colloquium. As the GTI continues to expand its reach and infuence, the colloquium remains a cornerstone of its mission to deepen our understanding and appreciation of tea on a global scale.
“We’ve had strong attendance since our frst year,” Burnett said. “Tere’s a huge audience on our campus. On top of that, people have come from all over the world, [from] Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka [and] Japan just for this event. Tat shows just how interested and dedicated people are, and that’s pretty special.”
From guest speaker presentations on the health benefts and history of tea to live demonstrations of traditional tea ceremonies and specialty tea tasting events, the free event ofered unique opportunities for every attendee.
Megan Ta, a third-year molecular and medical microbiology major and self-proclaimed tea enthusiast, attended the colloquium to supplement a research project on Chinese and Japanese tea production for the UWP 101: Advanced Composition course.
“All of the tea vendors here are really educated about the process,” Ta said. “Tere’s some really innovative stuf they’re doing, making tea faster and more accessible. It’s really cool to see all of the new blends and products that they’re coming up with.”
Among some of the new products being showcased and sampled included a compostable cup with a built-in tea infuser by the company Tea Voila and pre-measured matcha cubes that
dissolve in hot water by the company Ekkomi Matcha. On top of these new cutting-edge products, customers were also able to take home samples of specialty blends and drinks from other brands that are members of the Tea Advisory Committee.
In addition to the annual colloquium, the GTI is working hard to introduce more UC Davis students to the beauty of tea research and studies through developing courses and curriculum. Currently, an annual frstyear seminar on Global Tea Culture and Science is taught every winter quarter by faculty members and provides students with a broad understanding of many cultural and scientifc aspects of tea.
Te GTI is still in the process of developing a more comprehensive curriculum for undergraduate and graduate students and hopes to eventually introduce a Global Tea Studies minor and even a major in time. In the meantime, students are encouraged to work with GTI faculty to develop independent majors and help out with research. Tey also teach a Continuing and Professional Education Program for Industry Professionals that is open to the public for anyone to enroll in starting in February.
“I’m so humbled and honored that there is this much interest in what we’re doing here, and even long after I’m gone it will continue to grow,” Burnett said.
As the GTI looks ahead to the future, its 10th Annual Colloquium stands as a testament to the power of tea in fostering connections and communities. Whether through future colloquia, new courses or industry partnerships, the GTI remains dedicated to deepening our understanding of tea — one cup, one conversation and one breakthrough at a time.
Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, John Turturro and Britt Lower in the first season of “Severance.” (Apple TV+ / fair use)
A tea vendor demonstrates how to make matcha at the Global Tea Institute’s Annual Colloquium.
(Christian Cendejas / Aggie)
Delta of Venus, located on B Street. (Ojas Mishra / Aggie)
Beyond the classroom: navigating culture shock and community at UC Davis
International students at UC Davis share their journeys of adapting to new social norms, finding a sense of community
BY JALAN TEHRANIFAR features@theaggie.org
For many international students, attending UC Davis is more than just an academic pursuit — it is a transformative cultural experience. Adjusting to life in a new country comes with unique challenges, from navigating social norms to understanding diferent perspectives on communication, hospitality and independence. While each student’s journey is diferent, common themes of culture shock, adaptation and personal growth tend to emerge.
Shreya Rupani, a fourth-year sociology and communications double major, is an ethnically Indian student who came to UC Davis from Tailand.
Growing up in Bangkok, she was drawn to UC Davis for its strong academic programs and tight-knit community.
With a passion for marketing and brand management, Rupani discussed her hopes to work in the fashion and beauty industry after graduation,
combining her creativity with her understanding of human behavior and media.
“I chose UC Davis because of its strong academic programs and diverse community,” Rupani said. “I also chose it because of its small-town feel.
Coming from one of the biggest cities in the world, I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and experience a true college experience.”
While Rupani knew that UC Davis would be very diferent from Bangkok, she was still surprised by just how much of a contrast it presented. Te shift from an urban environment to a smaller, student-focused town challenged her to adjust to a new way of life.
“I knew it was a college town, but I didn’t realize just how quiet it could be,” Rupani said. “In contrast to Bangkok, where there’s always something happening, Davis has a much slower pace of life. One major cultural diference is how direct Americans are.
People here are more vocal about their opinions, while in Tai culture, there’s a stronger emphasis on politeness and
UC Davis students face difficulties attempting to register for Craft Center classes
The high number of interested students poses challenges for registration, which is conducted both online and in person
BY RACHEL GAUER features@theaggie.org
Te UC Davis Craft Center is widely known for its variety of art classes that both students and community members have the opportunity to enroll in. Ranging from ceramics to woodworking to screenprinting, students can fnd their medium to express themselves and spend some time away from the everyday stress of university life.
However, the registration process has proven to be a struggle for many prospective Craft Center students. Due to the high volume of interested participants, course space tends to be limited. As a result, Davis students have commented that enrollment has become highly competitive.
During the winter registration period, Juliana Renert, a third-year design major, attempted to enroll in Flameworking 101, a class focusing on glass work, but was unable to do so due to her high spot in the online queue. Renert commented on her experience with the enrollment process.
“I hit the registration button and got 409,” Renert said. “It was a little disheartening. I understand how it’s supposed to be random and fair for everyone, but I was trying to get into a very specifc class with some friends and it just didn’t work out.”
By the time that Renert entered into the portal, both sections of the course were flled and she only was able to waitlist for the courses and ultimately was not granted a spot in the class. According to Renert, the online registration system assigns users a random place in the line, where a high number indicates more time to wait.
“I know a lot of people tried to use their computer and their phone and a diferent device just to try to get a better spot,” Renert said. “It’s a confusing system.”
Ella Swadley, a fourth-year human development major, successfully registered for a Handbuilding Basics class during fall registration, but later faced difculties registering for a Wheel Trowing class during winter and was ultimately unable to register.
“Overall it was just a stressful experience,” Swadley said. “Te online registration with the queue was hard, I kept getting logged out and things weren’t loading.”
Tough the online registration has proven to pose difculties, it ultimately is a result of the center’s goal to limit long in-person lines, which proved to be an issue in past years.
Grace Lawlor, a UC Davis alumna who graduated in 2023 with a B.S. in agricultural and environmental education and currently volunteers at the Craft Center, commented on the problems that arise from registering
indirect communication.”
Having traveled extensively, Rupani was already familiar with Western culture, but certain aspects of American life still stood out. “I travel pretty frequently and am already familiar with Western culture, because I went to a private American Christian school, so I didn’t experience extreme culture shock,” Rupani said. “Some things did stand out — like how independent everyone is compared to back home. Also, the drinking culture here is diferent. Such a strong tipping culture is also a construct that was very odd to me, it isn’t something I have experienced anywhere else in the world.”
As she prepares for graduation, Rupani refects on how her time at UC Davis has shaped her both academically and personally. Te experience has pushed her to step outside of her comfort zone, adapt to new cultural norms and grow in confdence. She encourages other international students to take advantage of the opportunities available and embrace the challenges of studying abroad.
“Find a community that makes you feel at home,” Rupani said. “UC Davis has a lot of opportunities, but you have to put yourself out there to take advantage of them. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it’s academic, career-related or personal, there are plenty of resources available.”
Sultan Osman, a third-year managerial economics and mechanical engineering double major, is an Egyptian and Sudanese student. Initially attending UC Davis because it was the only United States university to ofer admission, he plans to make the most of his education in future endeavours.
“I’m hoping to use my degree to start my own company,” Osman said. “I haven’t fgured out the logistics of my future business, but I’m hoping to implement what I have studied at UC Davis.” For Osman, adjusting to life in Davis came with unexpected challenges. While he had seen depictions of American college life in movies — often flled with parties and social events — the reality was quite diferent. Te rigorous academic culture and strong emphasis on individual achievement stood out to him the most.
“I defnitely experienced culture shock, the biggest one was people’s hard work ethic in college,” Osman said. “I [had] never been to the United States, I only knew what I saw from movies about crazy college parties.”
Beyond academics, Osman also noticed a signifcant diference in social
dynamics between Egypt and the U.S. Having grown up in a culture where hospitality and communal ties are deeply ingrained, he found American interactions to be more independent and less centered around close-knit communities.
Te biggest cultural diference is that people in Egypt are much more welcoming to strangers because it’s much more community-oriented,” Osman said. “I guess what I’m saying is that there is a stronger sense of community there. Here, a stranger could be anyone.”
Arya Dehghani, a fourth-year aerospace engineering major, is ethnically Persian but grew up in the United Kingdom. Although he had spent a few years in the United States before attending UC Davis, Dehghani believes that living on his own and navigating university life gave him his frst true American experience. With a strong passion for engineering, Dehghani saw UC Davis as an opportunity to further his technical knowledge while immersing himself in a new cultural environment.
“I came to UC Davis because I wanted to continue to live in America for college, and this school was a good engineering choice,” Dehghani said. “I plan on using my degree for aerodynamic advancement in commercial supersonic fight, automotive aero research and rocketry.”
While having some familiarity with American life, certain aspects of the transition still caught Dehghani of guard. Te diferences in lifestyle and social norms, particularly in how people interact and communicate, became evident to him early on — topics that were discussed openly in his home country sometimes required more careful wording in American settings. Despite these initial adjustments, he found comfort in a tight-knit community of Middle Eastern students, which helped him feel more at home.
“I did experience culture shock — it
was not walkable, whereas in Europe you walk everywhere,” Dehghani said. “Also, people took ofense to a much broader spectrum of things which were said. [...] As for Davis, it was pretty much what I expected, but I found my own community of Middle Easterns here.”
Another cultural contrast Dehghani observed was in attitudes toward money and hospitality. In his upbringing, generosity and shared financial responsibility were common, but in the U.S., he noticed a more individualistic approach to spending.
“In American culture, people are quite stingy with money, I feel,” Dehghani said. “For example, in my home country we fght to pay the bill, and when we invite someone to our home we do our best to take care of them, whereas in the U.S., hospitality and fnancial kindness are defned very diferently.”
Despite these diferences, Dehghani appreciates the connections he has made at UC Davis, both professionally and personally. His time at the university has broadened his perspective and given him the chance to interact with individuals from all walks of life.
“UC Davis has connected me with people who I will be able to work with in the future professionally but also many individuals who l consider incredible friends,” Dehghani said. “I was also exposed to individuals from a wide range of social-economic backgrounds and areas, so I feel that I have learned more about American culture here.”
The international student experience at UC Davis is challenging, as students are not only adjusting to college life but an entirely new environment as well. While culture shock and social diferences have been challenging, Rupani, Osman and Dehghani each found ways to navigate their new environment, whether it’s through building communities at Davis or adjusting to new norms.
solely in person, a method the center used to rely on.
“I remember two years ago, my best friend waited in line for six hours or something ridiculous like that,” Lawlor said. “As it grew in popularity it became heavily impacted, and I think since then the Craft Center has tried to fgure out a way to make sure no one waits in line for too long.”
Renert also commented on the inperson option, which she experienced during her frst year registering.
“I did the physical registration where you wait in the long line and I ended up getting the class I wanted because it wasn’t a very popular one,”
Renert said. “But, I ended up waiting for two hours, which was not my favorite — but I was just glad I got into the class.”
In response to the issues with inperson registration, the Center has also tested solely online options, which also resulted in challenges as the site was often too heavily trafcked during the registration process.
Lawlor explained that for online registration for campus recreation, UC Davis utilizes an external website called Fusion.
“Fusion is a completely third-party program,” Lawlor said. “Te second that everyone got online to sign up, it crashed. It wasn’t the craft center’s system, we’re not the tech guys, we just use the university’s programs.”
Tough the Center’s registration system still utilizes Fusion, they’ve implemented both an in-person and online option to limit excessive trafc on the site.
Swadley commented on the registration process, highlighting the large number of students trying to register as the primary cause of the issues.
Te hybrid registration system is tricky, but I don’t know what else they could even do with the high demand that there is,” Swadley said.
Lawlor also commented on the fact that Craft Center spaces are limited due to the nature of the small class sizes, which often tend to host a single-digit number of participants.
“Our studio spaces and the ability for our instructors to teach a high volume of students are pretty limited,” Lawlor said. “You want to have good class sizes and you want everyone to be able to ft in the studio safely.”
Lawlor also commented that due to the high volume of students interested in expanding their artistic abilities and participating in classes, perhaps a larger change could be necessary at some point down the line.
“Te craft center is an amazing space, and I think expanding and investing in our studios is a good idea — since there is a pretty huge demand for fun extracurricular activities,” Lawlor said.
‘I’m one in a million’: Gambling and sports betting at UC Davis Students and
economics professor weigh in
on
gambling culture, discuss potential impacts
BY NOAH HARRIS features@theaggie.org
Following a 2018 Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to legalize sports betting, gambling has arguably had its biggest expansion into society in American history. Currently, sports betting is legal in 39 states, which does not include California. However, daily fantasy games, where people can create a lineup similar to fantasy football but with money at stake, are considered skill-based and are legal in California.
Two third-year UC Davis students, who wished to remain anonymous, and one Davis professor discussed the fuctuating nature of gambling and sports betting.
David Lang, a professor and the department chair of economics at California State University, Sacramento and an occasional adjunct professor in economics and statistics at UC Davis, shared his thoughts on gambling. Lang emphasized that he does not endorse or encourage gambling and is simply discussing his experiences and knowledge of the practice.
“As an economics professor and someone trained in economics, [I] obviously spend a lot of time thinking about things like cost-beneft analysis — the economic returns to various activities,” Lang said. “Keeping in mind that there are some things we do for entertainment that have very little, if any, economic returns at all. And we’re allowed to do those things, too.”
Gambling is widespread among 18to 22-year-olds on college campuses, with 67% having engaged in sports betting, according to a 2023 National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) study. Lang explained some of the reasons behind this trend.
“Students have a little more disposable income now than they have in years past,” Lang said. “So that’s [one] thing. Te other part of it is that sports gambling in particular has done a really good job at being app-friendly.” Lang proceeded to explain the appeal of contemporary sports gambling among a younger demographic.
“Tere is no group of human beings on Earth right now that is better and more prone to using apps and using them well and falling in love with that technology than people from the ages of 16 to 25,” Lang said.
“Because of that, it’s almost like sports betting has been geared toward what would be the best thing we could possibly do to make this attractive for college-aged students.”
College students are twice as likely to have a gambling addiction than the rest of the population, according to a study by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). In fact, 6% of college students reportedly have a gambling addiction of some kind. For those struggling with a gambling or alternative type of addiction, UC Davis hosts many recovery resources on the Student Health and Counseling Services website. Tere is also a governmental helpline available at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Ofcial sports bets can be placed at Davis. While those on ofcial UC Davis sports teams are not permitted to gamble on NCAA-sponsored sports, both its football and basketball teams can be found on betting websites.
Tere are multiple common reasons for why people gamble: One reason is as a form of social interaction, and another reason is that gambling can be considered a fun activity or even a hobby — an anonymous third-year student mentioned the latter as a primary reason for the time he spends betting.
“I kind of think of it like, if I were to go bowling or go golfng, I’m going to spend at least 20 bucks on that,” the student said. “So, if I get three hours of entertainment from watching a game, I’ll spend 20 dollars on that and not be mad if I lose it.”
Gambling, especially with the accessibility of online forums, can cause everyday problems for students, such as missing more classes or having higher amounts of anxiety. Losing money through gambling can lead to a specifc type of anxiety, a concept which Lang later discussed.
“Yeah, super dangerous [...] — the idea of chasing after losses and trying to get back to even,” Lang said. “It’s a very, very common thing that actually occurs in all forms of gambling and all forms of day trading in the stock market or anything else. And it often winds up getting people in trouble.”
Another anonymous third-year student shared that he has had multiple experiences of trying to break even.
Tere [have] defnitely been nights where I’ve been down and, like, I’ve felt [...] the need to win it back,” the
student said. “And there [have] been nights where [...] it just goes into a deeper hole. So yeah, it sucks to be in a position like that.”
All three interviewees mentioned that a love of sports was a key motivation behind their entry into gambling.
“I enjoy watching sports,” the frst student said. “So I fgured I might as well make it more fun, put a little money on it.”
Lang has gambled for several years, and for a long time, he wasn’t very successful.
“What I would say is that for much of the time, if someone wanted to make the most amount of money gambling in sports, what they should do is follow me up to where I’m placing my bet and tell the person, ‘Please give me a hundred-dollar bet on the opposite of what that guy did,’” Lang said. That dynamic of betting on opposite sides that Lang mentioned is exactly how sports betting companies make money. Tey collect commissions on losing bets, commonly known in the sports gambling world as “vigorish.”
“Tey don’t care whether I win or I lose,” Lang said. “What they really want to make sure is that whether I win or I lose, there’s a loser or winner on the other side, and then they make money no matter what.”
Te second anonymous student provided a simple response when asked what advice he would give to people gambling for the frst time.
“Don’t do it,” the second student said.
When questioned as to why he gave that advice given that he previously mentioned having made an overall proft, the student provided an answer.
“Because they’re not like me,” the second student said. “Tey don’t understand — I’m one in a million.”
Casinos in America profted 66.5 billion dollars in 2023 — the highestever recorded earnings of casinos directly of of their customers.
As discussed by both Davis students and Lang, sports betting can be used as a fun way to engage in sports culture. However, it can cause stress and anxiety in one’s personal life, especially amongst college students. Regardless of whether it is a good thing or not, gambling in many forms has become more popular at UC Davis and across the entire country — and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
KAYLA TRAN /AGGIE
A student in a stained glass class creating a small tile at the Craft Center.
(Jessie Baltaxe / Aggie)
Sudoku
Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row, column and 3x3 square must contain each digit. Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing.
Crossword
CITYCOUNCIL
FROM PAGE 2
In their comments, council members also agreed that the program guidelines should be reviewed by the Fiscal and Social Services Commissions.
City Manager Michael Webb referenced a Dec. 17 meeting where the council formed two subcommittees, one specifc to pavement management and investment and another that would look into other funding needs and priorities on a city-wide level. He gave a rough timeline for when commissions could develop a budget for the down payment assistance program.
“Te work of the subcommittee on fscal [priorities] would continue over the course of the next couple months, culminating in March or April [with] budget priority recommendations coming back to the council and the staf for those new net revenues [from Measure Q],” Webb said. “At that time, it’ll become more evident to what extent there may be a component of that funding that the council wants to set aside for afordable housing, and then of that, if there’s a sub-component for a down payment assistance program.”
Te city council approved the ordinance and also directed city staf to start developing specifc guidelines for a down payment assistance program in tandem with the Fiscal subcommittee working on a report for the overall city budget.
rough, especially since it’s before students start to skip their classes, so all the getting used to is accompanied with some of our heaviest passenger loads, although it didn’t seem too bad this quarter,” Henninger said.
Unitrans Operations Manager Joshua Feil shared additional context on the logistical challenges and successes of this quarter, highlighting the benefts of frequency increases on J, V and W lines.
Tese lines have our highest ridership, so we’re excited to provide more service here and cut wait times by up to half,” Feil said. “For the J and W, we didn’t actually add any shifts or work hours to do this, we only rearranged existing shifts and added extra trips where there was previously downtime. Tis means these shifts are now more ‘dense’ and intensive on our drivers and conductors.”
Feil continued by sharing insight into a common problem, cascading delays, which can arise when drivers’ shifts are too close together.
“Packing shifts tighter brings the potential for an issue of ‘cascading delays,’ where delay on one trip bleeds over to the next trip,” Feil said. “We’ve been working to stay ahead of this issue by having on-call drivers take over parts of heavier trips, where we anticipate delays to occur.”
Feil also noted that early-quarter ridership spikes add to operational challenges, with week one averaging 23,000 passengers a day — a historically high volume for Unitrans. To combat this high ridership, Unitrans has implemented several precautionary measures, one of which Feil mentioned was sending extra buses to popular areas including lines VX and VL at the West Village.
Feil also praised the eforts of the Unitrains training department, which has been pivotal in preparing new drivers for solo service.
Tey release about two to three new drivers into solo service each week and cover a lot of ground in the short few months they have them in training,” Feil said. “I have nothing but praise for them.”
Jacky Limón, a third-year plant sciences major and Unitrans trainer, echoed Feil’s sentiments about the training process.
“Training sessions this quarter have gone somewhat smoothly,” Limón said. “Coming back from such a long break is hard because many of the trainees have not been behind the wheel in a long time, making it difcult to pick up from where they left of. Despite this, I feel that there have defnitely been some very successful trainees who have made great progress.”
Limón shared anecdotes about her experiences training new drivers, including one memorable Halloween night shift.
“On the very last run of the night, we had two people wearing extralarge infatable costumes come on our bus,” Limón said. “Tey took up the entire priority seating area, but it was great for a training session to see if my trainee could drive while being mindful that they can’t hold on to the bus [the] best.”
While the quarter has had its challenges, the collective efort of drivers, trainers and administrators has contributed to a smoother overall experience for Unitrans passengers. With continued adjustments and support, Unitrans looks to maintain its vital role in the Davis community while still working to address issues that tend to arise at the start of each new quarter.
“I like to sit outside and people watch — it defnitely captures the Davis vibe.” Brenda Razo, a Master of Professional Accountancy student, said she frequents Village Bakery for its environment and food.
“I love the homey vibe of Village Bakery,” Razo said. “Tey have a great selection of pastries and customer service is amazing so it has naturally become one of my favorite places in Davis.”
Until Village Bakery ofcially relocates to a diferent Downtown Davis location, you can still stay up to date with the establishment throughout this transition. If you want to learn more about Village Bakery’s menu, hours of operation and delivery options, you can visit their website or Instagram page for more information.
AUTHENTICATION
FROM PAGE 5
Te centralized storage of biometric data increases the risk of breaches and systemic misuse (even with encryption); Programs like Duo that collect confdential data raise ethical concerns regarding surveillance under the guise of security. Biometric data is highly sensitive and irreversible — unlike passwords, it cannot be changed if compromised. Te more ubiquitous these methods become, the more likely it is that our personal data will be mishandled and exposed. While companies claim to protect this data through encryption, breaches cannot be accounted for in advance, and users are left vulnerable and with all of their data in one basket.
Research shows that even with advanced security protocols in place, human error — whether that be through poor password practices, mishandling sensitive information or failing to recognize phishing attempts — remains a primary reason why achieving security is difcult despite technological advancements. Te broader concept of the security dilemma, wherein the measures taken to increase security may inadvertently introduce new risks or expose weaknesses, suggests that as security measures grow more complex, user mistakes will increase. So, even the most sophisticated tools may not be enough to prevent breaches. As one evaluates the usability of 2FA, it becomes clear that this misalignment between security and design perpetuates a false sense of security, leaving its users to fend for themselves. Tere is a muchneeded shift in how to approach security in order to create a genuinely secure digital environment that does not rely on users’ vigilance to keep it safe. The focus needs to be on accommodating both usability — making it so that users are able to choose the right security action, limiting the number of security decisions they need to make — and security, ensuring more secure software architectures and privacy-conscious data handling. Until then, the cycle continues and the paradox persists.
Disclaimer: Te views and opinions
by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by Te California Aggie.
FROM PAGE 6
From attending a yoga class together to trying refreshing face masks to painting your nails — there is no shortage of ways to take care of yourself. Tat being said, comfort food is a musthave on Galentine’s Day. Try making the drool-worthy brownies you saw on TikTok or maybe opt for something simpler by throwing a pre-made mix in the oven. Tere is no judgment on Galentine’s Day, so why not make both? If you want to make the night even more memorable, buy each other matching pajamas. Tere should be a million pink-and-red-themed pajamas to choose from at the moment. Along with the pajamas, pair them with a cozy robe and headband. Before the spa day, make sure to make a stop at Trader Joe’s and grab some cheese and crackers, where you will be surprised to fnd how many diferent cheeses there are, but more options means more ways to impress your friends that deserve the treat. Next, put your eye of design to the test by organizing the cheese and crackers for a charcuterie board that will have your friends reminiscing on it for the next couple of Galentine’s Days.
Share a meal:
If planning isn’t your friend group’s thing, have a simple night out at a restaurant or café. Go through your messages and look for all of the places you have accumulated in your bucket list and choose one, or maybe revisit an old spot that holds a special place in your heart. You could decide on a theme to dress up or wear whatever you want — it’s your day. If you can’t be with your friend in person for Galentine’s Day, a video call is a great option. A warm conversation can be enough to spread the love, and could be just what you all need while being apart. Even if you cannot share a plate in person, you could both order the same food and enjoy it at the same time through the video call. When spending time with your friends, the little details play the biggest role.
No matter how extravagant or chill you decide to spend the day, don’t forget that having a good time with your friends is the highest priority. Whether or not you plan on celebrating Valentine’s Day this year, Galentine’s Day welcomes your friendships with loving and open arms.
Work-study jobs aid students in personal growth and financial stability
UC Davis students involved in work-study share their experiences with the program
BY GRACIELA TIU features@theaggie.org
Work-study, a program available at many colleges and universities, allows students to work part time and earn money for education-related expenses.
UC Davis ofers the program based on fnancial need, using certain factors such as the Student Aid Index to determine qualifcation to participate.
“It’s made afording college easier, which allows me to focus more on school and professional opportunities like networking events and clubs,” Connor Drew, a second-year economics major as well as a peer advisor and administrative assistant at the Global Learning Hub, said.
Students participating in workstudy often fnd the fnancial support to be its primary advantage, although this beneft can support them in other areas as well.
“Work-study contributed to my personal growth, because it allowed me to get a job on campus that directly applied to fnancial aid,” Drew said. “Financially, work-study has helped a lot with making college more afordable. It’s defnitely helped me pay for groceries, food out, school supplies and housing expenses.”
UC Davis ofers many jobs that satisfy work-study credit throughout the year, which range from desk jobs to food preparation.
Monica Sexton, a fourth-year history major, currently works for UC Davis Housing and Dining Services as a Student Assistant (S.A.), which hosts diferent positions that students can move between.
“I work at Segundo Dining Commons,” Sexton said. “My current position is an S.A. 4, or Guest Services Supervisor, but I started of as an S.A. 2 back in my frst year of college.”
Finding a work-study job can feel similar to searching and applying for of-campus jobs. Many students utilize Handshake, a career platform used by UC Davis, to search for student-specifc employment opportunities.
“I found this job through Handshake,” Sexton said. “I saw that they accept students with work-study and applied.”
Evelyn Ramos, a third-year political science — public service and English double major, also participates in the work-study program,
“I currently work as a cashier at [the] ASUCD Cofee House,” Ramos said. “I take orders and complete transactions in Ciao, Marketplace and Swirlz.”
A large distinction between having a job through work-study and working separately from the school is the scheduling process.
“I think the biggest advantage of a work-study job compared to a nonwork-study job is that they are all on campus and built around your schedule as a student,” Drew said. “When they make your schedule, they work around
your classes, so you’ll never have both at the same time.”
Despite the advantages related to scheduling, work-study can still present certain time management challenges to students.
“I balance my job with academics and other commitments mainly through planning out my week in a Google Calendar, putting in everything from classes, work, study times and the gym,” Drew said. “Also, a lot of the time, my job is super slow, so I can study a bit there.”
With many students having positive stories about their involvement in the program, some have also had particularly demanding moments in their work-study journey.
Te transition period, where I tried getting used to both my job and classes, was the most challenging time,” Ramos said. “It took me a while to understand how to healthily juggle schoolwork and a job.”
Altogether, work-study at UC Davis provides students with ample opportunities to feel secure fnancially while also developing professional skills.
“Personally, I love people, keeping busy and making money, so this job fulflls me in many ways,” Sexton said. “Professionally, though, my problemsolving has gotten so much better. Jobs teach discipline and time management as well, which I believe it has done for me.”
Sneakers or penny loafers?: A look into professor fashion at UC Davis
UC Davis students, professor discuss the history and trends of professor fashion
BY EVELYN SANCHEZ
features@theaggie.org
Waking up and stumbling to early morning lectures, the only thing on any student’s mind is often going back to bed. Lectures can grow more tiring as the quarter continues on, and certain professors cangrow to be a bore. However, professors with a signature fair — particularly in regards to their fashion sense — tend to be remembered more vividly in the minds of their students. UC Davis students
“I had a professor show up every day dressed to the nines,” Juliana Sandoval, a fourth-year sustainable environmental design major, said. “It makes me want to show up dressed nice too. She would come every day looking like a professional baddie.”
Sandoval was referencing her past professor Elizabeth Boults, a continuing lecturer on landscape architecture and environmental design at UC Davis.
With higher education in the United States getting its start on the East Coast, the Ivy League aesthetic has defaulted the look for higher education and academia. Blazers, coats and brogues were often worn by the common wealthy, white student.
“In California in general, there’s less formality than in other regions,” Claire Goldstein, a professor of French and the director of the Humanities Program at Davis, said. “I fnd it cute, funny and interesting [that] on the Internet, people draw my attention to images of dark academia as an aesthetic. Tat defnitely recalls professors I had when I was a student.”
Goldstein specializes in exploring fashion culture and philosophical conceptions of the body and teaches a version of the humanities forum HUM 001: How To Be a (Fashion) Critic. Goldstein went to college on the East Coast, attaining her Bachelor of Arts at Hamilton College and her Ph.D at the University of Pennsylvania. Goldstein described that her journey in higher education was frequented by the ties and blazers familiar to the era.
Campuses in the northeast United States would dictate the future of
academic wear based on being the frst and richest. Adopting elements of traditional British fashion, the Ivy League style became popular during the 1950s and 1960s. Te “college” look originated at the eight northeastern Ivy League colleges in America.
Formerly used to denote a person’s casual yet wealthy status, the evolution of the look continues to be associated with academia and money but carries diferent meanings for older professors and younger students. Instead, the “old money” and “dark academia” aesthetic refect the nostalgia of the past. It romanticizes a foregone era.
However, the casual nature of public universities often brings an atmosphere of comfort rather than formality to some students and faculty.
“Part of me feels like they’re a little bit stricter,” McKenna Tomas, a fourth-year art history major, said. “My professors who dress the same every day have chill vibes.” Sandoval also fnds inspiration in the casual.
“I like it when professors wear the same thing every day,” said Sandoval. “I feel like I should be like that. To me, it’s the epitome of chill.”
Goldstein continued by sharing her own experiences observing professor fashion in the past.
“I would walk into my English literature class and my professor would be there in a tweed coat and elbow patches,” Goldstein said. “When I
tech, Ayana Call, discusses her athome business
Sets by Yana aims to create beautiful nails in a welcoming environment for clients
BY LAILA AZHAR features@theaggie.org
When Ayana Call, a fourth-year animal science major and Davis-based nail tech, posts her appointment availability, it does not take long for slots to fll up — she is often completely booked for the week within minutes.
Initially teaching herself how to do nails during the COVID-19 pandemic, Call explained what caused her to take matters into her own hands.
“Salons were closed, and if they were open, they were overcharging,” Call said. As a frst-year at UC Davis, Call initially started doing nail sets for other students by working out of her dorm room.
“My close friends and acquaintances knew that I did my own [nails], so I started of doing theirs,” Call said. Ten I met my boyfriend, who’s a barber, and he encouraged me to start ofering services rather than just a favor, and things slowly branched out from there.”
She started her Instagram account, @setsbyyana, that summer. While it initially only had a handful of followers, the frst few months of her second year ended up being pivotal to her business. Not only did she have more time and practice under her belt, but she had also moved into an apartment, an environment much more conducive to a nail business than the dorms.
Tose couple months took me from 100 followers to around 600, which was one of my big accomplishments so far,” Call said.
Today, her Instagram account has nearly 1,000 followers and shows a display of her artistry, from handpainted characters to sculpted roses to gem-studded patterns. Priscila Anguiano, a UC Davis alum, recalled getting to witness this growth as a client.
studied in France, my professor would have a scarf and a coat and he’d be smoking. There was a much more stereotypical professor look that has since diversifed.” Goldstein also commented that oftentimes, professors’ fashion choices are refective of their level of professionalism — or, sometimes, their lack thereof.
Tere [are] diferent ways to be a professor,” Goldstein said. “Tere’s the convenience and performative aspect. It’s also about how you see yourself as a professor.”
As a top research university, several thousand UC Davis professors and faculty are also busy with their own projects. STEM professors often run labs and conduct studies aside from grading and lecturing. With the attire that labs demand — goggles, lab coats and closed-toed shoes — there is hardly room for outft experimentation.
Goldstein also remarked that fashion and expectations are not only infuenced by history, but also by the more immediate climate of the area.
“Since I moved to Davis in 2013, I bike myself to work and around campus,” Goldstein said. “When I came here, I was like ‘Flip fops? I don’t wear fip-fops.’ And then I was like ‘Okay, I’ll wear them in my yard but I’ll never wear them into town.’ And then I found myself in class one day after rushing to get on my bike and I’m wearing my Birkenstock slides. I would never have
“I’ve been going to Sets By Yana since 2023, and it has honestly been so fun seeing her business grow as she gets recognized for her amazing talent,” Anguiano said. “She’s always a topic of conversation with me and my best friends as we’re always in awe of the newest sets she posts on her Instagram.”
For Call, a large part of her growth has been in crafting the perfect work environment.
“I don’t want people to come in and feel like they’re in an awkward situation,” Call said. “I think that’s something that’s grown from my time in the dorms, because I can tell you, that was an awkward situation.”
From her elegant taste in decorations to the music that plays throughout her appointments, Call’s studio refects her precise attention to detail.
“I think having a space that refects
done that on the East Coast.” However, fashion-based nostalgia can often be refective of larger societal trends surrounding diversity, with now being one of the most diverse times in fashion history, according to Forbes. A study done by Pew Research Center shows that though college faculty in the United States has diversifed greatly over the last two decades, they still remain far less so compared to university students. An alternate study done by Digest of Education Statistics showed that even as of 2021, 64.5% of faculty were white, with only 6.1% of full-time faculty being African American. Racial disparities among collegiate faculty still
the brand and the direction you want to take the quality of your work [in] is really important,” Call said. “I wanted to create a space that felt homey as well, just because I’m working out of the same space that I’m staying. I don’t want to feel like I’m living in a nail salon.”
Alongside her studio, Call aims to have a welcoming personality that makes appointments enjoyable for clients. Danielle Antonio, a fourthyear psychology and political science double major, described her experience with Call.
“She’s a pleasure to sit with, even with a two-hour set,” Antonio said. Call appreciates the conversations she has with clients during appointments, as connecting with the Davis community has been a highlight of running the business.
Tat’s a huge part of what I love about it: [...] all the people that I’ve met doing this,” Call said. “I feel like you’re expanding your view on so many different cultures and personalities and perspectives. I’ve defnitely been someone who appreciates a wide range of cultures and perspectives ever since I was younger, so I get to enjoy it.”
Call has always been interested in artistic endeavors — growing up, she was surrounded by uncles and cousins who were interested in painting and sculpting, and she took several art classes in high school. Becoming a nail artist has served as an outlet for that creativity.
“I think the creative world was always a calling for me,” Call said. “Doing nails is a really fun way to be in the beauty world while also having an outlet for my creativity. It’s so nice to have, especially considering [that] in college, you don’t have a lot of time to be sitting down and drawing and painting.”
Running a business has also taught her skills that are applicable to other aspects of her life.
“My ceramics teacher used to try and make ceramics into a life lesson,” Call said. “I feel like I’m stealing this from her, but it’s true: You’re problem solving and you’re networking and you’re communicating.”
Call shows deep gratitude for what her business has managed to bring her, and her clients feel a similar gratitude for the Sets by Yana business.
“I never realized how much my nails could bring joy to my day-to-day life until I started having them done with Yana,” Antonio said. Her business is the product of her hard work and dedication throughout the years. From her meticulous artistic skills to her warm and friendly personality, Call seems to be providing a wonderful service to the Davis community. If you are interested in learning more about Sets by Yana, check out her Instagram for information on pricing and availability.
have a long way to go to refect the diversity of the United States as a whole. Goldstein shared some final thoughts about whether or not it takes a certain ‘look’ to be a professor in the contemporary world.
“The people who have become professors have diversified,” said Goldstein. “Te body of professors was rather homogenous. As we have diversifed, so have the ways we dress. One of the nice things about being a professor is that there is no uniform anymore,” said Goldstein. “You don’t have to look a certain way to be a professor.”
CRYSTAL CHEN / AGGIE
A photo of Ayana Call, a fourth-year animal science major and popular nail tech. (Ayana Call / Courtesy)
Students work at the Circulation & Interlibrary Loan counter at Peter J. Shields Library. (Veda Jadaprolu / Aggie)
Using Artificial Intelligence for a future of perovskite solar cells
UC Davis researchers use machine learning to study perovskite solar cells’ properties and advance them BY EKATERINA MEDVEDEVA science@theaggie.org
Have you ever wondered what solar cells are made out of? Most of the ones that you see nowadays are composed of silicon. Tey have been the standard of solar cells for over a decade due to being relatively cheap, efcient and durable.
“[Silicon] modules are expected to last for 25 years or more [while] still producing more than 80% of their original power,” an article by the U.S. Department of Energy reads.
However, there is another group of semiconducting materials that have shown remarkable growth in efciency over the last 10 years and have the potential for low-cost production thanks to requiring simpler processing methods in the manufacturing process compared to silicon — the metal halide perovskites.
Tis group of crystalline materials has a general composition ABX3, where A stands for an organic cation, inorganic cation or a mixture of the two; B stands for lead or, more rarely, tin cation; and X stands for a halide, usually I , Br or Cl . By adjusting the types of organic/inorganic cations and halides present in the composition of the perovskite, researchers are able to fne-tune their efciency at absorbing sunlight at diferent wavelengths, including those not captured by silicon.
UC Davis research group led by Marina S. Leite, a professor of materials science and engineering and a Chancellor’s Fellow, has investigated the properties of diferent hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIP) using Artifcial Intelligence (AI).
Marina S. Leite’s research group at UC Davis.
Tis method of studying HOIPs has signifcantly sped up the research process and is projected to accelerate it even further in the coming years.
“We have an enormous family of chemical compositions, and besides that, this material can change in properties once it is exposed to [diferent] environmental factors,” Leite said. “So, there are a lot of parameters that can be varied simultaneously, and no one fully knows the infuence of each one when they are working individually or in a coupled manner. It would take us an extremely long time as humans to solve this problem [without AI]. It would be just impossible.”
In the experimental process, a sample of perovskite thin flm is placed on a substrate and put into small nitrogen-flled environmental
chambers “to exclude uncontrolled material changes/degradation.” Ten, the sample is loaded into a tightly sealed enclosure with an optical set-up where a laser beam is shot at it, exciting the electrons from the valence band to the conduction band. Shortly after, the electron returns back to the fundamental state, while emitting a photon in the process called photoluminescence. Te spectra produced from the photons are the main measurement of interest.
Te research team uses a remotely controlled automated system to run these experiments, which they developed during the pandemic when access to the lab was limited.
Tese [automated] measurements take less than one second, which enables us to obtain over 20,000 spectra [measurements] per week
and consequently have sufcient data to train our machine learning (ML) algorithms,” Leite said. “Tey are quite informative, too, because we can infer what would be the performance of a full solar cell, even though we just have the material.” Te team’s research considers various types of ML models including linear regression, neural networks and image classifcation in all steps of designing and testing perovskite for future photovoltaic cells. Tis is done in order to determine optimal tools for predicting their behavior under the infuence of diferent stressors; for example, fnding the hidden correlation between their chemical composition and thermal stability. So far, this method of studying perovskite solar cells looks very promising. In one of the studies,
Leite’s team was able to achieve a 90% accuracy of prediction of HOIPs’ optical behavior over a 50-hour period while exposed to relative humidity cycles, corresponding to those during summer days in Northern California. With more training and testing data collected, the accuracy is projected to grow even further.
As mentioned earlier, the main problem to address with the perovskite solar cells is their susceptibility to degradation under real environmental conditions. However, even when they will become durable enough to be on par with silicon ones, most likely they will not serve as a replacement. Instead, they will complement the current solar cells with their properties, which is enabled by their thin layering and extended spectra of absorption.
Te idea is having a halide perovskite, putting it on top of silicon and having what we call a dual junction,” Leite said. “Because silicon [solar cells are] everywhere, doing this addition is a way that does not increase cost in a concerning way, but increases performance.”
Commenting on the highlights of this work, Leite emphasized the contribution and talent of the students with whom she has worked with. Currently, this project involves two fourth-year Ph.D. students, Mansha Dubey and Abigail Hering, who are working on the diferent aspects of this research.
Te future for the study looks bright as the team collaborates with researchers in and outside of UC Davis, including the UC Davis Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, integrating their infrastructure and expertise.
This comfortable material could replace your current wardrobe and charge your phone
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed wearable technology that generates and captures electricity while increasing comfort
BY NAREN KRISHNA JEGAN science@theaggie.org
Most of us have heard of fast fashion, which is a business model where companies rapidly produce and sell current and trendy clothes. But have you heard of smart fashion?
Smart fashion is an intersection between fashion and technology, where clothing and textiles are incorporated with technology to enhance the user’s everyday life. From measuring heart rate, body temperature and muscle tension, sources project the feld of smart fashion to rapidly grow to a $21-billion industry. As more time passes, the market will evolve to include more sophisticated
Protestors then marched back to the Memorial Union North Courtyard where the protest ended around 12:46 p.m. A student protestor at the event, who wished to stay anonymous, addressed the harmful misconceptions about immigrants.
“It’s a basic human right that families stay together,” the protestor said. “At the end of the day, our families don’t come here to the United States to steal people’s jobs or because we’re criminals, they just wanted a better life for themselves.”
The anonymous protestor continued saying that they are a child of immigrants, and their father was deported when they were 12 years old. Tey also said that they have faced discrimination due to being Mexican, both by professors and work managers.
Tere [are] jobs that people with documents and [people that] are living here will never do, like picking fruit,” the protestor said. “For a long time, my dad did that, but he doesn’t live here since his documentation. My mom [is] a single mother of six, and she’s doing her best to make [her children] successful, and we’re dismissed. We’re seen as a lower class, a burden, according to Americans that see us as subhuman. It makes me think that it’s not fair [...] picking fruit isn’t going to be done by someone who doesn’t need to do it.”
A second protestor, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed their opinions on anti-immigrant sentiments being spread by President Donald Trump.
“I’ve seen a lot of rhetoric that the president has been spewing out, and I think it’s very dangerous for undocumented people, immigrants and the Latino community,” the protestor said. “I fear for the hate that’s coming towards your community, and we need to be speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves, like those who
functionalities. With the emergence of wearable, electricity-generating materials from North Carolina State University (NCSU), these complex features may be arriving sooner than expected. Researchers from NCSU have focused on developing models showing how a certain class of molecules (amphiphiles) afects the surface friction of various materials.
Amphiphiles are molecules with hydrophilic and hydrophobic components. Tese molecules are used for a variety of therapeutic applications, such as drug delivery, tissue engineering and nerve regeneration. More commonly, they are seen in household and consumer products such as soaps, detergents and diapers to prevent scratching or
can’t be here because they’re scared of being deported by ICE.”
Te second protestor also expressed their belief that Trump’s second term has increased hostility against the Latino community as well as immigrants.
“When you have somebody with that much power, it doesn’t matter whether it’s right or not, people are going to believe them,” the protestor said. “Especially with the [Make America Great Again] (MAGA) movement, people aren’t open to hearing other’s experiences. It’s all over social media, it’s everywhere. With [Trump’s] rhetoric, it’s all going to get worse and worse.”
Protest organizer Valeria Magallan said that they all felt that UC Davis is not doing enough for the Latino community.
“UC Davis is so quick to speak on anything else, but why is it when this is going on in the Latino community they aren’t speaking about it?” Magallan said. “Why are they so afraid to speak out? Why are they choosing to shut down and not bring awareness to every single Latino here in Davis?”
Tadeo agreed with this sentiment and said that UC Davis prioritizes finances over its Hispanic student population.
“We also have to consider that UC Davis is profting of of us,” Tadeo said. “We go here but they’re not doing anything for us. Everything is underground, [and...] things need to be talked about. People need to know where the resources are at.”
Organizers suggested that administration should send emails alerting students when ICE is on campus, as well as send out information that notifes students of their rights regarding their immigration and documentation status.
Magallan further expressed concerns about the university’s lack of a timely response in providing students with resources.
“Why do we have to wait weeks for [admin to respond]?” Magallan said. “Weeks from now, a whole other issue could be going on and everyone has forgotten about what was going
on in February and January. Why do undocumented Latinos have to be forgotten about? Or be pushed to the side and be secretive when it’s an issue for the community?”
Moreno shared these sentiments and expressed remorse for those who might be scared and/or have limited access to resources.
“I feel like when it comes ot Latinos, our issues are so minimized or not acknowledged,” Moreno said. “We walk around campus and see students whose legal status we don’t even know. [Tey could be] future lawyers, engineers or doctors and could be deported, and the school isn’t doing anything to support them. It’s lost potential and it’s so sad to look at it that way.”
The first anonymous protestor then addressed the gravity of these deportation threats and shared how harmful stereotypes about immigrants personally afect them and their family.
“I’m not a rapist, I’m not a thief and I pay my taxes every year,” the protestor said. “I’ve been working since I was 15 years old. I worked my ass of to get into UC Davis, and I work at UC Davis. I work for the community, and whenever I can, I help people. So why am I a criminal or why am I a rapist? Why is my mom a criminal or a rapist? She lives a life of fear, [and] she never stands up for herself. At numerous jobs, she’s been sexually harassed or she’s been discriminated against. [Her employers] will tell her, ‘You can’t say anything, or I’ll call immigration.’ Tat’s not a life anyone should live.”
Tose who are personally being afected by the deportations or know someone who needs resources can visit the UC Davis Undocumented Student Center. Te center provides free legal immigration consultations and can provide students with a “know your rights” card to keep UC Davis students informed.
scarring from materials.
INVISTA professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at NCSU, Saad Khan, shared his group’s research interests.
“We wanted to know if we could create energy from friction in amphiphile-modifed materials,” Khan said. “It turns out we could not only generate electricity, but we could do so while also reducing the friction that people wearing these materials experience.”
Te researchers discovered that some amphiphiles have electrondonating properties, allowing for the fow of electrons and a current.
Applying these amphiphiles to wearable clothes, the researchers created a novel material that was low-friction, comfortable and had a
Sometimes the best gift is just enabling their love of books. You can even stop by Te Avid Reader downtown to pick up some of these essentials. Whether they love getting lost in a fantasy epic or diving into literary classics, these gifts celebrate the passion of a true book lover.
For the music enthusiast: “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.” - Victor Hugo
For those who always have a soundtrack to their life, a music-inspired gift is the zenith of ways to show you are in tune with their passions.
A vinyl record from a favorite artist or an album that holds sentimental value makes for a timeless and thoughtful present. Check out local record stores like Armadillo Music, where you can browse everything from vintage classics to modern pressings. Tere is something amazing about the warmth of vinyl and the experience of picking out a record together, making the gift even more meaningful.
For an experience they will never forget, concert tickets are the unrivaled way to celebrate their love for music. In a big arena show or an intimate live session, seeing a favorite band or discovering a new artist together turns a gift into a lasting memory.
From spinning records at home to dancing in a crowd, these gifts are the way to go for the music enthusiast who believes every moment is better with the right song.
For the flm afcionados: “Te cinema is something between art and life.” - Jean-Luc Godard
For the movie lover in your life, why not gift them with an experience they will enjoy all year long? One great option is a Regal Unlimited subscription, which ofers movie-goers the chance to see as many flms as they want for just $21.49 a month. From blockbusters to indie gems to classic flms, this subscription lets them watch it all, whenever they want. And with access to Regal’s entire catalog, they
powerful electrical yield of 300 volts.
Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Lilian Hsiao noted some of the limitations of these devices.
“Te technology for harvesting static energy is well established,” Hsiao said. “Devices that can be worn for long periods of time are still missing.”
With further research, the group is interested in exploring how to incorporate subsequent innovations in these materials with existing haptic devices. Tey also are interested in partnering with others in similar felds — these amphiphiles have shown great promise when applied to clothing production, and there are many other industries that may utilize this technology in the future.
can enjoy the best of cinema without breaking the bank. But it doesn’t stop there. Regal’s Snack Saver program is the supreme add-on for anyone who loves their movie theater snacks. By joining Regal Crown Club or having unlimited membership, they can enjoy 50% of large popcorn and soft drinks for all of 2025. From spending a weekend bingewatching a series to seeing every new release, they will have snacks in hand for every screening. With a movie subscription and a discount on snacks, you are giving them the ultimate movie-lover experience: endless flms, unlimited popcorn and a year’s worth of movie magic. Tis gift is perfect for those who can never get enough of the silver screen.
With all of these ideas in mind, just remember that the best gifts are the ones that refect how much you appreciate the person. No matter what you choose, the efort and thoughtfulness behind a gift will always be the most meaningful.
JASON XIE / AGGIE
(Courtesy / Marina S. Leite)
Mixed results for UC Davis basketball against University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
The men’s team pulled off a close victory at home while the women’s team lost at an away game
BY LUCIENNE BROOKER sports@theaggie.org
Te University of Hawai’i at Mānoa has consistently been a tough opponent for the UC Davis Aggies in both men’s and women’s basketball. Te women’s team last faced them in the 2024 Big West Conference semifnals, when the Aggies earned a close 51-48 win over the Rainbow Wahine team.
Coincidentally, the men’s basketball team had a similar scenario — they defeated the Rainbow Warriors in the 2024 Big West Conference semifnals with a three-point margin. Although neither team ended up winning the 2024 tournaments, both semi-fnal defeats of Hawai’i basketball teams were high points in the season. Tis time around, the men’s team narrowly defeated the Rainbow Warriors at home at the University Credit Union Center, but the women were unable to complete the doubleheader win.
Men’s basketball won its match 6866 — a nerve-wracking night for Aggie fans as they watched their team battle to maintain their winning streak. TY Johnson, a fourth-year communications major and guard, led the charge with 23 points, including the match-winning basket. Pablo Tamba, a fourth-year communications major and forward/ wing, also had a big night, scoring a career-high 19 points.
Despite a furry of ofensive activity, UC Davis was strong on the other side of the court as well, limiting their turnovers and preventing the University of Hawai’i from fnding greater success with three-point shots.
Te teams traded points throughout the game, with neither side able to establish an unbeatable lead. Although the Aggies were able to claim a narrow lead with a few minutes left, Hawai’i was not ready to be counted out and
mounted its comeback, taking a onepoint lead in the fnal seconds. However, Johnson was able to make a two-point basket and convert a free throw in the last 10 seconds to propel the Aggies to victory.
An hour later and 2,400 miles away, the UC Davis women’s basketball team took on the Rainbow Wahine in Hawai’i’s home stadium. In contrast to the men’s match, which was a furry of scoring right from the beginning, the game began slowly. Both teams were more focused on defense, resulting in the frst quarter being the lowest-scoring of the four.
Te Aggies were outscored in all four quarters — which proved to be a defcit they could not overcome — and they ultimately lost 46-56. Tova Sabel, a fourth-year psychology major and guard, and Ryann Bennett, a frst-year undeclared major and guard, were the only two players to hit the double digits, with 11 and 10 points respectively. Although the match ended relatively unevenly, there were plenty of positives for the Aggies, including forcing 20 turnovers and maintaining a close score for most of the game.
Midway through the regular season, both teams sit in the middle of the conference rankings with the potential to move up or down the rankings equally. Te closing stretch of matches will be key if both teams want to replicate, and then surpass, their conference championship performances from last year.
The women’s team will be at home for their next stretch of games, allowing them to recover from their long trip to Hawai’i. Meanwhile, the men’s team will head out on the road for four consecutive games in Southern California. Both teams return to action on Jan. 30 against UC Riverside, and fans can catch the excitement on ESPN+.
TY Johnson (2) shoots a fadeaway shot. Johnson scored the game-winning basket against Hawai’i on Jan. 23, 2025. (Sacha Chickering / Aggie)
GYMNASTICS
EQUESTRIAN
Aggies ride to victory with a dominant equestrian win
The UC Davis equestrian team takes down Minnesota Crookston with multiple sweeps
BY DIEGO CERNA sports@theaggie.org
On Jan. 24, the UC Davis equestrian team faced of against the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles in Crookston, Minnesota.
Te Aggies secured a dominant 18-2 victory, sweeping multiple events and highlighting their depth across the board.
Te frst event was fences, where riders had to guide their horses around the course. The UC Davis Aggies produced a perfect 5-0 win in this event. Lauren Kolbe, a second-year political science major, recorded the highest score amongst all riders for the event with an 86 on her horse, “Bear.” All UC Davis riders scored above 80 points in fences, showcasing their dominance in the event.
In horsemanship, where riders must display a good performance of body position and accuracy in movements, Natasha Replogle, a fourth-year human development major, set the bar and scored frst, putting up a score of 73.5.
Laura Kate Holliday, a second-year biological sciences major, followed Replogle’s eforts and achieved a score of 74, while riding on horse “Bella,” and achieved the highest score from
TRACK & FIELD
the Aggies. Anna Donovan, a first-year psychology major, finished right behind Kolbe, scoring 85 riding on horse “Otis.” Emma Jolly, a fourth-year political science major, Jessie Rechs, a fourth-year sociology major, and Carmen Gonzalez, a frst-year animal science major, all contributed to the 5-0 sweep, putting up strong points around the 80-point region.
Te next event was reining, where riders had to perform a series of spins, sliding stops and rollbacks in a specifc pattern. Mya Clader, a third-year undeclared major, set the bar high with a high score of 71.5 amongst competitors with horse “Mr. T.” Tis event would end up being the second Aggie sweep in an event. Avery Adamson, a frst-year psychology major, scored second-highest with 70.5, while Emma Dillon, a fourth-year animal science major, and Nicole Shroyer, a third-year communications major, scored 69 points.
Te fat event was the last of the meet, where riders were required to perform diferent patterns of movement without jumping, with judges observing the control and efectiveness the riders had with their horses. Te Aggies won the event 5-0.
Margaret Franke, a graduate student
in the Department of Communication, scored 31 more points than her opponent with a score of 84, earning her the Most Outstanding Performance award. Kolbe on horse “Courtage,” scored an impressive 85 points. Marin Gilliland, a fourth-year history and cinematography double major, accompanied by Donovan and Rechs, participated in the 10-0 sweep of the event. Overall, the meet proved to be a success for the Aggies. On Jan. 25, Rechs and Franke were named the Eastern College Athletic Conference Riders of the Week for their impressive performances against Minnesota Crookston. Te Aggies will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) matchup in College Station, Texas on Friday, Jan. 21.
The Aggies commence the women’s indoor track and field season at the University of Nevada
UC Davis walks away as the winner of two events over the weekend
BY THEO KAYSER sports@theaggie.org
On Jan. 24, the UC Davis women’s track and feld team traveled to the University of Nevada, Reno for their frst indoor track meet of the New Year. Te indoor track season partially serves as a brief precursor to the lengthier outdoor track and feld season, providing a preview into what the upcoming season may have in store.
Te 18 events took place over the span of two days, beginning on Friday, Jan. 24 and ending on Saturday, Jan. 25. Although the competition appeared to be tough with many top athletes in attendance, the UC Davis Aggies were quick to make an impression and placed highly on the frst day.
Early on in the track meet, UC Davis feld athletes posted impressive marks in several jumping events. In the high jump, Elizabeth Churchhill, a third-year human development major, placed seventh overall, jumping 5’ 6.” Her teammate, Sarah Graessley, a fourth-year civil engineering major, finished fourth in the pole vault, vaulting 12’ 3.5.” Teammates Riley Lankford, a second-year animal science major, and Hannah Crone, a third-year undeclared major, both competed in the long jump, fnishing 22nd and 28th, respectively.
Friday was also host to the frst round of sprinting, mid-distance and long-distance events. Te Aggies walked away from this portion of the meet with a few winners, frstly in the 400-meter dash, when Maya Shinnick, a third-year undeclared major, placed frst overall at the meet, running 54.67 seconds. Cierra
also won her heat and placed fourth overall with a time of 56.16 seconds.
In the 800-meter run, the Aggies saw another pair of runners place highly. Kayla Towne, a frst-year psychology major, ran 2:18 and fnished third, and shortly behind her was Kiah Aitken, a frst-year undeclared major, who placed sixth, running 2:20.
Finally, the Aggies dominated in the 5,000-meter run, earning both frst and second place. Laura Villegas, a frst-year communications major, won the event, running 17:54, and Fiona McGrath, a frst-year biochemistry and molecular biology major, fnished in a close second, running 18:02. Outside of running and jumping events, day one also hosted the frst throwing events of the weekend. In the weight throw, Ashpreet Kler, a fourthyear biological psychology major, placed fourth overall with a mark of 56’ 4.5.’’ Overall, the Aggies were on the road to success with their strong frst marks.
On Saturday, the Aggies’ success continued. Te 60-meter dash took place over two rounds, beginning with the preliminary round. In the prelims, UC Davis saw two athletes advance, one being Kinsey, who placed sixth overall with a time of 7.79. Te other athlete to advance from prelims to fnals in the event was Lily Holman, a second-year psychology major, who fnished eighth,
running 7.88. In the fnal, Kinsey and Holman both surpassed their times from the previous round, with Kinsey running 7.77 and placing fourth and Holman running 7.85 and fnishing seventh. Te Aggies excelled further during the 600-meter run. Dominika Janik, a second-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, won her heat and placed third overall, running 1:33. Aitken fnished sixth, running 1:39. Tauren Mitchell, a frst-year biological sciences major, and Towne came in eighth and ninth, respectively, fnishing less than one second apart from one another, both running 1:43. In the one mile, Grace Dunham, a frst-year data science major, ran 5:08 and placed third in the event overall. Finally, the Aggies closed out the meet with their 4x400-meter relay team. Te group ran a collective time of 3:51, fnishing seventh out of the 17 teams who participated. Te Aggies had a very strong frst meet of the season performance.
It will be a few weeks until the Aggies compete in indoor track again, as their next meet will be at the University of Washington in Seattle on Feb. 14. Te team will race just twice more after that, before commencing the outdoor track and feld season in March.
UC Davis women’s gymnastics places second in home meet
The Aggies set new personal bests across the board BY
ABIGAIL DESA sports@theaggie.org
On Jan. 19, the UC Davis women’s gymnastics team competed in their frst home meet of the season, going against the far-traveled University of Alaska Anchorage, Cornell University and other closer universities. Te UC Berkeley Golden Bears, ranked ffth in the nation, also participated and raised the intensity of the meet.
With clear skies and a stadium of support, the University Credit Union Center was flled with excitement for an electrifying three hours of frst-rate gymnastics.
Placing second to the Golden Bears, the UC Davis Aggies fought hard and achieved many new records, even reaching a team seasonal-high of 194.375. Coming close behind the Aggies was Cornell with a score of 193.500, but key performances by the Aggies vaulted them ahead. Te
team found success in the foor and vault events, securing second in both, but fell short on points in beam and foor — claiming fourth and third, respectively. Ava Scafani, a fourth-year psychology major who specializes in uneven bars and beam, gave a stellar performance. Leading the UC Davis team, Scafani stuck her landing and scored a seasonal high of 9.850 on the beam. Although she is not a foor specialist, Scafani stepped up to the stage and proved herself by achieving a 9.725 — a career-high score.
Megan Ray, a fourth-year psychology major, made crucial contributions to the team’s score. In vault, Ray sprung to great heights and stuck a clean landing raking in a score of 9.825, the highest of the team and a season-high for the veteran athlete.
On top of her polished execution on the vault, Ray landed a crisp routine on the foor, delivering another teamand seasonal-high for the day with a
score of 9.850.
Continuing the string of season highs in the meet was Ayumi Oshiro, a second-year undeclared major, who showed a refned display of skill on the beam, marking a 9.825. Isabella FitzGerald, a ffth-year biological sciences major and redshirt, demonstrated a season-high in the uneven bar event, soaring into the tied third-place spot with a score of 9.850. Fitz-Gerald was the only Aggie to make the top three (with a tie for third) in an individual event during the competition.
As the solo participating allaround athlete for UC Davis, Amelia Moneymaker, a third-year landscape architecture major, contributed greatly to the overall success of the team. Moneymaker supported the Aggies with a strong, seasonal best: 9.600 vault. Even though her vault score was the lowest of the Aggies for the day, Moneymaker’s stronger performances in other events played a great role in elevating the team score. Out of
eight all-around competitors, with a total score of 38.975, Moneymaker surpassed athletes from Cornell and Alaska Anchorage, as well as one individual from UC Berkeley, placing fourth behind three Golden Bears. Following the event, the Mountain Pacifc Sports Federation (MPSF) awarded Moneymaker and Ray the Mountain Pacifc Sports Federation weekly honors. Moneymaker received Gymnast of the Week for her exceptional performance in the home meet — this is her fourth career MPSF weekly award. Additionally, Ray received the MPSF Specialist of the Week award for her numbers on the vault and foor events — this is Ray’s ffth career MPSF weekly award. With the UC Davis women’s gymnastics team racking up improved numbers and personal bests with each competition, things are looking up for the Aggies’ season. Coming up, the Aggies will make their way to the San José State University
JASON XIE / AGGIE
Spartans’ home turf to face Boise State University, California State University, Sacramento, and San José State University in a back-to-back quad meet on Jan. 26.
UC Davis gymnast Ayumi Oshiro competes on bars. The Aggies won second place at the meet on Jan. 19, 2025. (Ojas Mishra / Aggie)
EMILY TRAN / AGGIE
WOMEN’S