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State brings back mask mandate
A UC Davis graduate dances on stage as Mary Croughan, provost and executive vice chancellor, looks on at a 2020 makeup commencement on Friday.
By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer
Gregory Urquiaga/ UC Davis photo
UCD grads celebrate — a year-and-a-half later By Caleb Hampton Enterprise staff writer In June 2020, a few months into the first lockdown of the pandemic, UC Davis held virtual commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2020, with the promise that one day in the future, when it was safe, a traditional in-person commencement would be held for the graduates. Last week, nearly 3,000 alumni from the Class of 2020 returned to campus to participate in their graduation ceremonies.
In a message to the graduates, UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May emphasized the adversity they overcame to earn degrees in the midst of difficult and unpredictable circumstances. “When you came to UC Davis, you joined a community that works to make the world a better place,” he said. “You learned to outgrow the expected, to exceed what’s needed and to do what’s just. And you did it all in the midst of a global pandemic, during some
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Throughout the pandemic, UC Davis has won accolades for contributing to COVID-19 research, participating in
Cops investigate threat at Emerson/Da Vinci A threat of violence at the Emerson/Da Vinci Junior High campus last week led to a police investigation and plans for officers’ presence at the West Davis campus on Monday. Matt Best, interim superintendent of the Davis Joint Unified School District, alerted district staff to the alleged threat via email Sunday evening, two days after a student reported it to authorities. According to Best, the threat indicate that “violence would be carried out” on Monday. “School administrators, in coordination with the District Safety Coordinator, immediately began an investigation. Subsequently, a district administrator conducted a threat assessment with the two students who are
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UC Davis Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Croughan also commended the graduates for their perseverance. “This past year-and-a-half have presented extraordinary challenges, but you have persisted, excelled, and completed your degree,” she said. “For this, you should feel very proud.”
vaccine trials and developing an in-house rapid COVID-19 testing program that formed the backbone of the Healthy Davis Together initiative. The University of California system made headlines in July when it became the largest university to announce a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all university affiliates. The commencement ceremonies held last week were made possible by UC Davis’ 98% vaccination rate, widespread
School board meets again on Thursday
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VOL. 124 NO. 150
of the most challenging times in recent history.”
With COVID-19 cases up 47 percent across the state since Thanksgiving, on top of the uncertainty posed by the Omicron variant, California announced Monday that it will reinstate a universal indoor mask mandate effective Wednesday. All residents statewide will be required to mask up in indoor public settings regardless of vaccination status beginning Dec. 15 and lasting through Jan. 15. A previous statewide mask mandate was dropped six months ago, though a number of counties — including Yolo — later reinstated local mandates as cases surged due to the Delta variant. The new state mandate won’t change anything for Yolo County residents who must already wear masks in indoor public settings, but it will mark a change for about half of the state’s residents who live in counties where masks are not currently required indoors.
alleged to have made threats,” the email said. “In addition, Davis Police Department also conducted a threat assessment with the two students in their homes.” “There is no evidence to suggest there is a credible threat to the school site. Out of an abundance of caution, however, the Davis Police Department will be present on the Emerson/Da Vinci Junior High campus on Monday, Dec. 13,” Best wrote. Davis police Lt. Ilya Bezuglov said a case was taken for documentation, but the students would not be facing criminal charges. “We investigated it and it was unfounded or not a credible threat,” Bezuglov said Monday morning. In his email, Best asked that parents and guardians “take this opportunity to speak with your
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student to ensure they understand that any threat of violence against another person, our school, or our community is never acceptable.” “If a student does hear another student make a threatening comment, or if they observe behavior that is concerning to them, they must report it to a trusted adult immediately,” Best wrote. “We will always investigate any reports of threats and take appropriate actions to keep our community safe.” The school district has offered access to mental-health resources to students and families affected by this and other recent incidents of school violence across the country. For information, visit www.caresolace.com/djusd, call 888-515-0595 or go to the DJUSD’s Mental Health & Wellness website.
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After a brief holiday hiatus, Davis school board meetings will recommence Thursday, Dec. 16. Old and reoccurring topics will be discussed as well as program updates and fiscal approvals. As always, a health and safety update will be given on the status of COVID in Yolo County. This all in an effort to ensure the safe return to campus for staff and student alike in the 2021-22 school year. In the same vein of safety, the board will also move to approve the first Friday of June to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day. This day will not only acknowledge the survivors and victims of gun violence, but also the fact that more must be
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