THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE VOLUME 133, ISSUE 1 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
SERVING THE UC DAVIS CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY SINCE 1915
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BRIAN NGUYEN / AGGIE (Left to right): First years Emilie DeFazio, Tina Li, Matthew Huang, Emily Arpaia, & Jared Fong, walk from their dorms in Segundo.
UC Davis welcomes most competitive class to date Class of 2017 holds lowest admittance rate in UC Davis history
Jason Pham Aggie News Writer
Approximately 5,150 first-years are expected to attend UC Davis this Fall Quarter, hitting just above the enrollment target of 5,100 set by UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions.
Of this pool, the incoming class boasts an average SAT score of 1796 and an average weighted grade-point average (GPA) of 3.99, according to Walter Robinson, executive director of Undergraduate Admissions at UC Davis. “I took seven AP courses and had a solid ACT score and everything was above the average and I was actually waitlisted. And I knew a bunch of really qualified people that did not get in,” said Katie Murry, a first-year biology major. The incoming class holds an estimated admittance rate of 39 percent. This
Several university buildings, cars vandalized during summer UC Davis Police continue their investigation Jordyn May Aggie News Writer
The UC Davis Police Department is looking into the vandalism of several University buildings, including Sproul Hall, Arboretum, TB 009, South Hall, Dutton Hall, Educational Opportunity, Aggie Village, the School of Education and the University House, that happened early in the morning on Aug. 25. Additionally, a racial slur targeting the black community was written in chalk on a blackboard in Dutton Hall. Damage was inflicted upon several cars, and more than 30 windows were broken. There was damage to the inside of the buildings, but no private information was stolen. “The vandalism happened late at night and in early morning so no work was disrupted,” said Martin Ling, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. According to Donald Dudley, the building coordinator for Dutton Hall, the racial slur was written in one of the Student Academic Success Center classrooms on the second floor of Dutton Hall. UC Davis Police Chief Matt Carmichael confirmed the epithet was written in graffiti style in a conference room. According to Carmichael, the crimes could have been committed by a single person or a group of people, but there are no suspects in the case as of yet. The racial slur and vandalism appear to be connected as both crimes were committed at the same time, according to Ling. It is unknown if
Dutton Hall was targeted specifically for the racial slur, as the perpetrators and their motivations are unknown. “It is interesting that these incidents occurred the same week as the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement,” Ling said. Although there are cameras in Dutton Hall, the perpetrator was not caught on camera. “Campus patrol officers walk the affected buildings daily and the buildings are given greater attention at night,” Carmichael said. “It helps to give the people a sense of safety to know that the police are watching and care.” In response to these crimes, UC Davis Police have increased patrols. According to Carmichael, the police hope to make changes in the next few weeks that include a more structured way of patrol and a better use of resources. “With a grant we were given we are hoping to purchase new technology and equipment,” Carmichael said. According to Andy Fell, UC Davis News Spokesperson, there has been a general increase in security and patrols on campus. Volunteers and students assist the police with these patrols. The Aggie Escort Service is an example of student patrol, hired to check critical buildings seven nights a week as an additional resource to the campus police. “Students should not be concerned about safety. University of California, Davis is a safe campus overall,” Ling said.“It is important to make people aware and alert of what is happening. People can report any suspicions to the police to help bring the perpetrators to justice.” HATE on 13
is a six percent drop from the 45 percent admit rate of last year’s incoming class and nine percent lower than the 48 percent admit rate from two years ago. According to Robinson, dropping admit rates aren’t expected to stop over upcoming years. “I believe we are continually going to be more selective as we will generate more applications. We probably won’t be altering many more freshman spaces. There is some growth that’s protected that might keep a little stability in the admit rate. But I think still by some fraction, it will continue to drop,” Robinson said. According to Robinson, the lower admit rate means UC Davis is becoming more competitive. However, he claims the withstanding reason is the number of applications the admission PROFILE on 11
Janet Napolitano elected as new UC president Students, University executives vocalize support, uncertainty Melissa Ditrich Aggie News Writer
NE W S I N B RI E F Marsh faces trial for Davis double homicide case At a preliminary hearing on Sept. 13, it was revealed that Daniel William Marsh confessed to the double homicide of elderly Davis residents. After an hour-long hearing in the Yolo County Superior Court, Marsh was ordered to stand trial for the April 13 murders of Oliver Northup, 87, and Claudia Maupin, 76. At Marsh’s arraignment on Tuesday, defense attorney Deputy Public Defender Ronald Johnson said he would seek to have some of the charges against his client dismissed, but declined to comment further on the motion. Judge Timothy Fall set Nov. 1 as the date for the hearing regarding the motion and Johnson has until Oct. 18 to file the motion. During the preliminary hearing, details emerged about the night the victims were found. Officer Mark Hermann, who was on patrol the night of April 14, found a cut window screen where Marsh had entered the couple’s Cowell Boulevard home. Hermann first saw the couple’s bodies through their bedroom window. According to The Davis Enterprise, Yolo County Chief Deputy Coroner Gina Moya testified at the preliminary hearing that both victims MARSH on 13
UC announce pay cuts for service workers
On July 18, Janet Napolitano was elected by UC Regents as the first woman president of the University of California (UC) system. Napolitano follows previous UC president Mark Yudof, who worked at the position for five years. Napolitano formerly worked as President Barack Obama’s U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. In her statement addressing Napolitano’s nomination for UC president, UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi showed support for the nomination. “I am very pleased and excited with the nomination of Janet Napolitano as the next president of the University of California. Secretary Napolitano has a distinguished record of public service and leadership,” Katehi said in a statement. Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Ralph Hexter shared similar thoughts to Katehi’s on Napolitano becoming the UC president. Hexter said that he has not worked with Napolitano previously but is looking forward to meeting her. “I am positive and optimistic about what she will bring to the University,” Hexter said. Napolitano will receive an annual salary of $570,000, a $21,000 decrease from her predecessor. This salary will fall in the bottom 25th percentile of presidents of similar academic institutions. Napolitano will also receive a one-time relocation fee of $142,000 and $8,916 per year for car expenses. In parts of California, there have been protests and anger focused toward Napolitano’s experience in working as the Homeland Security secretary. Her work with the Secure Communities program, which enforces U.S. immigration laws, has been a concern for many UC students. ASUCD Vice President Bradley Bottoms addressed Napolitano’s previous experience. “Although I am sure that President Napolitano’s experiences will allow her to effectively manage the PRESIDENT on 11
On Sept. 24, UC administrators announced pay cuts and health benefits from more than 8,000 employees. According to a press release from AFSCME 3299, this cut would amount to a 1.5 percent decrease in take home pay for workers making an average of $35,000 per year. This cut is another in a series of confrontation between the UC and AFSCME 3299, the largest service union that represents 22,000 UC employees, who have been bargaining for higher wage and better benefits for over a year. Negotiations have reached a standstill several times, and many workers’ demands have been met with cuts in wage. Earlier in September, a similar standstill between patient care workers and the UC resulted in another cut in pay. UC employees affected by the pay cut will include custodians, gardeners, food service workers and facilities maintenance staff. Many of these workers are eligible for public assistance. Over 2,000 upper level management will retire on six-figure retirement packages. AFSCME 3299 stated that the UC has attempted to intimidate employees out of their collective bargaining rights. The Aggie was unable to reach UCOP for a comment. — Adam Khan