October 10, 2013

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THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

SERVING THE UC DAVIS CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY SINCE 1915

VOLUME 133, ISSUE 3 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013

Clery Report indicates reduced crime on UC Davis campus Recent events leave students concerned for campus, city safety

I N T H IS IS S U E

2/3 6/7 OPINION

4/5 P.8 16/17 NEWS

Taylor Cunningham Aggie News Writer The recently-released annual Clery Report showed a general reduction in criminal activity on the UC Davis campus from 2011 to 2012. Some of the most notable reductions were a decrease in forcible sex offenses and a significant decrease in the number of burglaries that occurred in 2012

— two of the most common crimes on campus.The Clery Report numbers from 2012 also showed that there were no hate crimes on campus during that year. “We’re working with the community to keep the campus a safe place to work, study, visit and live,” said UC Davis Police Chief Matt Carmichael in a news release from the UC Davis news service. The reduced crime rates can be attributed in part to increased use of preventa-

tive measures by students. Simple things like keeping windows closed at night and during vacations, staying aware of surroundings and not going out alone after dark can help to decrease some types of crime. The Clery Report numbers for 2012 to 2013 have not been released yet.

CRIME on 12

TAPS increases parking prices for 2013-14 TAPS sees decline in permit sales, raises permit prices Melissa Dittrich Aggie News Writer

ABIGAL ALCALA / AGGIE Custodians, gardeners, food service workers and facilities maintenance staff will now be required to contribute a larger part of their paycheck to the pension fund.

UC implements changes to service workers’ pay Unresolved negotiations prompt UC to make last offer Lauren Mascarenhas Aggie News Writer UC service workers are experiencing a decrease in takehome pay due to the recent implementation of UC’s latest proposal for AFSCME 3299 service workers. The AFSCME service workers include custodians, gardeners, food service workers and facilities maintenance staff. The workers are now required to contribute a larger percentage of their paycheck to the pension fund.This change follows a series of negotiations between the service workers and UC at the bargaining table, which failed to result in compromise. “The cuts amount to a 1.5 percent decrease in take-home pay for workers making an average of $35,000 per year, and up to $124,000 in higher health

costs for each worker over their lifetime,” the AFSCME press release states. UC maintains that the changes are part of pension reform, and the wages of service workers compare favorably to those in public and private sectors. Much of the outrage expressed over the pay cuts involves the fact that they were imposed on a unit comprised of over 8,000 of UC’s lowestpaid workers. According to AFSCME, 99 percent of the service workers are currently income-eligible for some form of public assistance. The high level of pay and recent raises for some of the top-earning workers and exe cutives in UC has only added fuel to the fire. “As far as executive compensation goes, it is a very small SERVICE on 12

As of July 1, UC Davis Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) increased prices for all monthly parking permits, except for the L and DSA (Disabled) permits, by $2 and increased daily parking prices from $7 to $8. The L permits are available to all UC Davis faculty, staff and students living off campus and are sold at a less expensive monthly price than the A and C permits. Parking spaces for the L permits are limited to a few remote lots meaning permit holders will have to walk farther to get to class or work. The last time parking prices increased was in 2011, when one dollar was added to both monthly permits and to daily parking passes. According to a news release made by TAPS in May, the increase in parking prices was due to a decline in the purchases of parking permits. “The 2013-14 rate increases are necessary in order to offset reduced revenues from permit sales over the past four years as well as the increased operating costs of TAPS programs and services,” the release stated. TAPS is a self-supporting campus organization. It does not receive funding from the state, and receives a limited amount of money from UC Davis. Most of TAPS’ revenue comes from selling these parking permits. Thirty-five percent of the TAPS operating budget, almost $3.4 million, goes into maintaining and renovating parking structures.

“ We attribute [the need to increase revenue] partially to the recession. When there are increased gas prices we see people drive to campus less,” said TAPS director Clifford Contreras. “We also count West Village as a factor because students living there are not allowed to buy parking permits due to the reliable shuttle service that runs through [as well as its] proximity to campus.” Contreras said that increased enrollment in the UC Davis goClub has also added to the decrease in parking permit sales. UC Davis goClub is a program run by TAPS that encourages UC Davis students and faculty who commute to the campus to choose an alternative to driving. Alternate methods include carpooling, biking, walking or taking the bus or train. Transportation Demand and Marketing Coordinator Leslie Mancebo said membership since 2011 has nearly doubled from 2,836 students in September 2011 to 5,639 students in September 2013. “As awareness and goClub membership grow, we have seen a consistent decline in parking permit purchases,” Mancebo said in an email interview. “We have found that word of mouth is the biggest source of goClub membership referrals, but we also promote the program at campus events, at TAPS, new staff orientation and other outreach programs.” The goClub is free to join for anyone associated with UC Davis, but members are not allowed to buy a monthly, quarterly or yearly parking permit during the duration of their membership. Perks include temporary free parking passes on days when biking or walking is not an option.

MUSE

SCIENCE

BACKSTOP

NE W S I N B RI E F Change of Pace Foundation’s annual Oktobrewfest race on Oct. 12 The Oktobrewfest Race, hosted by Davis-based A Change of Pace Foundation, will be taking place on Oct. 12 at Central Park, on the corner of F Street and Covell Boulevard. It will consist of a 5K and 10K course, both starting at 6 p.m. Oktoberfest has its origins in Munich and the only things capable of pausing the event in the past were wars, hyperinflation and cholera. Thankfully, somebody on our side of the Atlantic caught on and decided to marry the inspiring effects of beer with running. A Change of Pace Foundation’s Annual Oktobrewfest is given a boost by the sponsorship of local brewery, Sudwerk. While most people who enter the race are from the greater Sacramento region and the Bay Area, some entrants come from as far as New York state, Arizona and Los Angeles. Last year, UC Davis was represented in the men’s 10K, 20 to 25 age category by UC Davis alumnus Mark Pepin, who came in first with an impressive 32:41.40 time. Pepin described the event as very inclusive and welcoming of the student population. “It is not a PR [personal record] race … it’s a great course, scenery-wise, and is a fun way to stay in shape,” Pepin said. “It’s nice to get off campus.” Interested participants can register online or in person at Fleet Feet Sports, on Second St. Entry fees increase as the date approaches the race so early registration is advised. According to Trenton Yackzan and Caleb Weeks, brewers at Sudwerk, 1,500 beers were distributed at the finish line last year.That is the equivalent of 12 kegs. “[We were] pouring and handing out beers nonstop until it was all gone,” Weeks said. Yackzan and Weeks said this year, they will be serving three varieties of beers: Northern Pilsner, a light lager, Marzen Amber Lager, a traditional Oktoberfest beer and California Dry Hop Lager, their new flagship beer. All finishers who are over 21, receive a complimentary beer for participating. For those are underage, there will be other treats like free snow cones. Entry fees, registration and further information can be found online at changeofpace.com/oktobrewfest. — Valentina Nakic

TAPS on 11

ASUCD Coffee House accepts Aggie Cash Students, sales numbers expected to increase

Melissa Dittrich Aggie News Writer As of Sept. 26, 2013 the ASUCD Coffee House (CoHo) began accepting Aggie Cash. The CoHo became the latest of UC Davis campus dining service locations

to accept Aggie Cash, making Aggie Cash accepted at every dining service location on campus. In addition to the CoHo, satellite locations The CoHo To Go and The CoHo South Cafe have also begun accepting Aggie Cash. With Aggie Cash accepted at every dining service location on campus, students have more variety to choose from for their meals according to Brenan Connolly, general manager of Resident Dining. “From a standpoint of partnering

with the Coffee House and trying to make sure we’re looking at all the different entities of food service means that our community spends their money with as much flexibility as possible. That’s definitely a benefit to the whole campus,” Connolly said. “I think it’s great for students. I know a lot of places you would think would accept Aggie Cash, but don’t. It gives students more variety,” said Regina Marion, AGGIECASH on 11

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