THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
SERVING THE UC DAVIS CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY SINCE 1915
2/3 OPINION
4/5 6/7 P.8 NEWS
MUSE
VOLUME 133, ISSUE 2 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013
CITY
Starting in 2014, shoppers will no longer receive nonreusable plastic bags from retailers at checkout. The Davis City Council has voted to ban the distribution of single-use plastic bags. Citizens will have to bring their own bags, or purchase paper bags for $0.10. Small plastic bags used for bagging produce and other perishable food items will still be available in supermarkets for sanitary purposes. Additionally, thick plastic bags, such as bags from Forever 21, will not be banned because their thickness and durability causes them to be classified as reusable. The specific wording of the ordinance is still being finalized, but will be released after city council votes to pass it on Oct. 8. Other areas of California and the United States have
Plastic bag ban coming to Davis in 2014 Law receives mixed reactions from consumers, retailers
REACTION
By Taylor Cunningham Aggie Features Writer
similar bans coming into practice in the future as well. According to a recent article in The Huffington Post, the plastic bag ban in major retail stores in the City of Los Angeles will be launched at approximately the same time as the ban in Davis. Plastic bag bans are already in place in the cities of San Francisco and Santa Monica. According to the same article in the Huffington Post, the City of Los Angeles spends about $2 million a year to clean up plastic bag waste, a problem that is shared in smaller scale by the City of Davis. “Plastic bags make up the largest amount of waste in our green waste,” said Mayor Joe Krovoza. “The amount of time that it takes to manage all of the plastic bags is much greater than anyone imagines.” According to Krovoza, the bag ban in the City of Davis is
one of the most comprehensive bans in place today. The ban will significantly reduce the amount of soft plastic waste that ends up in landfills or in public areas that city workers have to clean. “This wasn’t just about banning bags. We did this as part of an overhaul of the waste management system of Davis,” Krovoza said. “It’s about how we’re [The City of Davis] going to move forward to the next step to improve waste management in the City.” Krovoza expects the bag ban to be well received in Davis, a city that has been well known as a leader in environmental progress since it implemented the nation’s first bike lanes in 1964. “This is a culture that supports recycling and reusing,” Krovoza said. UC Davis students also seem BAG BAN on 10
Vancey Le / Aggie
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CONSUMERS RECEIVE THE P L A S T I C B A G AT A GROCERY STORE.
THEY EMPTY OUT THE BAG AND IT BECOMES UNUSABLE.
PLASTIC BAG IS EITHER THROWN IN THE TRASH OR LITTERED AROUND T H E C I T Y.
CITY WORKERS H AV E T O C L E A N T H E WA S T E C R E AT E D B Y PLASTIC BAGS OR THE BAG ENDS UP IN LANDFILLS, OCEANS OR THE GROUND.
A PLASTIC BAG DOES NOT D E C O M P O S E Q U I C K LY. I T C A N TA K E H U N D R E D S O F YEARS- MOST EXPERTS E S T I M AT E 5 0 0 Y E A R S .
Davis alumni find niche in bike market
New California law to increase safety for bicyclists
Alumni-run bike company sells to current students
Law delegates for more specific guidelines
Sean Guerra, Aggie Features Writer
MARK ALLINDER / AGGIE
Gabriella Hamlett Aggie News Writer
A new law passed requires all motorists to give bikers at least 3 feet of space on the road.
On Sept. 23, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1371, the “Three Feet for Safety Act,” into California Law. The bill, authored by Assembly Member Steven Bradford (DGardena) would require motorists to give bicyclists a mandatory three feet cushion on all roads. AB 1371 will go into effect Sept. 16, 2014. “I sincerely thank the governor for signing this commonsense measure to protect cyclists on our roads … When cars and bikes collide, it often turns to tragedy,” Bradford said in a press release. “This bill is a great reminder that we all have to work together to keep our roads safe for all users.” Failing to comply with the three feet clearance would result in a $35
base fine, with extra fees increasing the fine to $154. Additionally, if a motorist collides with a cyclist and injures them, the fine would be $220, according to Bradford’s spokesperson Matt Stauffer. “Once you get hit you now have remedies in the court system. The intent is to make the roads safer … some people had concerns that it is too hard to measure three feet while you’re driving. It’s going to come down to a case-by-case scenario,” Stauffer said. Similar bills have failed to pass five times. While this is the first time Bradford has carried the bill, other members have carried similar ones before. The bills died twice before during the legislative process; this was
the third time the bill got to Governor Brown. “Previous versions gave explicit permission to cross a double yellow in order to provide three feet of space. [Gov. Brown] had concerns about liability if an accident were to occur,” Stauffer said. In AB 1371, they took out specific references regarding both the double yellow line and the speed limit in order to make a safer bill. “Caltrans had concerns that if people are slowing down then the drivers behind them might run into them — there’s a lot of liability,” Stauffer said. According to the National Highway Safety Administration in the U.S.
Former UC President home to be renovated
On Sept. 17, the University of California Board of Regents voted to spend $620,000 in order to carry out plans for renovations and repairs to the Blake House. The Blake House, a 13,000 square foot mansion located four miles away from UC Berkeley, has been home to previous UC Presidents and may be used to house new President-elect Janet Napolitano. Napolitano began her term on Sept. 30, and was therefore not able to vote for the renovations on the house. UC Regents policy states that it is required for all UC Presidents and
Chancellors to live in houses provided by the Regents of the University of California. “As part of their official duties, executive officers are responsible for extending official hospitality to important visitors and guests in conjunction with official functions.The University, therefore, provides executive officers and members of their households with suitable housing as their primary residence to perform the administrative, ceremonial and social duties required of their respective positions,” the policy stated.
UC Regents approve $620,000 for repairs Melissa Dittrich Aggie News Writer
BIKE Bill on 10
BLAKE on 10
Beginning as an online garage project and worked on between classes to pay for college loans and rent, two UC Davis alumni co-founded and now distribute their own bicycle brand. From the penny-farthing city symbol to such colloquial terms as the “freshman stripe,” cycling is central to the Davis identity. Children and elders, students and professors all ride or encounter bicycles every day, but not too many endeavor to actually build one. Vincent Vu and Ary Ashoor are the co-founders of CITY Bicycle Company, which they started their senior year at Davis in 2012. “This company definitely would not have started if we had not come to Davis,” said Ashoor, who graduated with a bachelor’s in environmental toxicology. Vu and Ashoor met in Kearney Hall as first-years. Both were originally from Southern California, and until they were inspired by friends who enjoyed customizing bikes, neither even saw bicycling as a reliable form of transportation. Having worked in a car repair shop during high school, Ashoor found the mechanics of bicycles less complex and introduced Vu to single-speed bikes, which they rebuilt from used parts and resold online. “When we got to Davis bikes were very expensive,” said Vu, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English. “What we did was strip the used bicycle to their bare basics, so it was really affordable, a different look and more maintainable.” After two years of reconfiguring used bikes in their garage, a mutual friend introduced them to manufacturing ties overseas in Taiwan, where many American retail bicycles are made, according to the National Bicycle Dealers Association. “It was a chance to design our own bicycles from the ground up,” Vu said. After receiving their first import of 130 bicycles during the winter of 2012, they were able to sell out within a month through Craigslist and through friends at UC Irvine, UCLA and UC San Diego. This experience then led them to continue importing and redesigning, and according to Ashoor, they essentially went CITY BIKE on 10
2 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
Opinion THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
EDITORIALS FROM THE BOARD
Save yourself
ELIZABETH ORPINA Editor in Chief CLAIRE TAN Managing Editor
Bike etiquette
ADAM KHAN Campus News Editor PAAYAL ZAVERI City News Editor
As new students who don’t know proper biking etiquette join the crowds of bikers on campus, we urge everyone to bike with caution. Following biking laws and biking with consideration for those around you is necessary in order to avoid accidents, legal fines and angry bikers. The Editorial Board has several suggestions to make our campus safer. Do not block traffic. As a basic rule, the left side of the lane is for faster bikes, while the right side is for the slower riders. Bike lanes are not wide enough for groups to ride slowly side-by-side with their friends. Be respectful of the 30 bikers behind you trying to get around you. Biking while listening to music
NAOMI NISHIHARA Features Editor TANYA AZARI Opinion Editor KYLE SCROGGINS Science Editor KENNETH LING Sports Editor CRISTINA FRIES Arts Editor BIJAN AGAHI Photography Editor EMMA LUK Copy Chief JANICE PANG Design Director JAMES KIM Art Director BRIAN NGUYEN New Media Manager RYAN HANSEN-MAFFET Business Manager BEAUGART GERBER Advertisting Manager
a vehicle, you are putting yourself and others in danger while biking drunk. Biking under the influence results in a BUI citation, which can be more than a $250 fine and goes on your driving record. At the higher learning institution we attend, we would hope students bike with common sense. Signal when you’re turning. Yield to oncoming traffic. Don’t be obnoxious on the road. This way, we can all enjoy this bike-friendly town to its greatest potential. And although it does not seem popular to wear helmets in Davis, we hope that those who do can be regarded highly for their respect toward the safety of their brains. After all, we go to school to learn, and we should value this organ enough to protect it.
We can do better
The Buzz
One Shields Ave. 25 Lower Freeborn, UCD Davis, CA 95616 Editorial (530) 752-0208 Advertising (530) 752-0365 Fax (530) 752-0355 The California Aggie is printed on recycled
CORRECTION On Sept. 26, The Aggie ran a quote from Associate Vice Chancellor Milton Lang. In the article, entitled “Several university buildings, cars vandalized during summer,” we misspelled the Vice Chancellor’s name as “Ling,” instead of “Lang.” The Aggie deeply regrets this error. It has been corrected in our online edition.
is fun, but it can prevent you from hearing your surroundings, such as a car horn or someone passing you from behind. It is perfectly legal to wear just one earbud while biking, but this doesn’t mean you’re allowed to weave back and forth in the lane to the beat of your music. While biking on city roads, you can get fined more than $100 for cruising through a stop sign. You can also get fined for biking at night without a bike light, though police officers might also offer you a light if you’re lucky. However, you might be asked to take an online bicycle traffic course, on top of paying a costly processing fee. Additionally, one of the easiest ways to end up injured or in court is by biking while under the influence. Since you are operating
We’re sure you’ve all heard about The Buzz; according to their website it’s one of the most anticipated and well-attended events at UC Davis. With all the “buzz” surrounding the event, students expect something fun and exciting. But as soon as they get there, it’s a letdown. The Buzz is disappointing compared to Welcome Week events at other UCs that have activities for more than just freshman. Sure, there’s free stuff, but the lines are incredibly long. Sure, there’s inflatable bounce houses, but those are rather expensive. Most students end
up wandering around aimlessly or leaving. Various businesses sponsor The Buzz in order to connect with students. However, their sponsorship takes away from student organizations who would want to use the event to reach out. If student organizations want to be represented at the event, it costs $300 for a table. More student organizations at the event would make for a more friendly and enjoyable atmosphere. UC Davis Student Affairs organizes the event, however Entertainment Council books the
performers. In the past couple of years we’ve had performers who are mostly unknown. Truthfully, we’d rather see our own student groups performing. The Buzz could be a good opportunity for student performers to gain some new fans. Most students like the food trucks at the event, so that’s one thing The Buzz is getting right. Though what would make it better would be more free food and shorter lines. How do you expect to attract college students without free food? The Buzz is marketed well, but it doesn’t live up to the hype.
Principle vs. Practice
Boys allowed
PROGRESSIVE PHILALETHIST with ZACH MOORE
THE F WORD with MONA SUNDARA
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magine, if you will, a utopia.What do you see? Do you see an industrious commune devoid of property rights, where everyone works according to his ability and receives an equal payout, as Thomas More and Karl Marx proposed? Or do you see an individualist society, one in which those who work the hardest get the most handsome rewards and laziness results in poverty, as Ayn Rand and other libertarian and objectivist thinkers suggested? All of these philosophers set forth ideas for bettering society, and their ideas have
If someone murdered a family member of mine, I would want to see the bastard fry. influenced nations around the world. Every tidbit of public policy takes its ideas from some philosophical principle. Vladimir Lenin, in attempting to build a perfect society, borrowed heavily from Marx’s Capital. His goal, of course, was to create a classless society like the one Marx theorized. When implemented, however, Lenin’s Marxist policies created a dearth of resources and a general sentiment of discontent among the people. Let us make an abrupt jump to America, 1981, where charismatic, pro-business Republican Ronald Reagan has just been elected president. Reagan introduces new, laissez-faire economic policies known collectively as “Reaganomics,” which take root in Rand’s classic conservatism. If implemented properly, they should result in industrial growth, efficient spending and smaller government.
Yet, in practice, these policies slowed growth, accrued the largest national debt the country had ever seen and significantly increased taxes on all but the richest Americans. Of course, neither Lenin nor Reagan intended for their policies to harm their respective nations. So why did they? Because they were rooted in theory instead of fact. When philosophers, economists or other respected figures devise theories on how society should work, they almost always fail to account for some hidden variable. Marx, when creating his ideal society, didn’t account for human behavior. It never occurred to him that, when class mobilization ceases to exist, people lose their incentive to work. Conversely, Reagan believed that business owners and CEOs would use their new tax breaks to create jobs; instead, they hoarded the capital themselves and widened the income gap to unprecedented levels. Here is another seemingly unrelated example: I support capital punishment. If someone murdered a family member of mine, I would want to see the bastard fry. Wouldn’t you say the same? If you answered yes, then great! Let’s vote in favor of the death penalty! But here’s the catch: you just voted for a policy that has killed at least 13 innocent people (and likely more, given the 138 death row inmates who have been exonerated since 1976), and cost California alone an estimated $4 billion in taxpayer dollars. Herein lies the problem with arguing ideologies: ideologies can achieve what they set out to do, but the side effects can prove more detrimental than the problem itself. MOORE on 11
T
he word “feminism” has a connotation that seems to suggest that it’s exclusively a women’s club. The truth is, men need feminism as well. Like women, men too are affected by the strict set of gender roles pressed upon us. Nurseries are painted pink when girls are born, blue when boys are born. Girls are conditioned to play with cooking sets and Barbies, while boys play with Hot Wheels and ride Tonka trucks. It’s still borderline derogatory for men to indulge in stereotypically girlish
We grow up teaching girls not to go out alone at night instead of telling boys not to make girls feel uncomfortable or unsafe. ventures, such as fashion and cooking. Unisex clothing is traditionally masculine clothing. It’s okay for girls to wear their boyfriend’s t-shirts. It’s even a cute look for them. But just imagine a boy walking down the street in peeptoe stilettos and a mini-skirt. An odd sight, isn’t it? There’s this standard of manliness that is meant to be upheld. We are told from a young age that men are supposed to wear the suits, be the breadwinners and pay for our dates. I’m sure a few men are tired of trying to stick to that status quo but they still feel obligated to. Feminism fights that. We want to get rid of that “tough guy/good girl” dichotomy.
Those are not huge problems, but they are at the root of every conflict with sexism. The main premise of feminism is to get rid of these standards, because they allow people to assume women have no purpose outside of maternal roles or that all the things that women are interested in are vapid. They also, unfortunately, do not accommodate anyone who is born different from the established norm. Feminism is bigger than just us girls, so please don’t cringe when you hear a girl claim she is a feminist; not many do in the first place because it’s a term that has such a negative, seemingly radical connotation. There will always be a few people who call the cops on the party, but they don’t speak for all the guests. There is a double standard between the sexuality of men and women in this country. The masculine sexuality is empowered and celebrated, while girls are always taught to be chaste. We grow up teaching girls not to go out alone at night instead of telling boys not to make girls feel uncomfortable or unsafe. It makes sense, because parents assume that their children know better so they don’t really see the need to drop a casual reminder like, “Hey son, make sure you don’t murder or rape someone today.” It even sounds kind of weird to type that out. In the end, boys will always be excused for their inappropriate sexual advances because we’ve grown up with the notion that “boys will be boys,” and victims will still be blamed for sexual assaults because of what they chose to wear, what time of night they chose to SUNDARA on 11
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 | 3
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
The assembly line university
Hipsters vs. Assholes
GUEST OPINION with WILLIAM CONNER
COSMIC RELEVANCE with DANIEL HERMAN
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he first, ancient universities were tiny; a handful of students lived with their teacher, who was a great sage. The teacher carefully chose students for their potential and taught not only facts but philosophy (“love of wisdom”). Many students of these sages became sages themselves or political leaders. Today’s universities have drifted far from their roots at Plato’s Academy. Universities today have thousands of students, hundreds of professors and a large administrative staff. Most Americans now go or want to go to a university; a university education is no longer unique.
Mechanized education produces nearly identical and interchangeable people, not wise leaders and philosophers. Teachers no longer handpick students; premade algorithms now choose students. To accommodate thousands of students, universities became factories. Just as an industrialist measures a factory by its output, many states measure their universities by the number of students enrolled and the number of degrees conferred. The more students enrolled, the more degrees conferred, the more funding the state gives. The more funded the university, the bigger and “better” it is. A bigger university produces more graduates, which earns more funding, which grows the university. It is an endless cycle. The more graduates like me built on the assembly line, the less attention the university can give to me as an individual. To the university, I am not an individual, only a unit of production. I am not unique, I am one of many. When my university has thousands of students, personalizing my student experience is next to impossible. The university sees me as a student ID number, not a person. We students travel along pre-made major paths to a degree many have earned before
us and many will earn after us. The option to “create your own major” already exists at many universities, but is not mentioned to students beyond a short reference in the general catalog, much less encouraged. When we create our own majors, we become unique, not one of many. As a student, mechanized classes give me little opportunity to become independent or go above and beyond. They teach me as if programming a computer: facts to memorize, definitions to know, scantrons to fill in. Most classes enter data into me as if entering data into a spreadsheet. My task in most classes is memorizing, not understanding. A computer can only memorize data; it cannot understand the data’s meaning or connections to other fields of study. A computer outperforms any human at storing data without loss or error; most classes merely train me to be a poor version of a computer. I desire novelty, change and uniqueness; not endless, mindless, monotonous repetition of formulaic actions. I am rarely encouraged to be curious, to discover on my own, or to devise my own way to learn. I am to learn following a one-size-fits-all model, to do laboratory procedures as a trained monkey following instructions, instead of as an experimenter. I am not unique; I am one of many. Mechanized education produces nearly identical and interchangeable people, not wise leaders and philosophers. Mass-produced goods are cheap and easily replaceable, just as mass-produced employees are. When it breaks, find another one. Don’t spend time trying to repair it; it is one of many. Just hire a new one. Mass-produced goods have no spirit, no personalization and no uniqueness. The rare wise leaders and philosophers cannot be replaced — they are unique, not one of many. Mass production began with the noble desire to open university education to all, but resulted in mechanization: the only way to “educate” thousands of students at once. William Conner is a fourth-year biochemistry major. He can be reached at wrconner@ucdavis.edu.
W
hen I bought my ticket for the three-day music festival known as Outside Lands, I knew the dangers surrounding the event. Although I was excited to experience a music festival, there was the lurking paradox of my youth culture — how can one enjoy oneself surrounded by the term “hipster”? I was running the risk of drowning in a sea of tight jeans and a cloud of handrolled cigarettes. Determined to build a perfect case against hipsters, I would go to be the champion who destroyed them forever. But first, I had to know what I was looking for. My best definition of hipsterdom is
Everyone wants the same good time, so this exclusion denies the reality of the shared experience. from Urban Dictionary, as the walking and vocal rejection of the “culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers.”1 Easy enough, I just had to find the jerks who were looking down on the less fashionable, openly displaying their artistic savvy. However, when I got to the festival, some of my favorite attractions appeared to be objectively hipster. For example, I found myself enjoying the abundance of indie bands, the display of local culinary talent at Lamblands, the microbrews at Beer Lands and the $5 Blue Bottle Coffee. But weren’t these features the point of the festival? I wasn’t trying to be hipster, I was just trying to have a good time. My enemy was still undefined. Waiting for the last show of the weekend, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, I found myself in the crowd with my friend Alex. His phone buzzed and our new friend Cameron was on the other end, wanting to know where we were in the crowd. He came to Outside Lands by himself, determined to live it up despite getting ditched by his friends.We met him at the festival, and now he wanted to watch the last set with us. Even though one might describe him as a stereotypical hipster, with gauged earrings and an artsy 1880s style mustache, we
liked the guy. He never bragged about his taste, and he never made us feel inferior. So we told him where we were. Miraculously he snuck his way to the front and found us. As the Red Hot Chili Peppers came on, waves from the Rock Goddess muse pulsed through my veins; I had my epiphany! The festival made it possible for us to all enjoy the moment together as friends, one old, one new. This celebration of life hipsters couldn’t touch. Over the rock and roll, Cameron turns to me and shouts, “I can see them! I’m close enough that I can actually see the band!” If we hadn’t met each other, it is very possible that Cameron would have never made it to the front of the crowd. With the Chili Peppers jamming and blaring in sight, Cameron howls, “Don’t kill the weekend!” This kid is having a great time and I feel like I’ve done something to help. So it was never about hipsters; it was about assholes. In my search for hipsters, I was looking for people who would try to ruin other’s happiness based off a pretentious self-image. A hipster says, “I’m having more fun than you.” But, asshole is the better term for this type of concert goer. An asshole cuts you in the bathroom line, spills your beer, pushes you to get to the front of the stage and generally disregards the concert community. Everyone wants the same good time, so this exclusion denies the reality of the shared experience. Therefore, these “hipsters” are missing out on the greatest gift the festival has to offer — genuine human interaction. I offered kindness to an outsider and found it reciprocated. By the end of the day, with multiple handshakes and goodbyes, I could call Cameron a friend. Set in Golden Gate Park, there is obvious connection between Outside Lands and the glorified Summer of Love. As Alex put it, “we are in the Summer of Love round infinity.” With a ticket price, the hippie ethos has survived, bringing a community closer through music. Although the assholes have the potential to make you lose faith in humanity, it can be one person who makes all the difference.
If you want to go around campus destroying fixie bikes with DANIEL HERMAN you can email him at dsherman@ucdavis.edu.
Strings attached
I
f you are an up-and-coming musician and have chosen to bless the world with your unique and refined talent you must not take this decision lightly. Street musicianship is not a job; it’s a lifestyle.Well, hopefully it’s not a job. Stay in school kids. There are two types of street musicians. Well really, there are far more than just two, but we will speak in grand generalizations to save time. The first is the artist with something to prove.This wandering soul seeks to convince the audience and themselves that they have something worth sharing.This works as a wonderful motivator in the beginning. The quest for validation drives the performer forward, and with each compliment or sizable tip the artist feels a fierce rush of ambition, every tidbit of praise fueling the search for the next.This cycle however can easily crumble. The problem is that if the market is flooded with compliments, their value starts to decrease at an alarming rate. Before you know it, praise will be expected and you will receive it, not with grace and appreciation, but instead with the air of someone collecting their monthly paycheck. Do not let yourself fall into this routine of entitlement. The second type of street musician stands on more solid ground.This musician separates him or herself from their work, and feels pride in their craft in the same way a parent might when hearing that their child is succeeding.This sense of pride rarely deteriorates into entitlement.
Question your motivations. Obviously what you seek foremost is to be seen as a music maker: bringer of joy and inspiration to those going about daily tasks, shedding meaning onto otherwise drab lives, creating art! Unfortunately there are often other roles you unintentionally fill. These include: conversation disturber, space taker and in the rare but not unheard of case, dirty hippy.You must embrace all of these roles in order to feel truly comfortable playing on the streets. You must also realize, that in the nature of all art, you will never be appreciated by everyone. On your best day, there will still be someone nearby who finds your performance incessant and distracting, and on your worst you will be ignored. But as those who intend to take up the trade of entertaining strangers, you must understand that sometimes, for whatever reason, you will be virtually invisible to the public you have subjected yourself to. I deal with this confusing douse of insecurity by assuming there is something wrong with my audience; but again, this tactic is only necessary if you feel entitled to their acknowledgment. The trick is to remain separate enough from your music that you can appreciate it as if you were a member of your audience. As a chef you would want to enjoy the taste of your own food without getting fat; it is the same with music. So now that you have considered the philosophical nature of your desire to per-
form for the public, where do you go from here? Personally I feel the simplest solution is to start small. Sit in a corner and play guitar quietly. Maybe mumble a bit of your favorite song while avoiding eye contact with anyone who passes. If you have stage fright, this method has the added benefit of everyone being too weirded out to approach you. Second step is to dress well enough to deter assumptions that you’re homeless. Nothing too fancy — take a shower before you leave, perhaps wear shoes.This step is important in allowing you to maintain your small corner of public space without some store owner or other public authority explaining to you that you can’t sleep here. Step three is to ignore the first step. There’s no point in being quiet or humble. Relax and feel confident! You might as well, if you embarrassed yourself then it was a good learning experience, and if you’re under 25 like me, even the strangers who aren’t your biggest fans are generally pretty merciful. Remember that while street performance requires a symbiotic relationship with its audience, you are also doing this for yourself. Sharing your talent with strangers can be exhilarating. So get out there! Risk looking stupid, don’t get kicked off private property and add some melody to the world. To win a rap battle, challenge ELLY OLTERSDORF at eroltersdorf@gmail.com.
recycle.
STAY TUNED with ELLY OLTERSDORF
4 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013
DAILY CALENDAR dailycal@theaggie.org
03 / THURSDAY Leonardo Art Science Rendezvous 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. | 3001 Plant and Environmental Sciences Building, UC Davis
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
Students enrich summers with cultural immersion UC Davis students go overseas for work, academics
Attend the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program’s inaugural Leonardo Art Science Rendezvous (LASER). There will be many speakers and interdisciplinary networking is encouraged.
04 / FRIDAY Davis Jazz and Beat Festival 7 to 9 p.m. | John Natsoulas Center for the Arts, 521 First St. Stop by this two-day festival filled with poetry readings, painting improvisation and live jazz. This is an opportunity to see exclusive performances and meet world-renowned poets, jazz musicians and painters of the Beat Generation.
05 / SATURDAY UC Davis Arboretum Plant Sale 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Arboretum Teaching Nursery, UC Davis Customers will find plants suitable for replacing their lawns or refreshing their landscapes. There will be attractive, lowwater, easy-care California native plants as well as a large selection of Arboretum All-Stars and other regionallyappropriate plants.
COURTESY
Movie in the Park 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Central Park
Evan Shum, a participant in ISES, spent his summer abroad in Thane, India.
Cozy up with a blanket and watch an outdoor screening of Up. The movie is free and starts at sunset.
Davis Jazz and Beat Festival 7 to 9 p.m. | John Natsoulas Center for the Arts, 521 First Street Stop by this two-day festival filled with poetry readings, painting improvisation and live jazz. This is an opportunity to see exclusive performances and meet world-renowned poets, jazz musicians, and painters of the Beat Generation.
06 / SUNDAY Tasting in the Dark (a truly blind wine tasting) 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. | Vini Wine Bar, 611 Second St. Guests will be blindfolded and led by blind UC Davis Organic Chemistry PhD student, Hoby Wedler as they explore how flavors and aromas in wine are heightened by tasting wines in complete darkness.
07 / MONDAY Movie: Under the Same Moon 6 to 8 p.m.| Davis Public Library, 315 E. 14th St. Watch a captivating family drama about a courageous nine-year-old Mexican boy who sets off across the U.S. border to find his mother in Los Angeles. The movie is free.
08 / TUESDAY Homemade Ricotta and What to Make from it 7 to 8 p.m. | Davis Public Library, 315 E. 14th St. Julie & Julie of the Davis Food Co-op will hold a fast course on making ricotta cheese. They’ll whip up a batch on the stop and then demonstrate a recipe or two. No reservations are required and the event is free.
09 / WEDNESDAY Farmers Market and Picnic in the Park 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Central Park Shop at the Farmers Market and enjoy live eclectic folk music by Sidetracked.
Seabed to Bedside 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. | Wyatt Deck, UC Davis Arboretum Join UC Santa Cruz Professor Roger Linington as he discusses innovative approaches to finding natural chemicals from marine organisms that may aid the development of new medicines.
POLICE BRIEFS
By RITIKA IYER Aggie Features Writer While most students welcome the journey of heading back home after a year away at college and many choose to work locally, a small group of Aggies take a route that leads them overseas. Both exercise biology majors, third-year Evan Shum and second-year Jillian Giblin spent their summers immersing themselves in foreign cultures. Shum traveled to Thane, India, a city 40 minutes outside the cultural hub of Mumbai, as a participant in the Tata International Social Entrepreneurship Scheme (ISES). Tata is the single largest India-based business group in
the United States, owning well-known companies like Jaguar, Land Rover and Tetley. The Tata ISES program is designed to bring foreign students to different parts of India for two months to work on corporate sustainability projects for local Tata companies. “One of Tata’s fundamental values is that the community is not where the business works,” Shum said. “It’s the reason for the business’ existence.” The highly selective internship program began in 2008 and invites students of all majors from UC Davis, UC Berkeley, the London School of Economics and Cambridge University to apply. EXPERIENTIAL on 11
OptTown comes to Davis CoHo, Davis businesses partner up with mobile app By NICOLE YI Aggie News Writer The ASUCD Coffee House (CoHo) is brewing more than just coffee, with buzz of a new partnership between the historic student-run eating facility and a new mobile application. OptTown, a coupon app that keeps users and small businesses connected, has joined with CoHo and its extensions, the CoHo-To-Go and the CoHo South Cafe. It allows users to create “towns” of their favorite restaurants and shops to stay updated on news and specials. Without the heavy task of having to create their own mobile apps, OptTown provides small businesses a platform for networking, loyalty programs, consumer feedback and more. The deal between ASUCD and the two-year-old company was introduced early this year. President, CEO, co-founder and UC Davis alumnus,Tom Arthur reached out to the University in hopes of testing out the campus as the app’s trial run. Discussion began around spring quarter regarding how this new relationship would affect the Coffee House. “We thought it’d be really cool to have a loyalty program, save some printing money and allow students a little more convenience,” said ASUCD President Carly Sandstrom. ASUCD worked with their businesses to get on board and received $2,000 for the awards endowment fund which goes toward ASUCD scholarships.
As a frequent OptTown user, Sandstrom defends the CoHo’s partnership with a private company. “From my perspective, yes, we are partnering up with a private company but at the same time, it’s just like using Facebook or Twitter. It’s allowed our businesses to get onto something to track how many people are using their services and how many people are following them,” Sandstrom said. The app is free for all users, but businesses must pay a fee based on the number of followers they acquire quarterly. The price of having less than a thousand followers amounts to about $25. Sugar Daddies, Sofia’s Thai Canteen, Beach Hut Deli and Steve’s Original Pizza are some of the participating Davis vendors also aligned with OptTown. “We feel as though it will encourage campus community members to come and check out the Coffee House and it is a vehicle by which we can send messages to our existing customer base about deals, promotions, menu additions and other events,” said Darin Schluep, foodservice director of the Associated Students Dining Services, in an email interview. CoHo barista and fourth-year biochemistry major Tommy Fowler utilizes the app with friends to view restaurant deals and sees it in action on the job. The CoHo rewards its OptTown users for every purchase with digital stamp cards on customers’ smartphones. OPTTOWN on 11
city@theaggie.org
24 / TUESDAY Vegicide A man was walking slowly, talking to plants and then lighting them on fire on Second Street.
25 / WEDNESDAY A warm welcome Someone was run off the roadway by another vehicle and hit the “Welcome to Davis” pole on Chiles Road.
28 / SATURDAY Halloweentown High Someone came into a business on Third and C streets, told everyone they were cursed and asked where the witches were.
All keyed up On Mace Boulevard, a man threw his house keys at someone and walked away.
29 / SUNDAY When the cat’s away Someone on Outer Circle requested extra patrol as she had to go to work and was afraid her neighbor would try to break in and get her cat.
Holy water A transient subject was reported urinating against the church building on B Street. Police briefs are compiled from the City of Davis daily crime bulletins. Contact EINAT GILBOA at city@theaggie.org.
GRID Alternatives brings solar energy to Davis Program helps low income households By TAMMY LEE Aggie News Writer GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit organization that offers solar technology to qualifying low-income households, partnered with the City of Davis in May 2013 to help Davis homeowners save money while being environmentally friendly. The organization will install solar electric systems either at a low cost or for free for households that depend on those needed savings for their homes. These households are also a part of the Davis Home Improvement Loan Program, a program that became effective in spring 2013. The Home Improvement Loan Program was created by NeighborWorks Homeownership Center Sacramento Region and the City of Davis in order to make housing more accessible and available to Davis residents. According to the City of Davis City Manager’s office, the goals of the Home Improvement Loan Program include helping households who have family members with disabilities and seniors citizens undertaking home improvements in SOLAR on 12
8
THE ENERGY PAYOFF FOR A SOLAR CELL THAT IS EXPECTED TO LAST FOR 25-30 YEARS IS 8 YEARS.
THE SOLAR CELL IN USE FO R M O R E T H A N 8 Y E A R S PAYS O F F I N T H E LO N G R U N . Maureen Mai / Aggie
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 | 5
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
Yolo County establishes Neighborhood Court Restorative justice program recruits students By SHANNON SMITH Aggie News Writer In June 2013, Yolo County launched a program for restorative justice called “Neighborhood Court.” UC Davis is the only university in the state of California to offer such a program. The initiative was inspired by a similar program implemented in San Francisco County in 2011. There is increasing awareness of this alternative method as an answer to misdemeanor crimes. The student body of UC Davis has become involved with this process — in both the offender position and as volunteer panelists. “The purpose of Neighborhood Court is twofold — to deter you from committing that act in the future and [making] an example of you to others,” said Chris Bulkeley, Yolo County Assistant District Attorney. “We are focused on identifying the harm caused by the criminal conduct and addressing that harm. We are looking for people that realize that they have done something wrong and have admitted guilt.” Restorative justice Jeff Reisig, Yolo County District Attorney DA, said he views the Neighborhood Court as an example of innovative restorative justice and an alternative to criminal court. “It is a complete, almost radical change from the traditional justice system. It’s good for the community, engages the community, while saving tax dollars and public money,” Reisig said. The offenders who qualify for this court must have committed their first misdemeanors and have admitted that what they did was wrong.They would then make amends for their crime based on the mutual decision of three panelists. The offender must understand the negative impacts of their actions on themselves, the community and any affected individuals. Neighborhood Court is not affiliated with the criminal law system, so the offender’s record is not tarnished. In addition, the cases are completely confidential so that there is no risk of
unofficial embarrassment. “Student offenders have a great opportunity to gain insight into the fact that they are part of our community — they matter, and what they do in Davis matters and impacts others,” said Jonathan Raven, Yolo County Chief Deputy District Attorney, in an email. “They can then make amends and reintegrate [into the community] without a criminal conviction haunting them forever.” Involvement of the UCD� PD, Davis Police The new justice system has the support of the UC Davis Police Department (UCDPD) due to its ability to breach the boundaries of the university campus bubble and connect students with their neighbors.This should make students feel less attacked by the legal system and more encouraged to improve their conduct based on familiarity with the Davis community. “I had no previous experience with Neighborhood Court, but it seems to be the right thing and a perfect fit for our community. The offender understands more than they would by being arrested — they have to make it right for the community.We have read feedback from the offenders, and all feedback has been phenomenal,” said UCDPD Chief Matt Carmichael. Neighborhood Court is rapidly growing in popularity and gaining favor with the county administration, as well as with the general community. It is gaining a reputation as a more cost-effective and less morale-injuring alternative to jail time and arrest for first time misdemeanors. Recruiting students The majority of nonviolent, lowlevel crimes seen in this court include being drunk in public, urinating in public, graffiti, petty theft and underage drinking. These crimes are unfortunately performed frequently by college students, both from UC Davis and surrounding academic facilities. For the purpose of judicial diversity and perspective, the Yolo County District Attorney’s office is hoping to recruit more UC Davis students as panelists.
N E W S I N B R I EF Portion of Dairy Road to be painted for higher visibility The roadway leading north from Hutchinson on the former West Entry Parking Structure of the Pavilion will be painted with green paint, transforming it into the first green bike lane in Davis created for the purposes of enhancing visibility. The decision to create the green bike lane occurred approximately a year ago during a campus Bicycle Committee meeting, according to Bicycle Program Coordinator of Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS), David Takemoto-Weerts. “The portion of roadway that heads north from Hutchison Drive on the west side of the Pavilion Parking Structure and includes the turns entering and exiting the parking structure have been a source of confusion for some cyclists and motorists, neither of whom understand what lane position they should take when on this short stretch of roadway,” TakemotoWeerts said in an email. “I think the green path is wonderful. It provides a highly visible signal to bicyclists and automobile drivers. It shows and leads bicycles to where they should be riding,” said John F. Hess, a member of the Board of Directors for the Davis Bike Club. Green paint is utilized either as extensions of bicycle lanes or inside them to increase awareness of bicyclist to motorists, thus deeming them a traffic control device according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. “The edges of standard bike lanes are delineated with white lines. Green bike lanes fill in all or some of the space between the white lines with green paint. The purpose of the green bike lanes is to improve circulation and safety for bicyclists and drivers. North of Hutchison Drive, the green bike lanes will position bicyclists in the center of Dairy Road,” said Charles Alexander, who is the project engineer who designed the green bike lanes and a member of Charles Alexander of Fehr and Peers, a transportation consulting firm. According to Takemoto-Weerts, the construction of the green bike lane is expected to be complete within the next few weeks and available for use once the green paint dries. – Liliana Nava Ochoa
“The process works better with a young person in there because of their diversity of viewpoint and life experiences, [so] the offender has a better feeling that it’s fair,” Bulkeley said. Students are able to experience a realistic judicial experience and take part in an innovative process with a basis in restoration rather than punishment. Similarly, there are many future career advantages to volunteering with the Yolo County District Attorney’s office. “This innovative program is the first to be offered at any UC and as UC alums, both the DA and I saw opportunities for student volunteers to beef up their resume and to develop mediation type skills for life,” Raven said. The Neighborhood Court is looking to recruit students, professors and grad students in addition to all other members of the UC Davis community. “If this program had been around when I was an undergraduate, I certainly would have joined. It’s a great resume builder,” Reisig said. “Being a panelist would be great preparation for criminal justice, law enforcement, law, psychology, sociology or anything where you have to deal with people in relationships. Being able to mediate through disputes is a key skill that we need in a professional world.” Neighborhood Court looks forward to benefiting the UC Davis community specifically because the university is the epicenter of the City of Davis. Student volunteer panelists are in high demand, and the experience is unique and unmatched by any other in the state of California. The District Attorney’s office will hold a two-day training for incoming panelists at the Davis Police Department on Oct. 19 and Nov. 7. For more information regarding the Neighborhood Court program and the volunteer application, please visit yoloda.org. “Volunteers can sit in the panel and come up with ways to make the crime right. It’s a great opportunity to serve your community,” Reisig said. SHANNON SMITH can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
WEEKLY WEATHER weather@theaggie.org Short Term Forecast For the next couple of days the weather will be pleasant, daily highs range between 79 and 85, clear of clouds, and there will be a slight breeze. Today 10/3: High 80, Low 52, Breezy (15-20 MPH), Clear/Wind Friday 10/4: High 85, Low 51, Breezy (15-20 MPH), Clear Saturday 10/5: High 85,Low 50, Calm Winds (5-10 MPH), Clear Emily Rives, atmospheric science major
Long Term Forecast For the extended forecast we are not expecting anything exciting, more of this beautiful fall weather. We’ll have some oh so lovely (not) winds again next week Wednesday through Thursday. There will be clouds rolling through Monday afternoon, and Sunday evening. Sunday 10/6: High 82, Low 52, calm winds(510MPH), evening clouds. Monday 10/7: High 80, Low 53, calm winds, High(wispy) clouds in the afternoon Tuesday 10/8: High 77, Low 50, calm winds, clear skies. Wednesday 10/9: High 79, Low 52, winds pick up in the morning to being near 15MPH Thursday 10/10: High 81, Low 52, winds die down sometime in the afternoon Tyson Tilmont, atmospheric science major
Almanac (past week’s highs/lows) 9/26: 76/54 9/27: 80/52 9/28: 83/48 9/29: 78/58 9/30: 78/60 10/1: 78/53
Climate and Averages For the last week, we’ve been experiencing very pleasant fall weather conditions. High temperatures ranged from the upper 70s to the low 80s--about where it should be at this time of the year. Happy fall! Justin Tang, atmospheric science major
Weather News In China, there’s a cave so large, that it has its own weather system. It’s one of the world’s most recently discovered natural wonders. The cave system is called Er Wang Dong, and it’s located in the Chong Quing province of southwest China. Unfortunately, due to its treacherous and sometimes even submerged passages, there’s little information available at the moment. But there are pictures! Raymond S. Chan, atmospheric science major
recycle...
BAWK!
6 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
MUSE ...MY LIP RING REFLECTS AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF ME. THE TRUE ME.
I WOULD WEAR THE LOUDEST COLORS AND LOTS OF NEON. I WAS THAT GIRL.
CAMPUS CHIC
P H OTOG R A P H Y BY B R I A N N G U Y E N
By JAM ES Art Director
K IM
“Fashion is transformative.” — Nina Garcia, Creative Director of Marie Claire magazine and Project Runway judge. Fashion is more than just clothing; it’s an identity. Fashion is a physical form of artistic self-expression and a medium to portray ourselves in different ways, depending on how we feel or how we want to represent ourselves. It gives us the power to channel different egos as
well as establish who we are as individuals in a visual and creative way. As the new fashion writer for Campus Chic, I would like to investigate the transformations of our very own UC Davis students and explore how they have grown into and developed their own personal styles over the years. As the new fashion writer for Campus Chic, I would like to investigate the transformations of our very own UC Davis students and explore how they have grown into and developed their own personal styles over the years.
Featuring Mandi Saeteun, 4th-year design major 1. If you could describe your personal style in three words, what would they be? Classic, simple and sophisticated. 2. How do you think your style has changed since high school? In high school, I was really into hip-hop, graffiti SEE CAM PUS CHI C O N PAGE 1 3
TUNE IN TYLER WEBB • Aggie Arts Writer • arts@theaggie.org
Addressing all types of music By C R I ST I N A Arts Editor
Welcome to MUSE’s newest column. From the title, I’m sure you can deduce that it will primarily discuss music. What kind, you ask? Well, good sir or madam, I will tell you what kind: ALL KINDS. I
F R IE S
T HE AT ER
that I don’t enjoy a lot of mainstream music: I tend to gravitate away from “swag”focused music and toward music from the heart. I enjoy music in which the artist actually has evident emotions. Although I’m not the biggest fan, I feel that there IS evident emotion in Country music. Yes, classical Country (like Johnny
MON T Y PYT HO N’ S S PA MA LOT FRIDAY, OCT. 4 — SU NDAY, O CT. 6, 8 :15 P. M ., $ 9 - $ 1 8 DAVIS MUSICA L T H E AT E R CO M PA NY, 6 07 P E N A DR .
Winner of a Tony Award for Best Musical in 2005, SPAMALOT is a musical that tells the tale of King Arthur and his knights of the round table. Spoofed from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this hilarious show features showgirls, cows and killer rabbits.
MU S I C 203 0 T HU R SDAY, OCT. 3 — 8 P. M . , FR E E , AG E S 21 + CITY HA L L TAVER N, 2 2 6 F ST. SEE A R TSWE E K O N PAG E 1 3
I tend to gravitate away from “swag”-focused music and toward music from the heart.
love talking about music, and this column will act as a relay mechanism for my personal opinions about it. I will discuss what is getting played at parties around campus, what people are listening to, what bands and songs I think are weird, which ones I like — pretty much anything you can think of. I’m going to start off by simply stating
Cash) and soft, slow Country (like the song “She’s Everything” By Brad Paisley) contain emotion, but that’s not what I’m going to talk about right now. I’m talking about the Country music that mothers, daughters and many men alike, all adore. The stuff you hear at day parties and rodeos. I know a bunch SEE CO LUM N O N PAGE 1 3
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 | 7
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
P O E T R Y S PA R K S R E VO L U T I O N UC Davis to host politically charged poetic conference
I L LUST R ATO N BY SAR AH R AP HAE L
A KI R A OL I VIA KUM A M OTO By
Aggie Arts Writer On Oct. 4, UC Davis’ English Department is set to host day two of “Poetry and/ or Revolution,” a conference created to continue discussion about the changing political tides and whether poetry has role in it. The event is a gathering of 13 poets hailing from the Bay Area and the United Kingdom. Amid the recent years of political turmoil on a local and global scale, people are starting conversations around the rapidly changing times. Many of these contributors are artists and, in particular, poets. UC Davis English professor and poet Joshua Clover, UC Santa Cruz professor and poet Chris Chen, and Mills College professor and poet Juliana Spahr are the organizers of the event. Their purpose for holding the conference stems back to a recent meeting in the UK called “Militant Poetics” in which remarks were made regarding Occupy Oakland — a happening in which Clover, Chen and Spahr were involved. “A few participants had some comments to SEE P OET RY ON PAG E 12
JAZZ & BEAT FESTIVAL CELEBRATES ITS SEVENTH YEAR
STREET CONCERT TO ROUND OFF DISCOVER DAVIS WEEK
Performances bring back 1950s Beat culture
UC Davis, downtown Davis pair up to integrate students into community
By L AR I SSA M UR R AY Aggie Arts Writer On Oct. 4 and Oct. 5, the John Natsoulas Gallery will be hosting its seventh annual Jazz and Beat Festival. Featuring various Jazz, spoken word and dance performances, the festival celebrates the art and culture that came about in the 1950s Beat Generation. Hosted by the Davis Cultural Action Committee, the Jazz and Beat Festival features exclusive performance the many jazz musicians, worldrenowned poets and painters. These include performances from the Linda Blair Dance Group, the Cave Women, the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet with Performance Painting by Victoria Smith, Davis High School Jazz Band with Performance Painting by Myron Stephens and a special guest musical group sponsored by the Mondavi Center. John Natsoulas, a long-time Davis resident, is the owner of the gallery and is responsible for running the annual event and finding the local artists to participate in the festival. “We want to celebrate these brilliant iconoclasts in an environment similar to what would have been during that era. I want to preserve the element of collaboration that was so vital to the movement. Art, poetry and music
By DANI EL STAE C H E L IN Aggie Arts Writer To conclude a week of discounts aimed at boosting the local economy and enticing students to become involved in the local community, downtown Davis will be hosting a free street concert on Oct. 5 from 2 to 9 p.m. Discover Downtown Davis Week (from Sept. 29 to Oct. 6) is a week-long jamboree of discounts given to students by over 75 downtown businesses. The Discover Downtown Davis Fall Welcome Street Concert, which is the capstone of the week, will be featuring indie bands from across northern and southern California. The event will be headlined by the San Franciscobased band The Family Crest. “When I heard there was kind of a dead week for Fall Welcome, I thought ‘what a perfect opportunity to get the kids to be familiar with the town,’” said Nina Gatewood, marketing, arts and entertainment director of the Davis Business Association (DBA). Gatewood, together with DBA board member Stewart Savage and Sophia’s Thai Kitchen owner Kevin Wan, have been working closely together
SEE JA ZZ B E AT O N PAG E 1 4
ARTOBERFEST
SEE M USI C FEST O N PAGE 1 3
Businesses come together to bring art to downtown
By JOH N K E S L E R Aggie Arts Writer
MISHA VELASQU EZ | AGGI E
Odd Man Out performed at Central Park on Oct. 2 as part of Davis’ month long ARTober festival.
Don’t be surprised if you see more chalk art, concerts or dancing in downtown Davis this October. For the second year of ARTober, the Davis Downtown Business Association (DDBA) and the Mondavi Center are planning to hold several art-related events, including concerts, art exhibits and community affairs. One such event is the Skreever Fest, which will take place on Oct. 17 and 18 and is a collaboration between Armadillo Music, Nestware and Paula’s Boutique, which are all located on the 200 block of F Street. “We were thinking of something different to do for ARTober other than displaying art, so we decided on a sidewalk chalk art competition,” said Armadillo Music owner SEE ARTO B ER O N PAGE 1 3
8 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
REACTION IF A PRE GNANT MOTHE R CONTRACTS A VIRAL INFE CTION, THE RISK OF HAVING A CHILD W ITH AU TISM IS HIGHE R.
Pregnant Mothers’ Immune Systems Contribute to Autism in Children Mothers’ susceptibilities to viral infection during pregnancy increase risk of having children with autism By Jasbir Kaur Aggie Science Writer
Autism and schizophrenia diagnoses are at an ultimate peak. Fortunately, a recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience and conducted within the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience and Department of Neurology offers groundbreaking research about these neurodevelopmental disorders. Lead author of the study Kimberley McAllister, a professor and a researcher at the UC Davis MIND Institute, suggests that the risk of having a child with autism or schizophrenia might be higher if a pregnant mother contracts a viral infection. The study is the first of its kind to help scientists understand how maternal immune activation affects a newborn’s neuronal and synaptic development. “Our research indicates that immune molecules on neurons in the developing brain, control the formation of connections, and that process can be altered by a peripheral immune response during gestation,” McAllister said in an email.
James Kim / Aggie
THE EXP ERIMENT
THE RE SULTS
POLY (I:C)
ANIMALS TREATED WITH POLY (I:C) HAD GREATER LEVELS OF MHCI MOLECULES IN THE BRAIN WHICH IMPAIR ABILITY TO FORM SYNAPSES
BOYS AT HIGHER RISK THAN GIRLS
20% HIGHER RISK IN SIBLINGS OF INFECTED CHILD
CONTRACTING A VIRAL INFECTION WHILE PREGNANT IS A RISK FACTOR FOR HAVING A CHILD WITH AUTISM, NOT A GUARANTEE
The study focused on MCHI molecules — immune molecules found in the brain. McAllister and her team injected pregnant mice and rats with poly(I:C), a double-stranded RNA synthetic which mocks a real viral infection and tricks the immune system of the rodents. Thus, it activates their system without actually infecting the animals. Myka Estes, a fifth-year graduate student in McAllister’s lab, gave the following comment regarding her interest in this field of research. “I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and experienced cognitive complications from the disease,” she said. “This experience piqued my interest in how maladies of the immune system can affect brain function.” The team used two test groups of rodents. In one group, the animals’ immune system was activated, and in the other, it was not. The newborns of the animals who were treated with the poly(I:C) viral infection showed greater levels of the MHCI molecules found in the brain. Similarly, in the group whose immune systems remained inactive, the levels of immune molecules did not show significant AUTISM on 9
Negative feedback is a plus >> Study reveals role of negative feedback in memory stabilization By Kyle Scroggins The brain is one of the most fascinating and intricate structures in the human body. One of its most basic functions is to store information in the form of memory. In a study published Aug. 18th in the journal Nature Neuroscience, Mark Goldman, joint professor in the Neurology, Physiology and Behavior Department at UC Davis and the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science at the UC Davis Medical Center, and Sukbin Lim, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis, explored how negative feedback mechanisms stabilize memories against the test of time. According to Goldman, one essential question neuroscience researchers have been trying to figure out is how neurons, which typically only remain activated for very short amounts of time, can maintain memories over long periods.
“We may have identified a fundamental building block of memory storage ...” “The classic explanation for how neurons can respond for the many seconds that we can maintain an item in mind during short-term memory is that neurons may be interconnected through positive feedback loops,” Goldman said in an email. A positive feedback loop is when a disturbance to a set point causes a reaction that, in turn, amplifies the disturbance. In this case, nerve cells being activated in response to a stimulus would cause a loop that maintains the firing of nerve cells, thus enabling us to “remember” that stimulus. However, Goldman and his team believe that positive feedback alone is too unstable to maintain memories in the long run. Without a system of checks and balances, the positive feedback could go on indefinitely and amplify, potentially leading to some disastrous consequences, much in the way that speaking into a microphone too loudly produces that awful screeching sound. This is where negative feedback comes in. Where positive feedback tries to am-
Science & Tech Editor plify a signal, negative feedback works to prevent the strength of a signal from becoming weaker or stronger. “The key idea of our model was to show that the circuitry of memorystoring regions of the brain’s neocortex may include ‘slip detectors’ that detect when a memory representation is changing — either growing, as in the microphone screeching example, or decaying to zero, which would cause the memory to be quickly forgotten — and use negative feedback to offset this ‘memory slip,’” Goldman said. In order to simplify the unfathomably complex connections that nerve cells in the brain make with each other, scientists often think of them as if they were circuits in a computer. Goldman and his team took advantage of this fact and utilized mathematical models that mimicked such circuitry. In doing so, he was able to demonstrate the viability of his proposed model. “We may have identified a fundamental building block of memory storage, at the level of neural circuitry. Hopefully, future work can build up from this finding to start to put together how we store more complex information,” Goldman said. Though this finding marks a substantial step forward in better understanding memory at the most fundamental level, on a more macroscopic scale, we are still more in the dark than we would like to be. According to Charan Ranganath, a memory researcher and professor for the Psychology Department at UC Davis, the most challenging part of studying memory is that experts cannot agree on what exactly they are studying. He said there is a general consensus in the field that there are multiple types of memory, and that those multiple types of memory should correlate to different areas in the brain. However, exactly how many types of memory and exactly where they are located remains up for debate. “I might think that I am measuring one form of memory, but in fact use a measure that is sensitive to different kinds of memory. It would be like a physicist or a chemist running an experiment and not being sure whether s/he is measuring heat, light, sound or some combination of these factors,” Ranganath said in an email. Fortunately, dedicated researchers such as Goldman and Ranganath are doing everything they can to further understanding. By doing so, they enable us to have a better grasp on our own minds and potentially develop new techniques for treating people with memory disorders.
KYLE SCROGGINS can be reached at science@theaggie.org.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 | 9
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
H I ST ORY OF T HE D AV IS FARME RS M ARKE T by JAMES K IM
Founded in 1 976 with only three farmers
F E AT U R E S
Davis Farmers Market continues to grow, give back Student support for local farmers benefits city, low income residents By Taylor Cunningham Aggie Features Writer
In 1993, a covered structure was built to accommodate the market year-round
The Davis Farmers Market began with only three farmers in 1976, and has since grown to attract around 7,000 shoppers every Saturday. Yolo County is known as one of the nation’s greatest agricultural powerhouses, and the farmers market, open Wednesdays and Saturdays year-round, is a place for consumers to connect with their farmers in a way they might otherwise not experience. “[The farmers] are like artists who aren’t appreciated until they’re gone,” said Jake Clemens, a longtime market patron. “[The interaction] makes them feel appreciated for their hard work.” The Davis Farmers Market has been a key community center in the City of Davis since its founding, especially after a covered structure was built to accommodate the market year-round in 1993. “We come to the market even when we don’t need anything,” Clemens said. “It’s the pulse of the community. If there’s a problem in the city, this is where people come to talk about it.” Students are also encouraged to stop by. In fact, the market’s hours were even extended until 1 p.m. on Saturdays to improve its accessibility to students, according to Randii MacNear, the manager of the Davis Farmers Market. They can also visit the market at the UC Davis Silo on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. during Fall
Today the market attracts approx imately 7,000 people each Saturday
and Spring Quarters. “Students have told me that it’s hard to feel at home at UC Davis, but we try to make the market feel like home in a friendly community,” Macnear said. As students may not often buy food in bulk, the market is an ideal place to find produce. According to Clemens, shoppers can buy single items, like one apple or one peach, and those purchases, however small, can benefit the community. Supporting the growers of the Davis Farmers Market also lends aid to many lower income citizens of the City of Davis. Many growers from Davis provide food to the Food Bank of Yolo County, which is then distributed to people and families in need in the community. Even though the City of Davis and Yolo County are considered to be part of the breadbasket of the nation, 17.5 percent of people in Yolo County are considered to be food insecure — which means that they don’t have enough food to eat on a daily basis, according to the Feeding America “Map the Hunger Gap” map. Some of the food that is donated by farmers is sent to five Davis elementary schools. This donation provides free and reduced priced meals for students who are living below the poverty line. In this way, supporting the growers at the Davis Farmers Market also supports the health of all of the citizens of Yolo County.
“[The Farmers Market] is a gem for the entire community,” Saylor said. Seventy percent of the goods at the Farmers Market are produced less than one hour away, according to the Davis Farmers Market website, and there are many benefits to shopping locally. Buying food directly from its producers allows you to interact with the farmers.You can chat with farmers about how the food was grown or made, and ask for suggestions about the best way to prepare it. “The market is creating a relationship between the growers and consumers,” said Don Saylor, the district two Yolo County supervisor. Growers love seeing customers enjoy the literal ‘fruit’ of their labor. Farming is not for the faint of heart, and it is often difficult for local farmers to maintain a market segment in competition with large factory farms. The Davis Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday mornings year-round in Central Park on Fourth and C streets, as well as on Wednesday nights. From March 20 through Oct. 30, the market is open from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., and from Oct. 31 through March 13, the market is open from 2 to 6 p.m, also in Central Park.
TAYLOR CUNNINGHAM can be reached at features@theaggie.org.
AUTISM Cont. from page 8
to exchange money, but you do have to make sure both of you agree to initiate an attorney-client relationship. Incidentally, a lawyer’s newspaper column or a radio call-in show are obviously not intended to establish an attorney-client relationship, and should not be construed as actual legal advice. Anything you read on the internet should serve as a starting point, not the end. So now that you have considered the philosophical nature of your desire to perform for the public, where do you go from here? Personally I feel the simplest solution is to start small. Sit in a corner and play guitar quietly. Maybe mumble a bit of your favorite song while avoiding eye contact with anyone who passes. If you have stage fright, this method has the added benefit of everyone being too weirded out to approach you. Second step is to dress well enough to deter assumptions that you’re homeless. Nothing too fancy — take a shower before you leave, perhaps wear shoes. This step is important in allowing you to maintain your small corner of public space without some store owner or other public authority explaining to you that you can’t sleep here. Step three is to ignore the first step. There’s no point in being quiet or humble. Relax and feel confident! You might as well, if you embarrassed yourself then it was a good learning experience, and if you’re under 25 like me, even the strangers who aren’t your biggest fans are generally pretty merciful. Remember that while street performance requires a symbiotic relationship with its audience, you are also doing this for yourself. Sharing your talent with strangers can be exhilarating. So get out there! Risk looking stupid, don’t get kicked off private property and add some melody to the world.
changes. Such a method helped the researchers report for the very first time that high levels of MHCI impairs neuronal ability from the newborns’ brains to form synapses — chemical signals that pass between nerve cells. The team was also able to identify the first molecular pathway of MHCI molecules, which aids in synaptic regulation. Though contracting a viral infection while pregnant is a risk factor for having a child with autism, it still is only a risk — and not a guarantee — that a child will develop autism. According to Judy Van De Water, a professor and director of the UC Davis Center for Children’s Environmental Health, a subset of the population is likely to have an increased risk of developing autism. “Boys are at an increased risk over girls, and siblings of an affected child are at increased risk by 20 percent,” said Van De Water. With the flu season coming up, pregnant mothers all around are warned to be cautious. As far as the study is concerned, the results are promising, yet it is only the first step in improving interventions for developmental disorders. Research isn’t the only way in improving the lives of children with autism and their families. Kirkland Washington III, a behavioral therapist at Capitol Autism Services and a 2012 UC Davis graduate, shares his experience with working with children with autism. “Patience is extremely essential and an understanding that who you are working with won’t necessarily understand what you’re asking of them or be able to communicate their wants or needs at the time,” he said. With the help of research and altruistic people combined, there seems to be hope to make these disorders less prevalent.
To win a rap battle, challenge ELLY OLTERSDORF at eroltersdorf@gmail.com.
JASBIR KAUR can be reached at science@theaggie.org.
Watts Legal with DANIEL WATTS
Question: I just moved into a new house last month. This month, my landlord told me he’s selling the house, and I’m not sure what’s going to happen next. Can he kick me out? — Kayla F., Davis Answer: Not as long as he still owns the building.Your landlord signed a lease with you, and that lease is a binding contract between you and him. There are, of course, certain ways to get out of a contract, such as when the purpose of the contract is frustrated by external events beyond the parties’ control. Your landlord normally has to send a maintenance crew to fix problems, but if an arsonist sets your house on fire, for example, you’ll have a tough time demanding that he unclog the charred remnants of your toilet or fix the lock on the heap of ashes that used to be your front door. Conversely, if he no longer owns the building, he can’t ask you to stop throwing so many parties, since it’s not his house anymore. While he owns the house, he’s bound to obey the lease, which, like every lease in California, promises you “quiet enjoyment” of the premises. This means you’re entitled by law (specifically California Civil Code section 1927) to the exclusive possession of the house without disturbance. Although the landlord can sell the house, he can’t harass you during the sale. I’m assuming your landlord is using a real estate agent, who will probably want to show the house to potential buyers. That’s fine, but he has to give you proper notice in advance. He can’t show the house outside of normal business hours: No 3 a.m. surprise visits, and no unannounced tours of your bedroom while you’re getting out of the shower in the morning. As long as the landlord owns the house, he can’t kick you out simply because he’s planning on selling it. He can’t force you to move by intentionally making your life miserable, either. The new owner of the house, however,
might want to change things. If she wants to live there, she might try to get you to leave. But in buying the house, the new owner has signed a contract with the old landlord agreeing to take over all the old liabilities and responsibilities attached to the house. This includes things like the electricity bill, property taxes — and people still living there. Unless your lease has a clause canceling your lease in case of a sale (which is unlikely), the new landlord has to abide by the lease and let you stay. The old landlord should transfer your security deposit to the new landlord, so when you move out, you’ll get your deposit back from the new landlord. Don’t forget this a year from now. If the new landlord doesn’t refund your deposit within 21 days, or if the old landlord didn’t transfer the deposit like he was supposed to, you’re entitled to sue for triple damages plus attorney fees. Question: In season two of Breaking Bad, attorney Saul Goodman told Walter White to give him a dollar so White would be protected by attorney-client privilege. Is that all it takes? Just a dollar, and the attorney is yours? — Conrad O., Sacramento Answer: It actually takes less than a dollar to establish an attorney-client relationship, though the exchange of money definitely makes the relationship clearer. Lots of lawyers (including every public defender in the country) represent clients who don’t pay a dime, but they’re still their clients’ lawyers. Their conversations are still protected by the attorney-client privilege, which means that the lawyer can’t go around telling people incriminating or confidential things about their clients. You can’t just throw a dollar at a lawyer and assume he’s your lawyer. Until he tells you he’s representing you, and until you explicitly agree to that representation, he’s not your lawyer, and talking to him is just like talking to anyone else.You don’t have
10 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013
BAG BAN Cont. from front page
to be in support of the bag ban. California Public Interest Group, (CALPIRG), has lobbied tirelessly for the ban over the past year, and has received a lot of positive support from students. “We got a petition with almost 10,000 signatures from UC Davis students,” said Donna Farvard, the president of the UC Davis chapter of CALPIRG. “That’s almost one in three students who wanted to see the ban happen.” While some citizens of the City of Davis may be unhappy that they will no longer be receiving plastic bags at checkout, Krovoza said that the ban only aims to “give an economic value” to the bags. Even though the bags won’t be freely handed out anymore, consumers can purchase similar receptacles at the grocery store as they would any other plastic good. “If someone values plastic bags, they can purchase them elsewhere,” Krovoza said. “We just don’t want to give them away.” City Council member, Brett Lee, wishes that instead of banning plastic bags completely, the ordinance would allow people to pay for plastic bags as well as paper if they wanted. “If plastic bags are disposed of properly, they aren’t that harmful,” Lee said. Lee added that he is in support of the pending plastic bag ban because it is better than no ban. A few stores in the City of Davis have already initiated a similar program. For instance, at the UC Davis Memorial
BLAKE Cont. from front page
The renovations will be paid for through the Searles Fund, a private fund given to the UC Regents in 1919 by Edward F. Searles. According to a University Office of the President statement on the Searles Fund, the fund was donated as a share of stocks that now has a market value of $188 million. “According to the regents’ minutes, he [Searles] placed no restrictions on the endowment, other than that the gift be applied ‘in such manner as the regents should deem proper to the uses of the University,’” the statement said. As a private fund for the benefits of the UC, the regents reserve the money for expenses not covered by the state government. The Searles Fund has previously been used to purchase and maintain homes for the President and Chancellors, as this is something that the state government does not pay for. “If UC were to redirect this money to other purposes for which state support is needed (salaries, educational costs, etc.), the university would lack this mechanism to pay for those operational necessities that the state won’t pay for,” the Searles Fund statement said. $250,000 of the $620,000 that the regents have approved to work on the house will go toward hiring an expert to inspect whether the house will be liveable after renovations are finished. The other $370,000 will go toward security upgrades, kitchen renovations, and deferred maintenance such as painting, roof repairs, and electrical and plumbing maintenance. UC Spokesperson Brooke Converse said that the use of the Blake House after the inspections has not yet been decided. “It is still unclear whether or not President-elect Napolitano and future presidents will be able to live at the house,” Converse said. In 2008, a UC Newsroom statement was released regarding housing for previous President Mark Yudof. “Because of its age and significant deferred maintenance issues, Blake House suffers from a variety of condition problems, including the fact that it sits on an active geologic slide, which causes continual foundation movement and related structural issues,” the press release stated. The total estimated cost of repairs and renovations now adds up to between $3.5 and $6 million. The house has fallen into further disrepair after not being lived in since 2008. New homes in Kensington, the area in which Blake House is located, range in price from $800,000 to $2 million. Previous UC President Yudof voted not to allow renovations for the Blake
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
Union Bookstore, patrons pay $0.25 for each bag that they purchase. Since the $0.25 fee was implemented in January. 2012, it has received mixed reviews from consumers. “It’s frustrating to spend hundreds of dollars of textbooks from the bookstore, and then be asked to buy a bag,” said Anne Kovino, mother of a UC Davis first-year. “[It’s] insulting.” Other patrons appreciate the bookstore’s attempt to cut down on plastic waste. “Often, you’re handed bags that you don’t really need,” said Johanna Spark, a Davis community member. “It [the $0.25 fee], makes you think.” Whole Foods, a chain of supermarkets known to be eco-friendly, has banned the distribution of single-use plastic bags in their stores since Earth Day in 2008. While Whole Foods doesn’t currently charge for their paper bags, as retailers in the City of Davis eventually will, they do offer a rebate for customers who bring their own bags, according to Whole Foods Davis Marketing Manager, Kristen Tantarelli. For each reusable bag used, Whole Foods will donate a nickel to the charity that they’re currently supporting. Last quarter,Whole Foods donated the rebates to the Davis High School band. Currently, they are collecting money for improvements to the UC Davis Arboretum. For major retailers, the ban will most likely be initiated in January 2014, while smaller retailers in the City of Davis will be affected in July 2014.
BIKE BILL Cont. from front page
Department of Transportation, 677 pedal cyclists were killed in 2011. 48,000 cyclists were injured that same year, constituting two percent of people injured in car accidents and marking a nine percent increase in injuries from 2010. “I think that [the “Three Feet for Safety Act”] is going to be very critical. It will make people more aware and particularly make law enforcement people have a regulation that they don’t have to interpret,” said John Waterson, a member of the Davis Bicycle Advisory Commission. “It will be clearer that the bikes are to have that three foot buffer so that people will not fear for their safety while biking.” Similar laws are in effect in 22 other states. Most states require a three foot clearance, though Pennsylvania requires four. “We’re not doing anything radical and untested, other states have done this before. I could not speak to the data but I’m not aware that they have had problems implementing or complying with the law,” Stauffer said. Davis Bicycle Advisory Commission member Darell Dickey said that he believes that though this bill has many benefits it won’t have a radically changing effect on the safety of bicyclists. “It gives cyclists a tool when something does go wrong to get some restitution. When a car hits a cyclist, it’s very hard to prove [the] car guilty in court … but in general, I don’t think it’s going to change anything except I suppose [more reports] could be made,”
Dickey said. “There are very few cyclists that know what laws pertain to them.” Even with the new “Three Feet for Safety Act,” commissioners still see room for improvement in Davis regarding bicycle safety. According to Dickey, the single most important thing is for the City of Davis to make rules that pertain to cyclists rather than having cyclists follow rules meant for motorists. “One side is to remove bikes off the road to get them out of the traffic and then you don’t have to have stop signs every block and traffic lights every two blocks,” Dickey said. “Other countries have managed to do it. Davis is a phenomenal place to ride a bike compared to other more urban cities, but at the same time [it] has a long way to go.” The Davis Bicycle Advisory Commission has been working in advising the Davis mayor. The main priority has been to uphold Davis values as a bicycle-friendly town by moving toward ensuring “complete streets now,” to make it safe for kids to bike to school, making bicycle parking convenient and having wider roads among other tactics to maintain the “bicycle connectivity.” “As much as we pride ourselves as being bicycle-friendly, we are almost a completely car-centric town. I’d like to prioritize bikes and consider them first or equal to cars,” Dickey said. “When new infrastructure goes in, it’s all made for cars and we fit in the bikes around when we should be making all roads more bicycle friendly.”
GABRIELLA HAMLETT can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
Taylor cunningham can be reached at city@theaggie.org. House when he became President due to the current recession the country and the UC system was in. UC Regents made accommodations for Yudof to live in a house in Oakland that was rented for $11,550 a month. Similar housing arrangements have been made for Napolitano while preliminary plans for the Blake House take place. She will be living in a house in Oakland that will cost $9,950 a month. If homes for UC Presidents continue to be rented at this price, they will “eclipse the cost of renovation within 15 years,” according to the UC Regents’ agenda. Blake House was donated to UC Berkeley in 1957. This fact is one reason that UC Regents are reluctant to selling the house and buying a new one. “If Blake House is sold, the money would go to the Landscape Architecture Department at UC Berkeley,” Converse said. “It could not be used for buying a new house.” Students from the Landscape Architecture Department at UC Berkeley currently work and take care of the Blake Garden, located outside of Blake House. Although the house has not been kept up since 2008, the garden is still thriving. Blake Garden manager Lauri Twitchell commented on how the possibility of Napolitano moving into the Blake House will affect the Blake Eat Well Garden. (Fall) “The past presidents have all been Aggie Ad- B&W supporters of our program as a land3 column x 4 inchesfor the UC Berkescape laboratory ley Dept.of Landscape Architecture <filename: eat-well-fall.pdf> and Environmental planning … We are open to the public and admission is free. I assume that will remain the same and there has been no indication that it will change,” Twitchell said in an email. Converse said that the house is important to restore because it previously housed so many UC Presidents. The UC Regents would like to continue the tradition of housing UC Presidents there. If it is decided that the house will not be appropriate for Napolitano and presidents after her to reside in, the UC Regents agenda stated that other possible uses for the Blake House are a location for entertainment and fundraising, for holding lectures and classes, and also for guest housing. The amount of time it will take for renovations for the Blake House to finish is currently unknown. Converse said UC Regents are “hoping to bring something back by the January meeting.”
Melissa Dittrich can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
YASH NAGDA / AGGIE
Alumni designs new bikes to be sold in Davis.
CITY BIKE Cont. from front page
to “business school online” to become more established. Being able to sell a new product through a medium that mainly advertised used items gave them a competitive edge, but also created a hurdle in terms of consumer trust. “Building our brand from Craigslist and [through] word of mouth, we were also competing with big bike brands,” Ashoor said. “At times, for 12 hours I’d drive doing deliveries and repairs.We had to offer that customer service so people would trust our brand.” They now have two warehouses in Los Angeles and Sacramento managed by Vu and Ashoor respectively, and distribute to five retailers in the LA and capital region with plans to spread to the east coast and Canada. Pure Fix Cycles is one of CITY’s major competitors who also sells introductory model fixed-gear bikes that have comparable features, marketing, price range and even more variety. Pure Fix began as a startup at the University of Wisconsin, Madison which then moved to Burbank, Calif. and is already a national company after only two years of operation. Aaron Curtin, owner of APEX Cycles and a 2002 alumnus of UC Davis, is currently CITY’s only retailer in Davis, and has also carried Pure Fix in the past. “In the American market, people are very brand-conscious,” Curtin said. “CITY has an uphill battle of breaking into a market share that has a lot of companies that sell a very similar bike. They see how market trends
Eat Well, Live Healthy! Weight Management Series
are going and try to adjust accordingly, and they’ve been good at that.” Curtin said being the exclusive retailer of CITY in Davis has its benefits as far as transaction fluidity from manufacturer to consumer, but he also chose to hold their brand because of their locality. “They were the front end of the shop, the back end of the office, they were the middleman,” Curtin said. “They knew what Davis students needed because they were students. They remember riding their bikes back and forth to school and how much it would cost to maintain the product.” The expansion of Pure Fix and CITY, two student-spurred bicycle companies, within the past two years illustrates the consumer demand for bicycles that are essentially creating jobs even in times of economic hardship. Ashoor and Vu initially intended to go to law school and medical school, but veered from those paths with this company. Ashoor also works part time for the Environmental Protection Agency, where he had an internship during college. His income aided the production of the bicycle company at first, but even after being officially hired, his salary was still at the internship’s rate. “Surviving off an internship wage is very difficult,” Ashoor said. “I don’t know what would have happened to me or Vince if this company had not happened. We’d just be like everyone else trying to find a job to get by.”
SEAN GUERRA can be reached at features@ theaggie.org.
Want to manage your weight but aren’t sure how to get started? Come to the Eat Well, Live Healthy! weight management series! This series covers quick and easy cooking tips, physical activity, meal planning and more! The best part? It’s free to all UC Davis students. You must register to attend. Visit the Student Health Services Nutrition Services webpage. shcs.ucdavis.edu/services/nutrition
FREE
Weight Management Series: Tuesdays 4:00-5:30pm October 8th-29th Student Health & Wellness Center
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 | 11
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
SUNDARA Cont. from page 2
drink. This is part of a phenomenon known as rape culture, which is the idea that rape-like behavior has become normalized and trivialized and embedded subtly into our daily lives and daily vernacular. When was the last time you heard someone say, “Man, I raped that test!”? Another product of rape culture is homophobia. The largest stereotype about homosexual men is that they’re girly men — our society’s misogyny extends towards them because the worst thing you could be is a girl. Think about this: the worst thing you can call a man is a pussy. Racism, homophobia and
transphobia are all issues battled by feminism. It’s a legitimate social cause that strives to make the world a more open-minded place and solves a number of problems that occur for people of all kinds. Men have legitimate problems concerning rape and custody battles, and are more likely to go into life-threatening industries, but that all stems from outdated gender stereotypes where men need to maintain their machismo and women need to maintain their prowess as a homemaker. Basically if you believe that everyone has an equal chance to take full advantage of their human rights, you’re already a member of the feminism club. Welcome. If any guys want to try on MONA SUNDARA’s lipstick, they can email her at msundarav@ucdavis.edu.
EXPERIENTIAL Cont. from page 4
This year, Shum was the only student from UC Davis participating in the program, with about 20 other students from the other universities. “I think it’s an attractive program in that it’s a very unique opportunity to be embedded for [two] months,” said Niharika Chibber Joe, General Manager North America at TATA Sons Limited.“We are lucky in that we get really high-quality students.” Students in the program are placed in varying positions across the country, from corporate office work to more travel-intensive projects. Overall, the program aims to bring different perspectives to Tata, encouraging international understanding and cooperation. “It gives [students] experience of having worked for an international company,” Chibber Joe said.“They really have a solid line item on their resume.” Shum specifically worked for Tata Capital, with the job of coming up with an interactive learning module to educate Tata Capital employees in India about global warming. Within this project, Shum was asked to research the effects of global warming on society and corporate sustainability, playing with the idea that running a business requires one to take into account the environmental, social and economic aspects of the venture. “We are expected to come up with all the
OPTTOWN Cont. from page 4
Cont. from page 16
a Spaniard. “While I was there, I got to learn all the customs of Spain, I got to eat typical Spanish food that they cook at home and then got to learn how to make the food too,” Giblin said. Apart from receiving the cultural experience, Giblin took two Spanish language intensive courses at the University of Granada. Giblin said teaching styles in Spain were different from those in the U.S. and that her Spanish has dramatically improved. Before her trip, Giblin believed it was important to speak Spanish for career reasons. Now, her reasons for pursuing the language have expanded greatly. “After going to Spain, it’s more than just something I would do for a job. I appreciate their culture, and I enjoy speaking Spanish,” Giblin said. “Being able to connect with people and speak another language is something that I realized is really important to me.” Both Shum and Giblin agreed that their experiences abroad have changed the way they live in a positive way, and recommend all UC Davis students in all majors to try it as well. “It’s an opportunity you will never forget,” Giblin said. “We live with a very focused and directed path of academics here in the U.S. But with study abroad, you learn a different way of life and realize that not everyone lives like we do.”
RITIKA IYER can be reached at features@theaggie.org.
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“Confidence levels are pretty high, especially coming off the win against Mexico,” Henry said. “The back line has been strong and we’re starting to get our offense going.” Henry went on to emphasize what the team will need to do this weekend to get two wins over Irvine and Northridge. “Playing well together as a team; sticking to both sides of the ball; staying focused and sticking to our game plan,” Henry said. “If we do those things I think we’ll come off the weekend with a couple victories.”
the years, it’s a life-changing experience for [students],” Chibber Joe said. “They are really grateful to be in India under this experience, it’s given them a whole new perspective.” Shum recommended the program to all UC Davis students and plans to return to India at some point in the future as well. “It has been as much a humbling experience as it has been a learning experience,” Shum said. Like Shum, Giblin, who studied abroad in Granada, Spain through the Sol Education Abroad program this past summer, attested to becoming more culturally aware. “Before I went to Spain, I spent so much time at UC Davis with academics and work, always busy getting things done,” Giblin said. “In Spain, its a much more laidback lifestyle. It’s not just about me — it’s more about my family and my community, and being a part of something bigger. It was a very different lifestyle, but one that I value more.” Although Giblin’s time was different from Shum’s in terms of academics, she does believe that learning about another way of life is something all students who have studied abroad can relate to. “It definitely takes you out of your comfort zone and gives you an opportunity to meet people in different cultures.To see how people live differently, eat differently,” said Jane Giblin, Giblin’s mother. Sol Education Abroad offered Giblin the opportunity to live with a Spanish host family, with whom she would speak, eat and live like
hler Bue ni/ Alum rs o Visit r te Cen
schedule in one of the highestrated conferences in the country,” Coach Shaffer said. “It’s not going to get any easier for us when we return home, hopefully our non-conference schedule has prepared us for another Big West run.” Not only is Coach Shaffer confident in the team’s abilities but the players are up for the challenging schedule they face this fall as well. Senior midfielder Alex Henry feels good about where the team is at so far this season.
NICOLE YI can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.
If you want to accuse ZACH MOORE of being brainwashed by the filthy liberal media, email him at zcmoore@ucdavis.edu.
i
SOCCER
Lenin’s policies did create an egalitarian society: they made everyone equally poor and miserable. Reaganomics successfully combated inflation and unemployment, but left the nation in a massive debt hole, vastly increased the concentration of wealth and disparity of income and raised the poverty rate. So how should you determine which ideology to believe in if you can’t base your opinion on general principle? Study history. Much of politics consists of hypotheticals: when we vote, we vote for the candidate whose policies we believe will benefit our country more. Perhaps next time you vote, see if these policies have been tried in the past, and to what degree they experienced success. Don’t discount a seemingly illogical policy that hasn’t been tried before. Keynesian economics brought the country out of the Great Depression and resulted in prosperity, despite initial criti-
tin
email interview. CoHo barista and fourthyear biochemistry major Tommy Fowler utilizes the app with friends to view restaurant deals and sees it in action on the job. The CoHo rewards its OptTown users for every purchase with digital stamp cards on customers’ smartphones. “I think it’s a pretty nifty app. For here, we’re using it as a punch card and you get a free coffee when you first download it and on your birthday you get a free cookie also. It’s pretty handy especially if you have a smartphone so you don’t have to keep whipping out that paper card,” Fowler said.
Cont. from page 2
details, all the transitions, what the portal learning experience will be,” Shum said. “You have to give a perspective from your own background, that they wouldn’t receive being here at Tata.“ On social issues, Shum worked with various non-governmental organizations regarding affirmative action, women’s rights and children’s education, in order to inform and encourage Tata Capital employees to get involved with such initiatives. “What was really unique about this project is that they don’t give you a lot of structure,” Shum said. “It had no standards, no guidelines on what they want.You have to be willing to think outside the box and be innovative.” Another part of the project dealt with the economics of being environmentally responsible. Shum worked with emission and cost calculations of Tata Capital to compare sustainability numbers. Shum said although he enjoyed working on the social aspect of the project the most, the environmental parts were more mentally and academically challenging. “As an exercise biology major, you learn chemistry and biology,” Shum said. “It was hard to be exposed to a subject [that] you’re supposed to learn from scratch and then educate other people about.” Shum was also able to delve into the Indian culture headfirst. He visited tourist locations like the Taj Mahal and also saw extreme poverty firsthand. “From the feedback we have received over
The Experimental College offers a discounted class for first-timers, and many of the businesses downtown invite users to enjoy benefits on their birthdays, such as a free yoga class at Akasha Yoga. Although the app is new to campus, students already predict a successful outcome. “Davis is a college town and all students, including myself, are always looking for good deals around the area. OptTown only makes it more convenient for us to take advantage of these offers and I can’t imagine why the app wouldn’t be widely used as it becomes more well-known,” said fourth-year aerospace engineer Troy Chuang.
cism from pundits that its fundamental logic was flawed.They quickly rescinded their comments when they realized that what failed in theory succeeded in the real world. Keynesianism soon became a staple of modern economic thought, proving the critics wrong. Its success forced academics to rethink their fundamental beliefs on how the world worked. In order to make progress, they needed to have their tenets destroyed to pave the way for new ideas. This is how society becomes more efficient: when a historically accepted idea begins to fail, we must scrap it for a new, often untried one. Either this idea fails miserably and politicians learn never to implement such stupid legislation again, or the idea enjoys success and we have a new standard of thought. Without trying and failing, progress is impossible, and even the most resounding successes leave room for improvement.
MOORE
• • •
Bring your UC Davis student ID. All students receive 50% off ticket prices. Limit of 2 tickets per event, per UC Davis Student.
Over 70 different performances at mondaviarts.org
12 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
Process of installation GRID Alternatives will use renewable energy and energy efficiency services through this program so homeowners can save a huge percentage of their electricity bills every year. The organization currently has a couple of clients lined up to receive approval for the solar technology for their homes. The process of installation requires a construction crew, ten job trainees or volunteers and two days worth of time. “The installation process starts with our Outreach Coordinators assisting homeowners through the application process,” said Becca Russell, special projects intern for GRID Alternatives, in an email. “Once the homeowner is approved, our construction crew designs a system that will provide at least 75 percent of the household energy use.” Additionally, GRID’s program offers job opportunities for interested individuals. The program allows volunteers, job trainees, student groups and corporate work teams to train, learn and work with the solar industry. Workers are prepared for jobs in the expanding solar industry while helping families afford solar energy.
using solar energy can have a larger net green in the near future, but it is sometimes hard to tell. “Because solar energy costs are heavily influenced by the particular permitting and grid tie-in costs, it is hard to say what an economic payback time would be,” said Associate Professor of civil and environmental engineering, Alissa Kendall, in an email. However, Professor Kendall also said that some quick calculations would tell us the expected energy and greenhouse gas payback time. “The energy payoff is around eight years for a solar cell that is certified to last 25 to 30 years,” said Professor Adam Moule from chemical engineering and materials science department, in an email. “This means that as long as the solar cell remains in operation for longer than eight years, it is making more energy than was required to create it in the first place.” According to Professor Moule there is no drawback for any building or facility in California to install a small solar electric or photovoltaic system, including houses. “There is a necessity to upgrade both the distribution grid and the transmission grid to accommodate the intermittent nature of solar power collection,” Moule said. “Part of this is to connect the cities together through a network, the other part will be to install electricity storage in the form of batteries, fuel cells and mechanical energy storage devices.” With proper implementation and usage, solar technology saves energy and money in the long run. Russell said GRID Alternatives hopes to install solar electric systems on 15 homes in Davis by the end of 2014. “This will create long-term savings for families living with low incomes, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide hands-on experience for volunteers, job trainees and homeowners themselves,” Russell said. “Homeowners are always very grateful for their solar electric systems.”
Net-green impact The larger environmental impact of
TAMMY LEE can be reached at city@ theaggie.org.
SOLAR Cont. from page 4
order to function more comfortably and easily in their own homes. This program makes home improvement projects and loans more affordable to the community members. “The City [of Davis] chose to award the GRID Alternatives program through our federal HOME dollars and we are hopeful that they will be able to assist lower income residents who might benefit from solar on their homes,” said Kelly Stachowicz, City of Davis deputy city manager. “We see this program as a win-win: lower income residents save money on utilities and the community reduces our overall greenhouse gas emissions.”
POETRY Cont. from page 6
make about Occupy Oakland and the role of poets within that, and a bunch of us involved didn’t necessarily agree with these claims,” Clover said. “We wrote a letter of response, but rather than leave it at an angry exchange, we decided we’d work through our differences as well as our commonalities.” The conference originated from a gathering in the UK called “Poetry and Revolution.” The gathering was brought to order in the midst of the Arab Spring — a series of political protests held in the Arab Nation beginning in December 2010. In the wake of the uprisings along with the recent anti-austerity protests in London, poets and scholars came together to discuss poetry’s part in these global affairs. Marianne Morris, a poet and scholar from the UK, gave a reading at the “Poetry and Revolution” conference and became invested in the dialogues regarding the topic. Though she didn’t attend “Militant Poetics,” she felt the urge to contribute to the continuing conversation and will be attending the conference in Davis. A follower and admirer of Occupy Oakland, Morris looks forward to hearing the perspectives of those who experienced it firsthand. “I think the discussion will be interesting, particularly for the UK contingency, due to the ways in which being removed from habitual context [of what one’s used to] can open up space for new ideas and new ways of talking about things,” Morris said. Though the event will provide a haven for attendants to converse about the Occupy Oakland commentary, its overarching purpose is to discuss how poetry and revolution relate to one another, or if they have any relation at all.
Some of the attendants have found it unclear whether poetry plays a vital role in society today, especially in regard to revolution, but many have found they personally connect their poetic work to the current political antagonism taking place. Poet David Buuck found it easy to write with a radical basis after being submersed in the political movements of the last few years and will be reading some of his work at “Poetry and/or Revolution.” “Given the events of the last several years around the world, the political uprisings and revolts raise new and vital questions for writers and artists everywhere,” Buuck said.“I try to think critically about politics in all my work, including at the levels of both form and content.” The conference will offer a space for anyone who holds interest in revolution and/or poetics to voice their opinions and decide for themselves where poetry belongs in the changing current. “I have no claim about what poetry ought to do. I’m not in favor of having a program in which it declares what the poetry’s purpose is,” Clover said. “For me, revolution comes up as a matter of course, not a matter of purpose. I don’t know if poetry’s a centerpiece of contemporary society that people need to be worrying about. Then again, maybe it is.” Day one of “Poetry and/or Revolution” will be held at UC Santa Cruz on Oct. 3, day two will be held at UC Davis in Voorhies Hall 126 on Oct. 4 and day three will be held at UC Berkeley on Oct. 5. For further event details, visit the UC Davis Humanities calendar online at dhi.ucdavis. edu/?tribe_events=poetry-andor-revolution or go to revolutionandorpoetry.wordpress.com.
AKIRA OLIVIA KUMAMoTO can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
Sharpen your mind with graduate degrees in Teaching, Counseling and Public Administration & undergraduate degrees in Psychology, Management, and Communication. Plus new online graduate degrees now available. LEARN MORE AT AN
INFORMATION MEETING at the USF SACRAMENTO CAMPUS
October 8, 6pm Learn more or to RSVP call 916.920.0157 visit www.usfca.edu/sacramento or email sacramentocampus@usfca.edu
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 | 13
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CAMPUS CHIC Cont. from page 7
and that whole rebel/punk movement, so I would wear band tees, graphic tees and paint-splattered skirts and shorts. I would wear the loudest colors and lots of neon. I was that girl. Now, I go for a more sophisticated look and wear a lot more blacks, whites and neutrals. Black is my alltime favorite color. 3. What are your three must-have items in your wardrobe? Cut-off shorts, sneakers and t-shirts. I’m currently wearing Chuck Taylors, but I also love my Roshe Run Nikes. 4. What is your favorite accessory and why? My lip ring. If I could wear it all the time, I would just because I feel like it’s a subtle way to express myself. I guess it’s a contrast of who people think I am and who I really am. I think I come off as quiet, shy or sort of reserved but I feel like my lip ring reflects an accurate picture of me.The true me. I didn’t tell my mom and she freaked out when I got it, but it’s just something about the commitment of getting a piercing on your face that gives me that extra hint of rebel edge. 5. Where do you love to shop and why? I shop at GAP a lot.Their style is very clean and simple and they have good staples like ripped jeans and comfortable cotton t-shirts. They fit well and the quality is good.
ARTSWEEK Cont. from page 6
The local comedy duo 2030 that produces and performs music for college crowds and local venues will be performing for the tavern’s UCD College Night. Come for a few laughs and $4 drinks. Miss Lonely Hearts Friday, Oct. 4 — 9 p.m., $5, ages 21+ Sophia’s Thai Kitchen and Bar, 129 E St. This band remains true to America’s roots in Rock n’ Roll and Country. With the danceable tempo and drunken, hymnal vocals, their songs create an energy that is sure to stir up the crowd. Spirits of the Red City Saturday, Oct. 5 — 9 p.m., $5, ages 21+ Sophia’s Thai Kitchen and Bar, 129 E St. A collective of friends and diverse musicians, Spirits of the Red City’s sound is an eclectic mix of 60s classics, traditional folk and modernist composers. Described as “playing with airy intimacy,” National Public Radio shows praise for this Minneapolis-based indie
MUSICFEST Cont. from page 6
with the UC Davis Fall Welcome Student Affairs Committee to make this event possible. “We have a very strong art and music scene and it’s very much more condensed than, say, San Francisco where it’s all sprawled out,” Gatewood said when asked what distinguishes Davis’ downtown from others. Richard Ronquillo, chair of the Fall Welcome Student Affairs Committee, first proposed the idea of having a Discover Downtown Davis Week when he heard from students that one reason they chose to attend UC Davis was because “they really liked the city.” “The Fall welcome event was initially geared more towards first-year students. But now discounts are available to all students as long as they have their ID,” Ronquillo said. According to Ronquillo, Gatewood and Wan took the fall welcome event to the next level when they decided to finish off the week with a free concert, something which hasn’t been done before at this scale. Most concerts or music festivals in Davis in the past have acted as fundraisers to benefit particular organizations. This time, First Northern Bank, Sophia’s Thai Kitchen and 2407 Graphics are its primary sponsors, ensuring that
6. Fall season is here! What items do you recommend our readers to incorporate into their wardrobe?
COLUMN
I have tons of loose cardigans and oversized sweaters.They’re so classic and comfortable; every girl needs them, especially in Davis when the weather gets super chilly.You can layer them, dress them up or down, put a belt on them — the possibilities are endless.
of people out there love Country, and I know a ton of people hate it. Personally, I don’t hate Country. I am by no means a fanatic (I cannot tell apart or even name two songs by Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton or Keith Urban), but if a Country song comes on, I won’t be one of the people who instantly stands up and screams angrily “What the hell? Who put this on?!” I find Country to be soothing and relaxing, which is a feeling I think I share with almost all other Country fans. Most Country songs I hear are about romance and about having a good time — these are things that I’m sure the Country artists are passionate about, and things that are also easy to relate to. Country music is easy on the ear, it keeps the energy up, and it rarely gets too heavy. It’s simple — Country artists rarely try too hard or overcomplicate their songs. I suppose this all is what makes Country music so desirable for parties — especially day parties it seems. Although there is obviously emotion present in Country songs, all songs within the genre (regardless of the artist) sound the same to me. Maybe I just haven’t developed my Country palate enough yet, but every male Country singer’s voice has the same deep, wholesome, manly,“twangy,” sexy tone. In addition to my vocal peeves, the guitar featured in Country music seems to be very limited in terms of sound variety. It seems to either be a simple, constantly repeated acoustic strumming pattern (like in “The Good Stuff” by Kenny Chesney) or a rough, loud electric guitar riff paired with heavy rock style drums (like Tim McGraw’s “Truck Yeah”).
7.What is your most treasured item in your wardrobe? These $32 leather moto boots that I found at Ross. They’re just so comfortable and I wear them with everything: leggings, jeans, shorts, whatever. I can’t find any pair of boots, even for $200, that fit as nicely as they do. They’re made from real leather too! I love them forever. 8. What final tips can you give to our fashion-forward readers? I’m starting to wear more belts now because they give your body shape. I used to never wear belts because I didn’t like how they felt, but now I use them as an accessory and I tuck my shirts in to give a more sophisticated and finished look. If I were to give a beauty tip, it would be my method on how to easily get those loose beachy waves for your hair. To avoid denting your hair, buy a large curling iron with a bigger barrel and curl your hair on the outside of the iron instead of using the clamp. Hope this helps!
Cont. from page 7
ARTOBER Cont. from page 6
JAMES KIM can be reached at arts@ theaggie.org. folk band. Stewart Goodyear Saturday, Oct. 5 — 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., 3 - 6:30 p.m. and/or 8:30 - 11:30 p.m., $37.50 - $80 Mondavi Center Concerto soloist and composer Stewart Goodyear, who has performed with many of the major orchestras of the world, will play a complete set of Beethoven’s Sonatas during three programs throughout the day. Eleanor Murray, Donald Beaman, Brian Jackson and Lauren Lavin Wednesday, Oct. 9 — 8:30 p.m., $5 $7 suggested donation Third Space, 946 Olive Dr. Come hangout at for a night of indie folk and fun vibes. Third Space hosts live music in their multi-purpose art venue twice a week.
Josh Chapman. The stores involved will offer refreshments and let people chalk spaces on the sidewalk. The art will be judged in various categories, with the winners receiving prizes such as gift cards. Local art galleries are also getting involved. The Natsoulas Gallery will hold the Jazz and Beat Festival on Oct. 5 and the Pence Gallery will host three new exhibitions and a performance for October. “The main gallery will feature an exhibit called Reality2 [Reality Squared], which features the work of six painters who focus on realism to show different senses of reality,” said Pence Gallery director Natalie Nelson. The paintings were selected by art critic DeWitt Cheng and feature work by Mark Bryan, William Harsh and Michael Kerbow, among others. “One of the smaller galleries will show the work of Cynthia Martin Kroener, who does landscapes, mainly of Tahoe, but also of Mexico and Africa. They’re acrylic and colorful,” Nelson said. Kroener will do a painting at the gallery on Oct. 5 and 6, and will give an Artist Talk on Oct. 15. The Mondavi Center is also involved in ARTober with several performances scheduled. These include Asphalt Orchestra, Ahmad Jamal, the San Francisco
This lack of variety is totally understandable — I get it, there is only so much an artist can do within a given genre. And people like these riffs and this party style of country, so why not keep making the music? A sidenote about Country music (that I noticed while writing this article) is that almost 100% of country album cover artwork features the singer, in the outdoors, often on a field, wearing a cowboy hat, staring at the camera. It gets old really fast. To all you stubborn Country fans, you might like a band called Drive-By Truckers. They have Southern accents, they utilize heavy rock guitar (like in the song: “Highway 72”), but there is an alternative and very unique sound and feel to their style. Their songs are genuine, from the heart (great examples include:“Carl Perkins’ Cadillac” and “Outfit”), and just sound freakin’ good.They have a great pair of guitarists who make use of the slide (“Late For Church”) which designs a cool, “warpy” guitar sound. They have a ton of upbeat stuff that I could easily imagine hearing at parties. Their themes are sometimes similar to that of mainstream country and sometimes different, but as a band “Drive-By Truckers” are easy to relate to, moreso than the more popular country artists. Yes, there are some Country bands that even I can enjoy listening to. And even though Country music is not my cup of tea, I still believe there are redeeming qualities to it, just as there are in Polka, Disco or Jazz. In this column, I will delve into what those are, even if it pains me to do so. TYLER WEBB will be bumping the coolest tunes in his crib incessantly. To find out what he’s listening to, contact him at arts@theaggie.org.
Symphony and MOMIX Botanica. The Mondavi Center was involved with ARTober in 2011, when it was initially focused on Sacramento events. “Our early involvement in ARTober grew out of the work our Executive Director, Don Roth, does as co-chair of the For Art’s Sake committee,” said director of marketing for the Mondavi Center Rob Tocalino in an email. The ARTober organizers approached the DDBA in 2012 and asked to partner up. “They thought it would be great to include downtown Davis because of the new street art [that was added in 2012],” said DDBA marketing director Nina Gatewood. Gatewood said that the reaction from the businesses she’s partnered with have been positive. “Most of the businesses want to work with us,” Gatewood said. “ARTober brings more people downtown, and since we don’t charge businesses to participate, it’s like free advertising.” Chapman felt that events such as ARTober are vital. “Getting people involved and motivated to do something they might not do normally is important for Davis as a whole,” he said.“It fosters a vibe in our community that is much needed.” For a full list of ARTober events, visit davisdowntown.com/calendar or mondavicenter.org. JOHN KESLER can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
POETRY/READINGS “Flashes of War” by Katey Schultz Friday, Oct. 4 — 7:30 p.m., free The Avid Reader, 617 2nd St. Award-winning author Katey Schultz discusses her book about the traumas of war. With a minimalistic style, she captures the pain of war in an acclaimed literary fiction work. this event will be free. “This is to benefit the community, this is to benefit UC Davis, this is to get people excited about the new school year,” Wan said. Wan said that he wanted to make sure there would be variety when booking bands for the event. “If you listen to the first few songs and it’s not your thing, you can leave; come back an hour later, and it will be a new band. In the meantime you can go grab a gelato or a cup of coffee, explore, go to the bookstore and still be downtown,” Wan said. Among the bands are Cold Eskimo, The Seshen, Races, Only You and Big Tree. The headliner, The Family Crest, is an orchestral indie rock band from San Francisco. When booking artists, Wan specifically looked for energetic bands who replicate and capture all the energy of their lyrics and recorded music onstage. “It’s kind of a pilot concert of sorts,” Wan said, since the concert is the first of its kind in Davis. But should it prove successful, there is talk that there could be many more free concerts in the future, including bigger headliners. The free concert will be held on D Street between First and Second streets. For more information, visit davisdowntown.com/fallwelcome.
DANIEL STAECHELIN can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
MASTER OF FINE ARTS: CERAMICS Located in the nation’s most influential art and design school, this interdisciplinary program encourages students to explore all aspects of the medium and create all forms of ceramic art, from vessels to installations. Apply By JANUARy 10, 2014 saic.edu/gradapp
gRAdUAte AdMISSIONS 800.232.7242 | 312.629.6100 gradmiss@saic.edu Jiyhe Hur (MFA 2011), Study I, 2011
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 | 15
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
backstop RACE FOR
Big West Title BEGINS
Women’s volleyball seeking conference wins on road As the Aggies begin their quest for a Big West Title, they may look upon their recent success — winning five of their last six preseason games — to instill confidence heading into conference action. Much of this confidence started with an upset victory over then18th-ranked California in four sets. UC Davis’ win against Cal marked the fourth time the Aggies have beaten a Pac-12 team in the last eight years. The Aggies would then go on to defeat their Western Athletic Conference foes CSU Bakersfield in another four-set victory. “In many ways Bakersfield was one of the toughest opponents we played this far,” said coach Jamie Holmes. “They were scrappy, they were edgy,
they were playing without fear. Getting that [win] was one of the most significant [wins] in the preseason.” Despite suffering a tough loss in their opening road conference matchup against CSU Northridge in five sets, coach Holmes was filled with optimism heading into upcoming matchups between CSU Fullerton and UC Riverside. “It was heartbreaking to lose that match [against CSU Northridge],” Holmes said. “However, the team has presented what [their] goals are, and these next two conference matchups give us an opportunity to chip away at those goals.” As Big West play continues, UC Davis will have to watch for Fullerton’s senior stars Alyses Hensley and Bre Moreland, who have a team-
Men's tennis season opens with Aggie Invitational
high 146 digs. Fullerton hopes to bounce back with a successful conference home opener after their road loss against sixth-ranked Hawai’i in straight sets. From there the Aggies, who will be playing with limited rest, will have to square off against a UC Riverside team that has seen better days. The Highlanders are currently 1-12 overall, and have lost their conference opener to Hawai’i in straight sets. However, the Aggies must not overlook Riverside or sophomore outside hitter Ashley Cox, who has a team-high 115 kills. UC Davis enters road play with an 8-6 overall record and an 0-1 conference record. — Shaun Moncada
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Event Aggie Invitational Where Marya Welch Tennis Center — Davis, Calif. When Saturday, Oct. 4 at 9:00 a.m.; Sunday, Oct. 5 at 9:00 a.m.; Monday, Oct. 6 at 9:00 a.m. The Aggie Invitational is the UC Davis men's tennis team's home tournament in the fall, and will feature some of the best tennis on the west coast, according to Aggie head coach Eric Steidlmayer. The tournament will be played at the Marya Welch Tennis Center on the UC Davis campus and runs from Oct. 4 to 6, with play commencing each morning at nine. The invitational features three separate brackets, called the A, B and C brackets, and the Aggies have players competing in all
three. This means that there will be plenty for the Aggie Pack to cheer about. Steidlmayer leads the men's team into his second season as head coach. He previously coached at UC San Diego for 14 seasons. His teams there made 12 consecutive NCAA Division II postseason appearances, and his tenure at UC San Diego is highlighted by a 20-0 season in 2011. Steidlmayer helped to improve the Aggies' overall team record by three games in his first season and also helped each player’s individual performances improve sharply. He has brought a winning mentality and a dogged determination to UC Davis men's tennis. The men's team features a number of key returning players and will also include some important new cogs as well. The returning top players include seniors Parker Kelly and Kyle Miller, and sophomore Brett Bacharach. These three started all of UC Da-
FOOTBALL Cont. from front page
yards and 44 touchdowns in his career. He displayed both the leadership and the experience that the Aggies will need if they wish to leave Utah with another win. Did you know: UC Davis’ 30-13 victory over Idaho State was Ron Gould’s first win ever as a head coach, let alone as the Aggies’ head coach. When asked how the reality of the experience of his first win measured up to what he thought it would be, Gould gave all the credit to the players. “This is something they earned — it’s a tribute to them,” said coach Ron Gould. Gould took over as Aggie head coach this year after the 20-year run of Bob Biggs. The former running back coach from Cal has brought with him major changes for the
vis’ matches last year and will look to help provide veteran leadership to the three standout freshman who supplement the men's tennis roster. High school All-American and 34th nationally-ranked prospect Alec Adamson leads the new class along with James Wade, ranked 45th nationally, and Bryce McKelvie. "All three freshmen bring a good fighting spirit, a calmness to themselves and are good players," coach Steidlmayer said. This up-and-coming team will put their new mentality on show at the Aggie Invitational and will be challenged by the likes of the nationally-ranked Oregon, as well as Stanford and California, amongst others. At the very least it will be an interesting litmus test for a team whose goals are to make the conference championships and be nationally-ranked by the end of the season. — Vic Anderson
Aggie football program.The changes began to pay off in the Big Sky season opener and hopefully will continue throughout this season. Preview After losing their first four games, UC Davis’ luck changed as they defeated the Idaho State Bengals, 30-13. Actually, luck has nothing to do with it. “It’s a culmination of all of their hard work that they have put in,” Coach Gould said. “When you believe something and trust the process, then you’ll continue to work hard — and that’s exactly what these young men did.” The Aggies’ defense worked just as hard as they have all season and performed exceptionally against the Bengals. Junior safety Charles Boyett led the Aggies with seven tackles. Seniors Nick King and Colin Kelly, juniors Anthony Kaspar and Steven Pitts
“WORTHY OF THE HYPE.’’ – Cheryl Eddy, SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN
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and sophomore Kyle DeVaughn hounded who -rushed Univ. CA Davis Sac for a career-high of 208 yards. Idaho State’s senior quarterback Justin Arias A win will not come easy for the Aggies 2col(3.375)x7 all night. against the 4-1 Southern Utah University. FRI 9/20 “All season our defense has done a fabu- The Thunderbirds wrapped up a threelous job of keeping us in the game,” Coach game road stretch with a 27-21 win against Gould said. Northern Colorado on Sept. 28, which The Aggies’ offense came alive when opened up their conference schedule. senior quarterback Randy Wright was Several Thunderbirds will keep the Agbrought in to take over for an anxious Jim- gies’ defense busy, including senior wide my Laughrea in the first quarter. receiver Fatu Moala and freshman running “They just said ‘start warming up,’” quar- back Levi Te’o, who scored one of SUU’s terback Randy Wright said. “You don’t have three touchdowns in their last game. Agto tell me twice. I’m always ready to play.” gie defenders will also need to contain juThe seasoned veteran was indeed ready nior quarterback Aaron Cantu, who threw and hit senior Tom Hemmingsen with a for 269 yards and two touchdowns against 20-yard TD pass on his first drive upon re- Northern Colorado. placing Laughrea. As Davis football prepares to take on “I was real pleased with how Randy SUU, the Aggies hope to continue their came in, real poised,” Gould said. “He did a winning streak by “getting back to the bafabulous job.” sics and finishing with the details,” Coach The Aggies running game was led by Gould said. freshman running back Gabe Manzanares, — Jordanna Baddeley
16 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE
backstop SHAZIB HAQ / AGGIE Gabe Manzanares rushes for career high during the game against Idaho State on Sept. 28
FOOTBALL PREVIEW Teams UC Davis at Southern Utah
Records Aggies, 1-4 (1-0); Thunderbirds, 4-1 (1-0)
Where Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, Utah.
When Saturday, Oct. 5 at 1:05 pm
Who to watch? Coming off of their first win this season, the Aggies’ morale is high after defeating Idaho State University at home on Sept. 28, 30-13. The Aggies must utilize this positive energy and stay focused as they head to Southern Utah, their second away game of the season. Freshman running back Gabe Manzanares has injected energy and productivity to the UC Davis offense. The
m e n’s so ccer pre v ie w Teams UC Davis vs. UC Irvine; vs. Cal State Northridge
Records Aggies, 4-4-1 (0-0); Anteaters, 5-2-2 (0-0); Matadors, 8-1-0 (0-0)
Where Aggie Soccer Field — Davis, Calif.
When Friday, Oct. 4 at 4 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 6, at 3 p.m.
Who to Watch Although the season and school year have only just begun, several players have already established themselves as threats on the pitch. Leading the team in goals, junior forward Matt Sheldon has scored three goals in the first ten games of the season, two of which have been game-winners. Sheldon’s three goals is half of the Aggies’ six goals this season. Another stand out player is senior captain and midfielder Alex Aguiar, who has racked up 23 shots on goal, the highest number of shots by any Aggie so far this season. It also places him third in the Big West. Hopes are that his continued attacks on goal will eventually begin to land in the back of the net. “Staying focused and continuing to have the confidence to take shots on goal are key,” Aguiar said. The upcoming games against the Anteaters and Matadors will be an excellent opportunity for Aguiar to capitalize on his propensity to shoot. Senior goalkeeper Omar Zeenni has been a rock in the defense this season. A seasoned veteran, he ranks No. 9 all-time in the Big West, with a 1.00 career goals against average. Currently this season Zeenni has 27 saves, and a goals against average of 0.87. He will need to come up big against the tough opponents this weekend.
Preview The excitement of another school year can only be increased by one thing: the start of fall sports for the UC Davis community. The cool breezes of fall and changing leaves can only indicate one thing for the players on the UC Davis men’s soccer team: a whole new opportunity to dominate out on the pitch. After ending the 2012 season with a solid 10-7-4 record and 7-3-0 in conference play, the Aggies hope to improve on an already strong 2012 season. Unlike many students who have only recently returned to Davis, the men’s soccer team already have ten games under their belt. The Aggies started off slow, with their opening game against Chico State on Aug. 25 ending in a tie and the next two away games versus Portland and Oregon State ending in losses. “We’ve been in some tough battles this season, been on the wrong end of some of these results,” Coach Dwayne Shaffer said. “I kept telling the guys to continue working hard because things will eventually turn our way.” As the team begins to pick up steam this season, Coach Shaffer’s confidence in the Aggies’ abilities is beginning to be warranted. With wins against Seattle University, Saint Mary’s, University of San Francisco and most recently a huge 2-1 victory over No. 19 ranked New Mexico, the Aggies hold a respectable record of 4-4-1. A sweep of this weekend’s opponents would not only establish a winning streak but give UC Davis a 2-0 record in conference play, placing the Aggies at the top of the Big West Conference. However, sweeping this weekend’s opponents will not be an easy feat. “We play an extremely difficult SOCCER on 11
young running back from San Francisco, Calif. rushed for a career high 208 yards in the Big Sky Conference football opener against the visiting Idaho State on Sept. 28. Manzanares is now tied with Phil Wintz for 10th on the all-time single game rushing list for the Aggies. Manzanares will surely continue to impress Aggie fans and frustrate opponents. Another Aggie to watch for is senior quarterback Randy Wright. Although
Wright — who started 32 of 33 games coming into 2013 — had lost his spot to Jimmy Laughrea after the seasonopening loss to South Dakota, he made an impact off the bench against ISU last Saturday. Wright finished the Big Sky season opener with 201 yards passing, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The fourth-year quarterback came into the 2013 season having thrown 7,087 FOOTBALL on 15
18 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013
THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE