February 9, 2012

Page 1

serving the uc davis campus and community since 1915

www.theaggie.org

volume 131, number 19

thursday, february 9, 2012

ASUCD elections set to be most competitive in years Important issues await winners-to-be By RICHARD CHANG Aggie News Writer

Bree Rombi wants to be your student body president, and Rebecca Sterling does, too. With only two weeks left before the ASUCD elections for senate and executive office, the pressure is on for candidates to deliver those final speeches and to reassure their supporters. “With 15 senate candidates running and two executive tickets, I am anticipating a competitive race,” said Sterling, a former senator who is now running for president. This time around, the senate race is a crowded field. With 15 candidates vying

for six seats, this contest contrasts with the one held last fall, when seven candidates competed for six seats. The executive election last year was similarly uncompetitive, with current President Adam Thongsavat and Vice President Bree Rombi running unopposed. Rombi, a senior communication and Spanish double major, is now running for president. “Last fall was the fluke. Something like this quarter is more normal,” said

Amy Martin, an incumbent senator who is running for vice president on the Rombi ticket, of the disparity between the two elections. This election, BOLD will not appear on the ballot. According to Rombi, there was a general consensus to disband the slate by its members. “We wanted to create something meancourtesy ingful on campus because LEAD did not mean anything, and we accomplished that goal,” Rombi said.

Martin agreed. “There was no strong purpose of why BOLD should stay after that,” Martin said. Taking the place of BOLD this quarter is a new slate called Students Matter: Activism, Retention and Teamwork (SMART), which, according to their Davis Wiki page, “seeks to give a voice in ASUCD to all underrepresented communities on campus.” Its platforms call for the funding of ethnic graduation ceremonies and changing university course requirements to increase social diversity. There are six candidates running on the SMART slate.

See ELECTIONS, page 2

An interview with Bon Iver’s Sean Carey Bon Iver scheduled to perform in Davis on April 17 at Freeborn Hall By UYEN CAO Aggie Arts Editor

Somewhere in the depths of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, a soulwrenching howl can be heard calling out to the folk and indie gallery of fans nearby. As the harmonic and sweet sound continues to reverberate so gracefully, the world begins to catch on. This has been the story of Bon Iver, a small music project that ambitiously blossomed into a musical giant since its creation by Justin Vernon back in 2007. Along with Justin Vernon on guitar and lead vocals, today Bon Iver is made up of Sean Carey on drums and backing vocals, Michael Noyce on guitar and Matthew McCaughan on bass. Bon Iver has released two albums: For Emma, Forever Ago in 2008 and the self-entitled album Bon Iver in 2011. Although longtime fans will disagree that Bon Iver is anything but new to the music scene, it’s clear that the spotlight is definitely on Bon Iver as they completed a well-received performance set on Saturday Night Live which aired this past weekend. Additionally, the band has four Grammy nominations this year, including Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album. Needless to say, 2012 has been a good year for Bon Iver. For the past week, ASUCD Entertainment Council had teased with the thought of a highly acclaimed “band” to come to Davis. And just three days ago, Entertainment Council released the news that Bon Iver was indeed confirmed for a show on April 17 at Freeborn Hall. In the midst of chaos of a live performance on Saturday Night Live and the Grammy buzz coming up this Sunday, Bon Iver’s Sean Carey took some time to speak with MUSE last Friday. In fact, he had just completed his SNL rehearsals the night before and was finishing up a suit fitting

Sean Carey

Courtesy of Cameron Wittig

for the show the following night when we got a hold of him on the phone. Despite being extremely busy, Carey shared his thoughts on Bon Iver, music and performing in no rush. Here’s what he had to say: First off, how are things going with the Saturday Night Live dress rehearsals and Grammy preparations? Carey: We had rehearsals for SNL (Saturday Night Live) yesterday and we’re doing the taping tomorrow. So it’s going really well! It was super laid back yesterday. We met the cast and everyone was really nice. As for the Grammy nominations, it’s just something I’ve never thought about. When we found out about the nominations, I didn’t really know how to react. It was funny because my mom was super excited. I mean, I seemed less excited just because I never thought about it before or any of this happening. So I guess I’ll just keep going and all of this is, well, just crazy.

Justin Vernon

Courtesy of D.L. Anderson

Where were you when you heard of the big news? I was actually driving. I was going on a three-day tour and it was a long weekend. I was traveling in between Michigan, Chicago and Iowa and suddenly, we got the phone from my mom and she was freaking out! [Laughs] So going back now, can you tell us about Wisconsin: Does it ever feel strange between the two worlds? Yeah, in a way it’s a really nice balance. When we’re not touring, Wisconsin is just a great place to be because there’s nothing really going on and we can just really relax and work on new music. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I do really like to travel and be in big cities; it’s fun but it’s also reminded me of how lucky we are to have our situation. But yeah, it’s the best of both worlds because we get to be in New York and whatnot. But the more I do travel, the more I realize the less I want to live in a big city.Like today, I was walking around New York and I was

watching other people and it can get overwhelming. With people in the industry now recognizing you, do you ever feel like it inhibits your creativity as an artist independently? Not really, but it can be the case for sure when you have higher expectations or something of yourself. But I guess we just try not to focus on that. What is your earliest recollection of making music? What sort of things inspired you when you were younger? I grew up in a pretty musical household. My dad was a music teacher, singer and guitar player. I did choir as a kid and then I got really interested in playing the drums. My older sister would play and I would watch and think of how cool it was. So those were my beginnings there. I would pretty much wear out the Beach Boys tapes too. And later on, I really got into Jazz.

Q&A with Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Dave ‘DK’ Kemp Leader has big plans for biking and walking in Davis By EINAT GILBOA Aggie News Writer

Dave “DK” Kemp, former bike coordinator of the City of Fort Collins, Colorado, became the new Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator of Davis on Feb. 6. Members of the public are welcome to meet Kemp at an informal reception on Friday at the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The Aggie sat down with Kemp to talk about his plans for making the city a better place to bike. The Aggie: What is your educational background? Kemp: I attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, earning a degree in Recreation and Tourism with an emphasis in Interpretation, which relates to museum work, national parks and exhibits. I graduated in 1999. It was a very applicable degree to my current position. I was a nontraditional student; I graduated when I was 28. I was going to be a high school science teacher in Missouri, but decided that wasn’t what I Shazib Haq / Aggie

Davis’ newest bicycle and pedestrian coordinator is shown on campus with his own bike.

Today’s weather Sunny High 65 Low 40

Forecast Sun! Sun! Sun! Sunny weather is sticking around for the rest of the week! Pretty boring if you’re a meteorologist, but awesome if you like the outdoors. Fortunately, I like both! Matthew Little, atmospheric science major Aggie Forecasting Team

See KEMP, page 2 Friday

Saturday

Sunny

Sunny

High 63 Low 41

High 63 Low 42

Bon Iver Tuesday, April 17 at 8 p.m. (Doors opening at 7 p.m.) Freeborn Hall • Sales for general admission tickets begin this Sunday at 10 a.m. on tickets.com for $39.50. Tickets can also be purchased at the Freeborn Ticket Office starting Monday until sold out. • On Monday at noon, 200 limited student tickets will be available for $29.50 at the Freeborn Ticket Office only. For student tickets, you are required to bring a student I.D. and there is a maximum of two student I.D. cards per purchase; cash only. Freeborn Ticket Office Hours: Monday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m.

Bon Iver has done some pretty small shows like “A Take Away Show,” and you performed at Sophia’s Thai Kitchen in Davis last year. Do you prefer intimate shows?

See BON IVER, page 5

News iN Brief

Town Hall meeting Friday about UC police policies and procedures Friday, the UC Office of the President will be holding a town hall meeting at UC Davis to discuss police policies and procedures on UC campuses. UC General Counsel Charles Robinson and UC Berkeley School of Law Dean Christopher Edley Jr. were appointed by UC President Mark Yudof to do a systemwide investigation of campus police, and are looking for input from different campuses. After gathering information, Robinson and Edley Jr. will put out a set of recommendations for Yudof in early March. The meeting will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday in the Conference Center Ballroom. — Hannah Strumwasser

This one goes out to the night crew. Despite being the underdogs, I really believe you guys are the hidden masterminds behind the publication. It’s been an honor working with you all these past four years! Thank you for all the great memories. Uyen Cao


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February 9, 2012 by The California Aggie - Issuu