May 2, 2012

serving the uc davis campus and community since 1915

www.theaggie.org

volume 131, number 58

News iN Brief

California Raptor Center to hold open house

wednesday, may 2, 2012

Dorm residents find ways to beat the heat Student Housing deals with unexpected heat wave

Brian Nguyen / Aggie

As soon as the weather starts to warm, Student Housing makes the switch from heating to cooling, which took about two business days.

Jasna Hodzic / Aggie

The California Raptor Center will be holding its Open House on May 5; free but donations appreciated.

On Saturday, the California Raptor Center (CRC) will be holding their Spring Open House from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be free, but donations are highly appreciated.

The CRC is a facility part of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, with the aim of caring for, rehabilitating and eventually releasing injured raptors, including eagles, hawks, vultures and owls.

The Open House is intended to highlight the various tasks and responsibilities of the CRC, with raptors both in display cages and on the glove. There will be special presentations held at 10 a.m. and noon, demonstrating interest-

See RAPTOR, page 2

By DANIELLE HUDDLESTUN Aggie News Writer

After an unexpected heat wave the weekend of Picnic Day, Student Housing had to make some adjustments to accommodate residents.

“We try to make sure that we do everything we can to keep the residents comfortable. I was personally here both days on Picnic Day. The sudden heat wave just caught us off guard,” said Dave MacKinnon, assistant director of Residence Hall Maintenance.

Each residence hall building has a separate air conditioning system. The buildings’ air conditioning is adjusted in an attempt to attain peak efficiency.

“The way that our systems work is that they can only do heating or cool-

ing, but not both at the same time. We base the changeover on the weather forecast. We were worried about more cold weather and needing to keep the residents warm,” MacKinnon said.

As with any major mechanical system, the first time it is turned on during a season, it may not run properly.

Student Housing has to turn on many cooling systems while making sure they work properly.

“It is uncommon that the first warm spell gets this hot, but as soon as it started we began the transition. It took about two full business days and was a challenge to complete,” he said.

During the time residence halls were being switched over to the cooling systems, residents had to put up with the heat.

“Because you expect to feel relief on a hot day when you walk into a building, having the air off was unexpected,” said first-year resident Patrick Le. Having the air off also affected students in other ways.

“The air conditioning wasn’t on in my building and it was hot, so it made residents uncomfortable while trying to study for midterms. It is nice and cool in my room now,” said Andrew Chen, a first-year resident.

In order to beat the heat, residents found other ways to cool off, such as going to the Recreation Pool, which opened the day after Picnic Day, or spending time in study lounges and the library.

DANIELLE HUDDLESTUN can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

City Council candidates busy Farmers Market campaigning as elections approach vendor of the Candidates maintain common themes in issues they address

By PAAYAL ZAVERI Aggie News Writer

As the Davis City Council Elections come closer, the candidates are busy campaigning and advocating their stances to the public. The city council elections will be on June 5. Three seats on the council are open for election and five candidates are vying for those positions.

The five candidates include Brett Lee, Lucas Frerichs, Stephen Souza, Sue Greenwald and Dan Wolk. The last three are incumbents.

In this election, all of the candidates are focusing heavily on a few key issues, the first being the eco-

nomic stability of the town. Second is environmental issues, in particular the Davis water supply.

“We have a need to improve the longterm economic viability and sustainability of the community.

Additionally, we need to pursue the unfunded liabilities and needs we have and address them to make sure that we are economically stable for the future,”

Souza said.

Irisa Tam / Aggie

Most of the candidates are addressing environmental sustainability in Davis. In particular, the question of clean, solar energy is being debated. A few candidates are also concerned with improving the water supply of

week: Pure All Natural Honey Local beekeepers make organic honey products

Davis.

“We need to come up with a more

See COUNCIL, page 2

BASEBALL PREVIEW Teams: UC Davis at Fresno State; vs.

Cal Poly Records: Aggies 16-23 (4-8); Bulldogs 18-22; Mustangs 25-17 (9-6) Where: Beiden Field — Fresno; Dobbins Field When: Wednesday 6:05 p.m.; Friday 2:30 p.m.; Saturday 1 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m.

Who to watch: Sophomore designated hitter Nick Lynch mans the cleanup spot in the order, and for good reason: He leads the Aggies with a .330 average and .430 on-base percentage, and is second on the team with 17 runs batted in.

Did you know? If UC Davis can get a lead early, it’s pretNick Lynch ty good at holding on to it. sophomore The Aggies are 14-2 when leading after six innings; however, their opponents have outscored them 28-9 in the eighth inning this season.

Preview: UC Davis baseball closes out its eight-game road trip at Fresno State tonight before returning to

Today’s weather Partly cloudy High 73 Low 50

Davis for a Big West Conference battle with third-place Cal Poly.

Sophomore pitcher Evan Wolf will take the mound against the 2008 National Champion Bulldogs, looking for his second straight win after earning his first collegiate victory last week at San Francisco.

The Aggies will host their conference foes for a weekend matchup, hoping to shut down the bighitting Mustangs.

Cal Poly leads the Big West in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, runs batted in, doubles and home runs. UC Davis counters with a trio of talented senior starting pitchers who will have little room for mistakes against such a good hitting team.

“The bright spot this season has been our pitching,” said head coach Matt Vaughn. “We will look at the scouting reports and we’ll come up with a plan. We’ve played some good offensive teams this season and we feel good about our pitchers

keeping us in the game and giving us a chance to win.”

The UC Davis starters will have to slow down the top three Mustang hitters, most notably Mitch Haniger, who leads the Big West with a .615 slugging percentage, nine home runs and 46 runs batted in.

The Aggies have been powering up at the plate as well, with five home runs in their last six games. The problem, as for much of the season, hasn’t been getting guys on base, but getting them home. UC Davis is hitting close to the Mendoza Line with runners in scoring position, and leads the Big West with 30 double-plays grounded into.

The good news for the Aggies is that after their trip to Fresno State, they play seven of their next eight games at Dobbins Field, where they own a 10-8 record.

First, UC Davis must take care of business against the Bulldogs, first pitch on Beiden Field at 6:05 p.m.

Friday’s game at Dobbins Field will start at 2:30 p.m.

Forecast I wish I could give you a better weather forecast during this gloomy midterm season, but alas, it seems as though rain and cloudy skies have crept back into our area once again. Temperatures should creep back up into the 80’s by early next week.

Kenneth Doss, atmospheric science major Aggie Forecasting Team

— Russell Eisenman

Thursday

Friday

Jasna Hodzic / Aggie

Pure All Natural Honey sells flavored honey at the Davis Farmers Market in Central Park, downtown Davis.

By LANI CHAN Aggie Staff Writer

On a table in the middle of the Farmers Market in Central Park on Wednesday night sits a line of jars filled with amber-colored honey next to a cup of sample sticks. Free samples of locally produced treats are a major attraction of the Farmers Market experience, tempting those strolling through to find the freshest of fresh produce and snacks.

The organic goodness found at this particular ven dor, Pure All Natural Honey, is a unique selection of hon-

ey in a myriad of flavors. It is the work of two passionate beekeepers who are committed to healthy living, but also to bringing the tastiest flavors to the dinner table, and luckily for the rest of us, to the Farmers Market.

The products Items for sale every Wednesday include jars of honey in Spring Blossom, Orange Blossom, Habanero, Lavender, Star Thistle and Cinnamon flavors for $6 each, which are also available in pound and half-

See HONEY, page X Something funny should go here.

Chance of showers Partly cloudy High 68 Low 51

High 72 Low 49 Written By

page two

2 wednesday, May 2, 2012

daily calendar dailycal@theaggie.org

TODAY

free to the public. Go to www.foodaddicts. org for other meeting locations.

Take Back the Night 6:30 to 9 p.m.

East Quad The UC Davis Campus Violence Prevention Program (CVPP)’s Take Back the Night will feature a popular local band Walking Spanish and the a UC Davis a cappella group, The Spokes. Guest speakers will include Professor Todd Migliaccio and sexual assault survivor Sabrina Sadler.

Student Housing’s Clothesline Project will be on display and participants at this free event can partake in a community art project.

KP Meeting of the 43rd Annual Whole Earth Festival 7 to 8 p.m.

Student Community Center (across from Chem 194/Bike Barn) Learn the history of the festival, reconnect with your loving community, schedule Non-Violence Training, explore KP responsibilities and discover a little bit about yourself.

The Tempest

7 to 8:30 p.m.

Hickey Gym Go to this dance rehearsal to learn the dance to partake in the flash mob on May 9.

7 to 8:30 p.m.

Pence Gallery “Learning Center” Upstairs, 212 D St. Watch this performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults. RSVP by e-mail at davis.shakespeare@gmail.com or by calling 530-802-0998.

Introductory Fitness Class Series

The 2012 Eugene Lunn Memorial Lecture

Dance Dance Davis Practice

7:30 to 8:10 p.m.

ARC Try out group cycling for free! This intro class, promoting Work It! Week, will help you get comfortable with a group exercise class setting and prepare you for regularlength classes.

WEDNESDAY Aggie Idol 7 to 9 p.m.

Freeborn Hall Watch this fifth intercollegiate studentathlete charity variety show coordinated by the UC Davis Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The proceeds from ticket sales will benefit nonprofit Team Davis; our local Special Olympics organization.

Tickets are $8 through May 1 and $10 on May 2. They are available at the Freeborn Ticket Office or online at tickets.com.

7:30 to 9 p.m.

Alpha Gamma Rho Hall, Buehler Alumni Center Listen to this lecture by Professor Robert Darnton with a reception to follow. He will speak on “Books, Digits, and Dollars: A Design for the Future.” The lecture is free and open to the public.

THURSDAY Shinkoskey Noon Concert 12:05 to 1 p.m.

115 Music Watch this free concert as Joseph Abad plays the saxophone with Jenny Lee playing piano and Lucas Chen playing the cello.

Poetry Night Reading Series: Carlos Reyes

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous

8 to 9 p.m.

John Natsoulas Gallery The Poetry Night Reading Series is proud to welcome the poet Carlos Reyes.

7 to 8:30 p.m.

Davis United Methodist Church, 1620 Anderson Road Free yourself from excess weight and/ or obsessive thoughts about food and body image. Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) is a 12-step fellowship based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Meetings are open and

To receive placement in the AGGIE DAILY CALENDAR, e-mail dailycal@theaggie. org or stop by 25 Lower Freeborn by noon the day prior to your event. Due to space constraints, all event descriptions are subject to editing and priority will be given to events that are free of charge and geared toward the campus community.

RAptor Cont. from front page Visitors are invited to arrive at 8 a.m. for the Hawk Walk, which ends at 9 a.m. Attendees to this event are advised to bring binoculars.

Donations to the CRC are strongly encouraged due to the center’s financial situation. For the past two years, the CRC has been receiving no operational funding from the budget allocated to the School of

Veterinary Medicine.

“CRC has been functioning for the past two years mainly on volunteer help, reserve funds and donations,” said education program volunteer Lis Fleming. “It is hoped that the new budget, which begins July 1, 2012, will fully restore annual operations funding for CRC.” For directions to the event or more information, visit vetmed.ucdavis.edu/calraptor/index.cfm.

— Rohit Ravikumar gies and discoveries will be the key to provide our society [with] a better living environment and make the energy supply sustainable,” Pan said.

Zhang travels frequently to China to help further advance the work in her field.

Zhang is listed as the sole inventor on two patents involving the highrate anaerobic digester process. She is also a coinventor of three other patents related to the process. Clean World Partners has licensed all five patents from the University of California but is currently only using two of the licenses. Zhang will receive a percentage of the royalties generated, per university policy.

JWASTE

Cont. from page X volatile organic compounds (VOCs) created by the decomposition of dairy cow manure and other organic wastes.

“If we use digesters to treat manure, those VOCs won’t be formed and emitted, because the bacteria in the digesters will convert the manure into methane and carbon dioxide,” Zhang said.

Zhang’s husband, Zhongli Pan, is an adjunct professor of food engineering at UC Davis and works in the same department as Zhang. Their son, Philip, is a senior environmental engineering student at UC San Diego.

“She [Zhang] always be- BRIAN RILEY can be reached at science@ lieves that new technolo- theaggie.org.

Correction In the May 1 article “Recruiters aim to shift paradigm,” it was incorrectly stated that there are 15 assistant football coaches. There are 10 assistant coaches and 5 additional staff members.

The Aggie regrets the error.

Jason Alpert Editor in Chief

Amy Stewart Science Editor

Becky Peterson Managing Editor

Melissa Freeman Opinion Editor

Alex Tervo Business Manager

Joey Chen Copy Chief

Grace Sprague Advertising Manager

Jasna Hodzic Photography Editor

Hannah Strumwasser Campus Editor Angela Swartz City Editor Elizabeth Orpina Arts Editor Erin Migdol Features Editor Trevor Cramer Sports Editor

Michelle Huey Design Director Janice Pang Asst. Design Director Mimi Vo Night Editor Amanda Nguyen Asst. Night Editor Irisa Tam Art Director

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least that’s what I do.

But I did once witness a guy who chose not to give up. I would like to give him the Most Pamela Ridiculously Determined Nonga Student on the Planet Ngue award. He raised his hand to ask a clarifying question and never got called on. And he never put his hand down. We had class with one of those professors who tends to only look at one side of the room while lecturing, and he had, unfortunately, sat hat awkward moon the wrong side of the ment when you know lecture hall that day. It was in your heart that hard to watch as he waved you should just “quit while about, used his other hand you’re ahead” but you can’t to prop his arm when he because the truth is that got tired, switched arms, you’re not ahead. On the etc. I wished he had either contrary, you’re in way too called out to the professor deep, and the real choice or … just quit already. is between crashing and Or how about that awkburning sooner rather than ward moment when you’re later. This is the predicain a serious argument with ment that someSpeaker one and I would like to give him the Most you know Newt Gingrich Ridiculously Determined Student you’re finds himself wrong, but on the Planet award in. Although you’ve alit is rumored ready inthat he will quit the presivested too much time and dential race sometime this effort into the discussion week, possibly today, the so you keep arguing in deaction is way overdue. fense of your wrongness. I’ll Gingrich did not have admit that I’m not much of nearly the same amount a debater, but if I’m arguing of success as did Rick with an arrogant individuSantorum. Santorum came al or if I’m angry in the mothe closest to giving frontment, I will keep going as runner Mitt Romney a run long as I can, ignoring the for his money, and even he fact that my statements are dropped out of the presiprogressively getting more dential race on April 10. and more preposterous.

Last-place candidate Ron That’s right, I will go around Paul is still in the race as in circles, repeating myself, well, but that sort of “unraising my tone, digressusual,” “out-of-the-box” be- ing as much as I can until havior is expected out of the person I’m arguing with the Congressman. There’s pities my apparent insanijust something about Newt ty and forces me to quit alGingrich that makes the na- ready by not engaging with tion cringe as he continues me anymore. to drag out his inevitable We live in a culture where loss, something that makes giving up is looked down us want to say, “Just quit al- upon, but there are some ready.” exceptions to the rule.

It’s hard not to feel a litBetter yet, there are diftle empathetic towards ferent types of giving up. the guy, because most of If you’re quitting out of laus have been in a simiziness, lack of self-conlar situation before. Pride fidence or an inability to is a powerful thing and it confront challenges, then makes us act irrationally, yes, you should persevere. only to have us then ratioIf people are doubting you nalize our irrational behav- for no reason, in the words ior. It’s a slow, embarrassof the eloquent Mr. 50 Cent, ing torture while you’re in “If they hate then let them the thick of it, but it makes hate and watch the money for great “that awkward pile up.” moment” moments.

But if you’re trying to sal For example, that awkvage the unsalvageable, ward moment when you embarrassing yourself and raise your hand in lecture wasting valuable resources to ask a question but the because your pride is overprofessor either doesn’t see riding your good sense, do you or totally ignores you. the right thing and quit.

That’s happened to me beQuit, not because you’re fore, and there’s really no a quitter in the negative way to play it off. You lowsense of the word, but beer your hand in slow mocause you are a kind-hearttion and play with your ed person. Quit because hair or pick up your penyou care. cil or do anything else you can to occupy the hand that Contact PAMELA NONGA NGUE at was heartlessly rejected. At pamnonga@ucdavis.edu.

Just quit already

T

yet this is life for a celebrity.

What’s fame? Why do “Kardashians” exist? Why do we care? It’s not because they’re relatable — celebrities are the exact opposite.

Nolan It’s hard to imagine a huSheldon man lifestyle more alien to me. Is it because we want to be them? Do we want the wealth, the cameras tracking our every move, our every move capturing the interests of people everywhere, thus making those people want to be like us and completing this vicious y plan was to write circle?

Personally, I think we about how trivitake interest in their lives al the NFL draft is because we want someone because the true value of players won’t be known un- to take an interest in our til years later. We pay an ex- own. Even more so, we wish our lives were interesting traordinary amount of attention to a glorified guess- enough for someone to take an interest in them. ing game. But after a few paragraphs I felt what I was As depressing as it is, we writing was even more triv- know deep down that the vast majority of us will be ial, thus trivializing my atforgotten. tempt at exLife isn’t a posing the Not only am I hoping for a man bell curve; triviality of the draft. to fail, but to this man I don’t only a select few will This threw even exist be immorme into an talized existential in history. Even our own crisis that just couldn’t be bloodlines will forget us afcontained. So let’s go exter a while. Our lives will at ploring.

I understand it’s impossi- best be preserved in photographs, videos and public reble to fully explore the cricords. In the face of all this, sis of my existence here, we strive to be something. but that’s why it’s the per But do we have a choice? fect space to do it. I have 700 words or so to contem- We can’t accept the statistics and assume we’ll be plate the meaning of life nothing, because then nobefore I’m cut off. Without body would be anything. the limitation, it’s possible my mind would roam end- This is almost more depressing; we’ll be the litlessly around the expanses tle engines that couldn’t. of space and I’d be tossed I’ve heard all my life that if in a looney bin before you I should fail, I should fail could say “Bugs Bunny.” spectacularly. This means Since there’s no logical swing for the fences, conplace to start in this chasequences be damned. But otic universe, I’ll just get what about those who think down to the brass tacks.

Mudville could’ve won?

I watched Derrick Rose’s When Casey came up to knee buckle Saturday and bat, a deep single would’ve it felt like I got punched in scored two and tied the the stomach. Not just because I felt bad for him and game, giving us at least extra innings. his team (I did), and not I mean, should we just just because I was worried about his career that’ll nev- enjoy the moment and not er be the same (sad, but the worry about our swing? Is studying more important dude’s worth millions and than going out with friends NBA contracts are guaranteed); it was mostly because in the grand scheme of things? Should we all be hemy arch-nemesis, LeBron James, would have an easi- donists? If my life only matters to me, what’s with all er path to the NBA Finals. this altruistic nonsense?

This is incredibly insensitive and, upon further ex- It seems like life is a glorified guessing game. amination, downright inWe pay an extraordinary sane. Not only am I hopamount of attention to deing for a man to fail, but to tails we won’t know the valthis man I don’t even exue of until years later. It’s ist. This is true for the miltough to see life as trivilions of others who adore al, so let’s focus on what is: or despise him. We could the Redskins’ fourth-round all disappear from Earth like it was that picture from pick. Why take Kirk Cousins Back to the Future and, be- after they drafted RGIII? At least they failed spectacusides the fact that millions larly — we won’t forget this. of people would be missing, he wouldn’t notice and probably wouldn’t care. It’s Wondering why this isn’t an article full of fun an insane concept to know facts and trivia questions? If a dictionary isn’t around, NOLAN SHELDON can be reached at such a small percentage of nosheldon@ucdavis.edu. the people that know you,

Draft trivia

M

SHAWCing Tips: Fidget for fitness I’m sure everyone reading this article has wanted to kill that incessant foot tapper sitting next to them. Although this seemingly obnoxious behavior is distracting, did you ever think that that person was actually working on their fitness? It turns out fidgeting has been proven to have benefits on your health.

Although it is not a substitute for the recommended 30 minutes of exercise a day, it falls under a category of “incidental” physical activity that is better for you than doing nothing. These type of activities are not formally considered exercise; rather, they are actions used in your daily life, such walking up stairs, chopping up vegetables or tapping your foot, that involve some form of movement.

In fact, a study done at Queen’s University in Ontario found that those individuals who accumulat-

COUNCIL Cont. from front page affordable, voter-approved solution to our water needs. The city’s water plant proposal was oversized and more expensive than necessary.

This is important, because as proposed, the city water bills were going to double, which would affect homeowners and renters alike,” Lee said.

Many candidates say they want to focus on building a more positive relationship between the City of Davis and UC Davis.

“To be frank, the city hasn’t done as good of a job as it could on promoting a positive relationship with the university and its students. Its relationship with the University as a whole remains less close than it could be. The city needs to see the University and its students as the partners and assets they are. Davis would not be Davis without them,”

ed the most incidental physical activity in a week had higher fitness levels than those with the least. To conduct their research they monitored a group of overweight adults who were healthy but lived sedentary lifestyles. They recorded the subjects’ daily movement with devices attached to their legs. Rarely did the participants move enough to bump their activity level beyond incidental activity. Even though none of the volunteers met the recommended 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, they found that those who moved the most had better levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, demonstrating the perks of fidgeting.

So, next time you don’t have time to hit the gym, get up and take a short walk, tap your foot or choose the stairs instead of the elevator.

Although these actions don’t seem

Wolk said.

The relationship with the University is important for implementing solar energy and a clean water supply. According to Souza, by capturing the technology created at the University and implementing it in Davis, a beneficial relationship can be built between UC Davis and the City of Davis.

This election is significant for the variety and diversity of the candidates. All come from different backgrounds and professional fields.

“The number of young new candidates makes this election unique.

I think that’s a very positive development and it is still important to have one experienced voice,” Greenwald said.

Additionally, the type of issues being addressed have a common thread.

“This particular race has, in my opinion, a focus on economic development, and that’s probably because

like they’ll do much to affect your health, they apparently can make a difference.

Speaking of exercise, don’t forget to check out HEP’s “Work It” week from April 30 to May 4 and complete SHAWC’s “Work It” Week Scavenger Hunt. Pick up a flier at the SRRC or print one from our Facebook event at facebook.com/ ucdshawc to win prizes and get fit at the same time.

The ASUCD Student Health and Wellness Committee (SHAWC) aims to promote and address important health-related issues on campus. We serve as a liaison between ASUCD and campus health organizations, clubs and resources. If you have SHAWCing suggestions, questions or tips, please e-mail us at shawcucd@gmail.com and “Like” us on our Facebook page!

of where we’re at as far as the economy of not only this city, this nation, but this world. We’re all seeking to do things more efficiently to create that sustainability environmentally, economically and socially,” Souza said.

As election day approaches, the candidates are making their positions known and reaching out to the public. There are a number of forums and meet-and-greets with the candidates scheduled for the upcoming weeks.

Tonight at 7 p.m., the League of Women Voters is hosting a candidates night in the Community Chambers at Davis City Hall. The debate will be televised on channel 16.

Additionally, Saturday evening there will be a Meet the Candidates event in Downtown Davis from 6 to 8 p.m. Lastly, on May 9, a candidates forum is scheduled at the Davis Community Church at 8 p.m.

PAAYAL ZAVERI can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

Science &Technology

The california aggie

New anaerobic digester technology improves the atmosphere UC Davis professor Ruihong Zhang invents new process

By BRIAN RILEY Aggie Science Writer

A new type of high-rate anaerobic digester system created by a UC Davis professor was given its first commercial application recently at a packaging plant in Sacramento.

The digester allows organic solid waste to be recycled more efficiently.

Ruihong Zhang, a professor in the department of biological and agricultural engineering, created the process in the lab at UC Davis. In 2006, a research and demonstration facility was built on South Campus to test and fine-tune the process to make it ready for public and commercial use.

Plans are being made to use the facility as a model for a larger facility to be built on the site of the current UC Davis landfill.

“I think it’s a very unique opportunity that we can take technology that has been developed right here on campus by

Zhongli Pan, left, and Ruihong Zhang at the anaerobic digester

Dr. Zhang and apply that to our own facilities,” said Sid England, Assistant Vice Chancellor of the UC Davis Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability program.

The planned project would convert agricultural and landscape waste created on campus, as well as leftover food scraps from the dining halls, into a fuel mixture made of 90 percent methane that could be used to fuel Unitrans buses.

courtesy

A mixture made of methane and carbon dioxide could also be converted into electricity for use on the campus grid, in order to be part of the West Village zero net energy project.

“Dr. Zhang’s technologies allow material that is up to 50 percent solid with no additional water added,” said Michele Wong, CEO of Clean World Partners, which has licensed the technology from the University of California and runs the new

plant in Sacramento.

“Other digesters require that you have material that is much lower in solid content (10 to 20 percent), so you must add water, [which] increases the capital costs,” Wong said.

Initially foreseen as being a potentially valuable means of large-scale energy generation, anaerobic digester processing plants now are most highly valued for their ability to reduce landfill use.

Reducing the amount of organic, or carbon-based, solid waste in landfills also reduces the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, since methane, which is created when organic waste decomposes, is a highly potent greenhouse gas.

Widespread use of more inexpensive anaerobic digester processes such as Zhang’s can reduce a significant portion of the smog in California air basins. The smog is caused by

See ANAEROBIC, page X

You’re not us, you must be wrong Intergroup biases, school pride and humanity

By HUDSON LOFCHIE Aggie Science Writer

Whether cheering on your favorite NBA team, wearing your university letters or hugging strangers at a political rally, it feels undeniably good to be part of a group. A university student might make a new friend while traveling thousands of miles away simply because they both go to the same school, and you might get beaten up for wearing team colors in a different city.

All of these situations are examples of intergroup bias, a psychological phenomenon behind behavior ranging from racism to patriotism, from team spirit to school pride on Picnic Day. “Intergroup bias is a psychological or behavioral competition between two groups based on group membership,” said Jeff Sherman, a professor of psychology at UC Davis. “It amounts to treating people differently based on [group] membership.”

Essentially, intergroup bias is the basis for all exclusionary behavior we exhibit. It is why racism exists, why private social clubs exist and why career favoritism exists. While modern human society has evolved millions upon millions of subgroups, this pref-

Evan Davis / Aggie

UC Davis students stand and cheer for Aggie Pride at sporting events. erential group treatment goes back to the most basal of survival instincts. “[Intergroup bias] has some evolutionary basis,” Sherman said. “There is an expectation of future interactions with group members, so individuals will share resources with their own group rather than an outgroup.”

As group identification shifted

from pure survival into the more social realm of personal identity, intergroup biases shifted along with it.

Differential treatment evolved to justify a bias, and biases emerged to justify differential treatment. The simple state of belonging to a group can

See PRIDE, page X

wednesday, May 2, 2012 3

but mine did not require lab reports, only answering online questions that slowly walked the student through the math and what the results could mean. Biology 2 Amy was even less demanding; Stewart though we had many worksheet questions to answer, there usually wasn’t an actual experiment or lab report.

I suppose in freshman year of college, easing the students into writing full lab reports might be a good idea, since some high schools might have been less demanding than others. However, when ntroduction I, a microbiology ma- I compare my organic chemjor, live in an apartment istry class (Chemistry 118) to with a chemistry major. She the organic chemistry that often complains about the the chemistry majors take length of her lab reports — (Chemistry 128), the differsometimes in the hard work ences become even starker. required, occasionally in My organic chemistry class the context of how much only required a lab report for paper and ink that it uses a couple of the experiments; (as much as 10 to 15 pages her organic chemistry class required a full lab report for for the more hellish labs).

I often don’t have much all experiments.

One critique is that I’m to complain about back to her. I’m in my first micro- working with a sample of only two stubiology lab dents. This this quarNo one can learn to write is definiteter, and the ly a problem lab report I in a certain style ... without with drawcompleted practicing several times ... ing definitive a couple conclusions, of weeks although it ago was required to be a grand total of helps that we’re both doing well in our chosen majors three pages.

How hard do we each (there isn’t one person slackwork? Consider this my lab ing off with grades to skew report. I won’t stick with the the results, for example).

At first glance, this seems traditional layout of a research article, as this is The like an advantage for biology California Aggie, not Science majors. College students are Magazine. However, I’ll in- busy enough studying as it is, especially since on the quartroduce the majors.

Ignoring the general ed- ter system it seems like we are ucation requirements, a always in midterm season.

I know that requiring lab chemistry major requires 107 units total while the micro- reports in basic chemistry biology major requires 106 and biology classes seems to 120 units total. The vari- pointless, because the experation of the latter is mostly iments that they set up are due to which organic chem- ones for which the professors istry class you decide to take, already know the answer.

This grind does have a and, if you’re an older major, which calculus courses you point though: practice. No took in your freshman year. one can learn to write in a certain style, especially the Materials and Methods My materials and methods very precise style of lab refor answering the question I ports, without practicing gave above, of how hard we several times on an easy exeach work, consisted just of periment or activity. Without my own observations of the this practice, many biology requirements for each class. students will end up going I can play fast and loose with into professional laboratothese rules as, again, this is ries with two or more years less experience looking afThe Aggie, not Science. ter experiments and writing Results We spend about the same their findings than chemisamount of time studying, but try or physics majors.

If the findings are somethe chemistry majors spend far more time writing lab re- thing no one has ever seen ports than I do. We biology before, you’re not going to majors have fewer and short- have a computer program er lab reports, as well as labs there to slowly guide you that are nearly all discussion through the algebra. There with few or no experiments won’t be a worksheet to ask leading questions. Those (Physics 7, anyone?). things can be very useful Discussion Why do two science ma- tools, especially in the bejors, both with an emphasis ginning of a college career. on research, have such dif- But in the real world, it’s fering amounts of laboratory well-written lab reports that experience? We both took the count.

Chemistry 2 series, which is the general chemistry class. AMY STEWART can be reached at science@ Every lab had an experiment, theaggie.org.

In defense of reports

I

Modular robot receives NSF grant ‘Mobots’ help teach young students math and science

By RACHEL KUBICA Aggie Science Writer

Barobo, Inc., a robotics company founded by UC Davis mechanical and aerospace engineering professor Harry Cheng and his former graduate student, Graham Ryland, has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) small business innovation research program for their small, versatile modu-

lar robot.

Cheng and Ryland will be using the grant money to further develop their modular robot, “Mobot,” over the next two years.

“With the funding from NSF, we will develop Mobot as a programmable universal building block for education, research and industrial applications,” Cheng said.

A Mobot is a fully functional robot with four degrees of freedom, including the ability to move forward, roll around and bend forward. It uses two wheels at either end to move and can be modified using two hinges in the center of the module.

Modular robots could help kids learn math and science

“It can roll, crawl, stand, tumble, etc.,” Cheng said.

courtesy

“In addition, like Lego, Mobot can also be used as

a building block to create a snake, tank, truck, humanoid and any systems you can imagine.”

Cheng hopes to use the Mobot to teach young students robotics as early as kindergarten.

“Each building block is fully programmable, which makes the combined system extremely flexible and versatile,” Cheng said.

“Programming a single Mobot and multiple Mobots can be easily accomplished

by K-12 students.”

Cheng and Ryland have been working with 15 local schools in Davis and Sacramento to use Mobot in classes, demonstrating

to students how to build the robots using computers.

“It’s really exciting to be part of something that inspires middle school and high school students to get into robotics through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects,” Ryland said.

STEM is the acronym established by Cheng through his UC Davis K-14 Outreach Center for Computing and STEM Education.

“The goal of the C-STEM Center is to broaden participation of students typically underrepresented in computing and to de-

See ROBOT, page X

UC Davis researchers find key tool in chromosome crossovers

Result could provide insight in treating a broad range of diseases

By CLAIRE MALDARELLI

Aggie Science Writer

Researchers at UC Davis have discovered a key tool they believe helps sperm and eggs develop exactly 23 chromosomes

each. This work, which could lead to significant insight into fertility as well as spontaneous miscarriages, cancer and other developmental disorders, was published on April 13 in the journal Cell.

Normally, if all goes according to plan, a human fetus develops into a healthy adult with exactly 46 chromosomes — 23 from the sperm and 23 from the egg. But just one small mistake in this process can have significant effects on the fetus, often developing into well-known disorders such

as Down syndrome, which is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21.

The developing process of a human fetus is complex, involving a multitude of processes, enzymes and other complexes that work together as one big unit. Because of its direct effect on many diseases, much research has gone into understanding this mechanism.

“We are trying to understand how these proteins work together at a molecular level and how they are regulated to do the right thing at the right time,” said senior

author of the study Neil Hunter, a professor of microbiology and a member of the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center research program.

During meiosis, the sexual cell division that produces sperm and eggs, matching chromosomes pair up and connect through a process known as “crossing over” — much like when two long strands of spaghetti twist together when twirled with a

See CELL, page X

4 WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

The california Aggie

Davis salon hosts Earth Day campus CHIC. cut-a-thon Second annual event will occur next year

Brian Nguyen / Aggie

Davis resident Anne Williams gets her hair cut at the cut-a-thon to celebrate Earth Month.

By SARA ISLAS Aggie News Writer

Earth Day is celebrated in a huge variety around Davis. Some hike more, some bike more, some eat better and others get their hair cut.

On April 29, Davis residents visited Strands Salon and Spa in Downtown Davis to donate money to the California Clean Water Fund while freshening their look.

Strands’ owner, Jacquelyn Crabtree, pledged to wholly donate 100 percent of the day’s earnings to the fund. The fund works with Northern California groups to reduce trash in waterways, promote reusable bags in stores, eliminate foam containers, protect drinking

water affected by the oil industry’s increased use of fracking in underground drilling and clean up mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin levels in the San Francisco Bay. “I think it’s very generous that Strands is donating everything today,” said Davis resident Patty Glen, 34. “It made me more inclined to come contribute than if they had been donating a percentage.”

About 30 other Davis residents showed support for the cause by getting haircuts and taking part in other spa services.

Strands also prepared a bake sale and donation stand for residents too busy for an appointment.

By noon, the event, which ran

Stephanie Nguyen / Aggie

from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., had reached the half-point goal of $5,000. By the end of the day, they successfully reached it.

“Davis community members tend to be really supportive of good causes,” Crabtree said.

Aveda, Strands’ main product line, has raised a total of $10 million between all of its sponsoring salons across the U.S. because of these annual Earth Day events. The company, which claims to be eco-friendly because of its microlending components and because 94 percent of its products are made of plants, plans to continue and increase its fundraising efforts.

Stephanie Nguyen / Aggie

SARA ISLAS can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

By STEPHANIE B NGUYEN

PRIDE Cont. from page 3 lead to biases we are completely unaware of. But why do we attach ourselves to groups in the first place?

“There is value to being accepted into a group,” said Cynthia Pickett, an associate professor of psychology at UC Davis who studies social identity. “There is value in having people living with you, hunting with you and sharing with you. People feel emotions based on their group and group pride can serve a function.”

When many individuals become part of a close group, they experience strong intragroup cohesion and show more support to group members. Humans are social creatures by nature, and there is a strong desire to identify with a group. However, the same behaviors that lead to strong group loyalty also lead to strong

honey

competition and discrimination against other groups. Even competing groups can belong to the same overarching superordinate group, such as a nation or species.

“Strong group cohesion formed because originally, group members were more related [to each other] than they were to members not in their group,” said Karen Bales, an associate professor of psychology at UC Davis. “Evolution favored kin selection and sacrifice to protect the group because it would help pass on [family] genes.”

But humans are finicky, and although we strongly desire to be part of a group, we also have a desire to maintain a personal identity. Pure cooperative living, while appearing to be a sound theory on paper, often fails because of the individual’s desire to be … individual.

“People want to belong to groups, but they want to be distinctive, to be

set apart from other people,” Pickett said. “There are superordinate groups, like humans, but they are divided internally into smaller groups.

People do not like to discard identity and just be humans.”

So let’s go back to Picnic Day. While not everyone who came to experience Picnic Day was a Davis student, the event was instrumental in generating and maintaining school pride. According to Pickett, the emotions of loyalty and pride felt by students and alumni create substantial financial support in tough economic times.

Ultimately, people will find a balance between a group identity and their own personal identity, which can give them the social comfort of belonging to a group and the psychological pride of being an individual.

HUDSON LOFCHIE can be reached at science@theaggie. org.

themselves, become accustomed to using honey as a primary source of energy.

“I keep a jar in my pickup and if I feel like I need energy, I’ll take a shot of honey,” said Henry Harlan, a fifth-generation farmer in the Winters area and owner of Henry’s Bullfrog Bees. “Try it yourself — see how you feel now and then see how you feel in 10 minutes.”

Cont. from front page dor, Pure All Natural Honey, is a unique selection of honey in a myriad of flavors. It is the work of two passionate beekeepers who are committed to healthy living, but also to bringing the tastiest flavors to the dinner table, and luckily for the rest of us, to the Farmers Market.

Their story Pure All Natural Honey has existed as a The products division Henry’s beekeeping business for Items for sale every Wednesday include just two years and has had a spot at the jars of honey in Spring Blossom, Orange Davis Farmers Market for six months.

Blossom, Habanero, Lavender, Star Thistle “We’ve only had the bees for five years,” and Cinnamon flavors for $6 each, which Henry said. “We started planting almonds, are also available in pound and half-pound which needed bees, so [before] it was just containers. Also in the product line are a car- for pollination purposes.” amel sauce and a chocolate sauce, also $6.

Selling honey at the Farmer’s Market was “What bees do is magic and amazing, the something neither Robin nor her daughter whole process they have to go through,” said saw in their future. Both having dealt with Doneice Woody, a CSU Fresno alumna who difficulties in the job market after the ecohas been helping her mother, Robin Harlan, nomic crash of 2008, they turned to the restart up the business since her graduation. sources they had on hand.

“I love selling a product that is healthy, and “One day, Henry said, ‘Why don’t you one that people enjoy and love.” just start selling the honey? It’s a natural Honey provides a healthy and versatile byproduct of what we have here,’” Robin alternative to sugar as well, said Harlan, said. who has been bottling and selling the natu- Now, the bees are in fields of wildflowral honey products since 2010. ers as well as orange and tangerine groves, “Sugar has no health benefits,” Harlan pollinating the family’s existing crops while said. “When you use honey, you get a much also serving as the primary fuel behind the better type of energy — you don’t get the production of the popular Farmer’s Market same highs followed by a crash. Also, there item. are enzymes, and eating locally produced “We can start collecting after everything honey helps with allergies.” starts blooming,” Henry said. “We average The Harlan family has, like honeybees 40-50 pounds per season from bees in a

robot Cont. from page 3 velop students’ computer-aided problem-solving skills to tackle real-world STEM problems,” Cheng said. “Through various outreach activities, the C-STEM Center seeks to inspire students to pursue computing and STEM-related ca-

reers and post-secondary study.”

But why robotics specifically?

Cheng points to the future of science and technology for his answer.

“Robotics is an interdisciplinary field. Robotics is a next frontier for innovation and technology integration,” said Cheng. “Robotics will be more integrated into our work and daily life in the future.”

According to Brian Donnelly,

Aggie News Writer

Danae Jarrett, senior communication major The Aggie: What are you wearing?

Jarrett: “I’m wearing a black maxi dress from Forever 21. My sandals are from Shiekh. My necklace is Juicy Couture, my watch is from Aldo and my ring is from Israel.”

How did you decide what to wear today? “I knew it would be warm and breezy. It was the perfect day for a long dress.”

Where do you find inspiration?

“I enjoy reading blogs as well as fashion magazines like Nylon.”

What’s your favorite item in your closet?

“I have this silk scarf that I got when I was in Rome.

It’s unique and has rich colors. I like it because it’s versatile; I can wear it around my neck, around my head as a headband or hang it on my bag.”

STEPHANIE B. NGUYEN can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.

particular crop.”

Cooking with honey Both avid cooks, the mother-daughter team were ready with an arsenal of recipes and innovative ways to showcase each of their products, making it impossible to choose a favorite.

“It depends what I’m using it for,” Woody said. “If you’re using cheese, I’d go with the habanero honey. Because you can do brie and roasted garlic on a baguette, and then drizzle it over.”

Yum. “I also prepare yams like mashed potatoes, add milk, a little butter and then our cinnamon honey,” Woody said. “I never sweetened my coffee until we made the cinnamon. Or, what I love is our orange blossom honey with maytag blue cheese on a cracker.”

Whether looking to season meat for an entrée or to accompany a cheese to nosh on between meals, the Pure product line is geared toward all tastes. Henry acknowledged that honey’s ability to reflect the dynamic essence of local crops is what makes it a unique product.

“Honey’s like wine; you could open up a tasting room,” Henry said. “There’s so many different flavors and blends. Sometimes I like the Star Thistle, and sometimes I like the Spring Blossom, which is a mix of all the flowers in the valley. You can get it today and again next week and it’ll taste completely different.”

Although Pure is relatively new to the Farmer’s Market, it seems the brand has found its niche.

“It’s a really great community; everyone gets to know and support everyone,” Woody said. “You only want everyone to do good. We’re all in this together, so why not support something that is healthy and supports your local economy?”

Robin and Woody enjoy coming to Davis in particular for the opportunity to interact with a very knowledgeable and supportive community.

“I love that everyone rides bikes, wants to be healthy, and exercises,” Robin said.

“People really take care of themselves. And I love how people are genuinely interested in learning.”

Robin said she and her daughter enjoy answering questions from Davis customers about the honeybees and different ways to cook with honey.

“I feel like as much as they learn from me, I learn from them,” Woody said. “They always come and tell me that they’ve used a honey for this and this and that, and I love that, because I’m learning new ways to sell my product. It’s wonderful hearing how they’re using the product in such great ways, and that they’re being creative. I’m glad that the community has welcomed us with open arms — we’re very thankful for that.”

Pure All Natural Honey can be found at the Wednesday Davis Farmers Market and at the UC Davis Farmers Market at the Silo.

Why the Davis Farmer’s Market?

LANI CHAN can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

STEM program coordinator and industrial technology teacher at Harper Junior High School in Davis, robotics is also a viable means for students to understand math in a real-world context.

“This is a great way to engage kids in math — especially those students who struggle to see how math relates to the real world,” said Donnelly. “When we

talk about giving kids ‘21st century skills’ and ‘closing the achievement gap,’ the C-STEM curricula can really make a difference for students and teachers.”

The C-STEM Center will be hosting the UC Davis C-STEM Day on Saturday at the UC Davis Conference Center. Local middle and high school students will showcase their skills in com-

puting and robotics, while educators and researchers will discuss the importance and application of these skills. This year’s theme is “Integrating Technology and Engineering into Math and Science Education in the 21st Century.”

RACHEL KUBICA can be reached at science@ theaggie.org.

wednesday, may 2, 2012 5

The california aggie

cell Cont. from page 3 fork. These crossover connections play an important role in creating sperm and eggs with exactly the right number of chromosomes.

According to Shangming Tang, a graduate student working in Hunter’s lab, each pair of chromosomes must contain at least one crossover. However, more than two crossovers per pair could damage the genome’s structure.

Although scientists understand the need for chromosome crossover, research into understanding the mechanisms and enzymes through which this process occurs is only recently emerging.

“Knowing how each major pathway in meiosis is regulated will help us understand why cer-

tain syndromes occur and possibly how we can prevent or treat them,” Tang said.

In their study, Hunter and his research associates looked for enzymes that could cut DNA to form crossovers in yeast. Just like humans and other mammals form sperm and eggs, yeast form sexual gametes called spores. Through this experiment they discovered three yeast enzymes – Mlh1, Mlh3 and Sgs1 – which work to cut DNA and form crossovers.

From previous research, Hunter and his colleagues were aware of other enzymes that work together with these three. In a paper published last year, they described the discovery of enzyme Exo1, a type of enzyme called a nuclease, which is responsible for degrading DNA strands. According to Hunter, these yeast enzymes directly cor-

relate with human enzymes; by analyzing these correlations, conclusions can be drawn.

“The human equivalents of Sgs1, Exo1, Mlh1 and Mlh3 are all tumor suppressors. What we are learning about their molecular functions is relevant for understanding what goes wrong in cancer,” Hunter said.

Hunter hopes this new discovery will help improve knowledge of certain diseases.

“Our fundamental discoveries are broadly relevant for understanding the problems that lead to various cancers, infertility, pregnancy miscarriage and [various] chromosomal diseases,” Hunter said. “We are eager to define the roles of [all] the cofactors found.

So, we still have a lot to learn.”

CLAIRE MALDARELLI can be reached at science@ theaggie.org.

An old diagram of chromosomal crossover

courtesy

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6 wednesday, May 2, 2012

The california Aggie

Bathroom art: Vandalism or self-expression?

Stalls in public restrooms used for communication

Wellman’s men’s bathroom

Social Scienes Building

Evan Davis / Aggie

courtesy of Eric Rauchway

Erin Migdol / Aggie

Women’s bathroom at the MU

Art Annex

By KELSEY SMOOT Aggie Features Writer

If you’ve ever been inside a stall in a public restroom, particularly one inside an older building, chances are you’ve encountered some “bathroom art,” or handwritten graffiti.

Writing on the inside of bathroom stalls seems to be a popular form of self-expression. Whether a message from the do-gooder, offering kind words like “You’re beautiful,” the rebel, lashing out at an institution (“Fuck school!”) or the comedian, hoping to lighten the mood (“Dropping bombs on toiletville”), art experts and observers alike debate whether or not it should be considered vandalism or art.

Around the UC Davis campus, there are several bathrooms that have been “vandalized” with writing and drawings. The girls’ bathroom in Wellman Hall is home to dozens of bathroom hieroglyphics.

“Never drink a cup of coffee and eat a bowl of fiber cereal before class. Learn from my mistakes,” someone wrote.

In addition to humorous advice, some use the space to share quotes and ideas.

One bathroom stall composer wrote: “I believe that life is a game, that life is a cruel joke, and that life is what happens when you’re alive so you might as well lie back and enjoy it. — Sam, From American

Gods by Neil Gaiman.”

Others see the inner stall as a place to voice concerns about social justice. In reference to the recent issues concerning UC Davis police and Occupy protesters, someone wrote: “Nov. 18 [does not equal] police brutality. It was just cops being cops. Don’t punish individuals, destroy institutions.”

First-year cell biology Major Richie Koenig said he is a self-professed bathroom artist, and he enjoys reading what other people write and draw.

“I’ve done it. It’s a great way to see how other people think. When you are in there alone, you can express yourself with no social pressure. It’s an honest view of the mind,” Koenig said.

Art history lecturer Hannah Sigur said that people may enjoy creating so-called “bathroom art” when they know their identities are concealed.

“People take pleasure in the anonymity of it. I think there is something transgressive in a person’s mind when they find themselves in a bathroom setting,” Sigur said. “Also, the setting of a bathroom gives people a chance to express thoughts that are more appropriate for a bathroom.

Especially sexual matter.”

Custodial worker Elva Martinez said she hates to see that people have drawn in bathrooms.

Aaron Juarez / Aggie

“I feel mad. It’s a lot of work for us, and that shouldn’t be part of our job. We clean to make it look nice, and we shouldn’t have to wash away graffiti,” Martinez said.

Like Martinez, custodial worker Rosa Cortez said that she, too, is not a fan of bathroom art.

“I don’t like it! One day, someone put graffiti in the Segundo Services Building and we had to get it off. It was a mess,” Cortez said.

First-year animal biology major Victoria Espinoza had a horrible experience with bathroom graffiti when her number was written inside a men’s restroom.

“I received so many calls from guys trying to talk dirty, saying vulgar and derogatory things. I almost had to change my number. Luckily I was able to have it removed,” she said.

Though some might argue that the “art” is defacing public property, others might say that it can be used to uplift restroom patrons having a hard time. In response to someone writing about how they wish they could be thin and pretty, someone wrote: “You don’t need to be thin. You’re already beautiful.”

Though first-year international relations major Nnedy Obiwuru would prefer the bathroom to be free of writing, she said there is a slight benefit to those who use the space to spread positivity.

Fair Trade Alaffia partners with Nugget Market for bike drive Bicycles will be donated to young West African girls

Yash Nagda / Aggie

Nugget employee Annie Dryer helped with the collection of bikes for the Alaffia Bicycles for Education program, refurbish ing the bikes for people in West Africa.

By MEE YANG

Aggie News Writer

Founded by UC Davis alumnus Olowo-

n’djo Tchal, Alaffia is a fair trade company that sells handcrafted shea butter from Africa. Last Saturday, April 28, it partnered up with Nugget Markets to collect bicycles from the public. The event started at 9 a.m. and lasted until 2 p.m. at the Nugget Market on East Covell Boulevard.

“This is the first time Nugget has joined with Alaffia for a bike drive,” said Dave Welch, store director of the Nugget Market on Covell in a press release. “Our entire nugget team is excited and read for a day of community fun and partnership for a wonderful, global cause.”

Donations were tax-deductible and guests received a free cup of coffee and a Nugget cookie.

Alaffia’s Bicycles for Education Program began in 2006 and since then over 4,500 bicycles have been donated. Many stores such as Whole Foods, Nugget Market and various grocery co-ops have been involved in gathering bicycles.

“We have a lot of local support, especially in California,” said Lanessa Inman, community project director at Alaffia. “Nugget Market has been a real great supporter in this drive.”

Once refurbished, these bicycles are given, not just to anyone, but to young girls who lack the transportation to walk five to 15 miles each way in order to attend school in Togo, West Africa.

The bicycles are specifically given to females because of Alaffia’s gender equality mission which considers women to be the

backbone of African societies.

According to their website, these women shall be honored for their contributions to society by establishing gender equality in our communities.

“A lot of young women have chores at home and generally fall into prostitution if they do not attend school,” Inman said.

“Giving bicycles to these girls in order to attend school will help them stray from prostitution and gain equality.”

“From the perspective of a woman, any kind of help that women can get to achieve their dreams is definitely an asset to a greater good,” said Vanessa Walker, a staff member at the Women’s Research Center at Sacramento State University.

Before the installment of this program, there was a 95 percent dropout rate among all students who did not have transportation. Now, that number has been tremendously reduced.

This decreased dropout rate isn’t, however, the only thing that’s been improved.

“Some girls were reduced to prostitution and we have seen a huge reduced amount of pregnancy and STD’s among young women,” Inman said.

“These [bicycles] go in a container, through customs, and are shipped to Togo, West Africa,” Inman said. “At the moment, we’re storing bikes in California and we’ll ship them all at the same time.”

For more information, visit alaffia.com.

MEE YANG can be reached at city@theaggie.org.

“I’d rather it be clean, but seeing that someone has written ‘you’re beautiful’ forces you to think about it. So I guess it could be a good thing,” Obiwuru said.

For Sigur, bathroom sketches only qualify as art when the message is clear and meaningful.

“It would depend on what I’d see. It depends on whether the person who created the art had anything worthwhile to say, and how they said it. If you have to explain your art in a long paragraph, it fails. It should speak for itself,” Sigur said.

Though commonly found within the seclusion of a restroom stall, this type of expression is not exclusive to bathrooms.

Desks, textbooks, and mirrors are also common targets for those looking for a public emotional outlet. Upon one of the exterior walls of Wellman Hall, someone wrote: “Re-examine what you’ve been told.

And dismiss that which offends your soul.”

While the school does not encourage or permit vandalism, there appears to be no simple way to police this activity, especially inside restrooms. So, within the confines of a bathroom stall, bathroom artists are likely to remain free to tell jokes, complement one another, vent and, eventually, use the toilet.

KELSEY SMOOT can be reached at features@theaggie.org.

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SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES DO NOT WORK

Third floor of the Art building

Evan Davis / Aggie