April 18, 2013

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THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

serving the uc davis campus and community since 1915

VOLUME 132, ISSUE 42 | THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013

BRIAN NGUYEN / AGGIE

A police investigator enters the crime scene after Davis residents Oliver Northup and Claudia Maupin were found stabbed to death on Sunday night.

New MU venue expected in summer 2015 ASUCD to contribute $500,000 to east wing renewal By LILIANA NAVA OCHOA Aggie News Writer

deaths as homicides.” A statement released by the DPD said it was clear that both victims had suffered stab wounds. The Yolo County Coroner's Office identified the official cause of death as multiple stab wounds and the manner of death as homicide. Doroshov said the police have not yet identified if there was a motive behind the homicides. “They were the kindest, most caring and gentle people,” said Wayne Ginsburg, Northup’s fellow band member. “It’s just a shock and a great loss, and the method of loss makes it even more upsetting and devastating.” Neighbors said the streets south of the condominiums, in particular Vista Way, faced a recent string of burglaries. However, neighbors said most of the burglars entered through open windows or doors. One neighbor said she

The Memorial Union (MU) is scheduled to receive a new venue in July 2015. During the renewal project of the MU, the space that is currently occupied by the post office will feature an entertainment venue which will also function as a pub. The addition of this venue to the MU will be a component of the $19 million east wing renewal project. The east wing renewal project consists of renovating the outdoor spaces on the Quad, the first two floors of the MU and the bookstore. The east wing renewal project will begin in January 2014 with the renovation of the Bookstore, according to John Campbell, executive director for Campus Recreation and Unions. The east wing renewal project is scheduled to be completed in July of 2015, as well. According to ASUCD President Carly Sandstrom, since the venue will be located where the post office is now, there will not be any structural changes. The MU renewal project has provided an “opportune moment” to bring this entertainment venue to campus, according to Sandstrom. Bringing a pub to UC Davis was one of the platforms of Sandstrom and Vice President Bradley Bottoms. However, the idea originated from the previous term’s executive office. Sandstrom and Bottoms are collaborating with Campus Recreation and Union on the MU east wing renewal project and creation of the venue. “We really just want to have a pub on campus because we think we need a new center for student life. We want something that will also be a headquarters for Aggie pride. We just really need something that is kind of the basis for that, since we think that’s something that’s so lacking on campus, is that sense of tradition and pride,” Bottoms said. The cost of the venue is still uncertain. According to Campbell, it is estimated that the venue will be 2,800 square feet and that construction will cost between $400 to $500

See HOMICIDE on 12

See MU on 7

Double homicide in South Davis incurs shock, sadness Victims were known as prominent community members By PAAYAL ZAVERI Aggie News Writer

Davis Police are continuing their investigation of the double homicide of an elderly couple in South Davis. On April 14, police were called to the 4000 block of Cowell Boulevard around 9:20 p.m. after receiving a call for a welfare check. The Yolo County Coroner's Office released the names of the victims on April 16, and neighbors and family members confirmed them as longtime Davis residents Oliver “Chip” Northup, 87, and Claudia Marie Maupin, 76. Northup was a local attorney and was part of a local band called the Putah Creek Crawdads, which often plays at the Davis Farmers Market. Maupin was involved with the local theater. The couple had six children and were married for 15 years.

“We are deeply saddened and in shock over the sudden and tragic deaths of two members of the extended Crawdad family,” said a statement on the Crawdads’ Facebook page. “The warmth in Chip Northup’s singing voice matched the warmth in his heart and spirit; he and his wife (and our dear friend) Claudia Maupin were two of the most generous and giving people anyone could hope to meet.” According to the Davis Police log, the couple’s daughter called for the welfare check after she had not heard from her parents all day. She saw her parents’ car in front of their residence at 4006 Cowell Blvd., and noticed that the lights were on. "During the course of the investigation, officers discovered signs of forced entry to the residence," said Davis Police Lt. Paul Doroshov in a statement. "The Davis Police Department (DPD) is currently investigating the two

Sports cuts reexamined in light of increasing athletics debt Officials, former student-athletes look at Title IX’s role By HANNAH KRAMER Aggie Features Writer

In April of 2010, Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi and former Athletics Director Greg Warzecka announced that UC Davis would be cutting women’s rowing, men’s swimming and diving, men’s wrestling and men’s indoor track and field. The decision came at the cost of athletes’ careers and sporting legacies, but it was expected to save an estimated $2.4 million. The intention was to ease the Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) debt, but instead, the deficit has doubled.

Some question if the reasoning behind cancelling teams was as financially pressing as reported, especially in light of the application of sex equality laws and administrative silence toward the directly impacted student-athletes. With a newly appointed Athletic Director in place who stresses more transparent proceedings, some see the future of UC Davis sports as a positive one. But others fear facing the same closed doors and questionable motives that were experienced in 2010. See ATHLETICS on 12

Trajectories change in aftermath of athletic cuts Former UC Davis student-athletes find new schools, sports, passions Editor’s note: Three years ago, four sports were discontinued. While most of those 153 athletes are long gone, a handful of seniors remain. We caught up with them — and seniors who transferred schools — before the last directly affected class graduates.

JANELLE BITKER Aggie Editor in Chief

Josef Stitts was 8 years old when his older sister brought home an Olympic gold medal. After that, his chief goal in life became to get to the Olympics and make his family of swimmers proud. Everything seemed to be in place. He had already been swimming competitively since the age of 4. He went

undefeated in high school and was recruited to swim at UC Davis — a Division 1 school. In his first quarter as a college athlete, he was swimming 20 hours a week and still made the Dean’s List. He fell in love with the university and the town. He got a scholarship. He was having a great season. He was even getting faster. Then April 16, 2010 happened. Citing a financial crisis, UC Davis dropped the hammer on four sports — men’s swimming and diving, men’s wrestling, men’s indoor track and field, and women’s rowing. Suddenly Stitts had no team. “Everything I believed in was taken away from me,” he said. See AFTERMATH on 13

BIJAN AGAHI and BRIAN NGUYEN / AGGIE

Top right: Josef Stitts was on the men’s swimming team before it was cut. Top left: Michael Nakagawa was on the wrestling team before the team was cut. Bottom: Melanie LaCava and Geneva Azevedo were on the women’s rowing team before it was cut.


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