September 28, 2017

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VOLUME 136, ISSUE 1 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

VENOOS MOSHAYEDI / AGGIE FILE

UC leaders respond to federal decision to end DACA Administrators call on Congress to pass similar legislation BY AA RO N L I SS campus@theaggie.org

On Sept. 8, the University of California sued the Trump administration over the administration’s recently announced plans to eliminate DACA. The group commonly referred to as Dreamers — Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors –– are those who were brought to the U.S. before the age of 16. Dreamers were previously eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) protections before the Justice department announced DACA would be terminated on Sept. 5. Current DACA authorizations will be honored until their two-year period ends, with the last ones ending on March 5, 2020. Congress now faces pressure from both sides of the political aisle to pass a replacement. UC President Janet Napolitano, who helped create the DACA program, released a statement on Sept. 5 regarding the influence of current immigration politics on UC students. Napolitano explained her outrage at educational opportunity being thwarted due to federal changes in immigration policy. “I am deeply troubled by President Trump’s decision to effectively

end the DACA program and uproot the lives of an estimated 800,000 Dreamers across the nation,” Napolitano said. “This backward-thinking, far-reaching move threatens to separate families and derail the futures of some of this country’s brightest young minds, thousands of whom currently attend or have graduated from the University of California.” Napolitano urged Congress to pass an act similar to DACA which would protect young undocumented students from deportation and would “secure [a] pathway toward citizenship.” “The University and the state of California stand together in our belief that students should be admitted to UC and other institutions of higher education based on their records of achievement and without regard to their immigration status,” Napolitano stated. “President Trump’s decision undermines the ability of affected students to support themselves while at UC or other universities.” Listing solutions and steps forward, Napolitano also affirmed that her advisory committee on undocumented students will proceed with its work. “In the meantime, UC will continue to offer services to our undocumented students, including: continuing to allow California residents who are Dreamers to pay in-state tuition; maintaining the DREAM

IAN JONES / AGGIE

UC takes stand against potential Title IX revision UC system, university leaders state plan to continue Title IX implementation BY AL LY RUSSE L L campus@theaggie.org

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ decision to roll back Title IX enforcements that protect survivors of sexual assault triggered a sweeping backlash throughout the nation and across UC campuses. Title IX was initially enacted and funded in the 1970s to eliminate sex-based discrimination on school campuses. While Title IX does not specifically mention sexual assault, over the years it has been interpreted to aid in the fight against sexual assault on college campuses. In her official statement given at George Mason University, DeVos claimed that she plans to continue enforcing tenets of Title IX that protect survivors and work to prosecute perpetrators. However, according to CBS News, in response to a question

over whether she intended to rescind the Obama administration’s guidelines, DeVos stated that was “the intention,” and that her staff has “begun the process to do so.” In her statement, DeVos stressed that her intention is to continue supporting survivors while also providing more fair trials for the accused. To supporters of the Obama administration’s changes who advocated for more consistent and serious repercussions for assailants, this news came as a devastating shock. In light of DeVos’ controversial statement, the UC community has responded in full support of survivors of sexual assault and Obama-era Title IX guidelines. UC President Janet Napolitano issued a statement earlier this week expressing her intention to continue supporting those impacted by sexual assaults on college campuses. TITLEIX on 11

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loan program for financial aid; offering legal services to our undocumented students; supporting campus-based student service centers; and directing campus police not to contact, detain, question or arrest individuals based on suspected undocumented status, or to enter agreements to undertake joint efforts to make arrests for federal immigration law violations,” Napolitano stated. Echoing Napolitano’s sentiments, UC Davis Chancellor Gary May also expressed disappointment regarding the federal adjustments to effectively end DACA in a published statement. Alongside Napolitano, May called on Congress to reinstate legislation which would mirror the protections ensured by DACA. “Abandoning the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals [...] program runs counter to the University of California principles of open and equal access to higher education for students of all backgrounds,” May said. “Turning our backs on these students is not who we are. UC Davis graduates who were protected from deportation under DACA have blossomed with careers in medicine, law, social work and much more. Keep the American Dream alive, for all.” Additionally, three chair members of the UC Board of Regents released a statement on behalf of the entire board imploring Congress to work collaboratively to reverse the repercussions of ending DACA.

DEVIN MCHUGH / AGGIE FILE

Falling for upcoming UC Davis events Fall events, activities for students to get to know campus, community BY MARLYS J EANE features@theaggie.org

Fall Quarter has finally arrived, and with that comes a variety of new events and activities for students. Freshman, transfer students and even returning seniors will have plenty of ways to get involved in and connect to the UC Davis community and develop a new level of Aggie pride. Some events have even been happening for over a hundred years. One such event, considered a principal UC Davis tradition, is none other than Pajamarino. “Pajamarino, even though it has kind of an odd name, was started 105 years ago when alumni were returning back to campus for homecoming,” said Carrie Wright, the associate executive director of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association. “They came in on the train and it was in the middle of the night,

and students snuck out of their dorms in their pajamas to greet the alumni. So that’s why 105 years later, people wear their pajamas and we celebrate at the Amtrak train station the night before homecoming”. The homecoming football game this year is a can’t-miss event all on its own, especially because UC Davis will face off against its longtime rival Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Oct. 28. Pajamarino, which occurs the evening before on Oct. 27, serves as the pep rally for the game, an inclusive event for the entire Davis community from all generations. “Anyone can walk in the parade,” Wright said. “So everyone can meet up at Central Park at 4:30 and we sign up and parade through downtown Davis toward the Amtrak station. Then our pep rally starts at 5:30, [where] we’ll have guest speakers and EVENTS on 11


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