January 25, 2024

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VOLUME 147, ISSUE 13 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

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People of different faiths hold vigil for civilians, children killed in Gaza The interfaith vigil featured members of different faiths calling for a ceasefire

BY CHRIS PONCE city@theaggie.org Content warning: This article contains discussion of violence.

On Thursday, Jan. 18, people from different walks of faith gathered at Central Park for one common goal: calling for peace and a ceasefire to the war in Gaza.

A banner at the event read “Rep. Thmpson — CEASEFIRE” and signs read “work towards peace, not annihilation” and “no taxes for genocide.” Organizers of the vigil passed out candles, handed out red poppies made of paper and played the tambourine as the number of people in attendance grew.

The event, titled “Interfaith Vigil for Peace in Gaza,” was hosted by people of Jewish, Muslim, Christian and several other faiths who shared common concerns about the number of civilian casualties in the Israel-Hamas war.

“Those of us from different faith traditions who organized this event did this because we grieve with all our hearts and souls the tens of thousands of people who lost their lives, especially the children,” organizer and speaker at the event Nick Buxton said.

According to Palestinian authorities, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 24,000, with an estimated two-thirds being women and children.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that on average, one child is killed every 10 minutes in Gaza.

Those in attendance prayed for those in the afflicted regions, with children’s shoes hung along a shoe rack to symbolize the children killed since the war began.

“We’re united as a community in believing every life is precious, that a Palestinian life is equally worthy as an Israeli life,” Buxton said. “As [the last speaker] said, a child is dying now every 10 minutes in Gaza. That means by

Central Park Vigil in Downtown Davis unites community for Peace in Gaza. (Chris Ponce / Aggie) the end of this vigil, six more children will be dead. Children with huge potential, with dreams, with hopes, with possibilities cut short with the drop of a bomb.”

Rabbi Seth Castleman, with the Congregation Bet Haverim, said there is a tendency to forget the interdependence of Jewish Israelis and the Palestinian people.

“Our hearts are broken,” Castleman said. “It’s a scary thought that it’s brave to speak out for peace. The destiny of Jewish Israelis and the Palestinian

The annual Davis Odd Fellows Chocolate Festival is back Returning for the first time since the pandemic, the chocolate festival will feature several local vendors

BY HANNAH SCHRADER city@theaggie.org On Feb. 4, after a hiatus following the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Davis Odd Fellows will hold their annual chocolate festival at the Davis Odd Fellows Lodge, featuring dessert vendors from all over northern California.

Kurt Roggli, retiree and former 2022 Grand of the Davis Odd Fellows organization, still performs music with the Davis Odd Fellows.

Kurt Roggli is a co-founder of the festival. He spoke about the origins of the Davis Chocolate Festival.

“It started — geez, I don’t know, five, six, seven years ago when another odd fellow, Dave Rosenberg, and I were sitting around musing and he said ‘Let’s have a chocolate festival,’” Kurt Roggli said. “So, he and I got together and sort of organized the first one. [...] We were very ambitious and

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we had speakers and so on, but we’ve learned over the years to pare it down a little bit because we were really trying to do too much but we still got a whole lot going on.”

Juelie Roggli, Kurt’s wife and current secretary of the Odd Fellows, shared that the festival hosts fundraisers to give back to the community.

“We have various fundraisers throughout the year a n d t h e money goes to various things,” she ALLISON VO / AGGIE said. “And anytime somebody thinks of something, s o m e fun, new innovative way to raise money, we try and get a committee together and do it [...] This one was a nobrainer; chocolate is something everyone wants to get involved with.”

Juelie Roggli shared the layout of the event and some information about the vendors that will be attending.

There will be about 12 total vendors from across northern California coming to attend the chocolate festival.

“We’ve got a couple coming from the Bay Area, we’ve got a couple coming from the foothills, Davis, Sacramento, Elk Grove, [...] [and] we got the Davis Creamery,” Juelie Roggli said. “Well, not only do they sell their products, but they will have [free] samples of everything.”

Davis Odd Fellow member and host of the cookie bake-off Diane Steele provided more details on the prizes for the competition.

“I’m a quilter and I sew, so the firstplace prize is a handmade apron that’s made of cookie fabric that I’ve made,” Steele said. “And then the second and third place [winners] get little medals that say ‘chocolate fest’ and bragging rights. Yeah, you get your name in the paper and it’s just, you know, it’s fun.”

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people are intrinsically tied up in each other, they are interdependent. [...] The dividing line is not between Israeli and Palestinian, between Jew and Muslim, between us and them. If there is a line of division it is between those that are for peace and those who are for violence.”

Castleman talked about the cycle of violence and how healing can take years.

He shared the story of Moses and the enslavement of the Israelites to Egypt to express his message.

“It took 40 years of wandering to leave behind the mental constriction, the

trauma of the enslavement,” Castleman said. “I fear that every time we have another cycle of this violence, we have to reset our clocks for another 40 years of healing.”

Ann Kjemtrup is Muslim and a part of many different faith-based groups such as the Celebration of Abraham and Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom.

Kjemtrup believes the vigil was a way for the community to support each other outside of echo chambers.

“It’s a time where we really have to hear each other’s pain,” Kjemtrup said.

“It’s not the people on the ground who are doing this — it’s power, it’s money, it’s so many things [that are] causing this pain and destruction. We need to find a way to be able to connect with each other, away from the slogans and away from echo chambers.”

There have been several campus protests for Palestine since the Oct. 7 attacks and a surge of related activism across college campuses. Kjemtrup said that if anyone is going to be politically active, they need to do so peacefully.

“The bottom line should be activism about peace,” Kjemtrup said.

“If you’re going to [use] islamophobia and antisemitism, that should not be part of our push for peace and I’m sorry that it is. I think today’s event underscored that everybody is human, everybody is feeling pain and it doesn’t matter what religion you are.”

Buxton shared that today’s event showed the importance of interfaith diversity in events like this.

“What we showed is that there isn’t a face divide here,” Buxton said. There is of course a difference of opinions but there is actually unity across all faiths about the preciousness of life.”

He shared that some in the community have ties to those in Israel and Gaza, including a friend of his who’s lost dozens of her family members.

“I have a friend whose sister lives there right now, who’s lost 55 [members] of her extended family,” Buxton said.

“She’s not been able to contact her sister for seven days — her closest relative — and she doesn’t know if she’s alive. She’s a friend, it’s horrifying and it compels us as humans to respond and to act.”

Buxton is a Christian and shared the role his faith has had in responding to the events overseas.

“A core tenet of Christianity is to love your neighbor as yourself, and our neighbor, we need to think of it as not just who we live next to in Davis,” Buxton said. “We are in a global community; our neighbor is a family in Gaza [and] a family in Israel.”

ASUCD Judicial Council rules that President Francisco Ojeda will remain in office

The decision was released one week after the second impeachment hearing for the case

BY LILY FREEMAN campus@theaggie.org On Jan. 23, the ASUCD Judicial Council (JC) released the ruling for ASUCD Senate v. Ojeda via email, which began by recognizing that the legislative branch has the power to impeach the president in the event that they engage in, “gross misconduct” or “[demonstrate] incapability of [the President’s] office.”

The ruling then wrote that it is difficult to prove that the president is incapable for office.

“The ASUCD President is elected by the students of UC Davis, not by any internal process by the ASUCD Senate,” the ruling said. “Subsequently, the Senate does not have the power to oust a President by a simple vote of no confidence.”

While Ojeda may not have performed his duties to the satisfaction of the Senate, according to the ruling, “the claim that [Ojeda] is incapable for his office is invalid on these grounds.”

The ruling wrote that Ojeda has fulfilled several of his constitutional duties as president, such as providing mandatory weekly reports to the Senate and being a representative of the student body.

“Though [Ojeda] has not completed a first State of the Association Address, it is neither the power of the Senate nor the Judicial Council to enforce a specific

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deadline on when it may be delivered,” the ruling read. “We concur that the ASUCD President must be held to a high standard, but this standard must remain within reason.”

The ruling also wrote that the Senate remains to have the power to impeach the president on different terms should Ojeda fail to carry out his constitutional duties in the future.

Finally, the ruling ended with the JC’s decision not to remove Ojeda from office.

“We find the arguments and evidence presented by Petitioner on behalf of the ASUCD Senate insufficient in establishing that [Ojeda] is incapable for office,” the ruling read. “[Ojeda] will continue his term of office.”

ASUCD Senate meeting canceled on Jan. 18

Senate meetings on hiatus until further notice

BY AALIYAH ESPAÑOL-RIVAS campus@theaggie.org On Jan. 18, the ASUCD Senate canceled their weekly meeting that was scheduled to take place later that day. The Senate is unable to meet until the vacancies in the Judicial Council are filled, according to an email from ASUCD Internal Vice President Aarushi

Raghunathan.

“Due to the choice [of the Senate President Pro Tempore] to maintain several vacancies for over four academic weeks, the Senate will now be unable to conduct any business except to fill these vacancies,” Raghunathan said via email.

This decision is supported by Article IV Section (1) (1) (iv) of the ASUCD Senate Constitution.

“In the event that more than one vacancy on the Judicial Council persists for more than four consecutive academic weeks, the Senate shall not conduct business other than to fill said vacancy with no exception,” the article read.

At the time of publication, it is unclear how long the Senate meetings will be on a hiatus.

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

2 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

Putah Creek Council welcomes new stewardship members to their team

The new members will learn techniques to carry on the conservation work of the council for years to come

BY ZOE SMITH city@theaggie.org On Jan. 20, the Putah Creek Council welcomed new stewardship team members to their program through the first of two training sessions. The second training session’s date is yet to be determined but is projected to take place during the summer.

According to the Putah Creek Council Instagram page, @ putahcreekcouncil, in the training, “new members will learn ecosystem restoration techniques, native plant identification, and hands-on fieldwork.”

The Putah Creek Council is a conservation group that began in 1988 but wasn’t made official until the legal battle of the Putah Creek Accord. The Accord came from a lawsuit launched against Solano County Water Agency, Solano Irrigation District and other Solano entities that was won by the Putah Creek Council, the city of Davis and UC Davis. The settlement from that lawsuit and the law that was put in place protect the Putah Creek water flow and the native fish life.

Maddie Galal has been the stewardship team coordinator for the Putah Creek Council since Oct. 18, 2023. Before this, she got her degree from UC Santa Cruz in Environmental Studies. Galal shared what she will teach on the first training day.

“We’re going to go over our organization’s history and mission, some of our current restoration projects and our partners on those projects,” Galal said. “Then I’m going to talk about the logistics of being a stewardship member and how the stewardship team can help with the events. [We’ll go over] some tool safety, and communication tips for talking to the volunteers and managing them.

We’re also going to do a brief training

on how to plant a tree.”

In collaboration with local volunteers, the stewardship team has been able to do years of important restoration work in the Putah Creek Watershed, which is an area of 70 miles that starts at Cobb Mountain.

Funding for the stewardship team comes from donors such as Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, Yolo Resource Conservation District, Point Blue Conservation Science and the Center for Land-Based Learning, as well as work from the Putah Creek Council.

“Our volunteer events are open for all community members, you do not have to be a part of the stewardship team to volunteer with most of our events,” Galal said. “We have nursery volunteer events, every Wednesday, that’s with the nursery team. They’ll do plant propagation, seeding and maintenance, or you can come out and join any of our other stewardship events. I typically have an event every Saturday [...] like creek cleanups and plantings.”

Rick Hein is a retiree who has been a stewardship team member since 2002. Hein talked about the Putah Creek Accord and his time within the group.

“The creek essentially disappeared one year,” Hein said. “There was no creek because all the water had been diverted [...] so this group of people got together. There was some discussion about what [they were] going to be called. Basically, they became the Putah Creek Council, and they sued the water department for water flow to maintain the habitat.”

Fish like salmon and steelhead trout, which are both found in Putah Creek, need a fast flow of water to make it to the ocean. Due to the Putah Creek Council’s efforts, there is now a developed flow that allows these fish to spawn and thrive.

“Seeing the salmon in the creek, that’s really rewarding,” Hein said. “A

The beautiful Redwood Grove, just east of Lake Spafford, features a forest of Redwood tree—perfect for a serene walk or a picnic between trees. (Cruz Martinez / Aggie) lot of this stuff has been done with an eye towards recreating historic habitats. One of the things that [were] in the creek was salmon, but there hadn’t been any in many decades [until] 10 years ago or so, it’s fairly recent, salmon started returning.”

According to Hein, it is due to the hard work of the Putah Creek Council that the fish flow has improved and the natural habitat has been restored.

“Thousands of salmon were in that creek,” Hein said. “I was just so proud that we did that. If we had not come along [...] there would be no salmon.”

Liz Reay has been involved

with the council for 15 years as a stewardship team member and is in her third year on the board of directors. On the board, Reay helps with fundraising, contributes to the operations monetarily and provides aid to the executive director when making decisions for the council.

“We do cleanups and grow native plants and plant them out there to help create a difference to really improve the local landscape and the local plant wildlife,” Reay said.

“We provide an environment where people can go out on walks and really appreciate nature.”

When volunteers participate

in habitat enhancement field days and native plant nursery work days, they get their hands dirty and gain knowledge on how to plant, prune, create irrigation and maintain the native land of Putah Creek.

“It’s one of those things where when you start going to events, you meet a type of people or a group of people that you’d want to sit down and have a beer with and talk to for several hours,” Reay said. “These are the people that are concerned about the environment and want to help and want to really do things for the community. This is a superb group. It really is.”

Rep. Mike Thompson Putah Creek Water Management announces effort to Initiative seeks community input The Lower Putah Creek Coordinating Committee navigates enact ban on large farming and environmental concerns along the multi-use capacity magazines Putah Creek

Thomspon announced that a discharge petition had been filed for the Keep Americans Safe Act, requiring a vote in Congress about banning large-capacity magazines

BY ANTHONY W. ZAMMIKIEL city@theaggie.org On Jan. 11, Representative Mike Thompson (CA-04), who represents Davis and most of Yolo County, announced his intention to file a discharge petition for the Keep Americans Safe Act. The petition would require a vote from Congress on whether to pass a ban on largecapacity magazines for semi-automatic and automatic guns.

Accompanied by Representative Dianne DeGette (CO-01) at a DC press conference, Rep. Thompson spoke about the necessity for Congress to take decisive action to regulate large-capacity magazines.

“Large-capacity magazines are a threat to our kids in schools, our communities and to our law enforcement on the streets who are outgunned by dangerous individuals in possession of these magazines,” Thompson said. “The only reason someone would want a large capacity magazine for a semi-automatic weapon would be to inflict massive amounts of carnage in a short period of time. I am proud to work with Diana DeGette to advance this commonsense piece of legislation, and I implore my colleagues on the other side to work with us to help save lives.”

Rep. DeGette represents much of Denver city and county in her home district. At the press conference, DeGette called the gun violence crisis an “epidemic” and said this petition would address the crisis.

“High-capacity magazines serve no purpose other than to amplify the destructive potential of firearms,” DeGette said. “Sensible gun safety

protects our collective well-being, because, as we’ve seen, someone with a high-capacity weapon can commit these shootings anywhere, anytime. So the time to act is now, and this discharge petition gives us the opportunity to address the epidemic of gun violence that has claimed far too many lives.”

The Keep Americans Safe Act aims to authorize the implementation of a buyback program for individuals within possession of high-capacity magazines. The legislation would also give law enforcement the ability to dispose of any high-capacity magazines that were illegally possessed.

Roan Thibault, an organizer with Students Demand Action at UC Davis, talked about the move by Thompson to require congressional action to address gun violence.

“Our chapter and the broader national network strongly support Rep. Thomspon’s leadership to keep communities safe from gun violence,” Thibault said. “Guns are the leading killer of college-aged students, and high-capacity magazines make this toll even deadlier. Nearly twice as many people are killed when mass shootings involve high-capacity magazines and nearly ten times as many are wounded.”

Students Demand Action at UC Davis is part of a national network of 700 chapters with the goal of ending gun violence, according to Thibault.

“We advocate for a range of solutions to tackle every facet of gun violence,” Thibault said. “From background checks on every gun sale to red flag laws and prohibiting assault weapons, these policies effectively combat gun violence.”

Rep. Mike Thompson provides updates regarding his gun violence prevention task force in Washington DC. Thompson was appointed as the Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in 2012 by then-Democratic Leader Nacy Pelosi. (Courtesy / Jack Stelzner)

BY EMMA CONDIT city@theaggie.org

Water flowing into Lake Spafford, south of the Art Building. (Cruz Martinez / Aggie) As part of its initiative to manage Putah Creek, the Lower Putah Creek Coordinating Committee (LPCCC) is seeking community feedback from stakeholders in Solano and Yolo County. On Jan. 10, the committee held a meeting in Davis to discuss the Putah Creek Water Management (PCWM) Initiative and allow attendees to provide comments.

The PCWM Initiative is led by the LPCCC, a group of experts and stakeholders established by the Solano County Water Agency. The initiative aims to “coordinate water use and distribution for everyone — from riparian water rights holders to groundwater recharge, fish, wildlife and more,” according to its website.

Andrew Fulks, a member of the LPCCC and the assistant director of the UC Davis Arboretum, explained that these meetings should involve the public in the management of their waterways.

“The bottom line is this: we’ve got a shared resource and we need to meet compliance at the various spots along the creek for the environmental flows,” Fulks said. “[...] We don’t know the exact solution, but we know we need more communication and coordination between the growers who divert water and the agency who’s supplying the water.”

The issues facing Putah Creek are part of a complicated management system. Growers are allowed riparian rights along the creek, through which they can divert as much water from the creek as needed. However, the creek is a shared resource — it also serves environmental and recreational

purposes. For example, monitored spots along the creek must meet a minimum flow requirement in order to support the stream’s salmon and wildlife populations.

The Solano County Water Agency aims to meet growers’ water needs while maintaining an efficient use of resources. Lack of communication between all stakeholders, both upstream and downstream, makes this difficult.

Historian Scott Miltenburger provided an overview of Putah Creek, highlighting how water management defines the state of the creek.

“By the 1890s, intensive fruit and nut agriculture took over,” Miltenburger said. “The creek was also used for cattle and livestock grazing.

Later, the mining of stream gravel became a major use.”

During this time, the creek looked nothing like it does now — with little plant life and subject to frequent floods and dry patches.

The 2000 Putah Creek Accord is the most recent legislation governing the stream. LPCCC Streamkeeper Max Stevenson explained how deliberate flow-management efforts have created the fern-filled, waterfilled creek we see today.

“After 1970, the creek’s flow was operated on a fixed-release schedule, so they started releasing water all the time,” Stevenson stated. “Then in 2000, the Putah Creek Accord added even more water for the environment. [...] Because of decades of habitat restoration, the salmon population, which used to be really low, came back, way more than they were here

historically.”

Recent drought conditions, however, have prompted growers along the creek to switch from groundwater irrigation to pumping from the creek, enhancing the need for better communication and watertracking systems.

During the meeting, some participants expressed their confusion about the PCWM Initiative.

“I’m not sure the problem has been adequately defined from my perspective,” one participant said.

“To me, the creek is working just fine. So I’m just not sure why we’re all here. What is your total budget on this? What is the purpose of these meetings?”

Landowner and walnut farmer Herb Wimmer spoke on behalf of the LPCCC to explain the recent need for water management.

“We’re at an inflection point in the creek in that we have an opportunity to make the creek much, much better than it has been — in a way that we think can be reached through communication and collaboration,” Wimmer said. “We need to be sure that whatever it is that we do reflects the needs of all the consumers for water along the creek. [...] We’re finding out how little we really know about what we need to come to a real solution.”

The LPCCC plans to hold more gatherings throughout 2024 and will draft possible solutions. The management of Putah Creek will continue to depend on public input.

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024 | 3

New mural centered UC Davis Center for Chicanx around mental Latinx Academic Success health installed in launches inaugural Sí Se the CoHo Puede Institute

“Murals for Mental Health” was a collaborative project between Aggie Mental Health and Aggies Helping Aggies to raise mental health advocacy

BY AALIYAH ESPAÑOL-RIVAS campus@theaggie.org The UC Davis Center for Leadership Learning (CLL) will host their 11th annual “Aggies Leading the Way!” leadership conference on Feb. 3.

Comprised of workshops, keynote speakers and opportunities for networking, the conference aims to provide UC Davis students who are interested in strengthening their personal, professional and leadership skills an event to connect with those who have the same interests. According to the CLL website, it is a free, all-day event open to undergraduates across all majors and class levels. The event will be held at the UC Davis Conference Center.

Director of the CLL Christie Navarro said that the conference was first introduced in 2010, before undergoing a three-year hiatus due to budget constraints and staffing issues.

However, it was revived in 2014 and made its debut with the theme “Discovery, Partnership, Change.”

Since then, the center has hosted the event every year, with the theme of this year’s conference being, “Mapping Your Journey.”

The theme, developed by the CLL interns, was chosen after brainstorming and taking into consideration the suggestions from evaluations given to last year’s attendees. Iris Chen, a CLL peer leader intern and second-year psychology and economics doublemajor, described how hard the process of choosing a theme was, given the many good ideas proposed.

“It was hard to delete some good ideas too — there was one about cooking, like the different ingredients of leadership — but we settled on transportation,” Chen said.

“Mapping Your Journey,” acknowledges the different ups and downs that UC Davis students may

face throughout both their academic and career journeys, equipping students with the skills to continue moving forward with purpose.

“The decision was made to create a space/conference where students explore how to turn their goals and dreams into reality, while also learning from the process itself,” Navarro said via email.

Chen acknowledged the benefits of this conference because leadership is something that most want to be involved in.

“There’s a lot of things about leadership that [attendees will be] able to learn through this conference, such as developing their inner values,” Chen said.

Shanece Stuart, a fifth-year communications major and CLL peer leader intern, also believes that the conference brings awareness to the existence of the CLL itself, which serves as a resource for all students. “[The conference] gives an opportunity for us to expose ourselves, but also teach students different life skills,” Stuart said. “[The] leadership we see is an important skill to have in life in general, but there are also other fun activities and workshops at the conference.”

Chen, who also attended the conference last year, hopes students will not only gain something through the opportunities and resources of the conference but also form friendships with other attendees.

“What I hope students will get out of it this year are the opportunities, knowing that CLL exists and also creating friendships within the conference with those who value the same things as you,” Chen said.

To register, UC Davis students can visit the CLL website to fill out a 15-minute form and answer two short-answer questions to reserve a spot. Registration closes on Jan. 21.

CoHo unveils a new mural championing Aggie Mental Wellness.

(Jersain Medina / Aggie)

The one-day seminar aimed to help students on academic probation or subject to dismissal

The vibrant and welcoming Center for Chicanx and Latinx Academic Student Success stands as a hub for learning, empowerment and community building. (Jersain Medina / Aggie)”

BY RIVERS STOUT campus@theaggie.org On Jan. 7, the Center for Chicanx Latinx Academic Success, also known as El Centro, held its inaugural Sí Sue Puede Success Institute. This one-day event served to aid students who are experiencing academic probation or are subject to dismissal and want to improve their academic success.

“The whole purpose [of Sí Se Puede] is to provide a support system for Chicanx [and] Latinx self-identified students through the process of navigating probation and dismissal,” Rodrigo Bonilla, director of El Centro, said. “When I took over as director, I noticed a couple of trends. One of those trends was that there’s an alarming rate of students who identify as Chicanx [or] Latinx who were facing probation and dismissal, at the beginning of winter quarter specifically.”

The institute itself was a onetime event for this academic year, but Bonilla said that El Centro offers other forms of support during the entire year through seminars and a variety of in-house services.

“At first, I developed a ‘subject to dismissal’ seminar,” Bonilla said.

“Through this seminar, I realized the extent of making this available, helping students understand the policies, the resources available to them [and] helping them understand how to successfully be able to navigate this process. I wanted to make it available to more students, [and] this is why the Sí Se Puede Institute happened. In the seminar, I’m limited to 15 to 20 students. In the [event], we had about 60 students present.”

Events such as seminars or the

ASUCD Senate passes act to increase support for unregistered student organizations

On Dec. 7, 2023, the Associated Students of UC Davis (ASUCD) Senate passed the Organizations Without Legitimacy (OWL) Act aimed at increasing support for unregistered student organizations.

Former Senator and primary author of the bill, Gaius Ilupeju, wrote the bill after witnessing pre-existing inequities between established student organizations and newly developed student groups.

“Student organizations on the UC Davis campus currently face tremendous barriers to receiving support or recognition from the university,” Ilupeju said. “They have to navigate the club registration process that can be challenging for new student groups and if student groups are formed before or after the club registration deadline, they face difficulty reserving space and securing funds for event programming.”

The bill was endorsed by both unregistered and registered student groups, such as Cow 4 Mascot, Faces of African Muslims (FAM) and the Bengali Student Association (BSA).

Third-year economics major and president of BSA, Asif Ahmed, spoke on the club’s decision to endorse the bill.

“There are other ethnic clubs on campus such as the Nepali student organization [who] don’t get official funding from the school,” Ahmed said.

“For the rest of the year they couldn’t do anything because of funding, and when we saw the bill, we [knew] running a club without any funding is hard and we [wanted] to help out.”

According to Ilupeju, the OWL Act will give unregistered student organizations access to funding opportunities, administrative and legal support from the Senate, room reservations on the third floor of the MU, administrative guidance from the university and help with the club registration process as a whole.

Currently, these resources are limited to registered student organizations and are provided by the co-sponsorship policy that the Senate employs through the Affiliated

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telling of their capacity to perform academically.”

When asked if this is an issue specifically facing the Latinx student population, Bonilla disclosed that while El Centro does not have access to the figures for all ethnicities, he does believe that underrepresented communities are disproportionately impacted.

“We have 7,600-7,800 [Latinx] students; out of those, 1,000 of them are on probation and dismissal every quarter,” Bonilla said. “The reality is some of them just may not have access to the support to rethink the way they study or they might not even have the same level of college prep or be able to access resources.”

Bonilla’s goal is for the ideas of Sí Se Puede to be implemented institutionally to better help Latinx students navigate the college process.

He also emphasized that students of any standing could join the culturally inclusive space, even if they only wanted to improve their academic habits and weren’t necessarily at risk of dismissal.

“We had a variety of folks from a variety of identities and academic standings come in,” Bonilla said. “We opened our invitation to everybody because our goal is to help as many people as possible.”

Bonilla said that while they wish to be able to assist more students, El Centro has only scratched the surface of the issue. The reality is that they alone do not have the capacity to aid every student as they only have three career staff. They will continue to offer Sí Se Puede in future years and will have seminars available throughout the academic year.

ASUCD Judicial Council holds second impeachment hearing for ASUCD President

The Organizations Without Legitimacy Act will provide necessary resources to unregistered student groups such as funding, sponsorships and tailored support for the club registration process

BY MADISON PETERS campus@theaggie.org

institute are great opportunities for students to become connected to the resources that El Centro offers, according to Bonilla.

“We focus a lot on building community, so the entry point might be the seminar or the institute, but that allows our students to know that this is a place that supports them throughout their entire undergraduate experience,” Bonilla said. “Even though those are the entry points to them coming here, that exposes them to the variety of services that we offer, and allows them to continue returning for those services we offer.”

Specifically, Bonilla pointed out that the center offers academic tutoring services, writing assistance, study and learning strategies and resources to mental health services and Latinx-identified therapists. El Centro also collaborates with the Internship and Career Center to help students navigate internships and build their resumes.

Ultimately, the main goal of Sí Se Puede was to destigmatize what it means to be on academic probation or subject to dismissal.

“I think that we don’t normalize it enough,” Bonilla said. “The reality is that a lot of our students face it at some point, but it becomes this taboo topic [that] nobody wants to talk about.

We started the institute to reframe this. [By] naming it Sí Se Puede, we are reframing it itself because we are saying, ‘Yes we can.’”

Bonilla then went into the benefits of holding an event as large as this one on the topic.

“When you see a room of 60 other students, you think, ‘It’s not just me,’” Bonilla said. “Academic probation or [being] subject to dismissal should not be an identity students carry with shame, and that [it’s in] any way

Student Organization Program. The OWL Act amends this policy to extend these benefits to unregistered student organizations as well.

Ilupeju explained the current guidelines of the co-sponsorship policy.

“I don’t think many people know this, but if a student organization wanted a major artist on campus, a comedian or a speaker they can reach out to ASUCD, especially one of the programming units like Entertainment Council or KDVS, and they can enter a co-sponsorship through that unit,” Ilupeju said. “[The club] gives [the Senate] a plan of what they are trying to do and how it supports the community and we cosponsor that event either by helping with funding or marketing.”

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This was the second of two hearings to decide if President Francisco Ojeda would be the organization’s first executive officer to be removed from office

BY VINCE BASADA campus@theaggie.org On Jan. 15, the ASUCD Judicial Council (JC) held its second and final impeachment hearing in the case of ASUCD Senate v. Ojeda. Following the first impeachment hearing on Jan. 12, the second opened with crossexaminations and ended with closing statements and public comment.

The case regarding Internal Vice President Aarushi Raghunathan, ASUCD v. Raghunathan, was also scheduled for the Jan. 15 session.

However, Raghunathan’s case was delayed due to “unforeseen circumstances,” according to Head Justice Katrine Lee. The Senate, which petitioned the case, was represented by Senate President Pro Tempore Chasa Monica, Senators Trinity Chow and Dani Antonio and Internal Affairs Commission Chairperson ThuyAnh Truong.

President Ojeda, the respondent, had no representative council. Alongside Head Justice Lee on the JC, Deputy Head Justice Albena Goulisheva and Justices Madison Whittemore and Samantha Figlietti ultimately decided the fate of the case.

Ojeda began with the crossexaminations, asking if the petitioners would have made any changes during the impeachment process if given the opportunity to do it again. In response, the Senate said they wished they were

more transparent with the public about the impeachment, but ultimately would not have changed the process in which they carried it out. They later reasserted their position that they followed the ASUCD Constitution and all bylaws in carrying out the impeachments, which began as censures.

The petitioners later said that holding the meeting in which the president and IVP were impeached as a closed session was only decided after speaking with both the president and IVP, who had the right to make the session public. Given that the pair are both elected officials and student workers, the petitioners said that a closed session was the best way to discuss workplace behavior and respect their privacy rights as employees.

“The Senate decided we could not and would not make any decision on censuring or impeaching [the President and IVP] without hearing both of their input[s] in this space where we could freely and respectively address the concerns,” Chairperson Truong said during the hearing.

Ojeda then questioned the petitioners on why they “rushed the passing of the impeachment resolutions” before the swearing in of four new senators, which was scheduled for the following day.

“This impeachment was not rushed, and in fact, it was late,” Truong said in response.

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4 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

The concerning business of college consulting

Is it ever really fair to pay someone to help you get into college?

BY CLAIRE SCHAD cfschad@ucdavis.edu In the spring of my third year of high school, as I was about to embark on the journey that is college applications and admissions, the news about the “Operation Varsity Blues” scandal broke. I learned that wealthy elites had been paying to ensure their

children gained admission to top universities in the form of bribes, falsified test scores and made-up athletic careers. As a soon-to-be firstgeneration college student, learning what I could be up against was daunting.

“But at least they got caught,” I thought. This must be a step in the right direction. And while yes, there was some justice served for those

who had been cheating, the college admissions system remains immensely flawed and unequal, continuing to heavily favor the wealthy and privileged.

In recent years, the acceptance rates at top colleges and universities have been decreasing, meaning qualified applicants are receiving more rejection letters than ever before. This steady increase in the difficulty of

2024 could be a lifeline for ‘Doctor Who’ fans

Unpacking how bad the last seasons were and what to expect this year

NATALIE CHENG / AGGIE

BY MALCOLM LANGE mslange@theaggie.org Last year, “Doctor Who” celebrated its 60th anniversary with a three-part special. Those three episodes, along with a Christmas episode released on Dec. 25, were the only real “Doctor Who” content released in the year of its 60th anniversary — a very disappointing realization for fans everywhere. In such a monumental time for the show, we, as fans, only got four total specials for the entire year.

Additionally, they were all released from November to December, making the last two months the only time for celebration.

Luckily, there’s good news in this somewhere: we are getting a real season. Set to be released in May, it stars Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor. Unluckily, it will only contain eight episodes. Even with the disappointingly small amount of episodes for this new Disney+ show, “Doctor Who” seems to be heading in the right direction — back on track and even better than it was before.

The quality of the show, many would say, has been on a downward trajectory since Jodie Whittaker took the mantle of the Doctor. Though there are claims that this stems from sexism and resentment due to the role being played by a woman, this gradual decline is not because of the Doctor’s gender or the writer’s script.

“Doctor Who” has been around almost consistently for 60 years, with only a small gap from 1989 to 2005 when audio series and books took the place of the show. The Doctor has encountered many different trials: aliens, world-ending events and the mortality of humans.

The Doctor himself has also aged significantly since the start of the show back in the 1960s. Most estimates of the Doctor’s age from the first episode put him at around 230 years old, with the 12th Doctor marking his age at now over two thousand years old.

Despite the aging of the character, the show has managed to stay young

despite its six decades of life, breathing new life into it through change.

Over the years, the show has evolved and changed many times and many ways. In fact, that idea is the purpose and whole concept of the show: the Doctor never dies, he only changes. This makes the differences in Whittaker’s seasons to not necessarily be a bad thing, just something new.

The writers took risks and not just by having a woman play the Doctor — the storylines they introduced were a welcomed update to the show.

They completely rewrote the history of two races, the Time Lords and the Gallifreyans, introduced one of the most interesting and powerful villains and had the biggest universeending event. Many fans were not happy with these different types of stories. I, however, believe that if Chris Chibnall, the head writer for Whittaker’s seasons, was given more support and time to flesh out these stories, we would’ve been able to see their full potential.

Specifically, the “Timeless Child” plotline is one that outraged many fans of the show, as it completely throws away substantial history and lore from “Doctor Who” and leaves a lot of questions and plot holes unanswered.

However, I believe that until the whole storyline has reached its conclusion, it is too soon to make a full judgment on if it was a mistake to include. Coming up with new twists and stories for a 60-year-old show is no easy feat, so I definitely cut Chibnall some slack.

This, as well as underdeveloped characters, was just one of the problems facing Whittaker’s tenure as the Doctor. The show still, however, felt like “Doctor Who.” It was fun to watch how she would solve puzzles and escape the enemy each episode, all the while making quips and sarcastic comebacks. Most of the hate, I believe, stems from her having to replace an incredible line of Doctors and storylines before her.

David Tennant’s last season as the Doctor, written by Russel T. Davies, was incredible. After Davies, Steven

Moffat took on as the head writer and gave “Doctor Who” some of the best and most iconic seasons the show has seen. Then, Whittaker with Chibnall’s writing gave us more of Russel T. Davies’ earlier seasons — good, but not phenomenal like the Moffat era.

The stories didn’t have the same arcs that Moffat’s had, and most episodes didn’t feel very important to watch.

You obviously knew the Doctor was going to win in the end, and very little character development occurred.

Chibnall’s seasons felt like a revamped version of Davies’ writing, with some differences and influences from other seasons. So, why is it perceived that the Davies era was so much better than Chibnall’s? I believe that some of it has to do with nostalgia and acting capabilities. Obviously, if you have watched the show for 13 seasons, you must have some love for the series — most likely the earlier seasons that you watched first. Some of Davies’ seasons have truly awful episodes of “Doctor Who,’’ yet no one seems to complain about any of them as much as they do about Chibnall’s, even though there were some amazing episodes in Whittaker’s seasons. .

This is where acting abilities come in — Whittaker just was not as strong of an actor as past Doctors. She is by no means a bad actor, but David Tennant carried most of the Davies’ era with his acting and screen presence. His great character choices helped hide the poor writing, while Whittaker’s acting capabilities were not enough to cover up bad writing.

Why then, do I believe that the show is heading on an upward trajectory if Russel T. Davies is back, when I believed him to have some of the worst episodes in the show? Again, it comes to who is playing the Doctor.

Already from the 60th anniversary and Christmas Special starring Ncuti Gatwa, there were weird writing moments, strange dialogue and just ridiculous — some would say, bad — story devices. However, Gatwa and his co-star Millie Gibson were standouts, and it will be very exciting to see them in the upcoming season.

Finally, because writers and producers are taking a longer amount of time to come out with the new season, it appears they are using a lot of care and precision, which the Chibnall era lacked. As sad as I am to wait so long for more “Doctor Who” content, I am sure it will be worth the wait.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

admissions has paved the way for a new industry, available to those willing to front the money: college admissions consultants.

These so-called college admissions experts are hired by families to help their children through the college admissions process. Their scale of work can vary greatly from client to client, but in some of the most involved cases, the consultant is hired while the child

is still in middle school. The counselors work closely together with the family to develop the child’s interests and then guide them to opportunities that showcase their interests in a way that will impress top colleges.

I was in my first year of high school when a close friend’s parent suggested that my family hire the college consultant their family was using.

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How stop motion continues to stun audiences

Why this “antique” animation style is both unique and challenging

BY MAYA KORNYEYEVA mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu Among the dozens of different animation techniques existing today, I believe that none are as hands-on and tedious as stop-motion animation.

Tracing its roots back to the early 20th century, stop-motion animation was first widely experimented with by MAYA KORNYEYEVA / AGGIE Wladyslaw Starewicz, an avid insect collector in Lithuania who created hand-crafted that it should be short films of fiction by setting up displayed in a museum somewhere. beetles and other insects and moving Down to the tiny plants, the gravel on them one tiny bit at a time in front the roads and the miniature villages of a camera. After every adjustment — and buildings, I can truly appreciate snap! — a photo would be taken, and, the days that the production team put over thousands of images, the insects into constructing each location.

Beyond “claymation,” there is appeared to be moving on their own another show that I would like to on screen.

After these films gained widespread highlight when it comes to stop popularity and praise for their fine motion. Recently, Netflix released attention-to-detail and revolutionary a Japanese stop-motion animation approach to filmmaking, other called “Pokemon Concierge,” based entertainment companies began to on the Pokemon franchise founded take this concept of stop-motion by Satoshi Tajiri in partnership with animation and run with it. Over the Nintendo.

The stop-motion animation style following century, movies like “King Kong” (1933), “Nightmare Before is a mix of fuzzy, almost plush-looking Christmas” (1993) and “Chicken Pokemon characters and plastic dolls Run” (2000) were released as stunning for the human characters. The show visual successes, inspiring sequels and has four episodes with a total run-time the creation of new technology to help of 60 minutes. It is a beautiful story with a female lead who accepts a job at aid animators on the set.

One of these revolutionizing a remote Pokemon resort after a series stop-motion techniques was the of unlucky events, learning how to introduction of the “armature:” take care of the guests and Pokemon a metal frame with specifically and, most importantly, have fun and designed joints for every character be herself.

I particularly like how the show in the picture. Having this frame allowed animators to create gravity- developed relationships between the defying poses and truly explore the Pokemon and the human concierges possibilities of what expressions and and how wholesome and kind-hearted movements a clay doll or puppet could their interactions were — I kid you achieve. Beyond a metal frame, stop- not that every 2-3 minutes of the motion animators also tested ways to show, I said an audible “Awwwww.” manipulate facial expressions, such as The fluidity of the animation, 24 using clay to mold every change or frames-per-second as opposed to the taking removable pieces and attaching common 12, helped to truly bring the them to the character to show actions story alive.

If you ever have time to spare, such as smiling, blinking, laughing I highly suggest watching a few and crying.

I recently rewatched some stop- stop-motion animation films and motion classics from Aardman paying close attention to the way Animations, a studio that is famous the animators portray movement, for its use of clay in stop motion. expression and scenery, as well as These films included “Chicken Run,” the way they develop the characters “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” themselves. Unlike traditional 2D or and “Wallace and Gromit.” Every 3D animation, stop motion has a frame single one left me incredibly inspired. quality that can be both unnerving and I loved the details of everyday objects exceptionally charming. Alternatively, being used on the miniature set, such you can experiment and create your as tiny bottles of toothpaste or paper own animation; just find your object, clips. In each scene in the movie, I set up your camera and start adjusting. couldn’t help but think about a human Disclaimer: The views and opinions hand moving the doll a millimeter in multiple frames to create such fluid expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do and beautiful animation.

The set design is another aspect not necessarily indicate the views and of stop motion that is so meticulously opinions held by The California Aggie.

On Mickey Mouse and the public domain Ideas shouldn’t be monopolized by corporations — cartoon or otherwise

BY JOAQUIN WATERS jwat@theaggie.org At midnight on Jan. 1, 2024, a quietly momentous thing happened: Mickey Mouse, mascot of the Disney brand and legendary symbol of childhood joy and American consumerism, officially entered the public domain. This means that the original version of the character — the black-and-white incarnation from the 1928 film “Steamboat Willie” — is now free for anyone to use without fear of a cease-and-desist from the Mouse House. An early version of Minnie Mouse is also included.

There are caveats, of course. Since Mickey is also an official Disney trademark, it remains illegal to mislead the public into thinking your iteration was sanctioned or created by Disney. And the most iconic version of Mickey, the one with red shorts and expressive eyes, remains offlimits (though not for long…we’ll get there). Nonetheless, this is incredible news. Anybody can produce and sell a cartoon or a storybook featuring the original Mickey Mouse. Bizarre and creative renditions such as romance novels or horror stories need no longer be relegated to the realm of fanfiction.

It’s difficult to fathom, isn’t it? For a character so unanimously associated with corporate intellectual property to suddenly be free for anyone’s legal usage feels impossible. But the day has come. It’s been a long road. Allow me to tell you how we got here, and

how in the years to come, this historic moment will be remembered as merely the tip of the iceberg.

The “public domain” is the legal realm that fictional works and characters enter when their copyright expires and the legal hold that the creators and/or distributors of said work dissipates. The expiration of copyright originally came — depending on which was first — 50 years after the creator’s death or 75 years after initial publication.

However, in 1998, Congress passed a bill called the Copyright Term Extension Act, after which 20 years were added to each of these expiration dates. Now, copyright expires 70 years after the creator’s death or 95 years after initial publication. Disney was unsurprisingly a major proponent of the bill, leading it to be derisively nicknamed the “Mickey Mouse Protection Act.” But alas, come 2024, they could not delay the release of their beloved Mickey for any longer. And Steamboat Willie is just the beginning; in 2036 their classic 1940 film “Fantasia” enters the public domain, bringing the version of Mickey from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” — the blueprint for the most iconic versions of the character — with it.

Even earlier (in 2030, to be precise), Donald Duck will join Mickey in the public domain. Duck and Mouse will finally be allowed to profess their undying love for one another and enter into a mutually supportive polyamorous relationship with Minnie — and, more

importantly, whoever tells this story can monetize it.

It gets crazier: in 2034, Superman will be free. In just 10 short years, anyone can make a Superman movie — for that matter, Marvel could — so long as they don’t infringe on the DC trademark (in other words, as long as they don’t claim to be associated with DC) and adhere to the character as depicted in the 1938 “Action Comics #1,” in which practically everything we associate with the character is already present (like the planet Krypton and the Clark Kent alterego). The following year, Batman joins him. The year after that, so do the Joker, Wonder Woman and Captain America. This turn of events is perhaps even more difficult to fathom; Marvel and DC Comics have built their respective empires by building massive universes out of characters they own. Anything produced outside of their corporate umbrellas is not only illegal, it isn’t considered canon. This concept of canon is central to these characters’ worldwide fanbases, and in only a decade it will start to become irrelevant. Superhero universes won’t be the only ones affected, either.

In 2033, the characters from “The Hobbit” will enter the public domain.

In 2034, so does James Bond. And the list goes on and on.

Is this a good thing? Certainly not for the corporations these characters belong to. But in this writer’s opinion, it’s tremendous news for art in the long run. Take “The Wizard of Oz”: creative reimaginings like “Wicked”

or Disney’s own “Oz the Great and Powerful” would have been impossible to produce had the original novel not entered the public domain in 1956 (pre-Mickey Mouse Act). That’s to the story’s benefit.

Mythology is not a static thing; it is meant to change, to expand, to evolve and take on new forms for new generations. The great irony of Disney’s attempts to extend copyright law is that they built their empire by taking advantage of public domain works like the fairytales of Hans Christen Anderson (“The Little Mermaid”), the Brothers Grimm (“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”), Lewis Carroll (“Alice in Wonderland”), MiddleEastern folklore (“Aladdin”) and

countless other tales that form the bedrock upon which all the Disney classics are built upon. Practically none of their legendary films would exist without the public domain; the company would have been barred from making them.

Ideas must be free. Perhaps not from inception — artists have a right to profit from their work — but eventually, the day must come. For Mickey Mouse, the day has come. And he’s just the start.

MAYA KORNYEYEVA / AGGIE

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

5 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

OPINION EDITORIAL

Let there be light (in Davis)

The city needs to balance environmentalism with safety when it comes to outdoor lighting

BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD As a Davis resident, biking home in the rain is an unavoidable canon event, especially during the winter months with limited daylight. When it rains, it pours; when it’s cold, it’s freezing; and when it’s dark, it’s as if you’re riding into an endless abyss guided by a bike light bright enough to illuminate only the ground directly beneath you.

On a post-sunset walk home, you’re left following cracks in the pavement to ensure that you arrive at your final destination without a twisted ankle.

And when you’re unable to make out the face of a passerby, you’ll feel your brisk stroll spiral into an anxiety-induced speed walk. You might as well close your eyes — you’d see just as much as you do with your eyes open on a night in Davis.

For a college town defined by its walk- and bikeability, it feels wrong that sufficient street lighting is so hard to come by.

This has been a controversial issue for decades, especially since the city of Davis enacted the Outdoor Lighting Control Ordinance in 1998. This policy aimed to reduce light pollution and preserve the ability to stargaze by minimizing the amount of light that shines into the sky. Street lights have since been required to have caps that cover their top half — meaning that where there are lights, they aren’t very

SEE ONLINE Scan to read our ed about how to make the most of your time spent alone

G St. in downtown Davis. (Maia Zhu / Aggie) bright.

The city of Davis is rightfully known for incorporating environmentalism into its city planning, so it makes sense for them to create policies that decrease light pollution. However, while the Editorial Board acknowledges and supports these values, there needs to be a balance between prioritizing the environment and the community’s sense of safety.

The series of stabbings that took place in Apr. 2023 and the sexual assault incident that occurred in Sep. 2023 resparked conversation in the community about how lighting could provide a sense of safety. While there is limited evidence that an increase in street lighting is directly correlated to a decrease in crime rates, that’s not the only reason to consider improving our city lighting.

Even outside of violent crime, consider that a large portion of this small town is made up of college students, who spend a lot of time out after sunset, many of them walking or on bikes alone or in small groups. Feeling comfortable and safe within one’s surroundings is what many residents signed up for when they moved to Davis. Better light could help students avoid being hit by a car or stop them from biking into a tree.

Moving toward a potential solution for these concerns, the city is asking

residents to fill out a survey where they can choose from various lighting fixture designs that they would like to see specifically implemented in downtown Davis. The survey is available to community members from Jan. 2 and to Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. Marking a great stride in the right direction, the city is proposing some solutions regarding the lack of light. However, let’s remember that the area in question, downtown, is definitely poorly lit, it’s currently the most illuminated part of the city.

Many Davis residents are living in neighborhoods outside of the downtown hub with no light in sight — students are biking down major paths feeling as if they’re in the opening scene of a horror movie and cars are driving into anything from potholes to people.

With this in mind, the city should also be focused on finding solutions for the entirety of Davis.

Whether it’s placing more hatted street lamps on roads that are too dark or considering that the other lighting fixture designs outlined in the survey should be implemented across the city, there has to be a solution that keeps both environmental and safety concerns at play. Hopefully, we can look forward to a night in Davis where you can both see the stars and make it to your car without tripping over the uneven sidewalk.

Pachamama: A In defense of bad grammar coffee company like You’re not wrong no other

The farmer-to-customer connection that brings high quality coffee to Davis residents

MAYA KORNYEYEVA / AGGIE

BY MAYA KORNYEYEVA mkornyeyeva@ucdavis.edu Tucked away at the farthest end of downtown Davis, Pachamama is a quaint coffee house that serves only the highest quality, ethically sourced coffee.

Seeing as I am already deep into my second year living in the city of Davis, I am astonished that it took me so long to visit such a unique location — Here’s how it happened.

This past weekend, I gave my friend a lift to the train station in the early hours of the morning. The air was chilly, and the rain and wind swept up the dried leaves and swirled them about. After saying goodbye, I decided to wander downtown, hoping to stop by one of my usual coffee locations — Mishka’s or Philz — for some caffeine and a bite to eat.

I barely stepped onto the G Street sidewalk when I saw Pachamama, a small cafe from which I could hear soft laughter and music. When I entered, I was greeted with the scent of espresso and the delicate blue hue of the ceiling.

The faces of coffee farmers smiled down at me from one of the walls, and cups with latte art lined the countertop next to the bar.

After taking my first sip of the dulce de leche latte (a seasonal fall drink), I could immediately tell that the craft of the coffee was much higher than I was accustomed to; the espresso was creamy and blended beautifully with the milk, and the flavor was elevated by the subtle notes of caramel. I sipped the coffee as I walked through the drizzling rain back

to my car and I couldn’t help feeling a sense of peace.

Upon arriving back at my apartment, I sat down to do a little research on Pachamama; I wanted to know what made their coffee so delicious and why I had never heard of the company before.

Turns out, the faces of the coffee farmers I saw on the wall of the cafe were actually the owners, and they lived all over the world — in Peru, Ethiopia, Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua. While most major CEOrun coffee companies like Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee simply buy coffee beans from farms in these regions, the farmers who operate Pachamama are part of a cooperative — meaning that they can help control their coffee prices and carefully manage the quality of the coffee they produce, acting as both buyers and sellers.

Being a part of a cooperative allows a coffee farmer to have better access to international markets, technology for farming/refining coffee beans and more agricultural and economic opportunities. This also fosters community and permits coffee farmers in the cooperative to work together to efficiently solve any problems that arise within the supply chain.

The international market for coffee is historically oversaturated with low quality beans that are sourced unethically from underpaid farmers.

The coffee plantations themselves are also increasingly affected by rising temperatures and, due to climate change, are facing an uncertain future.

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BY MOLLY THOMPSON mmtthompson@ucdavis.edu

Here’s an experience that is shared across the country and among generations: your middle school English teacher responding to your innocent, honest ask of “Can I please go to the bathroom?” by saying, with every ounce of condescension and satisfaction they can muster, “I don’t know, can you?”.

That teacher believed that they were right and you were wrong. They would claim that what you said was improper grammar, and should be corrected.

But actually, they were wrong and you were right. Not about the fact that they were — on a technicality — more grammatically correct than you (according to Standard American English), but about the idea that what you said was a problem that needed to be corrected.

Last quarter, I took a very basic linguistics class and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. For an assignment, my professor had us ask different people from different places whether or not they considered certain phrases “normal,” or grammatically acceptable. The phrases were “I’m finished my homework” and “I’m started my homework.” I reached out to people from the East Coast, the Midwest, and all up and down California. Out of the ten or so people I surveyed, only one said that she would consider the phrases normal if she heard someone else say them, though she would never say them herself. Everyone else vehemently asserted that they believed the phrases HEIDI TEJEDA / AGGIE

were incorrect, unacceptable and wrong.

I think if I had been on the other side of that little experiment and I was being asked about the phrases, I would have had a very similar reaction. I probably would have said that they were inaccurate and unsuitable. But given the perspective of the experiment, I was surprised at the sheer magnitude of the common consensus revealed by my results. People were so passionate and adamant about how abnormal and unacceptable the phrases were — I got responses like “that’s honestly so not okay,” “no, they sound weird,” “no, those sound lame” and even “I AM SO STRONGLY AGAINST THAT.” The point of the assignment was to show us the impact that language has on how we interpret society and to highlight the value our judgments make regarding how people speak and write. If it wasn’t pointed out to me, I’m not sure I would ever have noticed how common it is for people (myself not excluded) to form these intense opinions based only on a single sentence that doesn’t comply with what we consider to be the socially acceptable dialect. The reactions I got seemed so drastic for such a small offense, but I likely would have had a similarly extreme response if I had been on the other side.

We’re taught from such a young age that there’s a singular “correct” way to articulate ourselves and many of us take pride in how well we’ve honed that skill.

Standard American English (SAE) is the dialect that’s utilized by United States official organizations and is generally considered the “proper” way to speak and write in the U.S. — it’s what you

were taught in English class. But it’s not the only way to speak English, nor should it be considered better than any other dialect.

SAE is the “prestige dialect” in the U.S., which means that it’s the way that professionals and the upper class are expected to speak. This becomes an issue because it means that anyone whose speech doesn’t fit into SAE is perceived as lesser (whether that be less intelligent, less qualified, of lower class, etc.) than those who are comfortable with the standard dialect. A lot of common alternative dialects come from minority populations — for example, communities of people whose first language isn’t English or racial groups for which their way of speaking English is deeply rooted in their history and culture. This contributes to a terrible feedback loop in which minorities are already oppressed and underprivileged, they might not have the resources to familiarize themselves with SAE and they don’t have opportunities to gain those necessary privileges and resources because they’re unfairly judged for whatever non-standard dialect they communicate in.

The example phrases from my assignment are perfectly acceptable phrases in many dialects of American English. Yet people immediately projected value judgments about them and their hypothetical speakers, claiming they were “weird,” “wrong” and “lame.” We shouldn’t judge people based on their grammar. Speech that isn’t compliant with SAE isn’t inaccurate or inappropriate; it’s correct in a different dialect. The point of language is to communicate. If someone said “I’m finished my homework,” you would know exactly what they were trying to convey to you, so it’s futile to claim that they’re wrong or put energy into changing how they said it. As a society, and particularly as collegeeducated individuals, we need to be more accepting of grammar and speech — proficiency in SAE has absolutely no correlation with intelligence, professionalism or capability. Standard American English shouldn’t inherently be perceived as an indication of value.

Speak however you want to, and go tell your grammar-police middle school English teacher that you were right all along.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.

6 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

ARTS & CULTURE

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

Find your perfect read in 2024

Eight to-be-released books you can add to your reading list

BY ELIZABETH WOODHALL arts@theaggie.org Album: “Cigarettes After Sex” by Cigarettes After Sex (2017) Although this band has grown increasingly popular on TikTok, sitting down and listening to this album really proves to listeners that they deserve all the hype. There’s something melancholy about their sound that makes it the perfect album to listen to while walking around campus, shuffling through the crowd and catching the bus. This album explores themes of heartbreak and longing, which can most clearly be observed in the song “K,” as the narrator talks about an important, but now long-gone, person in his life — Kristen. Her absence is one that’s left him alone, longing for when she slips right “back in bed.” The slowness of falling in love is present in “Sunsetz,” but it’s one that’s shadowed by the loss, too: “Recurring visions of such sweet days.” The album is brightened by tracks like “Sweet,” showing the softness of mutual love and respect. This band is known for their simplistic yet powerful instrumentals, such as the electric guitar, bass and drums, that define their distinct sound as one that’s heart-wrenching and may require some tissues.

Book: “Everyone in this Room will Someday be Dead” by Emily Austin As if the title doesn’t tell you enough about this morbidly-but-weirdly-funny book, it’s one that leaves a reader with a sense of dread that’s gently wrapped in a warm blanket of laughter. Gilda is a 27-year-old lesbian who has recently gotten into an accident, leaving her with an injured arm and a heightened perception of inescapable death. She somehow finds herself as an administrative assistant at a Catholic church — not by choice, as she was only inquiring about a therapy group. Instead, she is confused for a new applicant when she finds out that the older receptionist passed away. The former receptionist left an open conversation with a friend on the work computer, and Gilda strikes up a conversation with her, seemingly too scared to break the news of the receptionist’s passing. We move from the past and present to illuminate the fragmented mind of Gilda, who struggles with depression and anxiety. The story encapsulates the intricate life of someone who obsessively thinks about death — the fear put there over time as she forces herself to live an unfulfilled life. As she navigates faith, her relationship and friendships with unlikely people, her concealed identity threatens to jeopardize everything she’s started to appreciate about life.

TV Show: “Yellowjackets” by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson (2021) After being convinced by a few of my friends to check this show out, I thought I’d give it a shot. Who doesn’t like a survival show with lesbian characters? Set in New Jersey in 1996, a high school girl’s soccer team, who go by the Yellowjackets, have just placed in the national tournament. There’s some growing tension between the team members, as they will do anything to win this tournament — even if it means eliminating people from the team whom they deem a liability.

On the way to the tournament, their jet crashes and leaves them stranded in the woods, forcing them to survive with nothing more than their naivety. As someone who isn’t a big fan of gore and thriller, this show does not shy away from it — at all. The first few seconds capture a girl running through the woods, anxiously escaping an eerie presence that follows her and dying moments later from wood spikes that pierce her body. Within the timeline of the show, the viewer is continuously displaced between the past and the present and even the future, 25 years after the crash. There’s a persistent feeling they never truly escaped whatever lured them deeper into the depravity for survival.

Movie: “No Hard Feelings” by Gene Stupnitsky (2023) Jennifer Lawrence makes her grand comeback to the big screen in this film alongside Andrew Feldman. It follows the summer of 32-year-old Maddie Barker, who is struggling to make ends meet and faces bankruptcy as her hometown of Montauk, New York, sees an influx of wealthy people that raise the cost of living. With no car to work as an Uber driver and the increasing property taxes of her mom’s house, she is looking for any opportunity to get quick cash. She notices a Craigslist posting that offers a Buick Regal in exchange for dating a 19-year-old guy, Percy, who is going off to Princeton and lacks any true life experience outside of the academic sphere. This movie is filled with awkward instances of misinterpretation as Maddie desperately attempts to seduce Percy, who is hesitant to open up and form a relationship with her, due in large part to the almost 13-year age gap between them. Even though he is incredibly smart, he is quirky and stupidly naive; she is confident and determined to get that Buick. This movie is labeled as a sex comedy, but there’s a true connection between these characters that surpasses just sexual desire and shows a greater appreciation for vulnerability and change.

AGGIE FILE

BY SAVANNAH ANNO arts@theaggie.org As New Year’s resolutions have been made and Goodreads goals have been set, it’s time to find out what books will be hitting the shelves in 2024. Spanning from historical fantasy to personal essay collections, there’s something new for every type of reader. Here’s a list of eight of the most anticipated books releasing between February and April: Joan Acocella: “The Bloodied Nightgown and Other Essays” This recommendation is for anyone that’s had to read “Beowulf ” for school and actually ended up enjoying it.

Having worked as a critic for The New Yorker since 1995, Acocella’s most recent essay collection delves into her sharp opinions on J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous lecture on “Beowulf,” comedian Richard Pryor and more –– to be revealed upon its release. Having just passed away, the 24 essay-long collection celebrates Acocella’s life and work. Scheduled to release on Feb. 20, 2024.

Rachel Lyon: “Fruit of the Dead” In “Fruit of the Dead,” Rachel Lyon works to reimagine the Greek tale of Demeter and Persephone, following a contemporary mother, Emer and her daughter Cory. Cory is thought to be missing after a summer as a camp counselor. In reality, Cory has been charmed by the luxury and looks of Rolo, a father of one of her campers and meant to be the book’s version of Hades. Rolo invites Cory to stay with him on a private island, unbeknownst to her mother. The tale explores the complications of motherhood as Emer chases Cory and both grapple with feelings of loneliness and abandonment.

Scheduled to release on March 5, 2024.

Gabriel Garcia Márquez: “Until August” Discovered 10 years after the Nobel Prize winner’s death, “Until August’’ is 2024’s most unexpected release.

Márquez explores the lives and love of women through his main character Ana Magdelena Bach as she travels to and from an island and grapples with the death of her mother. Scheduled to release on March 12, 2024 Judith Butler: “Who’s Afraid of Gender?”

“Who’s Afraid of Gender?” is a deep dive into recent ‘anti-gender’ movements and violence against LGBTQ+ groups. A philosopher and professor at the University of California Berkeley, Judith Butler aims to get to the root of these events in their new nonfiction novel, as they investigate the motives of these movements and how to move forward. Scheduled to release

on March 19, 2024.

Lydia Millet: “We Loved it All” Lydia Millet has written over a dozen pieces of fiction and ecological critiques, earning her a finalist spot for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Awards. In “We Loved it All,” she decides to get personal. Using a memoir format, Millet pulls stories from her own life and writes to explain the importance of the natural world. Expected to be a moving read for anyone interested in climate science or with a strong connection to the outdoors. Scheduled to release on April 2, 2024.

Leigh Bardugo: “The Familiar” Beloved author of the “Shadow and Bone” universe, Bardugo returns this year with a new standalone novel. The story follows a servant, Luzia, as she is forced to use her powers to elevate the social status of the family she works for. The novel is set in the Spanish Golden Age and provides commentary on the Spanish Inquisition as Luzia’s life becomes full of danger, magic and romance. Scheduled to release on April 9, 2024.

Salman Rushdie: “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder” After surviving a brutal attack in 2022, being stabbed on stage right before beginning a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in New York, Rushdie aims to show his perseverance and healing process through “Knife.”

The memoir follows his experiences and challenges after the incident that resulted in the loss of sight in his right eye. Known for his magical realism and historical fiction pieces, readers are excited to see his writing style in a new form. Scheduled to release April 16, 2024.

Emily Henry: “Funny Story” Now a figurehead for contemporary romance, with four New York Times Best Seller novels, readers can’t get enough of Emily Henry. In “Funny Story,” Miles and Daphne have one thing in common: Daphne’s fiance leaves her for his childhood best friend, and Miles is the ex-boyfriend of that childhood best friend. The two become roommates, and we can only imagine what Henry has in store for them afterwards. Scheduled to release on April 23, 2024.

As more and more writers are tackling issues like climate change and gender politics, while still creating worlds filled with magic and human connection, genres collide and books become increasingly diverse. 2024’s wide variety ensures that there’s a perfect book in store for everyone, whether you’re a devoted Márquez reader, a nonfiction lover or someone craving a fantastical romance.

2024 Golden Globe Awards recap From a Barbenheimer face-off to a failed opening monologue

BY INDRANIL BASU arts@theaggie.org The 81st Golden Globe Awards, one of the most popular American film and television award shows, took place this year on Jan. 7, 2024, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California and was broadcast live on CBS. It kicked off Hollywood’s awards season for the year, reconvening for the first time since the resolution of twin union strikes that shut down the industry for most of last year. This was also its return to air for the first time after its own ethics, finance and diversity scandal that resulted in the sale of the show, a reconstitution of its voting body and a change of network from NBC to CBS. This year was marked by historic wins for underrepresented communities at the awards. Lily Gladstone became the first Indigenous American person to win the Globe for best actress in a drama for her performance in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Ali Wong and Steven Yeun won in the best actress in a limited series and best actor in a limited series categories, respectively, for their performances in Netflix’s road rage drama “Beef ” (which won best limited series), becoming the first and second actors, respectively, of Asian descent to win in their categories.

FX’s “The Bear” won the Globe for best comedy, while two of its actors, Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White, also

won for their performances.

“Oppenheimer” won five Golden Globes out of its eight nominations, including for best drama, best director for Christopher Nolan and best actor in a drama for Cillian Murphy. Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” won two categories out of its nine nominations, including for best cinematic and box office achievement (a new category) and best song for “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish.

HBO’s “Succession” was the top television winner with four Golden Globes including best drama, Actress (Sarah Snook), actor (Kieran Culkin) and supporting actor (Matthew Macfadyen). Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” won best movie, comedy or musical. Emma Stone received the Globe for best comedic actress for the film.

Some memorable moments from the awards included America Ferrera and Kevin Costner appreciating each other while presenting. Costner quoted the “It is impossible to be a woman” monologue from “Barbie.”

Daniel Kaluuya, Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld did a comic bit that appreciated writers in the industry.

Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell had a playful dancing moment while presenting another award.

Comedian Jo Koy’s opening monologue was an overall bomb, making headlines across news platforms for its poor reception. He started

Sucession was awarded best drama at the 2024 Golden Globe awards. The award was presented by the cast of Suits, a show we saw remarkable resurgence in 2023. (Courtesy of CBS / fair use) blaming the writers and his lack of time for preparation as he dragged on with his set amidst a cold response. His most controversial joke was his remark on “Barbie”: while calling “Oppenheimer” a film based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about The Manhattan Project, he reduced his personal logline of “Barbie” to a movie about “a plastic doll with

big boobies.”

There were no honorary awards this year, a category that had given a voice to many iconic people and significant speeches in past years, including Oprah’s #MeToo speech in 2018.

Overall, the winners were “largely supportable, if largely predictable,” according to an article by Vanity Fair.

This year’s Golden Globes reached a viewership of 9.4 million and had the highest ratings in years. After this eventful award show, The Emmy Awards took place on Jan. 15 and the Oscars are lined up for March 10. The Golden Globes have set the predictions for “Oppenheimer” to win big at the Oscars.

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024 | 7

Davis MoMA: Yin & Yang Are movie theaters dying in a postpandemic world?

BY NIMRA FARHAN nfarhan@ucdavis.edu

UC Davis students defend their love of the big screen

Entrance to the historic Varsity Theater on 2nd Street. (Cruz Martinez / Aggie)

BY ZOEY MORTAZAVI features@theaggie.org

Disclaimer: (This cartoon is humor and/or satire, and its content is purely fictional. The story and names of “sources” are fictionalized.)

New studio and gallery brings ‘art renaissance’ to Davis Secret Spot’s founders discuss their recent open-call show and Davis’ art scene

Secret Spot attendees chat about the art gallery’s details while diving into each description. Hidden in downtown Davis, this new spot creates a unique marriage of art and music, showcasing the talent of young artists in the local community.

(Maia Zhu / Aggie)

BY LAILA AZHAR features@theaggie.org Secret Spot Davis is just that — a secret spot. Located behind The Wardrobe, the art studio would be hard to come across to anyone who wasn’t looking for it.

“We’ve lived in Davis our whole lives and we know lots of lifelong Davis people,” Harry Greer, one of the cofounders, said. “We would tell them where the spot was, and they’d be like, ‘Where?’”

Once you are in on the secret, however, it’s hard to forget it.

On Jan. 12, the studio hosted an open-call show titled “YOU,” aimed at highlighting the local community’s art.

“It’s a show about you,” an Instagram post advertising the show described it. “No application fees, all levels, all humans.”

Far from the silence typically associated with art galleries or museums, Secret Spot buzzed with excitement.

People laughed and chatted as they roamed the studio. Visitors joined in with Greer playing a drum and bass set, filling the venue with lively music.

The show displayed a wide variety of art, from vivid paintings of mythical creatures to poetry pasted on a glittery canvas, to a skateboard covered in colorful doodles. In one corner, jewelry, stickers and tarot cards were for sale. In another, a man stood completely still.

“Weird Art Gallery Visitor,” the gallery tag pinned to his shirt read. “$50.”

“What happens if we give you $50?” a visitor asked. He didn’t break his silence.

Secret Spot opened its doors in September of 2023. The studio’s founders — Greer, alongside Toni Rizzo and Stephanie Peel — had previously been working from home.

“It was really cramped,” Rizzo said.

“I really just needed a studio space.”

The space that Secret Spot has afforded them has allowed their art to reach new heights — quite literally, as their previous show, “The Big Show,” involved the three artists painting on five-by-four-foot canvases.

Greer cites the memory of the three artists “cranking it out together” for “The Big Show” as one of his favorite memories of the studio.

“I’m pretty new to painting, so it was quite the undertaking,” Greer said.

Their most recent show, “YOU,”

was Peel’s idea.

“I wanted to do something to give back to the art community,” Peel said.

For the vast majority of the artists involved, “YOU” marked the first time their work had been hung in a gallery, exemplifying Secret Spot’s goal to support emerging artists.

“As cool as the established art community is in town, it’s not really geared towards younger people, it’s not geared towards people who are not really experienced in the art world yet,” Rizzo said. “We wanted something new that most people could relate to.”

Peel echoed this sentiment, saying she “wasn’t satisfied” with existing opportunities.

“I was looking for the ‘weird,’” Peel said.

Secret Spot’s commitment to emerging artists and subversive art is reflected in more than just the unique pieces exhibited during “YOU.” The wide variety of artist statements told stories of their own. Some consisted of paragraphs, some were a few lines.

Some were typed and printed, some were handwritten. One was even written on a UC Davis College of Engineering post-it.

“A lot of people had never done

For many, some of their earliest and most cherished memories took place in movie theaters. There is an undisputed magic within them for people all over the world: the smell of popcorn wafting throughout the lobby; the suspense rising as trailers play and the lights begin to dim. The movies have been a tradition of togetherness and celebration for generations, and many students at UC Davis hope that movie theaters will continue to be appreciated and cherished for years to come.

Despite the fondness that many associate with movie theaters, there is no doubt that their popularity has faded significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, with box office numbers plummeting every year.

“Ticket sales are down 21% from four years ago, but that’s not the only thing that’s down. So, too, is the number of wide releases,” Sarah Whitten wrote in an article for CNBC. “From January to June 30 in 2019, 57 films were released in 2,000 theaters or more. In 2023, there have been only 45 releases during that same period.”

Despite this, many UC Davis students are enthusiastic about the chance to see movies on the big screen, especially in downtown Davis theaters.

“The movies have always been a fun experience that I keep going back to when I want to destress and enjoy a relaxing time with my friends or family,” Dari Gonzales, a first-year wildlife, fish and conservation biology major, said.

“The enjoyment of watching a movie on a big screen, with buttery popcorn to snack on as you excitedly wait with your friends and family for the movie to start; I believe those experiences are what the movie theaters here in Davis give to many.”

There are numerous circulating theories that modern streaming services have the potential to eradicate the remaining movie theaters. To many, this threat to the film industry is a scary possibility. The question must be asked: Is streaming the newest movies from home the same as seeing them in a theater? The answer to that question is no, according to many students — and an artist statement before,” Greer said.

“So it was really cool seeing people try to describe themselves and their work.”

Rizzo expressed her gratitude for being able to give people first-time experiences, whether that be with writing an artist statement, wiring a canvas the proper way or displaying their work. She also described gallery experiences of her own, “[I] didn’t know anything, and learned so much the hard way.”

She aims to share her artist knowledge with the greater Davis community.

“Long gone are the days of just focusing on yourself and getting yourself ahead,” Rizzo said. “Knowing how much work it has taken for us to get our foot in the door, might as well keep our foot in the door for everyone else.”

This collective approach to art, which looks out for the community as a whole, is reflected in the Secret Spot founders’ love for the Davis art world.

“Support your local scene. Find the weird things happening and go to them,” Greer advised, recommending the Good and Weird Davis website as a resource to find events.

therefore, movie theaters in Davis are worth saving.

“When I watch movies at home, I find myself getting distracted during uneventful parts of the film, missing important moments and generally being less emotionally impacted by what I’m watching,” Emily Essex, a second-year English and psychology double major, said. “The environment that movie theaters create allows for people to get the most out of their movie-watching experience while simultaneously encouraging people to get out of the house and do something fun.”

There is also a huge difference between chain movie theaters and independent ones. In times of financial stress, independent theaters hardly stand a chance against inflation, while many chain theaters can rely on a much larger pool of funds to keep them afloat.

Independent cinemas across the country were forced to close their doors in the face of the pandemic.

Right in UC Davis’ backyard is the Varsity Theatre, one of the charms of downtown which has been part of the Davis community since 1921. It was remodeled to look architecturally “futuristic” when it moved locations in 1949. There’s also the Regal Davis Holiday, which is part of the Regal Cinemas national chain system. There was a third theater, the Regal 5, which closed in May of 2023.

“To me, there is nothing like the experience of live cinema. There is something so intense about being in a theater with so many people, immersed in sounds and visuals and unable to press pause,” Jenna Gage, a first-year communications major, said.

Gage also works at the Regal Davis Holiday in downtown Davis.

“Going to a movie theater to see a movie allows yourself to be completely lost in the story that movies tell, which is something that streaming services at home do not provide,” Gage said.

Movie theaters have been a consistent source of entertainment, togetherness and joy for a long time.

Regardless of the power that modern streaming services have in terms of their revenue, UC Davis students will continue celebrating movies the way they were meant to be watched for the first time — in the theaters.

“If you want cool stuff in your town you have to support the cool stuff,” Rizzo said.

Greer described Davis as “highly underrated” and “magical,” and credited it as an inspiration for his art.

“I couldn’t separate Davis from my work. The stuff that I make is a reflection of having lived here my whole life,” Greer said. “Davis has plenty of cool art happening at all times, but it’s below the surface. You have to dig just a little bit.”

Secret Spot is the perfect example of this. The studio may be slightly elusive, and its branding leans into this fact, with flyers around town asking, “Have you found the Secret Spot?”

However, once you’ve done the little bit of “digging” required to find it, you’re exposed to a side of the art community in Davis that goes beyond just the art itself, serving as a haven for those who work outside traditional notions of art.

“Secret Spot, while it is physically a studio and part-time gallery, more than anything it’s the idea of bringing an art renaissance into town,” Rizzo said.

A variety of unique prints, stickers, pins, and shirts were available for purcahse at the Secret Spot to support featured artists. (Maia Zhu / Aggie)

8 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

A sit down with Cowboys After Dark

The local band shares how they formed and their experiences as musicians

BY FAITH DEMEULENAERE features@theaggie.org Many students and Davis residents are familiar with the local band Cowboys After Dark. Whether it’s by attending their shows or seeing their posters downtown, Cowboys After Dark has accrued quite a reputation in Davis.

For those who don’t know, there are seven members in the band. As a group that’s on the larger side, they call themselves similar to Earth, Wind & Fire and Santana: “Bands that move around and add fun with audience participation,” band member Jacob Johnson said.

Cowboys After Dark portrays this high-energy performance through their stage presence and joyful music. As many fans know, the group often plays covers of older bands such as Pink Floyd and ABBA. As for the members of Cowboys After Dark: Mason Johnstone is on the drums, Dewey Patterson on the bass, Eric Aguilar on the guitar, Henry Humphrey on the keys, Rosie Mendoza on the trumpet, Jacob Johnson on the saxophone and Bernadette Grace on vocals.

Many of the members are currently students at UC Davis. Mendoza is a third-year English major, Johnstone and Grace are third-year biology majors and Johnson is a fourth-year PhD candidate in animal behavior.

The band was formed through Aguilar putting up posters downtown looking for various musicians to join.

“I printed out some sketchy-looking posters, and I found most of my bandmates that way,” Aguilar said. “But now we are as strong as we’ve been.”

“It was my first day of college, and I saw said sketchy-looking flyer that said ‘lead singer wanted,’” Grace said.

The band has fluctuated in members, but the trusty flyers built Cowboys After Dark into the band it is today. Being a completely self-made group, each member agreed that they had the most trouble with technical complications.

They set up and take down all their own sets and agree that carrying the large speakers they connect their

BY SAVANNAH BURGER arts@theaggie.org

Members of Cowboys After Dark pose in front of an old train in West Davis (Courtesy of JJ Noel) instruments to is the worst part of this since only a couple of people in the band can even lift them at all.

Although each member described the band dynamic differently, they all agreed on how close the group is.

“Siblings, we are all just a family,” Mendoza said. “These are [like] my brothers.”

“Alive,” Humphrey said. “It feels like a living thing. There are so many moments where we feature an individual and the way we interact with the audience is more unique than many other things I’ve seen.”

“Eclectic,” Aguilar said. “We all come from really different musical backgrounds, so it is definitely a big combination in the best way possible.”

“Chaotic,” Johnstone said. “I don’t think we’ve had a single show that hasn’t

had really chaotic moments. That’s not even a bad thing. There is some really good chaos, and sometimes not-so-good chaos. When there’s so much happening at once with the lights and everyone screaming, it’s great chaos.”

The “Cowboys” express gratitude to fans who come to most or all of their shows, especially to those who are enthusiastic about their music.

“When the energy is reciprocated by the audience, it’s what we love. I really love it,” Johnson said.

The group encourages everyone to support local bands and find their next favorite song at a Cowboys After Dark show. Those interested can keep an eye out for more information about upcoming shows this quarter on their Instagram account, @cowboysafterdark.

UC Davis students reflect on what drew them to their majors

The duration of college, however long it may be for each individual, is a tedious journey through students’ exploration of their careers. Throughout this time, students may doubt if the direction they are heading is the right one for them. Countless students find that with each class and professor, their passion for their major only grows.

Inversely, numerous students decide to change their paths; in fact, about 80% of students change their majors at least once during their time in college.

When an interest or hobby turns into a career goal, multiple factors may play into the loss of passion for that certain interest.

First-year music major Chris Meza said that he has questioned his career goal.

“I was actually so worried about that when I first decided to stick with music,” Meza wrote through an Instagram direct message. “But I think because I chose [music] as my major, I only found it more interesting and enjoyable because I was able to take

NATALIE CHENG / AGGIE

Commentary: Why a crested or gargoyle gecko makes the perfect college pet All you need to know about the coolest scaly study buddies

Does the pressure to choose a major take away from valuable learning experiences?

BY JULIANA MARQUEZ ARAUJO features@theaggie.org

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

classes that really piqued my interest instead of becoming bored with it.”

A large factor in the process of a student’s educational journey is the confidence they gain from the classes they take. The ability to be offered various options to complete a major requirement gives students the freedom to experiment with classes that appeal to them most. For others, however, past experience helps build their motivation.

Second-year education studies graduate student Sabrina Aragon said she was deeply involved in school ever since she was young when her interest in teaching began.

“I have really just admired teachers for the longest time,” Aragon said.

Aragon shared her progress in honing her passion in a professional setting. “[College] has allowed my passion to grow because I have been able to see how impactful it is to be in a position where I can help others also grow and love education, too,” Aragon said.

While Aragon was fortunate enough to view college as a place that has allowed her to explore her inspiration, she said there remains a large percentage of students who change their major, and ultimately, the direction they want their futures to head.

Grayson Tess, a first-year sustainable agriculture major, discussed the presumed hierarchy system within college majors.

“I feel like it’s a bit strange that you have to declare a major immediately,” Tess said. “I know that there’s an undeclared option but it is pretty far down there; it kind of sets a pressure to declare a major.”

Tess also highlighted the societal pressure on students to define their futures by declaring a major, but simultaneously asking them not to linger on indecisiveness.

“There is a thing within college and even without it — a pressure from people around you of, ‘You need to figure out what you’re doing with your life,’ and college is the place to figure it out, ‘But you shouldn’t be figuring it out for too long,’” Tess said.

Tess shared that their extensive planning before entering university contributed to their successful experience with their major.

“In junior year, one of the topics for debate was whether organic agriculture should be implemented more, and I had a more fun time than I usually do doing that research, so I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I should look into this,’” Tess said.

They said that for months they

Are you thinking about getting a pet while completing your degree at UC Davis but don’t know which is the perfect fit? Well, I have news for you — the perfect college pet is not a cat, dog, bird or rodent, but rather, a reptilian. Geckos, specifically the crested and gargoyle geckos, besides being super cute, make wonderful and easy-to-carefor pets that can perfectly fit into your busy class schedule.

Crested geckos and gargoyle geckos hail from the subtropical islands of New Caledonia. They range between seven to 10 inches long, can stick on many surfaces, have the cutest little faces and are known to be great with hands-on activity with their human caretakers.

The main difference between the crested and gargoyle geckos, as they are exceedingly similar, is that gargoyle geckos need more insect-based protein in their diets than crested geckos. In addition to this, if they drop their tails, unlike cresteds, gargoyles can regenerate them.

Being a crested gecko owner myself, I can vouch that if you follow their basic living requirements, crested geckos and gargoyle geckos are the best option for anybody, be you a beginner or advanced reptile owner. I got my crested gecko, Bijou, who is now almost five, as a total beginner in my sophomore year of high school. I did tons of research beforehand, got the necessary supplies and she’s been living happily and healthy ever since.

Bijou is about nine inches long with a mellow temperament — when I take her out, she’ll slowly crawl around or just sit on my shoulder. Both crested and gargoyle geckos, which are nearly identical in their living requirements, do great with handling. This isn’t the case for many other lizards and geckos, so pay attention to this if you want to get hands-on with a different type of reptile.

Keep in mind that the most important thing to know before you get your crested or gargoyle gecko is that they can live up to a very long time. Sebastian Hawn, a second-year art studio major and proud gargoyle and crested gecko owner, stressed this detail.

“The biggest requirement is time; long-term time,” Hawn said. “I’ve had Asher, my crested gecko, since 2008, so he’s turning 15 this year. They can live up to 30.”

Time commitment is the key factor when thinking of becoming a future gecko owner. I see their longevity as a positive feature. Because many people live in smaller spaces, be it dorm, apartment or room sharing, they often want to get a small pet such as a fish or small rodent. The main caveat to these tiny animals, however, is that they only live two to three years — four at the most. If you want a pet that will stay with you throughout and after college, a crested or gargoyle gecko is for you.

Even though they’re a big commitment in the long term, when it comes to the day-to-day, they require very little of your time, making it

easy to fit them into your busy class schedule. Crested and gargoyle geckos are nocturnal, so by the time you come home from classes or work, they’ll be awake and active. If you want your gecko to be accustomed to handling, start by taking them out for 10 to 15 minutes every day or every other day.

Other than that, they’re chill hanging out by themselves, being that they are solitary animals.

Another thing that geckos have over other pets: they don’t have pungent odors. If you spot-clean your lizard’s enclosure every now and then, and/or have a clean-up crew of small decomposers such as isopods or springtails, your gecko shouldn’t smell at all. This is one of the many reasons that a gecko is also a great option if you share a living space with someone else.

Geckos, unlike animals such as dogs and cats, are able to be happily contained in a smaller space full-time.

“They have a small footprint, Hawn said. “Their tank is going to need to be at least 18 inches by 18 inches by 24 inches.”

Hence, if your roommate isn’t interested in having your pet in their space, a gecko shouldn’t be a big problem. Don’t worry about noise, either. Crested and gargoyle geckos rarely make any noise at all. Not only this, but it’s nearly impossible for them to ruin any type of furniture. For these reasons, I guarantee that they are low on the invasiveness scale when it comes to your cohabitants’ personal space.

Let’s talk about overall costs — this is yet more proof that geckos are superb for people living on college student budgets. Compared with most other pets, they’re incredibly affordable.

Although they do have a somewhat pricey upfront cost, I typically don’t spend more than fifteen dollars a month on Bijou.

“You’re going to need an upfront investment of probably a fair bit of money depending on what you’re going for, but definitely less than $500 for an initial setup,” Hawn said.

Including lights, a tank, plants, supplies and the lizard herself, I may have spent around $300 in total for Bijou’s initial setup. This is very financially accessible when compared to the average upfront costs of something like a dog or cat, which are commonly at the very least $1,000 with adoption fees, registration, supplies and vaccinations.

Food for these geckos is equally as affordable and quite simple. They can range from powder that you mix with water, to baby food, to live crickets or small worms. If you don’t want to get into the creepy-crawly side of gecko food, you can always give them protein in alternative methods, such as baby food from the supermarket or proteinpowdered worms or crickets.

So, if you find yourself studying in your room, dismal and alone, wishing for a little critter to keep you company — you know exactly which animal would fit the job. Just remember, before committing to anything, do your research.

One of the most popular reptiles people keep as pets are geckos. Their special toes help them stick on any surface. (Courtesy of Stephen Ronnie Tucker / Creative Commons, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) focused extensively on a project centered around using algae as an alternative protein source, which caught their interest.

“I kind of always knew that I wanted to do environmental science, and I think I especially knew that it was probably going to have to do with something like plants,” Tess said. “I felt for a while that a lot of sciences can be very disconnected with dealing with people, and after doing that project and seeing more real-world impacts, I felt that agriculture wasn’t going to be totally isolated.”

Students with majors that can lead them to emotionally intense jobs may have doubts for contrary reasons, such as ensuring their mental stability to handle the potentially jarring scenarios that come with their desired careers.

For example, Carol Rodriguez, a fourth-year psychology major, shared that social work can be intense and even triggering for those working in the profession.

“There’s a couple of friends I know that work with kids specifically and [their] mental health, so seeing [the kids] struggle through it is like,

‘Whoa, that hurts,’” Rodriguez said. “It is something that is difficult but very rewarding because it is something that can help people [and] save people too.”

Rodriguez chose her major due to a personal connection with mental health.

“I am more interested in the mental health aspect of [psychology] and helping people with clinical stuff as well, since that’s something that I struggled with before,” Rodriguez said.

“So I wanted to learn more about it and understand more about myself.”

Personal connections and hobbies may be the initial interest within many students’ majors, but the goal of college is to explore multiple fields so that eventually students may find themselves on the path best fit for them if they are not on it already.

“College is just some extension for trying new things and figuring out what you like and what you’re good at,” Tess said. “Putting pressure on yourself to pick a major you may not be connected to isn’t always the right decision. It’s okay to take your time to choose.”

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024 |9

Sudoku

Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row, column and 3x3 square must contain each digit. Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing.

Answer to previous puzzle 01/18/24

Crossword

Davis MoMA: Son of ‘X’ Original: “The Son of Man” by René Magritte

BY NIMRA FARHAN nfarhan@ucdavis.edu

Disclaimer: (This cartoon is humor and/or satire, and its content is purely fictional. The story and names of “sources” are fictionalized.)

HUMOR

Gunrock yearns to be a tote girly at the FarMar Somebody get Gunrock a tote and some lemonade

BY ALLISON KELEHER adkeleher@ucdavis.edu Day after day… week after week… year after year, Gunrock has repped and cheered for UC Davis athletics.

Gunrock, the strong and muscular stallion, is the UC Davis symbol of power and athleticism. People always say, “How do you do it, Gunrock?”

But no one ever asks, “How are you, Gunrock?”

Well, if you had even bothered to ask, you would know that it’s difficult for Gunrock to be so strong and masculine all the time. Upholding that image for one of the top public universities is a lot of pressure.

Gunrock sees all the girlies coming into the football games with their UCD crop tops, bucket hats and — oh my gosh — the tote bags. Gunrock yearns for a tote bag.

One day, Gunrock got a post

notification for a resident hall tote bag painting activity. (Of course, Gunrock has post notifications on).

When Gunrock arrived at the event, all the first-years gathered around to take pictures. Fame isn’t easy. Once everyone got a picture, Gunrock made sure to have them tag @ucdavisaggies before trotting over to an empty seat on the table.

“Gunrock! You’re going to make a tote bag?!” one first-year questioned.

Gunrock ignored this silly question and made a mental note to check how this first-year even got admitted in the first place. After a couple of hours of hard work, his tote bag was a mess.

It took a lot of willpower to hold in the emotions. Painting is hard with hooves. Gunrock grabbed the tote and stormed off to go throw it away in the trash. The event was made sadder by the realization that the tote bag wasn’t compostable, despite Gunrock’s wishes. This is supposed to be the most NOVA MAI / AGGIE

sustainable campus, after all.

An empathetic first-year saw the frustration through all the manliness and strength and approached Gunrock holding her official Davis Farmer’s Market tote bag with the little watermelon on the front. “Here you go, Gunrock,” she said.

Tears welled in Gunrock’s eyes, but Gunrock shoved those emotions aside to envelop the kind first-year into a big hug. Her friend took a pic of the hug, so Gunrock made sure to get tagged in the photo. As Gunrock was leaving with a new tote bag in hand, the first-year asked, “Are you going to the farmers market this Saturday?”

Gunrock thought about it for a moment and ultimately decided on “Yes.” That Saturday, Gunrock attended the Davis Farmers Market for the first time, tote bag on his shoulder.

For the first time, Gunrock wasn’t afraid of all of the obligations and responsibilities. Gunrock collected a bunch of vegetables and fruit and even got a chocolate croissant to snack on during his trot home. It was a magical day being a tote girly.

However, Gunrock also decided that day that the tote bag life wasn’t as expected. The tote was so aggravating!

It kept falling off of Gunrock’s shoulder since it was so furry. The official statement made by Gunrock’s team was, “Tote girlies are better than me because I can’t deal with all of that.”

Disclaimer: (This article is humor and/or satire, and its content is purely fictional. The story and the names of “sources” are fictionalized.)

Why we should put a cow on the city council

Moo

BY AUDREY ZHANG aurzhang@ucdavis.edu

Remember Caligula? Roman Emperor Caligula? Tried to give his horse a seat in the senate Caligula? Well, if he spent more time trying to get the horse that seat instead of faffing about in Britain, then maybe the horse could’ve told him that his senate was going to kill him. This is why I’m proposing that the new head of the city council should be the beloved cow.

Everyone knows animals are pure in heart. Cows can’t profit off of unpaid labor or refuse to pay their workers a living wage. Cows can’t run illegal businesses — they can’t even read.

While it’s true that not all animals are fit for civil service (we all know what happens when there’s an elephant in the room), several cities have already elected dogs and pigs as mayors and council members. I see no reason why a cow wouldn’t be just as good. They already have experience running intensive ad campaigns at Chick-fil-A. Come on, maintaining a charming image despite advocating for the eradication of another species? Dictators could learn a lot from that kind of PR skill.

NOVA MAI / AGGIE

Conflicts and disagreements would evaporate overnight in the council room. It’s hard to be angry when you’re staring into loving, bovine eyes.

Several strong candidates have already stated they intend to run for the position.

Holy Cow: He’s been blessed by leaders from multiple religions. A worldly creature.

Ground Beef: He’s promised to come out of retirement and return to being a cow if he gets the position.

Moo-lan: She has vowed to bring honor to us all.

Phil: He’s Phil. Enough said.

Call your local representative and show up at the polls. It is your civic duty to make sure that the next council member has all of our best interests in mind.

Disclaimer: (This article is humor and/or satire, and its content is purely fictional. The story and the names of “sources” are fictionalized.)

10 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

Western Ukraine: life away from the frontline

Uzhhorod, Ukraine: Trying out a trench candle. These are odorless and smokeless candles that illuminate and heat up the close surrounding while being discrete. All made by civilians. (Sacha Chickering / Aggie)

Bucha, Ukraine: Schoolgirls walking in front of a decorated Ukrainian tank. A lot of Ukrainians have stopped noticing the scary proofs of war surrounding them. (Sacha Chickering / Aggie)

Lviv, Ukraine: Everyone kneels as a young soldier is carried out of the church in a casket. Funerals like these are daily. (Sacha Chickering / Aggie) Kyiv, Ukraine: Pile of the destroyed cars of the civilians trying to flee the war. Yellow flowers were painted on the cars by an American artist. (Sacha Chickering / Aggie) Irpine building destroyed by the Russian army during the invasion in March 2022, it’s the closest they got to Kyiv, the capitol of Ukraine. They committed several crimes of war and crimes against humanity. (Sacha Chickering / Aggie)

Lviv, Ukraine: Everyone in the street stand (or kneel) in homage to the soldier while the hearts hearse heads to the military cemetery. (Sacha Chickering / Aggie)

CHOCOLATEFESTIVAL FROM FRONT PAGE The festival is finally back after its hiatus due to the pandemic, and Steele hopes the event will go on for years. Steele shared the history of the event and how it was impacted by the shutdown.

“We had it for four years from 2016 to 2019, then the pandemic hit, and we didn’t have it, and we’ve resurrected it,” Steele said. “So this is the first year [back] and I can see us doing it [from now on] because the chocolate fest, it’s just a really fun thing for the lodge. The money raised goes to summer camp funds for local kids who apply for it.”

Steele said they charge 10 dollars to the public for tickets and they are limited to 400 attendees. Vendors keep all of their profits from the event. The ticket proceeds will be used to help kids in Yolo County, according to Steele.

“I like being part of the committee that puts it on,” Steele said. “We need [a committee] all the time and there’s a lot of different people that are doing a lot of different things within the chocolate fest. We get vendors who come and we give them a free booth. We do not charge for the booth. And all they have to do is have samples just to hand out.’

Upper Crust Baking is a familyowned bakery on G Street managed

by Loren Kalisky, son of the bakery’s founders. The bakery is one of the many vendors being featured at the festival, but Kalisky shared what he’s looking forward to most.

“The chocolate festival is one of my favorite events of the year,” Kalisky said. “I would say I’m personally a ‘chocoholic’ so I have a particular affection for the chocolate festival. It’s always nice to go in and see the other vendors and what kind of tasty treats everybody’s got. Of course, it’s [also] a great way to get our name and our products out there and have some nice interaction with the community. So we always look forward to serving the community and the opportunities to get out into the city.”

IMPEACHMENTHEARING2 FROM PAGE 3 “This entire time, these behaviors and actions [by Ojeda] were happening within the ASUCD Senate. It took us a long time to vote for this decision.”

Following Ojeda’s questioning, Senator Antonio began the respondent’s cross-examination. She started by examining Ojeda’s handling of SR #1, a constitutional duty of the president to establish goals for the association and one which the petitioners alleged he had failed to do successfully. They asked him

if he was able to introduce SR #1 on time, and he responded that he did not.

“Despite not being the main author, nor being the individual who introduced SR #1, President Ojeda remained as a co-author on the resolution,” Antonio said.

SR #1 ultimately was not passed.

Ojeda and the executive branch failed to properly introduce and pass SR #4 as well, according to the petitioners. Ojeda acknowledged that he had delegated part of this duty to IVP Raghunathan. “[Ojeda] not only passed on this responsibility to IVP Raghunathan but also did not contribute anything but a single space on this piece of legislation,” Antonio said.

Antonio then questioned whether Ojeda properly released his verbal State of the Association, which Ojeda titled as a “quarterly report,” to the public.

Specifically, she asked if the written version was shared with the public and The California Aggie for dissemination among the student population.

Ojeda responded that he sent the speech through an internal ASUCD email list.

“To my understanding, senators understood there were currently two confidential projects [in the State of the Association],” Ojeda said. “[The State of the Association] was for ASUCD: the unit directors, business managers and government people.”

Upon further questioning, however, he acknowledged that he gave his speech at a public Senate meeting.

As part of the last line of questioning, they asked Ojeda about the lack of executive task forces established during his tenure. Antonio also questioned Ojeda on his support network, noting that he is still without a chief or head of staff. His chief ’s onboarding has been held up with “ASUCD HQ” since week seven of fall quarter, according to Ojeda.

After further questions about the hiring process of ASUCD administration, the petitioners ended their questioning. They were the first to give closing statements.

“I would like to reiterate [that] this impeachment was unanimous,” Truong said. “[That is] 20 different [ASUCD officials] with diverse political beliefs, advocacy goals and personal aspirations.

All 20 of President Ojeda’s closest peers and closest co-workers obtained his demonstrated actions and character as not capable of being ASUCD President.”

“As it stands, with evidence and accounts presented, the ASUCD is being led with no direction and is communicating without a voice,” Monica said. “President Ojeda has time and time again failed to adhere to his responsibilities as CEO of ASUCD and has failed to represent and serve the over 30,000 students as their primary advocate.”

“We cannot trust him,” Monica

A military hospital in Ukraine Wounded solider tries acupuncture to help him sleep and relax. An American doctor came to Ukraine to show new acupuncture techniques (Sacha Chickering / Aggie)

added. “This is not just a disservice to the student government officials of the association, but truly a disservice to all UC Davis students. We have already risked 10 weeks of the year with President Ojeda. We should not even risk another day with someone who’s clearly incapable of effectively communicating and fulfilling the duties of the ASUCD President.”

In his closing statement, Ojeda raised a question about the implications of the impeachment.

“Do we want a precedent in which Articles of Impeachment are reserved only for the most serious of misconducts and infractions against the student body?” Ojeda said, “Or do we want to set a precedent in which anyone is subject to dismissal if others believe they can do better?”

He also introduced new evidence, citing ASUCD bylaws regarding the uses of closed sessions. He said that by not notifying him of the possibility of impeachment before the meeting, the Senate had violated guidelines.

“I love my work in the association,” Ojeda said. “I love the work we do for the student [...] I’ll continue to work hard to create change and improve the amazing community that is UC Davis.

I’ll provide the same wonders and help and assistance that this association and campus have provided me when I needed it. I completely believe that during my time as president, I have been productive and fulfilled the requirements [and] at least, the responsibilities of my position.”

Public comment afterward was largely in favor of the president. Several individuals, including members of the Davis College Democrats, claimed that they were close friends with Ojeda, expressing their belief that the impeachment was undemocratic and would set a dangerous precedent.

However, one student criticized Ojeda for introducing new evidence in his closing statement, which is largely considered against standard practice as it gives the opposing party no opportunity within the hearing to respond.

OWLACT FROM PAGE 3 According to Ilupeju, not having these sponsorships can severely hinder unregistered student groups from having access to necessary resources such as a space for the club to meet.

“If you are an unregistered student group, it’s nearly impossible to get a room reserved because you aren’t even in the system and you have to jump through hurdles to do that,” Ilupeju said.

The difficulty of the club registration process and funding issues, according to Ahmed, is an obstacle

Kyiv, Ukraine: Every flag represents a fallen soldier, the flags were put there by close ones. We can see a lot of Ukrainian flags but also other countries. (Sacha Chickering / Aggie) that even registered clubs face.

“I’m grateful that the previous boards managed to make [BSA] a registered student organization, so we have a lot more support than other groups,” Ahmed said. “[But] because we are small, we can’t do a lot of fundraising and we have to go through a lot more negotiation with the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) and the retention centers to get funding. I get the struggles [of the process], but not to the extent of non-registered clubs.”

As of now, the bill has a sunset clause in which unregistered student groups will receive support for one whole registration cycle, which lasts about a year.

“Right now the plan is to help student groups from the time that they want to form until the next possible time they can become registered,” Ilupeju said. “After that, if they feel like they still don’t have adequate support or they aren’t able to go through that process successfully, then a possible renewal can be reviewed.”

A rolling application is set to be released early this winter quarter and will be open to all unregistered student organizations.

“Multiple individuals who want to start a group and who need help getting registered, need funding [or] need space, are the only qualifications,” Ilupeju said.

As for the future of the bill, Ilupeju said that they are emphasizing flexibility since amendments might need to be made for unique cases.

Ahmed spoke on the significance of having a registered community and said that unregistered student groups should have the same opportunities.

“I’m an international student, so when I came here for the first time from Bangladesh, I didn’t have

a community [and] I didn’t know anyone here,” Ahmed said. “One of the things that I was looking for on the websites is a Bengali community and BSA showed up on CSI’s website.

I reached out to them, I went to their events and I found my community there. I think it’s very important for every student to feel at home wherever they are even if they are from here.

People feel safe when they are around [similar] people.”

SUSTAINABLECOFFEE FROM PAGE 5 A business like Pachamama brings shade-grown organic coffee straight from the farmer to the customer, meaning that the coffee is actually priced for what it is worth and puts money directly into the pockets of the farmers.

While it is true that the beverages at Pachamama are priced slightly above other coffee shops in Davis, they are, in my opinion, truly worth the spend. The virtuosity of the company’s mission, the obvious care with which they handle their product and the quick and quality service all work to create a model for what I believe all coffee companies should strive to be: a business that prioritizes ethical sourcing and worker compensation at every step along the way.

I am incredibly grateful to have stumbled upon Pachamama (better late than never, I always say). That day I received not only a stellar cup of coffee, but also a story — a tale of how coffee is not just a product to be sold on the shelf but the livelihood of thousands of people. While the Davis Pachamama may be located on the very outskirts of downtown, it is absolutely a destination

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024 |11

SCIENCE AND TECH Augmented reality glasses may be the future of surgery

This technology allows surgeons to visualize their patients’ anatomy without making a single incision

With respiratory illnesses on the rise, how can people protect themselves and others?

Students and the executive director at UC Davis’ Student Health and Counseling Services share their advice for the cold season

ALLISON VO / AGGIE

BY SABRINA FIGUEROA features@theaggie.org

Orthopedic surgeon Safdar N. Khan uses augmented reality glasses to perform spine surgery.

(Courtesy / UC Davis Health )

BY KATIE HELLMAN science@theaggie.org Part of a surgeon’s responsibility is to cut into their patient in order to visualize and fix their medical issues.

But what if surgery didn’t need to be so invasive? UC Davis Health’s spine surgeon Safdar N. Khan is one of the first surgeons in the United States to use augmented reality glasses during surgery, which allow him to view a patient’s spine in 2D and 3D without opening them up.

Augmented reality is a technology that incorporates digital information into a user’s real environment — this is different from virtual reality, where the user becomes immersed in an artificial world.

Augmented reality glasses allow Khan to make smaller incisions and more accurately perform procedures, reducing the potential for complications.

Surgeries can also be done at a faster pace, leading to a shorter recovery time.

“Real-time augmentation of surgery usually involves the blending of acquired 3D imaging with surgical reference points,” a study by PubMed reads. “AR [augmented reality] is the addition of artificial information to one or more of the senses that allows the user to perform tasks more efficiently. This can be achieved using superimposed images, video or computer-generated models.”

Khan, a professor of orthopedic surgery and vice chair of surgical innovation in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, believes that augmented reality will be utilized more frequently in medicine — especially by future surgeons who grew up in the era of technology and virtual reality.

“I think AR is the next step within the zeitgeist of surgical innovation, where we have to think outside the box to find solutions that match the challenges we’re seeing,” Khan said in an interview with UC Davis Health.

Khan has a plan to build an augmented reality studio through Aggie Square, a Sacramento-based innovation

hub, to further the evolution of the technology.

“This is a first of its kind at UC Davis Health and demonstrates our firm commitment to fostering translatable technological innovation — and helping our faculty catalyze their entrepreneurial ideas,” R. Lor Randall, chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, said in an interview with UC Davis Health.

UC Davis Health has already been making progress on the use of augmented reality in healthcare. The 3D Printing and Visualization (3D PrintViz) lab allows surgeons to view their cases in a hands-on, innovative way. It utilizes augmented reality to create holograms, and the virtual models can be analyzed and manipulated so surgeons can better understand how to best treat their patients.

As augmented reality applications continue to advance, they will pave the way toward improved patient care, safer procedures and a new future of medicine.

Student-run clinic at UC Davis is medically and culturally aware of its patients’ needs Paul Hom Asian Clinic provides free health care to Asian population in Sacramento

BY LYNN CHEN features@theaggie.org Student-led organizations from UC Davis can make great impacts on local communities. The Paul Hom Asian Clinic, a free student-run clinic located in Sacramento, is dedicated to providing free primary care services to the underserved and uninsured Asian population in Sacramento.

Eight different health-related committees comprise the undergraduate branch of the clinic, each focused on looking after a specific aspect of patient health. For example, there are committees revolving around neurology, women’s health and Covered California services.

In order to accomplish its mission in a linguistically and culturally sensitive manner, the organization also offers translation services concurrent to its clinical setting. You can find student volunteers who speak languages such as Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and even Spanish.

The clinic itself is staffed by undergraduates, medical students and doctors from UC Davis and its medical school, all of whom are passionate about advocating for adequate health care for Asian immigrants.

“It was never pushed upon us that we needed to work harder,” Aastha Lele,

recent UC Davis graduate and previous English patient advocate for the Paul Hom Asian Clinic, said. “Everyone [knew] that they wanted to do well, and it was a culture I really enjoyed being a part of.”

David Wei, a first-year economics major, agreed with this sentiment as well. Wei has already visited the clinic once and is a current applicant for the Mandarin patient advocate position.

“It’s super cool to see how detailoriented everyone was about the most effective way to treat patients,” Wei said.

Students at the clinic were mainly motivated by the pressing medical needs they understood their patients had. “[Our patients] wouldn’t be able to access health care anywhere else outside of our clinic,” Bradnon Gatanaga, an undergraduate co-director for the clinic, said. He is also currently a fourth-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major looking to enter the medical field.

“They have a language barrier and can’t go to any doctor or a regular healthcare service,” Gatanaga said. “But being able to provide such a unique, important and necessary service [...] to people who [otherwise] wouldn’t be able to get — that is such a gratifying experience.”

The level of cultural competence the clinic maintains for its patients is part of what makes it such an impactful

organization, to both the patients and those who work at the facility.

“What makes the [volunteer experience] so redeeming is that a lot of patients really valued what we did as undergrads,” Lele said. “When I spoke Hindi to a few of the patients I translated for, it made them feel like they were at home and being taken care of. They would invite me over for dinner and say stuff like, ‘I’ll cook like your grandma does!’”

Though Lele had to decline their offers, she was touched by how much the patients appreciated what the volunteers did. In fact, this experience from being part of the Paul Hom Asian Clinic is one of the reasons Lele is a pre-med student now.

The organization also provides effective medical treatment in concurrence with its translation services.

“One of our patients came in and brought us a whole box of doughnuts, just because they were so grateful for us being able to help them with a [health issue] that they’ve been having,” Gatanaga said.“They actually did have a primary care provider of their own who wasn’t [that effective]. But then they came to our clinic and said that our care was really phenomenal, and that [we] were really able to help them.”

PAULHOMCLINIC on 10

Paul Hom Asian Clinic undergraduate student volunteers gather for a group photo (Courtesy / Nancy Zhang)

Walking around the UC Davis campus, seeing masks and hearing people coughing and sneezing isn’t new during the winter quarter. But people are curious to know what is behind the amount of people getting sick at the same time.

“I think we’re just in that time of year where respiratory illnesses circulate,” Margaret Trout, executive director of the UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services, said.

“This is based on the fact that the winter season is responsible for the circulation of over 200 respiratory illnesses that all have cold-like symptoms, including the flu, RSV, rhinoviruses and now COVID-19.

Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, founding director of Boston University’s Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Policy and Research, offers another logical explanation for the rise of respiratory illnesses this season. She stated that the severity of the viruses has not changed, but that the precautions taken during the pandemic slowed the spread of COVID as well as all other respiratory illnesses.

Adding onto this explanation, immunity to common cold-causing viruses doesn’t last long if exposure is halted. “If your immunity dates back to strains that were in circulation three or four years ago, you’re needing to pay [that] back,” Dr. Luis Ostrosky, chief of infectious diseases and epidemiology at UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann, said. Once the body relearns how to build the antibodies, it will recover much faster with milder symptoms if exposed to the virus again.

Although there seems to be a large number of people in the Davis community getting sick, according to wastewater data in Yolo County, it’s up to state and local governments, as well as the individual, to protect themselves and others.

“We really want you to support your immune system in all sorts of ways which includes getting enough sleep, eating a nutritious diet and doing positive things for yourself,” Trout said.

“I know it’s hard to sneak in enough sleep as a student, but be aware that when you’re running your body down because of studying and activities, you’re also taxing your immune system.”

Students at UC Davis also have their own takes on how sickness takes a toll on their education, especially during winter quarter, commonly thought of among students as one of the most stressful quarters in the academic year.

“I don’t really have the time to be sick, it’s just really inconvenient [...] you feel so unmotivated because you’re tired,” Alondra Pimentel-Solorio, a second-year human development major, said. “That makes it hard to stay caught up with your homework [and] making sure to do it on time. I just really don’t want [to get sick]; I’m trying to be as cautious as possible.”

Being cautious and aware of these infectious diseases spreading across cities and college campuses are big steps in the right direction. Yolo County officials even began to recommend masking inside crowded indoor areas again.

“I think masks are so important, especially that we utilize them now, it’s wonderful,” Trout said. “Other countries certainly utilized masks before COVID as a polite way not to share your germs with others, and I guess around here we just didn’t adopt them until the pandemic. Wearing a mask protects both you [and] if I happen to be sick, it can also really protect me. It’s also a nice barrier to keep people from touching their faces.”

According to Victoria Bechtel, a second-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, the best ways to take precautions include washing your hands, covering coughs and sneezes, wearing a mask when you or someone that you are close with doesn’t feel well, testing for COVID when necessary and getting enough sleep each night.

Along with wearing masks and

making sure their hands are clean, there are other remedies people practice to make themselves feel better when they’re sick. Some are based on science, and some are based on cultural myths or even random “hacks” people try from TikTok and other social media platforms.

Trout explained that a lot of the advice on preventing yourself from getting sick and getting others sick would be similar to what she’s always advised for the flu: putting as much energy as possible into the immune system. “[Once you’re sick], try to relax somehow, get some rest. Y’know, put something on Netflix that makes you feel better. There’s also over-the-counter things for fever and aches, things like that,” Trout said. “When I get sick, I try to switch over from coffee to tea, drink more fluids and hot liquids because the heat does actually open [sinuses] up. Sometimes it helps to even let the steam from your showers help open [your sinuses].”

Tea helps with soothing sore throats, as well as hydration, which is the “main key” to helping your body fight illnesses, especially the flu. Fevers — a common symptom of cold-like viruses — cause your body to sweat in an attempt to lower its temperature, but sweating causes you to lose important electrolytes and water. In addition to tea, it’s also recommended to drink Gatorade, Pedialyte and broth to regain all the hydration your body lost.

When it comes to foods, any foods with high Vitamin C are strongly recommended because they boost the immune system and its ability to fight off viruses. These include but are not limited to: oranges, broccoli, strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes and kiwi.

As for medications, PimentelSolorio suggested DayQuil and NyQuil for coughs and other cold symptoms and ibuprofen or Advil for headaches.

“I’m really reliant on medicine because I really want to get [the sickness] out of the way [quickly]” Pimentel-Solorio said. “When I was younger, I would not take medicine.

After comparing my younger self to me now, I know that medicine is really important.”

Fo l l ow i n g the C D C ’s announcement that COVID-19 viral activity is very high in wastewater all around the US, the public is still not quite back at a “steady state” when it comes to cold and flu season.

“I don’t actually think we know what, sort of, the ‘normal’ is postpandemic yet,” Richard Webby, an influenza researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, said.

Bechtel explained that the “norm” for preventing sickness now and treating it is not the same as it was pre-pandemic. “[Now that COVID is in the mix], some things I do now, I definitely didn’t do before,” Bechtel said. “Just things like wearing a mask whenever I felt mildly sick, and taking COVID tests when family or friends didn’t feel well, weren’t things I did regularly until now.”

Pimentel-Solorio also chimed in on this topic, explaining the changes that the pandemic made to precautionary measures.

“I’m more of a germaphobe now,” Pimentel-Solorio said. “I put on way more hand sanitizer and I make sure to clean shared surfaces, and I just have gotten more aware of what I touch. I’m just much more aware of my surroundings.”

A great resource for students to learn more or get advice about how to treat their illnesses is the UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services. Regardless of UC SHIP or other insurance status, they are there for students who need help with physical and emotional well-being.

Even if you’re not sick right now, viruses and bacterial infections are everywhere and they’re spreading.

To protect yourself and community members, it’s better to be cautious, take preventative measures and know your options for when a time of crisis comes.

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

12 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

SPORTS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

UC Davis women’s basketball defeats CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners 62-46

The Aggies hold on to four wins and two losses at the start of this conference season

BY LUCIENNE BROOKER sports@theaggie.org After a rocky start to the conference season, the UC Davis women’s basketball team was able to turn their performance around and win four consecutive games. With losses against UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly in the opening matches of the season, the future was looking bleak for the Aggies.

However, the team stayed optimistic and was able to make a comeback streak, most recently defeating CSU Bakersfield in the latest match.

On Jan. 4, UC Davis earned their first conference win of the season — defeating UC Riverside in a tight match.

The Aggies held the advantage for most of the game, but that wasn’t enough to stop the Highlanders from remaining a formidable opponent until the final whistle was blown.

The Aggies put on one of the best performances we’ve seen all season, leaving the Highlanders to play catchup. Tova Sabel, a fourth-year psychology major, led the team in points scored — a total of 16 points — with Megan Norris, a second-year political science major, and Evanne Turner, a fourth-year psychology major, right behind her with 13 points each. Additionally, Sydney Burns, a third-year human development major, had a team-high of five assists.

However, despite a strong game from the Aggie offense, things got tense in the final quarter with the Highlanders refusing to give up the game.

Heading into the final 10 minutes of play, the Aggies held a comfortable 20-point lead and were trying to run out the clock when the Highlanders attempted a comeback. The Highlanders went on an 18-2 scoring run to cut the lead to just three points with less than a minute left on the clock. The Aggies, feeling the pressure, were not ready to let their first conference win slip away.

With an outstanding defensive play,

UC Davis women’s basketball continues winning streak, outshining Cal State Fullerton 60-55. (Jersain Medina / Aggie) the Aggies were able to prevent the Highlanders from capitalizing on their last chance to score.

In one final play, Norris converted to free throws to clinch the 63-59 victory for UC Davis. Despite some nervous moments for both Aggie players and fans, there were plenty of positives in their performance. Notably, the defense held the Highlander offense to a record low of 34.8 percent shooting from the field, a statistic that definitely helped ensure their ultimate victory.

Next up, the Aggies faced a quick turnaround as they headed back to the University Credit Union Center in Davis to face off against UC Irvine on Jan. 6. The team treated a passionate crowd of 1,012 Aggie fans to a thrilling match as they defeated the Anteaters 6057. Sabel and Turner again contributed

great success to the team — 16 and 13 points respectively. They were joined by Mazatlan Harris, a third-year animal science major, who scored 8 points.

This time, Davis was the team forced to play catch-up for most of the match as UC Irvine’s offense gave a stellar performance. However, it was ultimately the Aggies who were able to take the lead in the final moments of the game. With a game-changing steal

by Bria Shine, a third-year neurology, physiology and behavior major, in the last seconds of the game, UC Davis earned their second conference victory and improved to a 2-2 season record.

After her massive performances against both Riverside and Irvine, where she scored 16 points in each game, Sabel was named the Big West Player of the Week. The guard has provided a huge

boost to the Aggie offense this season, averaging over 14 points per game.

After two tight victories, UC Davis players and fans were relieved when the team comfortably defeated CSU Northridge 55-45 on Jan. 11.

The offensive trio — Turner, Sabel and Norris — combined for 41 of 55 points, and Burns again led in assists. The Aggies took the lead in the first quarter on an 11-0 run and never looked back, maintaining their lead for the rest of the game thanks to stellar defense.

With another comfortable win against CSU Bakersfield, the Aggies improved to 4-2 in the conference and jumped to the fourth spot in the league.

Their 62-46 defeat of the Roadrunners relied heavily on an electric performance

by Turner, who scored 22 points and nearly tied her season high. Additionally,

Sabel and Norris continued their highscoring streaks to contribute to the team’s offensive power.

The Bakersfield Roadrunners were not at their best, playing a poor game after being forced into unnecessary mistakes at the hands of the Aggie defense —- ultimately costing them the win. Again, Davis’ strength never faltered after taking the lead in the first quarter, leaving Aggie fans excited to see Lena Svanholm, a chemistry graduate student, return from injury and score some points.

UC Davis women’s basketball will face UC Irvine this week for another time this season as they look to move up in the conference standings. This match will undoubtedly be an exciting one as the Aggies look to continue their winning streak and make fans proud.

FOOTBALL

Michigan Wolverines secure 2024 College Football Championship win Washington Huskies lose to Michigan Wolverines with a final score of 34-13

BY MI’ZAUNI REESE sports@theaggie.org As one of the nation’s most anticipated events of the season, the College Football Playoff National Championship took place on Jan. 8.

With fans from all over coming to watch the event play out, it was one of the largest football games of the season.

If having a packed stadium wasn’t enough, neither the Michigan Wolverines nor the Washington Huskies had won a championship title since the 1990s prior to this game — talk about a comeback. After waiting almost 30 years for both teams to make their longawaited moves for the championship title, fans have felt nothing short of exhilaration for this match.

With near-perfect records the last two seasons and long-standing winning streaks from both Michigan and Washington, it was no surprise that these two forces were up against one another. Given the high stakes for both Michigan and Washington, this game was bound to be an all-out battle from the start.

At the start of the game, both teams came out strong, with Michael Penix as quarterback for Washington and J.J McCarthy as quarterback for Michigan. Both McCarthy and Penix have played strong seasons with both players acquiring a substantial amount of rushing and passing yards. Though Penix had numerous successful plays in the beginning, the Huskies were soon shaken by Michigan’s strong defensive line which left Penix having to make many running plays.

The Michigan defensive line continued to prove its resilience, COLLEGECOUNSELORCORRUPTION

FROM PAGE 4 It was presented simply: fork up a couple thousand dollars, and the consultant will help develop your child into the best possible applicant they can be.

This specific college consultant helped my friend throughout high school, offering test prep support for the SAT and suggesting specific activities and volunteer experiences that were sure to wow college admissions representatives. When it came time to start the college application process, my friend’s resume was filled to the brim with activities suggested by the admissions consultant, and she had a relatively

KELLY GUAN / AGGIE only allowing Washington to score one mere touchdown throughout the entirety of the game. The remainder of Washington’s points were thanks to kicker Grady Gross who scored two field goals — almost half of Washington’s total points scored. This poor touchdown performance left Washington fans feeling defeated as a good defense is just as important as a good offense when it comes to securing victory. Unfortunately for the Huskies, their defense was no match for the Wolverine’s offense, letting a significant amount of touchdowns through.

Led by tight end Devin Polk, the Washington offensive line tried their best to create space for gameplay as they bulldozed through as many players as they could. However, the Michigan coaches were prepared for this tactic and devised counterplays that the Huskies were powerless against — this led to 34 points scored by the Wolverines.

One of the most significant moments in the game for the Huskies came when wide receiver Jalen McMillan caught a three-yard pass from Penix in the endzone, granting the only touchdown for the Huskies. McMillan

used his agility to run his routes into the end zone just in time to receive the on-target pass from Penix.

Following halftime, Penix was feeling the intensity of the game as he struggled to connect with his wide receivers and running backs. In the fourth quarter, Penix threw two interceptions with one of them resulting in an 80-yard gain by the Wolverines’ Mike Sainristil. Sainristil’s run left Michigan at the 10-yard line with little time left in the fourth quarter and the Huskies playing catch-up. Blake Corum saw his opportunity and snuck into the

high SAT score.

In contrast, I had gone through high school personally seeking out activities that I enjoyed. I volunteered at my local animal shelter, joined clubs to spend more time with friends, played the sports I loved and worked with community groups that I felt strongly connected to. As a result, I had a resume that had a little bit of everything on it. It wasn’t finetuned to show my dedication and connection to my intended major, which is what some say colleges look for. Despite this, it was representative of me as a person, which is something I am proud of, even if I didn’t realize it at the time.

When it came time to write my college admission essays, I felt wildly unprepared. I read countless articles about which topics make a good

college essay and which ruin it. After all of this preparation, I decided to sit down and start writing. And honestly, most of my essays were not great — I didn’t fully understand how to present my ideas in a way that would be interesting to college admissions officers, likely because I was never really taught how to do so.

My friend who used the admissions consultant, on the other hand, had someone by her side as she wrote her essays. They would review them after each draft and provide detailed suggestions on how to improve. If I had used this service, would my essays have been better? There is no way to know for sure, but targeted guidance and suggestions would have likely made a difference in the process. After all, my friends who used these services yielded positive results and gained

acceptance to practically all of their desired universities.

Throughout the entire college admissions process, I was aware that multiple of my friends were using college consultant services. However, I was adamant that I wanted to complete all of my applications on my own.

Maybe I thought these services were unfair, or maybe my stubborn teenage self just wanted to prove that I could do something on my own. Either way, looking back on it, I am happy to say that I have gotten to where I am today without the help of a paid consultant.

Now that I have matured and am on the cusp of graduation, I can confidently say that college admissions consultants are just another means to providing wealthy students with an advantage in the college admissions process.

endzone for his second touchdown for the Wolverines in the fourth quarter.

With no time left in the game, Michigan was named victorious for the first time in almost three decades.

J.J. McCarthy worked harmoniously with his offensive line as he threw over 140 yards throughout the game.

McCarthy, having played with Michigan for three seasons, has really made a name for himself this season — currently the top quarterback prospect for the upcoming NFL draft. The Michigan defense also gave an outstanding performance as they played their parts perfectly and prevented Washington from making nearly any comebacks in the game.

Overall, both teams had an equal amount of possession time, with Washington holding about 90 seconds more than Michigan, yet the difference in play is staggering. Washington was able to rush a feeble 46 yards while Michigan gathered a whopping 303 yards. This statistic not only further signifies the strategic superiority in Michigan’s offensive game play, but also the significance and sheer success of their defensive line.

With equal first-down amounts and Michigan only averaging about 7.8 yards per play compared to Washington’s 4.2 yards, both teams had equal scoring opportunities. In the end, it simply came down to the execution of routes, plays and positions, which Michigan proved to be more adept with. After a grueling and competitive match in the 2024 College Football Championships, the Michigan Wolverines proved to be a formidable opponent and powerful team.

So, if in the future you are ever thinking about spending thousands of dollars on a college consulting service for yourself or someone you love, I encourage you to think deeply about the way these services are contributing to the inequity of higher education.

Think about how being molded into the “perfect applicant” may limit self-exploration and personal development. Even though the college consulting industry will try to convince you about the necessity of their services, I challenge you to push back and try to figure it out yourself.

After all, rejection isn’t really failure, it’s just redirection.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by individual columnists belong to the columnists alone and do not necessarily indicate the views and opinions held by The California Aggie.