Issue 19. March 6

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VOLUME 148, ISSUE 19 | THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025

International House hosts annual Ignite Talks with speakers from around the world Humphrey Fellows gave talks on the USAID freeze, air pollution and fighting natural disasters

BY RORY CONLON city@theaggie.org The International House hosted 12 UC Davis Humphrey Fellows from around the world for its Ignite Talks event on Feb. 21.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program offers international public service professionals the opportunity to study in the United States and engage in practical professional development. Oliver Hack, the leadership manager of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for UC Davis Global Affairs, said the goal of the Ignite Talks is to give each fellow a platform.

“One of the most important leadership skills is public communication, so we challenge our fellows to do a five-minute TED Talk-style talk,” Hack said. “We call it an ‘Ignite Talk’ [because] the job of our speakers today is to try [to] ignite a thought in your mind. It’s also meant as an opportunity for them to share something about themselves with you and some little piece of the world, the universe and the human experience that is uniquely theirs.”

Kunan Vesselly, a fellow from Liberia, discussed the consequences of the 90-day freeze on all United States foreign assistance.

“Five of my friends, working for different [U.S. Agency for International Development] (USAID) projects, lost their jobs immediately,” Vesselly said. “These are just my friends — think about the thousands

A UC Davis fellow gives a talk at International House. (Christian Cendejas / Aggie) who lost their jobs abruptly, without adequate safety nets in place. Beyond employment, basic services in health and education, like the treatment of [human immunodeficiency virus] (HIV) and [acquired immune deficiency syndrome] (AIDS) and school feeding activities, have been shut down.”

Vesselly advocated for three strategies to reduce Liberia’s reliance on foreign aid: investment in agricultural mechanization, industrialization and STEM education. However, he said the abrupt cutoff of aid has halted progress toward these long-term goals.

“People are losing their livelihoods, families are falling apart, communities are crumbling, the future of kids [is] uncertain and nations are collapsing,”

Vesselly said. “I implore you today, as members of the Davis community, [...] to engage with your members of Congress to reassess the current foreign aid freeze because of its devastating consequences. Africa will move from handouts to handshakes, but this should be done gingerly, with the delicate nature of things taken into consideration.”

Begaim Alipova, a fellow from Kyrgyzstan, was head of the air quality monitoring department in the Ministry of Emergency Situations. She said the main lesson she learned through her work is that elections matter.

“The air we breathe depends on politics,” Alipova said. “In 2021, my team and I installed 50 local sensors in

Bishkek. For the first time, air quality data officially became available online, updated every hour. In the same year, a new government came to power. But instead of using that information from sensors to fight smoke, they tried to hide the data. Only eight [sensors] remain today.”

Alipova cited a 2021 World Health Organization report which found that 99% of the world’s population is breathing air that exceeds safe pollution levels. She said advocating for cleaner air is a joint responsibility.

“At the end of the day, Kyrgyzstan and the [U.S.] are not so different,” Alipova said. “[You] can be active in elections to ensure that the new government will prioritize green

solutions, speak up when serious issues arise and keep pushing forward, no matter how small the steps are, because every action counts.”

Muki Nampokolwe, a fellow from Zambia, works as a veterinarian in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. She discussed her experiences with sexism as a woman in a maledominated field.

“I’ve heard it all: ‘It’s too tough for a woman,’ ‘You will struggle [working] with large animals,’ ‘Men will always have the upper hand,’” Nampokolwe said. “Farmers have doubted me, clients have second-guessed my advice and colleagues have sometimes underestimated me.

But over time, I have learned that the best response isn’t words — it’s results.”

Nampokolwe, who works with cattle, goats and bulls, calls her work rough, physical and unpredictable. She said the greatest reward in it is knowing that she can inspire the next generation.

“My work feels truly fulfilling when my daughter looks up to me and says, ‘Mommy, I want to be a doctor like you,’” Nampokolwe said.

“More young girls are seeing that they, too, can do it: They can work with livestock, they can conduct surgeries and they can be leaders in animal health.

It’s not just about breaking barriers. It’s about making sure that no one has to fight this battle alone.”

IGNITETALK on 9

Soroptimist International of Davis holds fundraisers in honor of Women’s History Month

March is nationally recognized as a celebration of the history and achievements of women and their contributions to society

BY OLIVIA HOKR city@theaggie.org Women’s History Month is annually observed during the month of March within the United States to highlight the voices of women that sacrificed and fought to bring us to where we are today.

In Davis, there are organizations, such as Soroptimist International, that dedicate their time to promoting gender equality and education. Lori Hansen, the president of Soroptimist International of Davis, shared more about the founding of the organization and its mission.

“Soroptimist International is a global volunteer organization with a network of nearly 65,000 members in 118 countries,” Hansen said. “It was founded in Oakland, California in 1921 at a time when women were not permitted to join service organizations.

Our chapter, Soroptimist International of Davis, was formed in May of 1954. [...] Our mission is to provide women and girls with access to the

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education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.

Our core values are gender equality, empowerment, education and diversity and fellowship.”

Two signature programs of the organization are called Live Your Dream and Dream It, Be It. Live Your Dream is a grant that clubs award to women who are financial heads of their household and are pursuing an undergraduate education or technical training.

“Many of these women have overcome hardships such as homelessness, foster care and domestic violence,” Hansen said. “We gave five Live Your Dream Awards this year.”

The Dream It, Be It program focuses on career development and mentorship for girls. Soroptimist International of Davis works monthly with a local continuation high school, Martin Luther King Jr. High School, to present about career paths and goal setting.

The organization hosts fundraisers throughout the year to support their mission, including one coming up on March 9, Cuts for a Cause, at Creative Hair & Spa and Underdog Barbershop with all proceeds going to Soroptimist International. On top of fundraising, they participate in a variety of projects to serve the community.

“We also collect food for the [Short Term Emergency Aid Committee] (STEAC) neighborhood Food Project, make and fill toiletry bags for women at the domestic violence shelter and fill rescue backpacks for women escaping sex trafficking,” Hansen said.

The Davis Food Co-op has a monthly beneficiary for their Round Up At The Register program and

asucd housing fair DARIXA VARELA MEDRANO / AGGIE

updates their website after each month with the fundraising results.

For the month of March, Soroptimist International of Davis will be the beneficiary.

“Founded in 1954, the Davis chapter actively supports the community through programs like the Live Your Dream Awards, which offer financial assistance to women who are primary financial supporters of their families, and the Dream It, Be It career mentoring program for high school girls,” the Davis Food Coop website reads. “Additionally, they collaborate with local organizations to combat human trafficking and provide resources for survivors. Their mission is to ensure women and girls have the opportunities to reach their full potential and live their dreams.”

During Women’s History Month, it is important to educate ourselves on the significance of the women who came before us.

WOMENSHISTORYon 9

your home is waiting. wed, march 12th 10am - 2pm uc davis quad

2 | THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

Yolo County Board of Supervisors discuss shortcomings in budget goals

Tree Davis hosts community planting event for River City The meeting discussed the county’s mid-year budget High School report, guaranteed income programs and renovations to the superior court NOVA MAI / AGGIE

BY YUENJO FAN city@theaggie.org On Feb. 25, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors met to discuss the 2025 mid-year budget, evaluate the Yolo County Basic Income Project (YOBI) and take reports from county subcommittees.

For discussions about the midyear budget, Laura Liddicoet, Yolo County’s chief budget official, presented a comprehensive report summarizing revenue changes. The report detailed how several revenue streams did not reach anticipated budget goals, meaning that the actual revenue did not match the projected numbers. Liddicoet also mentioned how most county departments are projected to yield a revenue surplus, but those numbers are lower than that of previous years.

“Major county revenues are projected to largely end the fiscal year below budget,” Liddicoet said. “At the state level, sales tax receipts are coming in below anticipated levels. The impact to us at the county is that our Prop 172 public safety sales tax revenue is projected to finish the year almost five percent below budget. Similarly, our public safety realignment growth was lower by approximately $27,000 than anticipated. [...] Locally, property tax is anticipated to be less than one percent below budget and, with a bit of good news, our general fund sales tax is expected to come in slightly above budget.”

Furthermore, Liddicoet addressed the board about the current solar panel malfunction issues the county is facing and how they have accrued into another expense. For Yolo County to meet new costs, the budget department will now look to use money from its contingency funds to pay off these new electric bills.

“The county is experiencing some issues with our various solar arrays,” Liddicoet said. “There have been extensive financial implications of the solar arrays being inoperative the past few months. The most immediate of which is the state of the county’s electrical bill. [...] Initial analysis indicates that we are seeing $400,000 quarterly increases in our electrical bills with the arrays being down.

As you can imagine, this is putting some constraints on various electrical budgets.”

Across Yolo County, there are numerous solar farms and arrays, including a one-megawatt solar panel in Woodland that powers the county’s justice departments. The county is hoping for a quick end to the issues impacting the solar array and for fixes to their solar issue shortly.

The meeting then moved on to YOBI’s evaluations. Dr. Catherine Brinkley, a UC Davis faculty director for the Center for Regional Change and Community, took to the podium to discuss an evaluation of YOBI, one of the nation’s first 100 guaranteed income programs. YOBI’s goal was to provide stability to community members at risk of financial and emotional stress, especially after the

events of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program, which ran from 2022 to 2024, had its results brought in front of the county supervisors for review.

“One of the big findings was a 62% increase in the number of YOBI families who reported that ‘Overall, my life feels more stable,’” Brinkley said.

“We also saw statistically significant improvements in the number of YOBI families that could afford rent or own homes. We saw YOBI participants’ ability to [rent/own housing] move from 53% to 82%. Those that were in [YOBI’s] housing support program saw an increase [in housing affordability] from 64% to 93%.”

The YOBI program served 243 individuals and had an average stipend fund of $1,289. Monetary support for the program came largely from donors, while the county and UC Davis evaluated its effectiveness.

Moreover, County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs provided updates from the Historic Courthouse Capital Project Planning subcommittee.

The subcommittee is looking to move forward with a plan to provide further renovations to Yolo County’s superior court building in Woodland.

To follow through with this project, the county is looking into working with UC Davis architects to design additional areas within the courthouse while also replacing older building infrastructure.

“There’s a bunch of activities underway from actually securing the building to more immediate work around the outside of the building,” Frerichs said. “We’re working on a plan for cost estimates and funding for the inside and especially the third floor.”

The plan is still in its relative infancy, with more comprehensive details to come.

Lastly, Yolo County finalized Mike Webb’s appointment as the county’s new administrative officer. With 28 years of experience working for the city of Davis, including as a city manager, Webb’s new position will have him oversee county operations and budget.

The Yolo County Board of Supervisors meeting typically takes place on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. in the county’s superior court. More information can be found on their website.

Davis Food Co-op holds Local Love Fair

Davis non-profit volunteers collaborated with Texas Trees Foundation as a part of a $22 million green schoolyards project

BY MATTHEW MCELDOWNEY replacing heat-absorbing asphalt with wood, trails and garden spaces, city@theaggie.org according to Denk. By using naturally cooling surfaces, building shade and On Feb. 22, Tree Davis worked interactive playscapes, Cool Schools alongside the Washington Unified Yolo hopes to encourage students to School District (WUSD) to plant enjoy their time outdoors.

“It’s too hot in a lot of areas of the trees around River City High School.

The non-profit organization was county,” Denk said.

For schools like River City founded in 1992 by former Senator Lois Wolk and former Parks and Open High, they will also be introducing Space Administrator Bob Cordrey interactive elements such as parkour, to help create a 40-year urban forest climbing, sensory swings and a statue of River City’s mascot — the otter. management plan and plant trees.

Jillian Zwerdling, a science teacher Since Tree Davis’ founding, the and supervisor of the gardening non-profit has worked with over 5,000 volunteers to plant over 12,000 club at River City High School, is new trees. The non-profit also worked excited for the nature-based teaching alongside the city of Davis and UC opportunities Cool Schools Yolo will Davis on climate action plans and provide.

“I’m definitely most excited about educational programs respectively. the gardens,” Zwerdling said. “The Community members and volunteers alike were able to plant pollinator is a big plus. [...] Kids are a total of 48 trees through the Cool really disconnected from nature, and Schools Yolo County program, so this is a nice opportunity to really according to the Tree Davis Instagram. enjoy the outdoors.”

Zwedling said she is especially Community planting events such excited to use these spaces to help as the one at River City High School are part of only the first stage of the make her classroom activities more Cool Schools Yolo initiative. As a engaging for her students. Zwerdling partner of the Cool Schools Yolo, Tree looks forward to conducting outdoor Davis is working with nine Title I science labs like soil quality testing school campuses in West Sacramento and weather monitoring for next year’s and Woodland to plant trees, gardens students.

The Cool Schools Yolo is currently and more. The Cool Schools Yolo reaching out to contractors and expects initiative is seeking to promote climate-ready, nature-based schools to break ground for construction by through a $22 million grant from the the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

Cal Fire Urban Community Forestry They expect this project — two years in the making — to be complete by Program.

The Texas Trees Foundation — the the start of the 2025-2026 academic organization behind the development year in the fall.

Information about donating to or of stage one of Cool Schools Yolo working with Tree Davis is available — unveiled the greening designs for River City, Riverbank, Yolo County on their social media and website. The and Westmore Oak schools in West Texas Trees Foundation website also Sacramento on March 1 during a has further details on the progress of community event and celebration. the Cool Schools Yolo project as well Additionally, Cool Schools Yolo will as their overall mission to ensure that be making renovations to Beamer, “no child [is] left behind.”

Denk then made remarks Dingle, Prairie, Freeman and about the importance of spending Whitehead Elementary Schools in time outside and emphasized the Woodland.

Ellen Denk, the principal-in- importance of the Cool Schools Yolo charge for Studio Outside — the County mission.

“I would love for a parent to be landscape architecture practice responsible for creating the Cool comfortable for their kids to spend Schools Yolo designs — went into time outdoors,” Denk said. “It’s a detail about the exciting renovations space for everybody to be comfortable in the environment and in their to come.

Cool Schools Yolo will be mind.”

The Love Fair showcased local artisans, food producers and small businesses

Tree Davis and the Washington Unified School District partner to plant trees at River City High School. (Ojas Mishra / Aggie)

Local vendors sell various items at the Davis Food Co-op’s Local Love Fair on Feb. 22, 2025. (Andrew Huang / Aggie)

BY ALMA CULVERWELL city@theaggie.org The Davis Food Co-op’s Local Love Fair, held on Feb. 22, was a vibrant celebration of community and local talent. The event featured an array of Davis and Northern Californian artists, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with creators and sample products from local brands. In addition to the maker mart, co-op members enjoyed a special promotion, earning four times the rewards points on local items purchased between Feb. 22 and Feb. 29.

The co-op’s commitment to fostering local businesses was evident through its diverse lineup of vendors, including Schiller Crafts, Pixley Ceramics and Estella Moon.

Additionally, they offered samples from Masala Blend, Mia Bea Wines, Rostam36 Brewing, Frate Sole Olive Oil, EO, Abernathy Lane Wines and Island of the Moon Honey.

Pinar Brummer, founder of Pixley Ceramics, shared her enthusiasm for the event, highlighting the personal connections fostered between artisans

and the community. Brummer creates everyday pots, including bowls, vases, teacups, small condiment bowls and bud vases.

“My studio came out of postCOVID frustration; how little time we are given and how there needs to be an immediacy to all our dreams,” Brummer said. “I am a scientist by trade, but I have always been a creative person. My studio is my outlet for all I have been keeping in my heart since I was very, very young.”

She also expressed gratitude for the Davis Food Co-op’s commitment to local artists.

“Local Love Fair represents all the wonderful things about Davis Food Co-op, I think,” Brummer said. “What we are, what we make, what we produce in our town. And also, who we make these things for.

I love the fact that I get to shake the very hands that will be using the teacup I made. Just the best feeling there is. But more importantly, as an immigrant, female small business owner, I am tremendously grateful for the inclusivity in events like this offer.

Whenever I get an invitation from the lovely folks of the Davis Food Co-op, I say yes.”

Brummer also shared her positive experiences participating in other local events.

“I have done the Davis Cherry Blossom Festival market last year, and that was extremely well run, [and it] was a joy to be part of as well,” Brummer said.

Mamta Gupta, founder of Masala Blend, explained her ongoing relationship with the co-op and her journey collaborating with them.

“Masala Blend has been at Davis Food Co-op since 2020,” Gupta said.

“They were our first buyers and gave us the opportunity to connect with the community at large. We have learned and grown a lot with Davis Co-op guidance. We like to participate in the Local Love event at the co-op as we get to interact with the community and sample our products. Davis [Co-op’s] support for local businesses is what we love about them.”

Gupta, a former public school special education teacher, transitioned to selling spice blends full time in 2023. Inspired by traditional spices she learned to blend from her mother, she founded Masala Blends to provide easy, nutritious meal solutions.

“I love making blends for people

to create easy-to-cook nutritious meals using Masala Blend,” Gupta said.

“Our goal is for people to make ‘The Taste for Memories’ with their loved ones. As people cook nutritious meals and share them with their families and friends, they go beyond any cultural lines and also create awareness of the deliciousness in a variety of foods when made with love.”

Gupta also spoke about her dedication to maintaining highquality, chemical-free products.

“We hand-make 24 different spice blends in micro-batches,” Gupta said. “All spices go through a cleaning process by hand. Each spice is then added or pounded into powder to the blends. We only add ingredients we can pronounce and that are commonly used around the world. No chemicals or preservatives are added, as I couldn’t even say them or know what they did.

Our motto has been to be transparent with details on our products that anyone can read and understand.”

Another vendor, Flora Guilbaut from Estella Moon, an eco-conscious fashion brand born from Guilbaut’s own search for stylish, comfortable and sustainable postpartum clothing.

After working in fashion for over a decade, she struggled to find clothing that fit her new lifestyle as a mother.

Guilbaut emphasized the importance of the event in showcasing and supporting small businesses.

“Showing love to the community, to the local artisans, growers and makers that make this cute little town cute,” Guilbaut said. “To shine a light on the creatives that live in this town?

It’s hard to be seen these days, so these little markets are lovely ways to highlight the community.”

Guilbaut’s brand focuses on small-batch, slow production, using sustainable fabrics and deadstock

materials. All garments are cut and sewn in Downtown Los Angeles. She explained more about her favorite product, her best-selling, highwaisted, wide-elastic bias midi skirt.

“It has such a big stride you could literally go running in it — or chase after kids or run for the bus you almost miss,” Guilbaut said. “My clothes are made for busy people who just want to throw on something that will instantly make them look cuter and still be functional with a busy lifestyle.”

For Guilbaut, the event was also special on a personal level. Beyond connecting with customers, she cherished the chance to spend time with family and friends in a lively, welcoming atmosphere.

“My husband came by with my kiddo, Estelle, [...] and met up with her bestie in my booth, where they ran around in circles and ate lunch,” Guilbaut said. “They are the cutest and brighten my day always. But also, I loved seeing both strangers come check out my stuff and get to know what I do, as well as running into friends or people I didn’t expect to see.

Life is so busy these days — it’s fun to talk and get to know your neighbors a little deeper.”

The Local Love Fair exemplifies the co-op’s dedication to supporting local businesses and strengthening community ties. It offers a platform for artisans and producers to showcase their work and connect with residents.

The Davis Food Co-op has several other exciting event opportunities planned for March, including four times the member rewards on local products, free samples, weekend crafting classes and more. For information on these events, check out the Davis Food Coop’s website.

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025 | 3

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

ASUCD Senate discusses hiring process of new External Affairs Vice President, confirms ECAC chair at Feb. 27 meeting

The table held a debate over the constitutionality and efficiency of Executive Directive #10, passed SB#56 to clarify and codify appointment process of ASUCD elected officials

BY MADISON PETERS campus@theaggie.org The ASUCD Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill (SB) #56 on Thursday, Feb. 27 to to overturn Executive Directive #10. The executive directive addressed the appointment of Chely Saens as the new External Affairs vice president (EAVP), who was set to take the role after former EAVP Zeph Schnelbach left the office vacant and EAVP Head of Staff Janani Sundaram passed on the position.

SB#56 was later vetoed by ASUCD President Gaius Ilupeju on Feb. 28.

Saens, who currently serves as an ASUCD legislative director, assumed the role of acting EAVP on Feb. 18, one day after Schnelbach’s resignation.

As the office was then permanently vacant, Article III, Section (5)(iv) of the ASUCD Constitution, which states that “the ASUCD President shall appoint a replacement for the EAVP should a permanent vacancy occur in the office prior to the end of the office holder’s term,” according to the executive directive, was enacted.

The directive introduces a new appointment process, specifically for the EAVP position, that includes candidates undergoing an interview during a special session, followed by two rounds of voting by the Senate table in a closed session and the appointment of the official by Ilupeju after Senate discussion.

Ilupeju clarified his intentions in the beginning of the directive.

“The Executive Office wishes for the hiring process for a new EAVP to be as transparent as possible,” the executive directive reads. “I also want the Senate and the public to be thoroughly involved in the candidate selection so that the interests of the student body are best represented in this process.”

SB#56 called for clarity surrounding the directive and raised issues regarding the “redundancy” of how it outlined the appointment

process, as well as the constitutionality of the current appointment of the EAVP. It amended the executive directive on the grounds of a discrepancy between the directive and the ASUCD Constitution, given that in the latter “ASUCD Units are lumped under ASUCD offices, under which all bodies follow the same appointment structure,” according to SB#56.

Thus, an alteration to the hiring process of the EAVP would differ from the ASUCD Constitution. The goal of the bill is to “reflect this discrepancy and avoid any conflicts with the ASUCD Constitution in the future,” according to SB#56.

Senate Pro Tempore Dhilena Wickramasinghe read a letter authored by her and Internal Affairs Commission (IAC) Chair Amanda Clark, among other commision chairs, detailing their criticism with Executive Directive #10. Wickramasinghe said that the letter was never sent out, since they thought it would be more productive to have a conversation in person.

Amongst their issues with the executive directive was that it is “unconstitutional and overcomplicates the appointment process and goes beyond the President’s powers.”

Additionally, concerns about not being able to properly compensate Acting EAVP Saens for the amount of labor she would be putting into the appointment process, on top of their other duties, were addressed.

Wickramasinghe brought up Ilupeju’s communication regarding the directive and the lack of Senate involvement in the hiring process.

“President Ilupeju did not communicate to the Senate table or Acting EAVP Saens [about the new appointment process],” Wickramasinghe said. “When I privately inquired about the EAVP hiring process, he didn’t give any mention that he wanted the Senate table to be involved in this at all.”

Wickramasinghe then called for a 10-minute unmoderated caucus

at the end of the meeting to discuss the table’s opinions on overturning Executive Directive #10.

Senator Ezra Rubin brought up legal concerns regarding the overreach of the president’s power, as well as issues requiring an applicant to attend a public meeting as part of their hiring process.

Internal Vice President (IVP) Aaminah Mohammad responded to the issues brought up by the table, assuring that there will be no delays in the hiring process if Executive Directive #10 is signed and that the table should hold on to their questions until Ilupeju could accurately address them.

Senator Amrita Julka then expressed her frustrations with the motivations behind the directive, pointing out that interim senators were not appointed through the process that the directive proposed.

“In the constitution, ASUCD units which have an established interview committee in the bylaws are listed as part of this bigger group under which elected positions such as the EAVP permanent vacancy position is also under, so it just seems kind of weird to have separate processes for that,” Julka said. “Even if you guys did want to bring this about in this way, communication would have been nice, not Friday at 8 p.m. It feels really wrong, it feels really manipulative. It feels like you’re trying to tell us what to do and that’s not the executive [office’s] job.”

Clark requested for clarification on what changed between the hiring process of the interim senators and the EAVP. Mohammad provided reasoning for the switch.

“The hiring process for interim senators was a constitutional amendment, [and] the Constitution exists to allow for flexibility while the bylaws are there to list out specifics,” Mohammad said.

She also brought up the amount of overtime she puts in throughout these hiring processes and reiterated that the

table should wait to ask their questions to Ilupeju, as he was not present to address all of their concerns.

Senator Siddharth Jasthi and External Affairs Commission (EAC) Chair Henry Rosenbach further expressed their disappointment with the directive, including delays in the hiring process and miscommunications between the Senate and Executive Office.

Rosenbach praised the work ethic of Saens and further stated a frustration with the Executive Office.

“To piggyback on what [Jasthi] was saying, working with the acting EAVP has been wonderful,” Rosenbach said. “They introduced legislation through EAC [...] and they put a lot of effort into that. There was miscommunication between my commission, the EAVP and the Executive [Office] [...]. It keeps looking like we are trying to do things and [the Executive Office] keeps pushing them back and back. We are trying to do ideas and projects and we are constantly [shooting] in the dark.”

Table members also brought up past issues with communication around Senate Resolution (SR) #7, affirming protections for undocumented students. At a previous meeting, Ilupeju had expressed criticism regarding the resolution and pushed to table it over concerns that not all relevant parties had been consulted. “[The] senate table got a lot of shit for not having those conversations with the people that [SR#7] impacts,” Julka said. “I’m just a little confused as to why this impacts us but we weren’t consulted on it? I know that, [Mohammad], you’re not the one who wrote it, so this isn’t necessarily a question to you but a question to [Ilupeju]: After SR#7, being like, ‘Oh we need to have communication with administration [...]’ but, we are right here; We meet with you [and] it’s very open to the public. I’m just a little confused as to why that conversation wasn’t had with us.”

Wickramasinghe said that she

thought the directive was “good in theory” and could be used for future hiring processes but that it needed to be improved upon and that there needs to be more communication between members of the table and the Executive Office. Senator Umar Shaikh ended the discussion by clarifying that Executive Directive #10 is a one-time occurance and is a conversation that needs to be had with Ilupeju present.

The table then voted on a motion to overturn Executive Directive #10, voting 8-0-6, yes-no-abstain, with Transfer Student Representative Safa Mohammad, International Student Representative Muhammad Waqar, and Senators Ahmed, Cohen, Shaikh and Jenna Younes abstaining.

The California Aggie tried reaching Ilupeju for comment, but was unable to reach him before publication.

Ethnic and Cultural Affairs Commission (ECAC) Chair Confirmation Also at the Feb. 27 meeting, Faye Real, a fourth-year psychology and political science double major, was confirmed as new ECAC chair, taking over from former Chair Reem Suleiman.

Real talked about her goals to be more integrated with marginalized communities on campus and working with the Davis Criminal Retention Center.

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Can You Gig it?: Whole Congregation Bet Haverim Earth Festival hosts hosts forum on current house concert to promote immigration enforcement festival in May Immigrants at Risk — What You Can Do forum addressed

Students attending WEF’s house concert shared their thoughts about the event

local immigration concerns

BY GIA LOOMIS city@theaggie.org

Front-row attendees at the Whole Earth Festival’s house concert on March 1.

(Andrew Huang / Aggie)

BY EVELYN SANCHEZ features@theaggie.org The lights were vibrant, streamers ran around the trunks of trees and the crowds were plentiful by the second hour. Fundraising through dance, live music, screen printing and supporting local vendors, The Whole Earth Festival (WEF) put on a house concert on March 1 to not only welcome the warm air but rally excitement for their upcoming titular event on May 9 to 11.

The event asked for a donation of $10 to 15 on a sliding scale, though no one was turned away for a lack of funds.

Rohini Murali, a fourth-year human biology and psychology double major, was one student who attended the WEF house concert.

“I really like the vibe,” Murali said.

“Everyone seems really fun and it feels like an inclusive environment. It’s such a good idea to have live music.”

Three bands were featured throughout the night: Moonbloom, Carabeza, illbie and Your Tax Dollars at Work, alongside intermittent shows given by the Pole Dance Club at UC Davis. Carabeza even featured merchandise at the event, in which the lead singer carved out a stamp and collectively imprinted the design on each shirt.

Katherine Krinsky, a fourthyear English major and one of the co-directors for WEF, offered some behind-the-scenes information.

“For this event, my co-director and I, and some of my staff members, first find a yard we want to use,” Krinsky said. “We ask [vendors] if they want to table, recruit the bands and have the opportunity to table and publicize WEF.” It was also WEF’s first time hosting a show at The Secret Garden, a local venue in Davis. Krinsky noted

her coincidental initial joining of the WEF team.

“I joined WEF kind of by luck,” Krinsky said. “I had some friends applying for staff and because I liked working with kids, I [thought] it would be fun to do Kids Space. I had been to the festival before once [in] my freshman year — happened upon it, loved it and then decided it would be cool to join staff.”

Krinsky started with managing the Kids Space in her second year and managed the logistics section her third year, now managing the entire event alongside her co-director. Krinsky hopes that WEF can host one more house concert before the festival in May. Ailani Corona, a third-year design major, was present at the event as a vendor.

“This is the first house concert I’ve sold anything at,” Corona said.

“I heard about [WEF] through my wonderful roommates but also Professor [James] Housefield as part of his lecture. I applied for [WEF] main events, and they emailed me about this event and [...] asked me to come in.”

Corona is experienced in painting on glass or paper but has leaned toward selling her crocheted products, as she has been able to accommodate college students’ interests with more ease.

“I’ve been selling things since I’ve transferred,” Corona said. “But before that, I’ve been selling for three years, and I’ve been crocheting since [my] senior year of high school.”

Selling a large assortment of handmade crocheted animals and objects, an audience favorite being her tiny crocheted conchas, the Latinaowned small business can be found on her Instagram account, @artsy_ailani.

The 56th Whole Earth Festival, with the theme “Earth to the People,” will be held at the UC Davis Memorial Union Quad from May 9 to 11.

WEFHOUSESHOW on 9

On Feb. 24, Congregation Bet Haverim (CBH) hosted the Immigrants at Risk — What You Can Do forum to educate attendees on current immigration enforcement and how it may affect the Davis community. Taking place from 7 to 8:30 p.m., the forum was free and open to the public at the church. For these forums, attendees are asked to register in advance and, while free to the public, donations are encouraged.

Organized by the CBH Social Justice Committee in collaboration with the Yolo Interfaith Immigration Network (YIIN), the event strived to share information about current immigration enforcement given the rise and anxiety surrounding mass deportation efforts. In addition, the forum sought to inform individuals on how these enforcements are impacting local immigrants and what the community can do to help.

This forum was planned following the Social Justice Committee’s decision to make immigration their sole issue focus of 2025. Member of the committee and Co-Chair of YIIN John Katonah explained the inspiration behind this decision and the following forum.

“Our goal was to generate interest within the congregation (youth and adults) and invite them to become engaged in this [immigration] issue within Yolo County,” Katonah said.

“I was asked to form a program that would bring in panelists who were very involved in working with immigrants to help the congregation begin to find ways to be of support to them during this very frightening time for the undocumented people in our midst.”

To highlight local immigrants’ experiences, the forum included a multi-speaker panel including local immigrants and the director of a local refugee center. The discussion housed by this forum aims to push the community to better understand the situation created by recent changes in immigration policies and show attendees how to help respond to this developing situation.

Speakers on this panel included Ignacio Alarcon, a previous employee of UC Davis AB540 and Undocumented Student Resource Center, Ximena DiezJackson, the Davis Joint Unified School District’s coordinator of language justice and family partnership, Dr. Natalia Deeb-Sossa, a UC Davis professor of Chicana/o/x Studies, and Usama Khalil, the chief executive officer and co-founder of Refugee Enrichment and Development Association.

The speakers addressed various issues with immigration enforcement,

A speaker discusses effects of immigration enforcement.

(Christian Cendejas / Aggie) focusing especially on the legal landscape that undocumented immigrants are currently faced with. Additionally, the panel presented several immigrant women who spoke on their fears surrounding immigration enforcement and what others can do to help.

By presenting a variety of speakers, CBH aimed to show the public the first-hand experience and fear that immigrants are experiencing today.

Katonah emphasized this by explaining the program’s hopes and intended impact.

“This program’s goal was to bring a deeper awareness of the conditions undocumented folks face now,” Katonah said. “Leading to ideas for action by the dominant white community who are privileged and therefore have power to make a difference.”

While CBH has hosted social justice-based events in the past, this immigration forum varied from similar events. This is the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that CBH has partnered with and included other groups outside of the congregation, like the YIIN. Comparatively, CBH’s recent events concerning social justice were more focused on engagement within the church. On Feb. 21, the church

held Repro Shabbat with CBH Partner Lauren Salmo. At this event, they discussed reproductive health, rights and justice, stating their belief that reproductive freedom is a Jewish value. This event takes place annually on Shabbat as they read Parshat Mishpatim, which has verses often referred to when discussing the value of reproductive rights, according to the CBH website.

Katonah expressed the significance of this event, with over 150 people attending, as it enforced the severity of these growing immigration issues and helped raise donations for important immigration-focused organizations, to name a few.

“Just being together in unison for wishing to address the immigration issue as experienced in everyday lives brought a sign of hope,” Katonah said.

“It was impressed on attendees that the issues mentioned are serious, causing families to fear becoming separated by deportations, losing jobs and income of family members who are forced to leave this country.”

While another immigration forum is not currently planned, check out Congregation Bet Haverim’s website and calendar for more information and updates on future events.

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

4 | THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025

The punchline: an impasta

Exploring the role of political incorrectness in humor

BY VIOLET ZANZOT vmzanzot@ucdavis.edu

I figured the perfect introduction for this topic would be a good joke. I was going to write in “pause for laughter” and that was going to be even funnier. I figured a good dad joke would serve best, so I used my friend as a sounding board to test some out. I asked her what you call fake spaghetti, why the coffee filed a police report and even why melons have weddings. All I got in return was a pity smile.

“It’s because you grew up most of your life without a dad,” I said.

“That’s why you don’t think these jokes are funny.” We both laughed. It was a beautiful moment. Now that my comment has been written down on paper, what I said seems to be a little dark and morose, but at the moment, with the right context, it was appropriate.

That whole story I just told is what my dad would refer to as a “shaggy dog joke” (I do not know why), defining it as “a long walk for a short drink of water.” A weird way to classify a joke, but it’s even more interesting that the joke is classifiable to begin with. Humor needs to be particular in order to be successful — the content, the audience, the context of the joke being told and the goal outcome of the joke itself (are we going for just a smile or are we hoping to be rolling on the floor gasping for air) are all so important.

In the state of chronic tension in which we exist today, it feels even harder to reach an audience. Comedy is forced to walk an ever-thinning tightrope between the offended and the offensive: between the “too far” and the “not far enough.” The turmoil begs the question: Is there a place for political incorrectness in comedy?

Saturday Night Live (SNL) just celebrated its 50th birthday on Feb. 16. That makes 50 years of boundarypushing, making light of the heinous, the morbid and the despicable for a laugh. 50 years of treading the tightrope.

If you aren’t familiar with the show, I ask, “Where have you been?” (a prime example of an unfunny joke).

SNL is a live, late-night, variety, sketch, comedy show. As I mentioned, they trend toward political, grotesque and satirical comedy, but they are certainly not above the occasional cheap bit here and there.

SNL has historically been unique, because the entertainers are willing to “comedically [go] where others dare not go.” Cast members use words we’re not supposed to say and generally contemplate topics that are not suited for the dinner table: discussing rape, power relations, race, politics, gender, sexuality, violence — you name it, they’ve done a bit on it.

This characteristic in particular is why SNL has been so successful. The shock of satire is so sweet. Humor can be a powerful tool to make people not just laugh but to think. I find that this is where the disconnect exists between what is offensive and what people get offended by. Sometimes, context gets lost in the bit.

Political incorrectness as a part of satire, saying a derogatory term for the sake of commentary, is a lost art. People jump so quickly to get mad that they miss the point, which is that they’re saying the same thing: the comedian just says it in a much funnier way. It’s better to admit you’re jealous of someone funny than it is to call someone out for being a bad person, when, in reality, humor’s nuance is complicated.

This is not to say that the hurtful thing is always said for a laugh; it is to say that understanding context is an

important skill if we want to exist in a world where our language does not have to be policed. Perhaps there is a difference between critiquing someone’s language and critiquing their morality, and understanding each other’s humor may just be the measuring stick we need.

So, what makes you laugh and why do you think that is?

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.

STEPHANIE_CHAN / AGGIE

There’s no ‘genius contest,’ so stop competing like there is Breaking down the social pressures to appear smart EMILY TRAN / AGGIE

BY TARA ROMERO tcrome@ucdavis.edu In every single class across campus, there will inevitably be that one student (sometimes two or three) whose sole desire is proving that they are smarter than everyone else in the room. You can all imagine exactly who I’m talking about: the students who waste the class period arguing with the professor, your class partners who roll their eyes when you say the wrong answer or the ones in your group who hit you with the “Erm, actually” that ruins your whole day.

Talking with my friends in the STEM fields and taking into account my own experiences in the humanities, it seems like in every major we run into these kinds of people. Depending on your personality type, sharing a class with these students can range from entertaining to an extremely excruciating experience.

However, I think we’re all more

similar to these students than we’d like to admit.

In university, there’s a pressure to appear smart in front of our peers.

There is a strange urge to prove to one another that we’re supposed to be here. It’s like a collective feeling of having “imposter syndrome,” yet nobody wants to talk about it.

College ends up becoming a game of “Werewolf ” where every single one of us thinks that we’re the only imposter.

It certainly doesn’t help that professors set us up in direct competition with one another by implementing grading curves or by releasing the highest, lowest and average scores on Canvas for us to compare our own marks to.

Even in the classroom, nobody wants to admit to one another that they didn’t finish the readings.

Nobody wants to admit that they got a low score on the exam. Nobody wants to ask questions and disrupt the lecture — even if their question would help everyone else in the room better

Running on caffeine and regret

How midterms expose our crippling procrastination

BY NEVAEH KARRAKER nakarraker@ucdavis.edu It’s midnight already.

After burning through an entire pencil in three days and chugging energy drinks, time is nothing more than an abstract concept. Yet, as the hours blur together, I’ve barely finished a single assignment.

It’s a never-ending cycle of work, and the progress never matches the grind.

Next to me sits a thick stack of papers, study guides and practice problems — hours upon hours of work. And, on top of it all, midterm results.

“You win some, you lose a lot,” as my dad would say — a fitting description of college life. However, it’s one thing to fail because you didn’t try hard enough, it’s another to fail while sacrificing everything (including some of your sanity) and still coming up short.

I stare at the blank document for my essay due tomorrow, the blinking cursor on my computer screen lighting up the dark dorm. At this point, school seemed to be doing more harm than good — it was draining and, quite honestly, futile.

One of the simplest ways to recharge

often mutates into a distraction — divulging in random tasks or reverting to doomscrolling on smartphones. It’s a numbing, brainless activity that triggers small bursts of dopamine with every swipe. Being consumed by something so insignificant momentarily silences the pressure.

This habit doesn’t seem to just apply to me; it’s a contagious disease. It’s rare to find an empty study room in the residence halls and the ones being taken up are not being used for their intended purpose.

Bags of chips and empty sushi containers litter the room while someone props their foot on the table, FaceTiming a friend or watching Netflix.

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JASON XIE / AGGIE

understand the material.

We might not be arguing with the professor, but we have that same need to prove ourselves and our intelligence.

This phenomenon isn’t restricted to university either; There’s an everyday pressure to prove our intelligence. Think about when you’re talking with your friends and they bring up something you’ve never heard of. Many of us lie, saying, “Oh, I think I’ve heard of it,” and go along with the conversation without understanding the context. We participate in conversations without knowing what we’re talking about.

This phenomenon can be especially dangerous online. Not everyone is an expert in everything, yet everyone online acts like they are.

People with very little understanding of an event or movement feel the need to pitch in and share their beliefs to appear knowledgeable to their followers — when, in reality, they’re only disrupting the conversation with their very limited perspective and, even worse, potentially spreading misinformation.

The need to appear smart only harms us and prevents us from actually learning. Carol Dweck, an educational psychologist, explained how students who only care about appearing smart have a “fixed mindset.” This makes them afraid of challenges, devastated by setbacks and less motivated to learn. The fixed mindset is in opposition to the “growth mindset,” in which students want to be challenged, are resilient in the face of setbacks and are more motivated to learn.

A crucial step to learning and

Dear Democrats, please learn to throw punches

The Democratic Party needs to start fighting harder for our democracy and the people they represent

BY SABRINA FIGUEROA sfigueroaavila@ucdavis.edu

it was pointed at her. The opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, live streamed himself jumping over a fence to get to parliament. Inside of the National Assembly building, they created a blockade so that soldiers would not be able to get in. It’s safe to say that, one way or another, these lawmakers were going to vote no matter what or who was standing in their way.

The past two months have been marked by chaos and political rhetoric that sounds like it came straight from the 1940s. If you’re exhausted, anxious, angry or upset, chances are you are not the only one who feels that way.

Sometimes, it feels like Comparing that to people like we — students our United States and ordinary folk — are Democratic Party, our not in control of our own party seems to not care lives. When we feel this way, as much as we think they we often look to those who do and definitely not as do have a good amount of much as we want them control: politicians. to. The Democratic Party For as long as nations has their issues, and it is have been documented, uncertain whether they politicians and leaders are the correct party to have had both their good fight for the people of and their bad moments. the U.S. But, if By “bad” moments, I mean SAVANNAH BURGER / AGGIE they are going that some of their actions and to be the only decisions end in prejudice, genocide, death or, in some cases, all opposition party with some kind of of the above. These moments usually power, it’s time they start fighting tooth outweigh the good ones simply because and nail too.

On Feb. 8, 2025, Democratic they have graver consequences.

Some argue that this is due to the lawmakers were denied entry into the inherent nature of being a politician — Department of Education. What was it’s impossible to make every citizen in a in their way? One man standing at a country happy. Even if that is the case, door and maybe three police officers. we shouldn’t be idolizing politicians South Korea’s lawmakers fought with as if we are their fans and they are armed soldiers, but U.S. Democrats our celebrities. They are people with couldn’t stand to push aside four people. a significant amount of power and, At some point, respectability politics get therefore, need to be held accountable old; They may have worked before, but they haven’t worked for a long time and for their actions.

While President Donald Trump and they aren’t working right now. If the other Republicans — who are tied to Democratic Party thinks this is how his fingers like puppets — work hard they keep the people’s support, they to rapidly establish executive orders should start to wonder if, maybe, this and overturn Supreme Court cases is why they are losing it instead.

It doesn’t help that Democrats focus to push their fascist agendas, where is the opposing side? Where is the party on sending “inspirational messages” that supposedly stands for “fairness, during this time. As much as I value the justice and equality for all?” Without importance of words and motivational actually fighting for what they believe speech, inspirational messages don’t in, Democrats just give us empty words work unless Democrats actually put to hold on to — a false sense of security. action and deliberation into making Is this something that we, the people them come true. All we have seen so of the United States, should just accept far are hollow messages — whether in in an era of turmoil? The short answer speeches or on random X posts — and we do not need any more. is no.

What we do need is to see their Back in December 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol supposed frustration and anger manifest declared martial law during a televised into action and turn into a chip on their address. During a vote to reserve military shoulder. When alt-right fascist rhetoric rule, Yoon ordered the general of the threatens the values and the people you military to block the ministers’ entry to represent, a little punch where it hurts parliament, many of whom belonged to might not be the worst thing in the opposing political parties. This action world. would have barred lawmakers from Disclaimer: The views and opinions voting, making the order invalid.

However, these politicians — many expressed by individual columnists from South Korea’s Democratic Party belong to the columnists alone and do — did not simply grovel in submission. not necessarily indicate the views and One Minister of Parliament, Ahn Gwi- opinions held by The California Aggie. ryeong, grabbed a soldier’s rifle after embracing the growth mindset is humility. Allow yourself to admit that you don’t know something, that you’re confused or that you need help.

Only then do you open yourself up to learning for the sake of learning.

So, I encourage you all to take down the “genius” facade. Admit your bad scores to your peers and you’ll find that you’re not alone in the trenches — or if your classmates did well, ask for some study tips! If your friend brings up something you don’t know about, ask them about it. If you’re interacting with a post online, do your own research on the topic before joining the conversation.

There’s no need to prove yourself

— we are all smart in so many different ways, and not knowing something is not a slight on your intelligence.

In my opinion, the smartest people in the room are the ones who aren’t afraid of appearing unintelligent.

When you’re brave enough to ask questions, you actually get answers.

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.

HUMOR

The Ghost of Unitrans Past

The buses are so wise

BY ALLISON KELEHER adkeleher@ucdavis.edu After a long and grueling day on the UC Davis campus, with the sun having set many hours ago, I decided it was time to depart — my beautiful red chariot awaited me. As I stumbled over my own feet to the Silo bus terminal, I dreamt of the bed I was going home to.

I boarded the bus and took a seat in the very back corner. Nestled underneath my backpack, I waited for the bus to take off into the night. With a loud squeak, the bus left the station to take me home.

This bus and I embark on this journey every night, so I’ve started to understand its rhythm. The braking and acceleration rocked me back and forth, like a little baby in a cradle. Tonight, I couldn’t fight the sleep that washed over me.

BAM. I woke up startled, in a random parking lot in the middle of nowhere. Farmland stretched out for miles in every direction. The only thing I could see was a beautiful double-decker Unitrans bus. It looked like one of those vintage ones that they drag out for special occasions on campus.

This seemed like a one-way ticket to getting kidnapped, so I tried to look for a way out of the situation. Sadly, I heard animal noises coming from the farmland,

so that was not happening. I warily made my way over to the double-decker bus.

As I got within five feet of the bus, it sputtered to life and the lights turned on. Still creepy, but I pushed forward toward the bus. As I took a step onto the threshold, the bus groaned with my weight, making me feel a little awkward.

“Why are you bothering me at this hour,” a looming voice with a British accent said above me.

“Who said that?!” I asked in fear.

“I’m the Ghost of Unitrans Past,” the British voice boomed. “Something must be troubling you, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”

This did indeed trouble me, because I had no idea what could be troubling me.

I stewed for a minute before something

came to me: I had a conversation with my mom earlier today about whether UC Davis was the correct university to attend. I have been feeling homesick lately, and I’m worried that I made the wrong decision.

“That was not the wrong decision,” the British bus said, as if it could read my mind. “Look at how far you have come to be here. You have made so many friends and learned so much about yourself.”

I nodded my head in agreement since he was trying to make me feel better, but it was still not making the sinking feeling go away.

“Do you remember that one time UNITRANSPAST on 9

KAYLA TRAN/ AGGIE

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025 | 5

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

OPINION EDITORIAL

The California Aggie, UC Davis’ student-run newspaper, must stay in print Publishing in print is fundamental to any student newspaper’s journalistic endeavors WRITTEN BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD The California Aggie has been serving the UC Davis campus and local community for 110 years.

However, due to budget concerns, The Aggie’s future in print is currently in jeopardy.

Print journalism is essential to a functional and thriving democracy, especially on the student level. While at glance this may feel less relevant in today’s digital world, the impact of print journalism has always been and remains timeless. Cutting The Aggie’s budget would strip us of being a weekly newspaper and significantly downsize our journalistic efforts.

Originally founded in 1915, the newspaper is one of the oldest student publications in the state.

While maintaining complete editorial independence, The Aggie is a unit within the Associated Students of UC Davis (ASUCD) — receiving funding to manage our salaries and print operations.

The UC Davis Campus Media Board unanimously approved The Aggie’s proposed 2025-2026 budget on Feb. 28, but the ASUCD President informed paper leadership that the ASUCD is not planning on supporting The Aggie’s full print efforts moving forward.

Throughout the last century, The Aggie has been providing the student and city community essential news including but not limited to: campus and city news, features, opinion, arts and culture, sports, science and technology and multimedia.

Remaining in print is essential to The California Aggie’s service to the community.

Print journalism has a long and powerful history of keeping those in power accountable. As student press, our obligation is the same — to hold those in any office, from local and student government to campus administration, accountable. This is our journalistic duty and legal right, as defined by the First Amendment.

Differing from most colleges, Davis is a small town with a population of nearly 60,000 residents.

We don’t have newspapers like The New York Times or The Los Angeles Times to compete with; While serving as a student newspaper, The California Aggie also functions as a local paper — providing substantial coverage to city and county communities at large.

Our print presence is essential to the local community and only further strengthens our credibility and relationship with our readers.

By providing the student and local community a free physical product, we not only inform students of the

only journalism opportunity at UC Davis, we assure them we are there to bring them accessible, reliable and quality journalism.

The Aggie is also continuously working to improve our digital and online presence. It’s worth pointing out that having a printed paper is the best form of advertisement and means to increase our digital presence. In order to have a large online readership, we need a print product to coincide with it.

There are several legitimate reasons for why The California Aggie should remain weekly in print, but none are as important as the simple fact that journalism is a public and physical service for the community.

First and foremost, The California Aggie does not want to stay in print in order to boost resumes, brag about our stories or to make advertising revenue — The California Aggie wants to stay in print in order to continue serving you, the reader. Regardless if you are a student, professor, community member, business owner, activist or all of the above — The Aggie is a service for you. This has been our priority for the last 110 years, and this will be our priority for years to come.

Signed in solidarity by the editorial boards of:

Editorial Board CHRIS PONCE Editor-in-Chief ALYSSA CREVOISERAT Managing Editor MADISON PETERS Campus News Editor HANNAH SCHRADER City News Editor MAYA KORNYEYEVA Opinion Editor ZOEY MORTAZAVI Features Editor ANA BACH Arts & Culture Editor MEGAN JOSEPH Sports Editor KATIE HELLMAN Science Editor 0DQDJLQJ 6WD̆ JENNA LEE Photo Director ARIANA NOBLE Layout Director LANHUI ZHEN Design Director JOANNE SUN Social Media Manager AARON POTTER Website Manager CASSIDY GILLIS Distribution & Outreach Director TIFFANY HE Copy Chief JENNY DYE Copy Chief SAMUEL RUIZ Translation Director ILEANA MERAZ Translation Director LAURIE PEDERSON Business Development Manager

The California Aggie needs your support: Urge your ASUCD Senators to protect our print efforts

As budget hearings approach, The Aggie is concerned about potentially severe cuts to our budget WRITTEN BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD

As our readers know, The California Aggie is the independent, student-run newspaper at UC Davis.

The paper’s primary role is to provide an accurate, fair news resource for the campus and local community as a whole. Without the university providing a journalism program, The Aggie’s presence is also the only opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in professional journalism.

Our talented staff of over 100 students — including writers, designers, photographers and layout artists — work on tight deadlines to create a weekly print product for the UC Davis campus, Downtown Davis and local businesses. At the time of publication, the paper is held in The Avid Reader, Newsbeat, Pachamama, Philz Coffee and Temple Coffee Roasters, as well as 30+ other racks within the city and campus.

However, our ability to provide quality, unbiased journalism is currently hanging in the balance amid pending Associated Students of UC Davis (ASUCD) budget hearings.

While The Aggie maintains editorial independence, our operations are largely funded by the ASUCD Senate.

SEE ONLINE Fill out our form about why print is essential to The Aggie!

ASUCD Senate and budget: The Senate is the student body government at UC Davis that manages an over $20 million operational budget — from Unitrans to The Pantry to The Aggie, ASUCD funds major campus operations.

While this isn’t often discussed, this money is provided by you — the students — through quarterly fees. ASUCD has a historically low voter turnout, with the most recent election receiving roughly 7-9% of the student vote. Over the last few years, ASUCD received as little as 800 to a few thousand votes out of a student population of 40,000.

The future of The California Aggie’s print budget will come down to negotiations between us, the Senate and Campus Media Board in the next couple of weeks. In a recent meeting between paper leadership and the Media Board, The Aggie’s proposed budget was unanimously approved — a requirement in order to proceed to budget hearings.

Through conversations with the ASUCD President and Senate, it has become clear that there is resistance in supporting The Aggie’s print efforts moving forward. In the ASUCD President’s proposed budget for The Aggie, there is no budget line dedicated to printing costs, instead printing is included under “Supplies and Materials” along with other essential services. This proposal would effectively change our print model, pending other changes proposed by the Senate.

The Aggie’s proposed 2025-2026 budget is lower than the year prior, excluding ASUCD’s minimum wage increase that was originally passed through emergency legislation.

However, we expected challenges to our budget, which is why the proposal includes a trim to our printing costs and projected advertising income.

However, the obstacles we are facing moving forward seem less concerned with our print and more concerned about what we are printing.

Throughout the last year in public Senate meetings, it has become clear that there is disapproval of our content:

From editorials to news reporting, some senators’ opposition to our paper has been made abundantly clear.

We are concerned that these critiques are not with our advertising but with our reporting on Senate meetings. In order to continue our reporting and maximize our readership, The Aggie requests that “Printing Costs” be added back to the 2025-2026 budget.

Print journalism: We cannot stress enough the importance of providing a physical print product for the Davis community. Not only is The Aggie’s presence in print necessary to ensure accessibility to the university’s 40,000 students — some of whom may not have access to our digital platform — it is also fundamental to our ability to promote our paper to students interested in journalism and local businesses interested in advertising opportunities.

Additionally, print journalism directly supports local businesses and holds individuals and organizations accountable — without print, The Aggie’s visibility, accessibility and impact would be drastically reduced.

The California Aggie is the only true bridge between what occurs in student government meetings and the public, and we are the only watchdogs available to hold elected officials accountable for $20 million in student fees.

Senate meetings are held weekly in the Mee Room of the Memorial Union (MU) on Thursdays. While the room is decently sized, it can only fit roughly 20 to 30 chairs for student attendees.

Additionally, the Senate does not have microphones or adequate sound projection, making it inaccessible for many who attend. The Aggie requested microphones last November to ensure accuracy of quoting the Senate table and commenters, but the request has not been addressed. Moreover, the meetings are made available with Zoom but often last several hours into the night, making our coverage even more essential to the average student.

If we are to see severe cuts to our print operations, our reporting on the Senate — as well as our six other

desks — would be less accessible to the student body. Let us be clear: A decision to remove The Aggie from lecture halls, campus buildings and downtown businesses would be a direct act of censorship on our organization.

Additionally, substantially cutting our print budget would force The Aggie to restructure a significant portion of our staff’s roles. For positions such as the layout director, layout artists and outreach and distribution manager, the primary component of their role is to work with our weekly print product. For a governing body that stresses the importance of supporting ASUCD jobs and boasts about the number of students it hires, this decision would be strange at best and directly harmful at worst.

Through conversations during The Aggie’s Quarterly Report a few weeks ago and the Media Board meeting, it’s clear that the grounds for cutting our print budget are baseless. Criticisms that lack quantitative evidence are being weaponized against The Aggie’s proposed printing budget line; These claims are based on speculation and not fact, and there is no willingness on behalf of the governing body, as of now, to present evidence or data to support their claims.

When paper leadership requested evidence to support the reasoning behind a proposed change to The Aggie’s print budget, the response was that quantitative evidence was unnecessary, instead personal anecdotes were presented as the only requirement to make significant cuts to our organization. The decision to present unsubstantiated claims instead of backed-up reasoning lacks respect and ignores the oath taken to support the student body’s access to vital services.

Support The Aggie: Our priority is not to bring in money to the ASUCD as a commercial unit, it is to provide fair and quality journalism to the campus and local community. Journalism is not intended to be a money-making resource for the student government

but instead a service that informs the public and benefits the local community as a whole.

Decisions made that fundamentally restructure and defund an organization should not be based on interpersonal relations between ASUCD units and the student government but should be focused on the individuals directly impacted: the students. This paper is by students and for students, and to cut The Aggie’s funding would not only be harmful, it would be unjust.

Taking even a simple glance at our community demonstrates our impact on the lives of Davis residents and students — from clippings of campus organizations in the MU to our yearly Best of Davis issue hung on downtown windows, our impact is everywhere.

We do not have full certainty of the results of Saturday’s budget hearing, but we believe that there is validity and grounds for concern.

But, senators, please prove us wrong. Show us, and the readers, that you will put editorial concerns aside and support the only independent student paper in the city. Support our right to freedom of the press and uplift community voices by keeping us in print. As we see increasing press restrictions in our country — both on the national and student level — choose to be an outlier and support accountability and transparency.

The Aggie has been the longeststanding student paper in Davis since 1915, and the Editorial Board requests that our readers, UC Davis students and community members come together in support of The Aggie’s continuation as a vital service and resource. Students, contact your elected ASUCD Senators to support our print efforts and submit a response directly to The California Aggie in our Google Form. The Aggie has been a free-of-cost service for the student body for over a century, and its continued role in the community needs your support and protection.

6 | THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025

ARTS & CULTURE

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

SCIENCE AND TECH

Synthetic chemistry ‘gaines’ a new path to ibogaine

Researchers at the UC Davis Institute of Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics have finished the total synthesis of a scarce, naturally found anti-addiction/ antidepressant agent

BY NAREN KRISHNA JEGAN science@theaggie.org

BY NATALIE SALTER arts@theaggie.org Album: “Windswept Adan” by Ichiko Aoba (2020) If you have ever wondered what the musical equivalent of soft ocean waves, a quiet breeze through leaves or the soft twittering of birds in the morning is, you need not look further than Ichiko Aoba’s masterful “Windswept Adan.” An ethereal, dreamy LP filled with diaphanous melodies and gentle vocals, Aoba’s artistry is so absolutely transcendent that you’ll feel like you’re floating through the clouds from the start of the album to its end. When the world gets a little too loud, put on “Windswept Adan” and drift away to the peaceful, enchanting world Aoba so masterfully creates. It’s unlike anything else you will ever listen to, and its soothing effects are nothing short of magical.

Book: “Days at the Morisaki Bookshop” by Satoshi Yagisawa (2023) Takako is at rock bottom. Her long-term boyfriend casually reveals he’s been seeing someone else and leaves her, she loses her job and she’s spiraling into a deep depression, leaving her unable to get out of bed. However, a curious offer from her eccentric uncle — to come live with him in the bookstore district of Jimbocho, Tokyo and help run his quirky used book shop — gives her a new opportunity to embrace life. In a truly beautiful turn of events, Takako learns the importance of slowing down and appreciating life’s little gifts, finally able to embrace the love of her family and friends once more. It’s a tremendously heartwarming novel that will remind you of the power of little gestures of kindness and the healing power of a good book.

Song: “1980s Horror Film II” by Wallows (2020) “She was only seventeen / Oh, why are girls in songs always seventeen?” is one lyric Wallows member Braeden Lemasters sings right at the start of “1980s Horror Film II.” That’s a great question to start a song on, and the band only continues this wry tone throughout a musical chronicle of a not-so-perfect love story with a dream girl straight out of a coming-of-age film. It’s a nostalgic, synth-backdropped track that sounds like it was pulled out of the titular decade, with an amusing lyrical narrative to match. Too bad that the song’s muse reveals at the end that she’s “really not that into guys.” Better luck next time — in the meantime, I’ll be listening to this song on repeat.

Movie: “Almost Famous” dir. Cameron Crowe (2000) When 15-year-old student prodigy William Miller (Patrick Fugit) seizes an opportunity to pursue music journalism, he doesn’t quite expect to find himself on a bus with rising-star band Stillwater on a cross-country tour. There’s a Rolling Stone assignment weighing on his shoulders, the band is hardly ever sober enough to give a proper interview and self-proclaimed teen muse Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) is becoming an unexpected object of his affections — it’s a lot for one high schooler to handle. Still, despite its chaos, “Almost Famous” is also a comedic and heartwarming tale — with, of course, a very memorable soundtrack as well.

‘Falsettos’: Studio 301 delivers a dynamic performance

Ibogaine, a psychoactive compound derived from African plants like the iboga shrub (Tabernanthe iboga) and the small-fruited voacanga tree (Voacanga africana), has long been recognized for its potential in treating addiction and depression.

However, its natural scarcity and association with cardiac risks have limited its medical applications. In a groundbreaking study published in “Nature Chemistry,” researchers at UC Davis’ Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics (IPN) have successfully synthesized ibogaine and its analogues from pyridine, a widely available and inexpensive chemical.

Led by Rishab Iyer, who received a Ph.D. from UC Davis in 2023, and Professor David E. Olson, the team developed a strategy to create ibogaine-related alkaloids with significantly improved efficiency.

Previous synthesis attempts faced low yields and complex chemical pathways, but this new method produces ibogaine analogues in just six to seven steps, with yields ranging from 6 to 29%. This advancement allows for large-scale production without depleting natural plant resources and opens new doors for medicinal chemistry and organic synthesis research.

Organic synthesis is the process of constructing complex molecules from simpler chemical building blocks. In total synthesis, chemists design step-bystep methods to create natural products like ibogaine from non-natural sources.

“Accessing sufficient quantities of natural ibogaine for clinical trials has proven challenging as it is produced in small quantities, and overharvesting of T. iboga negatively impacts cultures that use it for spiritual purposes,” the study reads.

Using organic synthesis techniques, these problems can be avoided in a clever manner. “[Using] semi-synthesis from the more abundant natural product voacangine offers a potential solution, as does efficient total synthesis from readily available building blocks,” the study reads.

One of the biggest challenges to consider in the production of ibogaine is the compound’s unique and complex structure. Imagine trying to build a

puzzle where certain pieces must fit together in a specific way. Scientists overcame this by using a series of chemical reactions, including one where they “snap” different pieces of the molecule together in a controlled way. Their new approach uses key steps such as regioselective reduction, a DielsAlder cycloaddition and epimerization to build the molecule efficiently.

Ibogaine’s potential as a treatment for substance use disorders, traumatic brain injuries and neuropsychiatric diseases is gaining traction, despite its risk of causing irregular heartbeats.

Olson’s team sought to understand how ibogaine interacts with biological systems by studying its molecular structure and testing analogues.

One key discovery was that only the natural form of ibogaine, not its mirror image, promoted neuronal growth, indicating a specific receptor interaction.

“Nature only produces one version and if the therapeutic effects of ibogaine are coming from interactions with another chiral entity, like an enzyme or receptor, then you would expect only the natural version to have an effect,” Olson said. “If it’s non-specific, then both compounds would produce an effect.”

Another notable analogue, (-)-10-fluoroibogamine, demonstrated strong effects on neuronal growth and serotonin transporters, which play a crucial role in depression treatment.

This analogue exhibited rewiring of the brain in a way that supports addiction recovery and mental health improvement.

Olson emphasized the need for an “Ibogaine 2.0” — a safer alternative that retains the compound’s therapeutic benefits without cardiac risks. By making ibogaine analogues more accessible and studying their biological mechanisms, researchers aim to develop nextgeneration treatments for addiction and mental health disorders.

This research’s importance also lies in its ability to make ibogaine more accessible for scientific studies and medical use while avoiding environmental harm. More importantly, it lays the foundation for developing safer treatments for addiction and mental health conditions. The ability to create modified versions of ibogaine with improved safety profiles could revolutionize treatment options for patients worldwide.

The student-run theater group brought the Broadway show to UC Davis students and local community

NOVA MAI / AGGIE

The full company of Studio 301’s “Falsettos” performs “Jason’s Bar Mitzvah.” (Jessie Baltaxe / Aggie)

BY SHREYA KUMAR arts@theaggie.org From Feb. 28 to Mar. 2, the UC Davis student theater group, Studio 301, rose to the challenge, delivering the Broadway original production of “Falsettos” with humor, heartbreak and a whole lot of heart.

Under the direction of Isabella Ku, a fourth-year animal science major, the talented cast and creative team brought the show’s intricate score and complex characters to life in a way that left the audience spellbound each night.

“Falsettos” opened on Broadway in 1992, earning rave reviews and seven Tony Award nominations, taking home the award for “Best Original Score.”

It gained even more recognition and popularity after the 2016 revival, starring Christian Borle, Andrew Rannells and Stephanie J. Block. Set

in the late 1970s and early 1980s, “Falsettos” follows a family that falls apart when the father, Marvin, divorces his wife, Trina, to be with his male lover, Whizzer. As Marvin and Trina attempt to maintain a sense of normalcy for their son, Jason, the dynamics of their unconventional family become increasingly complicated as they have to face more and more obstacles together.

The musical’s first act is filled with sharp humor and rapid-fire dialogue, while the second act takes a more somber and introspective turn as the family tries to come together to prepare Jason’s bar mitzvah with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) crisis looming in the background.

Throughout it all, the show explores the complexities of love, acceptance and the work that goes into building a family.

At the time of its release, the way the play tackled the prominent themes of Jewish heritage, gender roles, LGBTQ+ identity and the impact of the AIDS

crisis made it truly groundbreaking. On top of that, the story portrays a family that practices Reform Judaism, a branch of Judaism that was still developing and shifting at the time of its writing. With so many complex themes, “Falsettos” is an ambitious choice for any theater organization.

“In this political climate, I think it’s especially important to represent queer and Jewish culture in the art,” Ku said.

“I didn’t foresee this [political climate] when I submitted the idea to do this musical, but I think it’s especially meaningful now, and I hope it resonates with the audience.”

Due to the complex content in the story, the cast and crew took every step to make sure they were being as accurate and faithful in their depiction of the characters as possible. Adira Zylberman, a first-year undeclared major and a choreographer for Studio 301, gave a presentation to the organization to educate them on Jewish culture

and practices in preparation for the production.

“As someone who is also Jewish, I felt like it was really important to make sure everything was done right and with care and respect,” Zylberman said. “I applaud the Studio 301 team for giving us the space to be heard and for being so committed to authenticity.”

Josh Velazquez, a fourth-year statistics major who portrayed the male lead, discussed the process of ensuring the production’s authenticity and accuracy.

“We did a lot of listening, a lot of understanding, a lot of talking about Jewish history and that helped us to understand the characters better, ” Velazquez said.

What made this production of “Falsettos” truly special was the resourcefulness and passion of the entire Studio 301 team. This quarter’s production took place in Social Science 1100 lecture hall, a venue significantly smaller than a traditional theater stage.

Despite the space limitations, the crew maximized every inch, transforming the lecture hall into an immersive environment.

The stage design featured minimal but strategic set pieces, allowing the actors to transition fluidly between scenes while keeping the focus on their performances. Cast members frequently engaged with the audience by entering the seats or walking through the aisles, adding a layer of intimacy to the production that made the emotional

beats hit harder. The professional sound design and lighting contributed to the theatrical experience, further elevating the production’s quality into a professional, immersive experience.

“I like to say since we’re on a student-run team, we’re also on a student-run budget,” Ku said. “We rely heavily on donations and ticket sales, and the majority of our budget went into getting the rights for ‘Falsettos’ alone. We actually got a lot of help from the Aggie Reuse Store, which helped us to get a majority of the clothes we used in costuming for free. We also traditionally perform in lecture halls to save on costs, but I think we’re getting the hang of it.”

The actors put on soulful, relatable performances that had the audience laughing out loud one minute and tearing up the next, signifying that Studio 301 had successfully brought “Falsettos” to life in a way that resonated deeply with its viewers.

With its heartfelt performances, inventive staging and professionalcaliber technical execution, this production was certainly a testament to the dedication, talent and passion of everyone involved in making it happen. If you missed “Falsettos” but want to support Studio 301, follow their Instagram account, @ studio301productions, or visit their website to get involved or to learn more information about their upcoming productions.

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025 | 7

Davis Craft and Vintage Fair: a look into the operations of the biweekly event

The entirely volunteer-based event offers various crafts, vintage clothes and jewelry to community members at Central Park

BY RACHEL GAUER features@theaggie.org On two Sundays of every month, the fresh produce, bread and cheese booths that typically populate the Davis Farmers Market in Central Park are replaced by an array of handmade goods, vintage clothing and jewelry.

The Davis Craft and Vintage Fair has become Davis shopping staple, allowing local businesses and vendors to collectively sell their specialized goods in a prime location downtown. Items that are frequently on sale at the event range from handcrafted journals and notebooks to carefully curated vintage clothing pieces. Accompanied by alternating local bands and a food truck, the craft fair offers a unique market for any shopper looking for a Sunday stroll.

Debra Ariola is the director of the Davis Craft and Vintage Fair and the owner of Recollections Vintage & PreLoved Items, a business reselling vintage jewelry at the fair. Ariola, who has lived in town since the 1970s and is a UC Davis alumna, highlighted the appeal of Davis that draws vendors to participate in the fair.

“We have amazing volunteers that come from as far as Auburn and they are committed to our community,” Ariola said. “It’s amazing how charmed people are by Davis and how much we are a great community that people want to be a part of.”

The events originally began in 2012 as Square Tomatoes Craft Fair and offered exclusively crafted goods.

Though the quirky name was certainly memorable, Ariola said it brought both some confusion and limited the offerings to only handmade goods.

“Many people came looking for tomatoes: We thought we either would have to start crafting tomatoes -– square ones — so we can say, ‘There they are,’

Nettle and Dove Antiques and Curiosities’ shop display at the Davis Craft and Vintage Fair.

(Julia Heron-Watts / Aggie) or we could change the name,” Ariola said. “We decided to change it to Davis Craft and Vintage Fair to be very clear about what we are and who we are.”

Ariola highlighted that the event is organized entirely by volunteers — vendors who choose to volunteer have greater priority in securing a competitive spot for a booth.

“As a director who is also a vendor it has been very important to me to have this group of volunteers,” Ariola said. “It has made the fair and grown the fair so much from what I can do just by myself — I have a great group of people who are totally committed to keeping this fair going.”

The fair’s team of about 30 volunteers do everything from local advertising to running their various social media pages. Emily Avalos and her husband are part of the team, installing lawn signs to advertise the event around town.

Avalos is the owner of Emily’s Crochet Corner and began selling her handmade crocheted plushies at the Craft and Vintage Fair in 2023. She said that the fair has offered her a sense of belonging and community unique to Davis.

“I knew that Davis was a community-based town, but once we started doing the craft fair, I found

UC Davis recreational sports support students physical, mental health

Intramural sports provide a way to stay connected to beloved sports or discover new ones

One of the UC Davis men’s intramural soccer teams. (Randall Harper / Courtesy)

BY EMME DUNNING features@theaggie.org Sports are a fundamental part of many students’ high school experiences.

They build a sense of community and lay the foundation for learning important teamwork skills. Despite these benefits, many students find it difficult to continue playing the sport they love once reaching college. Hard classes, busy schedules and work duties make a long-term commitment to sports unfeasible, forcing many to stop playing altogether.

Through the Campus Recreation department, UC Davis recreational sports provide students and staff with access to over 30 different sports including flag football, indoor and outdoor volleyball and even innertube water polo. Rec sports provide an opportunity for students to continue their favorite sports or try new ones, all in a low-commitment setting that aligns with the busy and variable schedules of college students.

For John Patrick Walker, a fourthyear environmental policy analysis and planning and Spanish double major, this flexibility has been crucial.

“The nice thing about rec sports is that you can show up five minutes before the game starts with your cleats and just hit the field and have some fun,” Walker said. “We’re busy, we’re students. We have school and work and whatnot, but to take that hour out of my day every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., to go play the sport that I wouldn’t normally find myself in, was and still is a valuable experience.”

Walker has participated in several rec sports in his time at UC Davis, including basketball, soccer, volleyball and softball. Through this involvement, he has made memories and connections that will last beyond his college years.

“I’ve played a lot of rec sports in my four years here,” Walker said. “What better way to boost my mental health, boost my physical health and make friends doing the thing I love?”

In addition to playing intramural sports, Walker continued his involvement by working as a referee for his peers’ games, something which he asserts has supported his desire to get more involved in rec sports while helping others explore the program.

“I applied to be a ref after participating in rec sports,” Walker said.

“It brought me campus connections and brought me participation in my community beyond the sport. I got to help other people find that same value that I found in rec sports.”

For other students like Salina Kamburova, a fourth-year managerial economics major, rec sports has provided a way to reconnect with old favorites while maintaining a busy schedule with work and school.

“I’ve loved participating in a sport, especially because it’s with a group of friends I don’t see outside of volleyball, so it’s nice to catch up with them,” Kamburova said. “Playing has helped me stay connected to a sport I played for [over] seven years but don’t have the time or interest to pursue as a career.”

Kamburova also said that rec sports have given her a way to stay connected to friends throughout her four years of undergraduate education even with

changing schedules and priorities.

“I’ve played intramural volleyball all four years at college,” Kamburova said.

“I used to play volleyball with random groups of people at the [Activities and Recreation Center] (ARC) freshman year and found out they were making teams, so I initiated a team of my own.

I’ve been playing with those same people since then.”

Paige Benson, a UC Davis alumna, also took advantage of what intramural sports had to offer during her time as an undergraduate student.

“I participated in intramural beach volleyball, inner-tube water polo and soccer,” Benson said. “I got involved because I heard about all the various options and wanted to find another fun way to spend time with friends.”

Benson also believes that rec sports provide access to activities that are sometimes unfeasible to coordinate outside of intramural sports.

“Participating in sports in college is such a unique experience and resource that should definitely be taken advantage of,” Benson said. “Having access to sports fields and equipment on campus is an amazing benefit of college.

It’s also a great way to meet new people, reconnect with old sports interests or spark new ones.”

As the weather gets warmer, recreational sports will continue to offer a forum for students to stay active and connected. New leagues and tournaments are announced on a quarterly basis through the Campus Recreation page, where students can explore team options or sign up to compete.

that not only are all of the people who are part of putting on the event are extremely kind and welcoming, but also the community has been really great, especially all of the college students,” Avalos said. “It’s always lots of fun to see people come in and get excited about the things in my booth and I start recognizing regular customers and build a rapport with them.”

The fair also partners with local non-profit Couleurs Vives Art Studio & Gallery, a Davis organization that offers art classes to neurodivergent adults at their downtown studio. In addition to being a key sponsor, Couleurs Vives also offers a booth at the fair to allow

the artists to sell their work.

Kim Nguyen, the director of Couleurs Vives, explained the intention behind this unique experience for the artists.

“It’s an opportunity for them to be a part of their community and not feel a stigma,” Nguyen said. “My goal is for these artists to come and showcase their talent and learn to communicate with the people in the community.”

Nguyen, who began partnering with the fair in 2018, emphasized that the work sold at the booth and any donations made go directly to studio space.

“The proceeds go to the artists themselves, and the money we raise covers the expenses that go into the studio –– the supplies, the rent, everything,” Nguyen said. “The [artists] come to work at the studio and it is all free for them.”

Outside of the Sunday events, Nguyen explained that Couleurs Vives and the Craft and Vintage Fair work to mutually benefit each other: The organization assists financially to host the fairs and vendors volunteer to teach classes at the studio.

“The vendors teach at our studio and encourage the artists to be touched on their creative side,” Nguyen said.

“It’s good for the vendors to have an understanding of these special artists and how they think and that they are capable of being creative and successful at doing what they do — they learn about people who are neurodivergent and the neurodivergent learn from them.”

The Davis Craft and Vintage Fair hosts the event twice a month on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Central Park in Downtown Davis. For more information on regular vendors and the fair’s history, visit the Craft and Vintage Fair’s website.

Students advise cat owners on tips to keep their pets happy and healthy

Cats owners can take action to keep their pets safe, mentally stimulated and in good health

BY AMBER WARNKE features@theaggie.org

“Having kittens is an incredibly stressful process for [the] mom cat,” Rogers said. “It’s not good for their bodies, and it really just wears them out and makes them more likely to get sick.”

Rogers pointed out that while some may be tempted to allow their cats to have kittens because of their endearing appearance, they may not realize that kittens can come with a host of their own health issues.

“When you see kittens at [a] shelter or PetSmart, those are the kittens that made it,” Rogers said. “So many of them don’t.”

In addition to getting their cats spayed or neutered, Rogers said another way owners can maintain their cats’ safety is to keep them inside, which protects them from cars, parasites, diseases and other animals. However, to prevent under-stimulation from remaining indoors, Rogers had advice for cat owners.

“People think of cats as these stoic loners, but they’re really social animals,” Rogers said. “[For] young kittens, it really teaches them how to be kittens.

Cats who bite hands when they’re trying to play probably [do it] because they didn’t have a sibling to teach them how hard a bite is.”

Tapia also suggested that cat owners ensure their cats have access to windows to look out of during the day and toys to play with when they are left alone.

Additionally, Tapia recommended owners to spend time engaging with their pets in active play throughout the day to encourage fitness, and Rogers recommended string toys to provide stimulation for cats.

As cat owners spend time playing with their pets, however, Arino wants owners to know that in order to bond with their pets, they must respect their cat’s boundaries.

“Some cats are totally fine with being picked up and manhandled and everything, but others maybe don’t like that so much,” Arino said.

“As long as you learn what their boundaries are and respect [them], you can have a very great relationship with them.”

Whether their cats are friendly or shy, coming from single-cat homes or multiple, students across Davis care deeply about their pets’ wellbeing. Students looking to get more involved with cats in Davis can involve themselves with the Orphan Kitten Project signing up to foster litters or single cats, or the Community Cat Project, in which they can participate in feeding the feral cats in Davis. All of the cat owners and club members of Davis would surely agree — Davis loves cats!

Humans have lived alongside cats for thousands of years, sharing their homes with the creatures all over the world. Cat owners today face influence from the spotlight placed on pets through social media creators, prompting a greater discussion of the best way to raise the animals.

Dove Tapia, a third-year wildlife, fish and conservation biology major and the treasurer of the UC Davis Veterinary Aide Club, suggested that owners give their cats flea- and tickprevention medication monthly — even if they are indoors, as bugs can still get inside. She also provided tips on cats’ water-drinking habits and how to best encourage a cat to drink water.

“For one, cats are not used to having their water next to their food, so having their water next to their food can be a little bit of a deterrent for them,” Tapia said. “They [also] want [their water] to be moving, so that’s why a lot of people have those fountains.”

Tapia discussed the importance of dental care in cats.

“Get them used to brushing their teeth because dental bills are so expensive,” Tapia said. “You want to make sure that you can avoid them losing their teeth and get them okay with a toothbrush or some sort of dental treat.”

Alyssa Arino, a second-year graduate student in UC Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine, is one of the presidents of the Orphan Kitten Project, a kitten-fostering club on campus.

She suggested that owners can add more wet food to their cats’ diets or put out lowsodium chicken and bone broth if they worry about their cats becoming dehydrated.

Arino also discussed one major health issue common to the cats in her clinic is feline obesity.

“People tend to equate love with giving your cat lots of treats,” Arino said. “We see a lot of overweight cats, really chunky cats. Which can cause a lot of health problems later in life, especially with their kidneys.”

She suggested that owners make sure to portion out the treats they give their cats and abide by the recommended portion sizes on cat food labels.

Han Rogers, a secondyear graduate student in UC Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine, is another president of the Orphan Kitten Project. Rogers recommended owners to spay and neuter their cats to maintain their health. VERONICA THEN / AGGIE

8 | THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

President Trump’s executive actions face legal pushback

Students form community through Electronic Dance Music The Davis Electronic Dance Music Club discusses their events

UC Davis students and law professors discuss the situation’s implications on the separation of powers

BY GRACIELA TIU features@theaggie.org Since Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump and his administration have been working to move their agenda forward through various executive actions, many of which have been facing legal contestation. Executive actions include specific directives and general measures issued by the president regarding federal government functioning. If these actions are within the constitutional powers of the president, they do not require congressional approval, according to an NPR article.

However, the numerous legal battles surrounding these actions highlight the controversy over whether the president has the power to carry them out, raising significant constitutional questions and points of contention regarding the federal separation of powers.

Several checks on the power of the executive branch exist, including Congress’ ability to nominate judges and justices for federal courts and their ability to pass laws that can sometimes invalidate certain executive actions, according to a U.S. government website.

A large check on the president on behalf of the judiciary is the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review. This power, established in Marbury v. Madison in 1803, gives federal courts the power to consider if certain actions taken by the executive or legislative branches are constitutionally permissible.

The lawsuits against Trump demonstrate a direct use of this power, with lower federal courts and, in certain cases the Supreme Court, hearing cases against the president or executive branch petitioned by states, organizations and various entities.

Adithi Sumitran, a fourth-year political science major and learning assistant for the UC Davis course POL 150: Judicial Politics — Constitutional Structure of Powers, described her view of the country’s system of checks and balances.

“When our founders decided to create a singular executive to lead the country, they were aware of the potential for abuse of that power — remember, they engaged in rebellion against a king,” Sumitran said. “However, they were largely hopeful that the system of checks and balances would prevent that.

The legal pushback we’ve witnessed has on some level proven these checks to be valuable, but there’s always potential for someone to exploit the system to their advantage.”

Carlton W. F. Larson, a professor at the UC Davis School of Law, discussed two of the possible effects that these lawsuits might have on the determination of who holds certain federal powers.

“These lawsuits will be important in determining whether the president can refuse to spend money that Congress has appropriated and whether the president can fire all executive officials, including those for whom Congress provided longer terms and intended to be insulated from political pressure,” Larson said. “It is likely that the Supreme Court will recognize a broader power for the president to fire certain executive branch employees, but it is less likely that they will permit the president to unilaterally refuse to spend money that Congress has appropriated.”

Information about the multitude of lawsuits against Trump and his administration comes out almost daily, with updates about ongoing cases being released and new cases coming up each week. Each case brings along important constitutional questions and potential future implications, and though it would be incredibly difficult to thoroughly describe the details of each and every case surrounding his executive actions, there are certain general categories of Trump’s agenda facing multiple suits and public scrutiny.

Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship is a significant part of his agenda that is currently facing legal pushback, drawing massive public attention and multiple lawsuits on behalf of several states and various immigrants’ rights organizations.

Multiple federal judges have temporarily blocked the executive order, though the case could potentially be heading to the Supreme Court. Most of these suits bring the Citizenship Clause, located in the Fourteenth Amendment, into question, with many petitioners arguing that the Fourteenth Amendment explicitly enumerates birthright citizenship, according to a U.S. News and World Report article.

“Our courts have historically agreed that, barring a few exceptions, JASON XIE / AGGIE

people born in the United States are citizens of this country,” Sumitran said.

“Attempting to change that standard was always going to be challenged.”

Sumitran also delineated why Trump’s defense of the order has less legal and historical grounds for success and may not be implemented.

“In terms of key legal arguments, it’s hard to argue in favor of the order,” Sumitran said. “It would require overhauling the existing idea of citizenship in the United States, which follows the ‘jus soli’ system (people born in the country are citizens). There are some places where that’s not the case, but in the U.S., that’s been our policy for the last 200 years. Our court has undoubtedly shown a lot of favorability toward Trump in the past, but given the history of citizenship, I’m not sure they’d be willing to back this order.”

Another part of Trump’s agenda facing legal backlash is his creation and implementation of the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. Though the Trump administration claims the department will aid in ensuring the federal government’s effectiveness, critics of the move argue against the creation of the department itself, Musk’s broad scope of power and the department’s ignoring of certain privacy protections.

The lawsuits against DOGE address multiple questions regarding federal law and the Constitution. Some suits bring up whether the department’s implementation and actions violate the Federal Advisory Committee Act, a federal law that regulates the establishment and operations of advisory committees, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Certain lawsuits also question whether the department’s handling of certain data violates a federal law that prohibits obtaining Americans’ data without their consent, and many have also brought Musk’s power into question as an unchecked, unelected official.

Larson summarized the legality of Trump’s authority relating to DOGE, specifically its clashing with Congress and existing departments and the questions surrounding Musk’s leadership.

“The president has no legal authority to create a federal department equivalent to the existing departments; That would require an act of Congress,” Larson said.

“The president has greater authority to create units within the Executive Office of the President, where it seems DOGE is located. There is much that is unclear about who is running DOGE, its actual source of authority and what it is actually doing. That should become more clear as litigation proceeds.”

Larson described his thoughts regarding the question of whether DOGE infringes upon Congress’ authority to oversee government operations and budget allocations.

“It all depends on what exactly DOGE is doing, which is very hard to determine,” Larson said. “If it is basically an advisory council, making recommendations to Cabinet heads about how to do certain things more efficiently, it probably doesn’t create significant constitutional problems.

However, if DOGE is itself directly laying off federal employees or cancelling federal contracts, it raises very serious constitutional questions. In court, the Trump administration is insisting it’s the former, but it is not clear whether those representations are true.”

Trump and DOGE have also been working to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which acted as a significant provider of foreign aid, implementing substantial staff and budget cuts, according to a BBC News article.

Similarly to the other cases, the constitutional question at hand was whether Trump or Congress had this dismantling ability, but a federal judge ruled in Trump’s favor, according to an AP News article.

The president also signed a number of executive orders ending federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, not only facing backlash from the left but also raising various questions of constitutionality, especially concerning the First Amendment.

“I think that the executive actions that Trump took to end DEI initiatives in the federal government were completely unnecessary,” Sophia Cortez, a first-year political science major, said.

“I agree with the legal arguments that ending DEI initiatives in the federal government is a complete violation of the First Amendment.”

Another executive decision facing legal issues is Trump’s ending of federal monetary support of genderaffirming care, which has temporarily been blocked by the courts. Though the action brings up many issues and opinions surrounding transgender rights and constitutionality, the order is facing issues particularly regarding Trump’s overstepping into Congress’ power of the purse.

“If Trump is able to end monetary support for gender-affirming care, this decision would be adverse for the separation of powers that currently exists in the federal government,” Cortez said. “It would set a precedent of granting far too much power in favor of the executive branch and impact future budgetary decisions, taking power from

UC Davis student, known as DJ Jupiter, playing at EDMC’s last event. (Sammy Seshadri / Courtesy)

BY LAILA AZHAR features@theaggie.org The Davis Electronic Dance Music Club (EDMC) is a space for students interested in EDM. They have hosted events such as the “Heaven or Hell Boiler Room” themed rave and a Picnic Day afterparty.

As Tracy Duong, a third-year managerial economics major and EDMC’s treasurer said, there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding electronic music.

“There are so many subgenres within EDM,” Duong said. “So maybe one subgenre isn’t for you, but there are probably countless others that are, and our club likes to embrace that.”

Embracing this diversity within the EDM scene is an important aspect of the club. Their events often include DJs who specialize in different styles, ensuring that a wide range of music gets played. They additionally value diverse experiences within the club’s membership.

“We have so many different kinds of people show up to our events, all different backgrounds and majors,” Duong said. “Everyone brings different energies, but it’s always so fun to see how people merge and get along together.”

EDMC aims to appeal to people with all backgrounds of experience.

Some members are avid EDM listeners, some are aspiring DJs and some are completely new to the scene.

Natalia Rascon, a fifth-year computer science and engineering major and the club’s president, noted that she hopes EDMC can be a space for people to enjoy regardless of how much experience they have.

“I think it’s really important for us to have a welcome space for anyone, whether they’ve never heard of EDM or they love it,” Rascon said.

Rohan Rao, a fifth-year mechanical engineering major and the club’s vice president, said the welcoming atmosphere is a key element of the club that made it appealing for him.

“For my first meeting, I was actually forced to go,” Rao said. “I’m kind of a shy dude, but my friend was like, you’re a DJ, you can get your name out there.

Then I got to know the people who founded the club and keep the club going. They’re cool people. I love the team, and I love the community we try to create.”

Duong echoed this sentiment, noting an appreciation for EDMC’s tight-knit community.

“It’s actually kind of crazy how we all really do get along,” Duong said.

“It really could be a miracle or some sort of coincidence, but the people in this community are really close and supportive and inclusive.”

This is exemplified by Peace Love Unity Respect (PLUR), a set of values associated with rave culture and emphasized often by EDMC, according to Rascon.

“PLUR is one of the important aspects of the rave community,” Rascon said. “It’s something we really keep in mind when trying to give people these free spaces to express themselves.”

When keeping the values of PLUR in mind, EDMC events serve as a place for people from all walks of life to connect with one another, according to Rao. “People don’t have to come to events like these,” Rao said. “They come to events like these because no matter how complicated or simple your life is, music is this one standard that everyone enjoys. So you can have very different people meeting for one thing, and that’s a really cool experience.”

Those interested in staying up to date with Electronic Dance Music Club events can follow their Instagram account, @davisedmc, or visit their website.

Datamatch: a UC Davis student-specific dating site

Involved parties discuss the success and scope of smallscale dating services on college campuses

BY NOAH HARRIS features@theaggie.org At UC Davis, there is a relatively unknown and unconventional method for students to find love: Datamatch, a website initially started at Harvard University in 1994. Unlike Hinge or Tinder, which are mobile apps, Datamatch is a dating website unaffiliated with UC Davis where students can sign up, answer survey questions and be matched with other UC Davis students.

This year, 331 students, around 1.1% of UC Davis’ undergraduate population, used the website. Students log in using their university email, ensuring that only fellow students are permitted to use the website. Each year on Valentine’s Day, 10 potential matches will be presented to users, after which they can decide to “like” as many of them as they want. If both people “like” each other, they will be matched and have the chance to fall in love or, at the very least, have an awkward interaction via the site’s direct messaging feature.

Since its inception in 1994, the site has expanded to include 47 universities.

This year, over 16,500 people signed up in total across the nation. In the recent past, Datamatch has experienced privacy issues, such as when a Harvard student released the Rice Purity Scores of Datamatch users and when UC Los Angeles students accessed the profiles of over 16,000 students.

While Datamatch has existed for three decades, it was introduced to UC Davis in 2021 from Nina Steinkemper, a 2022 UC Davis alum with Bachelor of Arts degrees in design and communications.

Steinkemper had friends that attended East Coast schools and who commented on their experiences with university-specific dating platforms.

“I was like, this sounds so cool,” Steinkemper said. “But I was also thinking, maybe UC Davis is just too the legislative.”

A federal judge also temporarily blocked Trump’s executive order instituting a indefinite pause on refugee admissions, primarily due to conflicts with congressional power, according to a Politico article. The judge that issued the ruling outlined the issues with the order. “[The executive order] has crossed the line from permissible discretionary action to effective nullification of congressional will,” U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead said.

Because of the power of judicial review, these lawsuits have the potential to generate significant pushback against Trump’s executive actions. Some organizations and states have already succeeded in winning their cases and freezing the actions temporarily. The coverage of these cases in the media also influences how the

big and it’s not gonna happen.”

Steinkemper submitted a request to Datamatch to add UC Davis, which was approved.

“I was reading more into this, and I slowly just started to realize that I’m the one who has to do all the work,” Steinkemper said.

After creating survey questions, Datamatch already had a system in place to gather student emails, which left most of the work in advertising.

“Basically, what they do is they write a code so they can get every single email from their student directory and they encourage every single university to do that,” Steinkemper said. “Just because you literally get your hands on thousands of emails.”

Steinkemper, with help from a Harvard student, attempted to find an easy way to email en masse.

“It wasn’t possible because our university is a public university, so the database is just way more protected,” Steinkemper said. “But then again, our university still has a directory where you can find [any] student. I have access to all this information, but now I’m realizing I’m gonna have to copy and paste. I did this for like three months while I watched lectures [and] watched TV.” There were roadblocks that arose for Steinkemper with emailing thousands in the school directory, including only being able to use an email account affiliated with UC Davis.

“I was using just a generic Gmail [account],” Steinkemper said. “A lot of things would land in spam. So I think ultimately, it was really hard to not get the scammer vibe [from me]. That year, we had 790 students sign up.”

Steinkemper described different methods she used at the beginning of the Datamatch process.

“I went to this one thing that was just such a mistake,” Steinkemper said.

“I went to a discussion [on Zoom] and I put the survey [in the Zoom chat] so people could do it immediately. After, I saw I got kicked out of the class.

Then, I [got] an email from UC Davis administration saying that I have one strike on my admission. If I do it one more time, I’m gonna get kicked out of UC Davis.”

Through Steinkemper’s efforts, which included making a UC Davis Datamatch Instagram page, the following year, which was the second of the site’s existence, they were able to reach 1,504 student users, nearly four percent of the UC Davis undergraduate population. However, a few months later, Steinkemper graduated.

“I didn’t have anyone to pass it down to,” Steinkemper said. “I assumed that it just went away.”

The Instagram account became inactive and students no longer received emails from the Datamatch account.

However, the entity itself stayed alive.

DATAMATCH on 9

KAYLA TRAN / AGGIE public views these presidential actions and signifies that, at the very least, the administration could be violating constitutional law. The decisions of the court could also establish legal precedents for future courts to follow, again leaving a lasting effect on our government’s operation.

The legal pushback against this administration’s actions and conflicting public opinion surrounding the cases denotes the deep partisan divide present in our country and widespread questioning surrounding the separation of powers and whether the inter-branch checks are sufficiently preventing an overreach of executive power.

As these UC Davis sources shared, there is widespread uncertainty about Trump’s scope of power and the constitutionality of his recent actions.

Cortez discussed how staying updated on current events helps her navigate through this uncertainty and stressed the importance of keeping up with these executive actions.

“I typically hear about the legal issues surrounding the Trump administration and their executive orders through a news subscription to the New York Times,” Cortez said. “I think it’s really important to stay informed about these things because they have very direct and measurable impacts on society, and even some personal impacts on people in my life.”

While the courts continue to rule on these cases, the American public will continue to see the extent to which a president can reshape and influence policy solely through the use of executive action.

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025 | 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 02/27/25

Crossword

Answer to previous puzzle 02/27/25

can do that for you.”

With that, another satisfying POP left me alone in this strange parking lot.

However, this time, I fell toward the asphalt headfirst. I was anticipating the nasty fall, but, as my head hit the floor, I was magically transported back to the bus taking me home earlier.

My eyes blinked open, and I was face-to-face with a Unitrans driver. It was still dark outside, but now we were all the way back at the Silo terminal.

“You’re going to need to leave the bus, this was the last route for the night,” the driver said.

I stumbled off of the bus with my backpack in hand. Without any time to process what just happened, the bus driver immediately drove away with my chariot. With a sigh, I pulled out my phone and called a Safe Ride to take me home.

Disclaimer: (This article is humor and/ or satire, and its content is purely fictional.

The story and the names of “sources” are fictionalized.)

WAKEUPCALL FROM PAGE 4

IGNITETALK

WOMENSHISTORY

FROM FRONT COVER

FROM FRONT COVER

The last speaker of the day was Forhat Chowdhury, a fellow from Bangladesh who works with refugees affected by disasters. She recognized Feb. 21 as International Mother Language Day and recalled how Bangladesh fought for the preservation of its own language.

“In 1952, we stood up and sacrificed our lives to protect the right to speak Bangla,” Chowdhury said. “We fought and we won. The spirit of resilience and the refusal to be silenced runs deep in the history of Bangladesh — we are habituated to facing difficulties and we still continue to fight for our survival.”

Chowdhury said Bangladesh faces the dangers of cyclones and rising seas, two threats that have only worsened with climate change. However, due to extensive disaster risk reduction efforts, casualties have declined from nearly half a million in 1970 to almost zero in the present day.

“We have built strong shelters which can withstand the hardest, toughest wind; We have created emergency response actions, we have designed floating farms and we have designed flood-resistant infrastructure,” Chowdhury said. “Bangladesh has become an example for the whole world in cyclone resistance and disaster risk reduction.”

Chowdhury said Bangladesh’s resilience defines her approach to humanitarian work.

“From the Rohingya community in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh to the earthquake-shattered shelters in Syria; from the war-torn Ukrainian roads to the displaced people’s camp in Ethiopia, I have carried Bangladesh with me,” Chowdhury said. “Because resilience is not just about bouncing back — it’s about bouncing forward.”

The Avid Reader Bookstore provides a list of books on their website to highlight literature that focuses on telling the stories of powerful women in history as well as the struggles women have endured over time. Some of these include “The Six: The Untold Story of America’s First Women Astronauts” by Loren Grush and “Off with Her Head: Three Thousand Years of Demonizing Women in Power” by Eleanor Herman.

“Women’s History Month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women throughout history,” Hansen said. “It also encourages conversations about the need for continued progress towards gender equity.”

WEFHOUSESHOW FROM PAGE 3 Completely student-run and in association with ASUCD, the zerowaste event is popular among students not only for their festival but also for publicity events. These events work to fundraise for WEF and give back to the community of Davis for continuing to support the environmental cause.

UNITRANSPAST FROM PAGE 4 when you slept through your midterm and almost failed your biochem class? Remember how you felt when all of your friends rallied around you to help you study for the final?” the British bus asked.

This was a great memory, but I wasn’t sure how the British bus knew about this.

Nonetheless, this trip down memory lane made me start to cry. The British bus was

right. UC Davis has been a wonderful place for me and has helped me build my own community.

POP. The bus vanished into thin air, and I was left alone in the parking lot once again. But now, there was another bus standing just a couple of feet away. This bus was only one level tall, appearing to be the classic Unitrans bus I know and love.

When I stepped onto this bus, the engine rumbled, the lights flicked on and the air started blowing out of the vents.

This bus felt so familiar that I thought it was the same bus I was on earlier (before I got dumped in this parking lot). I ran over to my spot in the back, but my backpack was nowhere to be found. Ugh. “HAHAHA you got so excited, didn’t you?” a voice said above me. “I am the Ghost of Unitrans Present, silly.”

I rolled my eyes at these theatrics and waited for my next life lesson. However, before I could ask for any advice, the bus shrieked.

“GIRL, you better lock in — you have a midterm tomorrow!”

POP. This bus vanished too. I guess that was my lesson? Well, I was back in my parking lot, but this time I was completely alone. That is until I turned around, and there was a bus creeping up on me from behind. It was so quiet that I couldn’t hear its engine running. I ran around to the entrance, which opened with a satisfying “swish” noise. As I entered this bus, all I could hear was a gentle humming and nothing else. Filled with awe, I looked around at the sleek design of this bus. Everything looked like it was made from stainless steel and polished for my arrival. I walked up and down the bus to see all of its modern intricacies.

“Hello. Sorry to interrupt, but I am the Ghost of Unitrans Future,” an alluring female voice said above me. This voice was strangely smooth and calming.

“How can I help you?”

“Will I be successful after I graduate?

WAIT — will I graduate?” I asked.

“Unfortunately, I am not your crystal ball,” the voice purred (she lowkey ate with that). “But I will tell you that only you can define your success. No one else

So yeah, maybe it is the phone. An increasingly short attention span paired with several hour-long assignments makes it way easier to put off important tasks for later. Especially when the deadline is days or even weeks away — it feels like we have a surplus of time, so why not scroll just a little longer?

Then, all of a sudden, it piles up.

Before we know it, we have exams, lab reports, homework and readings all due on the same day. Unsurprisingly, we become overwhelmed to find that not enough time exists to finish everything.

Progressively, shortcuts become the preferred solution. From using Artificial Intelligence assistants like ChatGPT to stealing the answers from peers, students justify their decisions by claiming they couldn’t possibly finish on time or understand the scope of the material.

Deep down, we know we are manipulating ourselves — the fantasy we live in is assuming that we will always have more time.

All of us have thus been diagnosed with something terminal: a corruption of the mind. It’s one that relentlessly festers and only results in anxiety and frustration.

When the outcome feels predetermined, the motivation to attempt treatment dwindles.

Once this conclusion is reached, the natural reaction is to panic — to succumb to a desperate fear that we haven’t lived our life fully, missing out on too many opportunities. In this state, we’re pulled deeper into the search for an escape, for anything that gives us temporary control or relief. Yet, these outlets are often unhealthy, self-destructive habits through which we tear ourselves down, only to find they result in the very outcome we fear.

The solution, or “pointless” treatment, is something unexpected: a positive outlook — a glass-half-full sort of approach. The kind of mindset that fuels action and gives us a reason to endure the struggle. It reminds us that we get to determine how we use the time we do have left.

Circumstances like this, while unfortunate, can be pivoted into necessary lessons — a wake-up call that procrastination is ultimately fruitless. This extends beyond putting off studying for

an important exam and equally applies to handling daily tasks. The intention and dedication we put into minor aspects of our lives have a great impact, whether it’s the things we physically and psychologically consume — including food and social media — or how we speak to others. And, with each small, deliberate decision, we become closer to success and fulfillment.

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.

DATAMATCH FROM PAGE 8 This year, one individual responsible for Datamatch’s advertising, who wishes to remain anonymous, explained their reasons for promoting Datamatch.

“I want to help out my fellow Aggies [and] some friends of mine,” the anonymous source said. “There’s all sorts of clubs at UC Davis, but it can be kind of hard for people to try to connect with somebody, and I’m not talking about a hookup or a one-night thing.”

Unlike Steinkemper, the anonymous source did not contact Datamatch or create the survey.

“I had no affiliation, I had no access,” the anonymous source said. “All I did was help with just advertising.

I was trying to put the word out on YikYak.” Chris Whites, a fourth-year art history major, joined Datamatch in 2024.

“I heard about Datamatch from a flyer on campus that had a QR code on it,” Whites said via email. “I signed up because I thought that it would be a fun way to meet new friends. I filled out the survey and got a few matches with some people but I never actually met up with anyone.”

However, the results of 2024’s Datamatch was not as successful as what was hoped for, according to the anonymous source.

“Unfortunately, the payoff wasn’t quite what I was hoping,” the anonymous source said. “It didn’t work.

One of my friends was turned off by all the advertising. So they weren’t even interested and then other people said they didn’t like their matches. Only 331 people signed up to do this. There’s not going to be a lot [of options].”

While the future of Datamatch at UC Davis is unclear, there is a path for university-specific dating sites, with 38% of Harvard students using Datamatch and 25% of Cornell University’s student body using a site called Perfect Match.

The anonymous source was skeptical about the future of Datamatch, citing the lack of awareness and limited timeframe of the site.

“It’s not really that well known,” the anonymous source said. “The problem is, while I think it’s a really cool service, it’s only open one week of the year for Valentine’s Day, which is problematic.”

In the future, Datamatch could end up being a popular form of online dating at UC Davis. However, while Datamatch holds a presence on other university campuses, the percentage of users at UC Davis have been decreasing over the last few years. Whatever happens, Datamatch and similar smallscale dating services prove an interesting method of finding love in college.

10 | THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025 | 11

12 | THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025

THE CALIFORNIA AGGIE

SPORTS WOMEN’S SWIM AND DIVE

UC Davis women’s swimming and diving team surge to a strong season finale

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Aggies fall to Cal State Bakersfield in late-season home game Missed free throws and late-game fouls resulted in the Aggies’ defeat

A recap of the 2025 Big West Swimming & Diving Championships successes

BY DIEGO CERNA sports@theaggie.org From Feb. 12 to 15, the UC Davis women’s swimming and diving team competed in the Big West Conference Swimming & Diving Championships that took place at the University of Houston’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center (CRWC) Natatorium in Texas.

Previously, the UC Davis Aggies had competed in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Conference for the past 15 years. This year marked the first time the Big West has hosted a swimming and diving championship since 2010, which also happened to be the last time UC Davis captured their last win in the Big West Championships.

The first day of the competition showcased the team medley — a mix of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly between four swimmers.

Emily Scheberies, a second-year communications major, went first with a 50-meter backstroke, earning a time of 25.95 seconds. Sam Rhodes, a fourth-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, continued the second leg of the breaststroke with a time of 28.31 seconds. Brynn Graham, a second-year mechanical engineering major, carried the third leg of the event, the butterfly, with a time of 24.97 seconds. To finish the medley, Sophi MacKay, a second-year communications major, closed with a time of 22.41 seconds. The overall time, in minutes, for the team was 1:47, securing the team the fourth spot overall.

Then came the 800m relay, where four team members completed 200m freestyle each, which is four laps in the pool, measured in minutes. Elsie Luisetti, a second-year food science major, started strong with a time of 1:51. Katie McLain, a fourth-year communications and international relations double major, entered during the second leg with a backstroke time of 1:50, leading Rhodes into the third leg with a time of 1:50. MacKay anchored again, finishing off with a time of 1:49.

The team ended with an overall time of 7:21, improving by 12 seconds from their season’s previous best.

Day two featured the one-meter contest, where divers were required to perform a series of movements as they jumped off of a springboard into the pool. Divers are scored based on execution and degree of difficulty.

Five Aggie divers made it past the preliminary rounds. This included Leila Busch, a fourth-year human

development major, Taylor Schwarz, a fourth-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, Priscilla Nguyen, a third-year biological sciences major, Mackenzie Young, a third-year animal science and management major, and Katherine Lim, a first-year animal science major.

MacKay was one of the only Aggies to compete in the 50m dash, where she placed third overall, swimming a personal best of 22.02 seconds. Within milliseconds, McLain, the only other Aggie to compete in the 50m dash, finished right after in fourth place with a time of 23.06 seconds.

In the 200m freestyle relay, MacKay and McLain were accompanied

by Christy Douglas, a fourth-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, and Anna Boyer, a third-year undeclared major, in the closest race of the championships. They ended up fourth overall, only within a second of the three places ahead. The overall time clocked at 1:31.60 minutes, almost surpassing the Aggies’ previous all-time record of 1:31:42 minutes. This same quad would also end up placing third overall in the 400m freestyle relay, having a time of 3:20 minutes, marking the last event of day four.

On the third day, the 400m medley relay featured Scheberies, McLain, Graham and Rhodes. They finished on the podium in third with a time of 3:43 minutes. Rhodes would also record a personal best in the 400m finals, coming in third overall with a time of 4:16 minutes, which was three seconds improved from her previous best.

The last day of the competition mainly highlighted the diving squad.

Young finished as the highest-ranking Aggie with a silver medal on the platform, and Lim earned a third-place finish in the long fall. Lauren Kudo, a first-year undeclared major, Schwarz and Busch all placed in the top eight.

Phil Tonne, one of the diving team’s head coaches, was also named the Big West Diving Co-Coach of the Year on Friday, Feb. 21. He helped eight of the Aggie medalists reach the podium throughout the championships, striving for tremendous improvements among the team in the one- and three-meter dives.

O v e r a l l , t h e Bi g We s t Championships proved to be a success for the Aggies. Multiple UC Davis team members medaled, records were broken and personal bests were improved. The Aggies will look forward to bringing this momentum with them into the 2025-2026 season, building on their strong achievements.

A photo of a swimmer on the UC Davis women’s swimming and diving team.

(Quinn Spooner / Aggie)

The UC Davis men’s basketball team in a game against the University of Hawai’i earlier this season. (Aggie File)

BY COLINA HARVEY sports@theaggie.org On Feb. 20, the men’s basketball team faced off against the California State University, Bakersfield Roadrunners in one of their last home games. With the Big West Championships rapidly approaching, every game could help the UC Davis Aggies achieve a higher seeding position.

The last three home games of the season are set to be tough for the Aggies, as they are pitted against the top three teams in the Big West. However, the game against Bakersfield, who has struggled this season in conference games, did not predict an Aggie defeat.

Despite this, the Aggies were not able to clinch the victory and were defeated 66-71. The win was within reach for the Aggies, and they ultimately lost due to unforced errors rather than the Roadrunners’ performance.

The Aggies had a strong start, with Connor Sevilla, a second-year undeclared major, and Carl Daughtery Jr., a third-year human development major, making two three-pointers each in the first 10 minutes. However, the Roadrunners fired back with threepointers of their own, many coming from Marvin McGhee III. The Aggies led by as much as seven points early in the game, but a three-pointer from McGhee with 11 minutes to go in the half gave Bakersfield the lead.

Additionally, Bakersfield’s CJ Hardy sustained an injury after about seven minutes of play, resulting in bleeding on the court that had to be cleaned up and a long break from the game. As the Aggies began to struggle following the unplanned pause, it is a possibility that it interfered with the players’ momentum.

Despite the early lead from UC Davis, the last 10 minutes of the first half were even. On the last possession by the Aggies, TY Johnson, a fourthyear communications major, assisted a layup by Pablo Tamba, fourth-

year communications major, cutting Bakersfield’s lead to one.

Free throw shooting that was not up to usual standards by the Aggies was a contributing factor to Bakersfield’s lead going into halftime. Despite getting to the line seven times, the team was only able to score two free throws.

Additionally, McGhee was on fire in the first half and accounted for almost half of the Roadrunners’ points, with a total of 14.

The second half did not have an encouraging start for the Aggies. A turnover by Johnson, a pair of missed three-pointers by Sevilla and a foul by Niko Rocak, a graduate student in the Master of Business Administration program, after falling for a pump fake were some of the plays that allowed Bakersfield to create the divide. Within the first six minutes, the Roadrunners increased their lead to seven points.

Another series of unfortunate plays damaged the Aggies’ chance even more.

Within two minutes, the Roadrunners got a buzzer-beating tip-in, Tamba and Daughtery Jr. both committed turnovers and Tamba faced a powerful block from Bakersfield while trying to drive the lane.

With less than 10 minutes to go, two big three-pointers from Leo DeBruhl, a fourth-year sociology major, gave UC Davis-supporting attendees hope that a comeback was imminent.

However, Bakersfield responded with a couple of three-pointers of their own.

Johnson then hit a pair of clutch three-pointers. Unfortunately, he was fouled on the second and failed to convert the free throw. DeBruhl was also fouled on a made layup and was similarly unable to make the extra point.

With 90 seconds to go, Bakersfield led by eight points. At this time, the Aggies overcoming the deficit was unlikely, but a step-back three-pointer

by Sevilla put a UC Davis win back in the realm of possibility.

With less than a minute to go, Tamba made a two-pointer in the paint and was fouled, which turned it into a three-point play. Then, a turnover by

Bakersfield gave the ball back to the Aggies, resulting in a clutch corner three-pointer by Johnson. This cut the score gap to one with 53 seconds to go.

In order to win, the Aggies needed to play strong defense on the Roadrunners’ next play, preferably without fouling, and get the rebound.

Unfortunately, the Roadrunners got the offensive rebound off of a missed shot and were then fouled by Tamba.

The Roadrunners made both of their free throws, something that had been difficult for the Aggies to do throughout the game. With the Bakersfield lead back up to three, DeBruhl drove the lane on the other end. He was blocked

by Bakersfield, with Johnson fouling on the Bakersfield rebound.

Again, the Roadrunners netted both free throws, raising the lead to five with only 18 seconds to go. Johnson rushed to the other end of the court in an attempt to decrease the point deficit, but it was not enough for the Aggies to claim the win.

Ultimately, the Aggies lost this lateseason matchup 66-71. A big portion of this loss can be attributed to the Aggies’ uncharacteristically poor free throw shooting. While Bakersfield shot 82.1% from the line, Davis shot only 40.9%. The team made only nine free throws compared to Bakersfield’s 23.

Late-game fouls also hurt the Aggies, as they allowed Bakersfield to up their lead in the moments where it counted the most. Excluding a few bouts of explosive scoring late in the game, there was no Aggie player who put up a truly impressive performance.

UC Davis went on to face the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa on March 1 and lost 70-78, but the team is set to play UC Irvine and UC San Diego. Following a losing streak, these tough matchups will likely test the Aggies, but an improvement in gameplay in the last few matchups will allow the Aggies to finish out the season strong.

University of California, Berkeley to participate in the Battle for the Bay. Matchups include UC Berkeley, University of the Pacific, Saint Mary’s College and San José State University.

After the strong start to their season, they will be looking to continue to rack up wins and improve their ranking early on.

WOMEN’S BEACH VOLLEYBALL

UC Davis women’s beach volleyball’s victorious weekend

The Aggies won three of four home games on Feb. 22 and 23

BY LUCIENNE BROOKER sports@theaggie.org After a long off-season, the UC Davis women’s beach volleyball team returned to the court on Feb. 22 for the first of their four games that weekend. Coming back from their loss to the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa at the Big West Beach Volleyball Championship last April, the UC Davis Aggies were looking to start the new season off with a string of wins.

Their first matchup in the doubles competition saw them face off against the University of Utah. Utah opened the competition with a bang, taking the first matches without much resistance.

However, the Aggies fought back to take the third match, with Alexandra Leal, a second-year environmental engineering major, and Kate O’Steen, a third-year human development major, clawing their way to victory. They won the third

match with a score of 25-23 in the first set and 21-16 in the second.

However, this victorious win didn’t last long. Utah regained their advantage and won the remaining two matches, making the final score 4-1, the only match won by the Aggies from Leal and O’Steen. Although it wasn’t the start to the season the Aggies wanted, they had to regroup quickly for their next game that afternoon against the Santa Clara University Broncos.

UC Davis was able to learn from their mistakes during the morning game and came out strong against the Broncos. Tabitha Mitchell, a fourthyear animal science major, and Lindsay Heller, a fourth-year communications major, took to the court first and swept Santa Clara away, taking both sets by large margins, 21-10, 21-15.

The Broncos took the second match, but the Aggies found the advantage again in the third match with the Leal and O’Steen pairing, with a final score

of 21-18, 17-21, 17-15. They added to this margin of victory in the fourth match as Skye Smolinski, a second-year design major, and Mia Olen, a fourthyear environmental policy and planning major, won in three sets, 22-24, 21-18, 15-3. While Santa Clara won the final point, the Aggies held on and claimed their first win of the season, 3-2.

There was little time to celebrate this victory, as they took the court again the following day in the afternoon, facing off against the San José State University Spartans. Heller and Mitchell got things started again, where they were able to win the first two sets right away, 21-16, 21-17. This game mirrored the previous one against Santa Clara closely, as the Aggies again failed to win the second match but ultimately prevailed to win matches three and four, with a final point score 3-2. Leal and O’Steen were victorious again, as were Smolinski and Olen.

For the final match of the weekend, the Aggies took on the Broncos again and defeated them by the same score of 3-2. The Mitchell and Heller pairing and the Leal and O’Steen pairing were winners once again, but this time, Smolinski and Olen narrowly lost to their opponents in the fourth match.

However, Juliana Chapman, a secondyear life sciences major, and Kaitlyn Smyth, a second-year computer science major, stepped up and gave the Aggies the win in the final part of the match, 21-17, 21-17.

Next up, the Aggies will head to

Third-year Emma Johnson spikes the ball over the net. (Veda Jadaprolu / Aggie)